Kennall Vale Gunpowder Works

Extensive remains are set in the wooded River Kennall valley. It is one of the best-preserved gunpowder works in southwest Britain. The development of the works can be divided into three basic periods, from its establishment in 1812 to 1820; from expansion in 1820 to 1844; and from the effective doubling of the works by construction of the Roches Wood section in 1844 to closure c1910.
 
The Kennall Vale Co. was set up as a subsidiary of the Fox's Perran Foundry Co in competition with the Cosawes Wood gunpowder works that were acquired by the new company in 1813. The main elements of the site are its leat systems, supplying water power to its various processing buildings and some of the secondary industrial plants; a network of roadways, with bridges over the river, servicing the mills which were required to be well spaced along the valley; stores and powder magazines; and the change houses and offices for the workers, with the manager's house.
 
Almost all the buildings were of granite masonry, with very few brick or timber structures, though some wood was used in the potentially more dangerous mills; stone was also used for revetting trackways, leats and bridges. For greater safety, the site was kept wooded.