Hagley Yard

Throughout the nineteenth century, the DuPont Company was the nation's largest manufacturer of black powder. E.I. du Pont began production of this important explosive in 1802 in the powder yard at Eleutherian Mills. In 1813, to meet the increased demand for gunpowder during the War of 1812, du Pont purchased the neighboring tract of land known as Hagley, where he built the second powder yard.

The Birkenhead Mill
The Birkenhead Mills were the first roll mills built in the Hagley Yards between 1822 and 1824. The types of mill wheels were overshot, breast, and undershot. The Birkenhead Mills used an undershot wheel.

Narrow Gauge Railroad
Box Car
From around mid 19th century, a narrow guage rail line was used at DuPont's Powder Manufactury to move ingredients between process buildings. This box car was used to move finished packed powder.

Narrow Gauge Railroad
Flat Car
Small flat cars could carry kegs or buckets from one process to the next.

Quarry
Stone was very important as a building material in the powder manufactory. Its availability was a major factor in the selection of the site for E. I. du Pont's gunpowder mills. There were several quarries on the property.

Millright and Machine Shop
In 1903, after three young du Pont cousins, Alfred, Pierre, and T. Coleman, acquired the company, a new large machine shop was constructed to replace the one located in the middle of Hagley Yard. Many parts were produced and repaired here to maintain the operation of the mills.

Samples of work produced by the machine shop
The machine shop was equipped with at the time, many state of the art machines and tools.

Finished Wooden Kegs of Black Powder
Powder was sold in wooden containers known as kegs. They ranged in size from 100 pounds to 6 1/4 pound quarter kegs.

Steam Plant
In the 1880's a steam plant was constructed to supply power to the mills in time of low water. It was also part of the plan developed by Francis Gurney and Alfred I. du Pont to provide electricity to light the powder yards.

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	The Birkenhead Mill The Birkenhead Mills were the first roll mills built in the Hagley Yards between 1822 and 1824. The types of mill wheels were overshot, breast, and undershot. The Birkenhead Mills used an undershot wheel.
Narrow Gauge Railroad Box Car From around mid 19th century, a narrow guage rail line was used at DuPont's Powder Manufactury to move ingredients between process buildings. This box car was used to move finished packed powder.
	Narrow Gauge Railroad Flat Car Small flat cars could carry kegs or buckets from one process to the next.
Quarry Stone was very important as a building material in the powder manufactory. Its availability was a major factor in the selection of the site for E. I. du Pont's gunpowder mills. There were several quarries on the property.
	Millright and Machine Shop In 1903, after three young du Pont cousins, Alfred, Pierre, and T. Coleman, acquired the company, a new large machine shop was constructed to replace the one located in the middle of Hagley Yard. Many parts were produced and repaired here to maintain the operation of the mills.
Samples of work produced by the machine shop The machine shop was equipped with at the time, many state of the art machines and tools.
	Finished Wooden Kegs of Black Powder Powder was sold in wooden containers known as kegs. They ranged in size from 100 pounds to 6 1/4 pound quarter kegs.
Steam Plant In the 1880's a steam plant was constructed to supply power to the mills in time of low water. It was also part of the plan developed by Francis Gurney and Alfred I. du Pont to provide electricity to light the powder yards.