Rotherhithe

Rotherhithe is a peninsula on the south bank of the Thames in east London in the London Borough of Southwark, facing Wapping and the Isle of Dogs on the north bank. It has been a port since the 12th century or earlier, and a shipyard since Elizabethan times. It was the site from which the Mayflower set off on its journey to carry the Pilgrim Fathers to Virginia in 1620. The ship's captain, Christopher Jones, lived in Rotherhithe and was buried there in 1622.

Related Topics:
Peninsula - Thames - London - London Borough of Southwark - Wapping - Isle of Dogs - 12th century - Elizabethan - Mayflower - Pilgrim Fathers - Virginia - 1620 - 1622

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The name "Rotherhithe" derives from the Old English hryther hyth, meaning "Landing-place for cattle". The first recorded use of this name is circa 1105, as Rederheia (A.D.Mills, Oxford Dictionary of English Place-Names, ISBN 0-19-282131-3).

Related Topics:
Old English - 1105

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Because much of Rotherhithe was covered by the now-defunct Surrey Commercial Docks, the district is often referred to as Surrey Docks or (since the late 1980s) Surrey Quays, though the latter name tends to be used more for the southern half of the peninsula. Its central part, a redeveloped area on the site of the former docks, is often called "Downtown". In the past Rotherhithe has also been known as the cognate Redriff. It is part of the SE16 postal district. Electorally, the western half is Rotherhithe ward and the eastern half Surrey Docks ward.

Related Topics:
Surrey Commercial Docks - 1980s - Surrey Quays

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Redriff was the fictional birthplace of Jonathan Swift's character Lemuel Gulliver, of Gulliver's Travels fame, and where his family waited for him.

Related Topics:
Jonathan Swift - Gulliver's Travels

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Rotherhithe is joined to the north bank of the Thames by three tunnels. The Thames Tunnel to Wapping was the first underwater tunnel in the world, built by the Brunels as a pedestrian tunnel. It is now occupied by the East London Line of the London Underground. The later Rotherhithe Tunnel (opened 1908) carries a two-lane road to Limehouse. The Jubilee Line extension (opened 1999) has a railway tunnel to Canary Wharf in the Isle of Dogs.

Related Topics:
Thames Tunnel - Wapping - Brunel - East London Line - London Underground - Rotherhithe Tunnel - 1908 - Limehouse - Jubilee Line - 1999 - Canary Wharf - Isle of Dogs

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Although the docks were closed and largely filled in during the 1980s, and have now been replaced by modern housing and commercial facilities, Rotherhithe is still dominated by its former maritime heritage. The largest surviving dock on the south bank, Greenland Dock, is the focal point for the southern part of the district, while preserved wharves dominate the riverside at the north end of Rotherhithe. St Mary's Church dominates the old town centre, a short distance from the historic Brunel Engine House at the south end of the Thames Tunnel.

Related Topics:
Greenland Dock - St Mary's Church - Brunel Engine House

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Because much of the former Surrey Docks had strong trade links to Scandinavia and the Baltic region the area is still home to a striving Scandinavian community. Originally established as seafarers' missions, Rotherhithe is home to a Norwegian http://www.sjomannskirken.no/london/, a Finnish http://www.finnishchurch.org.uk/ and a Swedish http://www.swedish-church.org.uk/ church. There are also a number of "community centres" for the Nordic community in London, including hostels, shops and cafés and even a sauna, mostly linked closely to the churches. Some of the redeveloped areas were also build by Nordic architects, such as the Greenland Passage development by Danish Company Kjaer & Richter http://www.k-r.dk/k-r-filer/byggeri/greenland.htm. This gives some areas a distinctly "Nordic" feel in terms of house and street design.

Related Topics:
Surrey Docks - Scandinavia - Baltic - Norwegian - Finnish - Swedish - Sauna - Nordic

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The relationship with Scandinavia and the Baltic is also reflected in the names of some of the buildings (such as the King Frederik IX Tower), the street names (e.g. Sweden Quay, Norway Gate, Helsinki Square) or other place names (e.g. Greenland Dock). Another major influence factor was trade with Russia and Canada (mainly timber), reflected in names such as Canada Water and the Russia Dock Woodland.

Related Topics:
King Frederik IX - Greenland Dock - Russia - Canada - Canada Water - Russia Dock

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Local places of interest:

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• Brunel Engine House
• Canada Water
• Greenland Dock
• Russia Dock Park
• South Dock
• Stave Hill (Ecological Park)
• St Mary's Church
• Surrey Quays shopping centre
• Thames Tunnel

Nearest places:

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• Bermondsey
• Deptford
• Wapping
• Limehouse
• Isle of Dogs

Nearest London Underground stations:

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• Canada Water tube station
• Rotherhithe tube station
• Surrey Quays tube station

Nearest mainline railway stations:

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• South Bermondsey railway station
• London Bridge railway station

River boat service piers:

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• Greenland Dock (Commuter Service)
• Docklands Hilton (Hilton to Canary Wharf Ferry)
 
Rotherhithe: Maps ►