------=====The=====------

Aberdeen Mechanical Society

(Instituted 1888)

Minutes of Meeting.

Date:- 20th February 2003

Venue:- Room C601, Clarke Building, Robert Gordon University, Schoolhill

Chair:- Ian Wattie, President

Present:- 25 Society members and guests

Introduction

Ian Wattie welcomed members, guests and visitors. Apologies were received from AMS members Alec White and Richard Holloway. The previous meeting’s minutes were approved unread. Ian introduced the evening’s speaker. Liz Curtis is a part-time post-graduate anthropology student at the University of Aberdeen, where she also teaches industrial archaeology. She is an archaeology graduate, with a postgraduate degree in industrial archaeology. Her first job was to survey gunpowder works in Wales, which was followed by work at the Department of Urban Archaeology at the Museum of London. She then re-trained as a primary school teacher, and has a long-term interest in environmental education.

Gunpowder in Scotland

Liz’s interest in gunpowder developed from an interest in mills and economics. Her talk covered the manufacturing process , the locations and what happened to the industry.

Black powder is made from mixing distilled sulphur, crystallised saltpetre and charcoal. It is used in mining and in guns. It is better for mining and quarrying than dynamite as it does not destroy the product. The components were mixed to an explosive compound called green charge, which could be neutralised by water for making the milling process safer. The green charge was milled into varying fine powders, then pressed to increase density and chopped to powder or granules. It could then be glazed with graphite or lead, depending on the market’s preference for appearance. The final process dried out the black powder in the warming room, a long way off from the rest of the factory. The product was stored in barrels or calico sacks.

The two main areas of manufacturing in Scotland were in Midlothian and Argyll. It was manufactured in the 19th century in riverside mills, as shown on Ordnance Survey maps from May 1871. These were originally small independent manufacturers, who were bought out by Curtis and Harvey, the major participant. They relocated management between their sites such as from the Cowl peninsula in Argyll to the Neath Valley in Wales. Explosions were frequent and expensive. A site built at Gorebridge in 1780 on the River South Esk did not last long due to accidents and closed soon after start-up. These sites were all in rural locations and employed many men. In 1845, 60 men were employed at Merrill’s Roslin works, and they were mainly coopers. In 1858, Lamont duPont visited the UK from Delaware, where duPont was a major manufacturer. He visited Roslin, and noted the refining of saltpetre and the use of dogwood for making the finest charcoal.

The 1772 Explosive Substances Act required licenses for manufacturing explosives, with a requirement for lightning conductors. The 1875 Explosive Substances Act required more space at factories, putting safer distances between buildings to limit the damage and loss of life. The buildings were open on one side, and had corrugated iron roofs, to avoid the buildings blowing apart in the event of explosion. This technique was applied offshore following the Piper Alpha disaster. The act also appointed inspectors, and banned the use of exposed iron or steel, the storage of flammable materials in buildings containing explosives, limited inventory, and required soft metal or wooden tools, protective clothing (without pockets or metal buttons) and footwear to be provided. Changing areas were to be provided to eliminate ingress of grit, which could cause sparking underfoot. Lighting had to be behind glass. Sanctions included fines, and permanent closure. Stobsmill Gunpowder Works established schools and accommodation for workers, and paid pensions to dependants killed in the works according to the 1845 statistical survey. The Kames Powder Works at Kilfinnan showed housing surrounded by a 7-foot wall.

Manufacturing declined in Scotland when lower cost supplies were available from Europe. There are significant remains still to be seen today, and several photographs demonstrated the buildings, open sides, wheel slots, blast embankments and powder magazines. These sites are still visible today as they are in rural locations, often on steep-sided riverbanks with no other application.

Vote of Thanks

Ian Wattie offered the vote of thanks. He was pleased to see someone with Ordnance Survey maps older than his own! Liz was congratulated for describing so vividly, an industry that existed in rural areas, when most industry is associated in people’s minds with big cities. Liz’s keen observations from her detailed research of maps, documents and the sites themselves illustrated her depth of knowledge and enthusiasm for her subject this evening. The Society showed its appreciation.

Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Aberdeen Mechanical Society is a joint meeting with the IMechE and AMS on Decommissioning on Wednesday 5th March 2003.