
The Rotunda on
Woolwich Common, in south-east London, was originally a very large wooden rotunda, designed by the Whig architect
John Nash. Intended as a temporary structure, it was erected on the grounds of
Carlton House, in 1814, for use as an additional reception room for the many events hosted there by the
Prince Regent in
celebration of the allied victory over Napoleon. The first event held in the wooden rotunda was a magnificent celebration in honour of the
Duke of Wellington, in July 1814. The Regent ordered the removal of the rotunda from the grounds at Carlton House, in 1818. John Nash had hoped it would be converted into a church. However, the Regent directed that it be re-erected on Woolwich Common for use as a museum by the Royal Artillery. When the building was re-erected in Woolwich, in 1820, its original architect, John Nash, turned it into a permanent structure with a lead roof and central supporting pillar. In 1973 the Rotunda was designated as a
Grade II* listed
In the United Kingdom, a listed building or listed structure is one that has been placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Historic Environment Scotland in Scotland, in Wales, and the Northern Irel ...
building.
It was used as the Royal Artillery Museum until 2001, when it was replaced by another. That museum then closed in 2016, and the collection moved to Wiltshire. The structure has no use and is on Historic England's
Heritage at Risk list.
File:London-Woolwich, Rotunda 02.jpg, Obsolete sign near the entrance
File:London-Woolwich, Rotunda 04.jpg, Rotunda and Napier Lines corral
File:London-Woolwich, Rotunda 07.jpg, Tent-roof detail
File:London-Woolwich, Rotunda 09.jpg, View from the east
References
Bibliography
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External links
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Grade II* listed buildings in the Royal Borough of Greenwich
Infrastructure completed in 1814
1820 establishments in England
Defunct museums in London
Woolwich
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