Side and front elevations of the Dial Square entrance block, Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, viewed from the west. The building is Grade II listed and remains to this date, the interior having been converted into a public house. The archway and front range to foundry, gun boring works and smithery, later ordnance works date from 1717-20 and are attributed both to Sir J. Vanbrugh and to Nicholas Hawksmoor. The buildings originally fronted a double courtyard range of buildings, with the inner Grand Square designed for turning, washing, engraving and smitheries, and the rear Basin Square having armourers' shops and accommodation. It contained horse-powered cannon-boring equipment, to which cannon cast at the nearby Royal Foundry were sent. Dial Square was the original name of the football team set up by the workers at the Arsenal. It was later renamed Woolwich Arsenal, prior to its move to North London, were is was simply known as Arsenal.
