Reinventing the Royal Ordnance Depot, Weedon

by Laura Malpas

Did you ever watch the TV series ‘Sharpe’, starring Sean Bean as the dashing hero of the British Army, heroically rushing around Europe during the Napoleonic Wars, and saving the day? If you did, then you have identified the historic setting for the subject of this blog. If Richard Sharpe was a real soldier, then he would have relied on the Royal Ordnance Depot at Weedon to supply the uniform, arms, and ammunition he needed to be a hero.

The old Royal Ordnance Depot historical photograph

By 1799, Napoleon Bonaparte had emerged from the French Revolution as the undisputed leader of the new French Republic. His ambition to gain total political power in Europe was seemingly boundless, as were his military successes. The British watched horrified as he turned his attention to the British Isles, and at his preparations to invade. British strategists realised quickly that they had to prepare for war, recruiting and training new militia, and fortifying the defences on the southern coastline of England.

A vitally important element of the preparations against the Napoleonic threat was to improve the supply lines of equipment and resources. By 1803, Parliament recognised that they required a state-of-the-art ordnance hub in the centre of England, as far from any coastline as possible, but with good transport links to everywhere in the country. The small village of Weedon in Northamptonshire was the perfect choice, with its proximity to the transport conduits of both the Grand Union Canal and Watling Street. Colonel Pilkington of the Royal Engineers designed a new logistics depot, and building started under tight security, and progressed speedily. The bulk of the work was completed by 1810. At this stage this top-secret small town was a handsomely built complex including eight enormous red brick two storey storerooms to house rifles and other small arms, powder magazines and blast houses. Barracks were provided for 500 artillery soldiers, a parade ground, stabling for the regimental horses, a hospital, and a police station. Elegant Georgian houses were provided for the Governor and other officers, and there was even a military prison onsite. This secret town was surrounded by defensive perimeter walls with lookout bastions.

The Visitor Centre at The Depot

Further additions were made over the years, most notably following a massive fire at the Tower of London in 1841 which was responsible for the loss of nearly all the British reserve of firearms. Such was the importance of the Weedon depot, which now housed virtually all the essential supplies for the British Army, all the latest technology was employed to ensure safe and secure storage and speedy dispatch of supplies. The Depot even had its own Fire Station, a necessity as the storage of up to 2000 tonnes of gunpowder, guns covered in grease, ammunition, solvents and textiles were a highly volatile mix. Fire was a constant and potentially lethal risk.

“The usual efficiency of the Depot was occasionally found wanting, Florence Nightingale herself reporting that great hardship was caused by supplying only summer weight equipment to soldiers fighting in winter conditions.”

Initially the Depot was connected to the transport network via an offshoot of the Grand Union Canal, with a basin to allow barges to turn. This branch arm was protected by gatehouses at either end, with a moveable portcullis to control access and egress. The Eastern Gatehouse also bears a handsome cupola containing a clock built in 1814 by John Thwaites. It still chimes every fifteen minutes, and on the hour, keeping perfect time. Eventually the railway revolution also connected the Ordnance Depot to the rest of the UK via a branch line to the main London North Western Railway Company’s network.

As the years went by, the Depot grew both in size and function, including warehouses for uniform supplies, workshops to repair or recycle rifles and other small arms, a chapel, and even groves of walnut trees to provide the finest wood for rifle stocks.

The usual efficiency of the Depot was occasionally found wanting, Florence Nightingale herself reporting that great hardship was caused by supplying only summer weight equipment to soldiers fighting in winter conditions. Another problem she highlighted was the extraordinarily impractical method of dispatching footwear, left boots in one ship, and right boots in another. When the inevitable happened and the ‘right boot’ ship sank, both cargoes were worthless. The highly respected ‘Lady with the Lamp’ was heard, and reforms were made which increased the efficiency of the supply chain for the military in the field.

The Depot continued servicing the British military throughout every major conflict, being remodelled during both the First and Second World Wars. However, by 1961 its role was sufficiently diminished, and the announcement was made of its imminent closure. Its role supporting the needs of the British military ended in 1965. The site was decommissioned, and in 1984 the main site was sold at auction and passed into private hands.

Today only the original footprint and most of the buildings of the 1810 Royal Ordnance Depot remains, along with the Firemen’s quarters. Although the canal offshoot remains filled with water providing a home to many waterfowl, it is no longer connected to the Grand Union Canal.

The Old Depot today

However, the eight massive storerooms and other handsome Georgian buildings remain, and many are let as offices, studios, and retail premises. As a visitor it’s an exciting opportunity to wander through these spacious historic buildings and enjoy the industrial architecture once home to so many vital services which kept our nation safe from our erstwhile enemies. And equally exciting is the opportunity to shop for all sorts of treats and experiences. On my most recent visits I enjoyed delicious freshly baked cakes and coffee and browsed through wonderful retail displays of art, antiques and bookshops. I noticed several smart dogs emerging from a groomer in one storeroom, and well-toned bodies from a gym in another. There is a massive variety of traders well worth exploring.

Perhaps my favourite stop is at the Eastern Gatehouse, home of The Depot Visitor Centre. Staffed entirely by volunteers, the little museum tells the extraordinary story of the Royal Ordnance Depot, and of the supplies and people it has housed over the last two hundred years. Many of the volunteers worked at the Depot while it was still active and are passionate about sharing their stories. I was proudly shown the workings of the Turret clock, still keeping perfect time despite it being well over 200 years old. I was particularly touched by one story of how romance blossomed during a delivery of decommissioned small arms, rifles, Bren guns and Sten guns. The story ended only after a happy marriage which lasted 57 years. I was delighted to learn that the volunteer on duty was the happy husband!

If you are looking for a truly unique venue for an outing, perhaps with lunch and a little fascinating exploration, I recommend a visit to this once secret depot. I’ve never seen anything like it.

For more information, visit The Depot’s website today.