Woolwich Antiquarian Newsletter.
The current edition includes an article by Jim Marrett on
Woolwich potteries which features the story of the Woolwich stoneware kiln. He also mentions finds in the Rope Yard Rails area of red earthenware called 'London Ware'. The oldest of these kilns showed that
Woolwich had a 400 year old pottery industry
The Newsletter also summarises a number of sites in ‘A Further
Date with Building' by Jim Marratt.
Among other sites he mentions the LCC Shooters Hill Fire Station built
in 1927 and designed by J.B.Corslake.
Opposite the fire station is a wall in which bricks were made by 'Stephen'. He also mentions the Lakedale Road Fire Station
and the nearby horse tram depot - and
many RACS buildings in Woolwich as well as Beasley’s brewery in Plumstead.
The two new Woolwich ferry boats are mentioned which are
being built in Poland. These will have
small low emission engines which charge batteries at a constant rate.
The newsletter also gives the news that the Falconwood Model Railway has been told to leave its current site by National Grid. They are trying to identify a new sites - and would welcome information.
Fishing
We have been sent a copy of a book by Roger Williams called
“Whitebait and the Thames fisheries”. This
tells the story of how Whitebait became a popular dish and how it moved to
Greenwich rom Dagenham as a feature of pub menus. We have booked Roger to come and speak to us
about Greenwich fishing and Whitebait next summer. In the meantime the book is
£7.00 from Bristol Book Publishing.
We have also noted a talk by Roger given to the Docklands History
Group on fishing in the Thames. He
pointed out that Greenwich was the biggest supplier of fish to Billingsgate until
the 19th century. This ended when the Royal Hospital was extended and many of the buildings used by the
fishing industry were demolised. The industry began to move to the North Sea ports which they helped
to build as the railway provided access. Grimsby owes a lot to Greenwich
Rapid Wire Systems
GLIAS has noted the local existence of rapid wire systems in
shops. These systems was where the assistant put your money into a little metal
tray, pulled a lever, and it whizzed off and then came back with your
change. We understand the Age Exchange Centre in Blackheath has a system like this which came out of a shop in
Hackney. In Woolwich the Royal Arsenal
Co-operative Society had such a system which not only returned your change but also
your dividend.
Greenwich Visitor.
The July edition has an article on the gasholder and the presentation of
the GIHS petition. It also covers the subsequent resolution at a Council
meeting which was voted down. Thank you Visitor for featuring
this.
Also in this edition is a full
page feature and appreciation by Julian Watson of Greenwich historian and
writer Beryl Platts who died a few weeks ago.
Julian highlights her work in defeating the plans for the Ringway
motorways which were intended to run through central Greenwich and how she drew
attention to the historic fabric of our area.
Pat of that heritage is the Borough Hall, in Royal Hill, and on another page an article by Alan
Watkins talks about the Hall and its background as part of Greenwich’s
revolutionary 1939 town-hall and how it would make a wonderful museum for
Greenwich Town (as distinct from
Woolwich).
Westcombe News.
The July this also featured the story of the Borough hall with architectural details about its history. They also mention the new bridge which has 'healed
'the missing link of the Thames path.
Another Initiative highlighted by the News is the installation of seven storyboards
on the history and wildlife of Blackheath which had been put in place. In June the News carried the story of the gas
holder and the need to sign the petition.
853 blogger has also picked up the story of the gas-holder
in some detail.
Perhaps we should point out that none of these commentators
on the holder appear to understand that neither the council nor its officers have
given permission for demolition of the holder. They have only agreed to a management
process by which the holder can be demolished. The decision to demolish has been rendered
unnecessary by the government’s imposition of the immunity to listing order.
Elizabeth writes to us about a new book by Dr. Peter Hodgkinson.
this is about Major Conrad Hugh Dinwiddy who was a ‘civilian turned artillery
man’ and as such invented an aerial range finder, an aiming post scheme for
firing, schemes for firing artillery from river barges and the use of a
monorail for artillery supply. He was killed in battle in September 1917. He ad bene a pupil at the Roan School and had
been s surveyor at East Greenwich Gas Works.
Elizabeth says we must see the website www.peterhodgkinson.co.uk.
