ROYAL BOROUGH OF GREENWICH THROUGH THE YEARS by SONNY JONES

**1012**

During the reign of Ethelred the Unready, the Danish Fleet anchored in the River Thames, off Greenwich for over three years.

**1082**

The Crown Seized the Manor of Greenwich from the Bishop of Bayeaux.

**1491**

Henry III, Son of Henry VII and Elizabeth Plantagenet born at Greenwich Palace on 28 June.

**1509**

Henry VIII Maries Katherine of Arogon in the private Chapel of Placentia at Greenwich.

**1510**

Greenwich Park Stocked with Deer by Henry VIII.

**1512**Royal Dockyards at Woolwich established by Henry VIII.

**1513**

Launch of Henry's Great Ship, the Harri Grace-a-Dieu at Woolwich.

**1515** Royal Armoury Founded by Henry VIII. Imagine that even the Guard Horse is protected.

**1533**

Henry's Second Daughter, Elizabeth born at Greenwich Palace.

**1607-1612** - Charlton House.

Charlton House was built for Sir Adam Newton, Tutor to the Princes Henry and Charles Stuart.

**1616-1635** - Queens House, Greenwich.

In 1616, Inigo Jones began work on the Queen's House in Greenwich Park. But the house was not finished until 1635. Also known as "the House of Delight".

**1671**The Royal Arsenal Gate House, Woolwich.

The War Arch in Tower Place was established as an Ordnance Storage Depot on a 31-Acre Site. This later became the Royal Arsenal.

**1676** Royal Observatory

Royal Observatory founded by Charles II. The observatory is now part of the National Maritime Museaum and is one of the most famous features of Maritime Greenwich - since 1997 a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Royal Observatory is also the soure of the Prime Meridiam of the world Longitude 0 0'0".

**1694** Greenwich Hospital.

The Greenwich Hospital was founded by William and Mary as a Charity for Royal Naval Pensioners. It was designed by Chrisitopher Wren.

**1700** Royal Charter

Charter to run two markets on Wednesdays and Saturdays assigned to Lord Romney to the Commissioners of Greenwich Hospital for 1000 years.

**1733** St. Mary Magdalene, Woolwich

The Parish Church of St. Mary Magdalene, Woolwich was rebuilt.

**1741** Royal Military Academy, Woolwich

The Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, was founded in the Royal Arsenal.

**1802** Royal Artillery Barracks, Woolwich.

The Royal Artillery Barracks was built in Woolwich Common.

The Royal Artillery Barracks in modern times.

**1805**The Warren, Woolwich.

George III change the name of The Warren to The Arsenal and from then on known as The Royal Arsenal. It is now a choice estate made of monumental stone properties. It is also the home estate of "The Warehouse", one of the properties in Woolwich Arsenal being promoted by this blog.

**1876**The Plumstead Common Riots.

Plumstead Common erupted into riots to preserve the common for the people and prevent development of the area. It is still a huge undeveloped perch today, starting from the portion now called "The Ship".

**1884**The Greenwich Meridian Line.

* Flattened Earth Map.

The Greenwich Meridian Line, the line thought to seperate the earth into two equal parts of Eastern and Western Hemispheres (like, if the world were cut and flattened out on a flat surface). The Line stems from the courtyard of the Royal Observatory in Greenwich. It is from the point that the Greenwich Meridian Time GMT, on which the world's time zones are based.

* The Greenwich Royal Observatory:

If your location is on the left side of the line, you fall into -1 and incremental equal numbers, and if you are on the right side of this line, you fall under +1 and incremental equal numbers. From there, you can calculate time differences with your friends in other parts of the world.

* Enjoy Both Hemispheres.

Tourists from all over the world visit the Greenwich Meridien Line, to have their photos taken standing astride of the line - their only chance of being in both hemispheres at the same time.

* Greenwich Meridien Laser Beam.

At night, the Greenwich Meridien Line is observable through a powerful Laser that beams out from the Courtyard of the Royal Oberservatory in Greenwich.

1886** Dial Square Formed.

Do you know that the idea that gave birth to our famous Arsenal FC started here in Woolwich?

Formed by workers at the Amoury, it was originally called the Dial Square, after the workers in the heart of the complex played their first game on 11 December.

It was renamed Royal Arsenal two weeks later and the Club entered the Professional Football League as `Woolwich Arsenal' in 1893. Today, it is known simply as Arsenal Football Club, having moved to North London in 1913.

**1889**

Woolwich Ferry Service official begins operating.

**1897** Blackwall Tunnel.

Blackwall Tunnel was built under River Thames. Designed by Sir Alexander Binnie and built by S. Pearson & Sons between 1892 - 1897, it was officially opened by the Prince of Wales on 22nd May 1897.

**1906** Woolwich Town Hall.

Will Crooks, MP opens Woolwich Town Hall.

* Source: Royal Greenwich Council