Woolwich Dockyard was an English naval dockyard founded by King Henry VIII in 1512 to build his flagship Henri Grâce à Dieu (Great Harry), the largest ship of its day. Like its counterpart Deptford Dockyard, it was probably chosen for its position - on the south bank of the tidal River Thames conveniently close to Henry's palace at Greenwich. Less than half a mile to the south there is a railway station called Woolwich Dockyard.