Former Smithery, Erecting Shop and Brass Foundry, Royal Dockyard
FORMER SMITHERY, ERECTING SHOP AND BRASS FOUNDRY, ROYAL DOCKYARD, WOOLWICH CHURCH STREET
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1288807
- Date first listed:
- 18-Nov-1992
- List Entry Name:
- Former Smithery, Erecting Shop and Brass Foundry, Royal Dockyard
- Statutory Address:
- FORMER SMITHERY, ERECTING SHOP AND BRASS FOUNDRY, ROYAL DOCKYARD, WOOLWICH CHURCH STREET
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2003-09-02
- Reference:
- IOE01/10174/14
- Rights:
- © Mr Richard M. Brown. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1288807
- Date first listed:
- 18-Nov-1992
- List Entry Name:
- Former Smithery, Erecting Shop and Brass Foundry, Royal Dockyard
- Statutory Address 1:
- FORMER SMITHERY, ERECTING SHOP AND BRASS FOUNDRY, ROYAL DOCKYARD, WOOLWICH CHURCH STREET
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- FORMER SMITHERY, ERECTING SHOP AND BRASS FOUNDRY, ROYAL DOCKYARD, WOOLWICH CHURCH STREET
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Greater London Authority
- District:
- Greenwich (London Borough)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- National Grid Reference:
- TQ 42280 79120
Details
TQ 4279 WOOLWICH CHURCH STREET
786-/7/10012 Former smithery, erecting shop and brass foundry, Royal Dockyard
II
Smithery, erecting shop and brass foundry. Erecting shop erected 1338-40 with Smithery and brass foundry added in 1846, connected to it by glazed roof. Designed by officers of the Royal Engineers working within the Board of Ordnance. This was the 1st naval establishment for the installation and repair of steanengines on steam boats (which needed regular overhauling and replacement of parts), Woolwich being chosen because it was nearer to London's established marine engineering industry. Erecting shop situated south of site. This was originally the boiler shop and was converted c1843. The erecting shop was situated near to the inner basin. Steam engines were assembled here and installed into the ships by means of large cranes. Built of stock brick, roofs concealed by cornices. 2 stone bands. South front has a series of round-headed windows and 2 larger openings with stone keystones and import blocks. End elevations have keystones and blocked lunettes. Interior has blank arcade of round -headed arches. Smithery, built for the manufacture of metal parts and brass foundry added to north in 1846. These are built of stock brick with stone dressings. Smithery to west has a series of 16 rounded-headed arches with stone keystones and impost blocks but pale yellow brick voussoirs with round-headed openings below, most now blocked. 2 round-headed entrances. Partially glazed roof, part now covered with asbestos sheeting. Pedimented glazed portion to left connecting with brass foundry. Interior has cast iron tapering columns and metal roof with king post truss. Brass foundry of 1846 built of stock brick with stone dressings and roof now covered with asbestos sheeting. West front has 7 bays including central 3 bays in projection under pediment with louvred oculus. Round-headed openings, mainly blocked or with C20 windows and doorcase. North and south elevations are of 5 bays with central full height round-headed arch with keystone and impost blocks (now blocked in) and 4 tall round-headed openings with C20 windows inserted.
[See the Gentleman's Magazine April 1&38 "A splendid building, called the 'Engine Factory' is nearly completed in the west dockyard, for the steam service of the Royal Navy ...."
Parliamentary Papers XIX (1845), 173 £33,000 voted in Navy estimates for enlargement of the steam factory. A drawing dated April 1846 for the Smithery is at the National Maritime Building, signed by Captain Beatson.
Listing NGR: TQ4228079120
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 398684
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
Parliamentary Papers in Parliamentary Papers, Vol. 14, (1845)
Gentlemans Magazine in April, (1828)
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 12-Jun-2026 at 17:00:24.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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