Woolwich Works

The famous fireworks and ammunition factories now restored.

Location: The Fireworks Factory, 11 No 1 St, Royal Arsenal, SE18 6HD

Description: Completed in September 2021 Woolwich Works is carved out of five historic military Grade II and II* listed buildings. After a multi-million-pound restoration project by the Royal Borough of Greenwich Woolwich Works is a new cultural destination based at the royal Arsenal.

The larger historic site here had its first recorded house from the 1540s and the Board of Ordnance purchased the site in 1671 to store materials close to the dockyards to help them greatly expand their operations.

From 1806, the area became a widespread factory complex supporting British military operations during the Crimean War.

Woolwich used to be the royally approved fireworks provider for all sorts of occasions - coronations, celebrations of peace treaties, and royal jubilees. One famous occasion was the first performance of Handel's Music for the Royal Fireworks, celebrating the end of the War of the Austrian Succession in 1749. It was held in Green Park with sets and fireworks devised by Italian designers - a hundred and one canons took part.

In 1886, factory workers here formed Dial Square FC which would go on to be successful and relocate and become the team we know today as Arsenal.

On the 7th January 1919, a rocket ignited and exploded here. Others fled, but Guyana-born hero Donald Adolphus Brown moved a heavy case of highly flammable rockets and flares to a place where the flames could be put out safely. With this brave act, he saved countless lives. In 1921, Donald Adolphus Brown was awarded the Edward Medal by King George V.

The Woolwich Arsenal is also remembered as the Secret City - employing 80,000 people in World War I, around half of whom were women.

The Ministry of Defence departed in 1994.