Royal Arsenal, Building 10 (Southern Blocks)

Between April-July 2018 Oxford Archaeology undertook archaeological
observation and recording at Building 10 (Southern Blocks) within the Royal
Arsenal, Woolwich, during redevelopment for housing and commercial units.
Building 10 contained the Royal Carriage Factory that was constructed
between 1802 and 1805. Internal dividing walls and culverts pertaining to
original layout of Block 1, a storage building prior to its remodeling during or
after c 1890, were revealed. Also revealed were a pair of barrel-vaulted cellars
that adjoined a third cellared room, likely to have formed part of Block 5, the
South Erecting Shop, which was constructed in 1886. Within Block 1L, the
walls of an engine room were uncovered. These were constructed during the
1850s and were contained within a boiler house. Two substantial limestonebuilt
structures with iron fittings attached to their surface were found within
the engine room. These are likely to represent plinths or bases for machinery.
Notable finds included two work tokens, each inscribed ‘ROYAL CARRIAGE
DEPART’ and dated to the First World War.