The NDS is publicising this petition, submitted by Mary Mills of Greenwich Industrial History Society, because the archive held at the Heritage Centre at Woolwich Arsenal until 2018, and subsequently transferred to the Royal Greenwich Heritage Trust, includes much material relevant to Woolwich Dockyard, Thameside shipbuilding, associated industries and the maritime community.
https://www.change.org/p/urge-greenwich-council-to-restore-a-properly-functioning-archive-and-museum-service
The petition also meets NDS objectives:
5 Increase public awareness of historic dockyards and related sites.
6 Create links with related organisations in Britain and abroad.
13 Encourage the storage and collection of relevant archives and oral history interviews related to dockyard history.
A Greenwich Industrial History Society representative stated that the archive, which has been transferred to the Royal Greenwich Heritage Trust, is held in an inappropriate industrial unit.
She urged that the archive should be ‘above high tide level and not next to the river, in a borough which has quite a proportion of high ground’. ‘Good transport links are essential, and the site needs to be at least three times the current size, to allow for archive access, exhibition space, museum displays, school visits and so on.’
‘At present access is only by pre-arranged appointment, which implies the applicant knows what is available and that it is relevant to their area of research’.
https://greenwichwire.co.uk/2023/11/05/hundreds-sign-petition-calling-for-return-of-greenwich-borough-museum-and-archives/

Dr Ann Coats

November 2023

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2024 updates on Greenwich Archive Petition from Mary Mills.

NDS congratulates Mary for keeping this campaign going. We know how draining and at times dispiriting it can be to keep up the momentum. To read about this Update, click here.

Dr Ann Coats

June 2024