Woolminstone
WOOLMINSTONE, a tything, in the union of
Chard, hundred of Crewkerne, Western division of
Somerset; containing 71 inhabitants.
Woolpit (St. Mary)
WOOLPIT (St. Mary), a parish, in the union of
Stow, hundred of Thedwastry, W. division of Suffolk, 6 miles (N. W. by W.) from Stow-Market; containing 942 inhabitants. This place is situated on the
road from Ipswich to Bury St. Edmund's, and was formerly a market-town. The parish comprises 1898a. 1r.
17p.; it is celebrated for a remarkably fine vein of
brick-earth, and the white bricks made here are in great
estimation. One of the largest horse-fairs in England
is held at Woolpit on September 16th, and a large fair
for bullocks on the 18th and 19th. The living is a rectory, valued in the king's books at £6. 18. 9., and in the
patronage of Mrs. L. Flood Page; net income, £350.
The church is partly in the decorated and partly in the
later English style, with a light and graceful spire, and
a very beautiful porch; the chancel window is embellished with stained glass, inserted by the late rector, the
Rev. Spencer Cobbold. There are places of worship for
Primitive Methodists and Plymouth Brethren. An image
of the Virgin Mary was much visited here before the
Reformation, and a well called Our Lady's Well is still
in repute for its medicinal properties.
Wools
WOOLS, a tything, in the parish of Romsey-Extra,
union of Romsey, hundred of King's-Sombourn, Romsey and S. divisions of the county of Southampton;
containing 155 inhabitants.
Woolscott
WOOLSCOTT, a hamlet, in the parish of Grandborough, union of Rugby, Southam division of the
hundred of Knightlow, S. division of the county of
Warwick; containing 171 inhabitants.
Woolsington
WOOLSINGTON, a township, in the parish of
Dinnington, union and W. division of Castle ward,
S. division of Northumberland, 5¼ miles (N. W. by
N.) from Newcastle; containing 74 inhabitants, and
comprising about 636 acres. The lands anciently belonged to Tynemouth priory, and in the reign of Elizabeth were possessed by the Jennison family. Woolsington Park is a handsome seat.
Woolstanwood
WOOLSTANWOOD, a township, in the parish,
union, and hundred of Nantwich, S. division of the
county of Chester, 3¼ miles (N. N. E.) from Nantwich;
containing 64 inhabitants. It comprises 568 acres, of
which the prevailing soil is clay. The impropriate tithes
have been commuted for £37.
Woolstaston
WOOLSTASTON, a parish, in the union of ChurchStretton, hundred of Condover, S. division of Salop,
3½ miles (N.) from Church-Stretton; containing 84 inhabitants. It comprises about 800 acres; the scenery
is generally wild, in some parts romantically picturesque.
The living is a rectory, in the gift of W. Whitmore, Esq.:
the tithes have been commuted for £143, and the glebe
comprises 7 acres. The church is a plain ancient structure. On an eminence called Castle Hill, are some remains of an intrenchment.
Woolsthorpe (St. James)
WOOLSTHORPE (St. James), a parish, in the union
of Grantham, wapentake of Loveden, parts of Kesteven, county of Lincoln, 6¼ miles (W. by S.) from
Grantham; containing 674 inhabitants. It comprises
by measurement 1920 acres, of which 845 are arable,
915 meadow and pasture, and 150 woodland; the soil
is generally clay, alternated with red loam. The small
river Devon, and the Nottingham and Grantham canal,
pass through the parish. The living is a rectory, valued
in the king's books at £12. 2. 8½.; net income, £191;
patron, the Duke of Rutland. A new parish church, in
the style of the 14th century, was consecrated in March
1847.
Woolsthorpe
WOOLSTHORPE, a hamlet, in the parish of Colsterworth, union of Grantham, wapentake of Winnibriggs and Threo, parts of Kesteven, county of
Lincoln, ½ a mile from the village of Colsterworth;
containing 266 inhabitants. This is an ancient hamlet,
consisting of a few farmhouses and thatched cottages,
with the old manor-house, in which the immortal Sir
Isaac Newton was born, on Christmas-day, 1642. His
father, John Newton, Esq., was lord of the manor.
Great care is taken for the preservation of the house;
and when it was repaired, in 1798, a tablet of white
marble, commemorating the philosopher's birth, was put
up in the chamber where the event took place.
Woolston
WOOLSTON, a hamlet, in the parish of North
Cadbury, union of Wincanton, hundred of Catsash,
E. division of the county of Somerset, 2¾ miles (S.)
from Castle-Cary; containing 110 inhabitants.
Woolstone (St. Martin)
WOOLSTONE (St. Martin), a parish, in the union
of Tewkesbury, Lower division of the hundred of
Deerhurst, E. division of the county of Gloucester,
5 miles (W. N. W.) from Winchcomb; containing 78
inhabitants. It comprises by measurement 787 acres,
and contains some quarries of stone fit for the roads:
the village is pleasantly situated on the acclivity of a
hill. The living is a rectory, valued in the king's books
at £13. 6. 0½., and in the gift of the Earl of Coventry:
the tithes have been commuted for £153, and the glebe
comprises 32½ acres. The church was rebuilt in 1499.
Woolstone
WOOLSTONE, with Martinscroft, a township, in
the parish and union of Warrington, hundred of West
Derby, S. division of Lancashire, 2½ miles (E. by N.)
from the town of Warrington; containing 548 inhabitants. In the 20th of Edward I., John Byrun claimed
free warren here in right of his wife Alesia, heiress of
Robert Banastre. This lady was afterwards married to
Sir John Langton, whose descendant, John Langton,
in the reign of Edward III. held Wolueston as baron of
Makerfield. How long the property continued in this
family does not appear, but it seems to have been alienated anterior to the reign of Philip and Mary, as in
1556 John Hawarden held the manor. Martinscroft,
anciently Mascrofte, was formerly a possession of the
Irelands, of Bewsey. The township lies on the bank of
the Mersey, on the road to Manchester; and comprises
1356 acres. Near Martinscroft-Green is a pleasant
heath skirted by cottages. The Hall is an ancient brick
building. There is a Roman Catholic chapel; also a
place of worship for Wesleyans.
Woolstone
WOOLSTONE, a tything, in the parish of St. Mary,
Southampton, union of South Stoneham, hundred
of Mainsbridge, Southampton and S. divisions of the
county of Southampton, 1½ mile (S. E. by E.) from
Southampton; containing 77 inhabitants.
Woolstone, Great (Holy Trinity)
WOOLSTONE, GREAT (Holy Trinity), a parish,
in the union of Newport-Pagnell, hundred of Newport, county of Buckingham, 3¼ miles (S.) from Newport-Pagnell; containing 94 inhabitants. It comprises
about 500 acres, and is bounded on the east by a branch
of the river Ouse: the village is pleasantly situated on
the river, and the Grand Junction canal passes through
the parish. Lace-making employs some of the inhabitants. The living is a discharged rectory, valued in the
king's books at £8. 16. 1.; net income, £157; patron,
J. C. Neild, Esq. The present church, a handsome edifice in the later English style, was built in 1832, at the
expense of T. S. I. Baily, Esq., of Shenley House, the
former structure having fallen into decay; it forms an
interesting feature in the landscape.
Woolstone, Little (Holy Trinity)
WOOLSTONE, LITTLE (Holy Trinity), a parish,
in the union of Newport-Pagnell, hundred of Newport, county of Buckingham, 3 miles (S.) from Newport-Pagnell; containing 115 inhabitants. This parish,
which is bounded on the east by a branch of the river
Ouse, and intersected by the Grand Junction canal,
comprises about 600 acres. The inhabitants are partly
employed in making lace. The living is a discharged
rectory, valued in the king's books at £8. 6. 1., and in
the patronage of the Crown, with a net income of £102:
the glebe comprises 14 acres, with a house. The church,
having become dilapidated, was lately thoroughly repaired. There is a small portion of land, bequeathed
by a former rector, the rent of which is applied in apprenticing a boy yearly.
Woolstrop
WOOLSTROP, a hamlet, in the parish of Quedgley, Middle division of the hundred of Dudstone and
King's-Barton, union, and E. division of the county,
of Gloucester, 5 miles (S. W. by W.) from Gloucester;
containing 46 inhabitants.
Woolton, Little
WOOLTON, LITTLE, a township, in the parish of
Childwall, partly in the union of West Derby, but
chiefly in that of Prescot, hundred of West Derby,
S. division of Lancashire, 6 miles (E. by S.) from
Liverpool; containing 1018 inhabitants. Little Woolton
was early held of the barony of Widnes, in alms, by the
hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem in England, without any service. In the reign of Edward I., the prior of
this wealthy order claimed extensive feudal jurisdictions
in Wolveton, as in other places in the county. The
township includes the detached hamlet of Thingwall,
and comprises altogether 1320 acres of land, chiefly rich
pasture, lying in a level vale. There is a good redsandstone quarry. Lee Hall is a large old edifice in the
township. A copyhold court is held here.
Woolton, Much
WOOLTON, MUCH, a chapelry, in the parish of
Childwall, unionof Prescot, hundred of West Derby,
S. division of Lancashire, 6 miles (E. S. E.) from Liverpool; containing 2216 inhabitants. The ancient name
Wolveton points to a Saxon proprietor, Wolf; of whom,
however, there is no record. The Irelands, of Hutt, the
Lathoms, of Parbold, the Norreses, and the Bretarghs,
the last of whom held the Hall, were early proprietors;
and the Knights of St. John had a house here, their
lands lying in Little Woolton. The property is now
held of the crown by the Marquess of Salisbury, lord of
Childwall. The chapelry comprises 930 acres, and is
beautifully situated amidst hill and dale; the air is salubrious, and mansions of the wealthy abound. Among
the seats are, Woolton Wood, that of Henry Ashton,
Esq.; Beaconsfield House, of Ambrose Lace, Esq.; and
the seats of John Crosthwaite, Esq., and Mrs. Thomas
Foster, on Woolton Hill. The views are extensive from
the higher grounds, including the course of the Mersey,
the Cheshire hills, and the mountains of Wales. A
large stone-quarry is wrought.
The chapel, dedicated to St. Peter, is a handsome
structure of stone, with a tower and small dome; it was
erected in 1826, and enlarged in 1840. The living is a
perpetual curacy, in the patronage of the Vicar of Childwall; net income, £170, with a house. The tithes of
Much Woolton and Thingwall have been commuted for
£145 payable to the lessee of the Bishop of Chester, and
£35. 5. to the vicar. Woolton Priory, in a luxuriant
vale below the village, consists of a Roman Catholic
chapel, built more than a century ago; a house for the
priest, the Rev. Samuel Phillips, who has been 22 years
resident; two schools, and five acres of land. In the
chapel is an altar-piece, the Enthronement of the Virgin,
by Perugino; also the Taking down from the Cross, by
Quintin Matsys; the Entombment of Christ, after Vandyke; an Ecce Homo, and other paintings. The Wesleyans have a place of worship; and there are excellent
schools connected with the Established Church. Some
springs on the hill are strongly impregnated with iron.
Woolvercott (St. Peter)
WOOLVERCOTT (St. Peter), a parish, in the union
of Woodstock, hundred of Wootton, county of Oxford, 2¾ miles (N. N. W.) from Oxford; containing
470 inhabitants. The living is a perpetual curacy; net
income, £80; patrons and impropriators, the Warden
and Fellows of Merton College, Oxford. The church,
situated on the bank of the Isis, has a sepulchral
chapel on the north side, containing a stately monument
to the family of Walter, of whom David Walter was
high sheriff of the county, and commanded a regiment
of horse under Charles I. in the parliamentary war. In
the hamlet of Godstow was a Benedictine abbey.—See
Oxford.
Woolverstone (St. Michael)
WOOLVERSTONE (St. Michael), a parish, in the
union and hundred of Samford, E. division of Suffolk, 4½ miles (S. by E.) from Ipswich; containing 246
inhabitants. The parish is bounded on the east by the
river Orwell, and comprises 951a. 2r. 30p. The Hall is
an elegant mansion, delightfully situated in an ample
park, on the bank of the river. The living is a discharged rectory, consolidated with the rectory of Erwarton, and valued in the king's books at £5. 8. 9.:
the tithes have been commuted for £230, and the glebe
consists of 30 acres. The church, which is in the park,
has been restored and beautified.
Woolverton (St. Lawrence)
WOOLVERTON (St. Lawrence), a parish, in the
union and hundred of Frome, E. division of Somerset,
4½ miles (N. by E.) from Frome; containing 158 inhabitants. This parish, which is situated on the river
Frome, comprises about 700 acres. The soil is generally
thin and light, but in the meadows on the banks of the
river of richer quality 3 the surface has a gentle ascent
from the stream towards the west, and the higher
grounds command some pleasing views. The living is
a discharged rectory, consolidated with that of Road, and
valued in the king's books at £7. 1. 3.
Woolwich (St. Mary Magdalene)
WOOLWICH (St. Mary Magdalene), a markettown and parish, in the union of Greenwich, hundred
of Blackheath, lathe of Sutton-at-Hone, W. division of Kent, 8 miles (E. by S.) from London; containing 25,875 inhabitants. This place, originally a small
fishing-town, unnoticed by any of the earlier Kentish
historians, owes its present importance, among other
causes, to its situation on the river Thames, which is
here nearly three-quarters of a mile broad, and of sufficient depth, at the lowest state of the tide, for ships of
the largest burthen. In the reign of Henry VII., a shipof-war of 1000 tons was built at Woolwich, which that
monarch named the "Harry Grace de Dieu;" but it
does not appear that any regular establishment for shipbuilding was formed previously to the time of Henry
VIII., who constructed a royal dockyard here, which
was enlarged by Queen Elizabeth, and has continued
progressively to increase in every succeeding reign. The
"Sovereign of the Seas," the largest ship that had ever
been built in England, was launched from the dockyard in the reign of Charles I. This ship, of 1637 tons'
burthen, carried 176 guns, and was richly ornamented
with carving and gilding; from which circumstance,
combined with the destructive efficacy of its heavy ordnance in the war with the Dutch, it obtained from that
people the appellation of the "Golden Devil."
In the reign of George I., the cannon for the board
of ordnance was cast in a foundry situated in Moorfields,
which having been destroyed by an explosion, occasioned
by dampness in the moulds at the time of pouring in
the liquid metal, the establishment was removed to
Woolwich, and placed under the superintendence of Mr.
Andrew Schalch, a native of Schaffhausen, in Switzerland. This person, travelling for improvement, had
visited the foundry in Moorfields at the time when preparations were in progress for casting several pieces of
ordnance, in the presence of many of the nobility, general officers, and a large concourse of people. Mr.
Schalch, having obtained permission to inspect the process, minutely examined the preparations, and perceiving
the improper state of the moulds, warned the surveyorgeneral of the ordnance, and the superintendent of the
foundries, of the lurking danger; and they, sensible of
the justness and importance of his apprehensions, retired
with their friends and all whom they could persuade to
accompany them, in time to escape the effect of the explosion, by which several lives were lost, and many of
the workmen dreadfully burnt and mangled. The board
of ordnance, subsequently finding this gentleman duly
qualified, authorised him to choose a commodious situation within twelve miles of the metropolis, for the erection of a new foundry; and after visiting several places
he selected the Warren at Woolwich for that purpose.
The first specimens of ordnance cast under his superintendence being highly approved of, he was appointed
master-founder, which office he held for nearly sixty
years, with so much skill and attention that, during this
long period, not a single accident occurred. Thus arose
the present arsenal, the establishment of which, with the
augmentation of the artillery, whose head-quarters were
fixed here, the institution of the Royal Military Academy, and various other foundations, has raised the
town to a degree of importance, as a grand naval and
military depôt, without a parallel in any empire of the
world.
The town is situated on elevated ground rising gradually from the south bank of the Thames, on the opposite side of which, in the county of Essex, is a detached
part of the parish. It comprises one main street, extending nearly a mile parallel with the river, from which
numerous other streets branch off in various directions;
and is partly included in the parish of Plumstead. The
houses in that part which may be considered the principal thoroughfare are of ancient appearance, occasionally
interspersed with substantial and well-built dwellings;
the other streets consist of modern houses, principally
erected for the accommodation of the artificers and
labourers employed in the dockyard, arsenal, and other
public works. The upper part of the town, towards the
common and the Charlton road, is elevated and pleasant,
and contains several ranges of handsome houses. The
environs abound with rich woodland scenery, agreeably
diversified with the windings of the Thames, sometimes
seen in pleasing combination, and at others in striking
contrast. The town is partially paved, under the superintendence of commissioners annually chosen under the
provisions of an act of parliament passed in the 47th of
George III.; it is lighted with gas by a company established also by act of parliament, and is supplied with
water from the works of the Kent Water Company.
The public buildings are on a scale of vast extent,
and most of them in a style of magnificence corresponding with the importance of the purposes to which they
are applied. The Dockyard commences near the village of New Charlton on the west, and stretches nearly
a mile along the bank of the river to the east; the
breadth varies from one to two furlongs. The principal
entrance is through a stone portal, of which the piers
are ornamented with anchors sculptured in stone. On
the left hand, within the walls, is a house for a commissioner, and on the right are the houses belonging to the
principal officers of the yard. Beyond these is the
Smithery, a spacious and lofty building, in which are, a
steam-engine of 20-horse power, which works two large
lift-hammers weighing nearly four tons each; and a
steam-engine of 14-horse power, working three tilthammers, of less weight. Another steam-engine, of 14horse power, is employed in blowing the fires throughout
the smithery; there are several blast-furnaces for converting scrap iron into pigs, and a machine for rolling
iron Knees, keelsons, breast-pieces, and all other iron
work connected with ship-building, are manufactured
here, and also anchors of the largest size, great numbers
of which are kept in readiness for supplying the royal
navy. There are two Dry-docks, one of which is double,
for repairing vessels; also several slips, in which shipsof-war of the largest dimensions are built, under lofty
sheds lighted from the roof. An extensive building is
appropriated as an Engineering-foundry, and for the
manufacture of steam-engine boilers, and the requisite
machinery for the steam-vessels now built here, some of
which are of very great tonnage.
Some years since, a capacious Basin, 400 feet long
and 290 feet in mean breadth, was excavated; it is
capable of receiving ships of the first class, and is
entered from the river by a caisson of large dimensions. The embankment is secured by strong sloping
walls of brick, coped with massive blocks of stone. A
new Graving-dock was opened on July 17th, 1843. The
basin is of solid granite, 300 feet in length at the top of
the water, 245 at the bottom, and 80 feet wide above,
the width gradually diminishing, like the length, as the
basin deepens; it is filled by the river tide, or by a
steam-engine situated a few hundred yards from the
basin. Many difficulties were encountered during the
progress of the work, which occupied more than seven
years, and cost £80,000, exclusively of the steam-engine
and other expenses defrayed subsequently to the opening. The undertaking is one which reflects great credit
on the engineer, Mr. Walker, and will prove eminently
beneficial to the public service. The line of wharfage
for the dockyard is very extensive, and of proportionate
breadth. There are a mast-pond, a boat-pond, and several mast and boat houses; also ranges of timber-sheds,
storehouses of every kind upon the largest scale, a
mould-loft, and every requisite arrangement for the purposes of the establishment. In the eastern part of the
town was the rope-yard, a range of building three stories
high, and about 1080 feet in length, in which ropes of
various sizes, cordage for rigging the ships, and cables,
were made; this department has been removed from
Woolwich, and the site is now covered with houses
forming Beresford-street.
To the east of Beresford-street is the Royal Arsenal,
under the control of the master-general and the honourable board of ordnance. This magnificent establishment comprises within the boundary walls more than
100 acres, and, including the canal, 142 acres, the
greater part of which is in the adjoining parish of Plumstead. The principal entrance is through a spacious
central gateway for carriages, with smaller entrances on
each side; the inner piers are ornamented with small
piles of shot, and the outer piers, which are loftier, are
surmounted by mortars and piles of shells. Nearly
opposite the entrance is a range of handsome houses,
appropriated to the commandant of the garrison, the
field-officers of the royal artillery, and the principal
officers attached to some of the departments; the chief
of which are, the inspector of artillery's department, the
carriage department, the engineers' department, the
storekeeper's department, and the laboratory. In addition to these are immense store-houses, forming a grand
national depôt of warlike stores, of every description,
for the naval and military departments of the service.
On the right of the entrance is a range of buildings
formerly used as an academy for part of the gentlemencadet company, in connexion with the Royal Military
Academy, but now occupied partly as store-rooms and
partly as dwelling-houses. On the left is a handsome
guard-house, with a portico of four columns of Portland
stone. Beyond this is the Brass-foundry, erected by
Vanbrugh, a lofty building of red brick, ornamented with
stone, and roofed with slate, which is perforated for ventilation: over the entrance are the royal arms, carved in
stone, above which is a neat cupola. It contains three
large furnaces for casting brass ordnance only, the largest
of which will melt eighteen tons of metal at one time:
to avoid all danger of explosion, the moulds are heated
to a considerable degree before the metal is allowed to
run into them. On the east of the foundry are appropriate workshops for boring and engraving the cannon.
East of these are the workshops of the Carriage department, for the construction and manufacture of gun-carriages for naval and land service, and of carts, ammunition-wagons, and other carriages used in the ordnance
department; in these shops are steam-engines applied
to the working of circular and other saws for converting
timber, and machinery of ingenious construction for
planing wood, and for turning wood and metal. In a
line with this range is the Engineers' department, under
the direction of which are the erection and repair of all
buildings belonging to the board of ordnance within a
limited distance of Woolwich. To the north-west of the
foundry is the Laboratory, in which are made up blank
and ball cartridges for small arms, cartridges for cannon of all descriptions, grape and case shot, and all
combustible articles; a variety of other important duties
relating to the naval and military service are performed,
and a powerful hydraulic press has been introduced for
making leaden bullets by pressure, instead of casting
them as formerly.
Upon the bank of the Thames, is the magnificent
range of store-houses, occupying three sides of a
quadrangle, the area of which is filled with vast quantities of shot and shell of every size, in quadrangular and
pyramidal piles, and duly numbered. The buildings
are of light brick, with quoins, cornices, pilasters, and
pediments of stone, and with appropriate ornaments.
The central range, comprising three stories, is connected
with the wings, which are two stories high, by arched
portals of stone forming the entrances into the quadrangle, and surmounted with balustraded corridors,
communicating with the principal stories of each
range. In the basement story of the main range are
deposited general stores for the naval service: in the
second story are the harness and other equipments
for the royal horse-artillery; and in the upper,
stores of different descriptions. The east wing is appropriated to the reception of stores for garrison
and field services, with a large assortment of nails
and other necessaries. The west wing contains the
stores and various implements used by the sappers and
miners, and those for making intrenchments and constructing fortifications, among which are sandbags, axes,
shovels, spades, barrows, grates for heating shot, and
numerous other articles; also an extensive collection of
samples of materials, and patterns of implements, with
which the several articles furnished to the board of
ordnance are compared, before they are received into
the depôt. On the ground-floors of these store-rooms
are iron tramroads, upon which carriages constructed for
the purpose, when once put in motion, will run from one
extremity to the other, for the conveyance of stores to
the wharf. On the east and west of the principal buildings are smaller quadrangular ranges of store-houses,
one and two stories in height. In both these, the
ranges parallel with the river are of one story, and are
appropriated as repositories for carriages. The lower
story of the eastern range contains stores of oil and
cement, and the upper, a general repository of stores of
various kinds; the lower story of the western range is
for the reception of carriages, and the upper is the depôt
of clothing, for the royal artillery and for the sappers
and miners. In the centre of each of these smaller
quadrangles are painters' shops. There are also warehouses in different parts of the inclosure. To the south
of the principal quadrangle are immense quantities of
iron ordnance of various calibre, placed on iron skidding,
and ranged in double files, extending many hundred
yards in length, and, with small intervals between the
rows, spreading over several acres of ground: large
quantities of iron carriages for guns, and beds for mortars, are placed at the extremity and around the space
occupied by the ordnance, and numerous mortars of
the largest calibre are disposed in various parts of the
ground.
The arsenal is bounded on the south-east by a canal,
35 feet broad, on the banks of which are wooden buildings for the manufacture of Congreve rockets, under the
superintendence of the officers of the royal laboratory:
and towards the south-eastern extremity of the boundary
wall, on the road to Plumstead, is the house appropriated to the residence of the storekeeper and paymaster.
A little to the west is a saw-mill, worked by a steamengine of 20-horse power, for sawing trees and rough
timber into planks of any required thickness, to which
the saws, fixed in frames and worked perpendicularly,
can be adjusted at pleasure; there are also circular and
other saws, with machinery of a very ingenious description, for turning and other purposes, all under the direction of the officers belonging to the carriage department. At a short distance from the arsenal, on the road
to Woolwich common, are the Barracks for the Sappers
and Miners, a substantial and commodious range, capable
of receiving from 250 to 270 men. Adjoining these is
the grand Depôt of Field-train artillery, consisting of a
central building appropriated as offices for the directorgeneral of the field train, and other officers of the department, and five spacious sheds, averaging each 300
feet in length. In these sheds are deposited, in double
files, an immense number of guns, mounted on field
carriages, and supplied with a due proportion of stores
and ammunition, in readiness at a minute's notice for
immediate service. To the south of the depôt is the
Ordnance Hospital, containing apartments for a resident
surgeon and apothecary, and other officers, and for the
servants of the establishment, with wards for the reception of 700 patients, a medical library, and other requisite offices. It is under the superintendence of the
director-general and medical staff of the garrison, from
which all the ordnance medical establishments abroad
are supplied.
The barracks for the royal foot and horse artillery form a splendid pile of building, of which the chief
front, facing the common, is 340 yards in length. The
main entrance is through a central portal of three
arches, divided by lofty columns of the Doric order,
supporting pedestals surmounted with military trophies;
above the central arch are the royal arms, finely sculptured. The building is of light brick, ornamented with
Portland stone, and consists of six principal ranges,
connected by four lower buildings, in front of which are
colonnades of the Doric order, surmounted by balustrades: on the second range, east of the entrance, is a
handsome cupola, in which is a clock; and on the corresponding building on the west side, is a similar cupola,
with a wind-dial. The chapel, which is neatly fitted
up, contains 1000 sittings, and is regularly opened for
divine service; the library and reading-room are well
supplied with works of general literature and periodical
publications. The mess-room is a splendid apartment,
60 feet in length, 50 feet wide, and of proportionate
height, having at one end a circular recess, in which is
a music gallery, and at the other a handsome range of
windows looking upon the common. From the ceiling,
which is ornamented with groining above the cornice,
three cut-glass chandeliers are suspended; and the
whole arrangement is in the style of an elegant assemblyroom. Attached are other apartments, comprising a
drawing-room of appropriate character, with retiring and
ante rooms. In this suite of rooms the officers of the
garrison give frequent balls to the gentry of the vicinity;
in 1830, they had the honour of entertaining William
IV. and Queen Adelaide, on the king's visit to review
the artillery. At the extremity of the east quadrangle is
a riding-school of elegant design, near which is a large
brick building used as a racket-court by the officers.
The whole establishment is arranged for the accommodation of from 3000 to 4000 men.
The Parade, in front of the barracks, is about 60
yards in breadth, adjoining the common, which, in this
part, is a fine level lawn, appropriated for the exercise
of the foot-artillery. In the centre of the parade are
ranged several beautiful pieces of artillery, mounted on
carriages of bronze, richly chased and ornamented.
Among these is a very large piece of ordnance taken at
the siege of Bhurtpoor, in the East Indies, and presented by the captors to the King of England; it is
mounted on a splendid bronze carriage. The breech,
which is of unusually large proportions, rests upon the
shoulders of a lion couchant, beautifully executed. One
side of the carriage is ornamented with a view of the
citadel of Bhurtpoor in a medallion, and the other bears
an inscription commemorative of its capture; the wheels
are solid, with a face of Apollo, or the sun, forming the
nave, and the beams of the sun the radii. The more
remote part of the common is appropriated to the exercise of the horse-artillery.
Adjoining the field west of the barracks is the repository, for the exercise and general instruction of all
persons belonging to the artillery, occupying an extensive
piece of ground. Nearly opposite the entrance are the
modelling-rooms for the use of the officers and men, in
which are models, and drawings of projected improvements in the construction of gun-carriages and implements of war, and in which various mechanical experiments are performed. In a shed adjoining them are
preserved the funeral car of Napoleon, brought from St.
Helena; a travelling oven used by the French army in
their campaigns under Buonaparte; and some other
curiosities. In various parts of the ground are pieces
of brass ordnance, of different kinds, taken from the
enemy among which are two captured at the battle of
Malplaquet, with three barrels each; and several others
of very singular construction. The ground is in many
places unequal and precipitous, rising abruptly from
some pieces of water by which it is intersected. It is
made available for practice in the construction of pontoons, for transporting artillery across rivers; in the
managing of gun-boats; and in the more difficult and
arduous exercises of war. Heavy pieces of artillery
are manæuvred under every possible disadvantage of
situation, lowered down deep declivities, and raised up
precipitous heights, by a variety of contrivances; and in
some parts of the ground are intrenchments of earth
and batteries of turf, which are thrown up by the students for their improvement in the art of fortification.
On the north of the entrance is the Rotunda, or modelroom, a spacious circular apartment, 115 feet in diameter,
originally erected in the gardens of Carlton Palace by
George IV., when Prince Regent, for the entertainment
of the allied sovereigns, on their visit to this country
after the peace of 1814, and presented by that monarch
to the garrison. It contains a variety of ancient armour
and military trophies, a vast number of beautiful and
well-finished models of machinery, with apparatus for
military and naval warfare, a most interesting collection
of models of all the royal dockyards, the fortifications
of Portsmouth, the breakwater at Plymouth, &c.
On the south-west part of the common is the Veterinary
Hospital for the horse-artillery, under the control of the
commandant, and the immediate superintendence of a
veterinary surgeon and assistants. This building, which
is well adapted to its use, is situated in the parish of
Charlton; and between it and the repository are 50 cottages, neatly built of brick, containing two apartments
each, for the accommodation of 100 married soldiers.
The new Royal-Marine Barracks, erected on the site of
the former barracks, present an extensive range of substantial buildings, completed towards the close of 1846.
They form three sides of a square; are of brick, with
stone dressings; and iron girders and brick arches separate each story: the floorings are of asphalte; the
whole is fire-proof, and ventilation is effected by a revolving fan worked by weights. In front of the main
building, is an arcade two stories in height, formed by
brick piers and arches, affording spacious covered walking-places with room for six abreast. These barracks
are built to accommodate 1000 men. At the southeastern extremity of the common, opposite to the artillery
barracks, is the Royal Military Academy, established in
1741, originally for the instruction of officers and men
belonging to the military department of the ordnance,
but now appropriated exclusively to gentlemen cadets,
the number of whom varies from 100 to 140. The buildings form a spacious pile, partly in the early English,
and partly in the Elizabethan style. The central range,
which has angular octagonal towers crowned with domes,
contains on the basement story the entrance-hall and
schoolrooms, and, in a central situation between them,
an apartment originally intended for the inspector, but
used only as a receptacle for stores, and as a place from
which hot air is distributed for warming the building.
Above these is the grand hall, in which the public examinations are held. The centre is connected, by corridors, with wings in the Elizabethan style, having turrets
at the angles, and containing apartments for the cadets.
Behind the central range is the refectory, a spacious hall
with a lofty timber-framed roof, lighted by windows of
appropriate character; adjoining which are the kitchen
and domestic offices. On the east side of the common
are the professors' houses, and some handsome ranges of
building, including the quarters of the field-officers of
the garrison, and several private residences.
There is no trade except what is requisite for the
supply of the inhabitants, nor is any particular branch
of manufacture carried on. The intercourse with the
metropolis is great, being facilitated by steam-boats on
the river, by carriages direct, and by vans which run to
Greenwich, whence the distance is traversed in about
ten minutes by the railway. Hulks are moored off
Woolwich, for convicts whose sentence of transportation
is commuted for hard labour at home, and who are employed in the dockyard, arsenal, and public works. The
market is on Friday; and under the provisions of the
local act before mentioned, markets are also held on
Wednesday and Saturday. By the act 2nd of William
IV., cap. 45, Woolwich was incorporated within the
limits of the borough of Greenwich. The town is under
the jurisdiction of the county magistrates, who hold
their sittings every Monday and Friday at the King's
Arms hotel; and a petty-session for the division takes
place at the Green Man, at Blackheath, on the first
Thursday in every month.
The living is a rectory, valued in the king's books
at £7. 12. 6.; net income, £740; patron, the Bishop of
Rochester. The church was rebuilt by act of parliament
passed in the 5th of George II., at an expense of £6500,
towards defraying which £3000 were appropriated from
the grant of Queen Anne for building fifty new churches,
the remainder being raised by contributions of the inhabitants. It is situated on an eminence overlooking
the dockyard and the river, and is a neat building of
brick with a square tower, ornamented with copings and
cornices of stone. The interior, in which several standards taken from the enemy are deposited, is lofty and
well arranged; the galleries are supported on Ionic
columns of good proportions. In the churchyard are
numerous monuments to officers of the royal artillery,
among which is one to the memory of Lieutenant-General
Williamson, whose wife was lineally descended from
Robert II., King of Scotland. The Ordnance chapel, on
the road to Plumstead, a plain commodious building,
and the chapel in the artillery barracks, are additional
episcopal edifices, to which chaplains are appointed by
the board of ordnance. A chapel of ease has been
erected on the site of the late rope-yard; and near the
entrance of the arsenal is a proprietary chapel, erected
by subscription in 1838, in the Grecian style, with a
handsome Ionic portico of six columns supporting a
pediment. In May 1845, portions of the parishes of
Woolwich and Charlton, comprising about a square mile
in extent, were constituted an ecclesiastical parish or
district, named St. Thomas's, under the act 6th and 7th
Victoria, cap. 37; and the erection of a church, a Byzantine structure with a campanile turret, was commenced in 1847: the cost is estimated at between £5000
and £6000. The living is a perpetual curacy, in the gift
of the Crown and the Bishop of London, alternately;
income, £150. Another church, dedicated to St. John
the Evangelist, was consecrated in March, 1847: the
living is in the Rector's patronage. There are places of
worship for Baptists, Independents, Wesleyans, Welsh
Methodists, and Arminian Bible Christians; also a Scottish church, and a Roman Catholic chapel.
Mrs. Mary Wiseman, in 1758, bequeathed £1000
South Sea annuities, for educating and clothing orphan
sons of shipwrights of the dockyard, and for apprenticing them to the same business: the property, by accumulated savings, now produces £86 per annum. Mrs.
Withers, in 1750, bequeathed £600 Old South Sea
annuities, of which £100 were to be laid out in building
a schoolroom, with an apartment for a mistress, who
was to receive the dividends on the remainder, for instructing 30 girls maintained in the workhouse; and
she gave the further sum of £600, in the same funds,
to augment the salary of the mistress, on condition of
her teaching as many children, nominated by the rector,
as would make up the number to 30, when so many
might not be at any time in the workhouse. An almshouse for five aged widows was founded about the year
1560, by Sir Martin Bowes, who endowed it with a
portion of the produce of lands and tenements vested
for charitable uses in the Goldsmiths' Company, London,
by whom the almshouses were rebuilt in 1771. There
are several other bequests for charitable purposes.
Wooperton
WOOPERTON, a township, in the parish of Eglingham, union of Glendale, N. division of Coquetdale ward and of Northumberland, 6¼ miles (S. E.
by S.) from Wooler; containing 77 inhabitants. It is
situated a little west of the road between Wooler and
Morpeth, and is a small village for labourers. Some
years since, the old thatched cottages were replaced by
neater buildings, covered with blue slate. The township
comprises about 925 acres, of which 50 are pasture, 20
woodland, and the remainder arable, mostly turnip soil,
the whole the property of W. Burdon, Esq., of Hartford. The impropriate tithes have been commuted for
£109. 11., and the vicarial for £57. 9.
Woore
WOORE, a township, in the parish of Muckleston,
union of Drayton, Drayton division of the hundred of
North Bradford, N. division of Salop, 7 miles (N.
N. E.) from Drayton; containing 372 inhabitants. The
village is built on elevated ground, on the road from
Drayton to Nantwich in Cheshire; the houses are of
remarkably neat appearance, and the air is healthy.
Here are a post-office and two good inns. It was formerly a stage on the great Chester and London road, and
supplied many post-horses; but since the establishment
of railways, this business has been nearly destroyed.
Woore is the head of a district chapelry, which includes
the township of Gravenhanger, part of the township of
Dorrington, and part of that of Aston in the Staffordshire
portion of the parish; the whole comprising 890 inhabitants. The church or chapel, dedicated to St.
Leonard, is a handsome structure in the Grecian style,
erected in 1830, and containing 500 sittings. The living
is a perpetual curacy, in the patronage of the Kenrick
and Mackworth families, alternately; income, £100: a
good parsonage-house has recently been built. The
Methodists have a small place of worship. A national
school for boys, girls, and infants, built in 1832, and enlarged in 1840, educates 120 children; and at Aston is
another school, built in 1842, in which are 20 children.
£15 per annum (£10 being from William Elkins in
1593, and £5 from Randolph Woolley in 1615) were left
to the minister, for "reading divine service, and teaching
the children of the poor at Aston the principles of their
faith:" this fund has been appropriated to the schools by
the present incumbent. A mineral spring called Willowbridge well, is reputed to be beneficial in many disorders.