108-523: The Royal Military Academy ( RMA ) at Woolwich , in south-east London , was a British Army military academy for the training of commissioned officers of the Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers . It later also trained officers of the Royal Corps of Signals and other technical corps . RMA Woolwich was commonly known as "The Shop" because its first building was a converted workshop of
216-476: A 259-home housing development with an 84,000 sq ft (7,800 m ) Tesco hypermarket , completed in 2014. In the same year, the latter development was named Britain's worst new building, being awarded the ' Carbuncle Cup ' for a design judges described as "oppressive, defensive, arrogant and inept". The same development was later the subject of a £46.7m claim by Tesco against Willmott Dixon for cladding replacement; Willmott Dixon then sought to reclaim
324-568: A 450-seat black box theatre and a riverside restaurant. The Greenwich Heritage Centre will move to new premises. The site will further include offices, studios and rehearsal spaces for resident companies such as Academy Performing Arts, Dash Arts, Chickenshed Theatre , Protein Dance, Greenwich Dance and Greenwich+Docklands International Festival . The creative district opened as Woolwich Works in September 2021. Woolwich Arsenal DLR station ,
432-805: A British soldier based at the Royal Artillery Barracks, was murdered close to the barracks by two Islamic extremists . The 16th Regiment Royal Artillery left Woolwich in 2007, but the Woolwich barracks still house the Royal Artillery Band and more recently the Second Battalion Princess of Wales' Royal Regiment and the King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery , although the relocation of these has been announced for 2028. Recent and anticipated regeneration in
540-464: A Military Academy represented a very different approach, whereby training and education were obligatory for aspiring officers of its corps, and promotion was offered according to merit (those with highest achievement in their exams being given the first choice of opportunities). The main Academy buildings are described by Historic England as "an outstanding example of Wyatt's Gothick style, and one of
648-541: A brass plaque in the chapel) became the Garrison Church (replacing the bombed out Garrison Church of St George ). In this way the old Academy continued in military use through the 20th century, but with the number of personnel based in Woolwich having steadily decreased, the site was in 2002 declared surplus to requirements. It closed the following year; two stained glass windows from the chapel – one by Christopher Whall , an Arts & Crafts artist – were moved to
756-606: A capacity of 1,680. It became the Woolwich Hippodrome in 1908 and a full-time cinema in 1923. Rebuilt in 1955 as the Regal Cinema, it closed in 1982, was then used as a nightclub and demolished in 2015. The Granada cinema and the Odeon, later Coronet , both seating around 2,500, are imposing buildings from the 1930s that have both been converted into Pentecostal churches. The civil parish of Woolwich , roughly
864-779: A conservation area. The Neoclassical façade of the Royal Artillery Barracks ( James Wyatt , 1776–1802) is the longest façade in London, stretching along the north end of the common. Across the road, Government House (1781), was the quarters of the Garrison Commandant from 1855 to 1995. Of the nearby Garrison Church of St George only the shell remains after it was bombed during the Second World War . Its Neo-Romanesque architecture and remnants of mosaics are still impressive. John Nash 's Rotunda ,
972-579: A covered market opened in Plumstead Road but never formed a threat to the main market. Beresford Square had the largest public houses (of which Woolwich had many). Powis Street and Hare Street, laid out in the early 19th century, became the main shopping streets. A number of Victorian shop facades, many designed by local architect Henry Hudson Church, have survived. In 1868 the Royal Arsenal Co-operative Society
1080-517: A foreign ecclesiastic institution. As a result of this tenure Woolwich is not mentioned in the Domesday Book ; it is thought that the 63 acres listed as Hulviz refer to North Woolwich , which was then uninhabited. Some of the Ghent lands passed to the royal manors of Dartford and Eltham as early as 1100; the larger part of the parish, referred to as the manor of Woolwich but in effect not
1188-778: A fortune at the Royal Mint , bought riverside holdings in Woolwich and Plumstead in the 1530s, some of it former church land that had become available after the Dissolution of the Monasteries . His mansion was Tower Place, for some time the largest dwelling in Woolwich. In the 1650s the Board of Ordnance was given permission to prove guns in the grounds of the mansion (an area known as the Warren) and twenty years later they purchased Tower Place itself. The Warren then developed from
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#17327724714781296-478: A full manor, became an Eltham dependency in the 14th century. Not included were a riverside quay held by Holy Trinity Priory, Aldgate , a wharf held by St Mary's Priory, Southwark , and land around Plumstead owned by Bartholomew de Burghersh, 2nd Baron Burghersh , later referred to as the Burrage Estate. Medieval Woolwich was susceptible to flooding. In 1236 many were killed by a flood. Woolwich Ferry
1404-611: A grant of £30,000 for his more ambitious proposals, and in 1801 the school for staff officers at High Wycombe became the Senior Department of the new Military College. In 1802, having been appointed as the first Lieutenant Governor of the College, Le Marchant opened its Junior Department at a large house called Remnantz in West Street, Great Marlow , to train gentleman cadets for the infantry and cavalry regiments of
1512-399: A new college at Addiscombe . During the years that followed the status of the cadets changed: rather than being considered (albeit junior) military personnel, as had previously been the case, they were removed from the muster roll and they (or their parents) began to be charged fees for attendance. In this way the Academy took on something of the ethos of an English public school . In 1844
1620-706: A number of public sculptures: one of Roman origin, several statues and reliefs from the 19th and early 20th centuries, and a number of modern sculptures. One of the Woolwich Arsenal DLR station entrances features a large mural in tiles by Michael Craig-Martin . Royal Military College, Great Marlow The Royal Military College ( RMC ), founded in 1801 and established in 1802 at Great Marlow and High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire , England , but moved in October 1812 to Sandhurst , Berkshire ,
1728-585: A place of storage into a collection of armament factories, military stores and research establishments, which were collectively named the Royal Arsenal by George III in 1805. The complex played a central role in Britain's military and industrial expansion: in wartime, tens of thousands of workers found employment here; between wars, unemployment loomed. The Board of Ordnance maintained its own establishment of military personnel, many of whom were based in
1836-481: A quarter of dockyard labourers' wages. At the height of the Napoleonic Wars , there were more soldiers (3,000) than dockyard and ropeyard workers (2,000), while the arsenal employed as many as 5,000. After the end of the wars, thousands were discharged, causing great distress. In the 1840s, a steam factory gave a new lease of life to the dockyard and the 1850s saw a huge expansion of the arsenal during and after
1944-525: A relatively small Kentish settlement until the beginning of the 16th century, when it began to develop into a maritime, military and industrial centre. In 1512 it became home to Woolwich Dockyard , originally known as "The King's Yard", founded by Henry VIII to build his flagship Henry Grace à Dieu ("The Great Harry"). Many great ships were built here, such as the Prince Royal , the Sovereign of
2052-576: A round brick building with a leaded tent roof, until 2001 housed the Royal Artillery Museum and now serves as a boxing ring for the King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery in nearby Napier Lines Barracks. The Royal Military Academy at the south end of Woolwich Common was also designed by James Wyatt and has an almost equally long façade in Mock Tudor style. Other military buildings that survive include Connaught Barracks (built as
2160-533: Is a plain brick 1730s building with a spireless tower. Other religious buildings of interest include the Roman Catholic St Peter's Church (by Pugin ), and two Sikh gurdwaras , one a former Methodist church , the other a former Masonic hall. Parks in central Woolwich are generally small. St Mary's Gardens has been laid out as a park in Romantic style on the grounds of the former churchyard of
2268-470: Is based in the historic Bathway Quarter in the centre of Woolwich. The old Grand Theatre, which briefly reopened in the 2010s, closed in 2015. The Tramshed, until 1953 an electricity sub-station for the borough's tramways , is a music and entertainment venue run by the Royal Borough of Greenwich. Woolwich currently has no movie theatres. Cinemas are included in the plans for Spray Street quarter and
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#17327724714782376-543: Is collected by borough and ward so identifying the population of Woolwich is not straightforward. If the area is taken to approximate to the Woolwich Common, Woolwich Riverside and Glyndon Wards, then the population was 54,790 at the time of the 2011 census. If it is also taken to include the Plumstead and Shooters Hill Wards then it rises to 84,959 at the 2011 census. Woolwich has been inhabited since at least
2484-543: Is facing redevelopment. The round entrance building of the Woolwich foot tunnel dates from 1912. Further west, the Thames Barrier is an interesting example of modern architecture and technical achievement. The Thames Path is a National Trail that connects these sites. Elsewhere, monumental buildings testify of Woolwich's rich military history. Woolwich Common with its surrounding buildings has been designated
2592-552: Is now part of the London Borough of Newham . The ancient parishes of Plumstead and Eltham became part of the civil parish of Woolwich in 1930. Parts of the wards Glyndon and Shooter's Hill are often referred to as Woolwich, although this definition is not accepted by all. The nearest areas are Abbey Wood , Blackheath , Charlton , Eltham , Greenwich , Kidbrooke , Lewisham , North Woolwich, Plumstead, Shooter's Hill, Thamesmead , Welling and Well Hall . Census data
2700-822: The British Army and for the presidency armies of British India . 1802 was the same year as the founding of the French Army 's Saint-Cyr and of West Point in the United States . General Sir William Harcourt was appointed as the first Governor of the Royal Military College at Great Marlow and continued in post until 1811. In January 1809, the East India Company established its own East India Military Seminary at Addiscombe to train officers for its armies. In 1812,
2808-459: The Crimean War . The presence of the dockyard, the arsenal and other military institutions stimulated economic growth in other areas, notably in commercial activities and entertainment. The ropeyard was established around 1570 and survived until 1832. Throughout the 17th century two glass factories were active near Glass Yard, owned by Sir Robert Mansell from Greenwich , who also managed
2916-600: The Docklands . The North Kent Line from London via Greenwich and Woolwich to Gillingham opened in 1849. The station building was rebuilt in 1906 and again in 1992–93. Woolwich was also on the route of two London trams of the first generation (1881–1952). The post-war period brought massive changes to the town's fabric and infrastructure. Roads were widened and entire neighbourhoods pulled down to make room for modern housing, some of it in tower blocks. The widening of Woolwich High Street and Beresford Street left little of
3024-858: The Fröbel -influenced principal of Blackheath Kindergarten Training College. In the 18th century, Woolwich Cricket Club , later Royal Artillery Cricket Club, were well-known cricket clubs. Cricket and other sports were mainly played by military officers and students at the Royal Military Academy . Arsenal F.C. was founded in 1886 by workers at the Royal Arsenal . Initially known as Dial Square , then Royal Arsenal and then Woolwich Arsenal , they soon drew large crowds to their ground in Plumstead . In 1913 they moved to Arsenal Stadium in Highbury , North London. Royal Ordnance Factories F.C.
3132-530: The Garrison Church of St Alban the Martyr at Larkhill , where they are displayed in lightboxes. Durkan Group bought the Woolwich site by public tender in 2006 and redevelopment started in 2008. The Woolwich buildings, several of which are grade II listed , were converted and extended into 334 houses and apartments, including 150 for a housing association . In 2017 the scaffolding around the main facade
3240-494: The Great Plague , the population was estimated at 1,200 or more, of which about 300 worked in the dockyard. Around 1720, the town's population had risen to 6,500, reaching almost 10,000 in 1801. During the booming wartime decade that followed, population reached a peak of 17,000. After a period of stagnation, building activity picked up in the 1830s. Woolwich' built-up area expanded southward with workers' houses mostly close to
3348-597: The Iron Age . Remains of a probably Celtic oppidum , established sometime between the 3rd and 1st century BCE, in the late Roman period re-used as a fort, were found at the current Waterfront development site between Beresford Street and the Thames. According to the Survey of London (Volume 48: Woolwich), "this defensive earthwork encircled the landward sides of a riverside settlement, the only one of its kind so far located in
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3456-540: The Provisional IRA bombed the Kings Arms pub in the town. The bombing killed two. During the 2011 England riots , Woolwich was one of the areas affected. Several buildings were attacked, with a few being destroyed. The Great Harry Wetherspoons' Pub was set on fire, though it was subsequently remodeled and reopened. On 22 May 2013 the murder of Lee Rigby in Woolwich caused upheaval. Drummer Lee Rigby,
3564-469: The River Thames led to its status as an important naval, military and industrial area; a role that was maintained throughout the 16th to 20th centuries. After several decades of economic hardship and social deprivation , the area now has several large-scale urban renewal projects. Woolwich is situated 8.5 miles (13.7 km) from Charing Cross . It has a 1.6 mi (2.5 km) long frontage to
3672-415: The Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers from 1741 to 1939) and the Royal Military College (1802 to 1942), with the objective of providing officer training for all arms and services. The Royal Military College was originally led by a governor, who was a figurehead, often non-resident, a lieutenant governor, who had actual day-to-day command of the college, and a commandant, who was the officer in charge of
3780-767: The Royal Military Artificers in 1803), Lewis Wyatt 's Grand Depot Barracks (begun in 1805-6 for the Field Train department), Cambridge Barracks (1842, of which the gatehouse still stands) and Red Barracks (1858, only the boundary wall and entrance gate remain). The latter two, on Frances Street, were originally built as the Royal Marine Barracks, Woolwich for the Woolwich Division of the Royal Marines , and each
3888-475: The South Sea Company ; but the latter's collapse led to plans for the Academy being placed on hold. After this false start, the academy was opened by authority of a Royal Warrant in 1741: it was intended, in the words of its first charter, to produce "good officers of Artillery and perfect Engineers ". Its 'gentlemen cadets' initially ranged in age from 10 to 30. To begin with they were attached to
3996-476: The Tower of London ) flanked by a pair of accommodation blocks, linked by arcaded walkways. The central block contained classrooms, a library and offices; the accommodation blocks housed officers in the three-storey central sections and cadets in the two-storey wings. Behind the central block Wyatt placed a large dining hall flanked by spacious quadrangles having service buildings around the sides. 128 cadets moved to
4104-516: The Woolwich Arsenal . An attempt had been made by the Board of Ordnance in 1720 to set up an academy within its Arsenal (then known as the Warren) to provide training and education for prospective officers of its new Regiment of Artillery and Corps of Engineers (both of which had been established there in 1716). A new building was being constructed in readiness for the Academy and funds had been secured, seemingly, through investment in
4212-456: The art deco RACS department store , one of two imposing Co-op buildings in this part of town. In September 2012 Greenwich Council approved a plan to convert the building into apartments and retail. Across the road, the late Victorian former RACS Central Stores building was renovated and re-opened as a hotel. Further regeneration is centred on Hare Street and the Riverside. By relocating
4320-561: The old town . Woolwich was home to the experimental Auto Stacker car park. Built on the site of the Empire Theatre, it was officially opened in May 1961 by Princess Margaret . It never actually worked and was demolished in 1962. A multi-storey car park was built along Monk Street in 1971. Woolwich Polytechnic was founded in 1891. As well as providing a higher education facility, it also provided secondary school facilities, including
4428-556: The parish church of St Mary Magdalen . Some historic grave markers have been placed against the peripheral wall. Tom Cribb 's memorial, a lion rests its paw on an urn, stands near the northeast entrance. The park features a belvedere which offers views of the river Thames. At the Royal Arsenal, several new parks and gardens have been landscaped but some can only be accessed by residents. Shrewsbury Park, Plumstead Common , Woolwich Common and Oxleas Wood are situated higher up
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4536-604: The parishes of Woolwich, Eltham and Plumstead formed the Metropolitan Borough of Woolwich . In 1906 the new Woolwich Town Hall was inaugurated. In April 1965, following implementation of the London Government Act 1963 , Woolwich was merged into the London Borough of Greenwich , since 2012 the Royal Borough of Greenwich . The administrative buildings of the borough are in Woolwich, at
4644-696: The 18th century the Royal Regiment of Artillery and the Corps of Royal Engineers were established in Woolwich, followed by the Royal Military Academy . Other military institutions completed the picture of the garrison town that Woolwich had become in the early 19th century. The town has a distinctive housing history and in the Bathway Quarter it has an equally distinctive civic centre. Although repeatedly rebuilt, its architectural heritage reflects its unusual and important history. The older parts of
4752-527: The 18th century the navy yard remained the town's main employer with between 500 and 1,400 men working in the docks. Due to the malarial marshlands, it was not a popular place to work and for that reason Woolwich dockyard workers were paid as much as a third more than in other naval towns. These were mostly skilled artisans who were generally literate, Nonconformist and well-organized. The number of artillery men grew from around 200 in 1716 to around 1,500 in 1801. Soldiers were generally held in contempt, earning about
4860-505: The 1920s when the specialist and scientific training which had been Woolwich's preserve began to be outsourced to other locations. In 1936 it was decided that the merger should take place; but the Second World War intervened and in 1939 both institutions closed as their cadets were called up for active service. The Royal Military Academy Woolwich closed in 1939 and in 1947 the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
4968-404: The Academy was described by Edward Mogg as accommodating: about one hundred and thirty young gentlemen, the sons of military men, and the more respectable classes, who are here instructed in mathematics, land-surveying, with mapping, fortification, engineering, the use of the musket and sword exercise, and field-pieces; and for whose use twelve brass cannon, three-pounders, are placed in front of
5076-589: The Artillery) in what was called 'the Practice' of gunnery, bridge building, magazine technique and artillery work. While an artillery officer attended each class to keep order, teaching in the academy was provided by civilians: a First Master (later called Professor of Fortification and Gunnery), a Second Master (later Professor of Mathematics) and additional tutors in French, Arithmetic, Classics and Drawing. In 1764
5184-675: The Bathway Quarter with the former Public Baths, the Old and New Town Hall , the former Magistrates Court and Police Station, the Old Public Library and several historic buildings of Woolwich Polytechnic. In nearby Powis Street and Hare Street some late Victorian shop façades have been preserved, notably by local architect Henry Hudson Church. The western end of Powis Street is dominated by two former Royal Arsenal Co-operative Society (RACS) department stores, one late Victorian,
5292-596: The Board of Ordnance Architect, was commissioned to design a new complex of buildings to stand, on a site facing the Royal Artillery Barracks , at the southern edge of Woolwich Common ; it was built between 1796 and 1805 and opened for use the following year. Wyatt's Academy was built of yellow brick in the Tudor Gothic style . It consisted of a central block (reminiscent of the Ordnance Board's headquarters in
5400-611: The Callis Yard site (former council stables). Redevelopment plans for the Spray Street Quarter in 2018 included a proposal to demolish the 1936 market hall. For centuries the area between the Thames and the present-day A206 road has been dominated by docks, warehouses and factories, starting with the Royal Dockyard early in the 16th century, later eclipsed by the Royal Arsenal in scale and grandeur. In
5508-413: The College's Junior Department moved from Great Marlow into purpose-built buildings at Sandhurst designed by James Wyatt , and was soon joined there by the Senior Department, migrating from High Wycombe. In 1858 this became a separate institution, the Staff College . On the outbreak of the Second World War, many of the cadets and staff of the Royal Military College were mobilised for active service, but
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#17327724714785616-424: The German firm Siemens & Halske established a submarine-cable factory in the Dockyard area, which expanded rapidly. Woolwich market received its charter in 1618 but is certainly older. The market, which had long been established in the High Street in Old Woolwich (at a location called Market Hill), had gradually drifted towards the Royal Arsenal's main gatehouse , more or less at its present location. This
5724-422: The Island site. The town was used as a location for the 2006 film Children of Men . Woolwich has one museum, the Greenwich Heritage Centre at the Royal Arsenal ( Firepower – The Royal Artillery Museum closed in 2016 after having been based in Woolwich for almost two centuries). Second Floor Studios in the Woolwich Dockyard area is one of London's largest concentrations of artists' studios . The town has
5832-399: The London area, that may have been a significant port, anterior to London". A path connected the riverside settlement with Watling Street ( Shooter's Hill ), perhaps also of Iron Age origin. Sandy Hill Road may be a remnant of this early path. It is generally believed that the name Woolwich derives from an Anglo-Saxon word meaning "trading place for wool". It is not clear whether Woolwich
5940-436: The Royal Academy (as it had been known) had the word 'Military' added to its title, and at the same time a senior officer was appointed to serve as Lieutenant-Governor ( de facto head of the institution). Moreover, the institution was split: younger cadets entered the Lower Academy, where they were taught reading, writing, arithmetic, Latin, French and drawing. If they performed well in examinations they were allowed to proceed to
6048-439: The Royal Arsenal constitute a conservation area . Most buildings of historic interest have been restored and given new uses. The Royal Brass Foundry (1717) is a grade I listed building , while the Dial Arch (1717–20), the Old Royal Military Academy (1720) and the Grand Store (1806–13) are Grade II* listed. Other listed buildings include the Royal Arsenal Gatehouse , Middle Gatehouse, the Main Guard House, two small guardhouses near
6156-446: The Royal Artillery Barracks was a famous cricket ground in the 18th century but is now merely used for recreational sports. Royal Arsenal Rugby Club plays rugby here. Greenwich Council has plans to demolish the 1980s Waterfront Leisure Centre next to the Woolwich Ferry and build a new leisure centre in Wilmount Street. There is an indoor climbing wall in the Docklands area. The University of Greenwich 's dramatic arts department
6264-400: The Royal Artillery Hospital in 1780), Green Hill Military School and Royal Herbert Hospital on Shooter's Hill . The Royal Engineers' HQ was moved to Chatham in 1856, but a small detachment remained in Woolwich, quartered in what is now Engineer House on Mill Hill, just off the Common. Several listed buildings were demolished in the 1970s, including James Wyatt's Engineers Barracks (built for
6372-423: The Seas , the Royal Charles , the Dolphin and the Beagle . East of the dockyard a gun yard was established in the 1540s (for storage and maintenance of ships' canons and armaments) and a ropeyard followed in the 1570s. The dockyard went through many ups and downs but survived for three and a half centuries, closing down in 1869. Following the establishment of the dockyard, Martin Bowes who had gathered
6480-430: The Thames, the Shell Foundry Gatehouse, Verbruggen House and two twin pavilions in Laboratory Square, the oldest structures on the site (1696). At Woolwich Dockyard relatively little of historic interest remains. The main monumental building complex comprises a small cluster of 18th-century buildings: the entrance gate, the guardhouse and the so-called Clock House (Dockyard offices). A pair of 19th-century docks remain on
6588-400: The Upper Academy, where they learned military skills and sciences (as well as fencing and dancing – required skills for prospective officers). The possibility of moving the Royal Military Academy out of the Warren was mooted as early as 1783, as it was fast outgrowing the available accommodation. At first costs precluded this possibility, but (with the Academy continuing to grow) James Wyatt ,
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#17327724714786696-435: The Warren. In 1716 it had (by a royal warrant of George I) formed the Royal Regiment of Artillery , which had its headquarters and barracks in the Warren, and in 1741 it established the Royal Military Academy there to train its future officers. In 1776 the Artillery moved out of the Warren into a new Royal Artillery Barracks on the edge of Woolwich Common . The Royal Military Academy followed, moving into its new premises at
6804-428: The Waterfront Leisure Centre, it is hoped that this part of Woolwich will attract new development. Other areas for redevelopment include Trinity Walk (former Connaught Estate, part of the One Woolwich masterplan for three housing estates), several sites along Wellington Street (including the Ogilby site and the so-called Island site), the Spray Street Quarter (between the existing station and the new Crossrail station), and
6912-591: The area means that it is expected that the district, identified in the London Plan as "opportunity area", is expected to evolve from " major centre " to " metropolitan centre " within Greater London in the next few decades. Woolwich started to enjoy the beginning of a renaissance with the residential redevelopment of the former Royal Arsenal . Most historic buildings on the site have been renovated and converted into apartments. Several thousands of homes have been built or are under construction and thousands more are planned, mainly luxury apartments in tower blocks near
7020-478: The area of the present-day wards Woolwich Riverside and Woolwich Common, was formerly known as Woolwich Saint Mary . Until 1842, when the Old Town Hall was built, the vestry met in a room in the parish church of St Mary Magdalene . Woolwich became part of the London metropolitan area in the mid-19th century, although was officially still in Kent at the time. In 1889, with the formation of London County Council , Woolwich became officially part of London. In 1900
7128-406: The building, practising with which they acquire a knowledge of their application in the field of battle. This department is under the direction of a lieutenant-general, an instructor, a professor of mathematics, and a professor of fortification; in addition to which there are French, German, and drawing masters. Following the demise of the Board of Ordnance in the wake of the Crimean War the Academy
7236-456: The buildings at Sandhurst remained the home of the RMC's 161 Infantry Officer Cadet Training Unit . In 1942, this unit moved to Mons Barracks, Aldershot , and for the rest of the war the Sandhurst campus was used as a Royal Armoured Corps Officer Cadet Training Unit. In 1947, a new Royal Military Academy Sandhurst was formed on the site of the Royal Military College, merging the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich (which had trained officers for
7344-417: The college, the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich , had been established in 1741 to train artillery and engineer officers, but there was no such provision for training infantry and cavalry officers. The Royal Military College was conceived by Colonel John Le Marchant , whose scheme for establishing schools for the military instruction of officers at High Wycombe and Great Marlow first met strong resistance on
7452-422: The dial on the parapet. Following the demise of the Board of Ordnance, Parliament had explored the possibility of a merger between the Royal Military Academy and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst (which only trained officers for the Infantry and Cavalry ); although senior Army officers rejected the idea at the time it persisted into the twentieth century. Arguments in favour of a merger gained momentum in
7560-431: The dockyard and the ropeyard. Some of the masters here were Huguenots from Lorraine . Kilns producing Bellarmine stoneware may also have been controlled by continental potters. Other kilns produced earthenware and clay pipes. Kilns were also active on the hillside south of the town, where clay was readily available. Near Plumstead and Charlton were sandpits ; the sand was shipped from a wharf near Tower Place. In 1863,
7668-402: The early 1990s, the town centre had the typical appearance of a town in decline with discount retailers and charity shops using the empty stores and Greenwich Council occupying the empty office buildings. In 1974, the United Kingdom 's first branch of McDonald's opened in Powis Street. Amidst the decline, Woolwich was still considered to be a representative English town at the time. In 1974
7776-637: The former Woolwich Town Hall . Woolwich declined as a town in the late 20th century, starting with the closure of the Royal Ordnance Factory in 1967 and the Siemens factory in 1968 and continuing as the Royal Arsenal scaled back operations and finally closed in 1994. Other employers like the Woolwich Building Society ("The Woolwich") and Morgan Grampian Publishers were taken over by other companies and moved away from
7884-492: The grounds of cost. There were already some small private military academies for aspiring infantry and cavalry officers in existence, notably one which had been operated at Chelsea by Lewis Lochée from about 1770 until he closed the academy in 1790, but none of them had any formal approval by the British government. In 1799, Le Marchant established a school for staff officers at High Wycombe . In 1801, Parliament voted
7992-657: The hill and are all part of the South East London Green Chain . Repository Woods is a forested part of Woolwich Common. The area around the lake is a military training ground that is not open to the public. The same applies to Mulgrave Pond and Shooters Hill golf course. Arsenal F.C. is originally from Woolwich; Charlton Athletic 's stadium, The Valley , is approximately 2 km west of Woolwich. The area also has two Non-League football clubs: Bridon Ropes F.C. and Meridian F.C. , who both play at Meridian Sports & Social Club. Barrack Field at
8100-485: The marching companies of the Royal Artillery, but in 1744 they were formed into their own company, forty in number (enlarged to forty-eight, two years later) overseen by a captain-lieutenant. To begin with the cadets were accommodated in lodgings in the town of Woolwich, but this arrangement was deemed unsatisfactory (the cadets gained a reputation for riotousness) so in 1751 a Cadets' Barracks was built just within
8208-454: The most important pieces of military architecture in the country". A phrase said to have entered common parlance from the Academy is "talking shop" (meaning "to discuss subjects not understood by others"). The name of the cue game " snooker " (reputedly invented by a former cadet of the Academy) is said to derive from a slang term for newly arrived cadets: the French term "les neux", which
8316-596: The new Academy: these comprised the four senior years. Of the younger cadets, sixty were kept at the Warren (by then renamed the Royal Arsenal) and another sixty were sent to a new college for junior cadets at Great Marlow . Practical teaching continued to be given in the working context of the Arsenal. In 1810, military cadets of the East India Company , who had previously been educated at the Academy, were moved to
8424-443: The other end of the common in 1806. By that time various other units and services had begun to establish themselves in the vicinity, forming what became known as Woolwich Garrison . In the 19th and 20th century several large barracks were built, as well as military schools and hospitals. To this day, the town retains an army base (known as Woolwich Station) centred on the Royal Artillery Barracks and Napier Lines Barracks. Throughout
8532-700: The other one in Art Deco style. Nearer to the river are two large cinemas, both built in 1937 and both in use as Pentecostal church halls. The former Odeon Cinema (now occupied by the New Wine Church ) is a fine example of an Art Deco theatre; the former Granada Cinema has lavish interior decorations. Of the grand houses that once stretched along Woolwich Common and dotted the northern slopes of Shooter's Hill, little remains. Rushgrove House, Shrewsbury House and Woodhill Court survive but have lost their spacious gardens. Woolwich parish church, St Mary Magdalen
8640-399: The parish church along the Thames. In the early 19th century the commercial and administrative centre moved south to its present location around Powis Street , Beresford Square and the Bathway Quarter . Although 20th-century economic decline and infrastructural works have had their effects, there are still some interesting buildings in Woolwich town centre. The best preserved area is perhaps
8748-439: The population of the parish of Woolwich stood at the same level as 40 years earlier: 41,625. Victorian Woolwich was a rich social mix with skilled engineers along with unskilled labourers (including women and children) working at the Arsenal and other factories, large numbers of soldiers (making up 10–15% of the population) and a small bourgeoisie consisting of military officers and the commercial and professional elite. Some areas of
8856-451: The river and officers' houses around Woolwich Common and further up the hill. In 1841 Woolwich had a population of 27,785; in 1861 this had risen to 41,695. At this point there were 4,596 houses in the parish, with little space left for building; further development took place in Plumstead , Charlton and North Woolwich , later also in Eltham . After a dip in the late 19th century, in 1901
8964-439: The river. Additionally, a riverside walk, several parks, a museum, a range of shops, cafés, pubs and restaurants, and a farmers' market have made the Arsenal a desirable place to live. In 2017 it was announced that the borough has acquired five historic buildings around No 1 Street to create a £31 million creative district. It will feature a 1,200-seat auditorium for concerts and events, a performance courtyard that seats up to 600,
9072-598: The same amount from its supply chain; When the case was heard in February 2023, two suppliers countered by saying the problems arose due to Willmott Dixon's negligence. The financial impact of the Woolwich Central project continued to be felt in July 2024, when Willmott Dixon said costs to fix the scheme had risen from £44m to £48m. On the other side of General Gordon Square the 1930s Woolwich Equitable building
9180-686: The site of their 16th-century predecessors. The later development of the Dockyard in the Victorian period is represented by the Steam Factory and the Dockyard chimney, a prominent landmark, and further west by a group of buildings at the site of the Siemens Brothers factory. Between the Arsenal and the Dockyard lies an area that was once Old Woolwich, a part of the town where little of historical interest remains and that, once again,
9288-478: The south bank of the River Thames. From the riverside it rises up quickly along the northern slopes of Shooter's Hill towards the common, at 200 ft (60 m) and the ancient London–Dover Road, at 433 ft (132 m). The ancient parish of Woolwich , more or less the present-day wards Woolwich Riverside and Woolwich Common , comprises 734 acres (297 ha). This included North Woolwich , which
9396-413: The south boundary wall of the Warren and the cadets had to adjust to a more strict military discipline. (The Cadets' Barracks was demolished in the 1980s for road widening.) Education in the academy focused at first on mathematics and the scientific principles of gunnery and fortification; French was also taught, for a small fee. In addition to their theoretical studies, the cadets shared (with all ranks of
9504-527: The still-extant (but now relocated) Woolwich Polytechnic School for Boys . In the 20th century the Polytechnic grew steadily, taking up almost an entire block in the Bathway Quarter and later spreading to other areas. In 1970 it merged with other local colleges and became Thames Polytechnic. In 1992 it was granted university status and a year later was renamed the University of Greenwich . In 2001,
9612-494: The terminus of the Docklands Light Railway 's London City Airport branch, opened on 10 January 2009. The 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics included Woolwich as a venue for shooting events , held in temporary facilities constructed on the grounds of the Royal Artillery Barracks and on Woolwich Common . A large-scale redevelopment of the area west of General Gordon Square started in 2011. The square
9720-660: The town were notoriously overcrowded; the so-called Dusthole near the river was considered one of London's worst slums . Until the arrival of the railways, the Thames was the principal artery connecting Woolwich to London. In 1834 the Woolwich Steam Packet Company greatly improved river traffic and in 1889 the Woolwich Free Ferry made it easier to live in North Woolwich and work in the Arsenal, or to live in Woolwich and work in
9828-466: The town. Without major employers, the local economy was affected and unemployment soared. At the same time the town's demographics changed, with initially mainly Sikhs settling down in the area, later followed by black Africans, many from Nigeria . Despite immigration, the population of the parish reached a low of 17,000 in 1971. In general, Woolwich had lost its previous vigour. In the town's shopping district, department stores and chain stores closed. By
9936-714: The university relocated to the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich , leaving only a small administrative presence in Woolwich. Woolwich was the location of the first free kindergarten in the UK. The Woolwich Mission Kindergarten opened in 1900, and began in a room provided by a Christian socialist vicar of Holy Trinity church in New Charlton, the Rev. Walter Wragge. It was founded by his sister, Adelaide Wragge,
10044-499: Was a British Army military academy for training infantry and cavalry officers of the British and Indian Armies. The RMC was reorganised at the outbreak of the Second World War , but some of its units remained operational at Sandhurst and Aldershot . In 1947, the Royal Military College was merged with the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich , to form the present-day all-purpose Royal Military Academy Sandhurst . Pre-dating
10152-489: Was a proper -wich town , since there are no traces of extensive artisanal activity from the Early Middle Ages. However, in 2015 Oxford Archaeology discovered a Saxon burial site near the riverside with 76 skeletons from the late 7th or early 8th century. The absence of grave deposits indicates that this was an early Christian settlement. The first church, which stood to the north of the present parish church,
10260-452: Was almost certainly pre-Norman and dedicated to Saint Lawrence. It was probably rebuilt in stone around 1100. From the 10th till the mid-12th century Woolwich was controlled by the abbots of St. Peter's Abbey in Ghent . This may have been a result of a gift of 918 from Ælfthryth , daughter of King Alfred and Countess of Flanders, in that case the first recorded grant of English lands to
10368-538: Was considered an innovative and influential design. The Marines departed with the closure of the Dockyard, whereupon the buildings were converted into barracks accommodation for various military corps. Rushgrove House (1806) housed the Colonel Commandant of the Marine Barracks (later Cambridge Barracks) from 1855. Virtually nothing is left of the old town of Woolwich which was near the ferry and
10476-471: Was demolished in 1960. Shortly after 1900, three new theaters opened with a combined capacity of 4,430. The Century cinema, which faced Beresford Square, was previously known as Premier Cinema and Royal Arsenal Cinema. It was built in 1913 with 669 seats, closed in 1961 and demolished for redevelopment in the late 1960s. The Grand Theatre in Wellington Street opened in 1900 as a variety theatre with
10584-519: Was established, which developed into one of the biggest consumer cooperatives in the country with two department stores in Powis Street, shops around South East London, manufacturing and food production plants, a building society, a funeral service and many other areas of entrepreneurship. Around 1500, at the beginning of the military and naval expansion, Woolwich had only a few hundred inhabitants. In 1665, when Samuel Pepys stayed here to escape
10692-419: Was first mentioned in 1308 but may be older. Around Bell Water Gate some private shipbuilding or repair may have existed in the 15th century. A windmill was mentioned around 1450. Several pottery kilns have been discovered north of Woolwich High Street and Beresford Street, testifying of a perhaps unbroken tradition of pottery production from at least the 14th century until the 17th century. Woolwich remained
10800-541: Was formed on the site of the former Royal Military College with the objective of providing officer training for all arms and services. Thereafter, the old Academy site became part of Woolwich Garrison, housing troops of various types in the years that followed. The central block was taken over by the Royal Artillery Institution and housed a museum, archives and offices. The chapel (commissioned in 1902 by Commandant Richard Henry Jelf , commemorated by
10908-528: Was founded in response to Woolwich Arsenal joining the League but only lasted a few years. Woolwich had several theatres and cinemas . The Theatre Royal in Beresford Street, later renamed Empire Theatre or Woolwich Empire, was the biggest. Dating from the 1830s, it was enlarged in the 1880s and 1890s, seating about 2,000. It both served as a variety theater and cinema, ending up as a strip-joint. It
11016-503: Was inspected by a commission which recommended changes: the minimum age for cadets was raised to fifteen and more specialist training was added. As part of these reforms the Academy complex was enlarged in the 1860s, with a view to accommodating all cadets on the same site (although some would remain in the Arsenal through to the 1880s): the frontage was extended with the addition of new pavilions at either end, in similar style to Wyatt's work but in red brick rather than yellow; William Jervois
11124-436: Was later corrupted into "snooks". Commandants have included: Notable teachers at Woolwich include (in alphabetical order by surname): 51°28′30″N 0°3′27″E / 51.47500°N 0.05750°E / 51.47500; 0.05750 Woolwich Woolwich ( / ˈ w ʊ l ɪ tʃ , - ɪ dʒ / ) is a town in southeast London , England , within the Royal Borough of Greenwich . The district's location on
11232-399: Was not approved by the authorities and a new market was set up in the Bathway Quarter around 1810. This proved to be a failure and is remembered only in the name of Market Street. Until 1879, the market at Beresford Square remained illegal and was regularly cleared by the police. After it was legalized, it had room for 136 stalls. Italo Svevo described it as "very lively" in 1903. In 1936,
11340-713: Was re-landscaped, including a new water feature. The so-called Love Lane project involved demolition of several buildings including the Post Office, the Crown Building, the Director General public house , Peggy Middleton House and Thomas Spencer Halls of Residence. New buildings in the first phases of the Woolwich Central redevelopment included: the Woolwich Centre along Wellington Street (public library and council offices, completed in 2011), and
11448-479: Was refurbished. Next to Woolwich Town Hall on Wellington Street, the 1950s Woolwich Grand Theatre (formerly the ABC Regal Cinema, then Flamingo's Nightclub) briefly reopened as an arts centre with a cafe but in 2015 the building was demolished to make room for apartments. Redevelopment around the "Woolwich Triangle" at the west end of Powis Street is partly underway. It originally envisaged demolition of
11556-450: Was removed as refurbishment neared completion. Since 2013 the RMA cricket field , one of the oldest in the UK, has been used by the 3rd and 4th teams of Blackheath Cricket Club. Until 1870 prospective officers in the British Army had for the most part to purchase their commissions , and education or training was not seen as a requirement for the rôle. The Board of Ordnance's establishment of
11664-438: Was the architect. These contained new classrooms, with accommodation provided in similar new blocks behind. Sports facilities were also added along with gun batteries for training. In 1873 Wyatt's central block had to be entirely rebuilt following a devastating fire. A new chiming clock was provided at this time by Gillett & Bland of Croydon; the movement and bells were placed in the north-east turret and connected by rods to
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