Woolwich

Woolwich {{IPA|}} is a town in south-east London, England in the London Borough of Greenwich, on the south side of the River Thames, though the tiny exclave of North Woolwich (which is now part of the London Borough of Newham) is on the north side of the river. It was home to the United Kingdom's first McDonald's, in 1974.

Famous residents

• Hubert Bland, early socialist and co-founder of the Fabian Society, was born in Wood Street, now Wood Hill in 1855.
• Tom Cribb, English bare-knuckle boxing champion in the early 19th century, retired to, died, and was buried (1848) in Woolwich.
• General Charles George Gordon of Khartoum was born at 29 Woolwich Common and educated at the Royal Military Academy.
• Richard Lovelace, poet.
• Henry Maudslay, engineer and tool-maker, was born in Salutation Alley (now demolished) and buried in the parish churchyard.
• Diarist Samuel Pepys lodged in Woolwich during 1665 to escape the Great Plague.
• Oswald Hope Robertson, the medical pioneer who invented blood banks, was born in Woolwich in 1886.
• David Sheppard, former England cricket captain, was bishop of Woolwich from 1969 to 1975.
• Ian Wright, the Arsenal footballer and later a television personality, was born and raised in Woolwich.
• Scott Maslen, actor who plays DC Phil Hunter in Television's The Bill, was born and raised in Woolwich.