THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
279 
Among the more romantic incidents revealed to us by tbe Newspaper 
Paragraphs before mentioned, we find, about the year 1770 : “ Taken away 
by violence from her friends at Woolwich, by breaking open the locks of 
her chamber and parlour doors, and forcing her out of a window, Mary 
Baker: she is not 15 years old, has a speck in each eye, dressed in an old 
linen bed-gown, with no stays on, a light-coloured quilted petticoat, and a 
red cloak, under the pretence of an arrest for a debt, by John Davis. . . 
And supposed to be concealed by John Spencer, about 13 years old, son-in- 
law of the said John Davis. This is to caution all persons not to secrete or 
harbour the said Mary Baker, all clergymen are desired not to marry them, 
and all inn-keepers and stable-keepers are not to furnish such persons 
with post-chaises or carriages. Whoever will bring the young Lady un¬ 
married to Cuthbert Andrews at his Majesty^s Rope Yard at Woolwich will 
receive 20 guineas reward.”—(N. P. fol. 2.) Under 1769 we read: 
“ Yesterday morning was married at Woolwich George Bond Esquire to 
Miss Norris of Woolwich, an agreeable young Lady with a genteel 
Eortune.”—(fol. 2.) 
Some curious views of old streets and buildings in Woolwich will be 
found in Roy. MS., 16945—-6, and in 579, 1, 15, a Collection of Prints; 
both in the British Museum. 
The Warren, now the Royal Arsenal,'* was formerly the head-quarters of 
the Regiment of Artillery, but being found too restricted for the require¬ 
ments of the service, “a piece of ground of about 50 acres was taken on 
lease by Government of Mr Bowater (our old friend of Mount Pleasant) 
about twenty years ago (1775) and spacious Barracks built for the accom¬ 
modation of the regiment.”—(Lysons, Vol. IV.). What was thus built in 
1775 was the eastern half of the present structure. At the beginning of 
the present century, enlargement being required, the architect, judiciously 
abstaining from all eccentric excrescences by which his “genius” might be 
manifested, simply repeated on the west side what he already found on the 
east, breaking the line of the two wings by a goodly central archway of 
stone. The east gate and west gate bear the seals of these varying dates. 
On the east gate are seen in full relief the arms of the Duke of Richmond, 
Master-General at the time of completion of this portion: over the west 
gate appear the arms of the Earl of Chatham, Master-General in 1806. 
“ On the Parade in front,” says Brayley in his Hist, of Kent, “ the soldiers 
are frequently exercised in throwing Shells, for which the open space on the 
Common (?Barrack Eield) affords sufficient room.”—(p. 537, a.d. 1806). 
The same volume tells us : “ On the west side of the Barracks is a piece 
of water where experiments with gun-boats &c. are occasionally made: a 
new road from this quarter towards Charlton has been jnst opened.”— 
(p. 537). This new road, opened in 1806, is the one leading by the 
Woodman and Little Heath to the village. Many interesting old Plans of 
the Royal Mil. Repository grounds, including the “piece of water” named 
above, will be found in the Office of that Department. 
* We purposely forbear from noticing at any length the history of the Royal Arsenal, knowing 
that Lieut. Grover has undertaken this subject, and feeling assured that it will receive at his 
hands the most complete and satisfactory elucidation. 
[VOL. VI.] 
37 
