1760–1769
Gunpowder works established
The Hounslow Powder Mills were established in the River Crane valley.
Site overview
Crane Park Mill is the brick tower in Crane Park at Twickenham, long known as the Shot Tower. It belonged to the former Hounslow Powder Mills and is the principal surviving building from the gunpowder works. The tower was built in the late eighteenth or early nineteenth century and is now understood as a mill or pumping structure rather than a true shot tower.
It later became part of Crane Park Island nature reserve and is used by London Wildlife Trust as a visitor and learning centre.
Map
Map markers and directions links are provided for location reference only and do not indicate public access or permission to enter a site.
No site photograph is currently available. Images will be added as field visits are carried out.
History
Crane Park Mill stands on Crane Park Island beside the River Crane at Twickenham. The tower belonged to the former Hounslow Powder Mills, a gunpowder manufacturing site that occupied the river corridor. The structure was built in the late eighteenth or early nineteenth century as a tapering brick tower in English bond.
It was long known as the Shot Tower, but its height and form make that interpretation doubtful, and it is now understood as a tower-mill-type structure associated with the powder works, possibly used for grinding or water movement when river conditions were unsuitable for water power. The wider gunpowder works closed after the manufacturing licence was withdrawn in 1927. Part of the site was later made into Crane Park, which opened in 1935.
Crane Park Island became a statutory Local Nature Reserve in 1990. The brick tower survives as a Grade II listed structure and is used as a visitor and learning centre within the nature reserve.
Timeline
1780–1829
Brick tower built
The tapering brick tower was built as part of the Hounslow Powder Mills complex.
1857
Wind-powered role ended
The tower became redundant when steam power provided a more consistent power source for the works.
1927
Gunpowder manufacture ended
The licence to manufacture gunpowder was withdrawn and the works closed.
1935
Crane Park opened
Part of the former powder mills site was opened as Crane Park.
1990
Nature reserve designated
Crane Park Island became a statutory Local Nature Reserve.
Sources and records
Historic England National Heritage List entry
Windmill World Twickenham mill entry
Mills Archive Crane Park Mill record
Twickenham Museum article: The Gunpowder Mills
London Wildlife Trust Crane Park Island page
London Borough of Richmond Crane Park history
Windmill World Twickenham mill entry
Mills Archive Crane Park Mill record
Twickenham Museum article: The Gunpowder Mills
London Wildlife Trust Crane Park Island page
London Borough of Richmond Crane Park history