River Thames - Woolwich

The River Thames
From Source to Sea

Woolwich

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The word Woolwich is derived from 'wool farm'. This is the place where wool was loaded onto ships.

Henry VIII established the Royal Dockyard at Woolwich in 1512-13. The site was chosen to build Henry's largest warship, the Henri Grâce à Dieu or the Great Harry. Much of the docks today is now a housing estate.

Woolwich was strategically placed on the Thames to be within easy reach of the Tower of London. The Tower was home to the Royal Armoury and Tudor warships sailed up the Thames for military supplies.

The Woolwich Ferry

The Woolwich ferry is a free service operating between Woolwich and North Woolwich, linking the north and south circular roads across the Thames.

A ferry service has operated across the river at Woolwich since at least the 14th century.

The ferries can carry lorries and other road traffic across the river, plus large numbers of foot passengers (licensed capacity: 500 passengers and 200 tonnes of vehicles). At peak periods, two ferries criss-cross the river at approximately 10 minute intervals.

	Firepower! Royal Artillery Museum This was the site of the manufacture and proofing of guns which started in the 1650s. During World War II the Arsenal employed 40,000 men and women making munitions.

Westminster Bridge		David Beckham
London Eye		Thames Barrier
Waterloo Bridge	X	Woolwich
Blackfriars Bridge		Darford Crossing
Southwark Bridge		Tilbury
London Bridge		Tilbury Fort
Tower Bridge		Gravesend
Towards Greenwich		Southend-on-Sea
Canary Wharf		Isle of Grain
Greenwich		Sheerness
Millennium Dome
		Summary - from source to sea

Start of Voyage down the Thames	Contents Page	Introduction
Facts about the Thames	Flooding	Thames Basin
Pollution	Erosion	Tributaries
Industries	Rivers Homework Help pages