Royal Arsenal

The Royal Arsenal, originally known as the Woolwich Arsenal, carried out armaments manufacture, ammunition proofing and explosives research. It was sited on the south bank of the River Thames in Woolwich in south-east London. It was formally established as an Ordnance Storage Depot in 1671 on a 31 acre (125,000 m²) site, the Warren in Tower Place. An ammunition laboratory (the Royal Laboratory) was added in 1695, and a gun foundry (the Royal Brass Foundry) was established in 1717. By 1777 it had risen to 104 acres (0.4 km²). Shortly afterwards, convict labour was used to construct an, approximately, 2.5 mile long brick boundary wall, generally eight-foot high. In 1804 this wall was raised to 20 foot near the Plumstead road, and to 15 foot in other parts. In 1814-16, convict labour was also used to dig a canal (the Ordnance Canal), which formed the eastern boundary.

The Final Run down

The Woolwich Royal Ordnance Factories closed in 1967 and a large part of the eastern end was sold to the Greater London Council. Much of it was used to build the New town; Thamesmead. A part, around what is now Griffen Manor Way, was used for an Industrial Estate; the Ford Motor Company being its first tenant. Two of the roads on this estate Nathan Way and Kellner Road appear to have links with people connected with the Royal Arsenal: a Col. Nathan, at the Royal Gunpowder Factory; and, W. Kellner being the second War Office Chemist.

Related Topics:
Greater London Council - New town - Thamesmead - Ford Motor Company - Tenant

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Shortly after the closure of the Woolwich Royal Ordnance Factories the Frog Island Chemical laboratories were moved into a new building errected in 1971, in what was to become the Royal Arsenal East. The old Frog Island area was then sold off and Plumstead Bus Garage was built on part of this site. This action separated what remained of the Royal Arsenal, some 76 acres, into two sites: Royal Arsenal West, at Woolwich; and, Royal Arsenal East, at Plumstead, approached via Griffen Manor Way. It also lead to breaking down of parts of the 1804 brick boundary wall. Part of it near Plumstead Bus station was replaced by Iron railings and Chain link fencing; later the public roadway (now the A206) was also changed at the Woolwich market area and the Royal Arsenal's boundary was moved inwards so that the Beresford Gate became detached from the site by the A206.

Related Topics:
1971 - Bus - Garage

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The Royal Arsenal site retained its links to ordnance production for almost another 30 years as a number of the UK Ministry of Defence, Procurement Executive's, Quality Assurance Directorates had their Head Quarters Offices located there. These included the Materials Quality Assurance Directorate (MQAD), which looked after materiels, including explosives and pyrotechnics; and the Quality Assurance Directorate (Ordnance), (QAD(Ord)), which looked after ordnance for the Army. MQAD being the successor of the old War Department Chemist and the Chemical Inspectorate. There was a separate Royal Navy Ordnance Inspection Department that looked after the Royal Navy's interests.

Related Topics:
UK - Ministry of Defence - Procurement - Executive - Quality Assurance - Materiel - Explosives - Pyrotechnics - Royal Navy

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QAD(Ord) was based at Royal Arsenal West together with a Ministry of Defence Publications section and part of the British Library's Secure storage accommodation.

Related Topics:
Publication - British Library

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