Gunpowder is a mixture of sulphur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate. It burns rapidly, producing a volume of hot gas, Because of its burning properties and the amount of heat and gas volume that it generates, gunpowder has been widely used as a propellant in firearms. Gunpowder is classified as a low explosive.
Gunpowder was discovered in the 9th century by Chinese alchemists searching for an elixir of immortality. This discovery led to the invention of fireworks and the earliest gunpowder weapons in China.
Gunpowder production in Britain started in the mid-14th century AD to supply The English Crown. Records show that gunpowder was being made, in England, in 1346, at the Tower of London.
The Medieval Siege Society‘s Members have several reproduction firearms; here you can see some of them being demonstrated at Ruislip near London.
