FIREPOWER
A REPORT BY JACK VAUGHAN
This expressive
title stands for the new Museum of the Royal Regiment of Artillery which opened
with a considerable bang on May 27th and 28th. It is located within the Royal Arsenal,
Woolwich.
It is
important to differentiate between the Museum and the Royal Arsenal site. The latter, until 1967, housed the Royal
Ordnance factories, namely the Royal Gun Factory, 1716, the Royal Laboratories,
1696, The Royal Carriage Department, 1805, The Royal Filling Factories and the
Mechanical Engineering Dept., responsible for all machinery on site. At its maximum the site extended from
Woolwich Town Centre eastward to the present site of the Crossness Sewage
Treatment works with a greatest width of a mile. The much emaciated remains are now open to
the public but are mainly enclosed in dreadful blue hoardings behind which a
leading property developer seems to be reducing most of the remaining buildings
to what seems to be rubble for what some would see as charmless
residences.
The Museum
will eventually occupy four or five listed buildings of which one is in full
occupation and open having in its past been a paper cartridge factory, a bomb
shop and a metallurgical laboratory.
The founding
of the Museum had its origins in 1985 when concern was expressed within the
Regiment, the first two companies of which were raised around 1716, about the
conditions of the guns, medals, books, archival records and artefacts, of which
deterioration was somewhat advanced.
A
study was organised; the outcome of which was the suggestion of a large new
Museum to cover the above items, these being then held at the Royal Military
Academy and the Rotunda Buildings at Woolwich Common. The suggested site was, near Stonehenge, at
the School of Artillery in Larkhill.
At that time
Greenwich Borough Council has published a Development Brief for the Royal
Arsenal site including seventeen listed buildings, plus others of some
interest. The potential cost of putting
a suitable building on a green field site ruled out Larkhill and the local
sentimental links with the Royal Regiment and the Royal Arsenal resulted in the
earmarking of certain listed building therein.
This seems to the writer to have been a logical outcome from the start.
Thus arrived
opening day. It was even to my jaundiced
eye a remarkable turnout. Just for the
two days the Museum was part open free and the site proper was open for
strolling, including the river path.
Fairground equipment, bouncy castle, coconut shies, beer tens etc etc
abounded. Military band marching was
superb as were the firing displays.
Re-enactment displays, pikemen, musketeers, etc. were exceptionally
interesting and appropriate, echoing the 17th century Civil War.
Inside the
Museum’s principal building we witnessed by eye and ear a quite incredible
display of Firepower. I shall not try to
describe it – members should try if for themselves. Four film screens showed 20 minutes of
artillery actions of various dates, and the accompanying explosive noises were
loud enough and smoked realistically. Nostalgic background music is used also
but I noted two ommissions on that front.
Dame Vera Lynn’s voice should be heard and the marching song of the
Afrika Corps. Adopted by the Eighth Army - need I say its name?
I hope this scant report will persuade you to visit. Further buildings will be opened in due course- and the Medal Collection is of course, a must.
Cheap it
isn’t. Adults £6.50, concessions £5.50,
Children £4.50 (I think)
This report appeared in the July 2001 GIHS Newsletter
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