REPOSITORy wOODS, wOOlwICH, gREATER ... - English Heritage

The secondary role of the Repository landscape, that of a picturesque pleasure groundswhich, like the Rotunda, were open to the public is demonstrated by a number ofcontemporary paintings, sketches and written accounts (e.g. Skedd 2008, 19-21). TheLucas print of 1820 (RCIN/PLS: 701653) shows soldiers and couples strolling up throughthe Repository grounds to the newly opened Rotunda (Skedd 2008, 17). The publicaccessibility of the grounds in this period was important in order to demonstrate thegrowing professionalism and military might of the army (Skedd 2008, 35). Thoughboth views are to the east, rather than in the Repository Grounds, the 1822 and 1823engravings by TM Baynes emphasize the picturesque nature of the Rotunda’s locationwith views to the Thames beyond (Collage 23485 and 23484) as do later photographs(RAHT Collection Albums 44 and 112, Figure 16). The people are probably strollingpast the earlier pond to the east of the site near the gun park, rather than the mainRepository pond and it seems likely that the building shown on that engraving is theoctagonal building that was known to exist to the west of that earlier pond (NMR MD96/921 but also shown on the pre-Repository map of 1788 – TNA: PRO MPH 1/235).The cheveux de frise boundary seen to the right of engraving is probably enclosing themortar battery.Figure 16: A picturesque view, looking west across the southern end of the largest Repositorypond showing a temporary bridge in the foreground and the semi-circular summerhouse to thefar left-hand side of the frame. The photograph was almost certainly taken by John Spiller in1858. Courtesy of the Royal Artillery Historical Trust (RAHT Album AL112/23)As well as demonstrating how the Repository grounds were used for exercises, the 1826watercolour by George Scharf also demonstrates the landscape’s recreational role, aswell as its use as grazing for cattle (Figure 13) – the Superintendent of the RMR also had© ENGLISH HERITAGE2214 - 2009