My wife and I do most of our regular shopping in Welling, Kent. For as long as I can remember the centre of the town has had an unusual landmark ... a mid-nineteenth century caronnade mounted on a plinth on one corner of the main junction. For years I have thought to myself 'I must photograph that one day' ... and yesterday I finally got around to it!
As the plaque points out, the caronnade is on loan from 'Firepower' the Royal Artillery Museum and acts as a memorial to the hutments that were built to house workers in the Royal Arsenal Woolwich and the other local munitions factories (including Vickers at Erith and Crayford) that operated during the First World War.
As the plaque points out, the caronnade is on loan from 'Firepower' the Royal Artillery Museum and acts as a memorial to the hutments that were built to house workers in the Royal Arsenal Woolwich and the other local munitions factories (including Vickers at Erith and Crayford) that operated during the First World War.
Bob,
ReplyDeleteA splendid trophy from the Crimea - but how does a Victorian carronade pay tribute to munitions workers in the Great War?
Next they'll say that Nelson's stature is a monument to the loss of the Galahad in the Falklands!
Regards,
Arthur
Arthur1815,
ReplyDeleteIt is a very imposing piece of artillery even if it seems to be an odd choice of memorial for munitions workers. I suspect it was chosen because it was the right size ... and available.
All the best,
Bob
Its amazing the sort of Militaria that you can randomly come across when out and about. It certainly looks like a nice distraction from the rigours of shopping!
ReplyDeleteLee Hadley,
ReplyDeleteI have passed this cannon more times than I can remember, and did not realise why it was there until I actually got around to photographing it.
All the best,
Bob