Woolwich Dockyard: The Octagonal Chimney To The Former Steam Factory

by Benson Agoha

The towering structure you see on your left if you are approaching Woolwich, along the A206 from Charlton, in the Woolwich Dockyard area, is the Chimney to the former steam factory used by the Navy to service and maintain naval ships.

Naval shipbuilding arrived in Woolwich around 1512 and by 1530s, it has settled on the western riverside where two docks were used for repairs and maintenance.

 

* Chimney as seen from inside the premises Old Commonwealth Buildings, Woolwich Dockyard.



 

Though now abandoned, wo water-filled docks remain evidence of what used to be at the spot and why it acquired the name Woolwich Dockyard.

 

The dockyard expanded gradually and went on to become one of Europe’s principal shipbuilding establishments, pushing back into a hillside and out onto reclaimed land.

The growing demand led to the constuction of the steam factory and the towering structure.

The Chimeny, English Heritage Building, has been a Grade II listed property since 1992, and according the British Listing Buildings data, money was voted for it in 1837 and it appears on the 1843 plan of the steam factory, adjoining the boiler shop which was demolished in 1982.

It is a 180 feet high octagonal structure, built of stock brick, with panelled base, with moulded stone cornice and has a network tof bracing straps that were added later.

 

The structure has underground tunnels that connect the chimney to River Thames.

 

When the steam factory's demand declined and the government no longer required the many facilities surrounding the Chimney, the buildings were put out for sale by the War Office.

 

According to records from the Greenwich Heritage Centre, the Royal Arsenal Co-operative Society bought 9 acres originally (later increasing their purchase to 15 acres), and had their acquisition renamed The Commonwealth Buildings in.

 

The RACS once held the largest national co-operative exhibition in the newly renovated Buildings between March and April 1927, but had to demolish much of it later.

 

The area closer to the river front has since be converted to residential neighbourhoods, but looking from right of the above photo, one can still see part of the walls of the remnants of the Commonwealth Buildings.

 

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