Royal Arsenal Gatehouse

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The Royal Arsenal Gatehouse, also known as Beresford Gate, is the main gate to the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich, southeast London. It was built starting in 1828 and finished in 1891, and it is a Grade II listed building. The gate is named after William Beresford, who was in charge of the Ordnance and the Royal Military Academy in Woolwich. The gate was designed by Colonel John Thomas Jones.

Location and purpose
- The gate sits in central Woolwich, between Beresford Square and the Royal Arsenal, near Plumstead Road. It’s close to Woolwich Arsenal railway and DLR stations and to a future Crossrail station.

History and changes
- Construction began in 1828 to replace an older gate from 1720. Cottages in the way of the main approach road were cleared.
- In the 1830s and 1850s, extra gates were added: Middle Gate in 1830 (renewed in 1843) and Third Gate in 1856 (no longer exists).
- The gate’s appearance changed over time: an office with a bell tower was added on the west side in 1859; the east side was extended in 1889; the original gate was expanded in 1891 to create three more waiting rooms.
- The road plans in the 1960s and 1980s led to a new gate built further north in 1985–86, using twin stone piers with urns rescued from the Paragon on New Kent Road.
- The old Beresford Gate was restored in 1991–92 and again in 1995–96, and the lodges were turned into offices.

Architecture and features
- The oldest parts (1828, 1859, 1889) are yellow stock brick with stone detailing. The 1891 additions are red brick and include three large windows on each side and a clock on the south gable.
- The central section has three openings: the middle one was wider for horse-drawn carriages; the side openings were for pedestrians ( widened in 1936).
- The south side openings lead into a covered plaza; the north side openings do the same.
- The lodges from 1828 flank the gate, and the western annexe from 1859 has a bell tower.
- The building has plaques, including “1829 B” and “G.R. IV,” and a shield showing three guns.
- On the south side you’ll also find two 1890s cattle drinking troughs and two modern benches.