Any Royal Arsenal Related posts here

2/23/2017

Madiha Ahmad

2/23/2017 09:25:13 am

Dear Steve, I'm an architecture student from UCL in London. I'm doing a research project in Thamesmead, including its history and I came across this website, which is fascinating. I was wondering whether I could meet you personally to ask some more questions and gain some insight into the area? Regards, Madiha Ijaz

Ian Bull link

4/1/2017 07:26:52 pm

Hullo Madiha

I've never lived in Thamesmead but many years ago I did study the development as part of a Town Planning degree and went on to work with GLC housing staff who had had a close involvement. I have since developed a significant knowledge of the Royal Arsenal and may be able to assist. Feel free to contact me.

ianbull@btinternet.com

All the best - Ian

Hugh Gladden

2/23/2017 09:37:49 am

Hi. I'm trying to track down information - and especially photos - of a powder hulk used by The Arsenal, which was moored near Tripcock Point from 1890 until around 1910. I've established that the hulk was formerly HMS Thalia, which as you may know was the last ship to be completed at Woolwich Dockyard before that became a mere stores depot, in 1869. So far the only pictures I've found of Thalia as a powder-hulk are two watercolours painted by W.L.Wyllie in 1905, but after finding your excellent website the thought occurs to me that you may know of the whereabouts of any photos of Thalia in her powder-hulk guise? My interest arises from the fact that my Grandfather was a Metropolitan Policeman who served from 1890 until 1920 in The Arsenal, and one of his duties was to row out to Thalia to check on security etc. My father and his four siblings were raised at the Police Quarters near the Harrow Manorway or 'Berber' gate. You are of course welcome to the information I have assembled regarding the Thalia, if you would like it, plus one rather tatty photo of the Police Quarters taken around the turn of the last century...

Sam Skinner

2/23/2017 09:43:52 am

Hi, I'm putting together a Thamesmead art and culture magazine and would like to include something on the history of the area. I came across your excellent website and wondered if you might be interested in contributing? I live in the area and coordinated the recent Thamesmead Arts Festival, and the magazine is intended to come out 4 times a year and feature goings on in the area. I particularly liked the insurance photos of the area flooded also the german bomber photos, do you have originals of these or can you point me to where i would find them? Please email me of you can help or are interested in getting involved. Kind regards, Sam Skinner

Christine Fern

2/23/2017 10:05:05 am

Could you let me know just where the police Quarters were situated in the Royal Arsenal. I am doing some research into servicemen who died in the Great War and one of the addresses given is 38 Police Quarters, Royal Arsenal, Abbey Wood

Ian Bull link

4/1/2017 06:38:55 pm

Hullo Christine
No. 38 Police Quarters was a two story house of about 1900. It was located just East of the current Harrow Manor Way has an elevated roundabout above the Southern Outfall Sewer. There are maps of that on this site but if you want something more specific, let me know.

All the best - Ian Bull

Margaret Stocker link

2/23/2017 10:08:06 am

I have family history with the Arsenal on my father's side. Please advise on how I can send this to you. i would like to know more about records of workers, as my grandfather was a "writer" there from 1890's to the 1930's

Rachael Keene

2/23/2017 10:14:20 am

Hi, I am from Australia, and am writing a historical fiction novel on British women in the Great War and the 1920s. My main female character works in munitions at Royal Arsenal Woolwich from 1916 - 1918. Could you please tell me the postal and physical address of Woolwich Arsenal that would have been used during the war? For example, the postal address her fiancé in France would need to use to send letters to her. Thank you so much for your help. I am loving learning all about Royal Arsenal. It is fascinating. Rachael

Ian Bull

4/1/2017 07:10:36 pm

Hullo Rachael

As far as I know it wasn't possible to post directly to those working in the RA at any period unless they were senior staff. The Postal address was simply...

Royal Arsenal
Woolwich
London
SE18

Your character would most probably have lived close-by though and this London Postal District map might help...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:LONDON_post_town_map.svg

Good luck with the book!

All the best - Ian

richard ralph

2/23/2017 10:16:21 am

Hi I'm researching for a book on the history of Kent football. There was a team called ROFTLA between the wars. I'm presuming that it was connected to the Royal Ordnance Factory but know nothing more. I hope that you can help and look forward to hearing from you soon. R's Richard Ralph Gravesend

Steve

3/30/2017 08:37:44 am

Please see Football page and there is a R.O.F.S.A section

Abbie McGowan

2/23/2017 10:17:30 am

Hi there, I'm trying to trace a six pounder Finbanker cannon that was used at the Battle of Aughrim in 1691 and subsequently kept at Dublin Castle. This cannon was removed from there in the early 1920's and I recently came across a post card of Woolich in the 1960's with a restoration style cannon that looked remarkably like the one in Dublin Castle. Could you shed any light on this for me at all? This particular cannon is significant as it's reportedly the one that decapitated the Gen. St. Ruth on the battlefield, thus losing the Jacobite cause in Ireland. Thanks and kind regards, Abbie

Ian Bull link

4/1/2017 07:42:27 pm

Hullo Abbie
Strangely enough I've recently supplied some maps of the Battle of Aughrim to 'Military History Monthly' magazine.
I can say with certainty that the gun you mention wouldn't have been made in Woolwich for the Arsenal didn't begin making Ordnance until 1720. Prior to that the Crown purchased all its guns from private founders. That said, it might well have been Proofed on the Woolwich Marshes as many were although there are no records to consult. I suspect your best bet for further research would be the Royal Armouries.
Poor old St. Ruth, if he hadn't been the unfortunate recipient of that round the battle, and history, might have been different.

All the best - Ian

Callum Sutherland

2/23/2017 10:19:17 am

Dear Sir/Madame I am doing some research for a book and wondered if you could help me as to which building in the Royal Arsenal site was used in 1979 as the Forensic Explosives lab before it moved to Fort Halstead. I also wondered if there was a description of the building available. I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you Callum Sutherland

Steven Peterson link

2/23/2017 10:22:29 am

Hi Callum,

Sorry for the delay, please see my video of Royal Arsenal East Buildings - R.A.R.D.E (2001) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzVOji2jBUg&t=188s

John Gardner

2/23/2017 10:24:56 am

I have been trying to find out if Woolwich arsenal was ever bombed during WW1 or if it suffered any accidental explosions. I am writing a book and my principal character Daisy Seale works at the factory. Many thanks for your help. John Gardner

Steve

3/30/2017 08:38:53 am

Please see bombs dropped on bomb page

Ian Bull

4/1/2017 07:02:16 pm

Steve is referring to this page...

http://www.royal-arsenal-history.com/royal-arsenal-bombs.html

The answer is that the RA was bombed extensively in WW1. Indeed, I believe there were more fatalities in WW1 than WW2. If you go to the Imperial War Museums WW1 project...

https://livesofthefirstworldwar.org/

...And seek the Royal Arsenal you'll find the recorded account of a WW1 'Munitionette'. She makes repeated comments about the 'Gothas', the large aircraft that carried-out most of the bombing.

All the best - Ian

Stephen J. Brind

3/27/2017 02:16:06 pm

My Father, J. W. Brind. Started his career as an Apprentice at The Royal Woolwich. Born in Plumstead, SE London.

He was excellent in Maths. He then went on to be in charge of R.O.F Bombay, which built one of the most formidable Tanks in History "The Centurion" which had the first self leaving gun in the world at that time (1951)
He went on to be a Director Level at the Ministry of Defense. He returned to the Arsenal toward the end of his career to close the Arsenal Down... He had been appointed to be the Director of the Royal Mint. In the same position of Sir Isaac Newton, but died before he could take up the task.

Carl Brind

9/25/2020 09:59:33 am

Hi Stephen. I used to run the Brind Family history page on Facebook. I am also from the Plumstead Brinds. I have alot of info on the PLumstead/ Woolwich Brinds

Admin @ Royal-Arsenal-History.com

3/31/2017 05:49:22 am

If youhave photo's and more infomration I can add this informormation to a related page on this website

Steven Hinton

6/24/2017 02:41:12 am

Hello
I look after a site in Birmingham we have a set of WW1 gun proof butts located on site along with associated buildings. The personnel stationed at this location were from the Woolwich Garrison Artillery. As far as we are aware they were testing 4.5in QF Howitzers produced localy. We are trying to trace further information on the testing of guns at this location who may of been involved and any information relating to the testing of Guns at the Warren Lane proof Buts at Lickey. If you want to see what we have found so far please take a look at outr FB page @LickeyHillsWW1 thanks in advance for any help you may be able to give

Michael Ray

10/3/2017 07:26:45 pm

Hello from America. I am seeking any information regarding a revolver I have recently acquired.

It is a Colt Official Police model in the caliber 38-200. The date of manufacture is 1941. The revolver has a "W" inside a dome as a proof mark. I have been told this is the Woolwich stamp. The additional information is that the gun would have been possibly sent to Australia during WWII.

If there is any additional information to share, I would be so very grateful.

Patrick Ellum

5/30/2018 03:44:08 am

My great grand uncle Sir Frederick Abel FRS KCB GCVO etc was the Chemist to the Ordnance Office and then War Department Chemist at the Royal Woolwich Arsenal from 1854 to 1891. Prior to that, from 1849, he assisted Michael Faraday as the Instructor in Practical Chemistry to the gentlemen cadets at the Royal Military Academy, taking over from Faraday as Professor of Chemistry at the Academy in 1852 (I note that Faraday might be an interesting name to drop into your excellent timeline: he was the Chemistry Professor there from 1829). Sir Fred went on to be involved in many scientific advances, successfully fight a lawsuit by Alfred Nobel, claiming that Fred's cordite was a breach of a Nobel patent, and become one of the great and the good of Victorian Society. I am interested to know where he lived and worked at the Arsenal. A particular point that confuses in my research is whether the Royal Laboratory and the Chemistry Department were the same (or whether, having been different, they were pretty much the same thing by the later 1880s).

Ian Bull link

5/30/2018 10:21:28 am

Dear Patrick

Senior staff at the Arsenal were allotted houses in a road known as 'Avenue H'. The properties were fine Georgian and Victorian dwellings with a pleasant private garden. The road ran Eastwards from the main gate in Woolwich's Beresford Square parallel with the Arsenal's boundary wall, indeed the boundary wall was the garden wall in some cases.If your illustrious relative lived in the Arsenal it would have been there. Sadly, Avenue H, was destroyed in 1982 as part of a scheme to widen Plumstead Road which saw said road extended into the Royal Asenal's site. The main gate survives.

Sir Frederick would have worked throughout the Arsenal but he would have been based at the pioneering Chemical Laboratory, modelled along an early operating theatre. There is an excellent article here...

http://greenwichindustrialhistory.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-chemical-laboratories-in-royal.html

I'm delighted to say that the Chemical Laboratory has been preserved, it is a listed building. See here...

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1245204

The Royal Laboratory was the oldest of the Arsenal's departments by far and I'd assume that the Chemistry Dept. was always part of that wider Department. Confirmation would come from Brigadier Oliver Hogg's monumental book (2 vols) on the Royal Arsenal. You can search within the book online at this similarly monumental address...

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=QOsdAAAAIAAJ&q=The+Royal+Arsenal&dq=The+Royal+Arsenal&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjenYGU-K3bAhXLIMAKHZ3UDdcQ6AEIGDAB

Whilst I'm here, could you confirm that the Abel Mausoleum in Nunhead Cemetery is that of your predecessors?

All the best

Ian Bull

Patrick Ellum

5/30/2018 03:02:50 pm

Thanks very much for that useful feedback Ian. I know Sir Fred is buried in Nunhead Cemetery but I was unaware it was a mausoleum. I don't think other family members were buried there.

Ian Bull link

5/30/2018 03:17:00 pm

It might not be a Mausoleum but it's certainly large enough for more than one occupant, six at least I'd say. Of course, Sir Fred was a nationally significant figure and such a large Tomb might have been considered fitting. It's in very good condition and in a prime position.
All the best - Ian

Michael Buckley

6/2/2018 11:41:29 pm

What a great archive, well done!

Tony Collins

8/22/2020 07:44:48 am

Hi last post was 2018 so I hope this reaches you. My great grandmother was born 1 Nelson St Woolwich in 1849. I am researching her history & wondered what sights & sounds she was born into. Her father was a harness maker (at Woolwich Arsenal I think). I know the Arsenal manufactured but was there military activities/training etc going on there, soldiers in the street etc. Her father my great great grandfather died in 1859 in Salutation Alley. Rgds Tony

Any Royal Arsenal Related posts here

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