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Woolwich




  Place Woolwich
  Borough Greenwich
  Traditional Kent
  Constituency Greenwich And Woolwich
  PostTown LONDON
  PostCode SE18
  DiallingCode 020
  GridReference TQ435795
  GLA Greenwich And Lewisham


Woolwich is a suburb in south-east London , England in the London Borough Of Greenwich , on the south side of the River Thames , though the tiny Exclave of North Woolwich (which is now part of the London Borough Of Newham ) is on the north side of the river. It was home to the United Kingdom 's first McDonald's , in 1974 .

It is notable as a river crossing point, having the Woolwich Ferry (and the lesser-known Woolwich Foot Tunnel ), and as the one-time home of the Woolwich Building Society (now relocated in Bexleyheath and owned by Barclays Bank). River boat services operate five days a week to central London (Savoy Pier) from a new pier erected next to the former Arsenal.

Its history is strongly associated with Britain's military past. It was home to the Woolwich Dockyard (founded in 1512), the Royal Arsenal (dating back to 1671), the Royal Military Academy (1741) and the Royal Horse Artillery (1793); it still retains an army base at the Royal Artillery Barracks , and the Royal Artillery Museum .

Football club Arsenal F.C. was founded in Woolwich in 1886 by workers at the Arsenal - the club was initially known as ''Dial Square'', then ''Royal Arsenal'' and then became ''Woolwich Arsenal'' in 1891 . It moved to Highbury in north London in 1913 , and dropped the Woolwich prefix the following year.

Woolwich Polytechnic , founded in 1892 , after merging with other colleges, became Thames Polytechnic in 1970 . In 1992 it was granted University Status as the University Of Greenwich . In 2000, the University began a relocation to the Old Royal Naval College , several miles to the west in Greenwich town centre, leaving only an administrative presence in Woolwich.


FAMOUS RESIDENTS



TRANSPORT

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The free Woolwich Ferry service operates across the River Thames to North Woolwich in the London Borough Of Newham carrying trucks, cars, cyclists and pedestrians during the hours of daylight. Woolwich Foot Tunnel is also available for use by pedestrians at any time. It is served by lifts during traditional shopping hours.
The Thames Flood Barrier is located a mile upstream from the tunnel and ferry.


SEE ALSO



EXTERNAL LINK

Hidden London page about Woolwich .