Why create this website?
I explored the abandoned Eastern Royal Arsenal site in the 1980s and 90s while growing up in Thamesmead. During the summer holidays I participated in a camping adventure scheme run by the Metropolitan Police called Thamesmead Adventure located on the wasteland site of the Royal Arsenal.
I was fascinated by the Royal Arsenals ruins, digging up bullets, grenade shrapnel and the odd cannon ball. I wanted to find out more about what went on there. Exploring, each area from bomb shelters to railway tracks, blast mounds and mysterious danger buildings, trying to piece everything together.
I had no answers to what was buried in half a century of wilderness. It was what I can only describe as a lost City, later to be confirmed "what once was" the largest most dangerous secret factory in Europe.
At one time I had explored a little too far with friends and ended up within the Royal Arsenal West MOD site perimeter wall, we were all approached by MOD police and guard dogs. We were taken into a police hut for questioning before being sent home, I was 8 years old.
A few years later as part of my investigation, I attended the Woolwich walk in 1995 when the Royal Arsenal was open to the public for the first time for afternoon on the Western side of the Royal Arsenal after the MOD had vacated.
I was fascinated by the Royal Arsenals ruins, digging up bullets, grenade shrapnel and the odd cannon ball. I wanted to find out more about what went on there. Exploring, each area from bomb shelters to railway tracks, blast mounds and mysterious danger buildings, trying to piece everything together.
I had no answers to what was buried in half a century of wilderness. It was what I can only describe as a lost City, later to be confirmed "what once was" the largest most dangerous secret factory in Europe.
At one time I had explored a little too far with friends and ended up within the Royal Arsenal West MOD site perimeter wall, we were all approached by MOD police and guard dogs. We were taken into a police hut for questioning before being sent home, I was 8 years old.
A few years later as part of my investigation, I attended the Woolwich walk in 1995 when the Royal Arsenal was open to the public for the first time for afternoon on the Western side of the Royal Arsenal after the MOD had vacated.
Below are some pictures I took in the early 1990s.
There was always an interest in the local history, many features from the Royal Arsenal were left. Thamesmead was built around Arsenal features like the magazines and firing range walls. The GLC designed some brick parks where shaped as magazines (tumps).
I wanted to know about the Arsenal remnant features and what they were used for. No one I asked could tell me the answers I needed. No mention of the Royal Arsenal connection with Thamesmead at school or in local library, just a large cannon ball in the teachers office at Hawksmoor Primary school.
Some well known feature examples on Thamesmead are Tump 53 and Tump 39 and the firing range walls at butts wood near Waterfield School/Woolwich Poly. Most of the Royal Arsenal East ruins where behind Twin Tumps way in the Royal Arsenal wasteland towards Woolwich, (back then it was behind Prestos/Safeway's store).
Decades later I decided to find the answer to some my own questions at the Greenwich Heritage centre on the Woolwich Arsenal West site. That's where there I met an elderly man Ray Fordham who answered all my questions. Ray worked in the Arsenal since he was 16 in 1945 until the day the Royal Arsenal closed it's door in 1994.
Some well known feature examples on Thamesmead are Tump 53 and Tump 39 and the firing range walls at butts wood near Waterfield School/Woolwich Poly. Most of the Royal Arsenal East ruins where behind Twin Tumps way in the Royal Arsenal wasteland towards Woolwich, (back then it was behind Prestos/Safeway's store).
Decades later I decided to find the answer to some my own questions at the Greenwich Heritage centre on the Woolwich Arsenal West site. That's where there I met an elderly man Ray Fordham who answered all my questions. Ray worked in the Arsenal since he was 16 in 1945 until the day the Royal Arsenal closed it's door in 1994.
I dedicate this website to the late Ray Fordham and the original members of the RAWHS and for people of Thamesmead so this information can be passed onto generations to come.
Regards,
Steve Peterson
Regards,
Steve Peterson
A thanks from Ray Fordham left on my answer machine after RAH website creation.
A very nice voicemail from Ray. Ray had continually motivated me to continue the work I have been doing to save the history of the Royal Arsenal.
RAWHS
Concerned employees including Ray formed the Royal Arsenal Woolwich Historical Society (RAWHS) and set about ensuring the preservation of some two shipping container loads of artefacts and records. From RAWHS I had met Ian Bull who has been a huge help over the years in my research.
From this website
From researching Thamesmead's hidden history, I needed a larger audience for more research and a platform to share the history as not many local people where aware Thamesmead has one.
I decided to create the Thamesmead SE28 All Stages Facebook group. "https://www.facebook.com/groups/ThamesmeadSE28/" and was an opportunity to bring the Thamesmead community together.
The group is administered by myself and various volunteers over the years including Chris Waite from 2012 - 2017. It was decided each week a "photo of the week" would be held and pinned to the top of the engage the public to take competitive and creative photos of the area so people can use the group as an Archive in the future.
Today there are 25,000+ Thamesmead group members and 50,000+ photos and countless posts since April 2012.
The group search tool can be a great search aid in Thamesmead history and local research archive.
From this Royal.Arsenal.History.com (RAH) Facebook group was created
I decided to create the Thamesmead SE28 All Stages Facebook group. "https://www.facebook.com/groups/ThamesmeadSE28/" and was an opportunity to bring the Thamesmead community together.
The group is administered by myself and various volunteers over the years including Chris Waite from 2012 - 2017. It was decided each week a "photo of the week" would be held and pinned to the top of the engage the public to take competitive and creative photos of the area so people can use the group as an Archive in the future.
Today there are 25,000+ Thamesmead group members and 50,000+ photos and countless posts since April 2012.
The group search tool can be a great search aid in Thamesmead history and local research archive.
From this Royal.Arsenal.History.com (RAH) Facebook group was created
A central social hub for the people of Thamesmead past and present.
The RAH Facebook group has nearly 10,000 members, please click above to join.
Over 100 Royal Arsenal related video content published.
The BBC found RAH, BBC Radio 4 open country show below.
Website recognition 2016
I found many answers I was looking for.
Example: Location of Thamesmead Adventure scheme during the school summer holidays. This rare 1940s video satisfied my curiosity of what was once at the campsite location https://www.facebook.com/groups/ThamesmeadAdventure/
Video date 1940: The gun tested was in service from 1908 until 1945.
Website goals
Collect as much information about the Royal Arsenal, photos and videos of the Royal Arsenal and create an archive.
Add descriptions to each photo from the RAH archive collection
Identify and preserve remaining Royal Arsenal features and buildings.
To unearth the stories and secrets of the Royal Arsenal
Bring the to public attention the importance of the Royal arsenals history and how it shaped the world we live in today.
Help create a virtual reality walk around of the Royal Arsenal site
Various events to promote the local history.
Provide tours of the Royal Arsenal.
Add descriptions to each photo from the RAH archive collection
Identify and preserve remaining Royal Arsenal features and buildings.
To unearth the stories and secrets of the Royal Arsenal
Bring the to public attention the importance of the Royal arsenals history and how it shaped the world we live in today.
Help create a virtual reality walk around of the Royal Arsenal site
Various events to promote the local history.
Provide tours of the Royal Arsenal.