122-991: Royal Docks is an area in the London Borough of Newham in the London Docklands in East London , England . The area is named after three docks – the Royal Albert Dock , the Royal Victoria Dock and the King George V Dock . They are more correctly called the Royal Group of Docks to distinguish them from the Royal Navy Dockyard , Royal being due to their naming after members of the royal family rather than Crown ownership. The three docks collectively formed
244-401: A mixed-use development comprising shops, restaurants and even office complexes. The final phase is known as Mariner's Quarter which has the tallest building standing at 19 storeys, overseeing the river Thames and Canary Wharf. In March 2023, consultants unveiled proposals to use floating modules to create additional dockspace area that could be used to host Formula One motor racing events on
366-476: 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
488-568: 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 ,
610-805: 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
732-606: 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
854-507: A car or van, 7.6%; bus, minibus or coach, 7.6%; train, 7.2%; on foot, 4.1%; work mainly at or from home, 1.4%; bicycle, 1.0%. Over 30 London Buses bus routes serve the London Borough of Newham, with main interchanges at Stratford , Stratford City and Beckton bus stations, with large bus interchanges also available at East Ham and Upton Park . Newham is twinned with: The borough adopted West Ham's coat of arms, but with
976-599: A circuit incorporating 2.7km of the existing embankment along the Royal Victoria and Royal Albert Dock from ExCeL to the University of East London. Aside from local bus routes, the area is primarily served by the DLR which goes from Canning Town (services west to Canary Wharf and Central London, and North to Stratford) along the north of the dock to Beckton , and along the south of the dock to North Woolwich and under
1098-779: 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 ,
1220-579: 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
1342-517: 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
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#17327730116711464-778: 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
1586-478: 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
1708-635: A motto adapted from that of East Ham . The arms include the following elements: The borough's motto, "Progress with the People" is an English translation of East Ham's Latin "Progressio cum Populo" . The following people and military units have received the Freedom of the Borough of Newham. 51°31′N 0°02′E / 51.517°N 0.033°E / 51.517; 0.033 Woolwich Woolwich ( / ˈ w ʊ l ɪ tʃ , - ɪ dʒ / )
1830-581: A partnership with the United States Olympic Committee which resulted in the United States Olympic Team using University of East London campuses as training bases during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Newham has ten libraries (Beckton, Canning Town, Custom House, East Ham, Green Street, Manor Park, North Woolwich, Plaistow, Stratford and Forest Gate). There are a number of local markets in
1952-585: 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
2074-481: 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
2196-525: 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
2318-727: A road link between Beckton and Thamesmead on the south bank: the Thames Gateway Bridge . A public inquiry on the bridge closed in May 2006, it being particularly contentious in the residential neighbourhoods between Plumstead and the Danson Interchange (a junction on the A2). The plans were shelved, along with the DLR Dagenham extension, by then Mayor of London Boris Johnson when he came to power in 2008. However, in
2440-576: 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
2562-457: A tunnel, serving Custom House station , with future provision for a station at Silvertown . Crossrail reuses the southern part of the former North London Line alignment from Custom House to North Woolwich (including the Connaught tunnel built in 1878). There has also been a need for a further river crossing in the area. A long-standing proposal has been for a four-lane tolled bridge providing
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#17327730116712684-608: Is a London borough created in 1965 by the London Government Act 1963 . It covers an area previously administered by the Essex county boroughs of West Ham and East Ham , authorities that were both abolished by the same act. The name Newham reflects its creation and combines the compass points of the old borough names. Situated in the Inner London part of East London , Newham has a population of 387,576, which
2806-533: 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
2928-536: Is a town in southeast London , England , within the Royal Borough of Greenwich . The district's location on 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
3050-470: 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
3172-543: 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
3294-543: 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
3416-489: 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
3538-542: Is one of the biggest primary schools in London. The University of East London has two campuses in Newham: Birkbeck Stratford is a collaboration between Birkbeck, University of London and UEL to increase participation in adult learning. This is based on the UEL/Birkbeck shared campus, USS (University Square Stratford), in the centre of Stratford. The University of East London had formed
3660-482: Is recorded in 1204. The boundary between West and East Ham was drawn from the now lost Hamfrith Waste and Hamfrith Wood in the north (then the southernmost parts of Epping Forest which extended as far south as the Romford Road at that time), along Green Street down to the small, also lost, natural harbour known as Ham Creek. Ham Creek was filled-in in the nineteenth century, but the small residual head of
3782-589: Is situated 8.5 miles (13.7 km) from Charing Cross . It has a 1.6 mi (2.5 km) long frontage to 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
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3904-726: Is the fourth highest of the London boroughs and also makes it the 26th most populous district in England. The local authority is Newham London Borough Council . It is 5 miles (8 km) east of the City of London , north of the River Thames (the Woolwich Ferry and Woolwich foot tunnel providing the only crossings to the south), bounded by the River Lea to its west and the North Circular Road to its east. Newham
4026-458: The 2001 UK Census identified Newham as the most ethnically diverse district in England and Wales, with 9 wards in the top 15. However, when using the 16 ethnic categories in the Census so that White Irish and White Other ethnic minorities are also included in the analysis, Newham becomes the second-most ethnically diverse borough with six out of the top 15 wards, behind Brent with 7 out of
4148-459: 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
4270-600: 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
4392-858: 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.
4514-494: 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
4636-597: 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
4758-472: The London Assembly , the borough forms part of the City and East constituency. Newham has, after Barnet and Croydon, the third highest population of the London boroughs, with a population numbering 382,984 as of 2021. Despite growing since the 1980s, it is still drastically lower than its pre-war peak. In the period between 1951 and 1981, Newham's population shrunk by 28.87% owing to factors such as
4880-478: The London Borough of Newham ). The Victoria and Albert docks were constructed by the London & St Katharine Docks Company, to provide berths for large vessels that could not be accommodated further upriver. They were a great commercial success, becoming London's principal docks during the first half of the 20th century. They specialised particularly in the import and unloading of foodstuffs, with rows of giant granaries and refrigerated warehouses being sited alongside
5002-540: 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,
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5124-767: 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
5246-456: 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
5368-512: 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
5490-556: 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
5612-470: 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
5734-696: 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
5856-527: 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
5978-463: The 1980s and 1990s to improve local transport and promote new residential and commercial developments in the area. Thousands of new homes were built at Beckton , just north of the Royal Docks. An extension of the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) opened in 1994 to provide direct links to the City of London and Canary Wharf . This was later extended round the south side of the docks with the link to London City Airport opening in December 2005. The line
6100-538: The 28 stations in Newham, only 4 stations lack step free access - thanks to the recent age of many of the stations in the borough. As a result of all the recent developments, the borough contains one of only two airports located within the Greater London boundary and currently the only railway station outside of central London that is served by high speed rail. In March 2011, the main forms of transport that residents used to travel to work were: underground, metro, light rail, tram, 23.0% of all residents aged 16–74; driving
6222-493: 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,
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#17327730116716344-444: The Borough, including Queens Market, which the council was controversially seeking to redevelop. The proposal was successfully opposed by Friends of Queens Market . 80 hectares within the borough are designated as part of the Metropolitan Green Belt . The local newspaper is the Newham Recorder . See List of districts in the London Borough of Newham for the full list, including neighbourhoods or localities which form part of
6466-416: 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
6588-641: The ExCeL Exhibition Centre. Cruise ships including Fred Olsen Lines ' Braemar (24,300 GT ) were moored there during the London 2012 Olympics. The management of the water areas of the Royal Docks, including locks and bridges, is now the responsibility of Royal Docks Management Authority Limited (RoDMA), which is owned and funded by the owners of the surrounding development land. 51°30′24″N 0°02′33″E / 51.506661°N 0.04240°E / 51.506661; 0.04240 London Borough of Newham Uma Kumaran (Labour) The London Borough of Newham ( / ˈ nj uː ə m / )
6710-424: 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
6832-422: 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
6954-399: 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
7076-428: The London area. Although the docks are now closed for commercial shipping, most of the water area of the docks still exists and is still navigable by craft of all sizes up to and including sizeable ships. The docks' principal use is now water sports, but they do see occasional visits by naval and merchant vessels, especially during the annual London Boat Show and the biennial DSEi arms fair, both of which are held at
7198-439: 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
7320-446: 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
7442-400: 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
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#17327730116717564-441: The Royal Docks. A series of major developments have seen the construction of a new university campus (for the University of East London ) and the ExCeL Exhibition Centre , among much else. The Royal Docks have also seen the development of London City Airport (code LCY), opened in 1988 on the quay between the Royal Albert Dock and the King George V dock. While the docks themselves have been preserved largely intact, little remains of
7686-423: 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
7808-446: The Thames to Woolwich Arsenal . Transport for London plan to extend the Beckton branch to Dagenham but this is dependent on funding. The DLR replaced the North London Line services that previously served the area from Canning Town to North Woolwich via Custom House and the 600 m Connaught tunnel beneath the docks. From 2022, a branch of the Elizabeth line passes beneath the Royal Docks between Canning Town and Woolwich in
7930-430: 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
8052-442: The UK , after the neighbouring London Borough of Tower Hamlets , at 32%. A 2017 report from Trust for London and the New Policy Institute found that 36% of local employees in Newham are in low paid work; the highest percentage of any London borough. Newham also has a 37% poverty rate, which is the second-highest rate in London. Newham is very ethnically diverse. When using Simpson's Diversity Index on 10 aggregated ethnic groups,
8174-465: The UK. In 2018, Newham had the lowest life expectancy and the highest rate of heart disease of all London boroughs together with the London Borough of Tower Hamlets . In 2019, the BBC reported that Newham had the highest rate of tuberculosis in the UK at 107 per 100 000 population, which was higher than Rwanda (69) and Iraq (45) according to WHO figures from 2013. More than 80% of TB cases in London occur in people born abroad. The UK average
8296-435: 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
8418-428: 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
8540-421: The area increased due to the construction of Bow Bridge , the only bridge over the Lea , and the creation of Stratford Langthorne Abbey . The local authority is Newham Council, which meets at Newham Town Hall in East Ham and has its main offices at 1000 Dockside Road, overlooking the Royal Albert Dock . Since 2002 the council has been led by a directly elected Mayor of Newham . Since 2000, for elections to
8662-591: 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
8784-590: 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
8906-696: The areas listed below. The borough is covered by the following ecclesiastical parishes of the Church of England : Since the 1980s, public transport in Newham has undergone many upgrades and improvements are still continuing to this day. The Docklands Light Railway (DLR) first opened in 1987, and was extended from Tower Hamlets through to Beckton in 1994. The network has undergone many extensions since, including to serve London City Airport , as well as Stratford International station in 2011 after its High Speed 1 link opened in late 2009. The Jubilee Line Extension
9028-414: The areas of the county borough of East Ham and the county borough of West Ham that were abolished by the same act. These in turn were successors to the ancient civil and ecclesiastical parishes of East Ham and West Ham . Green Street and Boundary Road mark the former boundary between the two. North Woolwich also became part of the borough (previously part of the Metropolitan Borough of Woolwich ,
9150-449: The borough as an entirely new name. The area of the modern borough was at one time occupied by a manor (an estate or landholding with certain legal responsibilities) called 'Ham'. The name comes from Old English 'hamm' and means 'a dry area of land between rivers or marshland', referring to the location of the settlement within boundaries formed by the rivers Lea , Thames and Roding and their marshes. The first known written use of
9272-574: The construction of Tilbury Docks even further down river. The ruinous competition led eventually to all the enclosed docks being taken over by the Port of London Authority (PLA) in 1909. The PLA completed the King George V Dock in 1921 and reserved land to the north for a fourth dock, never built. The General Strike of 1926 hit the Royal Docks hard, with 750,000 frozen carcasses threatened by
9394-461: The creek still formed the boundary between the two areas into the late 20th century, when what remained was also filled in. The formation of the modern borough in 1965 saw the merger of West and East Ham , together with North Woolwich and Barking west of the River Roding . Little Ilford had become part of East Ham as part of earlier local government reorganisations. The prosperity of
9516-720: The district providing education in a mix of Foundation , community and voluntary aided schools. The borough also owns and operates Debden House , a residential adult education college in Loughton , Essex , and is home to the Rosetta Art Centre , a dedicated visual art organisation which delivers courses at its base in Stratford and produces participatory art projects, programmes and initiatives. The Essex Primary School in Sheridan Road with over 900 pupils
9638-502: The docks' electrical supply being cut off. The Royal Navy saved the day for the dock owners by connecting the generators of two submarines to power the warehouses' freezers. Although the Royal Docks suffered severe damage from German bombing in World War II , they recovered after the war but suffered a steady decline from the 1960s onwards, following the adoption of containerization . Nonetheless, they survived longer than any of
9760-431: 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,
9882-526: 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
10004-472: The end of the 12th century these manors were being served, singly or in groups of manors, by the familiar ancient parishes of West Ham , East Ham and Little Ilford (now also known as Manor Park), with some areas by the Roding a part of Barking , and the area now known as North Woolwich attached to Woolwich. The earliest recorded use of the name West Ham, Westhamma , comes in 1186, and East Ham, Estham ,
10126-637: 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
10248-657: 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
10370-639: The largest enclosed docks in the world, with a water area of nearly 250 acres (1.0 km) and an overall estate of 1,100 acres (4.5 km). The area was designated a special enterprise zone in 2012. North Woolwich is part of Royal Docks ward. Royal Docks was also a ward of the London Borough of Newham, which at the 2011 Census had a population of 10,679. It was abolished for the 2022 elections and replaced by two new wards of Royal Albert and Royal Victoria. The three docks were completed between 1855 and 1921 on riverside marshes in East Ham and West Ham (now
10492-421: The largest single group in the borough at 15.9%. "White British" are the second largest group at 14.8%, with "White Other" third largest at 14.6%, "African" fourth largest at 11.6%, "Indian" next largest at 11% and then "Pakistani" at 8.9%. Newham has had a large Asian community for many decades; more than half of Newham's Upton and Kensington wards were of ethnic minority origin in 1981. The nationality to increase
10614-526: The majority of which lay south of the River Thames ), as did a small area around Gallions Reach west of the River Roding which had previously been part of the Municipal Borough of Barking . East Ham, West Ham and Barking had all historically been part of the county of Essex , whilst Woolwich had been part of Kent prior to becoming part of the County of London in 1889. Newham was devised for
10736-546: The most in number since 1991 is the Bangladeshi community. Newham has the largest total population of Asian origin in London; it is notably a borough with high populations of all three largest British Asian nationalities, having the 5th highest Indian population in London and the 2nd highest each for both Pakistani and Bangladeshi. Newham has 1,340 residents who were born in Ukraine, the highest population of Ukrainians in
10858-464: The old infrastructure, although some historic warehouses and cranes have been preserved. In 2011 the one hundred and twenty five hectares of the Royal Docks were granted Enterprise Zone status to help attract jobs and businesses to the area. In 2014, Singapore listed Oxley Holdings together with leading developer Ballymore UK have a Joint-Venture to set up a new waterfront township of Royal Wharf , with 3,385 new homes housing over 10,000. This will be
10980-443: 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
11102-700: 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
11224-549: The other upstream docks, finally closing to commercial traffic only in 1981. The docks' closure led to high levels of unemployment and social deprivation in the surrounding communities of North Woolwich and Silvertown . Because of their relative remoteness from central London and poor transport links, the redevelopment of London's Docklands has proceeded more slowly in the Royals than in the other former docks. The London Docklands Development Corporation undertook much work during
11346-399: 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
11468-494: 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
11590-476: The quays. The docks' great size and provision of numerous finger quays gave them a collective span of over 12 miles (19.3 km) of quaysides, serving hundreds of cargo and passenger ships at a time. Following the opening of the Royal Albert Dock in 1880, giving the Royals access to Gallions Reach, 11 miles (17.7 km) below London Bridge, the rival East & West India Docks Company responded with
11712-451: 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
11834-439: 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,
11956-532: The run-up to the 2012 election, Johnson started to push for a crossing at Silvertown (the western end of the docks). The Royal Docks is also home to London City Airport , between the northern and southern docks. It was opened in 1988 to serve the Canary Wharf development. It is closer to central London than Heathrow, and is served by a dedicated DLR station. In 2010, London City was the fifth busiest airport in terms of passengers and aircraft movements serving
12078-598: 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
12200-686: 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,
12322-527: 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,
12444-403: The term, as 'Hamme', is in an Anglo-Saxon charter of 958, in which King Edgar granted the area to Ealdorman Athelstan. The territory was undivided at that time. A subsequent charter of 1037 describes a transfer of land which has been identified with East Ham, indicating that the division of the territory occurred between 958 and 1037. The Domesday Book shows landholdings divided further, and by
12566-494: 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
12688-482: The top 15 wards. Newham has the lowest percentage of both total White and White British residents of all of London's boroughs. The joint-lowest wards with White British population are Green Street East and Green Street West, each having 4.8% – the third-lowest behind Southall Broadway and Southall Green in Ealing . East Ham North follows closely, at 4.9%. As of the 2021 UK census, people of "Bangladeshi" ethnicity are
12810-660: 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
12932-466: 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
13054-714: 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,
13176-403: The war bombings and the increasingly high unemployment. The redevelopment of the Docklands as well as development related to the 2012 Olympics have contributed to reversing its declining trend. Newham has the youngest overall population and one of the lowest White British populations in the country according to the 2011 UK Census . The borough has the second-highest percentage of Muslims in
13298-545: Was 13. Religion in Newham as of 2021 The following table shows the religious identity of residents residing in Newham according to the 2001, 2011 and the 2021 censuses. A 2017 report by Trust for London and the New Policy Institute finds that the GCSE attainment gap between advantaged and disadvantaged pupils in Newham is the 4th best out of 32 London boroughs. The Borough is the education authority for
13420-489: 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,
13542-452: 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
13664-478: Was completed in 1999, including new or improved stations at Canning Town , West Ham and Stratford . The DLR network compensates for Newham's lack of tube stations, of which there are only 6, in comparison with other London boroughs. The Crossrail scheme - opening as the Elizabeth line in 2022 - also delivered improved rail connections to several stations as it heads through the borough on an east west axis. Of
13786-538: 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
13908-471: 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
14030-458: 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
14152-419: 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
14274-528: 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
14396-405: Was later extended to Woolwich . Crossrail has served the area since 2022. Several other major projects have been proposed or implemented since then. Many residential complexes have been built; most notably the architecturally progressive Eastern Quay on the south side of Royal Victoria Dock, Capital East on the north side of the dock and the large complex of Gallion's Reach in the extreme east of
14518-399: 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,
14640-642: Was one of the six host boroughs for the 2012 Summer Olympics and contains most of the Olympic Park including the London Stadium , and also contains the London City Airport . Major districts include East Ham , West Ham , Stratford , Plaistow , Forest Gate , Beckton and Canning Town . The borough was formed on 1 April 1965 under the London Government Act 1963 , as a borough of the newly formed Greater London . It broadly covered
14762-713: 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
14884-479: 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
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