Linking Land and Navy: archaeological investigations at the site of the Woolwich Royal Dockyard, south-eastern England

Abstract

This paper outlines the archaeological evidence found at the demolished Royal Naval Dockyard at Woolwich for the development and construction of dockyard structures of the 18th to early-19th centuries. This is set within the framework provided by historic, documentary, map and historic-model evidence. The results of earlier excavations at the same facility are also reviewed. The themes covered include; the interplay of 'carpentry' versus 'shipwrightry' in dockyard construction, aspects of naval timber-supply and landscape, the recycling of ships' timbers, dockyard craft specialisation and changing relative sea-levels.