The Times, 25 September 1865

EXPLOSION OF EWELL POWDER MILLS.

A terrible gunpowder explosion took place on Saturday morning at Ewell Powder Mills, carried on by Messrs. Sharpe and Davy, situate a few miles distant from the village of Ewell in Surrey, near Epsom. The mills are spread over a large plot of ground in detached buildings, through which runs a small stream.

The accident occurred in the press mill, containing one hydraulic machine for compressing wet powder into cakes. What quantity it contained at the time of the explosion has not transpired, but from the noise caused by the explosion it is inferred it must have been considerable. The workpeople had just resumed their labour at the different parts of the manufactory when a tremendous report took place, which was discovered to have been caused by the blowing up of the press-house, wherein two men had but just entered.

The shock was truly terrible, and the workpeople in the other buildings were seized with consternation, for it was fully expected that all the other buildings would go, but, most fortunately, the blast did not reach them. Of the press-house not a vestige remained, and the iron hydraulic press, which stood a fixture in the centre, was hurled into an adjacent field by the force of the explosion. The two labourers who were at work there, it is reported, were literally blown to atoms. Their names were Lewis Hill and James Hoscraft. They had for a long while been in Messrs. Sharp and Davy’s service and were considered careful and experienced men.

It is supposed that the explosion was occasioned by some grit or hard substance getting into the press and causing a friction, which ignited the powder. A coroner’s inquest on the remains of the sufferers will be held on Tuesday next. The explosion was seriously felt at Epsom, Hampton-court, Mitcham, and every place within 20 miles of the spot. At Ewell and many of the adjacent villages the windows of the houses were broken in by the force of the concussion, and other damage was done to property.