Editing Woolwich (section)

==== Infrastructure ====
Until the arrival of the railways, the Thames was the principal artery connecting Woolwich to London. In 1834 the Woolwich Steam Packet Company greatly improved river traffic and in 1889 the [[Woolwich Ferry|Woolwich Free Ferry]] made it easier to live in [[North Woolwich]] and work in the Arsenal, or to live in Woolwich and work in the [[London Docklands|Docklands]]. The [[North Kent Line]] from London via [[Greenwich]] and Woolwich to [[Gillingham, Kent|Gillingham]] opened in 1849. The station building was rebuilt in 1906 and again in 1992–93.<ref>Saint & Guillery (2012), pp. 18–22.</ref> Woolwich was also on the route of two [[Trams in London|London trams]] of the first generation (1881–1952).<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/july/6/newsid_2963000/2963092.stm BBC on this day: 6 July] accessed 23 April 2007</ref>

The post-war period brought massive changes to the town's fabric and infrastructure. Roads were widened and entire neighbourhoods pulled down to make room for modern housing, some of it in tower blocks. The widening of Woolwich High Street and Beresford Street left little of the [[Old Woolwich|old town]]. Woolwich was home to the experimental [[Auto Stacker]] car park. Built on the site of the Empire Theatre, it was officially opened in May 1961 by [[Princess Margaret]]. It never actually worked and was demolished in 1962. A [[multi-storey car park]] was built along Monk Street in 1971.