The Rotunda on Woolwich Common, in south-east London, was originally a 24 sided brick 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. [1] When the building was re-erected in Woolwich, in 1820, its original architect, John Nash, turned it into a permanent brick structure with a tent-style lead roof, central supporting pillar, decorative cupola and weathervane. In 1973 the Rotunda was designated as a Grade II* listed building.
It was used as the Royal Artillery Museum until 2001, when its collection was moved to the nearby Royal Arsenal. Between 2001[2] and 2016, the combined museum was branded as "Firepower: The Royal Artillery Museum" and was housed in some of the former buildings of the Arsenal. All Firepower's buildings were once part of the Royal Laboratory Department, which controlled the manufacture of ammunition; they are for the most part Grade II listed. Firepower closed in July 2016.[3] Following the 2016 closure, the collection was moved to Larkhill in Wiltshire.[4]
The Rotunda structure has not been in use between 2001 and 2023 and is on Historic England's Heritage at Risk list.[5] In November 2023, the adjacent Repository Woods were included on a Historic England list of ten London sites designated as 'at-risk'.[6] In 2023 the owners, the Defence Infrastructure Organisation, was given permission to undertake some repairs to problems with the listed building caused by the roof leaking for several years.[7]