Editing Woolwich (section)

=== Economic development ===
==== Employment ====
[[File:Greenwich Heritage Centre, History of Royal Arsenal 2.jpg|thumb|Workers at the [[Royal Arsenal]], 1862]]
Throughout the 18th century the navy yard remained the town's main employer with between 500 and 1,400 men working in the docks. Due to the malarial marshlands, it was not a popular place to work and for that reason Woolwich dockyard workers were paid as much as a third more than in other naval towns. These were mostly skilled artisans who were generally literate, Nonconformist and well-organized. The number of artillery men grew from around 200 in 1716 to around 1,500 in 1801. Soldiers were generally held in contempt, earning about a quarter of dockyard labourers' wages. At the height of the [[Napoleonic Wars]], there were more soldiers (3,000) than dockyard and ropeyard workers (2,000), while the arsenal employed as many as 5,000. After the end of the wars, thousands were discharged, causing great distress. In the 1840s, a steam factory gave a new lease of life to the dockyard and the 1850s saw a huge expansion of the arsenal during and after the [[Crimean War]].<ref name=SG9-17/>

The presence of the dockyard, the arsenal and other military institutions stimulated economic growth in other areas, notably in commercial activities and entertainment. The ropeyard was established around 1570 and survived until 1832. Throughout the 17th century two [[Glass production|glass factories]] were active near Glass Yard, owned by Sir [[Robert Mansell]] from [[Greenwich]], who also managed the dockyard and the ropeyard. Some of the masters here were [[Huguenot]]s from [[Lorraine]]. [[Kiln]]s producing [[Bartmann jug|Bellarmine]] stoneware may also have been controlled by continental potters. Other kilns produced earthenware and clay pipes. Kilns were also active on the hillside south of the town, where clay was readily available. Near Plumstead and Charlton were [[Sand mining|sandpits]]; the sand was shipped from a wharf near Tower Place. In 1863, the German firm [[Siemens & Halske]] established a [[transatlantic telegraph cable|submarine-cable]] factory in the Dockyard area, which expanded rapidly.<ref>Saint & Guillery (2012), pp. 15, 41.</ref>

==== Retail ====
[[File:Woolwich, Hare Street, 1911 postcard.jpg|thumb|Hare Street in 1911]]
Woolwich market received its charter in 1618 but is certainly older. The market, which had long been established in the High Street in [[Old Woolwich]] (at a location called Market Hill), had gradually drifted towards the [[Royal Arsenal Gatehouse|Royal Arsenal's main gatehouse]], more or less at its present location. This was not approved by the authorities and a new market was set up in the [[Bathway Quarter]] around 1810. This proved to be a failure and is remembered only in the name of Market Street. Until 1879, the market at [[Beresford Square]] remained illegal and was regularly cleared by the police. After it was legalized, it had room for 136 stalls. [[Italo Svevo]] described it as "very lively" in 1903. In 1936, a covered market opened in Plumstead Road but never formed a threat to the main market. Beresford Square had the largest [[Pub|public houses]] (of which Woolwich had many).<ref>Saint & Guillery (2012), pp. 49, 226–227.</ref> [[Powis Street]] and Hare Street, laid out in the early 19th century, became the main shopping streets. A number of Victorian shop facades, many designed by local architect Henry Hudson Church, have survived.<ref>Saint & Guillery (2012), pp. 197–200.</ref>

In 1868 the [[Royal Arsenal Co-operative Society]] was established, which developed into one of the biggest [[consumer cooperative]]s in the country with two department stores in Powis Street, shops around South East London, manufacturing and food production plants, a building society, a funeral service and many other areas of entrepreneurship.