Royal Arsenal History
  • Home
  • RAH Tours registration
  • Standard Tour
  • Extended Tour
  • Overview
  • About RAH
  • Video Presentations - Secret City
  • Royal Arsenal Football
  • Royal Arsenal Blog / Forum
  • Royal Arsenal Timeline
  • Royal Arsenal Railway
  • Royal Arsenal Departments
  • Building numbers, Photos & Maps
  • Royal Arsenal Buildings & Photos
  • Royal Arsenal Rules
  • Royal Arsenal West - Woolwich
  • Royal Arsenal East - Thamesmead
    • Ghost Storys from Thamesmead
  • Thamesmead SE28 - A New Town (Video Archive)
  • WOOLWICH (VIDEO ARCHIVE)
  • Berber (Thamesmead)
  • Magazines (Tumps)
  • Royal Arsenal Firepower - Guns
  • Royal Arsenal Explosions
  • Royal Arsenal Site Development
  • Royal Arsenal Archaeology
  • Royal Arsenal Piers
  • Canal, Lock, Dock & Swing Bridge
  • Woolwich Arsenal Prison Hulks
  • Royal Arsenal Wasteland (East)
  • Royal Arsenal Bombs and Dropped
  • Royal Arsenal Bullets
  • Royal Arsenal Women Workers
  • Filling Factories
  • Royal Ordnance Factories (ROFs)
  • Royal Arsenal Employee's
  • Housing the Workers
  • Police and Fire Brigade
  • Royal Arsenal Telephone Exchange
  • Royal Arsenal Transport
  • Royal Arsenal Paymaster
  • Royal Arsenal Medical - Surgery
  • Life in the Royal Arsenal
  • Royal Arsenal Then and now
  • Project Hurricane (Atomic)
  • Royal Arsenal Stories
  • R.O.F.S.A Sports
  • Royal Arsenal and the Final Years
  • Crossness (East)
  • Royal Arsenal Maps
    • 1700's Maps
    • 1800's Maps
    • 1900's Maps
    • Todays Maps
    • Map overlays
    • Maps unpublsihed
  • Royal Arsenal Photos by year
  • The Royal Arsenal Marshes
  • Regiment of Artillery
  • Royal Dockyards
  • Prison Hulks
  • Architecture
  • Artifacts
  • Reprographics Department
  • School Projects
  • Family Royal Arsenal research
  • Did you know?
    • Martello Towers
  • After Royal Arsenal closure
  • Thamesmead Street History
  • Royal Arsenal Co-operative Society (RACS)
  • The Berkeley Group PLC - Royal Arsenal
  • RA Researchers required
  • RAWHS Membership
  • RESEARCH TEXT SEARCH
  • Tour booking form
  • About
  • Contact
  • Upload data

The secret City

The main departments of the Royal Arsenal were:
 
PD                   Proof Department
RCD                Royal Carriage Department
RGF                Royal Gun Factory
RL                   Royal Laboratory
SD                  Store Keepers Depart
ment


A ​grand total of buildings huts sheds etc. listed amounts to over 1100 spread over a total 1300 acres of the totally enclosed secret walled City which was the Royal Arsenal.      

​Here up to 80,000 workers were employed at one time on every manufacture developing and producing processes known to man.
1994 Buildings report - volume 1
Departments
The Departments functioning in the Arsenal in the 19th and 20th Century are as follows:

Acronym

Description

A D M T

Army department of mechanised transport

A O S

Army Ordnance Stores ( R O A C )

B W D

Building Works Dept

C D

Catering Dept

C I A

Chief Inspector Of Armaments Inspection Dept

C S O F

Chief Superintendent of Ordnance Factories

M E D

Mechinical Engineering Dept

I O

Indian Office

I N O

Inspector Of Naval Ordnance

M B

Mechanisation Board

M D

Medical Dept

N I D

Naval Inspection Dept

O C

Ordnance Select Committee

O F S

Ordnance Factory Stores

P O

Pay Office

R A F

Royal Ammunition Factory

R G C F

Royal Gun & Carriage Factory

R C D

Royal Carriage Dept

R G F

Royal Gun Factories

R A R D E

Royal Arsenal Research & Development Establishment 

R E M E

Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers

R D

Research Department (R I )

R N A D

Royal Naval Armament Dept

S A A F

Small ARMS Ammunition Factories

S A D

Stores Audit Department

U K A E A

United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authorities

W D C

War Department Chemist

W D C

War Department Constabulary

W O A B

War Office Audit Board

W D F B

War Department Fire Brigade

 

Building Numbers and Maps
​Each building had a unique area and number assignment as per below example.
Picture
Example: Area's A, B, C, D
Today vs 1920 MAP overlay
Picture
Zoom in to see what your street had a role to play in the Royal Arsenal.
Higher resolution link 
Picture
Area A

Building No

Alt.

No

Departments

Description/Usage

Other information

A1

 

O.F.S

Crain-West Wharf

 

A2

 

R.A.F

Crain-West Wharf

 

A4

 

R.G.F

Brass Cannon Factory

Royal Ordnance Garage

A4a

 

E.D

Cook House

 

A4b

 

W.O Audit

F.5 Latrine

 

A5

 

R.O.F

Garage

 

A6

 

 

 

A7

 

 

 

A8

 

R.O.F

Verbruggen House

Ord-Select Comm & Board

A9

 

R.L

Museum.C.O Stores

Shell Factory Mc.Shop

A10

 

 

 

A11

 

 

 

A12

 

 

 

A13

 

R.L

Tower Place

 

A14

 

R.L

Millwrights Shop

 

A15

 

R.L

R.Lab square East & West Pav

 

 

 

New Lab Stores Shell Repair

 

 

 

Car Park

 

A15/1

 

R.L

Sub Station No 20

 

A15/2

 

R. L

Distrubution Hut "A"

 

A16

 

R. L,

M/c Shop Field Artillery

 

A17

 

 

 

A18

 

 

 

A19

 

 

 

A20

 

 

 

A21

 

R.A.F

Issue Store Shell Factory

 

 

 

Parkerising Shop

 

A22

 

R. L

New Lab Square Field Artillery

 

 

 

Vehicles Pediment

 

A23

 

R. L

New Lab Sq Small Metal Working

 

 

 

Metal Case Store

 

A23

 

A. O . S

Stores Exam Branch

 

A23/a

 

A O S

Stores Exam Branch

 

A23/b

 

A.O S

Millwrights Office/Store

 

A24

40

R.L

Inspection A Model Room

Mess

A25

 

R.G.C F

Model Room Press Shop

 

 

 

Shett Metal W/Shop

 

A26

 

A.O.S

Army Education Book Dept

 

A26/1

 

E D

Sub Station No 29

 

A27

 

A O S

Stores

 

A27

 

R. L

Pediment Complex

 

A28

 

R. L

Pediment Complex

 

A28

 

A O S

Stores

 

A29

 

A. O S

Tank Parts Store

 

A29

 

R L

Tank Parts Store

 

 

 

Rifle Club

 

A30

 

A O S

Stores

 

A31

 

R L

Offices & Stores

 

A31

 

A O S

Stores

 

A32

 

E D

H Q Engineering Store Est

 

A32

41

 

Training Cntr

A33

 

R L

Gun Yard Tennis Court

 

 

 

M O D Police H Q Office

 

A34

 

R L

Office

 

A35

 

R A F

Paint Dipping Shop

 

 

 

R G C F

Metal Case Shop

 

A36

 

R G C F

Painters Shop Metal Case

 

 

 

Shop Machinery

 

A37

 

R G C F

Dial Square Gun Complex

 

 

 

Metal Case Paint Shop

 

A38

 

R G C F

Metal Case Paint Shop

 

A39

 

 

 

A40

 

R G F

Old Shot Yard

 

A41

 

Inspection A

H Q Stationary Store

Round River Guard House

A42

 

A O S

Armoury-Chapel of Rest

 

 

 

Oil & Paint Store Cordage

 

A42/2

 

 

Flag Staff Canteen

A43

 

W D Chemist

Branch Laboratories

 

A44

18

 

 

A42

 

A O S

 

Guard Houses

A45

 

R A F

Bomb Shot Yard

 

A46

 

Bomb Shot Yard Tinmans Shop, Electric Deposition Chemical/Cap Shop

R A F Bomb Shop

A47

 

 

 

A48

 

 

 

A49

 

E D

Air Compressor House

 

A50

17

E D

 

Boiler House

A51

 

 

 

A52

 

R A F

Bomb Shop Store N-E Dial Sq

 

A53

 

R G F

Great Pile Of s,  

Apprentice Training Shop

Brass Foundry, 1967 Used as Garage

A54

 

 

 

A55

 

 

 

A56

 

E D

Sub Station No 28

 

A57

 

R G F

Erection Shop Small Guns

Front of Dial Square

A58

 

R G F

Welding Shop Garage

 

A59

 

R A F

Metal Case Factory Store

 

A60

 

R A F

Metal Case W/Shop

Metal Case Factory

A61

 

R A F

Misc W/Shop

R A F

A62

 

R A F

Metal Case W/ Shop

 

A63

 

R A F

Misc Shop Store

R A F

A63/a

 

E D

Sub Station No 6

 

A64

 

R A F

Misc MC W / Shop

R A F

A65

 

R A F

Misc Mc W/ Shop

 

A66

 

R A F

Rifle Shell Mc Shop

 

A66/3

 

E D

Telephone Box

 

A67

 

R L

Foundry

Foundry

A70

 

R A F

Store & Projectile Shop Iron &

Coke Bunker

 

 

Shell Foundry Sand Mixing 

 

A71

 

 

 

A72

 

E D

New Air Compressor & Pump House

 

A72/4

 

R O F

Coal Bunker & Hydraulic Power

 

A73

 

R A F

Experimental Shop

 

A73/b

 

R A F

Projectable Shop

 

A73/2

 

R A F

Heading Shop

 

A73/3

 

R A F

Hardning Shop

 

A74

 

R A F

Bond & Store

 

A75

22

R O F

Central Office & Drawing Store

Central Office ( C O )

A76

 

R O F

Pay Office Progress & Planning

 

A77

 

R L

Official Quarters No !--10

 

A78

 

M C Sc

Chief Instructors Office Welfare & Sports Association

Sports Association

A79

 

M D

Surgery & Mortary

 

A79/1

 

M D

Mortuary

 

A79/2

 

Dispensary

Surgery Store

A80

 

R O F

Main Gate Beresford

 

A81

 

E D

Quarters Turncock

 

A81/a

 

A O S

Principal Foremans Quarters

 

A82

 

R O F

Main Fire Station

 

A83

 

B W D

Clerk Of Works

 

A84

 

R O F

Quarters Main Gate Nos 13 / 15

 

A85

 

R O F

Ordnance Board Offices

Ordnance Records Office

A86

 

R O F

Artillary Field Office Quarters Nos 1 / 4

 

A87

 

R E M E

Officers For Commonwealth Inspectors

 

A88

 

R E M E

Officers For Commonwealth Inspectors

 

A89

 

R E M E

Officers For Commonwealth Inspectors

 

A121

 

R F F

Primer Shop

 

 

Area B

Building No

Alt.

No

Departments

Description/Usage

Other information

B1

 

E D

Central Power Station

 

B2

 

E D

Power Station

 

B3

 

E D

Latrine

 

B4

 

A O S

Crane No4 West Wharf

 

B5

 

A O S

Crane No 5 West Wharf

 

B6

 

A O S

Mooring Bollard Prince/ Ruperts Wharf

 

B7

 

A O S

As Above

 

B8

 

A O S

Crane No 8 "T" Pier

 

B9

 

A O S

Crane No 9 " T " Pier

 

B10

 

A O S

Crane No 10 " T " Pier

 

B11

 

A O S

Crane No 11 " T " Pier

 

B11/A

 

A O S

Crane No 11/a " T " Pier

 

B12

 

A O S

Crane No 12  " T " Pier

 

B13

 

A O S

Crane No 13  " T " Pier

 

B13/a

 

A O S

Crane No 13/a " T " Pier

 

B14

 

A O S

Crane No 14   "T" Pier

 

B15

 

A O S

Crane No 15  "T" Pier

 

B16

 

A O S

Crane No 16  "T" Pier

 

B17

 

A O S

Crane No 17 "T" Pier

 

B18

 

A O S

Crane No 18  "T" Pier

 

B19

 

A O S

Crane No 19  "T" Pier

 

B20

 

A O S

Crane No 20  "T" Pier

 

B21

 

A O S

Crane NO 21  " T"Pier

 

B22

 

A O S

Crane No 22  " T " Pier

 

B23

 

A O S

Bollard East Wharf

 

B24

 

A O S

Bollard East Wharf

 

B25

 

A O S

Bollard East Wharf

 

B26

 

E D

Electricial Workshop

 

B27

 

E D

C P S Coal Bunkers

 

B28

 

E D

Inspectors Elect & Mech

 

 

 

 

Chain Test

 

B29

 

E D

C P S Coal Store

 

B30

 

E D

Weigh Bridge

 

B31

 

E D

Truck Charging

 

B32

 

A O S

 

 

B33

 

A O S

Shipping Sheds

 

 

 

 

Receipt store & Group store

 

B34

 

A O S

Mountings 6pdr 6cwt Gun stores

Heavy Gang Store

 

 

 

Livans Projectors Nail store RNAD

 

B35

 

A O S

Army Ord Store Heavy & Light Tank spares

 

B35/6

 

A O S

Army Ord Store Receipt store

 

B36

 

 

3inch&20cwtA A Equip

 

B36/1

 

A O S

Dinning Room

 

B36/2

 

E D

Train Despatchers B"Section

 

B 37

 

A O S

Army Ord Store Rolls Royce Tank

 

 

 

 

Track & Engines

 

B38

 

A O S

Army Ord Store Misc Artillery store

 

 

 

 

Irish Surrendered Arms

 

B38/7

 

A O S

Straw Shed

 

B39

 

A O S

Shipping Sheds Wharf Delivery

 

 

 

 

Export & Transit store

 

B40

40

A O S

Army Ord Store Artillery store

P S A

B41

 

Inspection

Carrage Store Printing room

 

B42

 

A O S

Carrage Ord Store

 

B42/2

 

A O S

Civilian Air raid shelter

 

B42/3

 

A O S

 

 

B42/4

 

A O S

 

 

B42/5

 

R O F

Defence Shelters

 

B42/2

 

 

Later a Canteen

 

B43

 

Inspection

C I A Offices

Training Centre

B44

 

Inspection

C I A Offices

By Flage Dtaff Canteen

B45

 

A O S

Army Ord Store Main Office

 

B46

21

S A W

Office

Telephone Exchange

B46

 

W D Chemist

Photographic section

 

B47

20

W D Chemist

Chemical Dept Head Office

 

B48

 

W D Chemist

 

 

B49

 

W D Chemist

 

 

 

Area C

Building No

Alt.

No

Departments

Description/Usage

Other information

C1

19

Inspection I G O C

Inspection Carriages

 

C2

10

R C D

Main'Machine Shop

 

C3

 

 

Garrison Erectors

R G C F

C4

 

D

Scrap Forge

Planning Shop

C5

 

D

Foundry No1

Brass Foundry

C6

 

 

Fitters Light M/c Shop

 

C7

 

 

Fitters South Extension

 

C8

10

 

Iron & Steel stores

 

C8/1

 

R G C F

Transformer cubicle

 

C9

 

M C Science

Artillery College Gun 

Section & Store

C10

9

R G C F

Shop Manager office

Office

C11

 

M C Sc

Artillery gun And Ammo Branch

 

C11/A

 

 

Model Rooms

 

C12

 

R O F

Foremans Canteen & Club

 

C13

 

M C Sc

Drill Shed & Carriage Branch

 

C14

 

I G C

Model stores & Electric truck

 

C15

 

E D

Mains & Telephones

 

C16

 

E D

Foundry Coke Bunker

 

C17

 

R G C F

Climatic Hut

 

C18

 

R G C F

Climatic Hut

 

C19

 

R G C F

Climatic Hut

 

C20

 

R G C F

Water Tower

 

C21

 

R G C F

Tank Repair Shop store

 

C23

7

R G C F

Tank Repair Shop

 

C24

7

R G C F

Engine test & repair shop

 

C25

7

R G C F

Repair Shop

 

C26

7

R G C F

Inspection Shop

 

C27

7

R G C F

 

 

C28

7

R G C F

Tool Shop

 

C29

 

R G C F

Paint Shop

Railway Trucks

C29/1

 

E D

Sub Station No16

 

C30

 

R F F

Empty Shell Store

 

C31

 

R G C F

Testing & Exam Branch

 

C32

 

A O S

Limber Store

 

C33

 

R A F

Box Repair Canteen

 

C33/1

 

R A F

Latrine

 

C34

 

R A R D E

Latrine & Sub Station No 25

 

C35

 

A O S

Limber store

 

C36

 

W D Chemist

Chemical Inspection

 

C36/1 to 6

 

W D Chemist

Chemical Inspection Store

 

C37

 

W D Chemist

Experimental Lab

 

C38

 

W D Chemist

Exp Lab stores & Battery house

 

C39

 

W D Chemist

Admin Sect & stores

 

C40

 

W D Chemist

Plastic & Rubber Labs

 

C40/F

 

W D Chemist

U K A E (atomic)

 

C41

 

 

Vehicle store

 

C42

 

W D Chemist

Chemical Insp

 

C43

 

R O F

Romney Huts Urinal

 

C44

 

R O F

Office

 

C45

 

 

 

 

C46

 

R O F

stores

 

C47

 

E D

Sub Station No 8

 

C48

 

E D

Boiler House

 

C49

 

E D

Dinning Room

 

C50

 

I N O

 

 

C51

 

 

 

 

C52

 

E D

Office Rate Fixers & Clerk of Works

 

C53

6

R G C F

3,7 AA guns Railway trucks

 

C54

6

Demolished

 

 

C55

 

R G C F

Machinists

 

C56

 

R G C F

Machinists (east)

 

C57

 

R G C F

Tool Makers & Apprentice Lt M/c Shop

 

C58

 

R G C F

Machine Shop

 

C59

 

R G C F

 

 

C60

 

 

 

 

C61

 

 

 

 

C62

 

R G C F

Urinal

 

C63

 

R G C F

Erectors South east

I N O

C64

 

E D

Sub station No 9

 

C65

 

A O S

Vehicle store -Propeller shop(1939-45

Incinerator

C66

 

A O S

 

 

C67

 

 

 

 

C68

 

N I D

Office & Hose drying tower

 

C69

 

N I D

Office

 

C70

 

R A F

Tinmans Office & stores

 

C71

 

R O F

Fire-Engine Station middle gate

 

C72

 

R A F

Tin-mans shop

 

C73

 

R A F

Tin-mans shop & stores

 

C74

 

R A F

 

 

C75

 

R A F

 

 

C76

 

 

 

 

C77

 

 

 

 

C78

 

 

 

 

C79

2

 

 

 

C80

 

 

 

 

C81

 

R G C F

Pattern Makers

 

C82

 

R G C F

Canister Bunker

 

C83

 

 

 

 

C84

 

 

 

 

C85

 

 

 

 

C86

 

 

 

 

C87

 

 

 

 

C88

 

 

 

 

C89

 

 

 

 

C90

 

E D

Boiler House & Gaugers shop

 

C91

 

 

 

 

C92

 

R O F

Arsenal Green Houses

 

 

 

 

Nos 19 to 23 Quarters to East of Hospitial

 

C93

 

W D C

Section Houses Avenue H

 

C94

 

W D C

Office Plumstead Gate B W D Residence

 

C94/5

 

 

W D C Telephones

 

C95

 

N I D

Office Middle Gate House

 

C96

 

R O F

Quarters

 

C97

 

Inspection

Gauge Inspection Shop

 

C97/1 to 5

 

E D

D & E

 

C97/9

 

D I Arm

D I Arm

 

C97/A

 

R L

Metallurgists

 

C98

 

R G C F

Pattern store Boundry Wall

 

C99

 

 

 

 

C100

 

 

 

 

C121

 

R F F

Primer Factory

 

CF1

 

 

 

 

CF2

 

 

 

 

CF3

 

 

 

 

CF4

 

S A S ( R A F )

Cannon & Cordite Filling Factory

( S A A )

 

CF 5

 

S A S

Cannon & Cordite Filling Factory

( S A S )

 

 

Area D

Building No

Alt. No

Departments

Description/Usage

Other information

D1

 

A O S

Shipwrights store

 

 

 

 

Boat Repair shop

 

BLD D/1

 

A O S

Sub Contractor W HMitchell & Sons

 

 

 

 

Shipping Owner

 

D2

 

R N A D

Side Arms store East Wharf

 

D2/2

 

E D

Train Despatch Section "D"

 

D3

 

R N A D

Sling Store

 

D4

 

R N A D

Gun Store Naval Cash Office

 

 

 

 

East Wharf Inspection store

 

D4/A

 

R N A D

B / L Gun store

 

D5

 

R N A D

Q / F Gun store

 

D6

 

E D

Coal Pier East Wharf

 

D6 A

 

E D

Coal Bunkers East Wharf

 

D7

 

R N A D

Warhead boxes Packing store

 

D7/A

 

R N A D

Latrins

 

D8

 

R N A D

Depth charge store & Fitters shop

 

D9

 

E D

Gas Factory Retort house & Coal Bunker Crane on Canal bank

 

D10

 

E D

Office

 

D10/5

 

E D

Housing

 

D11

 

 

 

 

D12

 

R N A D

Cartridge cases & Side Arms store

 

D13

 

Police Boat House

Police Boat house Charge/hands

 

D14

 

R N A D

Office N A S O

 

D15

 

I N O

Gun Inspection Shop

 

D16

 

R G C F

Metallurgists

 

Bld 16/A

 

R G C F

Mettallurgists

 

D20

 

R N A D & A O S

Gun Gantry & Ground

 

D21

 

 

 

 

D22

 

E D

Locomotives Running Shed

 

D23

 

 

 

 

D24

 

 

 

 

D25

 

R O F

Bunker & Crane No 25 coal dock

 

D26

 

E D

Gas Processing

 

D27

 

E D

Gas Processing

 

D28

 

R N A D

Iron Pier 4 ton Crane

 

D29

 

R N A D

Iron Pier 4 ton Crane

 

D30

 

R N A D

Iron Pier 200ton Crane

 

D31

 

R N A D

No 31 Crane foot of Iron Pier

 

D32

 

R N A D

No 32 Crane East Wharf

 

D33