280 
MINUTES OF PEOCEEDINGS OF 
Of the “ King’s Yard/’ as it is named in our map of 17 78, we forbear to 
attempt any special history, from the space which such a history would 
demand. To those, however, who may feel an interest in the old aspect of 
this locality, we would recommend an inspection of the very curious volume 
in the British Museum, Royal MS. 43, a Survey of English Dockyards in 
1698. 
As we see by a glance at our maps of 1773 and 1778, the present Royal 
Marine Barracks and Hospital occupy the site of Mr Bowater’s house and 
park. But previously to the Marines being fixed here, there was a large 
Brewery established at the more southern portion of the ground. Erom 
Lysons and the newspapers of the time we learn that in 1806, “ the late 
Mr Whitby’s brewery, with 8 acres of land on the rising ground near the 
Manor House, has been purchased by Government to convert into Barracks 
for the Royal Marines.” The first establishment of Marines at Woolwich 
was in 1805. In 1815 their first Hospital was built. The present hospital 
was opened in October, 1861, occupying the site of the old Manor-house, 
the “ Mount Pleasant ” of our map. 
The Royal Military Academy was “instituted” by George the 2nd in 1741, 
and located in “a convenient room at Woolwich Warren f the object of 
the establishment being “ to form good Officers of Artillery and perfect 
Engineers.” Various regulations were from time to time introduced for 
the good government and welfare of the students. In April 1757 it is 
promulgated that “ The first Cadet who is found swimming in the Thames 
shall be taken out naked and put in the Guard-room.” Under January 
1778: “ His Majesty has ordered the Company of Cadets at Woolwich to 
be augmented from 48 to 100.”—(N. P. fol. 2vo.). They were visited by 
George 3rd in 1805 : it was on this visit that the “King’s Warren” received 
by Plis Majesty’s command its new name of “ the Royal Arsenal.” In 1806, 
Brayley tells us, “the Military Academy (in the Royal Arsenal) is at 
present unappropriated, the Cadets having been very recently (in 1805) 
removed to the new building prepared for their reception on Woolwich 
Common,” (p. 533). The number at the Common in 1807 was 126, but 
there was a junior class fixed at Great Marlow, and 60 were still at the 
Arsenal. It is the older part of the present building that was thus opened 
in 1805, Wyatt being the architect. 
The Royal Artillery Museum in the Rotunda had for its nucleus the 
models and projects of the Congreve family, originally reposited in the 
Royal Arsenal. The Rotunda itself, erected in Carlton House Gardens 
in 1814 for the State reception of the Allied Sovereigns, was presented by the 
Prince Regent, who also contributed a collection of ancient arms and armour, 
containing many very curious and rare specimens, and a series of models 
originally gathered and set up in Buckingham House by George the Third. 
The darkness of the room, however, and the inadequacy of the catalogue, 
rendered the museum of little value, till by the addition of windows in the 
roof and a careful revision of the catalogues in 1863-4, and subsequently by 
several judicious purchases and liberal donations, the whole aspect of the 
place has been changed and its usefulness fully developed. This good 
result has been mainly effected by the untiring exertions and assiduous 
supervision of General Lefroy. 
