Blackheath, London

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; Blackheath Village is on the south side of the heath, in Lewisham, while the Blackheath Standard area and Westcombe Park lie on the north-east side, 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.

Related Topics:
London - London Borough of Lewisham - London Borough of Greenwich - Westcombe Park - Black Death - 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.

Related Topics:
Watling Street - Wat Tyler - Peasants' Revolt - Jack Cade - Kent - Battle of Deptford Bridge - 17 June - 1497 - Highwaymen - 17th century - Suffragette

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The sizeable prestigious private estate of Blackheath Park, created by John Cator and known as the Cator Estate, is situated east of Blackheath village. 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. St Michael and All Angels Church, designed by local architect George Smith and completed in 1830, was dubbed the Needle of Kent in honour of its tall, thin spire (it is also nicknamed the Devil's Pick). 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.

Related Topics:
John Cator - Michael Searles - Architect - George Smith - 1830 - John Morden - Morden College - 1695

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The main area of the village lies to the north side of Blackheath railway station, between the south side of the heath and the railway line, and is home to numerous shops, restaurants and pubs. All Saints' parish 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). Approximately one mile to the north-east, Blackheath Standard is a more modest shopping area, taking its name from the 'Royal Standard' pub.

Related Topics:
Blackheath railway station - Restaurant - Pub - Trinity College of Music - Greenwich

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The heath is host to a popular free annual fireworks display on the Saturday in November closest to Guy Fawkes Night, jointly organised by the London Boroughs of Greenwich and Lewisham.

Related Topics:
Fireworks - Guy Fawkes Night

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~