Elephant and Castle tavern

The name Elephant and Castle which now gives its name to this whole area of London was is derived from a coaching inn.

Elephant and Castle

The earliest surviving record of this name relating to the area is in the Court Leet Book of the Manor of Walworth. This local court had met at 'Elephant and Castle, Newington' on 21 March 1765. Previously the site was occupied by a blacksmith and cutler – the coat of arms of the Worshipful Company of Cutlers features an elephant with a castle (possibly meant to be a howdah) on its back, which in turn was used because of the use of elephant ivory in handles.

Shakespeare mentions the Elephant Lodgings in his play Twelfth Night. In Act 3 Scene 3 Antonio says 'In the south suburbs, at the Elephant, is best to lodge.' Although the play is set in Illyria in the Balkans Shakespeare often uses local London references. The theatres were all in Southwark, so maybe this is an advert for a local hostelry.

'Newington' is one of the most common place names in England (see Newington Green and Stoke Newington in north London), and from 1750 the area became more important and so the informal name, from the pub at this junction, was adopted.

The inn site was rebuilt in 1816 and again in 1898, although the present Elephant & Castle pub, at the junction of New Kent Road and Newington Causeway, was part of the 1960s comprehensive redevelopment.

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CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LOCALITY

Scott Hatton Blackmoor Street, WC2B Added: 11 Sep 2020 19:47 GMT	Millions Of Rats In Busy London The Daily Mail on 14 April 1903 reported "MILLIONS OF RATS IN BUSY LONDON" A rat plague, unprecedented in the annals of London, has broken out on the north side of the Strand. The streets principally infested are Catherine street, Drury lane, Blackmore street, Clare Market and Russell street. Something akin to a reign of terror prevails among the inhabitants after nightfall. Women refuse to pass along Blackmore street and the lower parts of Stanhope street after dusk, for droves of rats perambulate the roadways and pavements, and may be seen running along the window ledges of the empty houses awaiting demolition by the County Council in the Strand to Holborn improvement scheme. The rats, indeed, have appeared in almost-incredible numbers. "There are millions of them," said one shopkeeper, and his statement was supported by other residents. The unwelcome visitors have been evicted from their old haunts by the County Council housebreakers, and are now busily in search of new homes. The Gaiety Restaurant has been the greatest sufferer. Rats have invaded the premises in such force that the managers have had to close the large dining room on the first floor and the grill rooms on the ground floor and in the basement. Those three spacious halls which have witnessed many as semblages of theatre-goers are now qui:e deserted. Behind the wainscot of the bandstand in the grillroom is a large mound of linen shreds. This represents 1728 serviettes carried theee by the rats. In the bar the removal of a panel disclosed the astonishing fact that the rats have dragged for a distance of seven or eight yards some thirty or forty beer and wine bottles and stacked them in such a fashion as to make comfortable sleeping places. Mr Williams. the manager of the restaurant, estimates that the rats have destroyed L200 worth of linen. Formerly the Gaiety Restaurant dined 2000 persons daily; no business whatever is now done in this direction. Reply
Bruce McTavish Lambeth North Added: 11 Mar 2021 11:37 GMT	Kennington Road Lambeth North station was opened as Kennington Road and then Westminster Bridge Road before settling on its final name. It has a wonderful Leslie Green design. Reply
Richard Lake De Laune Street, SE17 Added: 28 Sep 2022 09:37 GMT	Trade Union Official John William Lake snr moved with his family to 22 De Laune Street in 1936. He was the London Branch Secretary for the Street Masons, Paviours and Road Makers Union. He had previously lived in Orange St now Copperfield St Southwark but had been forced to move because the landlord didn’t like him working from home and said it broke his lease. John William snr died in 1940. His son John William Lake jnr also became a stone mason and at the end of World War two he was responsible for the engraving of the dates of WW2 onto the Cenotaph in Whitehall. Reply
MCNALLY Blackfriars Added: 17 May 2021 09:42 GMT	Blackfriars (1959 - 1965) I lived in Upper Ground from 1959 to 1964 I was 6 years old my parents Vince and Kitty run the Pub The Angel on the corner of Upper Ground and Bodies Bridge. I remember the ceiling of the cellar was very low and almost stretched the length of Bodies Bridge. The underground trains run directly underneath the pub. If you were down in the cellar when a train was coming it was quite frightening Reply
Johna216 Fielding Street, SE17 Added: 9 Aug 2017 16:26 GMT	Thanks! I have recently started a web site, the info you provide on this site has helped me greatly. Thank you for all of your time & work. There can be no real freedom without the freedom to fail. by Erich Fromm. eeggefeceefb Reply
Johnshort Hurley Road, SE11 Added: 7 Oct 2017 21:07 GMT	Hurley Road, SE11 There were stables in the road mid way - also Danny reading had a coal delivery lorry. Reply
Robert smitherman Saunders Street, SE11 Added: 23 Aug 2017 11:01 GMT	Saunders Street, SE11 I was born in a prefab on Saunders street SE11 in the 60’s, when I lived there, the road consisted of a few prefab houses, the road originally ran from Lollard street all the way thru to Fitzalan street. I went back there to have a look back in the early 90’s but all that is left of the road is about 20m of road and the road sign. Reply
Tom Blackfriars Added: 21 May 2021 23:07 GMT	Blackfriars What is, or was, Bodies Bridge? Reply
Talbot Yard, SE1 Added: 27 Jul 2021 14:31 GMT	correction Chaucer did not write Pilgrims Progress. His stories were called the Canterbury Tales Reply
sam Burdett Street, SE1 Added: 31 Dec 2021 00:54 GMT	Burdett Street, SE1 I was on 2nd July 1952, in Burdett chambers (which is also known as Burdett buildings)on Burdett street Reply
All bar one Added: 3 Jun 2021 15:50 GMT	All Bar One The capitalisation is wrong Reply

LATEST LONDON-WIDE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PROJECT

Jean Deane Mill Lane, looking east (1900s) Added: 2 Oct 2023 16:43 GMT	Advertisement for a laundry in Mill Lane, Brixton Hill, SW2 from early 1900’s The New Imperial Laundry Source: From a Ladies glance guide for Mistress and Maid Reply
Sue Meyrick Road, SW11 Added: 24 Sep 2023 19:09 GMT	Meyrick Rd My family - Roe - lived in poverty at 158 Meyrick Rd in the 1920s, moving to 18 Lavender Terrace in 1935. They also lived in York Rd at one point. Alf, Nell (Ellen), plus children John, Ellen (Did), Gladys, Joyce & various lodgers. Alf worked for the railway (LMS). Reply
Michael Tyrrell Avenue, DA16 Added: 20 Sep 2023 21:10 GMT	Momentous Birth! I was born in the upstairs front room of 28 Tyrrell Avenue in August 1938. I was a breach birth and quite heavy ( poor Mum!). My parents moved to that end of terrace house from another rental in St Mary Cray where my three year older brother had been born in 1935. The estate was quite new in 1938 and all the properties were rented. My Father was a Postman. I grew up at no 28 all through WWII and later went to Little Dansington School Reply
Mike Levy Arbour Square, E1 Added: 19 Sep 2023 18:10 GMT	Bombing of Arbour Square in the Blitz On the night of September 7, 1940. Hyman Lubosky (age 35), his wife Fay (or Fanny)(age 32) and their son Martin (age 17 months) died at 11 Arbour Square. They are buried together in Rainham Jewish Cemetery. Their grave stones read: "Killed by enemy action" Reply
Lady Townshend Bridge House Added: 8 Sep 2023 16:02 GMT	Tenant at Westbourne (1807 - 1811) I think that the 3rd Marquess Townshend - at that time Lord Chartley - was a tenant living either at Westbourne Manor or at Bridge House. He undertook considerable building work there as well as creating gardens. I am trying to trace which house it was. Any ideas gratefully received Reply
Alex Britton Roding Valley Added: 30 Aug 2023 10:43 GMT	Late opening The tracks through Roding Valley were opened on 1 May 1903 by the Great Eastern Railway (GER) on its Woodford to Ilford line (the Fairlop Loop). But the station was not opened until 3 February 1936 by the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER, successor to the GER). Source: Roding Valley tube station - Wikipedia Reply
Kevin Pont Roding Valley Added: 30 Aug 2023 09:52 GMT	Shhh.... Roding Valley is the quietest tube station, each year transporting the same number of passengers as Waterloo does in one day. Reply
Kevin Pont Dollis Hill Added: 30 Aug 2023 09:47 GMT	The connection with Bletchley Park The code-breaking computer used at Bletchley Park was built in Dollis Hill. Reply

NEARBY LOCATIONS OF NOTE

Elephant and Castle Elephant and Castle is one of five London tube stations named after a pub.

Elephant and Castle

St George’s Cathedral The Metropolitan Cathedral Church of St George, usually known as St George’s Cathedral, Southwark is the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Southwark.

St George’s Cathedral

NEARBY STREETS

360-London, SE11 360-London is a 44-storey tower featuring 470 residential units

360-London, SE11

Albert Barnes House, SE1 Albert Barnes House can be found on New Kent Road.

Albert Barnes House, SE1

Alder Path, SE17 Alder Path lies in Elephant and Castle.

Alder Path, SE17

Arch Street, SE1 A street within the SE1 postcode

Arch Street, SE1

Arrol House, SE1 Arrol House is a block on Rockingham Street.

Arrol House, SE1

Art Works Elephant, SE17 Art Works Elephant is a location in London.

Art Works Elephant, SE17

Art Works House, SE17 Art Works House is a location in London.

Art Works House, SE17

Artworks House, SE17 Artworks House is a location in London.

Artworks House, SE17

Ash Avenue, SE12 Ash Avenue is a location in London.

Ash Avenue, SE12

Austral Street, SE11 Austral Street runs from West Square to Brook Drive.

Austral Street, SE11

Avonmouth House, SE1 Avonmouth House can be found on Avonmouth Street.

Avonmouth House, SE1

Avonmouth Street, SE1 Avonmouth Street was formerly called Devonshire Street.

Avonmouth Street, SE1

Ayliffe Place, SE1 Ayliffe Place was situated at the end of Ayliffe Street.

Ayliffe Place, SE1

Banks House, SE1 Banks House is located on Rockingham Street.

Banks House, SE1

Barbel Street, SE1 Barbel Street is a road in the SE1 postcode area

Barbel Street, SE1

Bath House, SE1 Bath House can be found on Bath Terrace.

Bath House, SE1

Bath Terrace, SE1 Bath Terrace is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area.

Bath Terrace, SE1

Binnie House, SE1 Binnie House is a block on Bath Terrace.

Binnie House, SE1

Bodley Way, SE17 A street within the SE17 postcode

Bodley Way, SE17

Borough Road, SE1 Borough Road runs east-west between St George’s Circus and Borough High Street.

Borough Road, SE1

Bramwell House, SE1 Bramwell House is a building on Harper Road.

Bramwell House, SE1

Bramwell House, SE17 Bramwell House is a block on Harper Road.

Bramwell House, SE17

Brandon Street, SE17 Brandon Street is one of the streets of London in the SE17 postal area.

Brandon Street, SE17

Brockham Street, SE1 Brockham Street is a road in the SE1 postcode area

Brockham Street, SE1

Brook Drive, SE11 Brook Drive - Brook Street until 1937 - runs along the boundary between the London boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark.

Brook Drive, SE11

Brunlees House, SE1 Brunlees House is a block on Bath Terrace.

Brunlees House, SE1

Castle Square, SE17 Castle Square is a location in London.

Castle Square, SE17

Castlebrook Close, SE11 Castlebrook Close is a road in the SE11 postcode area

Castlebrook Close, SE11

Caxton House, SE1 Caxton House is a block on Borough Road.

Caxton House, SE1

Churchyard Row, SE11 Churchyard Row runs along the west side of St Mary’s Churchyard.

Churchyard Row, SE11

Colnbrook Street, SE1 Colnbrook Street is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area.

Colnbrook Street, SE1

County Street, SE1 County Street is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area.

County Street, SE1

Cutler Apartments, SE17 Cutler Apartments is sited on New Kent Road.

Cutler Apartments, SE17

Dante Place, SE11 Dante Place is one of the streets of London in the SE11 postal area.

Dante Place, SE11

Dante Road, SE11 Commemorates the Italian poet Dante Alighieri (died 1321), author of The Divine Comedy.

Dante Road, SE11

Dawkins Court, SE1 Dawkins Court is a block on Garland Close.

Dawkins Court, SE1

Deacon Street, SE17 Deacon Street is a location in London.

Deacon Street, SE17

Deacon Way, SE17 Deacon Way is one of the streets of London in the SE17 postal area.

Deacon Way, SE17

Delphini Apartments, SE1 Delphini Apartments can be found on Blackfriars Road.

Delphini Apartments, SE1

Devonshire House, SE1 Devonshire House is a block on Bath Terrace.

Devonshire House, SE1

Dickens Square, SE1 Dickens Square is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area.

Dickens Square, SE1

Draper House, SE1 Draper House is a block on A3.

Draper House, SE1

Dryden Court, SE11 Dryden Court is a block in Newington.

Dryden Court, SE11

Dugard Way, SE11 Dugard Way is one of the streets of London in the SE11 postal area.

Dugard Way, SE11

Elba Place, SE17 Elba Place is one of the streets of London in the SE17 postal area.

Elba Place, SE17

Elephant & Castle, SE1 Elephant & Castle is a name for a short section of road beside the noted junction of the same name.

Elephant & Castle, SE1

Elephant Road, SE17 Elephant Road is one of the streets of London in the SE17 postal area.

Elephant Road, SE17

Ellington House, SE1 Ellington House is a block on Harper Road.

Ellington House, SE1

Elliott’s Row, SE11 Elliott’s Row is a road in the SE11 postcode area

Elliott’s Row, SE11

Falmouth Road, SE1 The lower half of Falmouth Road - known at first as St George’s Road - was laid out just before 1830 across land on lease to the Brandon Trustees.

Falmouth Road, SE1

Farrell Court, SE17 A street within the SE17 postcode

Farrell Court, SE17

Fraser Court, SE1 Fraser Court is a block on Brockham Street.

Fraser Court, SE1

Garden Row, SE1 Garden Row is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area.

Garden Row, SE1

Garland Close, SE1 A street within the SE1 postcode

Garland Close, SE1

Gaunt Street, SE1 Gaunt Street is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area.

Gaunt Street, SE1

Gaywood Street, SE1 Gaywood Street is a road in the SE1 postcode area

Gaywood Street, SE1

George Mathers Road, SE11 George Mathers Road runs west from Dante Road.

George Mathers Road, SE11

Geraldine Street, SE11 Geraldine Street is a road in the SE11 postcode area

Geraldine Street, SE11

Gilbert Road, SE11 Gilbert Road is a road in the SE11 postcode area

Gilbert Road, SE11

Gilmour Section House, SE11 Gilmour Section House is a block on Renfrew Road.

Gilmour Section House, SE11

Gladstone Street, SE1 Gladstone Street was built in the 1840s.

Gladstone Street, SE1

Gloucester Court, SE1 Gloucester Court can be found on Swan Street.

Gloucester Court, SE1

Hampton Street, SE17 Hampton Street is one of the streets of London in the SE17 postal area.

Hampton Street, SE17

Hannibal House, SE1 A street within the SE1 postcode

Hannibal House, SE1

Harper Road, SE1 Harper Road is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area.

Harper Road, SE1

Hayles Street, SE11 Hayles Street is a road in the SE11 postcode area

Hayles Street, SE11

Hedger Street, SE11 Hedger Street is a road in the SE11 postcode area

Hedger Street, SE11

Heralds Place, SE11 Heralds Place is one of the streets of London in the SE11 postal area.

Heralds Place, SE11

Heygate Street, SE17 Heygate Street is a road in the SE17 postcode area

Heygate Street, SE17

Holyoak Road, SE11 Holyoak Road is a road in the SE11 postcode area

Holyoak Road, SE11

Howell Walk, SE1 Howell Walk is a road in the SE1 postcode area

Howell Walk, SE1

Hurley Road, SE11 Hurley Road ran north from Lower Kennington Lane.

Hurley Road, SE11

Kell Street, SE1 Kell Street is a road in the SE1 postcode area

Kell Street, SE1

Kempsford Road, SE11 Kempsford Road is a road in the SE11 postcode area

Kempsford Road, SE11

Keyworth Street, SE1 Keyworth Street is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area.

Keyworth Street, SE1

Lamlash Street, SE11 Lamlash Street is a road in the SE11 postcode area

Lamlash Street, SE11

Larcom Street, SE17 Larcom Street is one of the streets of London in the SE17 postal area.

Larcom Street, SE17

Laurie House, SE1 Laurie House is sited on Gaywood Street.

Laurie House, SE1

London Road, SE1 London Road is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area.

London Road, SE1

Longridge House, SE1 Longridge House is a block on Falmouth Road.

Longridge House, SE1

Marlborough Close, SE17 A street within the SE17 postcode

Marlborough Close, SE17

Martin House, SE1 Martin House is a block on Falmouth Road.

Martin House, SE1

Meadow Row, SE1 Meadow Row is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area.

Meadow Row, SE1

Melbway House, SE1 Melbway House is a block on Meadow Row.

Melbway House, SE1

Morant Court, SE17 Morant Court is a block on Munton Road.

Morant Court, SE17

Munton Road, SE17 A street within the SE17 postcode

Munton Road, SE17

New Kent Road, SE1 New Kent Road is a road in the SE17 postcode area

New Kent Road, SE1

Newington Butts, SE1 Newington Butts, once a hamlet, now forms part of the London Borough of Southwark.

Newington Butts, SE1

Newington Butts, SE11 Newington Butts is one of the streets of London in the SE11 postal area.

Newington Butts, SE11

Newington Causeway, SE1 Newington Causeway appears to have been so named in the middle of the 18th century.

Newington Causeway, SE1

Newington Court, SE1 Newington Court is a block on Newington Court.

Newington Court, SE1

Newman House, SE1 Newman House is a block on Garden Row.

Newman House, SE1

Nightingale Mews, SE11 Nightingale Mews is a road in the SE11 postcode area

Nightingale Mews, SE11

Ontario Street, SE1 Ontario Street is a road in the SE1 postcode area

Ontario Street, SE1

Orient Street, SE11 Orient Street is one of the streets of London in the SE11 postal area.

Orient Street, SE11

Oswin Street, SE11 Oswin Street is a road in the SE11 postcode area

Oswin Street, SE11

Pastor Street, SE1 Pastor Street is a road in the SE1 postcode area

Pastor Street, SE1

Perronet House, SE1 Perronet House is a block on Princess Street.

Perronet House, SE1

Pioneer/Signal Building, SE1 Pioneer/Signal Building is a block on Newington Causeway.

Pioneer/Signal Building, SE1

Plymouth Chambers, SE17 Plymouth Chambers was a named address just off the New Kent Road.

Plymouth Chambers, SE17

Princess Street, SE1 Princess Street is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area.

Princess Street, SE1

Prospect House, SE1 Prospect House is a block on Gaywood Street.

Prospect House, SE1

Rankine House, SE1 Rankine House is a block on Bath Terrace.

Rankine House, SE1

Renfrew Road, SE11 Renfrew Road is one of the streets of London in the SE11 postal area.

Renfrew Road, SE11

Rennie House, SE1 Rennie House is a building on Bath Terrace.

Rennie House, SE1

Rockingham Street, SE1 Rockingham Street is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area.

Rockingham Street, SE1

Rodney Place, SE17 Rodney Place is one of the streets of London in the SE17 postal area.

Rodney Place, SE17

Rosa Parks House, SE17 Rosa Parks House is a block on Munton Road.

Rosa Parks House, SE17

Rotary Street, SE1 Rotary Street runs from Borough Road to Thomas Doyle Street.

Rotary Street, SE1

Rumford House, SE1 Rumford House is sited on Bath Terrace.

Rumford House, SE1

Rutherford Heights, SE17 Rutherford Heights is a location in London.

Rutherford Heights, SE17

Sayer Street, SE17 A street within the SE17 postcode

Sayer Street, SE17

Sir John Soane Apartments, SE17 Sir John Soane Apartments is a block on O’Callaghan Way.

Sir John Soane Apartments, SE17

Skipton House, SE1 Skipton House is a block on London Road.

Skipton House, SE1

Smeaton Court, SE1 Smeaton Court is a block on Rockingham Street.

Smeaton Court, SE1

South Bank Technopark, SE1 A street within the SE1 postcode

South Bank Technopark, SE1

South Garden Court, SE17 South Garden Court is located on O’Callaghan Way.

South Garden Court, SE17

Spare Street, SE17 A street within the SE17 postcode

Spare Street, SE17

St Gabriel Walk, SE1 A street within the SE1 postcode

St Gabriel Walk, SE1

St George’s Court, SE1 St George’s Court is a block on Garden Row.

St George’s Court, SE1

St Georges Road, SE1 St Georges Road is one of the main thoroughfares of south London.

St Georges Road, SE1

St George’s Circus, SE1 St Georges Circus is a junction where six major roads meet.

St George’s Circus, SE1

St Matthews Court, SE1 St Matthews Court is a block on Meadow Row.

St Matthews Court, SE1

St. Georges Mews, SE1 St George’s Mews lies off of Westminster Bridge Road.

St. Georges Mews, SE1

Steedman Street, SE17 Steedman Street is one of the streets of London in the SE17 postal area.

Steedman Street, SE17

Stephenson House, SE1 Stephenson House is a block on Bath Terrace.

Stephenson House, SE1

Tarn Street, SE1 Tarn Street is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area.

Tarn Street, SE1

Tavern Court, SE1 Tavern Court is a block on New Kent Road.

Tavern Court, SE1

Telford House, SE1 Telford House is located on Tiverton Street.

Telford House, SE1

Thobal Place, SE1 Thomas Place became Thobal Place in 1892.

Thobal Place, SE1

Thomas Doyle Street, SE1 Thomas Doyle Street is a road in the SE1 postcode area

Thomas Doyle Street, SE1

Tiverton Street, SE1 Tiverton Street is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area.

Tiverton Street, SE1

Trinity House, SE1 Trinity House is a block on Bath Terrace.

Trinity House, SE1

Trinity Street, SE1 Trinity Street is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area.

Trinity Street, SE1

Two Eagles House, SE11 Two Eagles House is located on Brooke Drive.

Two Eagles House, SE11

Victory Place, SE17 Victory Place is a road in the SE17 postcode area

Victory Place, SE17

Walworth Road, SE1 The northernmost section of Walworth Road, nearest to the Elephant and Castle lies in the SE1 postal area.

Walworth Road, SE1

Walworth Square, SE17 Walworth Square is a location in London.

Walworth Square, SE17

Wansey Street, SE17 Wansey Street is a road in the SE17 postcode area

Wansey Street, SE17

Wardroper House, SE1 Wardroper House is a block on St George’s Road.

Wardroper House, SE1

Watling House, SE17 Watling House is a block on New Kent Road.

Watling House, SE17

Wellesley Court, SE1 Wellesley Court is a block on Rockingham Street.

Wellesley Court, SE1

West Combe Apartments, SE1 West Combe Apartments is a block on Newington Causeway.

West Combe Apartments, SE1

West Square, SE11 West Square was developed from 1794 onwards.

West Square, SE11

Whitehorse Mews, SE1 Whitehorse Mews is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area.

Whitehorse Mews, SE1

Whitworth House, SE1 Whitworth House is sited on Falmouth Road.

Whitworth House, SE1

Wicksteed House, SE1 Wicksteed House is located on County Street.

Wicksteed House, SE1

Wicksteed House, SE17 Wicksteed House is a block on County Street.

Wicksteed House, SE17

Winchester Close, SE11 A street within the SE17 postcode

Winchester Close, SE11

Wollaston Close, SE17 A street within the SE1 postcode

Wollaston Close, SE17

NEARBY PUBS

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Elephant and Castle

Elephant and Castle is one of five London tube stations named after a pub.

One thing Elephant and Castle is not named after is 'La Infanta de Castilla', seemingly referring to a series of Spanish princesses such as Eleanor of Castile and María, the daughter of Philip III of Spain. However, Eleanor of Castile was not an infanta - the term only appeared in English about 1600. María has a strong British connection because she was once controversially engaged to Charles I, but she had no connection with Castile. Infanta de Castilla therefore seems to be a conflation of two Iberian royals separated by 300 years.

Regardless, the pub of that name gave its name to the station, and in turn the station to the nearby area - originally called Newington.

Elephant & Castle tube station is on the Bank branch of the Northern Line between Kennington and Borough, and is the southern terminus of the Bakerloo Line.

The station was built in two stages. The Northern Line station opened on 18 December 1890 as part of the first deep-level tube, the City & South London Railway (C&SLR). The Baker Street & Waterloo Railway (BS&WR) station opened on 5 August 1906, five months after the rest of the line. Although belonging to separate companies, the platforms were connected below ground from 10 August 1906.

The first baby to be born on the underground was born at the station in 1924. Press reports claimed that she had been named Thelma Ursula Beatrice Eleanor (so that her initials would have read T.U.B.E.) but this story later proved false, and she was named Marie Cordery. Elephant and Castle seems to specialise in names which prove false!

LOCAL PHOTOS

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Postal area SE1 TUM image id: 1483541461 Licence: CC BY 2.0	Wagstaff Buildings, Sumner Road, Bankside, c. 1920. TUM image id: 1557142019 Licence: CC BY 2.0	Hopton Street, Borough, 1977. TUM image id: 1557142131 Licence: CC BY 2.0	Demolition of the Heygate Estate and the construction of Elephant Central, May 2014. The Heygate Estate had been completed in 1974. The estate was used extensively as a filming location, due in part to its brutalist architecture. Credit: Wiki Commons/Zefrog TUM image id: 1637796469 Licence: CC BY 2.0	East Street market, Walworth in 1908 The market, in operation since the 1880s, featured in the title sequence for Only Fools and Horses Old London postcard TUM image id: 1669906466 Licence:
Amelia Street, SE11 This originally consisted of late 19th century tenement blocks built by James Pullen between 1886 and 1901. During the 1980s the buildings between Manor Place and the south side of Amelia Street were demolished. The demolition of the rest of the Pullens Estate was prevented when squatters, intent on preserving the remainder of an individual late Victorian estate, occupied some of the blocks. The south side of Amelia Street is now an open space - Pullens Gardens - created following the demolition of a tenement block. Credit: Ideal Homes TUM image id: 1536959890 Licence:	Ayres Street TUM image id: 1544924072 Licence: CC BY 2.0	Shop on the corner of Brook Drive and Hayles Street (2013) This unobtrusive corner shop near Elephant and Castle was the filming location for ’Come On Eileen’ by Dexys Midnight Runners. It’s no longer a shop and - to my horror - my walk from Elephant & Castle to Lambeth North passes it at 7:24 and doesn’t note it as I found out only afterwards. Grrr https://youtu.be/R-e GEXb4M4 Credit: Wiki Commons TUM image id: 1689771844 Licence:	Gladstone Street showing Albert Terrace in the background (1977) Credit: Ideal Homes TUM image id: 1513443941 Licence:	Elephant & Castle TUM image id: 1683196643 Licence:
Lant Street, Southwark In 1824, when Charles Dickens was 12 years old, his father, John Dickens, was arrested and sent to Marshalsea Prison for failure to pay a debt. During this time, Charles (the only member of the family not imprisoned) took up residence in the back-attic of a house on Lant Street, a short walk away from the prison. Lant Street was in an area known as "The Mint" which was notorious for its overcrowded conditions. TUM image id: 1606344466 Licence:	Princes Street, now Princess Street near Elephant and Castle (1864) There were a few pottery firms in this street at this time. Credit: Lambeth Archives TUM image id: 1562929776 Licence:	Redcross Way in the Borough area was previously called Red Cross Street. It was previously a very poor area, targeted by the Improved Industrial Dwellings Corporation in the mid 19th century. Credit: The Underground Map TUM image id: 1640865849 Licence: CC BY 2.0	Blackman Street, Borough, London (1885) Credit: John Atkinson Grimshaw (1836–1893) TUM image id: 1688925177 Licence:	Walworth Road (1930) This view looks north along the Walworth Road towards the ornate Elephant and Castle public house. Most of the buildings here were demolished as part of the London County Council redevelopment between 1958 and 1965. TUM image id: 1620670227 Licence:

In the neighbourhood...

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Postal area SE1
Licence: CC BY 2.0

Wagstaff Buildings, Sumner Road, Bankside, c. 1920.
Licence: CC BY 2.0

Hopton Street, Borough, 1977.
Licence: CC BY 2.0

Demolition of the Heygate Estate and the construction of Elephant Central, May 2014. The Heygate Estate had been completed in 1974. The estate was used extensively as a filming location, due in part to its brutalist architecture.
Credit: Wiki Commons/Zefrog
Licence: CC BY 2.0

Amelia Street, SE11 This originally consisted of late 19th century tenement blocks built by James Pullen between 1886 and 1901. During the 1980s the buildings between Manor Place and the south side of Amelia Street were demolished. The demolition of the rest of the Pullens Estate was prevented when squatters, intent on preserving the remainder of an individual late Victorian estate, occupied some of the blocks. The south side of Amelia Street is now an open space - Pullens Gardens - created following the demolition of a tenement block.
Credit: Ideal Homes
Licence:

Shop on the corner of Brook Drive and Hayles Street (2013) This unobtrusive corner shop near Elephant and Castle was the filming location for ’Come On Eileen’ by Dexys Midnight Runners. It’s no longer a shop and - to my horror - my walk from Elephant & Castle to Lambeth North passes it at 7:24 and doesn’t note it as I found out only afterwards. Grrr https://youtu.be/R-e GEXb4M4
Credit: Wiki Commons
Licence:

Gladstone Street showing Albert Terrace in the background (1977)
Credit: Ideal Homes
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Elephant & Castle
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Lant Street, Southwark In 1824, when Charles Dickens was 12 years old, his father, John Dickens, was arrested and sent to Marshalsea Prison for failure to pay a debt. During this time, Charles (the only member of the family not imprisoned) took up residence in the back-attic of a house on Lant Street, a short walk away from the prison. Lant Street was in an area known as "The Mint" which was notorious for its overcrowded conditions.
Licence:

Princes Street, now Princess Street near Elephant and Castle (1864) There were a few pottery firms in this street at this time.
Credit: Lambeth Archives
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