122-602: Northfleet is a town in the borough of Gravesham in Kent , England. It is located immediately west of Gravesend , and on the border with the Borough of Dartford . Northfleet has its own railway station on the North Kent Line , just east of Ebbsfleet International railway station on the High Speed 1 line. According to the 2021 census , Northfleet has a population of 29,900 (rounded to
244-591: A Congregational Church . Northfleet URC is grouped with three other churches in the North Kent URC group. These are St Paul's URC, Singlewell Road, Gravesend ; Hartley URC and Southfleet URC. The Rotary Club of Northfleet was founded in 1954 and chartered as the Rotary Club of Northfleet – Club No 793 in R.I.B.I. District 1120. The club originally had members from many local industries (cement, engineering, paper making etc.), but as these industries declined along
366-537: A municipal borough , at which point the name was changed to just "Gravesend". The modern district was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972 , covering the whole area of two former districts and parts of a third, which were all abolished at the same time: The new district was named Gravesham, using the form of Gravesend's name which had appeared in the Domesday Book. The choice of name
488-476: A 259-home housing development with an 84,000 sq ft (7,800 m ) Tesco hypermarket , completed in 2014. In the same year, the latter development was named Britain's worst new building, being awarded the ' Carbuncle Cup ' for a design judges described as "oppressive, defensive, arrogant and inept". The same development was later the subject of a £46.7m claim by Tesco against Willmott Dixon for cladding replacement; Willmott Dixon then sought to reclaim
610-559: A 450-seat black box theatre and a riverside restaurant. The Greenwich Heritage Centre will move to new premises. The site will further include offices, studios and rehearsal spaces for resident companies such as Academy Performing Arts, Dash Arts, Chickenshed Theatre , Protein Dance, Greenwich Dance and Greenwich+Docklands International Festival . The creative district opened as Woolwich Works in September 2021. Woolwich Arsenal DLR station ,
732-766: A British soldier based at the Royal Artillery Barracks, was murdered close to the barracks by two Islamic extremists . The 16th Regiment Royal Artillery left Woolwich in 2007, but the Woolwich barracks still house the Royal Artillery Band and more recently the Second Battalion Princess of Wales' Royal Regiment and the King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery , although the relocation of these has been announced for 2028. Recent and anticipated regeneration in
854-514: A brief revival 1903–1911, they were used in the making of early films. A pier was built to carry these crowds ashore, and a railway station opened on the Gravesend West branch railway . It was one of the steamboats from Rosherville Gardens that was involved in a horrific accident in 1878. The Princess Alice passenger steamer, after leaving Rosherville pier, was in a collision with the collier Bywell Castle , from Woolwich . 640 people died from
976-587: A capacity of 1,680. It became the Woolwich Hippodrome in 1908 and a full-time cinema in 1923. Rebuilt in 1955 as the Regal Cinema, it closed in 1982, was then used as a nightclub and demolished in 2015. The Granada cinema and the Odeon, later Coronet , both seating around 2,500, are imposing buildings from the 1930s that have both been converted into Pentecostal churches. The civil parish of Woolwich , roughly
1098-748: A conservation area. The Neoclassical façade of the Royal Artillery Barracks ( James Wyatt , 1776–1802) is the longest façade in London, stretching along the north end of the common. Across the road, Government House (1781), was the quarters of the Garrison Commandant from 1855 to 1995. Of the nearby Garrison Church of St George only the shell remains after it was bombed during the Second World War . Its Neo-Romanesque architecture and remnants of mosaics are still impressive. John Nash 's Rotunda ,
1220-558: A covered market opened in Plumstead Road but never formed a threat to the main market. Beresford Square had the largest public houses (of which Woolwich had many). Powis Street and Hare Street, laid out in the early 19th century, became the main shopping streets. A number of Victorian shop facades, many designed by local architect Henry Hudson Church, have survived. In 1868 the Royal Arsenal Co-operative Society
1342-506: A foreign ecclesiastic institution. As a result of this tenure Woolwich is not mentioned in the Domesday Book ; it is thought that the 63 acres listed as Hulviz refer to North Woolwich , which was then uninhabited. Some of the Ghent lands passed to the royal manors of Dartford and Eltham as early as 1100; the larger part of the parish, referred to as the manor of Woolwich but in effect not
SECTION 10
#17328442482331464-752: A fortune at the Royal Mint , bought riverside holdings in Woolwich and Plumstead in the 1530s, some of it former church land that had become available after the Dissolution of the Monasteries . His mansion was Tower Place, for some time the largest dwelling in Woolwich. In the 1650s the Board of Ordnance was given permission to prove guns in the grounds of the mansion (an area known as the Warren) and twenty years later they purchased Tower Place itself. The Warren then developed from
1586-471: A full manor, became an Eltham dependency in the 14th century. Not included were a riverside quay held by Holy Trinity Priory, Aldgate , a wharf held by St Mary's Priory, Southwark , and land around Plumstead owned by Bartholomew de Burghersh, 2nd Baron Burghersh , later referred to as the Burrage Estate. Medieval Woolwich was susceptible to flooding. In 1236 many were killed by a flood. Woolwich Ferry
1708-422: A group of Dorniers made it to Northfleet a little after midday. They dropped about 106 bombs ranging from 50 to 250 kilos over the town. The bombs killed 29 people, injured 27, and badly damaged two schools. Northfleet Urban District Council was set up under the Local Government Act 1894 . Within its boundaries were the hamlets of Northfleet Green and Nash Street, as well as the now built-up Perry Street; and
1830-573: A place of storage into a collection of armament factories, military stores and research establishments, which were collectively named the Royal Arsenal by George III in 1805. The complex played a central role in Britain's military and industrial expansion: in wartime, tens of thousands of workers found employment here; between wars, unemployment loomed. The Board of Ordnance maintained its own establishment of military personnel, many of whom were based in
1952-474: A quarter of dockyard labourers' wages. At the height of the Napoleonic Wars , there were more soldiers (3,000) than dockyard and ropeyard workers (2,000), while the arsenal employed as many as 5,000. After the end of the wars, thousands were discharged, causing great distress. In the 1840s, a steam factory gave a new lease of life to the dockyard and the 1850s saw a huge expansion of the arsenal during and after
2074-514: A relatively small Kentish settlement until the beginning of the 16th century, when it began to develop into a maritime, military and industrial centre. In 1512 it became home to Woolwich Dockyard , originally known as "The King's Yard", founded by Henry VIII to build his flagship Henry Grace à Dieu ("The Great Harry"). Many great ships were built here, such as the Prince Royal , the Sovereign of
2196-560: A round brick building with a leaded tent roof, until 2001 housed the Royal Artillery Museum and now serves as a boxing ring for the King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery in nearby Napier Lines Barracks. The Royal Military Academy at the south end of Woolwich Common was also designed by James Wyatt and has an almost equally long façade in Mock Tudor style. Other military buildings that survive include Connaught Barracks (built as
2318-518: Is a plain brick 1730s building with a spireless tower. Other religious buildings of interest include the Roman Catholic St Peter's Church (by Pugin ), and two Sikh gurdwaras , one a former Methodist church , the other a former Masonic hall. Parks in central Woolwich are generally small. St Mary's Gardens has been laid out as a park in Romantic style on the grounds of the former churchyard of
2440-545: Is a stately home which was formerly the seat of the Earls of Darnley : since 1965 it has been a private girls' school . Cobham Park is Grade II*-listed which is listed separately in the gardens and parklands category of classification approved by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport; and includes the remains of a Roman villa . The other Grade I-listed buildings in the borough comprise its ancient parish churches . Gravesham
2562-523: Is a town in southeast London , England , within the Royal Borough of Greenwich . The district's location on the River Thames led to its status as an important naval, military and industrial area; a role that was maintained throughout the 16th to 20th centuries. After several decades of economic hardship and social deprivation , the area now has several large-scale urban renewal projects. Woolwich
SECTION 20
#17328442482332684-610: Is based in Colyer Road, Northfleet. Fleet Leisure F.C. were a Non-League football team who played in the Kent Invicta Football League . The team were originally based at Nelson Road, and then groundshared with Rochester United F.C. For the 2014–15 season the club changed its name from Fleet Leaisure to Gravesham Borough. The 2016–17 season saw the club enter the FA Cup for the first time in their history when they entered
2806-463: Is based in the historic Bathway Quarter in the centre of Woolwich. The old Grand Theatre, which briefly reopened in the 2010s, closed in 2015. The Tramshed, until 1953 an electricity sub-station for the borough's tramways , is a music and entertainment venue run by the Royal Borough of Greenwich. Woolwich currently has no movie theatres. Cinemas are included in the plans for Spray Street quarter and
2928-571: Is built entirely of brown brick. It was constructed in 1914 on the site of a former Tram Depot. During WW2, and the blitz, the German Air Force used the tower of the Church as a guide into London. The pilots used the tower as a reference point for direct access into London. There is a United Reformed Church (URC) on Dover Road in Northfleet. The Dover Road Chapel was opened on Wednesday 20 June 1850 as
3050-531: Is collected by borough and ward so identifying the population of Woolwich is not straightforward. If the area is taken to approximate to the Woolwich Common, Woolwich Riverside and Glyndon Wards, then the population was 54,790 at the time of the 2011 census. If it is also taken to include the Plumstead and Shooters Hill Wards then it rises to 84,959 at the 2011 census. Woolwich has been inhabited since at least
3172-444: Is currently being redeveloped by Keepmoat Homes under the name Cable Wharf. Northfleet's railway station , which opened in 1849 as part of the extension of the North Kent Line from Gravesend to London, runs services operated by Southeastern and Thameslink . Southeastern services run to Gravesend and London Charing Cross , and Thameslink services running to Rainham and Luton . Ebbsfleet International railway station , on
3294-531: Is facing redevelopment. The round entrance building of the Woolwich foot tunnel dates from 1912. Further west, the Thames Barrier is an interesting example of modern architecture and technical achievement. The Thames Path is a National Trail that connects these sites. Elsewhere, monumental buildings testify of Woolwich's rich military history. Woolwich Common with its surrounding buildings has been designated
3416-585: Is found in amongst the Chalk. Flint was also used as a local building material. Flint walls can still be found in the area. The Springhead/Ebbsfleet Valley area was used for the growing of Watercress much of which supplied the London market. The Romans first began to dig chalk from the area, but the making of cement came later. The industry requires plentiful water supplies, and chalk as its main ingredient, both of which were to hand. When in 1796, James Parker set up kilns on Northfleet creek to make his Roman cement , it
3538-601: Is home to the largest Sikh Gurdwara in Europe, Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara . The borough includes six civil parishes , covering the more rural eastern and southern parts. The more urban north-west of the borough, roughly corresponding to the combined area of the former borough of Gravesend and urban district of Northfleet, is an unparished area . The parishes are: 51°24′32″N 0°23′56″E / 51.409°N 0.399°E / 51.409; 0.399 Woolwich Woolwich ( / ˈ w ʊ l ɪ tʃ , - ɪ dʒ / )
3660-480: Is indirectly named after Gravesend, using the form of the town's name as it appeared in the Domesday Book of 1086. The district also contains Northfleet and a number of villages and surrounding rural areas. Parts of the borough lie within the Kent Downs , a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty . The neighbouring districts are Dartford , Sevenoaks , Tonbridge and Malling , and Medway , plus Thurrock on
3782-586: Is largely ceremonial in Gravesham. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council . The leaders since 1996 have been: Since the last boundary changes in 2023, the council has comprised 39 councillors , representing 17 wards , with each ward electing one, two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years. The wards are: The council is based at Gravesham Civic Centre on Windmill Street in Gravesend, which had been built in 1966 for
Northfleet - Misplaced Pages Continue
3904-545: Is now part of the London Borough of Newham . The ancient parishes of Plumstead and Eltham became part of the civil parish of Woolwich in 1930. Parts of the wards Glyndon and Shooter's Hill are often referred to as Woolwich, although this definition is not accepted by all. The nearest areas are Abbey Wood , Blackheath , Charlton , Eltham , Greenwich , Kidbrooke , Lewisham , North Woolwich, Plumstead, Shooter's Hill, Thamesmead , Welling and Well Hall . Census data
4026-558: Is now part of the Team ministry with St. Botolph's church. The other active church in Northfleet is All Saints, Perry Street which is Anglo Catholic . All Saints Perry Street is the largest Anglican parish in Gravesham Borough with a quarter of the Gravesham population living within its boundaries. The Roman Catholic church, Our Lady Of The Assumption designed by Giles Gilbert Scott and with its tower foreshadowing his Liverpool Cathedral,
4148-450: Is served by the local newspapers: Gravesend Messenger and News Shopper . The ancient parish church of Northfleet (dating from the 14th century, but with work from earlier periods) is dedicated to St Botolph . Its tower was built in 1717, after the original had fallen. The church contains a 14th-century carved oak screen, which is thought to be the oldest in Kent. Rosherville St Mark's Church
4270-583: Is situated 8.5 miles (13.7 km) from Charing Cross . It has a 1.6 mi (2.5 km) long frontage to the south bank of the River Thames. From the riverside it rises up quickly along the northern slopes of Shooter's Hill towards the common, at 200 ft (60 m) and the ancient London–Dover Road, at 433 ft (132 m). The ancient parish of Woolwich , more or less the present-day wards Woolwich Riverside and Woolwich Common , comprises 734 acres (297 ha). This included North Woolwich , which
4392-509: Is the location of a large Bowaters (later Bowater-Scott and Kimberly-Clark ) paper mill built in 1923 and makes all of the main – line Andrex toilet tissue. One of the most famous toilet paper brands Andrex has products produced in Northfleet. Britannia Refined Metals (now part of the Glencore group) has a refinery producing lead and silver. Northfleet was by 1800 the home of numerous shipyards which had produced many fine vessels. One such yard
4514-648: Is within a quarter of a mile of Northfleet's local station, the walking distance between the two is greater, hindering the advantage of living in Northfleet over nearby Gravesend, which is served by both Southeastern's Metro and High Speed trains. It should also be noted that Gravesend railway station is closer to much of Northfleet's residential areas, as opposed to its own station. Furthermore, full station facilities including Access For All, are available at Gravesend and not at Northfleet Non-selective secondary schools serving Northfleet include Northfleet School for Girls and Northfleet Technology College (Boys). Since
4636-453: The Crimean War . The presence of the dockyard, the arsenal and other military institutions stimulated economic growth in other areas, notably in commercial activities and entertainment. The ropeyard was established around 1570 and survived until 1832. Throughout the 17th century two glass factories were active near Glass Yard, owned by Sir Robert Mansell from Greenwich , who also managed
4758-595: The Docklands . The North Kent Line from London via Greenwich and Woolwich to Gillingham opened in 1849. The station building was rebuilt in 1906 and again in 1992–93. Woolwich was also on the route of two London trams of the first generation (1881–1952). The post-war period brought massive changes to the town's fabric and infrastructure. Roads were widened and entire neighbourhoods pulled down to make room for modern housing, some of it in tower blocks. The widening of Woolwich High Street and Beresford Street left little of
4880-834: The Fröbel -influenced principal of Blackheath Kindergarten Training College. In the 18th century, Woolwich Cricket Club , later Royal Artillery Cricket Club, were well-known cricket clubs. Cricket and other sports were mainly played by military officers and students at the Royal Military Academy . Arsenal F.C. was founded in 1886 by workers at the Royal Arsenal . Initially known as Dial Square , then Royal Arsenal and then Woolwich Arsenal , they soon drew large crowds to their ground in Plumstead . In 1913 they moved to Arsenal Stadium in Highbury , North London. Royal Ordnance Factories F.C.
5002-488: The Great Plague , the population was estimated at 1,200 or more, of which about 300 worked in the dockyard. Around 1720, the town's population had risen to 6,500, reaching almost 10,000 in 1801. During the booming wartime decade that followed, population reached a peak of 17,000. After a period of stagnation, building activity picked up in the 1830s. Woolwich' built-up area expanded southward with workers' houses mostly close to
Northfleet - Misplaced Pages Continue
5124-545: The High Speed 1 line (also known as the Channel Tunnel Rail Link), is located less than a mile from Northfleet. Ebbsfleet International is served by Eurostar trains and by Southeastern's Javelin trains, both running to and from London St Pancras . A design flaw that exists in Ebbsfleet International is its lack of pedestrian connections to Northfleet. Although the station's domestic passenger entrance
5246-584: The Iron Age . Remains of a probably Celtic oppidum , established sometime between the 3rd and 1st century BCE, in the late Roman period re-used as a fort, were found at the current Waterfront development site between Beresford Street and the Thames. According to the Survey of London (Volume 48: Woolwich), "this defensive earthwork encircled the landward sides of a riverside settlement, the only one of its kind so far located in
5368-527: The Provisional IRA bombed the Kings Arms pub in the town. The bombing killed two. During the 2011 England riots , Woolwich was one of the areas affected. Several buildings were attacked, with a few being destroyed. The Great Harry Wetherspoons' Pub was set on fire, though it was subsequently remodeled and reopened. On 22 May 2013 the murder of Lee Rigby in Woolwich caused upheaval. Drummer Lee Rigby,
5490-726: The Royal Military Artificers in 1803), Lewis Wyatt 's Grand Depot Barracks (begun in 1805-6 for the Field Train department), Cambridge Barracks (1842, of which the gatehouse still stands) and Red Barracks (1858, only the boundary wall and entrance gate remain). The latter two, on Frances Street, were originally built as the Royal Marine Barracks, Woolwich for the Woolwich Division of the Royal Marines , and each
5612-451: The art deco RACS department store , one of two imposing Co-op buildings in this part of town. In September 2012 Greenwich Council approved a plan to convert the building into apartments and retail. Across the road, the late Victorian former RACS Central Stores building was renovated and re-opened as a hotel. Further regeneration is centred on Hare Street and the Riverside. By relocating
5734-551: The old town . Woolwich was home to the experimental Auto Stacker car park. Built on the site of the Empire Theatre, it was officially opened in May 1961 by Princess Margaret . It never actually worked and was demolished in 1962. A multi-storey car park was built along Monk Street in 1971. Woolwich Polytechnic was founded in 1891. As well as providing a higher education facility, it also provided secondary school facilities, including
5856-549: The parish church of St Mary Magdalen . Some historic grave markers have been placed against the peripheral wall. Tom Cribb 's memorial, a lion rests its paw on an urn, stands near the northeast entrance. The park features a belvedere which offers views of the river Thames. At the Royal Arsenal, several new parks and gardens have been landscaped but some can only be accessed by residents. Shrewsbury Park, Plumstead Common , Woolwich Common and Oxleas Wood are situated higher up
5978-524: The parishes of Woolwich, Eltham and Plumstead formed the Metropolitan Borough of Woolwich . In 1906 the new Woolwich Town Hall was inaugurated. In April 1965, following implementation of the London Government Act 1963 , Woolwich was merged into the London Borough of Greenwich , since 2012 the Royal Borough of Greenwich . The administrative buildings of the borough are in Woolwich, at
6100-678: The 18th century the Royal Regiment of Artillery and the Corps of Royal Engineers were established in Woolwich, followed by the Royal Military Academy . Other military institutions completed the picture of the garrison town that Woolwich had become in the early 19th century. The town has a distinctive housing history and in the Bathway Quarter it has an equally distinctive civic centre. Although repeatedly rebuilt, its architectural heritage reflects its unusual and important history. The older parts of
6222-527: The 18th century the navy yard remained the town's main employer with between 500 and 1,400 men working in the docks. Due to the malarial marshlands, it was not a popular place to work and for that reason Woolwich dockyard workers were paid as much as a third more than in other naval towns. These were mostly skilled artisans who were generally literate, Nonconformist and well-organized. The number of artillery men grew from around 200 in 1716 to around 1,500 in 1801. Soldiers were generally held in contempt, earning about
SECTION 50
#17328442482336344-618: The 18th century, a flour mill was placed within the Harbour, and later it was home to the cement industry. A local community trust is now aiming to restore the harbour and bring it back into public use. On Friday, 16 August 1941 150 German aircraft flew through the Kent skies, to deal the worst blow to civilian life the county had experienced to that point in the war. With the formation splitting into groups to be variously challenged from Manston , Kenley , Hornchurch , Biggin Hill and Hawkinge airfields,
6466-657: The Bathway Quarter with the former Public Baths, the Old and New Town Hall , the former Magistrates Court and Police Station, the Old Public Library and several historic buildings of Woolwich Polytechnic. In nearby Powis Street and Hare Street some late Victorian shop façades have been preserved, notably by local architect Henry Hudson Church. The western end of Powis Street is dominated by two former Royal Arsenal Co-operative Society (RACS) department stores, one late Victorian,
6588-416: The Callis Yard site (former council stables). Redevelopment plans for the Spray Street Quarter in 2018 included a proposal to demolish the 1936 market hall. For centuries the area between the Thames and the present-day A206 road has been dominated by docks, warehouses and factories, starting with the Royal Dockyard early in the 16th century, later eclipsed by the Royal Arsenal in scale and grandeur. In
6710-424: The German firm Siemens & Halske established a submarine-cable factory in the Dockyard area, which expanded rapidly. Woolwich market received its charter in 1618 but is certainly older. The market, which had long been established in the High Street in Old Woolwich (at a location called Market Hill), had gradually drifted towards the Royal Arsenal's main gatehouse , more or less at its present location. This
6832-399: The Hill, but the council then moved to Northfleet House (now a nursing home for the elderly). Northfleet House was once the home of Thomas Sturge who owned a local cement works. Northfleet was in the lathe of Aylesford and the hundred of Toltingtrough . Romans lived in the area now known as Springhead , which they called Vagniacae . Springhead, the source of the Ebbsfleet River , was
6954-422: The Island site. The town was used as a location for the 2006 film Children of Men . Woolwich has one museum, the Greenwich Heritage Centre at the Royal Arsenal ( Firepower – The Royal Artillery Museum closed in 2016 after having been based in Woolwich for almost two centuries). Second Floor Studios in the Woolwich Dockyard area is one of London's largest concentrations of artists' studios . The town has
7076-399: The London area, that may have been a significant port, anterior to London". A path connected the riverside settlement with Watling Street ( Shooter's Hill ), perhaps also of Iron Age origin. Sandy Hill Road may be a remnant of this early path. It is generally believed that the name Woolwich derives from an Anglo-Saxon word meaning "trading place for wool". It is not clear whether Woolwich
7198-439: The Royal Arsenal constitute a conservation area . Most buildings of historic interest have been restored and given new uses. The Royal Brass Foundry (1717) is a grade I listed building , while the Dial Arch (1717–20), the Old Royal Military Academy (1720) and the Grand Store (1806–13) are Grade II* listed. Other listed buildings include the Royal Arsenal Gatehouse , Middle Gatehouse, the Main Guard House, two small guardhouses near
7320-446: The Royal Artillery Barracks was a famous cricket ground in the 18th century but is now merely used for recreational sports. Royal Arsenal Rugby Club plays rugby here. Greenwich Council has plans to demolish the 1980s Waterfront Leisure Centre next to the Woolwich Ferry and build a new leisure centre in Wilmount Street. There is an indoor climbing wall in the Docklands area. The University of Greenwich 's dramatic arts department
7442-400: The Royal Artillery Hospital in 1780), Green Hill Military School and Royal Herbert Hospital on Shooter's Hill . The Royal Engineers' HQ was moved to Chatham in 1856, but a small detachment remained in Woolwich, quartered in what is now Engineer House on Mill Hill, just off the Common. Several listed buildings were demolished in the 1970s, including James Wyatt's Engineers Barracks (built for
SECTION 60
#17328442482337564-423: The Seas , the Royal Charles , the Dolphin and the Beagle . East of the dockyard a gun yard was established in the 1540s (for storage and maintenance of ships' canons and armaments) and a ropeyard followed in the 1570s. The dockyard went through many ups and downs but survived for three and a half centuries, closing down in 1869. Following the establishment of the dockyard, Martin Bowes who had gathered
7686-439: The Thames between Swanscombe and Gravesend. The last cement plant in Northfleet ceased operation in 2008. Now under water, one of the largest chalk pits, known locally as The Blue Lake, can be found between the A226 and the North Kent Railway line. It is about 200 metres south of the access tunnel to the old (now demolished) Lafarge cement plant, that runs under the North Kent / Channel Tunnel rail-link railway lines. Northfleet
7808-430: The Thames, the Shell Foundry Gatehouse, Verbruggen House and two twin pavilions in Laboratory Square, the oldest structures on the site (1696). At Woolwich Dockyard relatively little of historic interest remains. The main monumental building complex comprises a small cluster of 18th-century buildings: the entrance gate, the guardhouse and the so-called Clock House (Dockyard offices). A pair of 19th-century docks remain on
7930-435: The Warren. In 1716 it had (by a royal warrant of George I) formed the Royal Regiment of Artillery , which had its headquarters and barracks in the Warren, and in 1741 it established the Royal Military Academy there to train its future officers. In 1776 the Artillery moved out of the Warren into a new Royal Artillery Barracks on the edge of Woolwich Common . The Royal Military Academy followed, moving into its new premises at
8052-428: The Waterfront Leisure Centre, it is hoped that this part of Woolwich will attract new development. Other areas for redevelopment include Trinity Walk (former Connaught Estate, part of the One Woolwich masterplan for three housing estates), several sites along Wellington Street (including the Ogilby site and the so-called Island site), the Spray Street Quarter (between the existing station and the new Crossrail station), and
8174-418: The almost certain bankruptcy of the latter. Gravesend (being by far the larger of the two towns, in terms of population), was always going to be the first name of the new club. Although one would suppose Gravesend to be the main influence in the history of this club, as it was listed first when the towns' clubs merged, it was in fact Northfleet that was to be responsible for the early significant accomplishment of
8296-591: The area means that it is expected that the district, identified in the London Plan as "opportunity area", is expected to evolve from " major centre " to " metropolitan centre " within Greater London in the next few decades. Woolwich started to enjoy the beginning of a renaissance with the residential redevelopment of the former Royal Arsenal . Most historic buildings on the site have been renovated and converted into apartments. Several thousands of homes have been built or are under construction and thousands more are planned, mainly luxury apartments in tower blocks near
8418-417: The area of Northfleet still bears that name. Northfleet Harbour is formed from a natural river inlet of the River Ebbsfleet into the Thames. The Harbour formed over solid chalk, and created a marine facility that was originally used by the Romans. Remains of Roman buildings have been found further up the River Ebbsfleet, and during the High Speed 1 railway works, evidence of Saxon occupation was also found. By
8540-478: The area of the present-day wards Woolwich Riverside and Woolwich Common, was formerly known as Woolwich Saint Mary . Until 1842, when the Old Town Hall was built, the vestry met in a room in the parish church of St Mary Magdalene . Woolwich became part of the London metropolitan area in the mid-19th century, although was officially still in Kent at the time. In 1889, with the formation of London County Council , Woolwich became officially part of London. In 1900
8662-447: The association football club now known as Ebbsfleet United F.C. As of the start of the 2023–2024 season, Ebbsfleet are in the National League . Northfleet Football Academy was started in 2009 by local school Northfleet Technology College . Northfleet Football Academy was designed to recruit the elite of Graveshams football players and give them the best possible coaching to help them develop as players. It also offers its participants
8784-443: The borough are also covered by civil parishes , which form a third tier of local government. The council has been under Labour majority control since the 2023 election . The first election to the council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities before coming into its powers on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows: The role of mayor
8906-438: The borough average. With its situation on a busy waterway such as the River Thames , at a point where higher land came close to the river, it was an obvious place for industry to be located. The river provided water supplies and the means whereby raw materials and products could be transported. The forests of the area provided timber for various aspects of most industries. It was an area famous for Gun Flint manufacturing as Flint
9028-497: The club in Northfleet was a cultural centre with halls, sports facilities, a library, and hosted local groups. It later added a bowling green and outdoor pool in 1907. The building was listed Grade 2 in 1983, and closed to the public in 2009. Since closure the building has fallen in to disrepair and suffered damage from a number of suspected arson attacks. Gravesend & Northfleet FC was formed through amalgamation in 1946 of Gravesend United FC and Northfleet United FC which prevented
9150-544: The collision, 240 being children. An inquest was held at Woolwich, but no conclusive reason was ever established as to the cause of the disaster at the Devils Elbow on the Thames. Joseph Rosher gave his name to a building scheme which began with the building of new houses in 1830. A prospectus states that ' this spot will ultimate become to Gravesend what St Leonards is to Hastings and Broadstairs to Margate '. That grandiose scheme did not materialise in quite that way, but
9272-591: The company was in the hands of Pitcher's sons William and Henry. The docks were in decline by 1843, and Pilcher's yard finally closed in 1860. Another large employee of labour in Northfleet was the cable works. Originally Henley's , now AEI, they occupied the land originally once used by the Rosherville Gardens . The PLUTO pipeline used in WW2 was built here. AEI Cables closed in 2005 and Henley moved in 2006. The Henley works were completely demolished by 2010. The area
9394-572: The competition in the preliminary qualification round. They folded prior to the 2018–19 season after being unable to raise the funding required to continue playing. The club name has been continued by Gravesham Borough Youth Football Club. Gravesham Borough F.C. were a non-League football team who played in the Southern Counties East Football League . The team was originally based at Nelson Road, then groundshared with Chatham Town F.C. Northfleet Urban Country Park sits on
9516-431: The dockyard and the ropeyard. Some of the masters here were Huguenots from Lorraine . Kilns producing Bellarmine stoneware may also have been controlled by continental potters. Other kilns produced earthenware and clay pipes. Kilns were also active on the hillside south of the town, where clay was readily available. Near Plumstead and Charlton were sandpits ; the sand was shipped from a wharf near Tower Place. In 1863,
9638-513: The early 1990s, the town centre had the typical appearance of a town in decline with discount retailers and charity shops using the empty stores and Greenwich Council occupying the empty office buildings. In 1974, the United Kingdom 's first branch of McDonald's opened in Powis Street. Amidst the decline, Woolwich was still considered to be a representative English town at the time. In 1974
9760-434: The eastern side of Northfleet, on Thames Way opposite the new police station, bounded by Springhead Road & Vale Road. The site is 10.5 hectares and provides a variety of wildlife habitats. Gravesham Gravesham ( / ˈ ɡ r eɪ v ʃ əm / GRAYV -shəm ) is a local government district with borough status in north-west Kent , England. The council is based in its largest town of Gravesend . The borough
9882-452: The first site in Britain where watercress was grown commercially in the early 19th century. Watling Street , a Roman road which forms the basis of the A2 from London to Dover , bisects the area. In 1815 the first steamboat started plying between Gravesend, Kent , and London, an event which was to bring much prosperity to the area. The number of visitors steadily increased, and in the course of
10004-611: The former Woolwich Town Hall . Woolwich declined as a town in the late 20th century, starting with the closure of the Royal Ordnance Factory in 1967 and the Siemens factory in 1968 and continuing as the Royal Arsenal scaled back operations and finally closed in 1994. Other employers like the Woolwich Building Society ("The Woolwich") and Morgan Grampian Publishers were taken over by other companies and moved away from
10126-461: The gardens were illuminated with thousands of coloured lights and there were fireworks displays and dancing. Famous bands such as the American Sousa were engaged during the season. Blondin , the trapeze artist, performed ... In 1857 as many as 20,000 visitors passed through the turnstiles in one week. By 1880 the gardens had reached the peak of their popularity ... in 1901 they were closed. During
10248-645: The hill and are all part of the South East London Green Chain . Repository Woods is a forested part of Woolwich Common. The area around the lake is a military training ground that is not open to the public. The same applies to Mulgrave Pond and Shooters Hill golf course. Arsenal F.C. is originally from Woolwich; Charlton Athletic 's stadium, The Valley , is approximately 2 km west of Woolwich. The area also has two Non-League football clubs: Bridon Ropes F.C. and Meridian F.C. , who both play at Meridian Sports & Social Club. Barrack Field at
10370-410: The later estates at Shears Green, Istead Rise and Downs Road. Northfleet was merged, inter alia, with Gravesend to become Gravesham District Council on 1 April 1974. According to the 2021 census , Northfleet has a population of 29,900 (rounded to the nearest 100). 30.0% of people in Northfleet are aged 25 to 44, above the borough average of 26.7%. The largest ethnic group is White who make up 72.0% of
10492-611: The nearest 100). Northfleet's name is derived from being situated on the northern reach of what was once called the River Fleet (today known as the Ebbsfleet River ). There is a village at the other end of the river named Southfleet . It has been the site of a settlement on the shore of the River Thames adjacent to Gravesend since Roman times. It was known as Fleote by the Saxons c. 600 AD, Flyote c. 900 AD, and Flete c. 1000 AD. It
10614-463: The next ten years several new and rival steam packets were started. The regular service given by the steam packets led entrepreneurs to establish amenities for the entertainment of visitors, one of which was Rosherville Gardens. George Jones laid out the gardens in 1837 in one of the disused chalk pits, covering an area of 17 acres (69,000 m). Their full title was the 'Kent Zoological and Botanical Gardens Institution'. They occupied an area in what
10736-405: The old Gravesend Borough Council. The building was formally opened on 15 November 1968 by Katharine, Duchess of Kent . Housing varies from mid rise to low rise , particularly in the villages. The district has 12 buildings listed in the highest category of the national grading system, Grade I, three of which are private residences: Cobham Hall , also in the highest architectural category,
10858-516: The opportunity to take a BTEC in Sports and one other additional subject like Science to help the players gain nationally recognised qualifications at key stage 4 whilst the players develop their playing skills. The academy is run by Northfleet Technology College teachers Brian Meaney (manager) and Lisa Donaldson (chairman) and also boasts the professional coaching of former Welsh international and current Ashford Town manager Steve Lovell . The academy
10980-565: The opposite side of the River Thames . Gravesham is twinned with Cambrai in Hauts-de-France , France and Neumünster in Schleswig-Holstein , Germany . The Gravesham parliamentary constituency covers the same area as the borough. The first borough in the area of modern Gravesham was "Gravesend and Milton ", an ancient borough which had been incorporated in 1568 by Elizabeth I . The borough had been reformed in 1836 to become
11102-443: The other end of the common in 1806. By that time various other units and services had begun to establish themselves in the vicinity, forming what became known as Woolwich Garrison . In the 19th and 20th century several large barracks were built, as well as military schools and hospitals. To this day, the town retains an army base (known as Woolwich Station) centred on the Royal Artillery Barracks and Napier Lines Barracks. Throughout
11224-688: The other one in Art Deco style. Nearer to the river are two large cinemas, both built in 1937 and both in use as Pentecostal church halls. The former Odeon Cinema (now occupied by the New Wine Church ) is a fine example of an Art Deco theatre; the former Granada Cinema has lavish interior decorations. Of the grand houses that once stretched along Woolwich Common and dotted the northern slopes of Shooter's Hill, little remains. Rushgrove House, Shrewsbury House and Woodhill Court survive but have lost their spacious gardens. Woolwich parish church, St Mary Magdalen
11346-399: The parish church along the Thames. In the early 19th century the commercial and administrative centre moved south to its present location around Powis Street , Beresford Square and the Bathway Quarter . Although 20th-century economic decline and infrastructural works have had their effects, there are still some interesting buildings in Woolwich town centre. The best preserved area is perhaps
11468-489: The population of the parish of Woolwich stood at the same level as 40 years earlier: 41,625. Victorian Woolwich was a rich social mix with skilled engineers along with unskilled labourers (including women and children) working at the Arsenal and other factories, large numbers of soldiers (making up 10–15% of the population) and a small bourgeoisie consisting of military officers and the commercial and professional elite. Some areas of
11590-399: The population, below the borough average of 76.6%, with the second largest being Asian/Asian British who comprise 12.4% of the population, above the borough average of 11.2%. The largest religious group in Northfleet is Christianity who make up 47.3% of the population, below the borough average of 49.2%, with the second largest being No religion, who amount to 32.2% of the population, on par for
11712-447: The river and officers' houses around Woolwich Common and further up the hill. In 1841 Woolwich had a population of 27,785; in 1861 this had risen to 41,695. At this point there were 4,596 houses in the parish, with little space left for building; further development took place in Plumstead , Charlton and North Woolwich , later also in Eltham . After a dip in the late 19th century, in 1901
11834-591: The river front, so membership changed. The club used to meet at lunchtime for many years, but this changed to evening meetings a few years ago. Northfleet Rotary Club, like most Rotary clubs also voted to accept women into Rotary membership, which is by invitation. The club's name was changed in 2005 to Northfleet with Ebbsfleet Rotary Club , to reflect the emerging growth of nearby Ebbsfleet area, with its developing infrastructure of Bluewater shopping complex, new High Speed Rail terminal at Ebbsfleet Station, and commercial and residential properties being developed as part of
11956-439: The river. Additionally, a riverside walk, several parks, a museum, a range of shops, cafés, pubs and restaurants, and a farmers' market have made the Arsenal a desirable place to live. In 2017 it was announced that the borough has acquired five historic buildings around No 1 Street to create a £31 million creative district. It will feature a 1,200-seat auditorium for concerts and events, a performance courtyard that seats up to 600,
12078-581: The same amount from its supply chain; When the case was heard in February 2023, two suppliers countered by saying the problems arose due to Willmott Dixon's negligence. The financial impact of the Woolwich Central project continued to be felt in July 2024, when Willmott Dixon said costs to fix the scheme had risen from £44m to £48m. On the other side of General Gordon Square the 1930s Woolwich Equitable building
12200-661: The site of their 16th-century predecessors. The later development of the Dockyard in the Victorian period is represented by the Steam Factory and the Dockyard chimney, a prominent landmark, and further west by a group of buildings at the site of the Siemens Brothers factory. Between the Arsenal and the Dockyard lies an area that was once Old Woolwich, a part of the town where little of historical interest remains and that, once again,
12322-515: The still-extant (but now relocated) Woolwich Polytechnic School for Boys . In the 20th century the Polytechnic grew steadily, taking up almost an entire block in the Bathway Quarter and later spreading to other areas. In 1970 it merged with other local colleges and became Thames Polytechnic. In 1992 it was granted university status and a year later was renamed the University of Greenwich . In 2001,
12444-484: The terminus of the Docklands Light Railway 's London City Airport branch, opened on 10 January 2009. The 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics included Woolwich as a venue for shooting events , held in temporary facilities constructed on the grounds of the Royal Artillery Barracks and on Woolwich Common . A large-scale redevelopment of the area west of General Gordon Square started in 2011. The square
12566-664: The town is close to London, television signals are received from the Crystal Palace TV transmitter, placing Dartford in the BBC London and ITV London areas. BBC South East region is also the default BBC One variant given to Northfleet postcodes on Channel 101 through satellite television such as Freesat . Local radio stations are: BBC Radio Kent (96.7 FM), Heart South (103.1 FM), Gold (603 AM) and KMFM West Kent , which broadcasts from its studios in Strood on 96.2 FM. The town
12688-632: The town were notoriously overcrowded; the so-called Dusthole near the river was considered one of London's worst slums . Until the arrival of the railways, the Thames was the principal artery connecting Woolwich to London. In 1834 the Woolwich Steam Packet Company greatly improved river traffic and in 1889 the Woolwich Free Ferry made it easier to live in North Woolwich and work in the Arsenal, or to live in Woolwich and work in
12810-466: The town. Without major employers, the local economy was affected and unemployment soared. At the same time the town's demographics changed, with initially mainly Sikhs settling down in the area, later followed by black Africans, many from Nigeria . Despite immigration, the population of the parish reached a low of 17,000 in 1971. In general, Woolwich had lost its previous vigour. In the town's shopping district, department stores and chain stores closed. By
12932-687: The university relocated to the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich , leaving only a small administrative presence in Woolwich. Woolwich was the location of the first free kindergarten in the UK. The Woolwich Mission Kindergarten opened in 1900, and began in a room provided by a Christian socialist vicar of Holy Trinity church in New Charlton, the Rev. Walter Wragge. It was founded by his sister, Adelaide Wragge,
13054-873: The wider development the Thames Gateway project. The Portlands Factory Club, designed by Thomas Bevan, opened on July 31, 1878. It was later named the Blue Circle Club and eventually Portlands Spectrums until 2007. Built in 1878 by Parr and Strong for Bevan's cement purposes, it served as both a recreational hall and worker accommodations. The structure features a basement, a double-height ground floor, and an ornate attic with slate roofs. It has central recessed sections with round-headed windows and tower-like terminal parts accessible by bridges. These segments are adorned with Corinthian pilasters, ascending to pitched roofs with dormer windows. The building's well-preserved decorations exhibit early uses of Portland cement. Before 1945,
13176-481: Was a proper -wich town , since there are no traces of extensive artisanal activity from the Early Middle Ages. However, in 2015 Oxford Archaeology discovered a Saxon burial site near the riverside with 76 skeletons from the late 7th or early 8th century. The absence of grave deposits indicates that this was an early Christian settlement. The first church, which stood to the north of the present parish church,
13298-448: Was almost certainly pre-Norman and dedicated to Saint Lawrence. It was probably rebuilt in stone around 1100. From the 10th till the mid-12th century Woolwich was controlled by the abbots of St. Peter's Abbey in Ghent . This may have been a result of a gift of 918 from Ælfthryth , daughter of King Alfred and Countess of Flanders, in that case the first recorded grant of English lands to
13420-523: Was considered an innovative and influential design. The Marines departed with the closure of the Dockyard, whereupon the buildings were converted into barracks accommodation for various military corps. Rushgrove House (1806) housed the Colonel Commandant of the Marine Barracks (later Cambridge Barracks) from 1855. Virtually nothing is left of the old town of Woolwich which was near the ferry and
13542-463: Was demolished in 1960. Shortly after 1900, three new theaters opened with a combined capacity of 4,430. The Century cinema, which faced Beresford Square, was previously known as Premier Cinema and Royal Arsenal Cinema. It was built in 1913 with 669 seats, closed in 1961 and demolished for redevelopment in the late 1960s. The Grand Theatre in Wellington Street opened in 1900 as a variety theatre with
13664-458: Was established, which developed into one of the biggest consumer cooperatives in the country with two department stores in Powis Street, shops around South East London, manufacturing and food production plants, a building society, a funeral service and many other areas of entrepreneurship. Around 1500, at the beginning of the military and naval expansion, Woolwich had only a few hundred inhabitants. In 1665, when Samuel Pepys stayed here to escape
13786-419: Was first mentioned in 1308 but may be older. Around Bell Water Gate some private shipbuilding or repair may have existed in the 15th century. A windmill was mentioned around 1450. Several pottery kilns have been discovered north of Woolwich High Street and Beresford Street, testifying of a perhaps unbroken tradition of pottery production from at least the 14th century until the 17th century. Woolwich remained
13908-516: Was founded in response to Woolwich Arsenal joining the League but only lasted a few years. Woolwich had several theatres and cinemas . The Theatre Royal in Beresford Street, later renamed Empire Theatre or Woolwich Empire, was the biggest. Dating from the 1830s, it was enlarged in the 1880s and 1890s, seating about 2,000. It both served as a variety theater and cinema, ending up as a strip-joint. It
14030-399: Was not approved by the authorities and a new market was set up in the Bathway Quarter around 1810. This proved to be a failure and is remembered only in the name of Market Street. Until 1879, the market at Beresford Square remained illegal and was regularly cleared by the police. After it was legalized, it had room for 136 stalls. Italo Svevo described it as "very lively" in 1903. In 1936,
14152-520: Was not without criticism; Robert Heath Hiscock, chairman of the Gravesend Historical Society, in the foreword to his book, 'A History of Gravesend' (Phillimore, 1976) wrote: The district was granted borough status from its creation, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor. Gravesham Borough Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Kent County Council . The more rural parts of
14274-643: Was owned by Thomas Pitcher , a shipwright , laid out in 1788. A list of merchant vessels built at his yard included at least 25 ships for the East Indies and West Indies services, and about the same number for the Navy. There is a fine model of such a ship in St. Botolph's Church. The first was Royal Charlotte , an East Indiaman of 1252 tons burthen ( bm ), built for the Honourable East India Company . In 1839
14396-685: Was re-landscaped, including a new water feature. The so-called Love Lane project involved demolition of several buildings including the Post Office, the Crown Building, the Director General public house , Peggy Middleton House and Thomas Spencer Halls of Residence. New buildings in the first phases of the Woolwich Central redevelopment included: the Woolwich Centre along Wellington Street (public library and council offices, completed in 2011), and
14518-575: Was recorded as Norfluet in the Domesday Book , and Northflet in 1201. By 1610 the name of Northfleet had become established. A battle took place during the Civil War at the Stonebridge over the Ebbsfleet river. Northfleet became a town in 1874 with Northfleet Urban District Council being established c. 1894. In 1974 it was merged with the adjacent Borough of Gravesend . The first council offices were off
14640-471: Was refurbished. Next to Woolwich Town Hall on Wellington Street, the 1950s Woolwich Grand Theatre (formerly the ABC Regal Cinema, then Flamingo's Nightclub) briefly reopened as an arts centre with a cafe but in 2015 the building was demolished to make room for apartments. Redevelopment around the "Woolwich Triangle" at the west end of Powis Street is partly underway. It originally envisaged demolition of
14762-662: Was the beginning of a large complex of cement works along this stretch of the river. The manufacture of Portland cement began in April 1846 when William Aspdin , son of Joseph Aspdin , its inventor, acquired Parker's works and built new kilns. Aspdin's works became Robins & Co in 1853, sold on to the Associated Portland Cement Manufacturers ( APCM ) in 1900, which was taken over by the Lafarge Group in 2001. By 1900, there were nine cement works operating on
14884-405: Was to become Rosherville New Town (see below). Robert Hiscock, in his A History of Gravesend (Phillimore, 1976) describes them thus: They were a place of surpassing beauty and a favourite resort of Londoners. Adorned with small Greek temples and statuary set in the cliffs, there were terraces, and archery lawn, Bijou theatre, and Baronial Hall for refreshments, and at one time a lake. At night
#232767