Philippa Walton facts for kids

Philippa Walton was a very important businesswoman in England. From 1711, she ran one of the biggest gunpowder factories. She became a main supplier of gunpowder to the British Army.

Philippa's Story

Philippa was born in 1674 or 1675. She was one of five daughters of John Bourchier, a doctor from Ipswich. She married William Walton, a merchant from London. In 1702, William took over the gunpowder mills at Waltham Abbey. These mills had some problems before William took them over.

There was a big need for gunpowder because of the War of the Spanish Succession (1701–1714). So, William got his first contract in 1702, soon after he bought the mills. William died early in 1711. Philippa was 36 years old and had ten young children. She bravely took over the business. She managed the mills by herself until 1723. Then, she made one of her sons, John, her business partner.

Under Philippa's leadership, the Waltham Abbey Mills became one of the most important gunpowder factories in the country. It had several horse mills and stamp mills for making gunpowder. The factory became a main supplier to the government. This was during a time when European countries were often at war. Philippa died on December 7, 1749, when she was 74 years old. She was buried in St. Michael's Churchyard, Mickleham.

Her Lasting Impact

In 1757, John Walton died. His brothers, Thomas and Bouchier, inherited the factory. Around this time, the Seven Years' War began. The Waltham Abbey gunpowder factory became even more important for the British Army. The British government started buying gunpowder mills in 1759. They bought the Faversham Mills first. In 1787, the government bought the Waltham Abbey Mills from the Walton family. This made them one of the three Royal Gunpowder Mills in the United Kingdom. The other two were at Ballincollig and Faversham.

Remembering Philippa

In 2022, a special blue plaque was put up to honor Philippa Walton. It is on Walton House at the Royal Gunpowder Mills. This was suggested by the Essex Women’s Commemoration Project.