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{{Template:Origin|text=This article describes some famous artillery pieces with connections to the era of the British in India. See also article [[British Guns in Burma]].<br>The information and images have been provided by Elizabeth Hancox, a FIBIS member with a special interest in artillery, and acknowledged expert on gunsthe [http://www.angloburmeselibrary.com/ Anglo-Burmese Library].}}

[[Image:0001 Woolwich Barracks.jpg|650px600px|thumb|left|The Barracks of the Royal Arsenal Woolwich]]<div style="clear:both"></div>

Named '''‘’’"The Father of Victory"''' this gun, captured during the [[Siege of Bhurtpore 1826|Siege of Bhurtpore]] in 1826, stands stood for many years outside the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Artillery_Barracks Royal Artillery Barracks] at Woolwich. It is 16ft 4ins long and weighs about 17.5 tons; the calibre is 8ins. Tradition has maintained that precious metals were included in its composition; but analysis of metal taken from three places dispelled this idea. The metal is variable; it contains 9% to 15% lead, with traces of arsenic and antimony; the other components are 3% to 5% of tin, and the remainder copper. It is remarkable, however, that the exterior of the breech is of a totally different metal from the body of the gun, being in fact brass, containing nearly 37% of zinc, and has been cast over the body of the gun subsequently to the first completion of it, as one of the ornamental scrolls is partly covered by it.

<gallery caption= widths="300px250px" heights="300px250px" perrow="3">Image:0010 Tiger howitzer.jpg|Tiger howitzerImage:0009 Tiger howitzer.jpg|Tiger howitzerImage:0010a Tipu artillery.jpg|Capture of Seringapatam showing one of Tipu Sultan's Tiger guns

<gallery caption= widths="300px" heights="200px" perrow="3">

Transferred from the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich 1968. This gun together with a similar one now in the Rotunda Museum Woolwich which may have formed part of another gift, is similar in form and decoration to the above but bears the name D PREGRAVE . Presgrave and is dated 1839 (its companion at Woolwich is illustrated as fig, 85 in ‘plans of ordnance captured by the Army of the Sutledge during the campaign of 1845-46’. Drawn by Capt Ralph Smyth, Bengal Artillery.n.d)

=== Bronze Tiger Mortar ===

The muzzle, trunnion ends and cascable button are formed as ‘tigers heads’. Two tigers stripes appear on the chase and the reinforce rings are edged with engrailed bands in relief. The gun is unfinished, the vent has never been drilled, a cartouche on the second reinforce intended for inscription is blank, and a lump of metal below the cascable button intended to provide a fixing for an elevating screw has never been pieced pierced for the securing bolt.

[[Image:0046 Belvoir gun.jpg|300px|right|thumb|Gun at Photo courtesy of Belvoir Castle]]

File:0075-Furnace-House-Waldern.jpg|'''Furnace Farm, Waldron.''' This was the site of Harrison's Foundry and Furnace. Gun trunnions were marked with a 'W'.File:0076-Large-furnace-pond.jpg|'''Large furnace pond in front of the house'''

This was the site of Hanson's Foundry and Furnace. Gun trunnions were marked with a 'W'.<gallery caption= widths="350px" heights="350px" perrow="2">[[File:0077-Cannon-proving-bank.jpg|350px|thumb|left|'''Cannon proving bank]]<div style="clear:both">'''. Many cannon balls have been found at the foot of the bank by metal detectors.<br /> There was an older proving bank in a nearby wood.<br /> [[File:0078-Upstream-from-boring-mill.jpg|350px|thumb|left|'''Site of the Boring Mill upstream]]<div style="clear:both">.''' There are 20 tons or so of iron borings in the stream at the Boring Mill site.<br /> In the photo: Douglas Anderson, wheelwright, and Peter Davies, retired civil servant and assistant to landowner Peter Reed.<br /> Mr Davies has a special interest in muzzle loading guns such as Brown Bess.<br /gallery> 

The Fullers also employed a Master Wheelwright among other highly skilled crafsmencraftsmen, and interestingly there is still a fully-functioning wheelwright's shop on the site today, operated by Douglas Andrews, who has himself constructed a new gun-carriage for an Islamic trophy gun ordered by the Colonel of the Royal Engineers.<br />

The Fuller's forge and foundry was constructed on a particularly difficult site. If it rained too much the site would flood and if it was too dry there was a lack of fast-flowing water in the stream to generate power. In a reply dated 17th October 1754 to the Prince of San Severino, who was pressing for a firm delivery date for some guns he had ordered, John Fuller wrote: ''my furnace is a fickle mistress and must be humoured, her favours are not to be depended upon''.

[[File:0079 Production of Gunpowdergunpowder.jpegjpg|700px750px|left|]]<div style="clear:both"></div> Sanitary arrangements were still primitive in the reign of Henry Vlll and latrines were dug out at night by dung farmers and scavengers, but in the reign of Elizabeth l they were superseded by officials dignified by the name of Royal Saltpetre Men, who collected excrement specifically for the making of gunpowder. This was manufactured using a formula of 75 parts saltpetre, 15 parts carbon (charcoal) and 10 parts sulphur, or brimstone as it was once called. This last name is very evocative as the bright yellow sulphur was indeed collected in lumps from the brims of volcanoes in extremely hazardous conditions. The first two materials produced the explosion and the third added ignition and consistency to the grains of black powder which was milled to the size of corn, hence the name 'corned' powder, as opposed to fine powder. Fine powder was needed to prime the cannons and was also used for small arms.<br /> <gallery caption= widths="200px" heights="200px" perrow="3">File:0080 Weir.jpeg|WeirFile:0081 Millstone.jpeg|MillstoneFile:0082 Millstones.jpeg|MillstonesFile:0083 Remains of wharf.jpeg|Remains of wharfFile:0084 Mill.jpeg|MillFile:0085 Remains of Corning House and Mixing House.jpeg|Remains of Corning House and Mixing House</gallery>

Sanitary arrangements were still primitive in The quantities of gunpowder loaded onto an 80 gun ship varied according to the reign theatre of war but would be about 288 barrels of Henry Vlll cannon powder and latrines were dug out at night by dung farmers and scavengers41 barrels of fine powder. Each barrel weighed 90lbs. Gunpowder was not used loose, but in the reign made up into cartridges, first of parchment and later of Elizabeth l they were superseded by officials dignified by the name special cartridge paper. The method of Royal Saltpetre Men, who collected excrement specifically for the making priming a cannon was as follows: The cartridge of gunpowder. This was manufactured would be placed down the muzzle, rammed home using a formula of 75parts saltpetreramrod, wadded, 15parts carbon (charcoal) and 10parts sulphur, or brimstone as it was once calledthen the cannonball similarly. This last name is very evocative as A sharp-pointed metal rod would be inserted into the bright yellow sulphur was indeed collected in lumps from the brims of volcanoes in extremely hazardous conditions. The first two materials produced vent to pierce the explosion cartridge and the third added ignition and consistency vent would then be filled up with fine powder. A portfire rod would be used to ignite the grains of black fine powder which was milled to in the vent. This in turn ignited the size of corncartridge, hence the name 'corned' powder, as opposed resultant heat causing the gases generated to speedily build up into an explosive power sufficient to fine powderpropel the cannonball up the barrel towards the target at high speed. Fine powder was The optimum amount of gunpowder needed to prime per cartridge for a 32-pounder cannon would be 14lbs (1 stone). Any excess could cause such a massive build-up of gases in the barrel thereby risking the destruction of the cannons cannon and was also used for small armsprobably most of those attending upon it.<br />

The quantities of gunpowder loaded onto an 80 gun ship varied according mills at Chilworth near Guildford were founded by the East India Company in 1625. They were forced to leave their previous site near Woolwich because frequent explosive accidents caused havoc among the theatre local population. There were, of war course, accidents at Chilworth but would be about 288 barrels of cannon powder and 41 barrels of fine powder. Each barrel weighed 90lbs. Gunpowder it was not used loose, but made up into cartridges, first of parchment and later of special cartridge papera heavily populated area. The method of priming On one occasion a spark from a workman's hobnailed boot striking on a cannon was as follows: stone path caused an explosion which killed six men. The cartridge of gunpowder would be placed down mills used the muzzle, rammed home using a ramrod, wadded, and then the cannonball similarly. A sharpfast-pointed metal rod would be inserted into the vent flowing Tillingbourne stream to pierce power the cartridge and heavy grinding stones of the vent would then be filled up with fine powderincorporating process. A portfire rod would be used to ignite the fine powder There were many stages involved in the ventmanufacture and thus it was very labour-intensive. This in turn ignited As far as the cartridgeingredients were concerned, local alder trees provided the resultant heat causing the gasses generated to speedily build up into an explosive power finest charcoal, sulphur was imported from Sicily, and saltpetre imported from India cost £45 per ton. A sufficient supply to propel the cannonball up the barrel towards the target at high speedlast seven years in July 1752 cost £9,000. The optimum amount of gunpowder needed per cartridge for a 32pdr. cannon would discovery that saltpetre could be 14lbs. (1 stone). Any excess could such a massive build-up of gasses in the barrel thereby risking the destruction of the cannon manufactured from earth gathered from dovecots, to which dung, urine and probably most of those attending upon lime were added, meant that itcould be collected locally.<br />

The gunpowder mills at Chilworth near Guildford were founded by the East India Company in 1625. They were forced 12th to leave their previous site near Woolwich because frequent explosive accidents caused havoc among the local population. There were, 13th century chapel of course, accidents at Chilworth but it was not a heavily populated areaSt. On one occasion a spark from a workmanMartha's hobnailed boot striking built on a stone path caused an explosion which killed six men. The mills used 600ft hill above the fast-flowing Tillingbourne stream mill and half a mile distant, was considerably reduced by successive explosions, finally to power a heap of stones, and only rebuilt in 1850. A massive explosion later on split the heavy grinding stones of mill walls open, shattered the incorporating process. There were many stages involved glass in the manufacture windows of the ancient manor and thus it was very labour-intensive. As far as even severely damaged the ingredients were concernedvillage of Albury a short distance away, local alder trees provided not to mention the deaths of the finest charcoal, sulphur was imported from Sicily, workmen and saltpetre imported from India cost £45 per ton. A sufficient supply to last seven years in July 1752 cost £9the terrible injuries caused by the volatile black powder,000. The discovery that saltpetre could be manufactured from earth gathered from dovecots, to which dung, urine ignited by the slightest friction and lime were added, meant that it could be collected locallyspark.

*Mr Paul Evans - Librarian, Firepower Museum.

*Mr Peter Davies, Assistant - special interest - smooth bore muzzle-loading smallarmssmall arms.