Blackheath, London

Blackheath
Administration
Borough:Greenwich & Lewisham
County:Greater London
Region:Greater London
Nation:England
Other
Ceremonial County:Greater London
Traditional County:Kent
Post Office and Telephone
Post town:LONDON
Postcode:SE3
Dialling Code:020

Blackheath is a place in London, divided between the London Borough of Lewisham and the London Borough of Greenwich (the borough boundary runs across the middle of the heath, with the Village in Lewisham and the Blackheath Standard area and Westcombe Park in Greenwich). The name derives from the dark colour of the soil, and not, as was popularly believed for many years, from the burial of victims of the Black Death on the heath in the 14th century.

Settled by Romans as a stopping point on Watling Street, Blackheath was also a rallying point for Wat Tyler's Peasants' Revolt of 1381, and for Jack Cade's Kentish rebellion in 1450. Wat Tyler is remembered by Wat Tyler Road on Blackheath Common. After pitching camp on Blackheath, Cornish rebels were defeated in the Battle of Deptford Bridge (sometimes called the Battle of Blackheath), just to the west, on 17 June 1497. With Watling Street crossing the heath carrying stagecoaches en route to north Kent and the Channel ports, it was also a notorious haunt of highwaymen during the 17th century. Many years later, Blackheath also had strong associations with the campaign for women's suffrage - the suffragette movement.

The sizeable prestigious private estate of Blackheath Park, created by John Cator (and therefore also known as the Cator Estate), sits at the top of the high street. Built in the late 1700s and early 1800s, it contains many fine examples of substantial Georgian and Victorian houses - most notably Michael Searles' The Paragon crescent - (as well as some 1930s and 1960s additions) and a church, St Michael and All Angels (designed by local architect George Smith and completed in 1830), dubbed the Needle of Kent in honour of its tall, thin spire. The Cator Estate was built on part of the estate formerly owned by Sir John Morden, whose Morden College (1695) is another notable building to the south-east of the Heath.

The main area of the village lies to the north side of Blackheath railway station, between the heath and the railway line, and is home to numerous shops, restaurants and public houses. All Saints church is the only building on the heath itself. Just south of the railway station, on the edge of the Blackheath Park estate, is Blackheath Halls, a concert venue today owned and managed by Trinity College of Music (based in nearby Greenwich).

Contents

Sporting associations

In 1608, according to tradition, Blackheath was the place where golf was introduced to England - the Royal Blackheath Golf Club (based in nearby Eltham since 1923) was one of the first golf associations established (1766) outside Scotland. Blackheath also gave its name to the first hockey club, established during the mid 19th century.

However, Blackheath is perhaps most famous as the home of the Blackheath Rugby Club, founded in 1858, which was the first Rugby club in the world without restricted membership. The Blackheath club also organised the world's first rugby international (between England and Scotland in Edinburgh on 27 March, 1871) and hosted the first international between England and Wales ten years later - the players meeting and getting changed at the Princess of Wales public house.

With neighbouring Greenwich Park, Blackheath is also well known as the start point of the London Marathon. This maintains a connection with athletics dating back to the establishment of the Blackheath Harriers (now Blackheath and Bromley Harriers) in 1878. The heath frequently hosts kite-flying competitions.

Famous residents

(in alphabetical order)

Transport

Nearest places:

Nearest railway stations:

External links

Blackheath Halls website (http://www.blackheathhalls.com)

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