Road · Southwark · SE1 · Contributed by The Underground Map

JANUARY

1

2000

Southwark

Southwark is the area immediately south of London Bridge, opposite the City of London.

Southwark is on a previously marshy area south of the River Thames. Recent excavation has revealed prehistoric activity including evidence of early ploughing, burial mounds and ritual activity. The area was originally a series of islands in the River Thames. This formed the best place to bridge the Thames and the area became an important part of Londinium owing its importance to its position as the endpoint of the Roman London Bridge. Two Roman roads, Stane Street and Watling Street, met at Southwark in what is now Borough High Street.

At some point the Bridge fell or was pulled down. Southwark and the city seem to have become largely deserted during the Early Middle Ages. Archaeologically, evidence of settlement is replaced by a largely featureless soil called the Dark Earth which probably (although this is contested) represents an urban area abandoned.

Southwark appears to recover only during the time of King Alfred and his successors. Sometime in and around 886 AD the Bridge was rebuilt and the City and Southwark restored. Southwark was called ’Suddringa Geworc’ which means the ’defensive works of the men of Surrey’. It was probably fortified to defend the bridge and hence the re-emerging City of London to the north. This defensive role is highlighted by the use of the Bridge as a defense against King Swein, his son King Cnut and in 1066, against King William the Conqueror. He failed to force the Bridge during the Norman conquest of England, but Southwark was devastated.

Much of Southwark was originally owned by the church - the greatest reminder of monastic London is Southwark Cathedral, originally the priory of St Mary Overy.

During the Middle Ages, Southwark remained outside of the control of the City and was a haven for criminals and free traders, who would sell goods and conduct trades outside the regulation of the City Livery Companies. An important market - later to become known as the Borough Market - was established there some time in the 13th century. The area was renowned for its inns, especially The Tabard, from which Chaucer’s pilgrims set off on their journey in The Canterbury Tales.

After many decades’ petitioning, in 1550, Southwark was incorporated into the City of London as ’The Ward of Bridge Without’. It became the entertainment district for London, and it was also the red-light area. In 1599, William Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre was built on the South Bank in Southwark, though it burned down in 1613. A modern replica, also called the Globe, has been built near the original site. Southwark was also a favorite area for entertainment like bull and bear-baiting. There was also a famous fair in Southwark which took place near the Church of St. George the Martyr. William Hogarth depicted this fair in his engraving of Southwark Fair (1733).

In 1844 the railway reached Southwark with the opening of London Bridge station.

In 1861 the Great Fire of Southwark destroyed a large number of buildings between Tooley Street and the Thames, including those around Hays Wharf, where Hays Galleria was later built, and blocks to the west almost as far as St Olave’s Church.

In 1899 Southwark was incorporated along with Newington and Walworth into the Metropolitan Borough of Southwark, and in 1965 this was incorporated with the Metropolitan Borough of Camberwell and Metropolitan Borough of Bermondsey into the London Borough of Southwark.

Southwark tube station was opened on 20 November 1999 as part of the Jubilee Line Extension.

The original plan for the Extension did not include a station between those at Waterloo and London Bridge; Southwark station was added after lobbying by the local council. Although it is close to Waterloo, not near the Bankside attractions it was intended to serve, and its only rail interchange is to London Waterloo East mainline station; the passenger usage matches those of other minor central stations. It does however get over double the traffic of nearby Borough station and around triple Lambeth North.

LOCATIONS ON THE UNDERGROUND MAP

Blackfriars Bridge railway station:   Blackfriars Bridge railway station was a railway station on the London, Chatham and Dover Railway (LC&DR). It was constructed in 1864 and, for six months, was the northern terminus for a line from Herne Hill via Loughborough Junction. It was part of a scheme by the company to extend into the City of London. It ceased to be the terminus when the line was extended across the River Thames to Ludgate Hill where a temporary station in New Bridge Street was opened on 21 December 1864.
Blackfriars Road railway station:   Blackfriars Road (Blackfriars Bridge) railway station was a station on Blackfriars Road in south London on the South Eastern Railway between Charing Cross and London Bridge stations. The former entrance under the railway bridge is still clearly marked.
Hopton's Almshouses:   Hopton Street has had almshouses since 1752.
Mudchute Kitchen Frizzante:   
Mudchute Park:   Mudchute Park and Farm is a large urban park and farm just south of Canary Wharf on the Isle of Dogs.
Mudchute Park and Farm:   
Southwark:   Southwark is the area immediately south of London Bridge, opposite the City of London.
Tate Modern:   Tate Modern is the most-visited modern art gallery in the world, with around 4.7 million visitors per year.
The Ring:   The Ring was a boxing stadium which once stood on Blackfriars Road in Southwark.

PHOTOS OF THE AREA

Bridge House:   The building with the canopy is Bridge House, George Row, Bermondsey, in 1926.

NEARBY STREETS AND BUILDINGS ON THE UNDERGROUND MAP

Abbey Gardens, SE1 · Abbey Street, SE1 · Abbots Lane, SE1 · Abercorn Way, SE1 · Aberdour Street, SE1 · Achilles Close, SE1 · Alderman Stairs, E1W · Alderman Stairs, SE1 · Alice Street, SE1 · Alma Grove, SE1 · Alscot Road, SE1 · Alscot Way, SE1 · Anchor Terrace, SE1 · Archie Street, SE1 · Avocet Close, SE1 · Avondale Pavement, SE1 · Avondale Square, SE1 · Bacon Grove, SE1 · Balaclava Road, SE1 · Bank End, SE1 · Bankside way, SE19 · Bankside, SE1 · Barge House Street, SE1 · Barnham Street, SE1 · Bartholomew Street, SE1 · Bear Gardens, SE1 · Beatrice Road, SE1 · Bedale Street, SE1 · Belvedere Building, SE1 · Bermondsey Street, SE1 · Bermondsey Wall West, SE1 · Bermondsey Wall West, SE16 · Bevington Path, SE1 · Bevington Street, SE16 · Black Eagle Yard, SE1 · Black Swan Yard, SE1 · Blackfriars Bridge, SE1 · Blackfriars Road, BL8 · Bluelion Place, SE1 · Borough Market, SE1 · Brewery Square, SE1 · Bricklayers Arms Flyover, SE1 · Bridge Houseborough High Stlondon Bridge, SE1 · Broadwall, SE1 · Brockham Street, SE1 · Brodie Street, SE1 · Brunswick Court, SE1 · Burge Street, SE1 · Burr Close, E1W · Bursar Street, SE1 · Bushbaby Close, SE1 · Bushwood Drive, SE1 · Butlers Colonial Wharf, SE1 · Buttermere Close, SE1 · Cadet Drive, SE1 · Cardamom Building, SE1 · Cardinal Cap Alley, SE1 · Cathedral Street, SE1 · Chambers Street, SE16 · Charlie Chaplin Walk, SE1 · Chaucer Drive, SE1 · Chettle Close, SE1 · City Walk, SE1 · Clink St Studios, SE1 · Clink Street, SE1 · Cobourg Road Estate, SE5 · Cobourg Road, SE1 · Cobourg Road, SE5 · Cole Street, SE1 · Commercial Pier Wharf, SE16 · Coopers Road, SE1 · Copper Row, SE1 · Cottons Lane, SE1 · Counter Street, SE1 · Crimscott Street, SE1 · Crucifix Lane, SE1 · Curlew Street, SE1 · Curtis Street, SE1 · Curtis Way, SE1 · Decima Street, SE1 · Deverell Street, SE1 · Devon Mansions, SE1 · Dickens Square, SE1 · Dockhead, SE1 · Dolben Street, SE1 · Doon Street, SE1 · Druid Street, SE1 · Duchy Street, SE1 · Dunsterville Way, SE1 · Dunton Road, SE1 · East Point, SE1 · Elephant Castle Super Bowl, SE1 · Emerson Street, SE1 · Empire Square South, SE1 · English Grounds, SE1 · Enid Street, SE16 · Equity Mews, W5 · Esmeralda Road, SE1 · Fair Street, SE1 · Falcon Point Piazza, SE1 · Fendall Street, SE1 · Fenning Street, SE1 · Flat Iron Square, SE1 · Flockton Street, SE16 · Fort Road, SE1 · Fortune Place, SE1 · Frank Mews, SE1 · Frean Street, SE16 · Gabriels Wharf, SE1 · Gainsford Street, SE1 · George Inn Yard, SE1 · George Row, SE16 · Globe Street, SE1 · Grange Road, SE1 · Grange Walk, SE1 · Grange Walk, SE16 · Grange Yard, SE1 · Great Dover Street, SE1 · Great Guildford Business Square, SE1 · Green Dragon Court, SE1 · Green Walk, SE1 · Griggs Place, SE1 · Griggs Road, E10 · Guinness Court, SE1 · Guinness Square, SE1 · Hamlet Way, SE1 · Hankey Place, SE1 · Hardwidge Street, SE1 · Harmony Place, SE1 · Hartley Buildings, SE1 · Hatchers Mews, SE1 · Hays Galleria, SE1 · Hays Lane, SE1 · Hazel Way, SE1 · Henley Drive, SE1 · Hermitage Wall, E1W · Holland Street, SE1 · Holyrood Street, SE1 · Hopton Street, SE1 · Horselydown Lane, SE1 · Humphrey Street, SE1 · Hunter Close, SE1 · Invicta Plaza, SE1 · Jacob Street, SE1 · Jacob Street, SE16 · Jamaica Road, SE1 · Joan Street, SE1 · John Felton Road, SE16 · Joiner Street, SE1 · Kings Head Yard, SE1 · Kintore Way, SE1 · Kipling Street, SE1 · Kirby Grove, SE1 · Kotree way, SE1 · Lafone Street, SE1 · Lamb Walk, SE1 · Lansdowne Place, SE1 · Larnaca Works, SE1 · Law Street, SE1 · Leathermarket Street, SE1 · Leroy Street, SE1 · Llewellyn Street, SE16 · Lloyds Wharf, SE1 · Lockyer Estate, SE1 · Loncroft Road, SE5 · London Bridge Street, SE1 · London Bridge, EC4R · London Bridge, SE1 · Long Lane, SE1 · Long Walk, SE1 · Longfellow Way, SE1 · Longley Street, SE1 · Lovegrove Street, SE1 · Lower Road, SE1 · Lynton Road, SE1 · Madron Street, SE1 · Magdalen Street, SE1 · Maggie Blake’s Cause, SE1 · Maggie Blake’s Cause, SE1 · Maguire Street, SE1 · Maguire, SE1 · Maiden Lane, SE1 · Maltby Street, SE1 · Maltings Place, SE1 · Manciple Street, SE1 · Mandela Way, SE1 · Mandela Way, SE16 · Mandela Way, SE1P · Mansell Street, EC3N · Marcia Road, SE1 · Market Yard Mews, SE1 · Marlborough Grove, SE1 · Mason Close, SE1 · Mason Street, SE1 · Meakin Estate, SE1 · Melior Place, SE1 · Melior Street, SE1 · Merrick Square, SE1 · Middle Yard, SE1 · Mill Street, SE1 · Milroy Walk, SE1 · Monnow Road, SE1 · More London Place, SE1 · More London Riverside, SE1 · Morgans Lane, SE1 · Mulvaney Way, SE1 · Nebraska Street, SE1 · Neckinger Street, SE1 · Neckinger, SE16 · New Concordia Wharf, SE1 · New Globe Walk, SE1 · Newhams Row, SE1 · Newington Court, SE1 · Nicholson Street, SE1 · Old Jamaica Road Business Estate, SE16 · Old Jamaica Road, SE16 · Old Kent Road, SE14 · Olmar Street, SE1 · Orton Street, E1W · Ossory Road, SE1 · Oxford Drive, SE1 · Oxley Close, SE1 · Oxo Tower Wharf Barge House Street, SE1 · Oystergate Walk, SE1 · Pages Walk, SE1 · Pardoner Street, SE1 · Park Street, SE1 · Parkers Row, SE1 · Perkins Square, SE1 · Phoenix Wharf Road, SE1 · Pickfords Wharf, SE1 · Pickwick House, SE16 · Pilgrimage Street, SE1 · Pope Street, SE1 · Porlock Street, SE1 · Porter Street, SE1 · Potters Fields, SE1 · Prioress Street, SE1 · Providence Square, SE1 · Quadrangle Close, SE1 · Queen Elizabeth Street, SE1 · Radcliffe Road, SE1 · Raven Wharf, SE1 · Reverdy Road, SE1 · Rich Industrial Estate, SE1 · Riley Road, SE1 · Riverside Walk, SE1 · Rolls Road, SE1 · Rope Walk, SE1 · Rose Alley, SE1 · Rothsay Street, SE1 · Rowcross Street, SE1 · Royal Oak Yard, SE1 · Scoresby Street, SE1 · Scott Lidgett Crescent, SE16 · Scotts Sufferance Wharfmill Street, SE1 · Secker Street, SE1 · Setchell Road, SE1 · Setchell Way, SE1 · Shad Thames, E1W · Shad Thames, SE1 · Shand Street, SE1 · Shipwright Yard, SE1 · Shorter Street, E1 · Shorter Street, EC3N · Simms Road, SE1 · Six Bridges Trading Estate, SE1 · Snowsfields, SE1 · Soho Wharf, SE1 · South Bank, SE1 · Southwalk Street, SE1 · Southwark Street, SE1 · Springalls Wharf Apartments, SE16 · Spurgeon Street, SE1 · St Anthony’s Close, E1W · St Jamess Road, SE1 · St Jamess Road, SE16 · St Thomas Street, SE1 · St. Thomas Street, SE1 · Stainer Street, SE1 · Stamford Street, SE1 · Stanworth Street, SE1 · Staple Street, SE1 · Sterry Street, SE1 · Stevens Street, SE1 · Stoney Street, SE1 · Strathnairn Street, SE1 · Studios, N17 · Sugar Quay Walk, EC3N · Sugar Quay Walk, SE1 · Sumner Street, SE1 · Swan Court, SE1 · Swan Street, SE1 · Sweeney Crescent, SE1 · Swift Court, SE1 · Tabard Street, SE1 · Tanner Street, SE1 · The Circle, SE1 · The Globe Rope Walk, E14 · The Grain Stores, SE1 · The Grange, SE1 · The Jam Factory, SE1 · The Leather Market, SE1 · The Leathermarket, SE1 · The Tanneries, SE1 · The Terrace, SE1 · Thomas Lane Car Park, SE6 · Thorburn Square, SE1 · Thrale Street, SE1 · Three Crown Square Borough Market, SE1 · Three Oak Lane, SE1 · Thurland Road, SE16 · Tooley Street, SE1 · Toussaint Walk, SE16 · Tower Bridge Piazza, SE1 · Tower Bridge Road, SE1 · Tower Bridge, SE1 · Tower Workshops, SE1 · Trinity Church Square, SE1 · Trinity Street, SE1 · Tyers Gate, SE1 · Unity Wharf, SE1 · Upper Ground, SE1 · Vine Lane, SE1 · Vintage Yard, SE1 · Vogans Mill, SE1 · Wade House, SE1 · Wade House, SE16 · Waterside Close, SE16 · Weavers Lane, SE1 · Webb Street, SE1 · Weston Street, SE1 · Whites Grounds Estate, SE1 · Whites Grounds, SE1 · Wilds Rents, SE1 · Willow Walk, SE1 · Winchester Square, SE1 · Winchester Walk, SE1 · Wolseley Street, SE1 · Wood’s Place, SE1 · Woodmill Close, SW15 · Zoar Street, SE1 ·