LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Gunpowder: London Edition
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*The above description of gunpowder manufacture is from Chamber's Library of Universal Knowledge. A reprint of the last (1880) Edinburgh and London Edition of Chamber's Encyclopedia. In fifteen volumes. This reprint was published by the American Book Exchange in New York in 1880. Copious Additions were made by American Editors who used the technique of regular type to draw attention to these from these additions as opposed to Chamber's edition in which bold-faced type is used for the headings. There were no changes, as the editor stated; Scrupulous care has been taken not to mutilate or modify the original text of the edition of 18-0, no changes have been made except such verbal alterations as are required by the omission of the woodcuts.'
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According to historian Lady Antonia Fraser, the gunpowder was taken to the Tower of London magazine. It would have been reissued or sold for recycling if in good condition. Ordnance records for the Tower state that 18 hundredweight of it was "decayed". This could imply that it was rendered harmless due to having separated into its component chemical parts, as happens with gunpowder when left to sit for too long – if Fawkes had ignited the gunpowder, during the opening, it would only have resulted in a weak splutter. Alternatively, "decayed" may refer to the powder being damp and sticking together, making it unfit for use in firearms. In this case the explosive capabilities of the barrels would not be greatly affected.
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This paper, by Dr. John H. Clarke, applies to the old-fashioned gunpowder that was in use before the era of high explosives and smokeless powder. It was published first in the Homeopathic World, London, in 1914 :
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The government had a monopoly on gunpowder in this country and it was stored in places like the Tower of London. How did the conspirators get hold of 36 barrels of gunpowder without drawing attention to themselves? Did they get help from the government?
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