Editing Woolwich (section)

=== Early history ===
Woolwich has been inhabited since at least the [[Iron Age]]. Remains of a probably Celtic [[oppidum]], established sometime between the 3rd and 1st century BCE, in the late Roman period re-used as a fort, were found at the current Waterfront development site between Beresford Street and the Thames.<ref>[http://www.ideal-homes.org.uk/greenwich/main/woolwich.htm] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100328165151/http://www.ideal-homes.org.uk/greenwich/main/woolwich.htm|date=28 March 2010}}</ref> According to the [[Survey of London]] (Volume 48: Woolwich), "this defensive earthwork encircled the landward sides of a riverside settlement, the only one of its kind so far located in the London area, that may have been a significant port, anterior to London". A path connected the riverside settlement with [[Watling Street]] ([[Shooter's Hill]]), perhaps also of Iron Age origin. Sandy Hill Road may be a remnant of this early path.<ref>Saint & Guillery (2012), p. 2.</ref>

[[File:London-Woolwich, St Mary Magdalene, interior 5.JPG|thumb|left|150px|Rectors of Woolwich from 1182]]
It is generally believed that the name Woolwich derives from an [[Anglo-Saxon]] word meaning "trading place for wool". It is not clear whether Woolwich was a proper ''[[-wich town]]'', since there are no traces of extensive artisanal activity from the Early Middle Ages. However, in 2015 [[Oxford Archaeology]] discovered a Saxon burial site near the riverside with 76 skeletons from the late 7th or early 8th century. The absence of [[grave goods|grave deposits]] indicates that this was an early Christian settlement.<ref>[https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.nl/2015/10/76-skeletons-discovered-at-saxon.html#GTG82q1kXQWZK0qT.97 M. Little: '76 skeletons have been discovered from Saxon Woolwich', originally published by ''southlondonpress.co.uk'', 16 October 2015].</ref> The first church, which stood to the north of the present parish church, was almost certainly [[Norman conquest of England|pre-Norman]] and dedicated to Saint Lawrence. It was probably rebuilt in stone around 1100.<ref>Saint & Guillery (2012), pp. 2–3.</ref>

From the 10th till the mid-12th century Woolwich was controlled by the abbots of [[St. Peter's Abbey, Ghent|St. Peter's Abbey]] in [[Ghent]]. This may have been a result of a gift of 918 from [[Ælfthryth, Countess of Flanders|Ælfthryth]], daughter of [[King Alfred]] and Countess of Flanders, in that case the first recorded grant of English lands to a foreign ecclesiastic institution. As a result of this tenure Woolwich is not mentioned in the [[Domesday Book]]; it is thought that the 63 acres listed as ''Hulviz''<ref name="Hulviz">{{cite web |last1=Wilson |first1=John Marius |title=Descriptive Gazetteer Entry for WOOLWICH |url=https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/descriptions/1002670 |website=A vision of Britain through time |access-date=30 October 2020}}</ref> refer to [[North Woolwich]], which was then uninhabited. Some of the Ghent lands passed to the royal [[Manorialism|manor]]s of [[Dartford]] and [[Eltham]] as early as 1100; the larger part of the parish, referred to as the manor of Woolwich but in effect not a full manor, became an Eltham dependency in the 14th century. Not included were a riverside quay held by [[Holy Trinity Priory, Aldgate]], a wharf held by [[Southwark Cathedral|St Mary's Priory, Southwark]], and land around [[Plumstead]] owned by [[Bartholomew de Burghersh, 2nd Baron Burghersh]], later referred to as the Burrage Estate.<ref>Saint & Guillery (2012), pp. 2–5.</ref>

Medieval Woolwich was susceptible to flooding. In 1236 many were killed by a flood. [[Woolwich Ferry]] was first mentioned in 1308 but may be older. Around Bell Water Gate some private shipbuilding or repair may have existed in the 15th century. A windmill was mentioned around 1450.<ref>Saint & Guillery (2012), pp. 2, 5.</ref> Several pottery [[kiln]]s have been discovered north of Woolwich High Street and Beresford Street, testifying of a perhaps unbroken tradition of pottery production from at least the 14th century until the 17th century.<ref>{{aut|John Cotter}}, "Medieval London-type Ware Kilns Discovered at Woolwich". In: ''Medieval Pottery Research Group'', newsletter 6, 1 August 2008, pp. 3–5 ([http://www.medievalpottery.org.uk/docs/news61.pdf PDF] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509193255/http://www.medievalpottery.org.uk/docs/news61.pdf |date=9 May 2013 }}).</ref>