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In 1805, during the reign of King George III, it became known as the Royal Arsenal. (By this time, Woolwich was already a busy military centre, with the Woolwich Dockyard to the west of the Arsenal, and the Royal Military Academy and the headquarters of the Royal Artillery next to each other to the south.)

Several buildings within the Arsenal are attributed to architect Sir John Vanbrugh.

The Arsenal was a renowned centre of excellence in mechanical engineering, with notable engineers including Samuel BenthamSir Samuel Bentham ( 11 January 1757 31 May 1831) was a noted mechanical engineer credited with numerous innovations, particularly related to naval architecture, including weapons. He was also the brother of philosopher Jeremy Bentham. At the age of 14, B, Marc Isambard BrunelSir Marc Isambard Brunel ( April 25, 1769 December 12, 1849) was a French-born engineer who eventually settled in the United Kingdom. He preferred the name Isambard, but is generally known to history as Marc, to avoid confusion with his more famous son Is and Henry MaudslayHenry Maudslay ( August 22, 1771 February 14 1831), born Woolwich, England. He was a Machine tool maker and inventor. His father served as a Wheelwright in the Royal Engineers but was wounded in action so became a storekeeper at the Woolwich Arsenal, Lond employed there. It also became a noted research facility, developing several key advances in armament design and manufacture.

In 18861886 is a common year starting on Friday (click on link to calendar) Events January 18 Modern field hockey is born with the formation of The Hockey Association in England. January 29 Karl Benz patents the first successful gasoline-driven automobile. March workers at the Arsenal formed a footballFootball is the most widely played and watched team sport in the world. The game is often known as soccer or occasionally association football to differentiate it from other codes of football. Football is a ball game played between two teams of 11 players club initially known as Dial Square after the workshops in the heart of the complex, playing their first game on 11 December (a 6-0 victory over East Wanderers) at PlumsteadPlumstead is a place in London, England in the London Borough of Greenwich. Nearest places: Woolwich Welling Thamesmead Kidbrooke Eltham Nearest railway station: Plumstead railway station London Districts. Common. Renamed Royal Arsenal two weeks later (and also known as the 'Woolwich Reds'), the club entered the professional football league as Woolwich Arsenal in 1893. Today it is known simply as Arsenal F.C.Arsenal F. also known as Arsenal The Arsenal or The Gunners is a north London football team founded in 1886. They play at Arsenal Stadium, Highbury. History Early years Arsenal were originally called Dial Square . The club later changed its name to Woolwi, having moved to north London in 1913.

At its peak, during World War One, the Royal Arsenal extended over some 1300 acres (5.3 km²) and employed around 80,000 people.

The Ordnance Factories closed in 1967 and it ceased to be a military establishment in 1994. The sprawling Arsenal site is now one of the focal points for redevelopment in the Thames Gateway zone, but the links to its historic past are not lost. Many notable buildings are being retained in the redevelopment, and the site includes a museum (Firepower!) telling the story of the Royal Arsenal.