Board of Ordnance - Knowledge

29: 654: 1113:

officer-only corps, the Engineers (called Royal Engineers from 1787) were engaged in the design, construction and ongoing maintenance of defences, fortifications and other military installations. They were also engaged for large-scale civilian projects from time to time. A civilian corps of 'artificers' provided the non-commissioned workforce of carpenters, stonemasons, bricklayers and other labourers; this corps was militarized in 1787, and named the Royal Military Artificers (they were then renamed the Royal Sappers and Miners 25 years later). The year after the demise of the Ordnance Board, the Sappers and Miners were fully amalgamated into the Royal Engineers, and at the same time the Corps moved from Woolwich to its present headquarters in

908: 1683: 681: 557:. Royal palaces (including the Tower of London) were therefore used for storage of armour, weapons and (in time) gunpowder. When the Office of Ordnance came into being, the Tower of London was already established as the main repository, and it remained the administrative centre of the new Board. Gunpowder was stored in the White Tower (and continued to be kept there until the mid-19th century). Small arms, ammunition, armour and other equipment were stored elsewhere within the Tower precinct, a succession of Storehouses and Armouries having been built for such purposes since the fourteenth century. From the mid-16th century bulkier items began to be stored in warehouses in the nearby 127: 416: 1197: 805: 1640: 1619:; so, although the Board of Ordnance troops (the Royal Artillery and the Royal Engineers) were merged into the Army and placed under the Commander-in-Chief, the Military Store Department (with its sizeable stocks of armaments and ammunition) remained under the civil oversight of the Secretary of State. Subsequently a series of organisational changes took place in an attempt to consolidate the various departments and responsibilities formerly pertaining to the Board of Ordnance, along with those of the Commissariat (which had likewise been absorbed by the War Office in 1855); this led in time to their amalgamation as part of the short-lived 598: 1384: 1239: 546: 1340:. Once the observatories were established, measurements were taken every two hours, day and night, at precisely the same moment in all four stations; the results were then conveyed to Sabine at his Magnetic Office in the Royal Artillery Institution Observatory at Woolwich. Measurements continued for three years at Hobarton, six years at Cape Town and Saint Helena, and nine years at Toronto. After this, the observatories (apart from Saint Helena's, which was dismantled) were handed over to the respective local governments; that in Toronto went on to becoming the 1100:(their personnel convened for a limited duration by Royal Warrant). The men of the new artillery companies (which became the Royal Regiment of Artillery from 1722) now provided troops for this purpose; before long, they were also providing guns and heavy artillery for forts and garrisons around the country and indeed across the Empire. In addition, the Artillerymen did on-site work at the Arsenal and at other Ordnance Board facilities, from preparing fuses and proving weapons to providing a guard. 1793 saw the formation of the 1001: 343: 1667:

After the demise of the Board of Ordnance, the Secretary of State for War revised and reconstituted the Ordnance Select Committee (this time including Naval representation). It continued to receive, report on and experiment with inventions or improvements submitted to the Secretary of State relating to arms and to gunpowder until 1869, when it was split into ten sub-committees overseen by a Council of Ordnance (an arrangement which caused confusion, and which fell into abeyance the following year in all but name).

1360:. This has been called the first instance of government funding for science; money was to be provided from 'the sale of old or decayed gunpowder'. The Board of Ordnance continued to provide annual funding for the Observatory until 1818, when the Admiralty took over this responsibility. Despite providing funds, the Board was not in any way involved in the operational side of the Observatory, which was managed independently by the Astronomer Royal under the governance of a Board of Visitors. 1490: 118:, the Master-General. These detailed Instructions continued, with relatively little change, to provide the working framework for the Board and its officers until the early 19th century. The Board was a decision-making body, answerable to the Master-General who had power of veto. (He was also empowered to act independently of the Board). They were required to meet at least twice a week (8am every Tuesday and Thursday) at the Tower in order to transact business. 609:) was purchased in 1671 and in 1682 a thousand cannons and ten thousand cannonballs were transferred to Woolwich from the Tower and the Minories. At the same time, the Old Artillery Ground was sold and the staff and equipment involved in proof testing moved to Woolwich. From 1688 all new ordnance items were ordered to be delivered to Woolwich rather than the Tower (thereafter the Tower continued to be used as the Board's main repository for general stores). 1218:, and in the words of the Survey of London, 'it became a uniquely enlightened establishment in which training comprehended writing, arithmetic, algebra, Latin, French, mathematics, fortification, together with the attack and defence of fortified places, gunnery, mining and laboratory-works along with the gentlemanly skills of dancing and fencing'. In time, the Academy outgrew its original home in the Arsenal, and in 1806 it moved into new headquarters on 1160:

appointment and promotion of medical officers, issued them with instructions and guidance, and had oversight of the management of Artillery Hospitals (of which there were eighteen Great Britain in 1810, and others in Ireland). Initially set up as 'the Medical Establishment for the Military Department of the Ordnance', its remit was extended to cover 'the Military and Civil Departments of the Ordnance' in 1814. In 1853 it was merged into the

56:. Its primary responsibilities were 'to act as custodian of the lands, depots and forts required for the defence of the realm and its overseas possessions, and as the supplier of munitions and equipment to both the Army and the Navy'. The Board also maintained and directed the Artillery and Engineer corps, which it founded in the 18th century. By the 19th century, the Board of Ordnance was second in size only to 1276:, which remains in place today as Britain's national mapping agency. The principal offices and drawing room of the Survey were in the Tower of London; this not only accommodated surveyors and draughtsmen, but also functioned as a place where cadets (some as young as eleven or twelve) were trained in mathematics and draughtsmanship by leading practitioners. In 1841 a fire prompted the Survey to move to 733: 674:

Built alongside deep-water quays, they usually comprised an assortment of buildings for storage, administration blocks, workshops (for woodwork, paintwork and metalwork) together with accommodation for officers, usually built around a central Grand Storehouse (primarily used for gun carriages). Exterior courtyards were laid out for the storage of cannonballs.

797:. The location was chosen both for reasons of safety (it was largely uninhabited marshland) and for convenience (because gunpowder barrels were invariably delivered by boat). The powder arrived at Greenwich from the manufacturers. Once there it was not only stored, prior to being despatched to wherever it might be needed, but a sample from each batch was 1581:

had lost no time in correcting the blunder of the absence of siege transport. Men and horses were quickly obtained and sent to the front, and, though every mistake in war demands an inevitable penalty, the military organisation did not fail under the heavy strain placed upon it. Nothing could exceed the military arrangements of the Ordnance Department.

219:, who continued his previous work but with a new title: Lieutenant of the Ordnance. Thereafter the Lieutenant (or Lieutenant-General) had day-to-day oversight of the Board's activities, while Master (or Master-General) had more the role of a statesman and supervisor (albeit still with specific responsibilities to the Board and its work). 471:(who was Constable of the Tower at the time, as well as Master-general of the Ordnance) to form a new Ordnance Regiment 'for the care and protection of the cannon': as well as guarding the stocks of guns, arms and ammunition in the Tower more effectively, it was envisaged that the new regiment would provide protection for the 1529:

military matters, and no means of co-ordinating their functions, orders and activities. Furthermore, following forty years of relative peace, the army and its support services found themselves ill-prepared and ill-equipped for war: for example, responsibility for providing food, fuel and forage to troops overseas fell to the

1559:

between Balaclava and the camp had become a muddy quagmire, the few remaining horses of our cavalry were rapidly disappearing, every day the difficulty of getting up food and other necessaries from Balaclava was becoming more serious, and still no provision was being made for supplying an effective means of transport.

1525:

the problems that led to the board's demise. Then, in 1833, a parliamentary Commission of Enquiry was set up to look into consolidating the civil departments of the Army and the Ordnance (another commission was set up with similar terms of reference two years later) but its recommendations were not carried through.

1599:

was appointed in 1856 to take over the duties of the Clerk of the Ordnance (the one remaining Principal Officer, who had retained oversight of the board's civil staff in the interim following its disestablishment). Several directorates were formed: there was a Director General of Stores (successor to

665:

to enable easy transfer of guns, ammunition, powder, etc. on board ships (for use by the Navy at sea or for delivery to the Army in areas of conflict). They also provided ordnance supplies for the defensive fortifications of the Dockyard itself, and secure storage space for ships in port (Royal Naval

427:

was the Board's mark, used as such from the 17th century. Stamped on guns, papers, buildings and all kinds of equipment, it originally signified royal ownership. A proclamation of 1699 clarified its use on stores of war belonging to the Board of Ordnance; just over a hundred years later, in 1806, the

257:

While the offices of Master-General and Lieutenant-General were almost always filled by prominent soldiers, the Ordnance Office was a largely civilian organisation up until the formation of its Artillery and Engineer corps in the early 18th century. Prior to 1716, civilians were generally employed as

1204:

The Board of Ordnance placed a high value on providing its future officers with a scientific and military education. In the eighteenth century there was no requirement for would-be Army officers to receive any formal military education; but the Board, in contrast, moved fast (after the establishment

1112:

From the start, the Board (and its predecessor the Office) of Ordnance had had a department of military engineers and surveyors to build and improve harbours, forts and other fortifications. In 1716 a Corps of Engineers was founded by the Board of Ordnance, again at their Woolwich base. Initially an

1580:

The Board of Ordnance had met the military difficulties of the situation with determination and success. Starting with the advantage of a well-trained and excellent personnel and reliable and sufficient materiel, they had faced the terrible losses of the winter of 1854 with resource and energy, and

1564:

As well as commanding the army in Crimea, Lord Raglan also held the office of Master-General of the Ordnance at the time; his removal from the UK at the outbreak of war left a void in leadership at the head of the Board of Ordnance (which was compounded by the absence of the Surveyor-General of the

1528:

The causes of the logistical failings in Crimea were complex and remain the subject of some debate. Management of the British Army in the 1850s was chaotic, unwieldy and inefficient, with several different officials and establishments claiming and exercising the Sovereign's authority in relation to

1666:

The new board had its origins in the Select Committee of Artillery Officers, formed by the old Board of Ordnance in 1805 'to assist in forming opinions on any inventions and suggestions of individuals, as likewise all improvements that may be proposed for the improvement of the Artillery Service'.

1524:

Well before Crimea, however, there had been moves afoot to reduce the board's sizeable influence and power. In 1830, the number of Principal Officers of the Ordnance had been reduced to four by the abolition of the posts of Lieutenant-General and Clerk of the Deliveries; arguably, this exacerbated

1246:

The Royal Military Repository was established, also within the Warren, in 1778 to provide practical, theoretical and historical training in gunnery, both for officers and other ranks; it too moved to Woolwich Common in the early 19th century. The Royal Engineer Establishment was established by the

1129:

was established in 1792 to serve as 'the field force element of the Board of Ordnance Storekeeping system'; staffed by uniformed civilians, the Department had oversight of the supply and provision of small arms, ammunition and other armaments to all front-line troops. After the Board's demise, the

1015:

From the mid-17th century the Board of Ordnance began to be involved in the design, building and upkeep of forts, fortifications and various garrison buildings. Around the year 1635, a Francis Coningsby was appointed 'Commissary-General of all His Majesty's Castles in England and Wales'. From 1660

1702:

as part of the dispersal of departments from Woolwich; (in 1950 it moved again to Charles House on Kensington High Street). After the war, the Ordnance Board continued to provide independent authoritative advice on the development and design of weapons, ammunition and explosives; the positions of

673:

In the 16th century the Ordnance Office had established 'annexes' in Chatham, Deptford and Woolwich; others were to follow in the vicinity of the other major Dockyards. These facilities, generally known as Gun Wharves, developed into purpose-built Ordnance Yards in the course of the 18th century.

588:

in Pall Mall and moved its main offices there, subsequently expanding into neighbouring properties. The Board itself also began to hold its meetings there, in preference to the Tower or Woolwich or other locations where it had previously been accustomed to meet. At the same time the Tower, though

203:

The office of Yeoman of the Ordnance (established in 1430 to oversee both the storage of weapons and accoutrements and their delivery for use in the field) was abolished in 1543 and its duties split between two new officers: the Storekeeper of the Ordnance and Clerk of the Deliveries. At the same

1670:

In 1881 the 'Ordnance Committee' was re-formed, with an extended remit to approve designs for manufacture, in addition to considering inventions and conducting experiments. It was renamed the 'Ordnance Board' in 1908, having merged with the Ordnance Research Board. Further amalgamations prompted

1558:

a loud outcry against Lord Raglan had begun in the press. He was charged with neglecting to see to the actual state of his troops, and to the necessary measures for their relief. Their condition was becoming more and more pitiable; their numbers dwindling rapidly from death and disease. The road

1213:

In 1720 there were moves to set up an 'academy' within the Warren at Woolwich where the corps were based; and on 30 April 1741 the Academy was formally established there by Royal Warrant. The fact that the Warren itself was a place of scientific experiment and innovation no doubt helped form the

829:) and Devonport (Keyham Point), and at Chatham the Upnor facility was (eventually) expanded. These centres continued to grow, as the processes for refining and preserving gunpowder became more complicated and as new explosives began to be used, requiring their own storage and maintenance areas. 841:

The Board of Ordnance was responsible, throughout its existence, for supplying the Army and Navy with weapons and ammunition. Other items were provided by various other boards and agencies (or, in earlier times, by private contractors). From 1822, however, the Board was given responsibility for

1586:

Ultimately, the war in Crimea revealed failings across multiple departments compounded by confused structures of command and control; and the disestablishment of the Board of Ordnance became one of a series of wide-ranging military reforms which took place in the UK over the next half century.

266:, however, the Board had parallel oversight of both a Military and a Civil Establishment. The Master-General was head of both Establishments; on a practical level, the Lieutenant-General had day-to-day oversight of the military personnel and the Surveyor-General oversaw the civil departments. 1690:

Up until 1939, the Ordnance Board (like the Ordnance Select Committee before it) was based at the Royal Arsenal, in Verbruggen House. The board worked closely with the Proof and Experimental Establishment, the Research Department and the Design Department (which later amalgamated to form the

1159:

The Ordnance Medical Department was formed in 1801 (prior to this date medical officers were included on the establishment of the Royal Artillery). It was overseen by the Inspector General of Ordnance Hospitals, based at the Royal Artillery Hospital, Woolwich, who made recommendation for the

1752:

to supervise work on the barracks at the garrison in around 1813. In the 17 years he spent there, he also took commissions as an architect from the local government and private individuals. He is best remembered today as the architect of many of the island's most iconic public and private

1038:

and associated structures (except during a 30-year period, 1792-1822, when responsibility was transferred to a separate Barrack Office). Before this time, barracks were a rarity in mainland Britain and (other than those attached to royal residences) they were generally only found within

320:

The Board also had a network of officers in place in key forts, ordnance yards and other installations throughout the Realm (including overseas). The senior Ordnance officer in these locations was usually termed the Storekeeper, and he was responsible directly to the Board. Prior to the

191:

to 'Nicholas Merbury, Master of our Works, Engines, Cannons and other kinds of Ordnance for War, and to John Louth, Clerk of the same Works' (though it appears that these were appointments for service in the field of war rather than to a permanent position). Merbury was present at the

110:, but its activities had gradually widened over time, causing a degree of duplication. At this time, the Ordnance Office also began to conduct oversight of the nation's forts and fortifications. In 1683, the board of management (first assembled in 1597) was formally constituted as the 325:

there was a Master of the Ordnance in the North (with oversight of Berwick, Newcastle and the nearby coastal forts) who had greater autonomy, though he was reliant on the London office for most supplies. Moreover, a Master of the Ordnance in Dublin oversaw a largely independent

1175:

to provide for the needs of Artillery and Engineer horses; and in 1805 he supervised the setting up of a Veterinary Establishment in Woolwich (later named the Royal Horse Infirmary) which functioned as a hospital, veterinary store and centre of veterinary research. After the

824:

At around the same time, significant improvements were made to the gunpowder depots at the Dockyards (where the Board was still often using old buildings in built-up areas). New purpose-built storage facilities were constructed close to the principal Dockyards at Portsmouth

1473:'. With this came responsibility for stores, land, contracts, surveys, defensive works and manufacturing, along with all their various associated personnel. The board's former offices in Pall Mall now became the headquarters of a newly-reconstituted and greatly-expanded 832:

In 1850, Devonport's magazine depot was moved from Keyham to a new complex at Bull Point (where it was integrated with a nearby proofing and purifying facility) - this proved to be the last major construction project of the Board of Ordnance before its disestablishment.

1016:

the title was Engineer-in-Chief. The Chief Engineer had responsibility for drawing up designs, supervising site surveys and building works, and visiting established defence sites to evaluate their state of repair, readiness etc. An illustrious holder of this post was

301:

was another important officer of the department, although he did not sit on the board. This office was instituted in 1670 (its duties having previously been discharged by the Lieutenant-General); the post was consolidated with several others in 1836 to form that of

1072:. These Corps were under the authority of the Board of Ordnance, rather than the War Office (until the Board's demise in 1855). They were not part of the Army, and their officers' commissions were issued by the Master-General of the Ordnance rather than by the 1063:

A number of different Corps were established by the Board of Ordnance to carry out its work both in its home establishments and on the field of battle; they had (and to some extent retain) a very distinctive identity and ethos. Principal among these were the

475:, which were formed when necessary to deliver ordnance (e.g. to the battlefield at time of war). The old guard companies formed the core of this new regiment, but they were soon augmented by a further ten companies of 100 men each (again drafted from the 294:. These were the senior technicians on the staff. The appointment of Master Gunner was first made as early as 1485, though it ceased after the establishment of the Regiment of Artillery in the 18th century; that of Chief Engineer was instituted in 1660. 274:

From its earliest years, the Ordnance Office was staffed by a large number of Clerks to manage its substantial administrative functions. A number of other officials reported to the board, including furbishers, proofmasters, keepers and fireworkers.

572:

Within the Tower, the New Armouries of 1664 served the Board as a small arms store (it can still be seen today in the Inner Ward). The vast Grand Storehouse of 1692 served not just as a store, but also as a museum of ordnance, precursor to today's

1477:. The patents of the Master General, the Lieutenant-General and the Principal Storekeeper of the Ordnance were all revoked; and command of the Royal Artillery and the Royal Engineers was transferred, from the Master General of the Ordnance to the 744:, begun in the 1830s, remains largely intact behind the dockyard fortifications; its magazines and storehouses are arranged around a small pool, where boats would arrive by way of a tunnel through the ramparts to be loaded with ammunition. 812:

Very soon, however, the Board was coming under pressure from local residents to remove the gunpowder store from Greenwich. Eventually, in 1763, a new set of magazines were built, along with a new proof-house, further downriver at

1552:, commander-in-chief of the British army in Crimea (who, ironically, died of dysentery there on 29 June 1855 at a time when his forces were afflicted with cholera and reeling from a disastrous series of military failures.): 1084:

In 1716 the Duke of Marlborough, in his capacity as Master General of the Ordnance, oversaw the formation (by Royal Warrant) of two permanent companies of field artillery, based (together with their guns) at the Warren

846:

had been responsible since 1807). Later, in 1834, the Board inherited (also from the Commissariat) the task of providing food and 'fuel' (namely coal and candles for use in barracks) for all homeland troops, as well as

821:, it was likewise used as a central store, to receive and approve gunpowder from the manufacturers prior to distribution around the country. (Soon afterwards the Greenwich magazine closed, and it was later demolished.) 133:

in uniform of Master-General of the Ordnance. The two senior officers of the Ordnance wore uniforms as for a general and lieutenant-general respectively, but of blue cloth with scarlet facings (rather than scarlet with

1214:

style of education that emerged. Initially, it was a gathering of 'gentlemen cadets', brought together to learn 'gunnery, fortification, mathematics and a little French'. By 1764, the institution had been renamed the

258:

gunners and engineers by the Board; Storekeepers and their subordinates were also civilians (and remained so through till the Board's demise in the 1850s) as were those engaged in manufacturing. Having established the

1051:. (The Board, though, retained responsibility for providing and provisioning barracks for its own corps). Apparent mismanagement in the Barrack Office led to a series of inquiries, however, and following the 774:, often apart from the Yards, and at a safe distance from inhabited areas. There were also smaller magazines, supervised by Ordnance Board staff, at several fortified locations around the British Isles (from 992:, opened 1816). RSAF Enfield continued manufacturing until its closure in 1988. There is some indication that William Galloway, a gunsmith, produced long guns for the Tower's small arms office in the 1780s. 483:. The regiment was to be housed in the Grand Storehouse, then under construction in the Tower. As a precaution against the risk of igniting the Ordnance stores of gunpowder, it was equipped with modern 1145:

from place to place. (Before this time civilian drivers were used and horses either requisitioned or hired on contract). In 1822 the Corps of Drivers was fully amalgamated into the Royal Artillery.

2458: 842:

sourcing, storing and supplying a variety of other items for the Army, including tents and camp equipment (formerly the remit of the Army's Storekeeper-General) and 'barrack stores' (for which the

114:

by Warrant of King Charles II; it consisted of five Principal Officers meeting under the chairmanship of the Master-General. At the same time it was given a new constitution ('Instructions') by

491:

muskets borne by most other regular troops. As such, the King referred to it as 'Our Royal Regiment of Fusiliers'. In its formative years, the regiment accompanied the royal artillery train to

95:

began to establish itself at the Tower; this body was responsible for firearms and artillery, and was staffed in the 1460s by a Master, a Clerk and a Yeoman. In the 1540s, during the reign of

1695:) all of which were likewise based at the Royal Arsenal until 1939; it also had close links to the Inspection (or Quality Assurance) Department, which remained at the Arsenal into the 1990s. 972:

Ordnance Board activity at Ballincollig ceased in 1815; both it and Faversham were returned to private ownership in the 1820s-30s, but Waltham Abbey remained in Government hands until 1991.

1497:, 1855. A colonel commented that a contemporary illustration depicted them 'dressed as we ought to be, not as we are ... we've neither the huts, fur hats, boots or anything in the picture'. 428:

Board directed its Storekeepers and others to mark "all descriptions of Ordnance Stores ... with the broad arrow as soon as they shall have been received as fit for His Majesty's Service".

380:

Supporters: On either side a Cyclops, in the exterior hand of the dexter a Hammer, and in that of the sinister a pair of Forceps, resting on the shoulder of each respectively, all proper.

523:(which had been built on the site of the old Grand Storehouse following a fire); it remained there for the next eleven years. Today, the Tower remains the Regimental Headquarters of the 1933: 1047:, however, there was a spate of barrack building and the new post of Barrackmaster-General was established to oversee it; he was answerable not to the Board of Ordnance but to the 1565:

Ordnance, who also went to Crimea). The post of Lieutenant-General of the Ordnance was therefore belatedly revived to try to fill the gaps, but its duties were left ill-defined.

1205:

of its artillery and engineer corps) to provide for the education of its officer cadets. The Board was also ahead of the Army in its provision of advanced training for officers.

1156:; after 1824 these duties were undertaken by Survey Companies of the Royal Corps of Sappers and Miners. Both corps were overseen by officers of the Royal Engineers in this work. 1130:

Ordnance Field Train was consolidated, together with the Ordnance Storekeepers and others, into a new Military Store Department, which eventually formed a key part of the

1296:, was established by the Board in 1835; ten years later, under the terms of the Geological Survey Act of 1845, responsibility for the survey passed from the Board to the 623:, concerns were expressed about the vulnerability of the nation's ordnance stores to attack from the sea. One response was the establishment of a Royal Ordnance Depot at 72:

The introduction of gunpowder to Europe led to innovations in offensive weapons, such as cannon, and defences, such as fortifications. From the 1320s a member of the

2737: 1356:

In 1675, the post of Astronomer Royal was established by Royal Warrant. The Board of Ordnance was warranted to pay the Astronomer's salary, and also to construct a

80:

in the Tower of London', became increasingly responsible for the procurement, storage and distribution of weapons. His office and main arsenal were located in the

740:

Ordnance Yards were also constructed in colonial ports overseas; like their counterparts in Britain, these were usually built in the vicinity of naval dockyards.

1336:; the other three were to be staffed by Artillery officers, under the authority of the Board of Ordnance. Sabine's intention was to undertake a global survey of 2352: 2249: 946:'s earlier activities at Greenwich Palace). Beginning in the 18th century, the Board began to purchase mills that had been established under private ownership: 627:, well away from the coast in Northamptonshire: a sizeable complex of storehouses and gunpowder magazines constructed along a waterway, it was connected to the 91:

During the following century, the influence of the Privy Wardrobe and its staff receded, and no new Keepers were appointed after 1476. In its place, a distinct

2455: 2882: 2887: 616:) continued to serve as Britain's principal ordnance depot until the mid-twentieth century. It also developed into a major manufacturing site (see below). 1763: 601:

The Grand Store, Woolwich, in 1841: cannons and shot were routinely stored in the open, while gun carriages and other perishable items were kept indoors.

1268:

As part of its duty of maintaining and building harbours and fortifications, a department of the Board was in place to undertake surveys and to produce

1401:

An Act for transferring to One of Her Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State the Powers and Estates vested in the Principal Officers of the Ordnance.

2320: 243: 1612:. The Field Train remained operational alongside the Military Store Department for a short time, before being merged into it on 27 September 1859. 350:

The Arms of the Board of Ordnance first appeared in the seventeenth century, and were given royal approval in 1806, confirmed by a grant from the

2877: 1341: 1149: 1937: 1600:

the old Principal Storekeeper, with responsibility also for barracks), a Director General of Contracts and a number of technical advisers: the

923:. Guns had been stored and proved there from the mid-17th century. It later expanded into a large-scale production facility, specializing in: 793:

The Tower of London remained the main, central repository until 1694, when a new gunpowder depot was established on the banks of the Thames at

942:

Gunpowder manufacture was mostly kept separate of other operations (though some took place at Woolwich in the early years, inherited from the

1671:

further name-changes: back to the 'Ordnance Committee' in 1915, (after which, for the duration of the First World War, it formed part of the

879:

in Falkirk). More expensive 'brass' (bronze) ordnance was produced on a smaller scale, by specialist foundries mostly in the London area (in

859:

Prior to the 18th century the Board had generally relied on private contracts for the provision of armaments: small arms often came from the

508: 187:

The offices of Master of the Ordnance and Clerk of the Ordnance may be said to date from 1414, when Letters Patent were issued on behalf of

2035: 1200:

The original Royal Military Academy building in Woolwich Arsenal; it also contained a Board Room for meetings of the Ordnance Board itself.

212: 138:

By the mid-16th century the Master was assisted by five 'Principal Officers' who later went on to form the Board, which thus consisted of:

2794: 2081: 1970: 1891: 1469:

c. 117), the 'powers, authorities, rights and privileges' formerly vested in the Principal Officers of the Ordnance were transferred to '

239: 216: 801:. This took place in one of a pair of smaller buildings alongside and linked to the main magazine (which was a windowless quadrangle). 1575:

spoke positively of the board's contribution in his evidence to the 1855 Parliamentary Committee into the conduct of the Crimean War:

927:

manufacture of shells, projectiles and propellants (Royal Laboratory, established at Woolwich in 1695, previously based at Greenwich)

2521: 1152:

was a military corps under the Board of Ordnance, formally established in 1800 and disbanded in 1817. It supported the work of the

1020:. In 1802 the post of Inspector General of Fortifications was established, and this official took over supervision of these works. 247: 230:

principal military adviser to the government. Some of the most illustrious soldiers of their generation served as Master-General:

60:

among government departments. The Board lasted until 1855, at which point (tarnished by poor performance in supplying the Army in

28: 1797: 1605: 231: 180: 130: 1675:), and back again to the 'Ordnance Board' in 1939 (after which, for the duration of the Second World War, it formed part of the 1406: 1277: 958: 73: 666:

ships returning from duties at sea were obliged to unload their stores of powder and ammunition; if a ship was to spend time '

1628: 1572: 721:

Smaller Yards were built in parts of Britain to serve particular strategic purposes at particular times (such as the Yard in

507:

of 1688, the Fusiliers ceased to be an Ordnance Regiment and became a regular Infantry regiment (the 7th Foot, later renamed

251: 2892: 1707: 1252: 933:

manufacture of gun carriages and other ancillary items (1750s onwards; given identity as the Royal Carriage Works in 1803).

444: 1839: 1541:, had developed into an administrative division, unpractised in warfare); while the Army's land transport capability, the 631:

to facilitate access and distribution. At the same time a similar (but short-lived) facility was also built alongside the

1601: 1168: 653: 2782:

Smith Elder & Co, London (1877) Vol III p 180 (Online version transcribed from copy in the University of California)

2778: 1549: 965: 151: 1316:

for the establishment of four fixed magnetic and meteorological observatories in different parts of the world: one in

377:

Crest: Out of a mural crown, argent, a dexter cubit arm, the hand grasping a thunderbolt, winged and inflamed, proper.

2750: 2581: 2548: 2253: 2045: 1494: 1223: 907: 605:

In the mid-17th century the Board began to use land at Woolwich for storing and proving its guns. The land (known as

468: 235: 207:

Until 1544 the Master had generally managed the day-to-day activities of the Ordnance Office. In that year, however,

115: 20: 2679: 1780: 1682: 1569: 1478: 1388: 1227: 1215: 1138: 1126: 1073: 162: 2198: 1505:. 'Disastrous logistical difficulties' plagued the campaign, especially during the Russian winter of 1854. These 1281: 648: 2298: 1344:. In England, Sabine maintained his Magnetic Office at the observatory in Woolwich until 1871, when it moved to 930:

manufacture of cannons, mortars and other artillery pieces (Royal Brass Foundry (aka Gun Factory), founded 1717)

736:

Part of Bermuda's Ordnance Yard within the bastioned defences of Keep Yard; other Dockyard buildings lie beyond.

680: 2302: 2294: 145: 1104:(who were likewise under the authority of the Board of Ordnance) to provide artillery support to the Cavalry. 415: 951: 864: 741: 81: 126: 1448: 1357: 1171:

was appointed Veterinary Surgeon to the Board of Ordnance. He oversaw the training and appointment of more

775: 694: 2317: 2283: 1608:. In 1857, the network of Storekeepers and Clerks across various locations was reconstituted to form the 1297: 1196: 553:

In the medieval period, storage and supply of weapons and armaments was the responsibility of the King's

524: 480: 174: 1470: 1441: 1185: 818: 495:

each summer (where the Army remained encamped for several weeks); there they guarded the guns, and the

2376: 1639: 1141:

was raised (separate from the Royal Artillery itself) to provide horses and drivers for conveying the

804: 753: 99:, the Ordnance Office was expanded, with new officers appointed and their principal duties clarified. 2199:"The Fusilier Museum: The story of a British infantry regiment from its formation to the present day" 2173: 1624: 1609: 1514: 1301: 1131: 396: 298: 2647: 2274:

Major General A Forbes 'A History of the Army Ordnance Services' Medici Society, London 1929. Vol II

2897: 1786: 1161: 989: 710: 404: 395:, which has the shield at its centre (it was previously used, along with the Board's motto, by the 310: 223: 106:

at the Tower; the Armoury had been a parallel body which was originally responsible for armour and

1615:

In Britain there was a longstanding (and at this time still lingering) suspicion of the idea of a

915:

The Board's primary manufacturing site, and a key location for several of its activities, was the

1741: 1251:

in 1812, to provide advanced training for its Engineer officers; it was subsequently renamed the

763: 713:. (In the late 17th century Woolwich Gun Wharf expanded to the east, where it developed into the 689: 597: 460: 327: 283: 84:. This 'Privy Wardrobe in the Tower' grew, both in size and significance, after the start of the 1643:

Verbruggen House in the Royal Arsenal: headquarters of the Ordnance Board/Committee until 1939.

860: 437: 200:. By 1450 Master of Ordnance was a permanent appointment, firmly based at the Tower of London. 2791: 2078: 1967: 1888: 2605: 2417: 1672: 1396: 1337: 1238: 1101: 943: 872: 783: 554: 456: 314: 168: 96: 85: 2814: 1521:, wasted no time in embarking on a comprehensive reorganisation of military administration. 980:

Small arms manufacture was begun by the Board on Tower Wharf in 1804, before being moved to

1017: 868: 632: 566: 392: 291: 2443: 2224: 8: 2127: 1660: 1172: 794: 662: 504: 464: 322: 197: 2338:

Support for the Fleet: Architecture and engineering of the Royal Navy's bases, 1700-1914

1703:

President of the Board and two Vice-Presidents were rotated between the three services.

1530: 899:

and elsewhere). In time, the Board made moves to set up or purchase its own facilities.

843: 2517: 1676: 1620: 1542: 1538: 1452: 1076:. The Ordnance Medical Department was established to provide surgeons for these corps. 771: 705: 577:. (It was destroyed (along with its contents, some 60,000 objects) in a fire in 1841). 496: 451:

to guard the Tower; by the early 17th century this had been formalised into a standing

331: 188: 45: 2587: 2577: 2554: 2544: 2041: 1510: 1506: 1293: 1044: 968:

were purchased in 1805, having been set up as a private enterprise ten years earlier.

628: 545: 520: 516: 452: 303: 193: 1647:

Some fifty years after the old board's disestablishment, following unease after the

758:

For storage of gunpowder, a nearby fortified building was often used initially: the

1466: 1411: 1097: 1048: 1005: 1000: 826: 585: 512: 371: 363: 278:

Two appointments stand out, as they (like the six Board members) were appointed by

222:

From the 17th century through till 1828 the Master-General routinely had a seat in

1029: 2798: 2538: 2525: 2462: 2324: 2085: 1974: 1895: 1802: 1791: 1773: 1769: 1648: 1596: 1518: 1345: 1333: 1273: 1219: 1153: 1090: 1069: 1065: 1052: 984:(Royal Manufactory of Small Arms, 1807) and then transferring ten years later to 726: 620: 581: 574: 472: 367: 351: 263: 259: 208: 103: 53: 1889:

Royal Engineers Museum - The Corps, Ordnance and its Train (1370-1713) - Part 2

1745: 1735: 722: 700: 492: 476: 279: 77: 871:). Cannons and shot were procured from iron foundries (initially those in the 589:

still technically the Board's headquarters, was mostly given over to storage.

2871: 2558: 1809: 1616: 1489: 1451:

as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from

1313: 1248: 1114: 1086: 1034:

The Board also had responsibility for the building, upkeep and management of

916: 714: 613: 606: 400: 342: 287: 107: 2591: 1820: 1731: 1727: 1710:

until the mid-1990s when it was renamed the Defence Ordnance Safety Group.

1424: 1325: 985: 892: 876: 779: 767: 759: 49: 1481:; both corps thenceforward became an integrated part of the British Army. 1815: 1720: 1699: 1534: 1502: 1177: 880: 667: 424: 391:

The old Board's coat of arms is remembered today in the cap badge of the

61: 57: 2318:

English Heritage: Thematic History of Ordnance Yards and Magazine Depots

1958:

Confirmed 'by command of the Prince Regent', General Orders, July 1811.

1474: 1332:. The first would be overseen by Admiralty, staffed by officers of the 1142: 896: 798: 636: 624: 562: 419:

Ammunition box with Board of Ordnance shield, initials and broad arrow.

1321: 888: 787: 488: 484: 725:, built to service the fleet stationed in Yarmouth Roads during the 549:

Arms of the Board of Ordnance at the Tower of London, New Armouries.

346:

Full coat of arms, with crest and supporters, at the Tower of London

2752:

The British War Office: from the Crimean War to Cardwell, 1855-1868

2725:

To The Warrior His Arms: The Story of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps

1749: 1698:

At the outbreak of war, the Ordnance Board moved to Kemal Manor in

1656: 1651:

that the British Army had been ill-equipped, a new body called the

1317: 1055:

responsibility for barracks was returned to the Board of Ordnance.

1040: 1035: 981: 920: 884: 814: 558: 448: 2097: 1655:

was created within the War Office. It consisted of a committee of

511:); but they continued to retain a base at the Tower. In 1949, the 503:

who had been drafted in to operate them. In due course, after the

463:

of militia. Then in 1685, following Charles's death, the new King

313:

was a specific office established in 1546 who was assigned to the

204:

time the office of Surveyor of the Ordnance was also established.

2157:

Historical Record of the Seventh Regiment, or the Royal Fusiliers

1719:

One of its 18th-century map-makers was noted water-colour artist

1548:

At the time, much of the blame for failure fell on Field Marshal

1471:

Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the War Department

1329: 661:

The Board established storage and maintenance areas close to the

500: 459:, the Tower was still consistently being guarded by two garrison 33: 2068:. Woodbridge, Suffolk: Royal Historical Society (Boydell Press). 2021:

The Records of the War Office and Related Departments, 1660-1964

1920:

Guns and Government: the Ordnance Office under the later Stuarts

1009: 911:

Guns of various ages displayed at the former Royal Arsenal site

848: 355: 2478:. London: Parliament (House of Lords). 1812. pp. 232–233. 1686:

Charles House, Kensington: the board's headquarters from 1950.

1304:, it remains active as a national research and advisory body. 2431:

The Field Train Department of the Board of Ordnance 1793-1859

1692: 1312:

In 1839 the Government gave its support to Major (later Sir)

670:' (i.e. out of commission) it had its guns removed as well). 2313: 2311: 1298:

Office of Woods, Forests, Land Revenues, Works and Buildings

770:

at Chatham; later, the Ordnance Board created purpose-built

592: 1631:(both of which evolved into military units in due course). 1292:

The Ordnance Geological Survey, the world's first national

1280:; following the demise of the Board, it became part of the 732: 642: 1634: 102:

In 1671, the Office of Ordnance took over the work of the

2308: 1269: 584:

to such an extent that in 1806 it purchased the lease of

580:

The Board's administrative staff had expanded during the

535: 175:

Storekeeper (later Principal Storekeeper) of the Ordnance

154:(deputy to the Master and second-in-command of the corps) 2174:"The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment): Origins" 2066:

The English Ordnance Office: a case-study in bureaucracy

1545:, had been abolished as a cost-cutting measure in 1832. 684:

Some of the few surviving buildings of Chatham Gun Wharf

1783:, set up by the Board to train and educate its officers 1093:

had been conveyed to the front line in any conflict by

697:(replaced an earlier gun wharf just east of Mount Wise) 148:(head of the board and commander-in-chief of the corps) 2476:

XVIIth Report of the Commissioners of Military Enquiry

1659:

experts, whose purpose was to advise the newly-formed

1501:

The catalyst for the board's disestablishment was the

854: 1876:

Arrows to atom bombs: a history of the Ordnance Board

1840:

History of the Ordnance Survey, quoting older sources

152:

Lieutenant (later Lieutenant-General) of the Ordnance

2635:

History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery, Volume 2

1706:

The Ordnance Board and its name survived within the

540: 215:

as Master of the Ordnance, displacing the incumbent

1991:

The Field Train Department of the Board of Ordnance

1351: 32:Shield of the Board of Ordnance preserved on a gun 2491:Veterinary Medicine: A Guide to Historical Sources 2122: 2120: 2118: 1776:, both of which were Board of Ordnance initiatives 808:The Board's surviving former magazine at Purfleet. 2779:The Life of His Royal Highness the Prince Consort 2727:. Barnsley, S. Yorks.: Pen & Sword Books Ltd. 2659: 2657: 2655: 2574:Ordnance Survey, map makers to Britain since 1791 1263: 163:Surveyor (later Surveyor-General) of the Ordnance 2869: 2859:John Wilson, Guernsey's Architect: A Celebration 2680:"William Simpson: Sketches from the Crimean War" 2666:A History of the Army Ordnance Services, vol. II 2353:"Greenwich Marsh: the 300 years before the Dome" 1058: 2444:Records of the Ordnance Survey of Great Britain 2217: 2168: 2166: 2115: 1796:Ordnance yards and other facilities, including 1693:Armament Research and Development Establishment 1342:Toronto Magnetic and Meteorological Observatory 1150:Corps of Royal Military Surveyors and Draftsmen 2652: 1934:"Royal Armouries detailed historical overview" 657:Part of the former Ordnance Yard at Portsmouth 16:English and British body responsible for forts 2809: 2807: 2772: 2770: 2628: 2626: 2482: 2468: 2150: 2148: 1913: 1911: 1909: 1907: 1905: 1903: 1307: 1208: 509:the Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) 146:Master (later Master-General) of the Ordnance 2883:1855 disestablishments in the United Kingdom 2718: 2716: 2714: 2706:The Story of the Royal Regiment of Artillery 2524:, is now taken as the starting point of the 2418:National Army Museum regimental history page 2163: 2059: 2057: 1595:Under the Secretary of State for War, a new 1449:Text of the Ordnance Board Transfer Act 1855 317:and acted as a liaison between both boards. 2888:Defunct public bodies of the United Kingdom 2571: 2014: 2012: 2010: 2008: 2006: 2004: 2002: 2000: 1873: 1493:British artillery battery at Sebastopol by 1242:Repository training, Woolwich Common, 1844. 995: 875:, later from further afield, e.g. from the 2804: 2767: 2742: 2623: 2422: 2284:English Heritage survey of Naval Dockyards 2145: 1984: 1982: 1900: 1604:, Director General of Naval Artillery and 649:Royal Naval Armaments Depot § History 431: 2711: 2159:. London: Parker, Furnivall & Parker. 2054: 1917: 1869: 1867: 1191: 975: 593:Central store depots: Woolwich and Weedon 2522:Principal Triangulation of Great Britain 2387: 2329: 1997: 1865: 1863: 1861: 1859: 1857: 1855: 1853: 1851: 1849: 1847: 1748:with the Board of Ordnance, and went to 1730:FRS (1765-1854) author, inventor of the 1681: 1638: 1488: 1287: 1237: 1195: 999: 937: 906: 902: 803: 754:Gunpowder magazine § United Kingdom 731: 679: 652: 643:Distribution points: the Royal Dockyards 596: 544: 414: 341: 125: 27: 2792:Abolition of the Board of Ordnance,1855 2698: 2576:. Southampton: Ordnance Survey (HMSO). 2536: 2128:"The Fusilier Origins in Tower Hamlets" 2063: 2033: 1979: 1968:Part 01 – Arms of the Board of Ordnance 1663:on the safety and approval of weapons. 1635:Ordnance Board in the twentieth century 612:The Woolwich Warren (later renamed the 181:Clerk of the Deliveries of the Ordnance 67: 2878:Military history of the United Kingdom 2870: 2839:Monger, Garry (2021). "George Manby". 2838: 2755:. Amherst: University of Massachusetts 2748: 2663: 2637:. London: J. Murray. pp. 465–469. 2632: 2505:The Survey of London vol. 48: Woolwich 2488: 2428: 2191: 2154: 1988: 1233: 536:Storage and supply: the Ordnance Yards 519:since 1873) returned to the Tower, to 479:); there was in addition a company of 2722: 2402: 2377:National Archives: historical summary 2350: 2018: 1844: 1629:Commissariat and Transport Department 1442:Text of statute as originally enacted 1272:. This department developed into the 677:The principal home Yards included: 447:) to summon local citizens to form a 196:and (albeit without his guns) at the 121: 2801:On website of Royal Engineers Museum 2497: 2335: 2102:Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps 2079:Reproduced copy of the grant of arms 2023:. Kew, Surrey: Public Record Office. 1004:Board of Ordnance shield on part of 747: 445:Lord Lieutenant of the Tower Hamlets 2598: 2572:Owen, Tim; Pilbeam, Elaine (1992). 1922:. London: Royal Historical Society. 1602:Inspector General of Fortifications 1258: 1043:fortifications. In the wake of the 855:Manufacture: the Ordnance Factories 13: 2738:Royal Armouries: Board of Ordnance 1222:. In 1946 it amalgamated with the 1107: 1079: 966:Ballincollig Royal Gunpowder Mills 440:routinely exercised his right (as 269: 14: 2909: 2668:. London: The Medici Society Ltd. 2664:Forbes, Major General A. (1929). 1764:List of Masters-General from 1415 1606:Director General, Royal Artillery 717:: a key Ordnance Board facility.) 541:Headquarters: the Tower of London 52:, it had its headquarters in the 21:United States Army Ordnance Corps 2540:A History of the Ordnance Survey 2456:Royal Armouries: Ordnance Survey 1781:Royal Military Academy, Woolwich 1713: 1479:Commander-in-Chief of the Forces 1463:Ordnance Board Transfer Act 1855 1389:Parliament of the United Kingdom 1382: 1372:Ordnance Board Transfer Act 1855 1352:The Royal Observatory, Greenwich 1228:Royal Military Academy Sandhurst 1139:Corps of Royal Artillery Drivers 1074:Commander-in-Chief of the Forces 438:Constable of the Tower of London 374:, argent, 3 cannonballs, proper. 2851: 2832: 2815:"Records of the Ordnance Board" 2785: 2731: 2723:Steer, Brigadier Frank (2005). 2704:Graham C A L DSO psc, Brig Gen 2672: 2641: 2565: 2543:. Folkestone, England: Dawson. 2530: 2510: 2449: 2437: 2411: 2396: 2381: 2370: 2344: 2288: 2277: 2268: 2242: 2090: 2072: 2027: 1993:. Royal Logistics Corps Museum. 337: 2648:The Royal Observatory: history 2610:BGS: British Geological Survey 2433:. Royal Logistic Corps museum. 2351:Mills, Mary (21 August 2013). 2034:Fissell, Mark Charles (2016). 1961: 1952: 1926: 1882: 1833: 1358:Royal Observatory in Greenwich 1264:Mapmaking: the Ordnance Survey 1253:School of Military Engineering 1120: 1030:Barracks § United Kingdom 836: 410: 158:And four heads of department: 1: 2861:(Blue Ormer Publishing, 2018) 2708:RA Institution, Woolwich 1939 2493:. Abingdon, Oxon.: Routledge. 1826: 1484: 1184:headquarters of the emergent 1059:Personnel: the Ordnance Corps 530: 487:fusils, rather than with the 211:appointed his brother-in-law 2537:Seymour, W. A., ed. (1980). 2392:. Liphook, Hants.: Beaufort. 2340:. Swindon: English Heritage. 2305:Listed building descriptions 2098:"History of the Broad Arrow" 2064:Stewart, Richard W. (1996). 1874:Skentlebery, Norman (1975). 1623:, before re-emerging as the 1590: 1509:failings led to the fall of 1089:), Woolwich. Prior to this, 399:). The crest appears on the 7: 2893:Military history of England 2357:Greenwich Peninsula History 1805:, headquarters of the Board 1757: 1734:was also barrack-master of 1435:Status: Current legislation 1278:new premises in Southampton 1023: 525:Royal Regiment of Fusiliers 515:(which had been located in 10: 2914: 2405:British Barracks 1660-1914 2040:. Routledge. p. 192. 2037:English Warfare, 1511–1642 1537:which, in the years since 1368:United Kingdom legislation 1308:The Global Magnetic Survey 1300:. Known since 1984 as the 1209:The Royal Military Academy 1186:Army Veterinary Department 1027: 751: 646: 18: 2388:Saunders, Andrew (1989). 2250:"Tower of London website" 1918:Tomlinson, H. C. (1979). 1878:. London: Ordnance Board. 1812:(a key Ordnance facility) 1625:Ordnance Store Department 1610:Military Store Department 1447: 1440: 1433: 1423: 1418: 1405: 1395: 1381: 1376: 1363: 1302:British Geological Survey 1132:Royal Army Ordnance Corps 957:Waltham Abbey became the 436:In the 16th century, the 397:Royal Army Ordnance Corps 299:Treasurer of the Ordnance 171:(in charge of purchasing) 48:body. Established in the 2749:Harpin, Paul H. (1976). 2633:Duncan, Francis (1873). 2520:in 1791, for use in the 2205:. Historic Royal Palaces 2155:Cannon, Richard (1847). 1787:Royal Ordnance Factories 996:Forts and fortifications 990:Royal Small Arms Factory 819:Royal Gunpowder Magazine 405:Corps of Royal Engineers 311:Master of Naval Ordnance 2684:Illustration Chronicles 2489:Hunter, Pamela (2016). 2336:Coad, Jonathan (2013). 2132:Fusilier Museum, London 2019:Roper, Michael (1998). 1162:Army Medical Department 959:Royal Gunpowder Factory 851:for cavalry regiments. 432:The 'Ordnance Regiment' 328:Irish Board of Ordnance 284:Great Seal of the Realm 19:For the U.S. body, see 2503:Saint & Guillery, 2429:Sharpe, L. C. (1993). 2229:Fusilier Museum London 1989:Sharpe, L. C. (1993). 1687: 1644: 1584: 1562: 1498: 1243: 1224:Royal Military College 1216:Royal Military Academy 1201: 1192:Education and training 1127:Field Train Department 1012: 976:Small Arms manufacture 912: 861:Birmingham Gun Quarter 809: 737: 695:Morice Yard, Devonport 685: 658: 602: 550: 455:. During the reign of 420: 347: 217:Sir Christopher Morris 183:(in charge of issuing) 177:(in charge of storage) 165:(in charge of quality) 135: 37: 2847:. Natasha Shiels: 20. 2403:Douet, James (1997). 1685: 1673:Ministry of Munitions 1642: 1577: 1554: 1492: 1338:terrestrial magnetism 1288:The Geological Survey 1241: 1199: 1102:Royal Horse Artillery 1003: 950:Faversham became the 938:Gunpowder manufacture 910: 903:Artillery manufacture 873:Kent and Sussex Weald 807: 735: 690:HM Gun Wharf, Chatham 683: 656: 600: 548: 418: 345: 315:Council of the Marine 226:, and thus served as 169:Clerk of the Ordnance 129: 76:, the 'Keeper of the 31: 2516:The purchase of the 2299:244b, Southtown Road 2225:"Regimental History" 2178:National Army Museum 1018:Sir Bernard de Gomme 706:Gun Wharf, Sheerness 701:Gunwharf, Portsmouth 633:Grand Junction Canal 567:Old Artillery Ground 393:Royal Logistic Corps 366:- 3 Field Pieces in 68:Origins of the Board 64:) it was disbanded. 2303:245, Southtown Road 2295:244, Southtown Road 1798:Gunpowder magazines 1708:Ministry of Defence 1373: 1234:Specialist training 1173:veterinary surgeons 867:(also, later, from 795:Greenwich Peninsula 772:Gunpowder Magazines 762:at Portsmouth, the 711:Gun Wharf, Woolwich 505:Glorious Revolution 323:Union of the Crowns 290:of England and the 198:Battle of Agincourt 2797:2007-01-18 at the 2686:. 13 February 2018 2518:Ramsden theodolite 2461:2016-07-03 at the 2323:2014-08-22 at the 2084:2008-06-23 at the 1973:2008-06-23 at the 1894:2010-02-04 at the 1744:(1782–1866) was a 1688: 1677:Ministry of Supply 1645: 1621:Control Department 1570:Commander-in-Chief 1568:Nevertheless, the 1543:Royal Waggon Train 1499: 1453:legislation.gov.uk 1371: 1244: 1202: 1013: 913: 810: 738: 686: 659: 639:, west of London. 603: 551: 421: 348: 189:Henry V of England 136: 122:Principal officers 93:Office of Ordnance 86:Hundred Years' War 46:British government 38: 2819:National Archives 1533:(a branch of the 1513:in January 1855; 1467:18 & 19 Vict. 1459: 1458: 1412:18 & 19 Vict. 1377:Act of Parliament 1294:geological survey 1045:French Revolution 952:Royal Powder Mill 863:, gunpowder from 748:Gunpowder storage 629:Grand Union Canal 561:and cannons were 521:Waterloo Barracks 517:Hounslow Barracks 304:Paymaster General 194:Siege of Harfleur 112:Board of Ordnance 104:Office of Armoury 42:Board of Ordnance 2905: 2862: 2855: 2849: 2848: 2836: 2830: 2829: 2827: 2825: 2811: 2802: 2789: 2783: 2774: 2765: 2764: 2762: 2760: 2746: 2740: 2735: 2729: 2728: 2720: 2709: 2702: 2696: 2695: 2693: 2691: 2676: 2670: 2669: 2661: 2650: 2645: 2639: 2638: 2630: 2621: 2620: 2618: 2616: 2602: 2596: 2595: 2569: 2563: 2562: 2534: 2528: 2514: 2508: 2501: 2495: 2494: 2486: 2480: 2479: 2472: 2466: 2453: 2447: 2441: 2435: 2434: 2426: 2420: 2415: 2409: 2408: 2400: 2394: 2393: 2390:Fortress Britain 2385: 2379: 2374: 2368: 2367: 2365: 2363: 2348: 2342: 2341: 2333: 2327: 2315: 2306: 2292: 2286: 2281: 2275: 2272: 2266: 2265: 2263: 2261: 2252:. Archived from 2246: 2240: 2239: 2237: 2235: 2221: 2215: 2214: 2212: 2210: 2195: 2189: 2188: 2186: 2184: 2170: 2161: 2160: 2152: 2143: 2142: 2140: 2138: 2124: 2113: 2112: 2110: 2108: 2094: 2088: 2076: 2070: 2069: 2061: 2052: 2051: 2031: 2025: 2024: 2016: 1995: 1994: 1986: 1977: 1965: 1959: 1956: 1950: 1949: 1947: 1945: 1940:on 25 March 2016 1936:. Archived from 1930: 1924: 1923: 1915: 1898: 1886: 1880: 1879: 1871: 1842: 1837: 1386: 1385: 1374: 1370: 1259:Other activities 1098:artillery trains 1091:artillery pieces 1049:Secretary at War 1006:Elizabeth Castle 964:In Ireland, the 586:Cumberland House 569:' to the north. 513:regimental depot 473:artillery trains 385:sua tela tonanti 2913: 2912: 2908: 2907: 2906: 2904: 2903: 2902: 2898:Tower of London 2868: 2867: 2866: 2865: 2856: 2852: 2837: 2833: 2823: 2821: 2813: 2812: 2805: 2799:Wayback Machine 2790: 2786: 2775: 2768: 2758: 2756: 2747: 2743: 2736: 2732: 2721: 2712: 2703: 2699: 2689: 2687: 2678: 2677: 2673: 2662: 2653: 2646: 2642: 2631: 2624: 2614: 2612: 2604: 2603: 2599: 2584: 2570: 2566: 2551: 2535: 2531: 2526:Ordnance Survey 2515: 2511: 2502: 2498: 2487: 2483: 2474: 2473: 2469: 2463:Wayback Machine 2454: 2450: 2442: 2438: 2427: 2423: 2416: 2412: 2401: 2397: 2386: 2382: 2375: 2371: 2361: 2359: 2349: 2345: 2334: 2330: 2325:Wayback Machine 2316: 2309: 2293: 2289: 2282: 2278: 2273: 2269: 2259: 2257: 2256:on 22 July 2014 2248: 2247: 2243: 2233: 2231: 2223: 2222: 2218: 2208: 2206: 2203:Tower of London 2197: 2196: 2192: 2182: 2180: 2172: 2171: 2164: 2153: 2146: 2136: 2134: 2126: 2125: 2116: 2106: 2104: 2096: 2095: 2091: 2086:Wayback Machine 2077: 2073: 2062: 2055: 2048: 2032: 2028: 2017: 1998: 1987: 1980: 1975:Wayback Machine 1966: 1962: 1957: 1953: 1943: 1941: 1932: 1931: 1927: 1916: 1901: 1896:Wayback Machine 1887: 1883: 1872: 1845: 1838: 1834: 1829: 1803:Tower of London 1792:Ordnance Survey 1774:Royal Engineers 1770:Royal Artillery 1760: 1716: 1649:Second Boer War 1637: 1597:Under Secretary 1593: 1556:(In 1855) . . . 1519:Lord Palmerston 1507:widely-reported 1495:William Simpson 1487: 1436: 1391: 1383: 1369: 1366: 1354: 1346:Kew Observatory 1334:Ross expedition 1310: 1290: 1274:Ordnance Survey 1266: 1261: 1236: 1220:Woolwich Common 1211: 1194: 1154:Ordnance Survey 1123: 1110: 1108:Royal Engineers 1082: 1080:Royal Artillery 1070:Royal Engineers 1066:Royal Artillery 1061: 1053:Napoleonic Wars 1032: 1026: 998: 978: 940: 905: 857: 839: 756: 750: 727:Napoleonic Wars 663:Royal Dockyards 651: 645: 621:Napoleonic Wars 595: 582:Napoleonic Wars 575:Royal Armouries 543: 538: 533: 434: 413: 358:is as follows: 352:College of Arms 340: 272: 270:Other personnel 264:Royal Engineers 260:Royal Artillery 209:King Henry VIII 141:Two overseers: 124: 74:Royal Household 70: 54:Tower of London 24: 17: 12: 11: 5: 2911: 2901: 2900: 2895: 2890: 2885: 2880: 2864: 2863: 2857:Simon Coombe, 2850: 2831: 2803: 2784: 2766: 2741: 2730: 2710: 2697: 2671: 2651: 2640: 2622: 2597: 2582: 2564: 2549: 2529: 2509: 2496: 2481: 2467: 2448: 2436: 2421: 2410: 2395: 2380: 2369: 2343: 2328: 2307: 2287: 2276: 2267: 2241: 2216: 2190: 2162: 2144: 2114: 2089: 2071: 2053: 2046: 2026: 1996: 1978: 1960: 1951: 1925: 1899: 1881: 1843: 1831: 1830: 1828: 1825: 1824: 1823: 1818: 1813: 1806: 1800: 1794: 1789: 1784: 1777: 1766: 1759: 1756: 1755: 1754: 1746:Clerk of Works 1739: 1736:Great Yarmouth 1724: 1715: 1712: 1653:Ordnance Board 1636: 1633: 1592: 1589: 1511:the government 1486: 1483: 1457: 1456: 1445: 1444: 1438: 1437: 1434: 1431: 1430: 1429:14 August 1855 1427: 1421: 1420: 1416: 1415: 1409: 1403: 1402: 1399: 1393: 1392: 1387: 1379: 1378: 1367: 1365: 1362: 1353: 1350: 1309: 1306: 1289: 1286: 1282:War Department 1265: 1262: 1260: 1257: 1235: 1232: 1210: 1207: 1193: 1190: 1169:Edward Coleman 1122: 1119: 1109: 1106: 1081: 1078: 1060: 1057: 1025: 1022: 997: 994: 977: 974: 970: 969: 962: 955: 939: 936: 935: 934: 931: 928: 904: 901: 856: 853: 838: 835: 749: 746: 723:Great Yarmouth 719: 718: 708: 703: 698: 692: 644: 641: 594: 591: 542: 539: 537: 534: 532: 529: 493:Hounslow Heath 469:Lord Dartmouth 433: 430: 412: 409: 389: 388: 381: 378: 375: 339: 336: 292:Chief Engineer 280:Letters Patent 271: 268: 213:Thomas Seymour 185: 184: 178: 172: 166: 156: 155: 149: 123: 120: 116:Lord Dartmouth 78:Privy Wardrobe 69: 66: 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 2910: 2899: 2896: 2894: 2891: 2889: 2886: 2884: 2881: 2879: 2876: 2875: 2873: 2860: 2854: 2846: 2842: 2835: 2820: 2816: 2810: 2808: 2800: 2796: 2793: 2788: 2781: 2780: 2773: 2771: 2754: 2753: 2745: 2739: 2734: 2726: 2719: 2717: 2715: 2707: 2701: 2685: 2681: 2675: 2667: 2660: 2658: 2656: 2649: 2644: 2636: 2629: 2627: 2611: 2607: 2606:"Our History" 2601: 2593: 2589: 2585: 2583:9780319002490 2579: 2575: 2568: 2560: 2556: 2552: 2550:0-7129-0979-6 2546: 2542: 2541: 2533: 2527: 2523: 2519: 2513: 2507:, Yale, 2012. 2506: 2500: 2492: 2485: 2477: 2471: 2464: 2460: 2457: 2452: 2445: 2440: 2432: 2425: 2419: 2414: 2406: 2399: 2391: 2384: 2378: 2373: 2358: 2354: 2347: 2339: 2332: 2326: 2322: 2319: 2314: 2312: 2304: 2300: 2296: 2291: 2285: 2280: 2271: 2255: 2251: 2245: 2230: 2226: 2220: 2204: 2200: 2194: 2179: 2175: 2169: 2167: 2158: 2151: 2149: 2133: 2129: 2123: 2121: 2119: 2103: 2099: 2093: 2087: 2083: 2080: 2075: 2067: 2060: 2058: 2049: 2047:9781136349133 2043: 2039: 2038: 2030: 2022: 2015: 2013: 2011: 2009: 2007: 2005: 2003: 2001: 1992: 1985: 1983: 1976: 1972: 1969: 1964: 1955: 1939: 1935: 1929: 1921: 1914: 1912: 1910: 1908: 1906: 1904: 1897: 1893: 1890: 1885: 1877: 1870: 1868: 1866: 1864: 1862: 1860: 1858: 1856: 1854: 1852: 1850: 1848: 1841: 1836: 1832: 1822: 1819: 1817: 1814: 1811: 1810:Royal Arsenal 1807: 1804: 1801: 1799: 1795: 1793: 1790: 1788: 1785: 1782: 1778: 1775: 1771: 1767: 1765: 1762: 1761: 1751: 1747: 1743: 1740: 1737: 1733: 1729: 1725: 1722: 1718: 1717: 1714:Notable staff 1711: 1709: 1704: 1701: 1696: 1694: 1684: 1680: 1678: 1674: 1668: 1664: 1662: 1658: 1654: 1650: 1641: 1632: 1630: 1626: 1622: 1618: 1617:standing army 1613: 1611: 1607: 1603: 1598: 1588: 1583: 1582: 1576: 1574: 1573:Lord Hardinge 1571: 1566: 1561: 1560: 1553: 1551: 1546: 1544: 1540: 1536: 1532: 1526: 1522: 1520: 1516: 1515:its successor 1512: 1508: 1504: 1496: 1491: 1482: 1480: 1476: 1472: 1468: 1464: 1454: 1450: 1446: 1443: 1439: 1432: 1428: 1426: 1422: 1417: 1413: 1410: 1408: 1404: 1400: 1398: 1394: 1390: 1380: 1375: 1361: 1359: 1349: 1347: 1343: 1339: 1335: 1331: 1327: 1323: 1319: 1315: 1314:Edward Sabine 1305: 1303: 1299: 1295: 1285: 1283: 1279: 1275: 1271: 1256: 1254: 1250: 1240: 1231: 1229: 1225: 1221: 1217: 1206: 1198: 1189: 1187: 1183: 1179: 1174: 1170: 1165: 1163: 1157: 1155: 1151: 1146: 1144: 1140: 1135: 1133: 1128: 1118: 1116: 1105: 1103: 1099: 1096: 1092: 1088: 1087:Royal Arsenal 1077: 1075: 1071: 1067: 1056: 1054: 1050: 1046: 1042: 1037: 1031: 1021: 1019: 1011: 1007: 1002: 993: 991: 987: 983: 973: 967: 963: 960: 956: 953: 949: 948: 947: 945: 932: 929: 926: 925: 924: 922: 918: 917:Royal Arsenal 909: 900: 898: 894: 890: 886: 882: 878: 874: 870: 869:Waltham Abbey 866: 862: 852: 850: 845: 834: 830: 828: 827:Priddy's Hard 822: 820: 816: 806: 802: 800: 796: 791: 789: 785: 781: 777: 773: 769: 766:at Plymouth, 765: 761: 755: 745: 743: 734: 730: 728: 724: 716: 715:Royal Arsenal 712: 709: 707: 704: 702: 699: 696: 693: 691: 688: 687: 682: 678: 675: 671: 669: 664: 655: 650: 640: 638: 634: 630: 626: 622: 617: 615: 614:Royal Arsenal 610: 608: 599: 590: 587: 583: 578: 576: 570: 568: 564: 560: 556: 547: 528: 526: 522: 518: 514: 510: 506: 502: 498: 494: 490: 486: 482: 478: 477:Tower Hamlets 474: 470: 466: 462: 458: 454: 450: 446: 443: 439: 429: 426: 417: 408: 406: 402: 398: 394: 386: 382: 379: 376: 373: 369: 365: 361: 360: 359: 357: 354:in 1823. The 353: 344: 335: 333: 329: 324: 318: 316: 312: 307: 305: 300: 295: 293: 289: 288:Master Gunner 286:: namely the 285: 281: 276: 267: 265: 261: 255: 253: 249: 245: 241: 237: 233: 229: 225: 220: 218: 214: 210: 205: 201: 199: 195: 190: 182: 179: 176: 173: 170: 167: 164: 161: 160: 159: 153: 150: 147: 144: 143: 142: 139: 132: 128: 119: 117: 113: 109: 108:edged weapons 105: 100: 98: 94: 89: 87: 83: 79: 75: 65: 63: 59: 55: 51: 47: 43: 35: 30: 26: 22: 2858: 2853: 2844: 2840: 2834: 2822:. Retrieved 2818: 2787: 2777: 2757:. Retrieved 2751: 2744: 2733: 2724: 2705: 2700: 2688:. Retrieved 2683: 2674: 2665: 2643: 2634: 2613:. Retrieved 2609: 2600: 2573: 2567: 2539: 2532: 2512: 2504: 2499: 2490: 2484: 2475: 2470: 2451: 2439: 2430: 2424: 2413: 2404: 2398: 2389: 2383: 2372: 2360:. Retrieved 2356: 2346: 2337: 2331: 2290: 2279: 2270: 2258:. Retrieved 2254:the original 2244: 2232:. Retrieved 2228: 2219: 2207:. Retrieved 2202: 2193: 2181:. Retrieved 2177: 2156: 2135:. Retrieved 2131: 2105:. Retrieved 2101: 2092: 2074: 2065: 2036: 2029: 2020: 1990: 1963: 1954: 1942:. Retrieved 1938:the original 1928: 1919: 1884: 1875: 1835: 1821:Anthony Roll 1732:Manby mortar 1728:George Manby 1723:(1731-1809). 1705: 1697: 1689: 1669: 1665: 1661:Army Council 1652: 1646: 1614: 1594: 1585: 1579: 1578: 1567: 1563: 1557: 1555: 1547: 1531:Commissariat 1527: 1523: 1500: 1462: 1460: 1425:Royal assent 1355: 1326:Saint Helena 1311: 1291: 1267: 1245: 1226:to form the 1212: 1203: 1181: 1180:, it became 1166: 1158: 1147: 1136: 1124: 1111: 1094: 1083: 1062: 1033: 1014: 979: 971: 941: 914: 893:The Foundery 877:Carron Works 858: 844:Commissariat 840: 831: 823: 817:. Named the 811: 799:proof tested 792: 780:Scilly Isles 768:Upnor Castle 760:Square Tower 757: 739: 720: 676: 672: 660: 618: 611: 604: 579: 571: 563:proof-tested 552: 441: 435: 422: 390: 384: 349: 338:Coat of Arms 319: 308: 296: 277: 273: 256: 227: 221: 206: 202: 186: 157: 140: 137: 111: 101: 92: 90: 71: 50:Tudor period 41: 39: 36:in Gibraltar 25: 2465:2106-01-21. 2446:2016-01-21. 2234:16 December 2209:16 December 2183:16 December 2137:16 December 1816:Broad arrow 1742:John Wilson 1721:Paul Sandby 1700:Chislehurst 1550:Lord Raglan 1503:Crimean War 1178:Crimean War 1121:Other corps 881:Houndsditch 837:Other items 784:Fort George 776:Star Castle 668:in ordinary 619:During the 425:broad arrow 411:Broad Arrow 370:, or; on a 232:Marlborough 131:Lord Vivian 82:White Tower 58:HM Treasury 2872:Categories 1827:References 1753:buildings. 1485:Background 1475:War Office 1397:Long title 1143:field guns 1137:In 1796 a 1041:garrisoned 1028:See also: 897:Moorfields 752:See also: 647:See also: 637:North Hyde 625:Weedon Bec 607:The Warren 531:Activities 457:Charles II 442:ex-officio 282:under the 248:Wellington 240:Cornwallis 97:Henry VIII 2824:21 August 2776:Martin T 2759:21 August 2690:22 August 2559:654935343 2362:31 August 2260:21 August 1944:19 August 1808:Woolwich 1657:munitions 1591:Aftermath 1328:, one in 1324:, one on 1322:Cape Town 1320:, one in 1247:Board in 889:Southwark 865:Faversham 788:Inverness 742:Bermuda's 501:matrosses 489:matchlock 485:flintlock 461:companies 2841:The Fens 2795:Archived 2592:28220563 2459:Archived 2321:Archived 2107:6 August 2082:Archived 1971:Archived 1892:Archived 1772:and the 1758:See also 1750:Guernsey 1726:Captain 1627:and the 1539:Waterloo 1535:Treasury 1517:, under 1407:Citation 1318:Hobarton 1182:de facto 1167:In 1796 1068:and the 1036:barracks 1024:Barracks 982:Lewisham 944:Wardrobe 921:Woolwich 885:Vauxhall 815:Purfleet 565:on the ' 559:Minories 555:Wardrobe 465:James II 449:garrison 252:Hardinge 244:Hastings 228:de facto 1461:By the 1330:Toronto 1249:Chatham 1115:Chatham 986:Enfield 961:in 1787 954:in 1759 778:on the 764:Citadel 497:gunners 453:militia 403:of the 383:Motto: 236:Cadogan 224:Cabinet 34:tampion 2615:1 June 2590: 2580: 2557: 2547: 2044: 1414:c. 117 1364:Demise 1095:ad hoc 1010:Jersey 849:forage 481:miners 467:asked 401:ensign 362:Arms: 356:blazon 330:until 134:blue). 62:Crimea 44:was a 1419:Dates 891:, at 786:near 782:, to 372:chief 364:Azure 2826:2020 2761:2020 2692:2020 2617:2021 2588:OCLC 2578:ISBN 2555:OCLC 2545:ISBN 2364:2015 2262:2014 2236:2019 2211:2019 2185:2019 2139:2019 2109:2016 2042:ISBN 1946:2014 1779:The 1768:The 1270:maps 1148:The 499:and 423:The 368:pale 332:1801 309:The 297:The 262:and 40:The 1679:). 919:in 895:in 790:). 729:). 635:at 387:. . 2874:: 2845:32 2843:. 2817:. 2806:^ 2769:^ 2713:^ 2682:. 2654:^ 2625:^ 2608:. 2586:. 2553:. 2355:. 2310:^ 2301:; 2297:; 2227:. 2201:. 2176:. 2165:^ 2147:^ 2130:. 2117:^ 2100:. 2056:^ 1999:^ 1981:^ 1902:^ 1846:^ 1348:. 1284:. 1255:. 1230:. 1188:. 1164:. 1134:. 1125:A 1117:. 1008:, 887:, 883:, 527:. 407:. 334:. 306:. 254:. 250:, 246:, 242:, 238:, 234:, 88:. 2828:. 2763:. 2694:. 2619:. 2594:. 2561:. 2407:. 2366:. 2264:. 2238:. 2213:. 2187:. 2141:. 2111:. 2050:. 1948:. 1738:. 1465:( 1455:. 1085:( 988:( 825:( 23:.

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.

Index