Metropolitan Borough of Bermondsey

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Metropolitan Borough of Bermondsey

Twelve Wards

The borough was divided into twelve wards for elections: No. 1 Bermondsey, No. 2 Bermondsey, No. 3 Bermondsey, No. 4 Bermondsey, No. 5 Bermondsey, No. 6 Bermondsey, No. 1 Rotherhithe, No. 2 Rotherhithe, No. 3 Rotherhithe, St John, St Olave and St Thomas

Formation and boundaries

The borough was formed from four civil parishes: St Mary Magdalen Bermondsey, St Mary Rotherhithe, Southwark St John Horsleydown and Southwark St Olave and St Thomas. In 1904 these four were combined into a single civil parish called Bermondsey, which was conterminous with the metropolitan borough.

Previous to the borough's formation it had been administered by three separate local bodies: St Olave District Board of Works, Bermondsey Vestry and Rotherhithe Vestry.

Rotherhithe

History

Rotherhithe, located on the south bank of the River Thames between Bermondsey and Deptford, has a long history as a maritime hub. The name "Rotherhithe" is of Anglo-Saxon origin, meaning "landing place for cattle" or "sailor's haven," with the first recorded mention dating to 1105 as "Rederheia". It was also historically known as "Redriff," a name possibly derived from a red rose sign or from the Saxon words "redhra" (mariner) and "hyth" (haven). The area's natural geography, including a bend in the Thames, made it ideal for shipbuilding and docking, and it became the site of London's first docks for the convenience of the city.

Rotherhithe's significance grew during the medieval period. In the 1350s, a manor house for King Edward III was built there, and by the 1370s, the English fleet was fitted out for war with France under the Black Prince and John of Gaunt. Henry IV, afflicted with leprosy, is said to have stayed in Rotherhithe as a recluse in the early 15th century. The area became a center for shipbuilding and maritime trade, with the first gunpowder factory in England established there in 1554. The Mayflower, carrying the Pilgrim Fathers to America in 1620, set sail from a berth near St Mary’s Church, where its captain, Christopher Jones, is buried.

The 17th and 18th centuries saw continued development. In 1612, Rotherhithe shipwrights were awarded a Royal charter, and the area became a key part of London’s maritime economy. Samuel Pepys frequently referred to Rotherhithe as "Redriff" in his diary. The 18th century brought the construction of the first London docks, including Howlands Dock (later Greenland Dock) in 1697, and the Grand Surrey Canal, begun in 1802 to link Rotherhithe with Portsmouth via Epsom, though it only reached Walworth Road and Peckham.

The 19th century marked Rotherhithe’s peak as a commercial and industrial center. The Surrey Commercial Docks expanded significantly, becoming the heart of London’s timber trade, with 80% of UK timber imports passing through the docks by the 1860s. The area saw the construction of major infrastructure, including the Thames Tunnel (completed in 1843), the Rotherhithe Tunnel (opened in 1908), and the Grand Surrey Canal, which was widened to create Stave and Russia docks. The population tripled during this period due to the influx of shipbuilders, dockers, and their families, leading to the founding of new churches, including Holy Trinity in 1850.

The 20th century brought both challenges and transformation. During World War II, the docks suffered heavy damage during the Blitz in 1940, with 350,000 tons of timber destroyed and Holy Trinity Church destroyed, though the docks continued to operate, including the construction of D-Day breakwaters in South Dock. The docks closed completely in 1970, marking the end of an era. In the following decades, the area underwent major redevelopment. The London Dockland Development Corporation (LDDC) took over in 1981, leading to the filling in of most of the docks and the construction of thousands of homes, the Surrey Quays Shopping Centre, and the Surrey Docks Farm. The Jubilee Line opened a Canada Water station in 2000, and the East London Line was extended and reopened as part of the London Overground in 2010, greatly improving transport links.

Today, Rotherhithe is a vibrant area with a mix of residential, commercial, and recreational spaces. The Thames Path National Trail runs through the area, and the Surrey Docks Watersports Centre offers rowing, kayaking, and sailing. The area continues to celebrate its maritime heritage, with landmarks such as the Mayflower Inn, which retains a unique licence to sell both American and British postage stamps, and the church of St Mary’s, which houses a communion table made from the timber of the HMS Temeraire.

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