240 
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF 
written as Wlewic (1143. Textns Buffensis), Wollewic, Wulewick (1044), 
Woolwicke, Wulwiche, Woolwych, Walwich, Wolwych (1542), Wolwich, 
and Wooll witch. 
In the year 964, King Edgar endowed the Abbey of St Peter at Ghent 
with “ a certain extent of land which the rustics from ancient custom have 
denominated Lewisham, with all its appurtenances, viz. Greenwich, Woolwich, 
Mottingham, and Comb.” This gift was confirmed in 1044 by Edward the 
Confessor, and in 1081 by William the Conqueror, The Domesday Book 
shows that in 1086, “ In the half-lath of Sudtone, and in the Grenviz 
(Greenwich) hundred, Haimo has 63 acres of land in Hulviz (Woolwich) 
which William the Ealconer held of King Edward. In this estate there 
are 11 bordars, who pay 41 pence. The whole value is three pounds.” 
Such is the only record of Woolwich in the Domesday Book, concerning 
which the contemporaneous Anglo Saxon Chronicle says, “ So very narrowly 
did the king cause the survey to be made that there was not a single hide 
nor a rood of land, nor—it is shameful to relate that which he thought no 
shame to do—was there an ox, or a cow, or a pig, passed by, and that was 
not set down in the accounts, and then all these writings were brought to 
him.” 
The Woolwich garrison owed its existence to, and till 1784 was contained 
within, the King's Warren.* Hence it comes that the early allusions to the 
town represent it as being of naval, rather than of military importance. 
Thus, Stow's Survey speaks of “ Woohvich , seated on the Kentish side, low, 
and not over healthful; but, by reason of its Dock and Storehouses for the 
Navy Royal, is a place well inhabited, especially by those that have their 
Dependance thereon. And in this Dock hath been built the best Ships of 
War; amongst which the Royal Sovereign , Anno 1637.” After describing 
her “ Three Tire of Guns, all of Brass; in all 100 Guns,” the chronicler 
narrates that “ This Boyal Ship was curiously carved, and gilt with 
Gold; so that when she was in the Engagement against the Dutch, they 
gave her the name of the Golden Devil; her Guns being whole Cannon, 
making such Havock and Slaughter amongst them.” This great ship 
(which was accidentally burnt at Chatham in 1696) seems to have given 
much satisfaction and comfort to all but those who, like Mr John Hampden, 
at that time objected to the heavy ship-money impost. A quaint pamphlet 
by Thomas Hey wood (“printed by John Ohes for John Aston, and are to bee 
sold at his shop in Cat-eaten-streete at the signe of the Buls-liead, Anno 
1637,”) purports to contain “A True Description of His Majesties Boyall 
Ship, Built this Yeare 1637 at Wooll-ioitch in Kent. To the great glory of 
our English Nation, and not paraleld in the whole Christian World.” 
* A newspaper of 1739 states that “On Monday last, November the 5th, a Battallion of Guards 
and a Troop of Horse march’d to Woolwich , to quiet the "Workmen in that Yard, who mutiny’d 
about their Pay and refused to work.” Another of August 25th, 1770, contains a paragraph that 
“ Last Saturday Morning their Majesties honoured the Regiment of Artillery with their presence 
in the Warren at Woolwich.” On the 25th August, 1772, Dr Pollock, Professor of Fortification 
in the Academy, was ordered to survey Mr Bowater’s house, ground, and meadow, (now site of the 
R.A. Barracks) Woolwich Common; and on the 28th Sept. 1772, the Surveyor General was 
requested “ to prepare plans & estimates for building a Barrack to contain one Battalion of 
Artillery without the Warren at Woolwich .”—Ordnance Minutes. 
