Right here stands the Blast Mound. It’s not just any mound. It’s a testament to a time of explosive innovation and necessary protection.
Let’s step back in time. Imagine England in 1267. The earliest record of gunpowder emerges. By 1346, they’re making gunpowder in the Tower of London. The explosives industry grows significantly by the time of the English Civil War 1642-45.
So what exactly is a Blast Mound? It’s essentially a barrier. It’s built to protect buildings from explosions. These walls must be fireproof. Stone or concrete is typically used. They must be thick enough to absorb explosive power.
The Blast Mound was built around structures storing explosives or those likely to be attacked. These locations were strategically significant. Think magazines or forts. The walls were designed with polygonal layouts. This was for strength and to deflect explosive force.
Now, envision the Wat Tyler Country Park. Around 100 years ago, this site housed the Pitsea Explosives Factory. They produced nitroglycerine, guncotton, and various explosives. These explosives were for mining and war. The angular earthworks that you see all around the park are the Blast Mounds. They were built around the buildings of the factory. They were built between the buildings of the factory. The purpose was to contain accidental explosions. They prevent explosions from spreading.
Imagine workers being searched for metal objects. Matches, coins, watches, and jewellery were forbidden. A single spark could ignite fumes and blow up the factory. This happened in a number of factories around Europe.
Picture a series of small wooden cartridge huts. Women workers assembled ammunition for guns inside. They pressed pre-cut explosive charges into brass cylinders. These cylinders became cartridges. These could be easily loaded into a gun.
Now visualize the magazines around the perimeter track. Each held about 1.5 tons of nitroglycerin-based explosives. Brick walls and wooden roofs characterized these magazines. In case of an explosion, the blast would go upwards and out through the roof. Blast Mounds around each magazine directed the blast upwards. This prevented damage to neighboring buildings. Wooden floors were secured with copper nails. This was to avoid causing sparks.
Consider the nitrating house. Here, nitric acid was carefully mixed with glycerin. This created nitroglycerin, the most dangerous explosive. Workers sat on one-legged stools to avoid falling asleep. If the mixture got too hot, the worker would quickly flush the system with water.
Workers in mixing houses mixed nitroglycerin with an inert paste. This stabilized the explosive making it easier to handle. Alfred Nobel pioneered this technique. He called the explosive dynamite.
These Blast Mounds are more than just bumps in the landscape. They whisper tales of innovation, danger, and the constant need for protection. They remind us of the explosive history beneath our feet.