Editing Woolwich (section)

==== Decline ====
Woolwich declined as a town in the late 20th century, starting with the closure of the [[Royal Ordnance Factory]] in 1967 and the [[Siemens]] factory in 1968 and continuing as the Royal Arsenal scaled back operations and finally closed in 1994. Other employers like the [[The Woolwich|Woolwich Building Society]] ("The Woolwich") and Morgan Grampian Publishers were taken over by other companies and moved away from the town. Without major employers, the local economy was affected and unemployment soared.<ref>In 1991 27% of the population of St Mary's Ward (the area south of the Dockyard) was unemployed; 84% lived in council housing. Saint & Guillery (2012), p. 17.</ref> At the same time the town's demographics changed, with initially mainly [[Sikh]]s settling down in the area, later followed by black Africans, many from [[Nigeria]]. Despite immigration, the population of the parish reached a low of 17,000 in 1971. In general, Woolwich had lost its previous vigour. In the town's shopping district, department stores and chain stores closed. By the early 1990s, the town centre had the typical appearance of a town in decline with discount retailers and charity shops using the empty stores and Greenwich Council occupying the empty office buildings.<ref>Saint & Guillery (2012), pp. 17–18.</ref> In 1974, the [[United Kingdom]]'s first branch of [[McDonald's]] opened in Powis Street.<ref name=Neate>{{cite news|last1=Neate|first1=Rupert|title=UK fast-food workers get US lesson in protesting against poverty wages|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/nov/18/uk-fast-food-workers-protest-poverty-wages|access-date=11 May 2015|work=The Guardian|date=18 November 2014}}</ref> Amidst the decline, Woolwich was still considered to be a representative English town at the time.<ref>[http://www.mcspotlight.org/media/press/preston_dec91.html Interview with McDonald's UK CEO Evening Standard 16 December 1991] accessed 23 April 2007</ref>

In 1974 the [[Provisional IRA]] bombed the [[Kings Arms, Woolwich|Kings Arms pub]] in the town. The [[Woolwich pub bombing|bombing]] killed two. During the [[2011 England riots]], Woolwich was one of the areas affected. Several buildings were attacked, with a few being destroyed. ''The Great Harry'' Wetherspoons' Pub was set on fire,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/9185012.IMAGES__The_aftermath_of_last_night_s_riots_in_Woolwich |title=Pictures of the destruction on Woolwich streets following a night of violence and looting |publisher=Newsshopper.co.uk |date=9 August 2011 |access-date=29 September 2012}}</ref> though it was subsequently remodeled and reopened. On 22 May 2013 the [[murder of Lee Rigby]] in Woolwich caused upheaval. Drummer Lee Rigby, a British soldier based at the Royal Artillery Barracks, was murdered close to the barracks by two [[Islamic extremists]].<ref name="BBC">{{cite news|title=Man dead in suspected Woolwich terror attack|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22630303|work=English Heritage list|date=22 May 2013 |publisher=[[BBC News Online]]|access-date=22 May 2013}}</ref>

The [[16th Regiment Royal Artillery]] left Woolwich in 2007, but the Woolwich barracks still house the Royal Artillery Band and more recently the Second Battalion [[Princess of Wales' Royal Regiment]] and the [[King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery]], although the relocation of these has been announced for 2028.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/576401/Better_Defence_Estate_Dec16_Amends_Web.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220131115/https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/576401/Better_Defence_Estate_Dec16_Amends_Web.pdf |archive-date=2016-12-20 |url-status=live | author=Ministry of Defense | publisher=The Crown | title=A better defense estate |date=Nov–Dec 2016| author-link=Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom) }}</ref>