The North Prospect of Woolwich, in the County of Kent

Location

Country: UK
City: London
Place: Ministry of Defence, Royal Artillery Barracks, Woolwich

This view or ‘prospect’ of Woolwich shows the town (now a suburb in south-east London) as it was in the early 18th century. Woolwich had become a leading military and industrial town and was home to the Dockyard, Royal Arsenal, Royal Military Academy and the Royal Horse Artillery.

The Woolwich panorama is part of a series of prospects of England and Wales, produced by brothers Samuel and Nathaniel Buck between 1728 and 1753. The brothers undertook tours around England and Wales every year, producing detailed views of the locations they visited. They would typically plan their travels carefully, advertising their work in the local press of the places they intended to visit before arriving, in the hope of attracting potential subscribers. The prospects were published over a number of years and were made available to non-subscribers only once all the impressions had been collected.

The south-west prospect of Woolwich was taken from the opposite side of the River Thames, from where many of the city’s landmarks could be viewed.

Brothers Samuel and Nathaniel Buck made their names as leading British topographical draughtsmen of the 18th century. Over a period of 34 years, the Bucks produced several hundred drawings and engravings, including 87 engraved prospects of England and Wales. These are now important visual records of the appearance of British urban landscapes prior to the changes that occurred during the Industrial Revolution. In some cases, the places depicted have since disappeared or changed beyond recognition.

Places

England, Kent, River Thames, London, Woolwich

Subjects

rowing boat, topography, landscape C18th, townscape/cityscape, river, hill, flag, field, dock, church, sailboat

Materials & Techniques

engraving, coloured engraving

Artist

Samuel and Nathaniel Buck (1696 - 1779)

Title

The North Prospect of Woolwich, in the County of Kent

Date

26 March 1739

Medium

Coloured engraving

Acquisition

Purchased from the Parker Gallery, December 1965

GAC number

7321