| Camberwell | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Camberwell | |
| OS grid reference | TQ325767 |
| • Charing Cross | 2.7 mi (4.3 km) NW |
| London borough | |
| Ceremonial county | Greater London |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LONDON |
| Postcode district | SE5 |
| Dialling code | 020 |
| Police | Metropolitan |
| Fire | London |
| Ambulance | London |
| UK Parliament | |
| London Assembly | |
| 51°28′25″N0°05′28″W / 51.4736°N 0.0912°W /51.4736; -0.0912 | |
Camberwell (/ˈkæmbərwɛl/KAM-bər-wel) is anarea ofSouth London, England, in theLondon Borough of Southwark,2+3⁄4 miles (4.5 kilometres) southeast ofCharing Cross.
Camberwell was first a village associated with the church ofSt Giles and acommon of which Goose Green is a remnant. This early parish included the neighbouringhamlets ofPeckham,Dulwich,Nunhead, and part ofHerne Hill (the rest of Herne Hill was in the parish ofLambeth).[1] Until 1889, it was part of the county ofSurrey. In 1900 the original parish became theMetropolitan Borough of Camberwell.
In 1965, most of the Borough of Camberwell was merged into theLondon Borough of Southwark.[2] To the west, part of bothWest Dulwich and Herne Hill come under theLondon Borough of Lambeth.
The place now known as Camberwell covers a much smaller area than the ancient parish, and it is bound on the north byWalworth; on the south byEast Dulwich andHerne Hill; to the west byKennington; and on the east byPeckham.[3]
Camberwell was a settlement with a parish church when mentioned in theDomesday Book. It was held by Haimo the Sheriff (of Kent). Its Domesday assets were: sixhides and onevirgate. Up to the mid-19th century, Camberwell was visited by Londoners for its rural tranquillity and the reputed healing properties of its mineral springs. Camberwell was changed by the arrival of the railways in the 1860s.[4]Camberwell Green is now a small area of common land but was once a traditional village green on which was held an annual fair.[5]
There is evidence of a black community residing in Camberwell, made up mostly of African and North American slaves, during the 18th and 19th centuries.[6]
Camberwell St Giles is the name given to an ancient, and later civil, parish in theBrixton hundred ofSurrey.[7][8] The parish covered 4,570 acres (1,850 hectares) in 1831 and was divided into the liberty ofPeckham to the east and the hamlet ofDulwich to the southwest, as well as Camberwell proper. The parish tapered in the south to form a point in what is now known as theCrystal Palace area.[8] In 1801, the population was 7,059 and by 1851 this had risen to 54,667.[9] In 1829, it was included in theMetropolitan Police District and in 1855 it was included in the area of responsibility of theMetropolitan Board of Works, with Camberwell Vestry nominating one member to the board. In 1889 the board was replaced by theLondon County Council and Camberwell was removed administratively from Surrey to form part of theCounty of London.[10]
In 1900, the area of the Camberwell parish became theMetropolitan Borough of Camberwell.[11] In 1965, the metropolitan borough was abolished and its former area became the southern part of the London Borough of Southwark inGreater London. The western part of the area is situated in the adjacentLondon Borough of Lambeth.
The area has historically been home to many factories, includingR. White's Lemonade, which originated in Camberwell, as well asDualit toasters.[12] Neither of these companies is now based in the area.
Wilson's School was founded in 1615 in Camberwell by royal charter by Edward Wilson, vicar of the Parish of Camberwell. The charter was granted byJames I. The school moved to its current site inCroydon in 1975. A school for girls,Mary Datchelor Girls' School, was established in Camberwell in 1877. It was built on two houses at 15 and 17 Grove Lane, the location of a former manor house. All except one of its 30 pupils came from the parish of St Andrew Undershaft in the City of London. The funding for the school came from a bequest from Mary Datchelor, who died childless. Proceeds of a property inThreadneedle Street used as a coffee-house were used to pay for apprenticeships for the poor boys of the parish, but as demographics in the City changed, it was decided to set up a school. By the 1970s, the school was receiving funding from theClothworkers' Company and theInner London Education Authority funded teaching posts. The school came under pressure from ILEA to become co-educational and comprehensive. Faced with this choice or becoming fully private, the school's governors instead decided to close in 1981. The school buildings were later used as offices for the charitySave the Children but have now been converted to flats.[13][14][15]
Camberwell Collegiate School was an independent school located on the eastern side of Camberwell Grove, directly opposite the Grove Chapel. The Collegiate College had some success for a while, and led to the closure for some decades of the Denmark Hill Grammar School. However it had difficulty competing with other nearby schools including Dulwich College, and was closed in 1867.The land was sold for building.[16][17][18]
Camberwell today is a mixture of relatively well preservedGeorgian and 20th-century housing, including a number oftower blocks.Camberwell Grove, Grove Lane andAddington Square have some of London's most elegant and well-preserved Georgian houses.
The Salvation Army'sWilliam Booth Memorial Training College, designed byGiles Gilbert Scott, was completed in 1932: it towers over South London fromDenmark Hill. It has a similar monumental impressiveness to Gilbert Scott's other local buildings,Battersea Power Station and theTate Modern, although its simplicity is partly the result of repeated budget cuts during its construction: much more detail, including carved Gothic stonework surrounding the windows, was originally planned. Camberwell is home to one of London's largest teaching hospitals,King's College Hospital with associated medical school the Guy's King's and St Thomas' (GKT) School of Medicine. TheMaudsley Hospital, an internationally significant psychiatric hospital, is located in Camberwell along with theInstitute of Psychiatry.[19]
Earlymusic halls in Camberwell were in the back hall ofpublic houses. One, the "Father Redcap" (1853) still stands byCamberwell Green, but internally, much altered. In 1896, theDan Leno company opened the "Oriental Palace of Varieties", on Denmark Hill. This successful venture was soon replaced with a new theatre, designed by Ernest A.E. Woodrow and with a capacity of 1,553, in 1899, named the "Camberwell Palace". This was further expanded by architect Lewen Sharp in 1908.[20] By 1912, the theatre was showing films as a part of thevariety programme and became anABC cinema in September 1932 – known simply as "The Palace Cinema". It reopened as a variety theatre in 1943, but closed on 28 April 1956 and was demolished.[21]
Nearby, marked by Orpheus Street, was the "Metropole Theatre and Opera House", presenting transfers ofWest End shows. This was demolished to build anOdeon cinema in 1939. The cinema seated 2,470, and has since been demolished.[22] A second ABC cinema, known originally as the Regal Cinema and later as the ABC Camberwell, opened in 1940. With only one screen but 2,470 seats, the cinema was one of the largest suburban cinemas in London and continued to operate until 1973, after which it was used as a bingo hall until February 2010. The building retains its Art Deco style and is Grade II listed.[23]
TheChurch of the Sacred Heart, Camberwell has beenlisted Grade II on theNational Heritage List for England since 2015.[24]Camberwell Town Hall, designed by Culpin and Bowers, was completed in 1934.[25]
On 3 July 2009a major fire swept through Lakanal House, a twelve-storey tower block. Six people were killed and at least 20 people were injured.
TheCamberwell beauty (also Camberwell Beauty) is a butterfly (Nymphalis antiopa) which is rarely found in the UK – it is so named because two examples were first identified onColdharbour Lane, Camberwell in 1748.[26] A large mosaic of the Camberwell beauty used to adorn the Samuel Jones paper factory on Southampton Way. The paper factory has since been demolished but the mosaic was removed and re-installed on the side of Lynn Boxing Club on Wells Way.
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Camberwell has several art galleries includingCamberwell College of Arts, theSouth London Gallery and numerous smaller commercial art spaces. There is an annual Camberwell Arts Festival in the summer.[27] TheBlue Elephant Theatre on Bethwin Road is the only theatre venue in Camberwell.[28]
A group now known as the YBAs (the Young British Artists) began in Camberwell – in the Millard building ofGoldsmiths' College on Cormont Road. A former training college for women teachers, the Millard was the home of Goldsmiths Fine Art and Textiles department until 1988. It was converted to flats in 1996 and is now known as St Gabriel's Manor.
The core of the later-to-be YBAs, graduated from the Goldsmiths BA Fine Art degree course in the classes of 1987–90.Liam Gillick,Fiona Rae,Steve Park andSarah Lucas, were graduates in the class of 1987.Ian Davenport,Michael Landy,Gary Hume,Anya Gallaccio,Henry Bond andAngela Bulloch, were graduates in the class of 1988;Damien Hirst,Angus Fairhurst,Mat Collishaw,Simon Patterson, andAbigail Lane, were graduates from the class of 1989; whilstGillian Wearing, andSam Taylor-Wood, were graduates from the class of 1990. During the years 1987–90, the teaching staff on the Goldsmiths BA Fine Art includedJon Thompson,Richard Wentworth,Michael Craig-Martin,Ian Jeffrey,Helen Chadwick,Mark Wallinger, Judith Cowan andGlen Baxter. Collishaw has a studio in a pub in Camberwell.[29] as does the sculptorAnish Kapoor.[30]
In his memoirLucky Kunst, artistGregor Muir, writes:
The building was also the hospital whereVera Brittain served as a nurse and described in her memoirTestament of Youth.[31]
Thomas Hood, humorist and author of "The Song of the Shirt", lived in Camberwell from 1840 for two years; initially at 8, South Place, (now 181, Camberwell New Road). He later moved to 2, Union Row (now 266, High Street). He wrote to friends praising the clean air. In late 1841, he moved toSt John's Wood.[32] The Victorian art critic and watercolouristJohn Ruskin lived at 163Denmark Hill from 1847, but moved out in 1872 as the railways spoiled his view.[33] Ruskin designed part of a stained-glass window inSt Giles' Church, Camberwell.[34]Ruskin Park is named after him, and there is also a John Ruskin Street.
Another famous writer who lived in the area was the poetRobert Browning, who was born in nearbyWalworth, and lived there until he was 28.[35] NovelistGeorge Gissing, in the summer of 1893, took lodgings at 76 Burton Road, Brixton. From Burton Road he went for long walks through nearby Camberwell, soaking up impressions of the way of life he saw emerging there."[36] This led him to writingIn the Year of Jubilee, the story of "the romantic and sexual initiation of a suburban heroine, Nancy Lord." Gissing originally called his novelMiss Lord of Camberwell.[37]
Muriel Spark, the author ofThe Prime of Miss Jean Brodie andThe Ballad of Peckham Rye lived, between 1955 and 1965, in abedsit at 13 Baldwin Crescent, Camberwell.[38] The novelist Mary Jane Staples, who grew up inWalworth, wrote a book calledThe King of Camberwell, the third instalment of her Adams family saga about Cockney life. ComedianJenny Eclair is a long-term resident of Camberwell, and the area features in her 2001 novelCamberwell Beauty, named after a species ofbutterfly. PlaywrightMartin McDonagh and his brother, writer/directorJohn Michael McDonagh, live in Camberwell. The 2014 novelThe Paying Guests bySarah Waters is set in 1920s Camberwell.[39] InDaniel Defoe's novelRoxana (1724) the eponymous protagonist imagines her daughter, Susan, "drown'd in the Great Pond at Camberwell".
NearbyPeckham Rye was an important in the imaginative and creative development of poetWilliam Blake, who, when he was eight, claimed to have seen the Prophet Ezekiel there under a bush, and he was probably ten years old when he had a vision of angels in a tree.[40]
The avant-garde bandCamberwell Now named themselves after the area.
Basement Jaxx recorded three songs about Camberwell: "Camberwell Skies", "Camberskank" and "I live in Camberwell"[41] which are onThe Singles: Special Edition album (2005).
Florence Welch from British indie-rock bandFlorence and the Machine wrote and recorded a song entitled "South London Forever" on her 2018 albumHigh as Hope based on her experience growing up in Camberwell, naming places such as the Joiners Arms and the Horniman Museum.[42]
Camberwell has played host to many festivals over the years, with the long-running Camberwell Arts Festival celebrating 20 years in 2014, and Camberwell Fair taking place on Camberwell Green in 2015, 2017 and 2018, resurrecting an ancient Fair that took place on the same green from 1279 to 1855.[43] Since 2013, there is also an annual 10-day film festival – Camberwell Free Film Festival (CFFF) which is usually held in March/April in addition to special one-off screenings at other times of the year.[44]
Until the First World War, Camberwell was served by three railway stations – Denmark Hill,Camberwell Gate (nearWalworth), andCamberwell New Road in the west. Camberwell Gate and Camberwell New Road were closed in 1916 'temporarily' because of war shortages, but were never reopened.[45][46]
London Underground has planned aBakerloo line extension to Camberwell on at least three occasions since the 1930s.[47]
Denmark Hill andLoughborough Junction railway stations serve Camberwell, whilstPeckham Rye andEast Dulwich are both approximately one mile (1.5 kilometres) fromCamberwell Green. These stations are all inLondon fare zone 2.[48]London Overground,Southeastern, andThameslink trains serve Denmark Hill. There are regular rail services to various destinations acrossCentral London. There are also direct rail links to destinations elsewhere in London and theSouth East from Denmark Hill.
London Overground connects the area directly toClapham andBattersea in the west, andCanada Water andDalston east London. Thameslink trains carry passengers toKentish Town in the north, whilst some peak-time services continue to destinations inHertfordshire andBedfordshire, such asLuton Airport. Eastbound Thameslink services travel towardsOrpington orSevenoaks, viaPeckham,Catford, andBromley, amongst other destinations. Southeastern trains eastbound serve destinations inSouth East London andKent, including Peckham,Lewisham,Gravesend, andDover.[48]
Loughborough Junction is on the Thameslink route betweenSt Albans City andSutton. This provides Camberwell with a direct link southbound toHerne Hill,Streatham,Tooting,Wimbledon,Mitcham, and Sutton, amongst other destinations inSouth London. Northbound services run through theCity of London andSt Pancras. Destinations north of St Pancras include Kentish Town andWest Hampstead. A limited Southeastern service betweenBlackfriars and Kent runs through Loughborough Junction.[48]
Camberwell is served by numerousLondon Bus routes. Routes through Camberwell typically run east–west betweenVauxhall andPeckham, or north–south betweenElephant & Castle andBrixton orDulwich.
Residents of the area have included children's authorEnid Mary Blyton, who was born at 354 Lordship Lane, East Dulwich, on 11 August 1897 (though shortly afterwards the family moved to Beckenham),[49] and the former leader of theTGWU,Jack Jones,[50] who lived on the Ruskin House Park estate.Karl Marx initially settled with his family in Camberwell when they moved to London in 1849.[51]
Others include the former editor ofThe GuardianPeter Preston.[52]The Guardian columnistZoe Williams is another resident,[53] whilstFlorence Welch of the rock bandFlorence + the Machine also lives in the area,[54] as do actressesLorraine Chase andJenny Agutter.[55][56]Syd Barrett, one of the founders ofPink Floyd, studied atCamberwell College of Arts from 1964.[57]
Elizabeth Patterson Bonaparte gave birth to her son,Jérôme Napoléon Bonaparte, the nephew of the EmperorNapoleon I, in Camberwell in 1805.[58]
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