Woolwich walk

Additional Information

london-footprints.co.uk

ROYAL ARSENAL TIMELINE

16thc

 A military presence at 'Woolwich Warren'

1667

 Prince Rupert was ordered to fortify the site against the Dutch

1671

 An Ordnance Storage Depot was established
The site was extended by the purchase of the 16thc Tower House & 31 acres of land

1694

 The munition factory started in the two pavilions within the Royal Laboratory

1714

 Formation of the the Royal Military Academy

1716

 Formation of the Royal Artillery

1717

 Large-scale gun making started in the Royal Brass Foundry

1757

 Formation of the Royal Corps of Engineers

1773-7

 Rapid expansion followed the American War of Independence

1804

 A 2 mile wall was built around the site using convict labour

1805

 George III declares that the site should be known as the 'Royal Arsenal'
1793-1815 New building during the Napoleonic Wars especially the Grand Stores

1814-6

The Ordnance Canal was constructed

1824-54

 A site tramway was laid out

1850s

 More building activity for the Crimean War
1873-1923 A narrow gauge steam railway was in operation

1879

 The West Riverside Guardroom served as a mortuary chapel for the Prince Imperial, killed in Zululand

1899

 Dial Square FC formed, later to become Arsenal FC in North London

1907

 The site measured 3x1 miles and covered 1285 acres

1914

 At the height of its production in WWI nearly 80000 people were employed

1967

 The Ordnance factories were closed
500 acres were passed on to the GLC for housing

1994

 The Ministry of Defence closed the site

1997

 Ownership was transferred to the London Developmeny Agency

1999

 Mowlems were awarded the site infrastructure contract

2000

 Berkeley Homes were selected as developer for the residential zone

2001

 The io Group was selected as the developer for the employment zone.
Site opened to the public

ROYAL ARSENAL BUILDINGS

No Use Building Date Grade Architect Current State
2 C Middle Gate House 1809 ext 1939 II   Greenwich Leisure Ltd
7 C Gunnery Terrace       converting to industrial units
10 C Royal Carriage Department 1728/1802/1874 II   awaiting development
11 L Officers Quarters   II   undergoing renovation
12 L Main Guard House 1788 II Wyatt LDA offices
13 L Verbruggen's House 1772 II    
14 L Dial Arch Block 1717-20 II* Vanbrugh available but boarded up
15 L Royal Lab (W Pavilion) 1696 II   Dangerous structure
16 L Royal Lab (E Pavilion) 1696 II   Dangerous structure
17 H Paper Cartridge Factory 1855-6 II   Firepower! RA Museum
18 H Royal Laboratory Offices 1855 II   Library & Archives
19 C Gun Inspection Shop   II   Berkeley's storage/offices
20 R Chemical Laboratory 1864 II   Housing
21 R Telephone Exchange 1870/1890     Housing
22 C Central Office 1908-11 II   under residential development
23 R Shell Foundry Gatehouse 1856 II   Berkeleys Housing offices
24 R Shell Foundry site       Housing and park
25 C Armstrong Gun Factory 1858 II   British Library storage
36 R Grand Store   II*   Housing
37 R Stores Office   II*   Housing
40 H Tower Place - Academy & Pattern Room - Officer's Mess 1719 II* Hawksmoor Firepower! corporate facility
41 H New Laboratory Square 1810
20thc (S range)		 II Wyatt Firepower! large items
Heritage Centre
45 R site of Shot & Shell Store 1850     Housing
46 R Grand Stores 1806-13 II* Wyatt Housing

47

R

 Infill Store       Housing

48

R

 Infill Store       Housing

49

R

 Grand Stores 1806-13

II*

 Wyatt Housing
54   East Guard House 1814-5 II   awaiting development
55   West Guard House 1814-5 II   awaiting development
    Brass Foundry 1717 I Vanbrugh Maritime Museum ship's plans

NOTES
NUMBER standard numbering system for Royal Arsenal Buildings
USE as defined by English Partnerships in 1999 Masterplan C = Commercial mixed H = Heritage L = Leisure R = Residential
GRADE by listed building definition
ARCHITECT James Wyatt, Nicholas Hawksmoor, Sir John Vanbrugh

BUILDINGS DEMOLISHED since 1994
1,3,4,5,6,8,9,24,25a,32,33,34,42,most of 45,46a,50,53

FIREPOWER!
This tells the story of artillery and the men & women who have served the guns. It includes the history of the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich, a Field of Fire presentation and lots of hands-on exhibits. Open 10:30-5 Wednesday - Sunday plus bank holidays and local school holidays. There is an admission charge but its shop & cafe are open to all. Some special events are held. For more information telephone 020 8855 7755 (24 hours) or visit the website.

HM BARK ENDEAVOUR
The replica of Cook's ship paid a visit to the site in the summer of 2002 and July 2003 [more info]

BOROUGH MUSEUM & LOCAL HISTORY ARCHIVE
This is located in building 41 on the Arsenal site. There are exhibitions including a History of the Arsenal and a programme of talks and activities. Tel 020 8854 2452. [more info]

Books
Discover Woolwich & Environs by Darrell Spurgeon
Britain in Old Photographs - The Royal Arsenal Woolwich by Roy Masters

More information on the Royal Arsenal site at www.royal-arsenal.co.uk

london-footprints.co.uk 2010

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