Royal Artillery Museum

The Royal Artillery Museum was once one of the world’s oldest military museums. It first opened in Woolwich, southeast London, in 1820. The museum told the story of artillery through centuries of cannons and equipment. Its collection began with items from the Royal Military Repository, established in the 1770s. The Repository trained cadets in handling heavy ordnance. Captain William Congreve played a key role in shaping the museum’s early displays. The museum’s most striking home was the Rotunda, a circular building designed by John Nash. It was originally built in 1814 as a temporary marquee for a victory celebration. After the celebrations, it was moved to Woolwich and rebuilt in 1819. Inside, trophies and weapons were arranged around a central column. The Rotunda became a free public museum in 1820. Its collection included Congreve’s rockets and models of military sites. The museum later became Firepower and moved to the Royal Arsenal. It occupied historic buildings once used for making ammunition. The Arsenal’s buildings, with ironwork by Benjamin Hick & Son, are Grade II listed. After Firepower closed in 2016, plans were made to turn the site into a cultural district. The Rotunda still stands as a reminder of the museum’s past.