Proof House Approximately 10 Metres South South West of Gate House, Marsh Works
PROOF HOUSE APPROXIMATELY 10 METRES SOUTH SOUTH WEST OF GATE HOUSE, MARSH WORKS, HAM ROAD
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1389585
- Date first listed:
- 14-Dec-2001
- List Entry Name:
- Proof House Approximately 10 Metres South South West of Gate House, Marsh Works
- Statutory Address:
- PROOF HOUSE APPROXIMATELY 10 METRES SOUTH SOUTH WEST OF GATE HOUSE, MARSH WORKS, HAM ROAD
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Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1389585
- Date first listed:
- 14-Dec-2001
- List Entry Name:
- Proof House Approximately 10 Metres South South West of Gate House, Marsh Works
- Statutory Address 1:
- PROOF HOUSE APPROXIMATELY 10 METRES SOUTH SOUTH WEST OF GATE HOUSE, MARSH WORKS, HAM ROAD
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- PROOF HOUSE APPROXIMATELY 10 METRES SOUTH SOUTH WEST OF GATE HOUSE, MARSH WORKS, HAM ROAD
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Kent
- District:
- Swale (District Authority)
- Parish:
- Faversham
- National Grid Reference:
- TR 01341 62363
Details
FAVERSHAM
TR 06 SW HAM ROAD
659/6/10014 Proof House approx. 10m SSW of Gate Ho
14-DEC-01 use, Marsh Works
GV II
Proof house at gunpowder works, disused. 1800-10. Brick with pyramidal slate roof.
PLAN: Square single-cell plan.
EXTERIOR: Segmental-arched doorway and flanking windows with sashes. Roof has a lantern on top.
INTERIOR: Not inspected.
HISTORY: The Marsh works were part of the Royal Gunpowder Factory which was established outside Faversham in 1786 after an explosion in the town, to remove some of the more dangerous processes. They played an important part in the improvement of British gunpowder leading up to and during the Napoleonic Wars, under William Congreve. The saltpetre refinery which was built in 1789 as part of Congreve's successful drive to improve the ingredients of British powder. This included dedicated proof houses, the first of which were built in 1804, and this is probably the oldest example. It was privatised after the war, and closed in the 1920s.
The proof house, a type of laboratory for testing powder by flashing it, was added in the early C19 refurbishment of the refinery. The roof lantern was intended to admit light and let out the fumes. Associated with the late C18-early C19 saltpetre refinery at the Marsh Works (qv), the best preserved of this type in the country and comparable with French and Swedish examples.
(Wayne Cocroft, Dangerous Energy. The archaeology of gunpowder and military explosives manufacture. Swindon (English Heritage), 2000, pp. 54-67)
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 488273
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
Cocroft, W, Dangerous Energy The Archaeology of Gunpowder and Military Explosives Manufacture, (2000), 54-67
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 20-Jun-2026 at 10:07:45.
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