Volume 9, Issue 4, December 2006
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NEW MEMBERS We would like to welcome.... John Gurnett, Reading Jeremy Cotton, Thamesmead Martin White, Blackheath, SE3 Anna Townend, Blackheath, SE3 |
Richard Buchanan and Susan Bullivant
In the May Woolwich Antiquarians Newsletter it was mentioned that: "on Shooters Hill one of the roadside electricity distribution boxes (green, about 3 '6" high and 1'6" by 1' in plan) still has its cast iron doors with the Arms of the Borough of Woolwich, from pro-grid days when the Borough generated its own electricity".
On the evening of Monday 25th September 2006, Dr Barry Gray who lives in Eaglesfield Road (its location), phoned GIHS Chair Susan Bullivant to say that it had been knocked by a car, and was leaning across the pavement at a dangerous angle. As there are very few of these junction boxes left, they were both concerned that the box should not be consigned to a skip. The next morning Susan phoned the Greenwich Highways Department, as they are responsible for 'street furniture' and are the owners. They showed no interest in the matter; but did give her the phone number of EdF, the electricity supply company, whose office is in Ipswich. The staff there were sympathetic and concerned - that the box should be saved - that the electricity supply was safe - and to determine its owner. Susan then rang Chris Foord at Greenwich Heritage Centre who confirmed that they would like to acquire the box, and gave him the Ipswich phone number. On the evening of Tuesday 26th, Dr Barry Gray again rang to say that men were removing the junction box, and had told him they had to be careful with it as "a lady has phoned up about it". Susan went along, and was assured they were taking it in their big EdF van to their depot in Bexleyheath Broadway. They gave her the phone number of their boss. This she passed on to the Heritage Centre the next morning, who then made arrangements for the junction box to be transferred to them from the Bexleyheath depot on the following Tuesday, 3rd October. EdF duly delivered it (less a small part of the bottom of one of the doors which had been broken off). So thanks are due to the EdF staff in Ipswich for their concern over a historic junction box with the Woolwich coat-of-arms on it.
The Heritage Centre staff (and Richard Buchanan, a volunteer who was there that day) were pleased to see it and immediately started to talk of refurbishing it, and putting it on a plinth so that it could be stood upright. Below ground the casting continues for another foot with a leg at each comer, presumably to fit over a conduit, leaving a clear cable entry from below. However, two of the legs had been cut off, probably to avoid a below ground obstacle when the box was in service. Its top has a round cap fitted over the centre, suggesting that it was designed to mount a lamp standard. Most such electricity junction boxes surviving on Shooters Hill are of (probably) later manufacture, on the 1935-6 Laing estate where they are situated in roadside verges planted with shrubs. These boxes were made by Siemens to a similar pattern, but lack the Woolwich Arms and do not have provision for mounting a lamp standard. Nowadays electrical supply connections are generally in boxes below the footway.
This item originally appeared in the Woolwich Antiquarians Newsletter – with thanks.
Barbara Ludlow
Enderby Wharf on the Greenwich Peninsula - and the activities of the family who made rope and canvass there, and built Enderby House (the only listed building on the Peninsula) - are of great interest to industrial historians. I have acquired a mass of material over the years about the Enderbys and their business - therefore I am dealing with only a few specific points but would be pleased to expand on, and answer, more if approached.
Samuel Enderby.1640-1723. Samuel and family owned a tannery in Bermondsey. The Enderbys were granted forfeited estates in Lismore, County Waterford, Ireland. In l660 these were sold and the money was invested in the oil and Russia trade.
Daniel Enderby, 1681-1766. Several researchers have stated that Daniel married Mary Cook, the sister of Captain Cook. During Daniel’s lifetime the firm of Buxton, Sims and Enderby, Oil Merchants, was established at Paul's Wharf, Thames Street. Daniel's son, Samuel, married Hannah Buxton (1st wife). Samuel was a barrel maker at first. It was through marriage that the business became dominated by the Enderby family.
Samuel Enderby, 1719-1797. His second wife was Elizabeth. Enderby ships were registered in London and Boston in America. They transported goods to the colonists and brought whale oil back to the UK. In 1773 the Boston 'Tea Party' took place and it has been said that an Enderby ship carried the tea. However, Dan Byrnes of Australia has stated that there was no direct involvement of Enderby ships in the event. By 1775 The War of Independence had cut off American whale oil so British ship-owners, and Samuel Enderby in particular, decided to go whaling in the South Atlantic. In about 10 years the whales in the South Atlantic were nearly extinct. The Enderbys then concentrated on the seas around New Zealand with The Bay of Islands as a main base. In 1789 after much pleading with the government the Enderbys won the right to go into the South Seas and were then bitten by the exploring bug. This was the start of a drain on their profits.
Samuel Enderby, 1756-1829. Son of Samuel described above. Samuel and all his brothers and sisters were baptised and entered in the Protestant and Non Conformist Register for London, now kept at the Dr. Williams’ Library. Money was left to the preachers at Sailors Hall. It is just possible that the forfeited lands in Ireland were given to the Enderbys for their allegiance to the Non-Conformists during the English Civil War in the 17th century. No proof as yet, just a thought. Samuel got his Captains to go to the Antarctic - thus Enderby Land. Mount Gordon - his daughter Elizabeth married Henry Gordon and so General Gordon was his grandson. By the time of Samuel's death the British whaling industry was in trouble and his son Charles Enderby thought of ways to expand the firm. He was interested in the new 'technology' that was emerging and he was a founder member of the Royal Geographical Society.
Charles, Henry and George Enderby were Samuel's sons. In 1841 Charles was living in Enderby House at Enderby Wharf, while George and Henry were living with their mother in Old Charlton. Previously the family had moved from Greenwich/Blackheath to Eltham. By 1846 Mary Enderby was dead and Charles tried to save the firm by setting up the South Seas Whaling Company with others. As he sailed out of Plymouth to go to the Auckland Islands, NZ, a notice to the effect that the Enderbys were unable to meet all their financial commitments appeared in a London newspaper. There is an excellent book on the ill-fated settlement.
George Enderby. It is unlikely that George lived on Greenwich Marsh. The Enderby Rope Works and other buildings were destroyed or badly damaged by fire in March 1845. Enderby House was eventually repaired.In 1849 Charles moved away, never to return to Greenwich. I had a letter from a Gravesend historian who found George Enderby living in the 1850s and 1860s at Orme House in Northfleet, Kent. The 1861 census listed him as unmarried, age 58; a retired ship owner. His housekeeper Mary Nunn called him ‘Captain Enderby’ and when George moved to Dover Road, Mary moved with him. I have no death date for him.
Henry Enderby. After leaving the Charlton area at some date, he went to live with a male opera singer in West London.
William Enderby. Born 1805. William had money in the firm but does not appear to have been that involved. He married a Mary Howls in 1830 and they had 8 children, e.g. Baptism entry from St. Luke's Church, Charlton, May 23rd 1837:- Charles, son of William and Mary Enderby. Abode Eltham. Father’s profession - Gentleman. Later William Enderby is listed as a ratepayer in Shooters Hill Road. Other information is taken from a notebook of H.H.Enderby of Kai Iwi Beach, Nr.Wanganui, NZ. - H.H. Enderby was William and Mary's grandson. After the firm crashed it is quite likely that William went to Australia or New Zealand. I have no death date for him.
One whaling historian described the Enderbys as "Clogs to clogs in three generations".
Where addresses are not given, please contact through the Editor, c/o 24 Humber Road, London SE3
From: Gordon Braughton
Re. Johnson and Phillips material in the August Newsletter. I was born in 1915 in Eastcombe Avenue. Adjacent and to the rear of our flat was the premises of Johnson and Phillips. Through my early years I recall them being a major employer in the area. The works were in three sections spanning the then Southern Railway line in Victoria Road (now Way). The terrace housing of nearby Troughton Road, Rathmore Road, and Fossdene Road suggests that these were established to house Johnson and Phillips workers. As a pupil of Fossdene Road, LCC School, I was well aware that J&P was an important manufacturer of cables in particular. My knowledge of the company after 1939 was cut short by the evacuation of the Research Department – Metallurgy Section at Woolwich Arsenal to Cardiff University. I think that some time in the post war years it was taken over by the Delta Company.
It’s a wonderful newsletter and I am happy to be able to receive it. My interest is in the Strong Fisher families. They are my direct ancestors and their sons came to New Zealand on the ann in 1848. I believe that there was a business of the name Strong Fisher or Fisher Strong. My lot lived in Silver Street, Rotherhithe and were boatmen, sawyers and watermen.
During the First World War my maternal grandfather, Charles Corner, who had recently retired from building railways in various parts of the world, came out of retirement to help manage the railway inside Woolwich Arsenal (usually described as powered by superheated steam) while the regular managers from the Corps of Royal Engineers went off to run the railways behind the lines in Northern France. That is about as much as anyone in my family knows.
I would be grateful for any further information, (a) on the actual technology of the railway (b) on the way it was manned and managed, in peacetime or © under the conditions of 1914-18. I have lived in Thamesmead since 1984, and began a botanical survey of the area including the railway in 1975 (aborted once the degree of contamination became apparent). There were still a few recognisable relics lying around then, and one or two items of rolling stock at the Railway Museum in North Woolwich Station a little later, but in Thamesmead at least there seem to be no traces left. I find this frustrating. Any documents, references, or other information would be of great family interest.
With thanks, 43, Whernside Close, London, SE28 8HB
From: D.A. Parkinson
Would you know if there are any ship's models, paintings, or prints of:
Breda - 70 Guns, 3rd-Rate warship, built Woolwich 1692 or Defiance - 64 Guns, 3rd-Rate Warship, built Chatham, 1675. Rebuilt Woolwich 1695.
Flat 33, 45 Thicket Crescent, Sutton. Surrey, SM1 4QB.
From: Malcolm Tucker
Some corrections to the August 2006 Newsletter
1) In my letter on p5, in the last sentence, 'drains' should read 'drums', I this is hope self-explanatory.
2) Response to query, p8: Albion Sugar, makers of glucose, occupied the former Rigging House, Sail Loft and Engine Store of Woolwich Dockyard. It was demolished in 1982 (not 1932 as mis-printed in Pevsner). It was a monumental 4-storey brick building from 1842-6, except for an infilling on the landward side of 1856-7. This had a cast-iron-framed wall with a resemblance to the Boat Store at Sheerness but slightly more ornamented. Unlike the pioneering Boat Store, from 3 years later, it had the brick walls of the existing building to help it stand up. It proudly bore the plaque of the structural ironfounders, “H & MD Grissell”, and it was presumably designed under G.T. Greene, the Director of Engineering and Architectural Works at the Admiralty.
From: Rachel Langdon
My grandfather, Charles Patrick Langdon is 98 years old. He was born in New Zealand in 1908 and was still, until recently, in pretty good health for a person of his age. He has now been diagnosed with a kidney problem and I am concerned about how much longer he will be with us. In 1905 my grandfather's father Charles Robert Langdon came to New Zealand with his wife Hannah Winifred Ryan aboard the steamer SS Morayshire. Charles Robert was an interesting man. He was a shipwright who was very much a socialist and, on coming to New Zealand, became involved in the communist and fledging unionist movements. Possibly this involvement came from his apprenticeship days in England as a shipwright where he had to sign an agreement to be subservient to his 'masters'! Unfortunately for my grandfather and my family, Charles Robert also decided that he would sever all ties with his family in England. He wanted nothing to do with them! This knowledge that my grandfather has never had contact with any of his direct family, has led to my recent quest to try to find some direct relations that he can have contact with before he dies. Apart from his mother and father (and his children), my grandfather has no idea of any other living Langdon relation! I have over the last months gathered and researched the following information.
Apparently Charles Robert was an amateur photographer; and because of this, we have photos' of some of his relations, and images of presumably Greenwich and Kent in the late 1890's. My hope is that by contacting you, you may be able to help me in my quest to find some living relatives of my grandfather. (Some of Rachel’s pictures are reproduced here...)
Rachel Langdon’s Photographs
Any information on the photographs reproduced here would be gratefully received.
A ship launch - it looks like Thames Ironworks. If it is - what is the ship and what is the date?
Or is it somewhere entirely different, like Liverpool?
Trafalgar Road with Christ Church and some passers by. Any ideas about the date?
A view of the river. Is it the Thames – looks like the Royal Docks on the other side? But it does appear to be very narrow.
Where was it taken from? And where actually is it?
A riverside scene - whereabouts is this - is it on London river - or is it Liverpool - or somewhere else entirely?
Which tug firm operated with a striped funnel like the one shown?
The Royal Naval College? Looks a bit strange though – perhaps it’s the angle. Any ideas?
NOTES & NEWS PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED We (usually!) receive a great many newsletters and booklets - thank you, and keep them coming - however, what is listed here are only those which have something of Greenwich interest in the current edition. Reviews of any publications of Greenwich interest are always welcome.
GREENWICH EMOTION MAP Whaaat!? The East Greenwich-based Independent Photograph Project have produced an Ordnance Survey-type map of the Greenwich Peninsula based on people’s emotional reactions to it – via a clever little hand-held device and some clever computer software. See www.emotionmap.net. The Independent Photography Project has an ambitious programme, much of which is based on research and memories of industry on the Peninsula. Details (and perhaps copies) from Isabel Lilley, Independent Photography Project, Rothbury Hall, Azof Street, SE10. VICTORIA DEEP WATER TERMINAL Victoria Deep Water Terminal, Greenwich Peninsula SE10 The site lies on the western side of the Greenwich Peninsula, where a ridge of floodplain gravel, overlain by sand exists below the alluvium. A peaty soil had developed above the sand, which was buried by a bed of peat, about 1m thick. At the interface of the soil and peat struck flints were recovered, which may be of Neolithic date. The peat represented several cycles of increasingly wet then increasingly dry conditions, with probably episodes of dry woodland, wet Alder Carr and sedge fen interspersed with periods of prolonged flooding in which much wood was found. It was overlain by clays and silts, representing a transition to salt marsh and mudflats. The high clay content and increasing iron-staining especially Thanks to David Riddle who spotted this piece. SPREAD EAGLE ART COLLECTION Dick Moy – who was a founder member of GIHS and whose recent death was a great blow to many who cared about Greenwich left much to remember him by. His involvement with The Spread Eagle is part of the remarkable story of post-war development in Greenwich. In addition to food, music and theatre, The Spread Eagle has had close connections with the visual arts. The Moy family managed an art gallery and antique business in adjoining buildings for more than fifty years. After Dick Moy's death in 2005, The Spread Eagle was acquired by Frank Dowling. Their respective historical art collections are brought together to form The Spread Eagle Art Collection. The catalogue is a pictorial souvenir of the people and places in Greenwich. It features a wide range of distinguished artists and illustrators, from the 17th century to the present day, who were inspired by Greenwich, including many who were familiar with the tavern, coaching inn, and restaurant. The Spread Eagle spans more than 300 years of history. It is situated on Stockwell Street, one of the most ancient roads in Greenwich and a tavern from before 1650. The advent of rail travel in the 1830s and later the development of motor transport led to the demise of The Spread Eagle as a coaching Inn. It survived as a tavern until 1922. For more than forty years it was occupied by a Printer and bookbinder and finally became the receiving office of a laundry. The Moy family purchased the property in 1964 and Dick began the task of restoring the building as a restaurant. During the restoration process many original features were uncovered and many lost relics were discovered. Roman pottery, a Tudor show and a Kentish 'fives9' board - the forerunner of darts, were found. Also a whip that may well have been used by Joseph Steel the Spread Eagle's coachman renowned in Greenwich for his bare-fist fighting. In 1819 he fought Bishop Sharpe and lost a £25 wager. A print, now part of The Spread Eagle Art Collection, portrays him knocked upside down. A trunk was discovered in the attic which originally belonged to Mrs. Webb - the landlady of The Spread Eagle during the Victorian and Edwardian eras. This was also the popular period of English Music Hall and the trunk contained her collection of dedicated photographs and letters of her musical and theatrical clientele. The artistes had all performed at the neighbouring halls of present-day Greenwich Theatre. These - and many other pictures of Greenwich are included in the catalogue. GAZETEER OF INDUSTRIAL ARCHAEOLOGY IN BEXLEY BOROUGH We have been given a copy of the 2nd edition of the Gazetteer of pre-1945 industrial sites in Bexley Borough with the compliments of The Bexley Local Studies and Archives Centre who have supervised and paid for the production of the Gazetteer, and The Bexley Civic Society who have given their unstinting support for the preparation of this new edition. It is the work of Michael Dunmow – better known for his devotion to the Crossness Engines Trust. The relics of the industrial past of an area are always under threat from vandalism, dereliction and redevelopment. Bexley has had its historians and photographers at work for many years, most of them working in specific locations or on specific topics. This booklet is based upon a survey which has attempted to secure a record of the industrial relics in the Borough in a systematic way which, it is hoped, will enable future workers to add to and to amend the record and to draw on it for future studies. The work on this gazetteer began some years ago and from the outset was supported by the Planning Committee of The Bexley Civic Society who have followed its gestation with great patience and have kept the project on their agenda since its inception. ARMING THE FLEET Explosion! The Museum of Naval Firepower in Priddy's Hard, Gosport, Hampshire, is pleased to announce the launch of this highly anticipated new publication: Arming the Fleet - The Development of the Royal Ordnance Yards 1770 - 1945. The publication, by David Evans, has been produced by the Museum in association with English Heritage. This major new book reveals, for the first time, the complete history of Britain's naval ordnance yards from the early conversion of fortifications such as Upnor Castle and Portsmouth's Square Tower, to the underground strongholds of the Second World War. From extensive research using a wealth of original documents, David Evans, author of the acclaimed Building the Steam Navy, traces the development of the sites, buildings, workers and policies that underpinned Britain's armed forces for over 150 years. THE HILL FOLK Life in Rural Kent 1950's to 70's by Iris Bryce. 'The Hill Folk' follows Iris' award winning book Remember Greenwich and Tree in the Quad. It is a collection of essays of life on a farm near Wrotham in Kent in the fifties, sixties and early seventies. Published by History Into Print. Price: £9.95 Available from: Iris Bryce, 58 Pond Bank, Blisworth, Northants. NN7 3EL. Tel: 01604 858192 E-mail: owen-iris@bryceosnet.co.uk Web site: http://history-into-print.com/catalogue/biography/the-hill-folk-iris-bryce CABLES ON TV It was with some excitement that we received an email from Allan Green – who spoke to GIHS about cable-maker Henley in October – about the Coast programme on BBC TV. The programme was to visit the Telegraph Cable Museum at Porthcurno in Cornwall where Allan is based and where the archives of Greenwich cable makers are kept. Cable enthusiasts everywhere were emailing each other frantically. In the end it was an interesting description of the Museum and the revolutionary nature of the telegraph cable – shame they never mentioned that ALL of them were made in Greenwich! SEVERNDROOG CASTLE BUILDING PRESERVATION TRUST London's most romantic castle is set to enter a new phase of life, if the support it gained during this year’s London Open House weekend is anything to go by. "As good as the Monument", "a wonderful gem... full of magic and presence" and "really spectacular" were just some of the comments from visitors. "It's not the biggest castle I've been it but it has the best views" and "I would love to live here" were comments from children. Nearly a thousand people queued, some for hours, to go up the 18th century folly in Castle Wood, Shooter's Hill, London SE18, and to see its rarely accessible interior. The three-sided castle, holds fond memories for many South Londoners as a place to visit for relaxation and enjoyment, for children to play - and as the area's only castle. Severndroog Castle Building Preservation Trust, the group which has been campaigning to save the Castle, appointed Waloff Associates Ltd in August 2006 to prepare an Audience Development Plan for the castle and its surroundings. The Plan, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and English Heritage, will help the Trust decide which uses are most sustainable and viable for the castle, and then approach the London Borough of Greenwich to obtain a long-term lease. The local authority is currently the owner of Severndroog Castle, which is not accessible to the public at present. Dr Barry Gray, Chair of the Trustees, said: "The Open House event showed the amount of public support. Now we need to be clear what the castle can be used for - and how this can be to everyone's benefit. We look forward to working with Greenwich Council to make sure this happens". The Trust has also commissioned 2 further reports, a Conservation Management Plan and an Access Plan. This work will be undertaken by Thomas Ford & Partners, a firm of Chartered Architects and surveyors who also act as historic building consultants. When all 3 reports are completed, the Severndroog Castle Building Preservation Trust will approach Heritage Lottery Fund for funding to fully restore the Castle. NEWS FROM CROSSNESS VICTORIAN PROGRESS Victoria's intermediate pressure (IP) cylinder has been laid bare. All the old metallic cladding has been removed and the lagging stripped off. In the main, the cladding on the cylinder was in a sound condition and although the outer surface was pitted with rust there were patches on the inner surfaces that retained their original 'blued steel' finish. Plain horizontal joins in the cladding were covered by 2 inch wide circumferential brass bands which are in store prior to cleaning and polishing. The metallic cladding itself has also been stored pending a detailed inspection and a decision on which bits to retain. It is interesting that many of the complex non-plain joints in the cladding, such as those between cylindrical and flat parts of the cladding, have brass fascias attached by brass rivets that cover the joins themselves. Again, a decision has to be made as to how many of these brass pieces we retain. Each part of cladding has been measured, a sketch made and a numbered disc attached to it. Removal of the lagging proved to be a very dusty job although much of it came away in chunks. It was applied in about 1900 before asbestos was used for lagging and seems to be a mortar-like material. Samples have been kept for display, testing and record purposes but the rest of the removed lagging has been disposed of as ground in-fill around the site. With the lagging removed, the intermediate pressure cylinder casting was cleaned down by needle-gunning and wire brushing whereafter it has been primed with red lead paint. The flanges for the steam heating pipes and the pressure tapping points have been left unpainted so that they can be faced off to ensure they make steam-tight joints when the mating flanges are fitted. However, there is still a lot of cleaning to be done and this will be ongoing as we progress. Having removed the lagging, we were then faced with the question 'What do we take off next?' The simple answer was 'The part that is easiest to get at' but that part proved to be crucial to the timing of the cut-off of the steam inlet valve. To ensure that the valve timing is right when the engine is reassembled it is essential that the distances between various adjustable parts of the valve gear go back as found. On Prince Consort the standard engineering practice of 'pop-marking' the components was used but what we had overlooked was the fact that when the rust and corrosion was cleaned off so the pop-marks were also removed. Therefore, on Victoria, learning from that lesson, before we removed any parts a sketch was made showing the critical setting dimensions by measuring centre-to-centre distances between the pins and bolts also from pins/bolts to flat surfaces of associated parts. The parts that we finally decided to remove were the inlet valve trip rods, complete with adjustment devices that are essential components in determining the trip timing of the steam inlet valve. These parts have now been stripped down to their individual components, detail drawings made of them - and numbered discs attached. They are now being cleaned up and polished prior to being put on display until they can be reassembled back on the engine. This we hope to do progressively - it being probably as efficient a way of storing the various parts as any, and at least we should still be able to remember where they came from! Published in Crossness Record – apologies for publishing without their consent – due to difficulties in contacting them. Crane Exported From London The elderly grey-painted Stothert & Pitt crane, used to unload the small sand and gravel carrying motor ships of J. J. Prior Ltd at their wharf on Deptford Creek has recently been replaced by a tall PLA-type crane of the kind common in the larger London docks about 30 years ago. J. J. Prior carefully dismantled the old crane and it left the Creek on one of their vessels about Friday, 8th September 2006. Bob Carr - from GLIAS Newsletter. Siemens Brothers Engineering Society Members will remember that Siemens Brothers Engineering Society have produced a catalogue of items in their possession. Brian Middlemiss, their Secretary and GIHS member, has written to tell us that following a recent large donation of archive material to the Engineering Society, they have now produced a formal Supplement to this Main Archive Material Catalogue. They have been kind enough to supply us with a copy of the Supplement to be associated with the Main Catalogue previously supplied in 2004. They point out that the need to produce this Supplement was triggered by the sad death of Bill Speller, one of their Members, following which his family made a large donation of archive material to the Society. They took the opportunity to include in the Supplement all the other donations received since publication of the Main Catalogue in June 2004. There will be no further Supplements – all subsequent donations will be treated as 'private donations' and passed, with a covering letter, to an appropriate new holder. The Supplement lists all the items donated, with the identity of the new holders to whom they have been given for the benefit of future generations and researchers. The Society remains indebted to Siemens, UK, Corporate Communications who continue to support their activities and have facilitated the printing and binding of the Supplement. |
There have been a number of meetings with developers on plans for a new Woolwich: - Love Lane on Monday, the Royal Military Academy on Wednesday, and Mast Pond Wharf on Thursday. Members of GIHS attended these in their roles as members of other organisations – mainly as members of the Greenwich Conservation Group.
Love Lane. A presentation was made in Woolwich Town Hall by, the site architects. As yet there are only outline proposals, with detailed building designs still to be produced. The site (between Wellington Street, Thomas Street, Grand Depot Road and John Wilson Street) is divided into to five zones. Love Lane will run up the centre; a pedestrian way will cross the site from Anglsea Road and another pedestrian way will cross the site from Sandy Hill to where Love Lane-now emerges on Wellington Street by the Director General.
The first two zones are either side of Love Lane up to Anglsea - one starts at the Post Office and the other at Wetherspoon's. The third and fourth zones will have Tesco's store on the left and a new Civic Centre on the right, and the fifth zone, for housing, goes the rest of the way up to John Wilson Street. English Heritage had been invited to see if any buildings should be nationally listed, but they thought not. They did suggest however that there should be a Conservation Area to cover the Old and new Town Halls and the old Municipal Baths.
There are proposals to minimise energy use, with wind turbines etc. to generate up to 20% of power needs and bore holes for heat recovery. The existing car park under Peggy Middleton House will be retained and extended for shoppers to keep their cars separate. Grand Depot Road will continue to be tree lined, with buildings set back from the road. The whole area will be pedestrianised, with only delivery vehicles or residents' allowed access. Apartment blocks will be separated by green spaces.
The first priority is the new Civic Centre; to be ready for occupation from the end of 2008. This would replace several buildings in Wellington Street (the Borough Secretary's Office, some intervening buildings, the Borough Treasurer's Office and the 'Director General' - whose interior may be put in a new pub in Love Lane). The new Civic Centre, in steel & glass, would be set back so as to enlarge the space in front of the present Town Hall – and it will extend to Love Lane. It will also house a Library which will open onto a small square.
The group thought that the present buildings in Wellington Street harmonise better with the Town Hall, and they will press for the retention of the 'Director General'.
The Post Office is to move in 2008 probably to the other side of its sorting office and replace Crown Building - hopefully also incorporating its red brick coat-of-arms. A 30-storey tower block is proposed as the defining landmark. It would be mainly residential, perhaps with a top floor restaurant; a medical centre. A new Police Station opposite St Peter's Church is also proposed. Peggy Middleton House would be replaced by Tesco, in a large single story store. Above it would be more car parking. The group fears that the advent of Tesco would lead to the decay of shopping in Woolwich Town centre. There would be small shops on Love Lane, while the buildings facing General Gordon Square and Wellington Street would be retained.
Despite reservations the plans were not wholly disliked, and some thought that we would come to like the 30-storey tower block in Woolwich.
Royal Military Academy. Durkan presented their plans to turn a military establishment into a civilian village; then led a walk round it. Durkan bought the site early this year, though not the military housing to the south which the Army are to retain. The main buildings designed by Wyatt, listed Grade II, are between the Parade Ground at the front and the parallel Middle Road, with the Grade II listed Chapel just to the south. Durkan plan to refurbish these buildings as apartments. The walk took us first to the large gothic-style Chapel, now with its pews, fittings and memorials removed - even so it has an impressive interior. We were then shown the Dining Hall, which our hosts referred to as the Great Hall - which it is - being a double cube with well proportioned windows; even a chunk of ceiling lying on the floor hardly spoilt the effect. We returned to Middle Road and walked round the western end of the site – noting various features, such as the bare-brick internal walls leading to the sleeping quarters - then into the courtyard behind the main Academy building, where there is an early hexagonal letter box, and one (of a set of) gorgeous cast iron gas lamp brackets. Finally we entered the main Academy building, and saw the two library rooms either side of the entrance, with their splendid glass-fronted gothic cases - no longer equipped with reading desks nor books, but still with a set of perfectly flat pine shelves.
Mast Pond Wharf. Two blocks of flats in silvery grey and orange have already been built on the earliest part of Woolwich Dockyard. In one of these, Jigger House, a public exhibition of drawings and a model of Phase Two of the development was set out on 17th August with the architect in attendance. Phase Two will add two more blocks between those already built. The tallest of all will create another landmark building at the western end of town. It is designed with a nod to the shape of a sail, and completes the scheme, the view from the river of St Mary's church (the old landmark building, on the high ground which enabled Woolwich to come into being amidst the Thames marshes) already partly hidden, will be completely dominated by the new buildings.
Reproduced (and edited) from an account in the Woolwich Antiquarians Newsletter.
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This newsletter was produced for the Greenwich Industrial History Society.
Chair, Sue Bullevant, 11 Riverview Heights, Shooters Hill, SE18. Views
expressed in it are those of the authors and not of the Society.
ANY NEWSLETTER IS ONLY AS GOOD AS ITS CONTENTS.
IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO TO CONTRIBUTE - ARTICLES, REPORTS, LETTERS - ANYTHING.
Contributions are always welcome. If possible, please send on disk to Mary Mills (address below).
Meetings as advertised at the head of this Newsletter will be held at;
The Old Bakehouse, (at back of the) Age Exchange Reminiscence Centre, 11 Blackheath Village, London, SE23 9LA
Do not go to the Reminiscence Centre itself - The Old Bakehouse is at the back, in Bennett Park.
Walk into Bennett Park and turn left into a yard.
The Old Bakehouse is the building on your right. The entrance is straight ahead.
Members and visitors are strongly advised not to try and park in the yard at the Old Bakehouse itself.
Mary Mills now has a limited stock of Greenwich and Woolwich at Work available at £8 each plus £2 postage from 24 Humber Road, London, SE3 7LT, 020 8858 9482
DON'T FORGET TO ASK US FOR A MEMBERSHIP FORM!
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