Royal Laboratory at Royal Arsenal
More information
Title
Royal Laboratory at Royal Arsenal
Royal Laboratory at Royal Arsenal
Reference
SC_PHL_01_558_78_4162 (Collage 168366)
Date
Collection
London Metropolitan Archives: LCC Photograph Library
Description
View from the west of the derelict east block, a part of the Royal Laboratory buildings at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich. An ammunition laboratory was set up in 1695, overseen by the Comptroller of Fireworks and in 1696 Laboratory Square was built to house its operations. This included manufacture of gunpowder, shell cases, fuses and paper gun cartridges. It consisted of a quadrangle with a gateway at the north end, buildings along either side and a clock tower at the south end, beyond which further buildings were ranged. The manufacturing process was conducted by hand, overseen by a Chief Firemaster; early paintings show artisans at work in the courtyards among pyramid stacks of shells. A pair of pavilions, which once faced each other across the centre of the courtyard, are now the oldest surviving buildings on the Arsenal site; they were restored in 2013 for residential use.
View from the west of the derelict east block, a part of the Royal Laboratory buildings at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich. An ammunition laboratory was set up in 1695, overseen by the Comptroller of Fireworks and in 1696 Laboratory Square was built to house its operations. This included manufacture of gunpowder, shell cases, fuses and paper gun cartridges. It consisted of a quadrangle with a gateway at the north end, buildings along either side and a clock tower at the south end, beyond which further buildings were ranged. The manufacturing process was conducted by hand, overseen by a Chief Firemaster; early paintings show artisans at work in the courtyards among pyramid stacks of shells. A pair of pavilions, which once faced each other across the centre of the courtyard, are now the oldest surviving buildings on the Arsenal site; they were restored in 2013 for residential use.
<a href="view-item?i=170583" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">View this item on the London Picture Archive for further options including print and digital sales.</a>
View this item on the London Picture Archive for further options including print and digital sales.
License
Copyright London Metropolitan Archives, all rights reserved. Provided for research purposes only. For commercial and other uses please contact us via
support@londonpicturearchive.org.uk
Attribution
London Metropolitan Archives. Please cite document title, reference and collection.