In Kronstadt, there used to be many powder magazines in old times. Both on the island itself, at the forts of the Kronstadt fortress, and on the ships. Explosions of gunpowder happened often in Kronstadt’s history: due to lightning, careless handling, and as a result of sabotage. Therefore, when they began building the Northern numbered forts, it was decided to construct a powder magazine close to the forts, but at the same time away from the city. The entire architecture of the fort fully met the requirements for the safe storage of gunpowder and shells: island location, a powerful foundation made of granite blocks, two-meter-thick brick walls, and the most advanced heating and ventilation system of that time. Inside, the “Powder” is a two-level warehouse, the rooms of which are connected by galleries; on the floor, you can still see the remains of rails along which small wagons were moved — this allowed for quick transportation of ammunition within the fort.
The carefully designed heating system of the casemates and their ventilation provided quite acceptable conditions for the personnel’s existence and the storage of ammunition.
There were also repair workshops, the remains of which can still be seen today — in one of the rooms on the second floor, the frame of a machine tool has been preserved. In some places, mechanisms of manual hoists with gear transmission (manufactured in 1914) and racks for storing shells have survived. It had a complex ventilation and heating system for the casemates, the most advanced for that time.
And in 1861, the Powder Magazine of the Naval Department was commissioned. It was, of course, a grand structure. It is worth noting how reasonably everything was planned: delivery by water anywhere. Ammunition could be quickly and timely supplied to the forts and ships at the roadsteads. And if a fire or explosion did occur, the consequences would be less devastating for Kronstadt.
Besides the storage facilities, the Powder also housed workshops where combat equipment was repaired and gunpowder charges and shells were prepared for firing.
In 1904, it was decided to decommission the Powder Magazine and convert its casemates into detention facilities to hold those already convicted, sentenced to death, but pardoned by the highest decree. And, of course, the prison at the Powder (the word “magazine” naturally dropped out) was intended only for naval personnel. These were usually young men, and very often the sentences of the Field and Military Courts against them were extremely harsh. But almost always, the sentence was mitigated from above. And so, for those whose death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment, the prison among the sea was arranged. Mostly, officers of the Imperial Navy — participants in the revolutionary movement — ended up in this “Russian Alcatraz.” They would have served life imprisonment if not for the fall of the tsarist regime and the Great October Socialist Revolution.
In the 1950s, reconstruction was carried out at the “Powder,” and the premises were rebuilt. But these works were presumably halted before completion. Possibly, the reason was the high cost of maintaining and operating this structure. This fascinating building was thoroughly looted by metal hunters in the 1990s.
Once, an embankment road led to the fort (it is located 800 meters from the shore), but now it is destroyed, with the tops of stone blocks sometimes rising above the water.
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