GREENWICH INDUSTRIAL HISTORY

Volume 3, Issue 6, November 2000

ARTICLES

GREENWICH, FISH,
AND BILLINGSGATE DOCK
A VISIT TO
GREENWICH HERITAGE CENTRE
STEAM COLLIERS ON THE THAMES
EXCAVATIONS AT THE ROYAL ARSENAL
Roxane, the First Lady of Virginia Comes to Town
IN DEPTH DEPTFORD -
CRADLE OF THE BRITISH NAVY
REGULAR ITEMS
MEETINGS, EVENTS & COURSES
LETTERS
BOOKS & PUBLICATIONS
GREENWICH CONSERVATION GROUP
BRIEFS
LOCAL & COMMUNITY NEWS

GIHS MEETINGS

21st November - Jack Vaughan - Part II of Woolwich Arsenal

16th January - Annual General Meeting.
Special Guest Speaker - Julian Watson, Greenwich Local History Librarian - Place Names - how we can interpret industrial history from them

20th February - Bob Aspinall, Museum of Docklands - Docklands Past and Present

27th March - Peter Guillery - Greenwich Power Station

17th April - Mike Neill - The Woolwich Kiln

All meetings will take place at The Old Bakehouse in Blackheath Village at 7.30 pm.

FALKLAND ISLAND STAMPS AND GREENWICH

On the Falkland Islands Post Office Web site can be noted their issue of commemorative stamps. These include on the 9p &emdash; a picture of a Merryweather & Son, Greenwich Gem. This was a steam-driven fire engine which started service with the Brigade in 1898. Described by the manufacturers as "the new Patent Double Cylinder Vertical Steam Fire Engine" its arrival in Port Stanley heralded the beginning of the Fire Service.

Another is on the 17p which shows Merryweather's Hatfield Trailer Pump. A petrol driven "Hatfield" Trailer pump and Foamite "Firefoam" chemical engine Model 'D' was brought into service in 1928.


GREENWICH, FISH, AND BILLINGSGATE DOCK

by Barbara Ludlow

Fishing in the River Thames was part of everyday life for its riverside communities, as can be testified by the many 'manor ways' leading from towns and villages to the banks of the river. Subsistence fishing was soon in competition with commercial enterprise and as early as the twelfth century powerful landowners placed 'kidels' across the Thames, to the detriment of private fishermen. In 1197 the City of London, on purchasing the Crown's Thames fishing rights, stipulated "that all kidels that are in the Thames shall be removed".

As the population of the metropolis and its environs grew the Thames, described in the reign of Henry II as being full of fish, could not supply the amount or variety fish required by the market. The British had been catching off-shore cod since Roman times but in the late fourteenth century adventurous fishermen from various ports sailed into Icelandic waters. So far no records have been found to prove that Greenwich fishermen went to Iceland that early but there is evidence to show how important the industry had become in the town at that time

About 1560 twenty-two sites on the Thames were designated on the banks of the Thames for various merchandise and raw materials. The quay at Billingsgate in the City was given over to fish, salt, corn and fruit. It would be convenient to state that Billingsgate Dock in Greenwich became associated with fish at the same time but sadly there is no proof of this. However, situated in the heart of the town Greenwich's Billingsgate had become a centre for shipping. The first known written reference to the Dock is in royal building accounts of l449. A price was quoted for conveying materials from Billingsgate Dock to 'Bella Vista', Margaret of Anjou's house by the river. This was later demolished and the Tudor Palace of Greenwich built on its site

It must be presumed that the early Billingsgate Dock accommodated fishing smacks but it was not the only quay used by fishermen. Fisher Lane/Alley ran close to the river between Greenwich Church Street and the perimeter of the Greenwich Hospital for Seamen, later the Royal Naval College and now housing part of the University of Greenwich. Ship Dock and Ship Stairs at the eastern end of Fisher Lane were used by the fishing fraternity and this small area of Greenwich near the river became a fish market before 1700. The early 1700s Greenwich fishermen were allowed to sell in the newly established Charter market. This was later abolished to make way for the Greenwich Hospital Infirmary of 1764, subsequently the Dreadnought Seamen's Hospital. Albeit old habits die hard and the fishermen went on selling their catches at Ship Dock until it, Ship Stairs and most of Fisher Lane disappeared under the Greenwich Hospital Improvement Acts of 1830-1850. In lieu of this, Billingsgate Dock was enlarged.

The enlarging of the dock took place around the time when the Greenwich 'fishing fleet' was on the wane. It was not steam trawlers which set this in motion but the formation of the Great Grimsby Dock Company (1845) and the quick development of the railway between London and the eastern counties. The Eastern Counties Railway of 1836 started the ball rolling and by 1845 the Great Central Railway was transporting fish from Grimsby to London.

Attempts were made to help the fishermen of Greenwich and the Fishermen's Provident Annuity Society was founded in 1636. Thomas Norledge of Greenwich became an official of the new Great Grimsby Dock Company and James Meadows of Greenwich was based in Grimsby as an agent for the Greenwich fishers. After the 1860s fewer and fewer fishing smacks left Greenwich for Icelandic waters and the rich fishing grounds of the North- Sea. After about 1870 the steam trawlers of Grimsby were taking over the trade and a large number of fishermen and their families left Greenwich and Barking to settle in Grimsby and Lowestoft.

New markets and new inventions killed off the Greenwich deep-sea fishing industry, ironically just as the demand for fresh fish exploded with the opening of a great number of fish and chip shops. In 1893 Dickens's Dictionary of the Thames recorded that "many of the fishermen have left the river for other more profitable pursuits and there has scarcely been a youth apprenticed to the calling of fisherman for the last few years".

The industrial life of Billingsgate Dock cannot be resurrected. However, perhaps an historical time-chart with illustrations could be erected adjacent to the Dock and a short pamphlet outlining its history made available at Greenwich Tourist Office now housed in Pepys House, Cutty Sark Gardens.

LOCAL & COMMUNITY NEWS

TICCIH VISIT

In early September The International Committee for the Conservation of the Industrial Heritage visited Greenwich as part of a week-long Conference and tour. (Please see News Shopper for 6th September). A group of Society members &emdash; helped by a party of Greenwich Tour Guides &emdash; met the party with a view to showing them industrial Greenwich. It rained .. and it rained.. and it rained. One group came a short distance and four people (out of 250) walked down the riverside.

Well we tried! But the rain beat us. All delegates got copies of literature provided by the Council (thank you Janice) and English Partnerships (thank you Kay). Hopefully one day they will come back when it's drier!


GREENWICH GLASS HOUSE

From the Web: http://www.interalpha.net/customer/cbrain/greenwh.htm

In 1641 there was a glass house at Greenwich owned by Jeremy Bago and Francis Bristow. This glass house contravened Sir Robert Mansel's monopoly and they were ordered to close down, but defied this order and continued working until the House of Lords caught up with them and they were jailed in 1642. John Evelyn, a diarist, states that in June 1673 he "went with friends to the formal and formidable camp at Blackheath and thence to the Italian glass-house at Greenwich, where glass was blown of finer mettal than that of Murano at Venice". At that stage the glass house was probably still owned by the Duke of Buckingham, who had a patent for making crystal glass in 1663 for the period of fourteen years. It is probable that this patent ran most of its course. Jeremy Bago had married Susanna Henzey (from a well-established glass-making family) in Oldswinford in 1619 and he had returned there by 1650. Francis Bristow had been involved in a range of different glass houses, including one in Coventry in 1621. Greenwich was not mentioned by Houghton in his list of glass houses in 1696, so it probably closed in the 1670s when it could not compete with the new 'flint' glass.


NEW MOSAIC

An amazing new mosaic was opened in Kingsman Square in Woolwich on 7th September by Nick Raynsford MP. It shows the launch of HMS Trafalgar in 1857 at Woolwich, as well as other Dockyard scenes. The work was done by local children under the watchful eye of Greenwich Mural Workshop.



LETTERS

Where addresses are not given, please contact through the Editor, c/o 24 Humber Road, London SE3

From Thomas Wilde

I have an ancestor who owned property in Deptford at the end of the 18th century. John Wild (1724-1800) High Constable of Holborn who purchased, in 1792, a freehold property known as the Tidemill Estate in Deptford. It comprised three messuages and a dock, rented at £50 a year. The title deeds commence on 25th June 1717. After John's death, for about five years, his estate was administered by his nephew, Thomas Wilde who had an office &emdash; I believe &emdash; at Deptford Bridge. Thomas was an attorney in the City of London. I like to think of him going up and down the river like Pepys in the previous century. After 1805 the estate was placed in the hands of Masters of Chancery who controlled it until the heirs of John Wild came of age c.1818. Finally, the Tide Mill was sold in 1827. I would be very grateful for any further information.


From Paul Cannon

I am looking for information on the East Greenwich Gas Works. The reason for this is not only a genuine interest in coal manufactured gas plants, but I am doing a project on the decline of the works at Greenwich and at Beckton. Therefore I would be very grateful for copies of any literature, other sources you may have and/or, more importantly, pictures/photographs of the Greenwich site before demolition.


From F.A. Gilbert-Bentley

Re. my letter in Vol.1. Issue 3. August 1999. The film at the Premier Cinema, Woolwich, in October 1940 which was interrupted by the Luftwaffe was David Livingstone &emdash; a black and white film. For a brief moment, the screen having departed in the blast, the picture flashed on to an outside wall.

Mr. Gilbert Bentley wrote to us last year to tell us how he was bombed out of a Woolwich cinema in the war.


From Pat 0'Driscoll

With regard to the short article Billingsgate - Greenwich's ancient harbour in Greenwich Industrial History, Vol. 3 No. 4. &endash;

What probably drove the Greenwich smacks away to Grimsby was increasing pollution of the Thames. Many smacks were fitted with a "well" between two watertight bulkheads in which fish, caught by a hand line, could be kept alive until the vessel returned to market the catch. Holes bored in the vessel in the area of the well ensured a constant circulation of seawater. An illustration showing a well can be seen on p.87 of Harvey Benham's book The Codbangers which also shows how Grimsby became a major fishing centre, helped by a rail link to London established in 1848. Four years later the Royal Dock, Grimsby, was opened and fishermen were offered attractive terms to move there.

While many smacks fished the North Sea grounds, a number went as far as Iceland after cod. The first successful steam trawler was the Zodiac of 1880-1. Hewett & Co of Barking had steam cutters from 1865 onward, designed to collect boxes of fish from craft fishing as a fleet and running them to Billingsgate Fish Market (to Shadwell Market from the mid-1880 to 1900). They were fitted with trawling gear so that they could trawl at suitable times. Because of this they escaped Thames River Dues - another reason for steam fish carriers to have a secondary role as trawlers.

Unfortunately, Greenwich's fishing fleet came and went with little or nothing being recorded about it.

Pat O'Driscoll is late of Fishing News &emdash; a weekly paper of British commercial fishermen since 1913.


From Vernon Broom

On reading the article Two Vanished Greenwich Pubs in Bygone Kent, I thought I had come across the name Star in the East somewhere before. As I am not familiar with that part of Greenwich I wondered if it was connected with my transport interests. On looking through my small collection of bus tickets I found printed on a route 108 ticket Tunnel Avenue Star in the East (Route 108 ran from Crystal Palace through Blackwall Tunnel to Bromley High Street 'Seven Sisters'). These Bell Punch tickets, known as Geographical tickets had all the Fare Stages printed on them and were used until early 1952. I am not sure of the exact date of my ticket but I think it is from about this time. Presumably the Star in the East was still operating as a pub at this time.


From John Day

Re: letter from Niclas Dahlvang in the last issue. There is a paper on The Steam Gun in Volume 11 (1999) of The Ordnance Society's Journal. This tells the story of the Perkins gun and has pictures of it. One of the illustrations comes from an article in 'The Engineer' Vol.12, p. 390, (December 27th. 1861). There is also a limited edition (200 copies) biography 'Jacob Perkins' by G. and D. Bathe, published by The Historical Society of Pennsylvania in 1943. How do I know? I wrote the paper, and I have Vol. 12 of 'The Engineer' and copy No. 196 of the book!

As to the Blackwall Tunnel, there was a paper read before the Society of Arts on May 13th. 1896, entitled "Tunnelling by Compressed Air" by E.W.Moir, who was entrusted with the design of the plant and the carrying out of the work by the contractors for the Blackwall Tunnel. This was reprinted in 'The Practical Engineer' Vol XIII pp 639-641, 661-663 and Vol. XIV pp 18-20. About half of the paper is devoted to Blackwall and has drawings of the Paterson shield, shaft No. 3, an air lock and a longitudinal section.


From Stewart Borrett

Re: Correspondence on the Swanage Globe, and the letter from Bill Firth which asked what proof there was that the Globe was made in Greenwich....

I discussed this matter with David Hayson the curator of the Museum at Swanage and we both think that there is no doubt that the Globe was made in Greenwich. I don't think that there is any written evidence to support this, it may have just been stated and passed down.

However, the common sense part of it would tell us that this was the case. The Purbeck stone was down in Swanage, it was shipped to London. George Burt was developing his Durlston Park Estate of which The Castle and the Globe were part. The main reason why I think it was made in Greenwich was that it would have been a skilled operation to put it together and the expertise was in Greenwich and not with the stonemasons down there who were more used to dressing building stone rather than making something of this complexity. Also George Burt could inspect it himself up there as it was being put together, he spent most of his working time in London.

I think for these reasons it was made in London. There is a photo of it being made on the front of Curiosities of Swanage, a booklet. I hope this might be of some help.


From Peter Jones

I run a small company specialising in the care and upgrading of automatic machines, we have recently converted a gun barrel lapping machine for a company called Boss & Co. They have hand-built double-barrelled shotguns in London for, I believe, around 200 years. Until recently they had works in Bermondsey, they have recently moved to 'under the shop' in Mayfair and we delivered the upgraded machine last week.

The main reason for this letter is the motor fitted to the machine we rebuilt, which we have replaced. It is rated at 1 HP, is wound for 400v. ac (although it has survived on 415v ac for many years) and I would estimate it was manufactured in the 1920s-1930s although I have no way of knowing its age. It still runs perfectly. I have possession of the motor, before I send it to the scrapyard &emdash; is of interest to your group?

Peter Jones &emdash; before you send it to the scrapyard please send us your address - which you forgot to put on your letter.


From Audrey Walker

Three generations of my Smith family were barge builders on the Thames and I think it possible that they worked for Stratford & Co., as I have a pencil stub with that name on it and 'Barge Owners & Repairers of ...... and Andrews Wharves, Woolwich, S.E.9. I expect the company has long since disappeared but is it likely that records still exist? Do you know the name of the wharf - that part of the pencil had been used?


From Alan Lea

Merryweathers - I suspect that this won't be the first or the last time that an enquiry has been made about the once world-renowned company. Having recently purchased a Hatfield trailer pump manufactured in 1935 with the view to restoration, I am now searching for any info that may help me? Please reply with anything no matter even if you consider it trivial. Ta.


From Tim Smith

Re: your request for information about Greenwich steam engines.

Merryweather products in Museums:

I am sure there must be many more!


From John Furlong

I am looking for details of the Greenwich Reach development site, for which E.C. Harris are Project Managers. Site clearance and demolitions will be getting under way soon at the Greenwich Reach site, prior to construction works starting next year, and I have been asked to research old businesses and their buildings on the site that have previously been demolished - in particular ones which may impact on our works schedule.

I believe we are fairly well up to speed on the Phoenix Gas Works and its gasholders, however more recent businesses seem to be less well documented. For example, I have so far failed to find details of Petwain Ltd which occupied Dreadnought Wharf or Robinsons Metals at Dowells Wharf. What buildings did they occupy and when were they demolished?.


From Frank Lockhart

We have an original Festival of Britain sign at the Woolwich Ferry where I work. Fred Peskett, Chairman of the Festival of Britain Society, found two of them in Salisbury some ten years ago. He restored the other one and it looks like I shall have to make a replica of this one as it is quite badly decayed and to restore it would take away too much originality. If you would like to see it or the copy when done, please feel free to let me know. When the replica is made, can you think of a use for it, perhaps a local museum display next year?


From Russell Martin

In the latter years of the 17th century the Bowater family had extensive land holdings in Woolwich. The family home was on a hill to the south of the town called Mount Pleasant - later known Bowater House. With the arrival of the Army the family home was acquired as the Officers Mess at the Red Barracks.

In 1692 the Bowater Estate extended from the edge of The Warren in the east, along the river bank to Charlton with a southern border just short of Woolwich Common. Towards the river the Bowater Estate owned the Sand Pits, later used for Dockyard Railway Station. On the riverside they had a boat building yard - part of which was purchased by a gentleman by the name of Samuel Pepys Esq. for the use of his Britannic Majesty's Royal Navy. In 1784 the Navy purchased a further 600 acres for The Mast Pond.

My Great-Great-Grandmother was the natural daughter of John Bowater (d.1810) named of Georgina Mercote (1797-1865). In 1815 she married Joseph Harrington, a Solicitor, of Rectory Place Woolwich. They lived at Glen Mohr Cottage, Lower Road - today the site of the school opposite Maryon Road - their garden became the Warspite Industrial Estate.

I have a map which shows the development of the Warspite Industrial Estate. Some of the documents comment on the Siemens Brothers factory - in which they wanted to make electric light bulbs - but it was thought that there would not be much demand for that type of thing! Also a Mr Slazenger rented factory land to make tennis balls. The Standard Telegraph Cable Co., was also viewed with suspicion - it was thought that nobody would ever want to talk on a thing called the telephone to America.

In 1803, after various troubles, The Bowater Estate was put in Chancery and there followed a multitude of Litigations - even in those days the Lawyers tried to keep the pot boiling to ensure their constant income! In 1895 a survey was done of all the property owned by The Trust. This foolscap size book contains 70 pages and 38 maps at a scale of about 30 ins = 1 mile (but no actual scale is quoted). These maps detail every single property in Woolwich with data as to what the premises were being used for and the rents due to The Estate - some of them as little as £8.0s 0d pa.

I am trying to obtain a copy of Milton's Plan of Woolwich Dockyard published in 1753 and wonder if any of your members could help? I also have a photograph of A View of Woolwich surveyed by John Barker in 1748. Are any of your members aware of the current whereabouts of this plan and where can I get a copy from? Also, the location of the plan shown on page 60 of Vincent's history.

If some of your members are interested I would be prepared to come over to Blackheath one evening and show them some of the original maps and documents that I have been able to collect over the years.

I am involved at the old gunpowder works at Waltham Abbey. Production of 'gunpowder' (cordite) ceased towards the end of the Second World War and the site was used as a research establishment for Rocket Propellants until it was finally closed down in 1989. They are now creating a Heritage Centre on the site. Perhaps some of your members would be interested in visiting the site next summer.


From Andrew Hollings

Re: Appleby Bros, steam engine manufacturers of Southwark & Greenwich. I am presently researching the origin of a large Victorian-era steam capstan winch used to haul ships out of the water on a inclined marine railway called a "patent slipway". The winch was a piece of Victorian ingenuity with twin 25hp horizontal steam-driven engines. Power was transferred through a massive 7-gear gearbox which allowed the slipping of 4000 ton ships onto the inclined marine railway.

I am presently trying to reconstruct the winch machine but do not have the original drawings to replicate missing parts. I wonder if you could help me locate the archives and then the drawings of the manufacturer? My winch was built circa 1860 by Appleby Brothers. Appleby Brothers formed various buisness arrangements with steam engine component manufacturers including a specialist steam bore and a crane company. They became Jessop and Appleby of London and Leicester. They then returned to the name of Applebys after about 1914. My searching to date has yielded the scantiest details. I do not have access to many searching sources in New Zealand .

 

BRIEFS

Thames Shipbuilding Study Group

In early September a Symposium on Thames Shipbuilding was held in Rotherhithe, organised by Stuart Rankin of the Rotherhithe and Bermondsey Local History Group and sponsored by the National Maritime Museum and Greenwich Maritime Institute. In the comfort of Nelson House (ex Nelson Dock and now part of the Hotel Complex) delegates heard a number of papers on subjects all (obviously) connected with Thames Shipbuilding . Those attending included representatives of the Museum in Docklands, Museum of London Archaeology Service as well as Professors Tony Arnold, Univ. Essex and Andrew Lambert, Kings College.

It was agreed to set up a Thames Shipbuilding Study Group with a twice-yearly newsletter. Anyone interested in joining/contributing should write (with SAE) to Michael Jones, 51 Montrose Avenue, Whitton, Twickenham, TW2 6HE.

Conference Proceedings - Shipbuilding on the Thames and Thames Built Ships - ed. Stuart Rankin. is published as a limited edition of 100 copies. A ground-breaking publication, it contains article as follows: 'The Brent Family of Shipbuilders' (Capt. Brent Streit), 'Apprentice at Mills & Knight, Nelson Dock' (Bryan Cumings), 'Review of Recent Work on the Archaeology of Ship and Boat Building on the Thames' (Damien Goodburn), 'Shipbuilding at East Greenwich' (Mary Mills), 'Castles &emdash; Shipbuilders and Breakers' (Robert & Linda Tait), 'Naval Shipbuilding on the 18th Century Thames' (Rif Winfield), 'The First Post Office Steam Packets Built at Rotherhithe' (Roger Owen), 'Shipwrights &emdash; from craft guild to trade union' (Stuart Rankin), 'The Failure of Millwall Ironworks and Overend Gurney' (Tony Arnold, 'The Millwall Ironworks Site' (Edward Sargent), 'The Lower Thames Shipyards' (John Basley), 'A Brief History of the East India Company site in Poplar', (Tony Fuller).

Copies £7.50 (only available from a bookshop in Greenwich).


FROM ANOTHER WEB SITE

&emdash; this is about the site right opposite the Dome on the other side of the river &emdash;

http://www.tower-bridge.org.uk/vips.htm

Roxane, the First Lady of Virginia Comes to Town

Virginia's First Lady Roxane Gilmore, Honorary co-chair of the Celebration 2007 steering committee, and Wife of Virginian Governor James Gilmore III, paid a flying visit to East London on Saturday morning October 1st, 2000 accompanied by Patricia Cornwell, best selling author, with the object of seeing Blackwall at low tide. It meant an early start but jet-lag didn't bother these intrepid visitors with a special mission, the group also included Charlie Cornwell, Patricia's business manager, Dr. William Kelso, leader of the APVA Jamestown excavation team, accompanied by his wife Mrs Kelso, and Jeanne Bailles a previous First Lady, all had flown over from Virginia the previous day for a long weekend of history research in Docklands, they also visited the newly restored First Settlers Monument at Virginia Quay, and, on the following Monday, the British Museum in Docklands.

The VIP's arrived in two limos with their security escorts, eager and ready to scale any obstacles to glimpse historic Blackwall at low tide, they certainly managed that with no stragglers too - the First Lady Roxane is an experienced archaeologist and works with the APVA team in Virginia, all are capable in tackling the various terrain conditions.

The LEA Heritage Group (re-discovering history) although given very short notice, were able to provide an adequate tour for these important visitors from the USA. Ian Sharpe their Chair said "it was an honour to be chosen to escort such notable visitors .. we were fortunate to have Rosemary Taylor, the Author, who is also an experienced tour guide, and David Clark Secretary was a great host, inviting them to his home nearby for tea served by his charming Philippine's wife Celia". It was a very informal, pleasant, meeting

An interesting and enjoyable experience for us all, it went very well to further cement Anglo-American relations. We share a mutual history at Blackwall, and their visit to the newly restored First Settlers Monument at Virginia Quay by kind permission of the developers 'Barratts' showed how important this mutual history is. We all returned to the 'Gun Pub' in Coldharbour Lane for a well-earned drink of fine English beer and a good chat about the future.


PORTCITIES PROJECT

It is understood that the National Maritime Museum &emdash; working with Goldsmiths &emdash; has received money to develop research links in this way. A working group has been set up on Deptford and they are anxious to create links. Info. via David Riddle at Goldsmiths.


THE WOOLWICH KILN &emdash; note from Mike Neill

At last the Woolwich Kiln has been unwrapped &emdash; it was wrapped up for 25 years and we were all waiting to see what awful things has happened to it &emdash; complete collapse &emdash; smothered by root growth &emdash; reduced to powder?

Mike Neill reports:

The kiln is in remarkably good condition; no collapse or cracking, no root growth, just a tiny robin's nest. The wetting it received in 1990 prior to being moved has also exposed an unexcavated salt-glazed waster on the kiln floor, and an interesting piece of clinker-like material which may be spent fuel. The platform around the kiln is scaffolding, access via a 3m ladder. I would be happy to conduct anyone who is really, really interested in seeing it - but given the safety issues, we would need to consider general fitness and suitable site clothing would be a must. Very small groups. The possibilities of accidents with visitors to the Arsenal always worries me!


MEETING WITH ENGLISH HERITAGE - GREENWICH SITES AND MONUMENTS

One morning in October a group of GIHS members met with David Eve, who is currently 'in charge' of the Sites and Monuments Record. It was agreed that David would supply us with details of what was required and that then &emdash; working as a number of teams &emdash; we would send lists of sites in to him. Further details in due course.


WHITE HART DEPOT

News from the Borough is that discussions are under way with a film company who may decide to use the amazing buildings of the old generator station and depot as studios &emdash; to produce a soap opera!

VISIT TO THE SITE OF THE NEW GREENWICH HERITAGE CENTRE

by Jack Vaughan

A visit was arranged, attended by a good number of Members, to the Royal Arsenal (West), its purpose being to show the Society the first stage of the Council's share of what will be a Museum/Heritage Centre.

The Party assembled at the Beresford Square end of Warren Lane (in former days the 'Arsenal' area was known as the Warren). There it was met by Mike Neill of Greenwich Borough at the entrance to the Main Guard House (1788 Grade II) now occupied by English Partnerships. Kitted out with compulsory fancy dress now obligatory on construction sites &emdash; yellow waist coast with decorations and 'Snowdrop' helmets (as worn by the American Military Police in the last war) the party moved across Dial Square to the front block. There were three of these blocks forming the Great Pile of Buildings (1716). The Sundial was added because of the unreliability of the first 'Arsenal' clock on the adjacent Royal Laboratories of which two 'partitions' remain.

The contents of the 'room' (30ft by 15ft, my guess) were mainly photographic and pictorial, illustrative of Arsenal scenes and activities &emdash; an extremely interesting display.

A television was running a video which was quite rivetting and there was a cabinet containing small artefacts which I am sure will form the nucleus of an expanding display of such items. At this point, the great number of 'finds' uncovered by the Oxford Archaeological Group will be ensconced and catalogued. The Society, Council and Borough Museum must ensure that they eventually return to a final resting place on the Arsenal site or in the Heritage Centre.

Leaving Dial Square the party walked to a building which Mike said had been a bullet factory. I admit to some confusion here: the bullet factory was on the adjacent site of the Royal Laboratories which was roofed-over and packed out with bullet presses, trimmers, etc. Also the building which we were exploring was next to No.17 building which was the paper cartridge factory in the mid 1800s.

Anyway, 'our' building had plenty of interesting construction features, including fine cast iron roof supporting pillars which, ingeniously, served as part of the roof drainage arrangements. The third and last part of the tour was a walk towards the eastern end of the site which gave the members sight of several listed buildings including the Grand Storehouses, Armstrong Gun Factory, the two pretty Riverside Guardhouses and the spectacular entrance to the Shell Factory (1850). A notable absentee was His Grace the Duke of Wellington MGO (statue) banished to some obscure corner. Mike could not say just where, but avowed that it would not be lost from the Arsenal site. We must all cross our fingers as other important items have disappeared.

The highlight of the visit for myself was to see three enormous cast iron (or steel) bases which were part of steam hammers housed in the forges near the Armstrong factory. They are to remain on site, presumably as 'ornaments' in the small 'park' behind the Shell Factory &emdash; already mentioned. The 40 ton Nasmyth hammer was not recovered and presumably was removed around 1950. The 30' deep foundations are still underground.

Altogether a worthwhile tour &emdash; hopefully the first of a coming series so that the growth of the whole Heritage Centre can be followed as it happens.

WHERE THE NEW HERITAGE CENTRE WILL BE &emdash;

41 & 41A New Laboratory Square

Built as part of the Royal Laboratory, the ammunition manufacturing branch of the Arsenal.

The West Range, of 1805, was the first, followed c. 1808-10 by the very similar East Range; the yard being enclosed to the north about the same time. All three ranges are of two storeys, of stock brick, with minimal stone dressings. The east and west ranges have their five central bays pedimented. It is not known whether the North Range did also. The 1850s saw a major refitting programme. Steam power was introduced. New engine and boiler houses were added at either end of the east range, into which cast iron columns were inserted. These columns survive, together with evidence for drive shafting. The northern engine and boiler houses survive. Those to the south do not.

Subsequently, the quadrangle became a factory for making ammunition boxes and barrels; the east range being a sawmill and cooperage, the west range carpenters' shops.

In 1878 the previously open south side was enclosed with a carpenters' workshop, a tall single storey iron-framed structure of two parallel ranges with saw-tooth profiled north light roofs. The ironwork is similar to that used to in-fill the Royal Laboratory courtyard in 1854 but is dated 1878. Two further, similar ranges were added to the north in 1890 in matching ironwork.

In this century a plain brick bay was added on the south side of the 1878 range and a bizarre half timbered additional storey was erected on top of the north range. Both of these have recently been removed.

GREENWICH CONSERVATION GROUP NOTES

by Philip Binns

Meeting held 29th August:

45 Greenwich Church Street &emdash; changes to restaurant facilities on three floors. Reluctantly accept that it is not possible to save the staircase - new one should be detailed to match. Work to be done to the highest standards, and reuse panelling.

Wood Wharf &emdash; application for demolition of buildings and erection of homes and a restaurant. Felt that this application was better than previous ones but that the buildings for the river end of Horseferry Place were too dominant. Welcome loss of the planned boardwalk but feel that north face of the building will overshadow the foreshore to the detriment of ecology. Needs an Environmental Impact Assessment.

Royal Arsenal &emdash; Master Plan &emdash; concern at increase in built area, over provision of parking, schedule of listed buildings incomplete. Historic buildings or industrial artefacts. Lack of green open space regretted.

Royal Arsenal Building 41 &emdash; alterations to create a museum. Felt this was sympathetic

28/32 Plumstead Road - conversion of disused factory into flats. Not enough indication on detail...

Meeting held 12th October:

Hiltons Wharf, 30 Norman Road, SE10 &emdash; Mixed use development with underground car park, commercial space and housing. No comment because there were no drawings.

Victoria Deep Water Terminal, SE10 &emdash; Erection of buildings, plant for processing of aggregates. Welcome traditional use of the river but concern about protection for the river path.

49 Greenwich High Road (ex-Merryweather factory) &emdash; 73 homes plus six-storey development. Grave concern at refurbishment of existing buildings. Change of use will mean loss of space for existing businesses. No attempt to open up the frontage to Deptford Creek and concern that additional upper floors will dominate buildings in the High Road.

Building 20, Royal Arsenal &emdash; Repair and adaptation &emdash; no case file so no comment.


The latest local industry to close down is Convoys &emdash; which occupied the site of the old Deptford Dockyard &emdash; arguably one of the most important sites in British Naval history. The site is technically in Lewisham Borough (although it is so near the Borough boundary that the road alongside it is in Greenwich!). Can we appeal to any Lewisham based members to keep us all up to date on what is going on at the old Dockyard site &emdash; and anyone sitting on any material about the history of the site is very welcome to send it in.

In the meantime, here is the first part of an article by a member, Allan Burnett, about Deptford and its Naval traditions:

IN DEPTH DEPTFORD &emdash; CRADLE OF THE BRITISH NAVY

by Allan Burnett

There are places in our fair land that have universal appeal to the tourist. There are others of limited appeal that would attract the curious or the specialist. Yet again, there are others to avoid like the plague. One such place is Deptford. It is situated in south-east London and consists of a rough, very rough, two square miles of back streets, sandwiched between the A2 trunk route, the River Thames, and a veritable maze of railways both used and disused. It is a drab; it is dreary, and incredibly depressing. Dirt and decay, demolition and desolation seem to stalk the streets. Perhaps one day a new Deptford will rise from the ruins, but that is doubtful.

Such new buildings that have taken shape look as they have all tumbled out of the same square mould devoid of character, beauty, inspiration or ingenuity. It is as if Deptford was spawned by the Industrial Revolution and is still suffering.

But Deptford is considerably older than it looks; and that is saying something, in fact its history is its only redeeming feature. Roman remains were unearthed near the toll gate at New Cross in 1735 and it seems they had a chain of forts or bastions from the River Ravensbourne to St. George's Fields in order to keep out the heathen hordes from Kent - today the Connex South-Eastern railway is marginally successful in bringing them all back in again! The Ravensbourne is said to have received its name from Caesar who encamped at Keston, twelve miles to the south. It must be remembered that Bourne is a Saxon word for River or Stream - Deptford le Stronde.

At one time it was believed that Deptford was Known to the Saxons as Meretun the dwelling place in the marsh, perhaps the Saxon equivalent of 'Much Binding' and its first mention in history is in 871 AD when the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records that King Aethelred, assisted by his brother Alfred (of subsequent fame as Alfred the Great) defeated the Danes here. The area was known as West Grenewych, but the Roman Bridge that carried the old Roman Road, Watling Street, over the River Ravensbourne fell into disuse and the area took its name from the ford called 'Depe', (the name is believed to have came from the word 'deep') and became known as 'Depe-ford', which with various spellings (there were eleven different ways of spelling used in the 16th. and 17th. centuries), has persisted ever since.

By the 14th century a wooden structure was in place and it was the duty of the whole of the 'Hundred of Blakeheth' to keep it in good repair. Being on the main artery to the Continent, it took a pounding. The Canterbury Pilgrims crossed over the bridge on their way to pay homage to Thomas a Beckett's shrine in Canterbury, as did Wat Tyler and his followers. King Henry V was met here in 1415 by the Mayor of London, the famous Richard Whittington, on his return from his wonderful victory at Agincourt &emdash; and so it went on, every journey between London and the continent via the English Channel crossed this fragile bridge.

Deptford was a traditional meeting place for ships and really came into its own in 1513 when King Henry VIII established a Royal Dockyard here a few miles up-stream from the existing one at Woolwich and only a mile from the Royal Palace of Placentia at Greenwich

This 'dockland' covered thirty acres and was, for over three hundred years, a centre of shipbuilding. At the same time the 'maisters, rules and maryners of your Navye within your Ryver Thamys and other places' petitioned the King for incorporation, claiming that young and inexperienced men were imperilling the lives and ships of the King's subjects by meddling with pilotage on the River Thames, depriving older ex-seamen of employment, but not themselves learning the art of seamanship. But bluff King Hal had other things on his mind at the time and it was not till the following year that he granted Letters Patent that incorporated the existing association of Guild of Pilots into the Trinity House Corporation.

(to be continued)

BOOKS & PUBLICATIONS

NEW BOOKS

Iron Shipbuilding on the Thames 1832-1915 by A.J.Arnold. Published Ashgate Publishing, Bookpoint Ltd. 39 Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon. OX14 4TD 01235 827730 orders@bookpoint.co.uk. Price….. £49.95.

Visions of Greenwich Reach (A Homage to the Working Thames) by Terry Scales. A selection of his collection of paintings of the river Thames on his doorstep. Images interspersed with extracts from his diaries. See above for details of book signing 22/24th November and exhibition 20/26th November.


CROSSNESS NEWS

Crossness Engines Record gives details of what they described as a Thames Water Event. This was the opening of the new section of the Thames River Path along the riverfront &emdash; basically an extension of the riverside path from Greenwich into Bexley and on to Erith. The event was held on 20th September with guests of honour, former MP, Edwina Currie and John Austin MP. Other guests were there from SUSTRANS &emdash; plus a historic bicycle exhibition &emdash; and the Prince's Trust. There is an interpretation board and a viewing platform &emdash; so walk on from Greenwich and have a look!

Crossness is expanding its Board of Trustees and has invited Jennie Page to join. They also have Simon Jenkins, Joanna Lumley and Lucinda Lampton as Vice-Presidents.

The Trust has also acquired some wonderful prints and paintings &emdash; now held in their library.
This includes a coloured plan of the WHOLE of the Arsenal.


GREENWICH POWER STATION

Copies of the GLIAS Journal plus Peter Guillery's article on Greenwich Power Station are still available from Brian Sturt, 94 Springbank Road, SE12 at £3.95 a copy. The article is fundamentally a recording plus architectural assessment and includes some stunning interior pictures. Other articles concern Carter Paterson's depot in Camberwell, a gelatin manufacturer in Bermondsey, Mill machinery at the House Mill at Bromley by Bow and the first railway terminus at Kings Cross &emdash; and more amazing pictures of ship repair machinery from the North Woolwich area in the 1980s.


WANTED

The GLIAS Journal Editorial team would be very interested in any good pictures of Piper's Wharf since the war. Contact Mary Mills on 0208 858 9482.


BLACKHEATH GUIDE

Neil Rhind wrote in the October 2000 edition about the Blackheath Art Club. Who would have thought that all those amazing wartime films &emdash; Night Mail &Western Approaches &emdash; were made in Blackheath at what was then the GPO film Unit? Great Stuff!

Peter Kent continues in the same edition with Tales of the River Banks which details changes along the Ravensbourne/Deptford Creek. All the way from the DLR Station in Lewisham to Convoys Wharf.


RENEWAL, REGENERATION AND RENAISSANCE

Kate Jones has sent a cutting from the August/September edition of Axis which describes part of the Berkeley Homes development planned for Woolwich Arsenal by their Regeneration Director, Joanne Lucas. The article talks about the need for a 'joined up approach' which 'encapsulates the three Rs' &emdash; 'sustainable and holistic regeneration'.


LEWISHAM TRAMS

The current edition of Archive includes an article by Patrick Loobey on Lewisham's First Electric Trams &emdash; of course, Lewisham trams ran to Greenwich! Archive is £6 from 47-49 High Street, Lydney, Glos. GKL15 5DD.


GREENWICH MARITIME INSTITUTE

We have received the second annual report of this important new local instution. They now run two taught MAs in Maritime History and in Maritime Policy. have an active visiting lecturers series and Honorary Research Fellows. Professor Sarah Palmer gave her inaugural lecture in May on Seeing the Sea. The Maritime Dimension in History and has chaired a conference on Seapower in the Millennium. In June the Institute hosted a private view of drawings of the Thames Riverscape by Peter Kent &emdash; and helped with the symposium on Thames Shipbuilding (reported elsewhere).

Steam Colliers on the Thames

IN OCTOBER, GIHS was pleased to welcome Alan Pearsall to our meeting to talk on Steam Colliers. The text reproduced below is that of a similar talk given to the Docklands History Group last year (and reproduced with their permission). Thank you Alan.

Alan began by defining 'colliers' as vessels carrying coal between the North-Eastern ports and London. From medieval times until the advent of the canals and the railways, virtually all coal to the capital arrived by sea. The last collier disappeared from the Thames only twenty years ago. Until 1810 -1820, coal was delivered by sailing colliers, comparatively small vessels carrying about 200 tons each. They would discharge the coal overside at tiers or at riverside berths, rather than using the enclosed docks. With the expansion of London in the first part of the nineteenth century, port facilities became very strained. As the sailing colliers tended to arrive en masse on a favourable wind, the river became clogged. Additionally, these vessels completed only about twelve voyages a year, partly because they had to be ballasted for the return journey after discharging the coal, whereas steam colliers could be water-ballasted.

Steam appeared on the Thames around 1814, the first vessels being paddle steamers. Since the paddles had to be sited amidships, cargo-carrying capacity was limited. The introduction of iron screw steamers in the 1840s solved many of the problems, and allowed an increase in cargo capacity.

In 1852, a consortium of North-East coalmine owners led by Charles Palmer was formed to construct larger vessels. The first of these was the John Bowes, which could carry 500 tons of coal. Many steam colliers were built by John Scott Russell on the Isle of Dogs but the principal yard was Palmer's at Jarrow. When the Palmer's yard eventually closed the town of Jarrow became a depressed area for many years.

Alan gave some impressive figures showing how the advent of steam colliers revolutionised the coal trade in to London:

1852

17 cargoes carried by steam

9,500 tons of coal

1853

123 cargoes carried by steam

70,000 tons of coal

1854

345 cargoes carried by steam

1862

1,427 cargoes carried by steam

1 m. tons of coal

The demand for coal was stimulated by the advent of gas lighting - the new gas companies demanded regular supplies of coal in large quantities and the sailing colliers just could not compete. Another stimulus was the Crimean War in 1854, when steam colliers were pressed into service to move troops and munitions to supply the army and navy. Steam colliers could carry 1000 tons dead weight and made one return voyage each week: sailing colliers could only carry 200 tons and only made 10/12 voyages a year. By the 1860s most coal carried to London came by steam colliers, with sailing vessels picking up the pieces.

Alan explained that, despite the dangers and arduous nature of the trade, some steam colliers had a life of fifty years. Some were re-engined to upgrade their performance, being strengthened and fitted with compound and even triple-expansion engines. Ships were owned in shares to reduce and spread the insurance costs. Several owners were aristocrats, like the Marquis of Londonderry and the Earl of Durham. A Coal Exchange was built in Lower Thames Street to facilitate trading

In the early days the coal was discharged manually by coal heavers who worked in the holds of vessels shovelling coal into baskets which were hoisted up on the yards of the ship and discharged into barges or carts. Eventually grab cranes were introduced, in around 1900. With the continued expansion of London and the increased use of gas and electricity the requirement for coal was insatiable.

William Cory began by discharging coal in Victoria Dock, but objected to paying dock dues. He found a large hulk called the Great Atlas and moored it off Angerstein Wharf, and fitted it with hydraulic cranes. Colliers were unloaded on one side and discharged into lighters on the other.

New wharves were built not only along the Thames but also in creeks and inlets to supply the new gas works and power stations. In 1869 coal was delivered directly to the newly opened Beckton Gas Works. The London Gas Light & Coke Co. commissioned Palmer's of Jarrow to build vessels with telescopic masts and collapsible funnels for delivery to Nine Elms, the first "flat irons". In the first half of the Twentieth Century, scores of flat iron steam colliers streamed in and out of London, owned by Gas and Electric Companies, William Cory and Stephenson Clarke. Although the domestic market for sea coal declined as it tended to be brought into London by rail and then delivered to houses via the horse and cart, the demands of industry continued apace, spurred on by gas and electricity and power stations.

However, Clean Air legislation in the 1950s and 1960s dealt these industries a heavy blow. Some colliers converted to diesel but with the introduction of natural gas many power companies closed or moved away. Gas production in London ceased in 1970 and the need for colliers disappeared.

In welcoming Alan Pearsall to the meeting, GIHS Chair Jack Vaughan, produced a photograph of himself, Alan and some others (looking very much younger) with the plaque rescued from Henry Maudslay's tomb in Woolwich Churchyard &emdash; now there's a story someone should be telling us all about…

Excavations at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich

Since April 1999 the Oxford Archaeological Unit (OAU) has been carrying out a major programme of archaeological works and excavations at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich. This archaeological project, initially funded by English Partnerships London and now carried forward by the London Development Agency has been on-going throughout the regeneration of this brownfield site.

Naturally the main archaeological interest of the site arises from its use as the nation's principal arsenal and armaments factory, dating from the site's purchase by the Crown in 1671 to its final demise in 1994. At its peak during the 1914-18 war the Arsenal covered over 100 acres and employed over 80,000 people. To date the excavations have centred primarily on the western end of the site notably on the sites of the Royal Laboratories (built 1696-7 for ammunition production) and 'The Great Pile', a complex of gun finishing workshops and storehouses of 1717- 20 attributed to Nichols Hawksmoor. Both sites reveal evidence of continuous adaptation to new processes and technologies including the switch from horsepower to steam power, as well as hydraulic, gas and electric installations. The Royal Laboratory excavation revealed fragmentary remains from its early courtyard period and good evidence from its roofing in 1855 to form 'the largest covered machine shop in the world'. Excavations within the 'Great Pile' revealed machine bases, coal cellars, iron and bronze furnaces, casting bosses, boiler houses, an engine house, and flue systems. The remains were often of massive scale, the foundations for one steam engine consisting of 250 tonnes of stone blocks, whilst the casting pits excavated were over 4 metres deep. Finds recovered have included crucibles, gun mould fragments, foundry tools, stone lithographic blocks, cannon balls and iron Cannon, as well as lead shot and bullets, covering almost the whole period during which the Royal Arsenal Woolwich was in production

More recent works, have centred principally on the sites of the 'West (or Old) Forge (built from 1856) and the 'Central Power Station' built c.1890 on the site of the east quadrangle of the Napoleonic 'Grand Store'. During these works three massive steam hammer bases were encountered. Two of these were from the 10 Ton and 12 Ton hammers described by Vincent c.1875 (Vincent W.T. , Warlike Woolwich) p.31) whilst a third by Massey was somewhat later in date. Despite their colossal size and weight (up to 100 Tons each) the London Development Agency has funded their recovery and relocation for monumental display on site. Amongst a huge number of other recovered artefacts have been four 10 metre long rifled liners from 12" naval guns of the 1880s.

The investigations have also revealed a late Roman cemetery at the western end of the site. To date over 140 pagan graves have been excavated. Whilst no human remains survived, coffin and body stains were hauntingly apparent and some 25% of the burials included artefacts, notably pottery vessels, shale and copper alloy buttons, and bracelets, glass beads and glass vessel. Some outlying graves were also found, several-oriented east-west indicating Christian burials. Other pre-Arsenal features excavated have included foundations, ditches, pits and a medieval, double flued, tile-built, pottery kiln

Many of the recovered artefacts will be displayed on site in due course, hopefully in the proposed Borough Heritage Centre. A major publication on the archaeology of the site is in course of preparation.

Rob Kinchin-Smith & Ben Ford, Oxford Archaeological Unit, 25th October 2000

MEETINGS AND EVENTS

This list of meetings and events has been culled from leaflets and notices brought to our attention.

If you want your meeting listed here please contact 24 Humber Road, SE3 7LR (020 8858 9482)

NOVEMBER

1st November, Paul Calvocressi on English Heritage's Role in Docklands, DHG, Room C, Museum of London Educ. Dept., London Wall, EC2, 6.00 pm

11th November 'The Victorian Celebration of Death' Dawn Squires. 2.30 p.m. at Plumstead Library. Please ring 020 8855 3240.

11th November, Civil Defence in the Second World War. Mike Brown. Woolwich & Dist. Antiq. Soc. Charlton House.

11th November, Age Exchange Play, In Full Flow (see below for details)

15th November, Goodall and Son, London Printing Business. By Michael Goodall, GLIAS, Lecture Theatre 2m Science Block, Medical School, Barts Hospital, Charterhouse Sq. EC1 6.30 pm

15th/16th November, Chuck Out Your Mouldies! (See below)

16th November, Southwark Industrial Heritage. Stephen Humphrey. Peckham Soc., Camberwell College of Art, Wilson Road, SE5 7.45pm

16th November, Dr. Stephen Halliday on Cement, Sewers and Sanitation, Sir Joseph Bazalgette and the Cleansing of Victorian London. SCI HQ, 14/15 Belgrave Square, SW1X 8PS 5.30 pm

17th November, Mortality and Senile Decrepitude in the Army of Old Austria. Dr. Duffy. Blackheath Sci. Soc. Mycenae House, 7.30pm

18th November, Mike Neil, on From Wasters to Wastrels. The Woolwich Kiln. 2.30 pm at Plumstead Library. Please ring 020 8855 3240.

18th November, Age Exchange Play, In Full Flow (see below for details)

18th November, Conference on Crossing the Thames, LAMAS, Museum of London - £4 c/o 36 Church Road, West Drayton, Middex

18th November, Conference on Evolution of Modern Traction. Newcomen Soc., Imperial College, Tel: 0191 515 3856 M.C.Duffy.

18th November, Greenwich and Millennium Connections. West Norwood Cemetery Tour by Bob Flanigan. 2.30pm Cemetery Gates.

22nd November, Book signing of Visions of Greenwich Reach &emdash; A Homage to the Working Thames by Terry Scales. Greenwich Tourist Information Centre, Pepys House, Cutty Sark Gardens, 2.00 - 5.00pm.

22nd November, Anna of Denmark, Rev. Cranfield, GHS, Music Centre, Blackheath High School, Vanbrugh Park Road, SE3

24rd November, Chuck Out Your Mouldies! (See below)

24th November, Terry Scales book signing &endash; as above.

24th November, Chuck Out Your Mouldies! (See below)

24th November, Does Lewisham have a Future? Bob Dunn, LLHS, 7.45pm, Methodist Church Hall, Albion Way, SE13

25th November, Age Exchange Play, In Full Flow (see below for details)

25th November, Chuck Out Your Mouldies! (See below)

28th November, Shoemaking in Shakespearean Southwark, Rosemary Weinstein, SLAS, 7.30pm, Hawkstone Hall, Kennington Road, SE1

29th November, Old Kent Road, Stephen Humphrey, RBLHS Time and Talents, St. Mary Church Street, Rotherhithe.

DECEMBER

2nd December, Age Exchange Play, In Full Flow (see below for details)

6th December, Christmas Quiz. DHG, Room C, Museum of London Educ. Dept., London Wall, EC2, 6.00 pm

13th December, Thames Frost Fairs, Jeremy Smith. LAMAS. Museum of London, London Wall, EC2 6.15pm

15th December, Conversazione Blackheath Scientific Society, Mycenae House, 7.30pm

2001

JANUARY

4 & 5th January, The Man Who Divided the World. Life and Times of George Biddell Airey. 10.30am - 4.15pm. National Maritime Museum. Information on 020 8312 6747.

16th January. Crossness Engines Visitor Day. Ring 020 8311 3711

19th January, Mathematics of Finance. Prof. Parrott. Blackheath Sci.Soc., Mycenae House, 7.30pm

26th January, The Sydenham Story, Steve Grindlay. LLHS, Methodist Church Hall, Albion Way, SE13

28th January, Crossness Engines Visitor Day. Ring 020 8311 3711

FEBRUARY

13th February, Crossness Engines Visitor Day. Ring 020 8311 3711

16th February, Optical Illusions. Mark Rossi. Blackheath Sci. Soc. Mycenae House, 7.30pm

24th February, Seapower Ashore. 10.30 am - 4.15 pm. National Maritime Museum.Info. 020 8312 6747

25th February, Crossness Engines Visitor Day. Ring 020 8311 3711

MARCH

13th March, Crossness Engines Visitor Day. Ring 020 8311 3711

16th March, British North Greenland Expedition. R. Brett-Knowles. Blackheath Sci. Soc. Mycenae House, 7.30pm

24th March, Finding Time. The role of Greenwich in the measurement of Time. 10.30 am - 4.15 pm. National Maritime Museum. Info: 020 8312 6747

25th March. Crossness Engines Visitor Day. Ring 020 8311 3711

27th March, The History of Croydon Airport, SLAS, 7.30 pm, Hawkstone Hall, Kennington Road, SE1

31st March, South East Region I.A. Conference, Christ's Hospital, Horsham

APRIL

10th April. Crossness Engines Visitor Day. Ring 020 8311 3711

20th April. Fibre Optical Systems for Long Distance Working. R. Buchanan, Blackheath Sci.Soc. Mycenae House, 7.30pm

22nd April. Crossness Engines Visitor Day. Ring 020 8311 3711

MAY

5th May, Thames People. 10.30 am - 4.15 pm. National Maritime Museum. Info: 020 8312 6747.

8th May, Crossness Engines Visitor Day. Ring 020 8311 3711

13th May, Woodlands Farm Summer Open Day.

20th May, New Croydon Tramways. Peter Trigg, Blackheath Sci. Soc. Mycenae House, 7.30pm

20th May, Crossness Engines Open Day. Ring 020 8311 3711

22nd May, Commercial Ice Wells and Ice Works. Malcolm Tucker. SLAS, 7.30 pm, Hawkstone Hall, Kennington Road, SE1

JUNE

1/3 June, Managing the Thames Estuary. 10.30am - 4.15pm. National Maritime Museum. Info: 020 8312 6747

5th June, Crossness Engines Visitor Day. Ring 020 8311 3711

17th June, Crossness Engines Visitor Day. Ring 020 8311 3711

JULY

3rd July, Crossness Engines Visitor Day. Ring 020 8311 3711

7th July, Crossness Engines Open Day. Ring 020 8311 3711

AUGUST

17- 24th August, Assoc. Industrial Archaeology Conference.
Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge. AIA Liaison Officer, Sch. Archeological Studies, Univ. Leicester, LE1 7RH.

SEPT/OCT

Assoc. Industrial Archaeology, Visit to Australia. Will include Conference of Inst. Engineers, Australia in Canberra.
Contact Paul Saulter, 62 Marley Road, Rye, Sussex. TN31 7BD


COURSES

Industrial History of Southwark - Tuesdays, 31st Oct - 28th Nov. 2.30pm - 4.30pm
John Harvard Library, 211 Borough High Street, SE1. Goldsmiths Course. 020 7919 7200

Royal Dockyards. Tues 10.30am - 12.30pm. From 30th Jan.
National Maritime Museum, Info. 020 8312 6747.

 


EXHIBITIONS

Display of Terry Scales Paintings.
20-26th November, Greenwich Tourist Information Centre, Pepys House, Cutty Sark Gardens, SE10.

 


PLAYS

Age Exchange Theatre - In Full Flow.
A play inspired by memories of River Workers. Old Bakehouse Theatre, Age Exchange Centre.
11th, 18th, 25th November, 2nd December. Box Office 020 8318 9105. £6/£3.

The Independent Photography Project - Chuck Out Your Mouldies!
The East Greenwich Play based on photos and memories of the Greenwich Peninsula.
Performances 15th, 16th, 23rd, 24th and 25th November. Ring 020 8858 2825 for details.

Greenwich and Lewisham Millennium Community Play. It'll All Come Out in the Wash.
Four centuries of Greenwich and Lewisham brought to life! Tickets from 020 8858 7755. 17-20th November.



GREENWICH INDUSTRIAL HISTORY SOCIETY

Officers and Committee are:

Chair - Jack Vaughan

Secretary - Mary Mills

Vice-Chair - Hugh Lyon

Treasurer - Steve Daly

Committee Member - Alan Parfrey

Auditor - Juliet Cairns

Subscription renewals fell due in October 2000.
Subscriptions are £10 and should be sent to:

Steve Daly, 5 Pankhurst House, Garrison Close, Shooters Hill, SE18 4JE

This newsletter was produced for Greenwich Industrial History Society
Views expressed in it are those of the authors and not of the Society.

Contributions (within reason) are always welcome, send to Mary Mills (address below).

ANY NEWSLETTER IS ONLY AS GOOD AS ITS CONTENTS MAKE IT.
IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO TO CONTRIBUTE - ARTICLES, REPORTS, LETTERS - ANYTHING:

MEETING PLACE

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. By the way - there is an urn and cups - have we a volunteer who could make tea/coffee for members?

.... OR PLEASE CONTACT MARY MILLS, 24 HUMBER ROAD, SE3 7LR. 020 8858 9482

And......  DON'T FORGET TO ASK US FOR A MEMBERSHIP FORM



The Web version has been created by;

.... David Riddle, Goldsmiths College

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