The National Powder Factory of Ripault is a former powder mill situated within the territory of the French commune of Monts, located in the department of Indre-et-Loire in the Centre-Val de Loire region.
The facility was established on the eve of the Revolution in 1786 by Antoine Lavoisier, General Manager of the Royal Administration of Powders, as a replacement for a wire-drawing mill constructed along the Indre River a few years earlier. The wire-drawing mill was a continuation of the flour mills documented in the 16th century. The facility gained importance throughout the nineteenth century and, in the 1840s, was considered "the most beautiful powder mill in Europe." During the First World War, it employed up to 6,000 workers and underwent significant expansion by producing B powder, which had supplanted black powder. At the start of World War II, at its peak, its facilities extended over 120 hectares.
The history of the company is characterized by periods of expansion that coincided with periods of increased military demand for powder and explosives in France. However, these periods were also marked by accidents, including fires and explosions. The most serious of these incidents resulted in the deaths of at least 74 individuals and injuries to 345 others, with the precise number of casualties remaining uncertain. Additionally, the factory was completely devastated on October 18, 1943, during its occupation by German authorities. Following the resumption of activity in 1945, the significant reduction in demand for explosives forced the company to diversify its activities. This included the production of furniture, paints, and antibiotics, until the factory's closure in 1959.
In 1961, the Commissariat à l'énergie atomique (CEA) assumed control of the site and a significant portion of its workforce, placing it under the direction of the (DAM). This arrangement persisted until at least 2018, with the expectation that its activities will continue to expand into the civilian domain in the coming years. An industrial park, encompassing a portion of the land divested by the powder factory after it ceased operations but extending beyond, emerged to the south of the site. A museum, inaccessible to the general public due to its location within the CEA complex, chronicles the history of the powder factory.
Historical and geographical context of the founding of Ripault
As early as 1764, King Louis XV contemplated the establishment of a powder mill in either Touraine or Anjou. This location, situated along the primary east-west thoroughfares of the Loire Valley and the principal north-south routes traversing Paris to Bordeaux, appeared to offer a strategic advantage. Furthermore, the saltpeter utilized in the production of gunpowder was conducive to its formation on the walls and within the tuffeau quarries of these provinces, due to the temperate and humid climate of the Loire Valley. During the early 1760s, the provided approximately 450 tons of saltpeter annually to the Saumur refinery. Nevertheless, the endeavors undertaken to identify a suitable location for the powder mill were ultimately unsuccessful.
By 1575, a milling enterprise had already been established on the Indre River, situated northeast of the parish of Monts and adjacent to the border of Montbazon. This enterprise, operating under the name "Moulins de Candé," was near the historic Château de Candé. Following a series of ownership transfers, the mills were ultimately destroyed by a flood of the Indre River in 1770. However, probably, floods had already undermined their structural integrity. This significant flood occurred after the sale to two new proprietors, the transfer of ownership having already been duly executed. The mills were rebuilt in 1772 to power a wire-drawing mill, with the 1.40-meter waterfall providing sufficient mechanical force. This mill operated for the and employed 72 workers. The Duke of Rohan-Guéméné, lord of Montbazon, provided indispensable approval for this transformation. Upon the commencement of operations at the wire-drawing mill, owners situated further downstream on the Indre voiced concerns that the modifications to the river's flow resulting from the factory's activities had reduced their mills’ efficiency. The factory ceased operations in 1785, having been unable to overcome severe financial difficulties, primarily linked to the economic crisis caused by the American War of Independence. Despite several appeals for assistance to King Louis XVI, which went unanswered, the company was ultimately unable to secure the financial support it required to remain operational. Additionally, significant advances made to major clients of the wire-drawing mill, which were never repaid, further burdened the company's finances.
The toponym "Ripault," previously spelled "Ripaux," appears to derive from the Latin ripoe, itself derived from rip(a, ae), meaning "bank of a watercourse" (in this case, the Indre).
Location The original location of the Ripault powder mill was on the right bank of the Indre, at the border of the present-day communes of Montbazon and Monts, situated between the river and the road (currently D87) connecting the two communes. Subsequently, the company expanded its operations to the south, on the left bank of the Indre, and to the west. However, the construction of the Tours-Bordeaux railway line, which opened in 1851 between Tours and Poitiers, effectively delineated a boundary that could not be traversed in that direction. The village of Monts, situated further to the southwest, was separated from the powder mill by the railway, constructed on a high embankment at that level.
History
From the origins to the French Revolution
A powder mill replaces the wire-drawing mill
In 1786, Antoine Lavoisier, General Manager of the Royal Powder Administration, purchased the wire-drawing mill and established a powder mill, which was placed under the direction of . Riffault des Hêtres had resumed the searches initiated under Louis XV and discovered the Ripault site. It seems probable that Riffault, who was a Freemason, made use of his extensive network of connections to identify this site. He was a member of the same Masonic lodge as one of the last owners of the wire-drawing mill. The powder mill operated in the buildings and with the staff of the former wire-drawing mill, whose mills, rebuilt in 1787, powered the hammers used to crush and mix saltpeter, charcoal, and sulfur, which constituted the basic ingredients of gunpowder. By 1788, the powder mill covered ten hectares on the right bank of the Indre, with four mills operating 80 hammers, 12 workshops, grainers, dryers, warehouses, staff housing, and a chapel, which was converted into a dryer in 1793. This is the only building from that period still standing in the 21st century. The workforce resided outside the boundaries of the powder mill complex. By 1789, the powder mill employed approximately one hundred individuals, who appeared to be entitled to free and comprehensive medical care. Until 1791, the business expanded by purchasing land from the proprietors of Château de Candé. During this period, the production of war powder, mining powder, and hunting powder was undertaken. However, the prosperity of the powder mill gave rise to conflicts with neighboring landowners, particularly those with meadows upstream of the factory. These landowners found their pastures frequently flooded by the Indre floods since Ripault had built dams to regulate water for the mills. Additionally, the workers' special tax-exempt status caused some jealousy among other residents.
Temporary threat of closure
Nevertheless, during the early 1790s, despite the increased demand for powder resulting from the Patrie en danger declaration, the viability of the powder mill was called into question. A novel method of manufacturing powder was devised in the Paris region, offering a significantly more expeditious (a mere few hours) and straightforward alternative to the conventional hammer system. The government subsequently mandated the cessation of this traditional method, seeking to consolidate production close to Paris. This resulted in one of the few instances of labor unrest in the powder mill's history, as evidenced by the strike that commenced on September 10, 1793. To demonstrate the competitiveness of his facility, Riffault improved the hammer technique, invented a rapid drying process in a kiln, and revived Ripault, which was officially maintained in 1796. Meanwhile, the War in the Vendée increased the demand for powder in western France, which benefited Ripault. Furthermore, the on August 30, 1794 (which resulted in the deaths of approximately 536 individuals and injuries to 827) prompted a shift in production to provincial sites. Consequently, Ripault provided the troops engaged in combat in Tours and throughout the Loire Valley, as well as in Mayenne. In the decades following its establishment, the Ripault powder mill established "satellite" storage facilities in Bourges, Châtellerault, Le Mans, Limoges, Saumur, and Tours. From the latter location, powder for the Atlantic ports of the Navy was transported down the Loire.
From the Empire to World War I
Successive expansions in the 19th century Following the withdrawal from Russia, the imperial army required substantial reinforcements, necessitating a significant expansion of its personnel through extensive recruitment. Those employed by Ripault were exempt from conscription, provided they were married, which made employment at the powder mill an attractive proposition. The initial configuration, comprising four powder mills on a 9-hectare site, was expanded in 1815 and subsequently encompassed 22 hectares on the right bank of the river. This expansion enabled the production of 250 tons of black powder annually with a workforce of 40 workers overseen by four officers. The production of saltpeter and charcoal from buckthorn wood at Ripault was conducted on a regional scale. The former was sourced from the Cher, Indre-et-Loire, and Sarthe departments, while the latter was extracted from volcanic regions in southern Italy and refined in Marseille before being transported.
During the reign of Louis-Philippe, the Ripault was regarded as the most aesthetically pleasing powder factory in Europe, with its products distributed extensively throughout France. Other powder factories, such as those in Esquerdes or Vonges, also engage in commercial activities with the Ripault. A study conducted in the 1830s on the properties of French gunpowder demonstrated that, while Ripault powder was not the most powerful, it caused less damage to the weapons that used it. In 1848, following the June Days, the workforce at the Ripault initiated a strike and proceeded towards Tours. However, Canon was able to successfully negotiate their return to Monts. In the same year, the current network of canals was established, as was the inaugural mill-equipped factory, which eventually supplanted using stampers. In 1851, the company undertook a further expansion with the purchase of land on the left bank of the Indre. At this time, the Ripault factory employed between 200 and 300 people. In 1864, the powder factory produced three varieties of powder: war powder, mining powder, and hunting powder. These were intended for the domestic market and export. In the following year, the Ripault and four other powder factories were placed under the authority of the Ministry of War. Their production was dedicated exclusively to military use, while other establishments manufactured civilian powder. To meet the demands of Napoleon III's wars (Crimea, Italy, and Mexico), the powder factory underwent extensive renovations, including the exchange of equipment between facilities. Additionally, the enclosure of the Ripault, which still stands today, was constructed on the right bank of the Indre.