Ready to step back in time? Right here stands the Purfleet Heritage Centre. It is housed in a remarkable building with a past steeped in gunpowder and military history.
The Purfleet Heritage Centre is located in Magazine No. 5. This was once part of the Royal Magazine for Gunpowder. The magazine sits on the banks of the River Thames. Built in 1759, these magazines and Proof House served a crucial purpose. They tested, stored, and supplied gunpowder to the army and navy.
Imagine this place during the Napoleonic Wars. It would have been exceptionally busy. Each magazine held 10400 barrels of gunpowder. In emergencies, that number swelled to 10800 barrels.
The magazines were well-protected. Outer and Inner Sanctum Walls surrounded them. A garrison of soldiers guarded the site. Civilians undertook the work inside the magazines. The magazines remained active throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. Their use continued until 1962. Then Thurrock Council purchased the land from the M.O.D.
Four of the five magazines suffered demolition in the late 1960s. This demolition paved the way for housing. Magazine No. 5 became a storage facility for the council.
In 1992, a local resident named Alan Gosling became fascinated by the building’s history. He was interested in its military and social significance to the area. With other volunteers, he devised a plan. The plan was to save the building and transform it into a heritage center.
These proposals went to the Thurrock Council. The council accepted them. In 1994, the Purfleet Heritage Centre took charge of the building. It became an independent organization. Run entirely by volunteers, the Centre is now a Registered Charity. It is principally self-funding. The building itself is a Scheduled Ancient Monument Grade 1.
The Purfleet Heritage Centre houses a wide array of historical artifacts. It holds memorabilia related to the history of the magazines and the local area. Items date from the 18th century to the present day. Exhibits include items from Thames Board Mills and the Purfleet Rifle Range. You can also find artifacts from the Van den Burgh and Jurgens margarine factory. Even the author Bram Stoker, of Dracula fame, is represented. Brewer Samuel Whitbread and the Royal Family connection appear too.
Inside, you’ll find over 15000 artifacts. These represent Purfleet-on-Thames local history. There is also a large and varied military section. It incorporates the second largest Gurkha collection in the country. Historic England considers Magazine No. 5 an outstanding example. It is a typically British type of magazine.
The 300-year-old timbers line the floor and rafters. These timbers came from America. They were the only ones long enough to be carved into the required shape. The Purfleet Heritage Centre retains the original look and feel of the building. You can see original painted numbers on the timber. The museum also has modern-day appeal in the exhibits.
There is a huge attic spanning the length of the building. It is filled with tons of original sand. This sand would contain an accidental explosion.
The Purfleet Heritage Centre is not just a museum. It’s a portal to the past. It connects you to the stories of those who shaped this region. As you leave, reflect on the echoes of gunpowder. Think about the dedicated volunteers who brought this history to life.