Project - The gunpowder circuit

The Gunpowder Circuit

The Vale de Milhaços Gunpowder Factory (VMGF), classified since 2012 monument of public interest, comprises the Gunpowder Production Circuit. The original installations of the Gunpowder Circuit dates back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and the factory operated until 2001.

In 2001, the Seixal Municipal Ecomuseum (EMS) integrated the VMGF buildings and the equipment, donated by its owners (Sociedade Africana de Pólvora) to the municipality. This includes production machinery, equipment, tools and over two dozen buildings. These buildings have distinctive architectonic and construction characteristics, accordingly to their industrial function and integrated equipment.

The VMGF also includes a telodynamic cables system, with over 500 meters, that ensures the transmission of mechanical energy from the central building to the various gunpowder workshops. Additionally, a Decauville type railway line, with 1100 meters, served to transport products in wagons moved by human force.

Currently, the industrial heritage site of the Gunpowder Circuit is an ecomuseum extension. The steam generator and machinery operation are assured by a former worker of the VMGF that assumes the role of boilerman and machinist.

[1] Keeper’s house[2] Sewing workshop and warehouse[3] Office and laboratory[6] Carbonisation workshops for charcoal production[5,7-9] Raw material warehouses (potassium nitrate, charcoal, sulphur) and other products [10] Charcoal and nitrate grinding workshops[11] Milling workshops (incorporating the raw materials with two upright edge runners)[12,13] Mixing and sieving workshops (with mechanical mixing mills)[16] Pressing workshop (with a hydraulic press)[17] Granulation workshops (with mechanical granulators) [18,19] Sieving and glazing workshops (with mechanical cylinders)[20A] Sun dryer[22] Central set of buildings with a steam generator and a steam engine remaining operational [23-25] Magazines

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