Royal Arsenal
Coordinates: 51 ° 29 '28.2 " N , 0 ° 4' 11.8" E Royal Arsenal - originally Woolwich Warren - was an armaments , ammunition sealing and explosives testing company in London . The company was on the Thames in south-east London. Royal Arsenal was established in 1671 as a storage facility for artillery . In 1695 an ammunition laboratory (Royal Laboratory) was added. In 1717 a weapons manufacturing plant was completed (Royal Brass Foundry). Initially the company had an area of 12.5 hectares . It grew to 40 hectares by 1777. After the plant was founded, a demarcation wall was built, which was 2.5 miles long and up to 20 feet highby 1804. From 1814 to 1816 a canal was dugby criminalworkers, which formed the eastern boundary.
history
Early history
In 1805 Woolwich Warren was King George III in the Royal Arsenal renamed to distinguish it from the shipyard (Woolwich Dockyard) and the Military Academy in the neighborhood. Most of the buildings were built by the architect Sir John Vanbrugh. Royal Arsenal was known at the time as an outstanding automation company. The company also became a respected research center for the British arms industry.
Preparations for the Crimean War
During the Crimean War (1854-1856), Royal Arsenal was one of the three main arms companies (alongside Royal Small Arms Factory and Royal Gun Powder Factory) in the United Kingdom. During this time, the company was also expanded.
The company and football
In 1886, workers from the company formed a football club called Dial Square . The team's first game was against Eastern Wanderers, which they won 6-0. In 1893 the team became a professional team and was named Woolwich Arsenal. Today the club is the multiple English champions Arsenal FC .
First World War
At the height of the company, during the First World War , the company had a size of 5.3 km² and employed 80,000 people. After the First World War, the company didn't just build ammunition and weapons. Steam locomotives were also made.
Second World War
During the Second World War , the newly built ammunition depot in Frog Island, which was built in 1937, was almost completely destroyed by German air raids. 103 people were killed and 770 seriously injured. Locomotives were manufactured again after the Second World War. Arms and ammunition production rose again during the Korean War .
Downsizing the company
In the post-war period, the company was greatly reduced in size. The Frog Island ammunition depot was sold and parts of the area were closed. A new neighborhood called Thamesmead was created on parts of the Royal Arsenal area . The MQAD, the Materials Quality Assurance Directorate, was created. The company was tasked with checking ammunition and weapons for the British Army .
closure
In 1991 a prison was built on the grounds of the Royal Arsenal. In 1994 the control and production of weapons and ammunition was stopped and the company closed. Nowadays there are various museums and apartments for the people of London on parts of the area .
