Book Contents

INTRODUCTION

Chapter 1: From Castle To Magazine

Magazines
The necessity for new magazines
Additional magazines at Plymouth
Safety and security (Richmond’s fortification plans)

Chapter 2: The Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars

The Gunwharves
The Gunwharf Workers
Gunpowder, Restoving and the First Laboratories
Building in Response to the Conflict
Temporary wartime sites

Chapter 3: Consolidation

Redevelopment of the Laboratories
Laboratory relocation
Keyham moves to Bull Point

Chapter 4: The Impact of the Russian War

A lack of facilities
The War begins
Transformation of the Ordnance Depots
Development of Bull Point
Decentralisation of ordnance facilities

Chapter 5: New Ordnance, Fresh Challenges

New armament requires new ways of working
The 1865 Committee on Government Magazines and Depots of Gunpowder
Cutting Costs
New ammunition and storage problems
Recommendations of the Magazine Committee
Developments at Portsmouth

Chapter 6: A modern magazine system

Report from the Laboratory Committee
The new shell filling facility
The impact of a new weapon
The Naval Defence Act and its aftermath
The introduction of cordite and lyddite
Overseas depots
Fleet requirements

Chapter 7: The Great Expansion

Repercussions of the Naval Works Act of 1895
The Portsmouth Committee
The Reports of the Devonport Committee
Problems for the Chatham Committee
The question of Cordite
Growing Pressures

Chapter 8: A Fresh Start

Explosions and their aftermath
Priddy’s Hard undergoes scrutiny
Rivalry on the Medway
Building at the Medway sites
Problems of capacity at Portsmouth
Ammunition directives call for further changes

Chapter 9: The Test of War

Overseas Depots
Ammunition transportation in the UK
Wartime developments at the UK Depots
Portsmouth evolves as Vernon hulks are replaced
Wartime development of less established Depots

Chapter 10: Going Underground

Impact of the Ten Year Rule
Admiralty versus Treasury
Instability in Europe defines storage requirements
Changing priorities for the Second World War
Protection and War damage
D-day: Operation Overlord
Post-war roles of the Depots

Endnotes

Appendices

Appendix A: Current status of the major depots
Appendix B: The Royal Engineers
Appendix C: Instructions for Running Ordnance Magazines, 1814
Glossary
Bibliography
Index