Genealogy Chat

My dad worked from the age of 14 at the Woolwich Arsenal, indead on my birth cert of 1937 hes listed as a Shell Turner. he retired in the 1960,s The local Heritage center at Woolwich is very good with queries. Woolwich Arsenal is no longer open. Info!! The Royal Arsenal Woolwich The Royal Arsenal West is not really derelict but I felt it important to document these disused old buildings as they undergo renovation and conversion to flats. Development of the present site of Royal Arsenal West, then known as Woolwich Warren, began in 1671 when the Crown purchased the old mansion known as Tower Place together with 31 acres of land, for use as an ordnance storage depot. The change from storage depot to munitions factory began in 1696 when the Royal Laboratory was constructed for the purpose of manufacturing ammunition, fuses and gun-powder.A new foundry, known as the Royal Brass Foundry, was designed by Sir John Vanbrugh and completed in 1717. Further expansion and the introduction of substantial improvements in weapon design and manufacturing techniques took place throughout the 19th and early 20th century culminating in a peak of activity during the First World War when over 72,000 persons were employed. During the 2nd World War, with the Royal Arsenal Woolwich working to the limit of its capacity there was little opportunity to undertake a careful and controlled expansion of facilities. When the war ended, demand for armaments dropped dramatically and in order to maintain employment, alternative work for the civilian market was sought. Over 11,000 railway trucks were produced in the Arsenal together with automatic and multiple head knitting frames for the silk industry. The rearmament policy of the early l950s gave a temporary boost to production at Woolwich but a report in 1952 concluded that the Arsenal in its existing form was uneconomic and that it should be reorganised and rationalised. Although some action to this end was taken, the Arsenal continued to decline until the Woolwich Review Committee finally recommended that only two small areas should be retained and the remainder released for redevelopment. There then followed a gradual decline in activity to the point when it was decided that the Royal Ordnance Factory should be officially closed on 1 April 1967 and most of the 1200 acres which the Arsenal by then embraced sold to Greater London Council for their Thamesmead housing and industrial project. Two small areas remained in MOD use though known as Royal Arsenal West and Royal Arsenal East up until their final closure in the early 1990s, the former including many of the more important historic buildings which are to be preserved for posterity.

Try a google search - there were quite a few - the biggest one was Woolwich I think - but if you google as per your title above and add London to it - you should find some info.

Any ideas how i would find lists etc of munition factory workers from 2nd world war. My auntie worked in one but don't know where or when, she lived in London. Thanks Lorna