Beresford Square, Woolwich, c. 1900

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In this view looking north east, a horse tram (detail below) advertising the New Cross Empire is passing the main gate (Beresford Gate) to the Royal Arsenal. The trams were electrified by London County Council in 1911.

Woolwich Market stalls are seen on the right hand side of the picture in an area which is still used today for this purpose.

Very few people are in evidence, so the huge labour force in the Arsenal must be at work. During World War I the Arsenal, the main armaments factory in the country, employed about 80,000 workers.

 

See historic maps of Woolwich