75-532: Surrey Quays is a largely residential area of Rotherhithe in south-east London , occupied until 1970 by the Surrey Commercial Docks . The precise boundaries of the area are somewhat amorphous, but it is generally considered to comprise the southern half of the Rotherhithe peninsula from Canada Water to South Dock ; electorally, Surrey Docks is the eastern half of the peninsula. The area
150-522: A sauna , mostly linked closely to the churches. Some of the redeveloped areas were built by Nordic architects, such as the Greenland Passage development by Danish Company Kjær & Richter . This gives some areas a distinctly "Nordic" feel in terms of house and street design. The relationship with Scandinavia and the Baltic is also reflected in the names of some of the buildings (such as
225-614: A 1335 record. The name is found used in 1417: Inquisicio capta sup' litus Thomisie apud Lymhosteys pro morte Thome Frank. (" Inquest held on the shore of the Thames by Lymhosteys for the death of Thomas Frank ") 17 Aug, 5 Henry V. [A.D. 1417], inquest held before "les Lymehostes" within the liberty and franchise of the City, before Henry Bartone, the Mayor, and the King's Escheator, as to
300-540: A Million (1936). Limehouse Blues was also the name of a 1934 film, starring George Raft . Thomas Burke wrote Limehouse Nights (1916), a collection of stories centred around life in the poverty-stricken Limehouse district of London. Many of Burke's books feature the Chinese character Quong Lee as narrator. The area also features in the Fu Manchu books of Sax Rohmer , where a Limehouse opium den serves as
375-630: A basin renamed Surrey Water. In 1981, the Conservative government of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher established the London Docklands Development Corporation to redevelop the former dockyard areas of east London, including the Surrey Docks. Surrey Quays shopping centre was opened in 1988 and Surrey Docks underground station was renamed Surrey Quays . A massive building programme took place in
450-568: A club for working class boys in Limehouse run by his old school. Before this, Attlee's political views had been conservative , but he was shocked by the poverty and deprivation he saw while working with slum children, and this caused him to become a socialist . He joined the Independent Labour Party in 1908, and became mayor of Stepney in 1919. At the 1922 general election , Attlee became Member of Parliament (MP) for
525-746: A million tonnes of timber in Quebec Yard, causing the most intense single fire ever seen in Britain. The bombing of the old Rotherhithe Town Hall during the Second World War gives an indication of how heavy the bombing in Rotherhithe was. The first damage to the building occurred when Luftwaffe bombs landed nearby in April 1941, and there was more bomb damage in February and June 1944. Later
600-554: A number of light industrial plants were also built, notably a new printing works for Associated Newspapers, the publisher of the London Evening Standard and the Daily Mail . This site was the headquarters of Metro (British newspaper) from its launch in 1999 until 2006, when the newspaper's production was relocated to Kensington, west London. A further phase of development at Canada Water began around 2005 and
675-609: A number of references to the notorious criminality of the area in Victorian London. Victorian-era Limehouse was also the setting of the novel Dan Leno and the Limehouse Golem (1995) by Peter Ackroyd , a fictionalized account of the notorious 'Limehouse Golem' serial murders. The area also appeared in Anna May Wong 's 1929 film Piccadilly , where, as the toughly alluring Shosho, Wong was said to embody
750-444: A result, Rotherhithe is now a gentrifying residential and commuter area, with urban regeneration progressing around Deal Porter Square at Canada Water ; a new town centre with restaurant and retail units, as well as new residential developments, is emerging here around the existing freshwater dock and transport hub. Rotherhithe is 4.5 km (2.8 mi) east of London's centre point at Charing Cross . The name "Rotherhithe"
825-410: A shipyard near what is now Lavender Street. John Whetstone took over in 1709, Robert Inwood in 1756 and Job Cockshott in the early 1800s, when it was divided into Lavender Dock and Lavender Wharf. In 1862 William Walker re-amalgamated the dock and wharf, but in 1870 they were separated. From 1865 John and William Walker built clippers and W. Walker & Co, who had a 256 ft (78 m) dry dock on
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#1732772264826900-440: A significant regeneration project focused on Canada Water and Rotherhithe. Known as the 'Canada Water Masterplan', the project has proposed the development of an additional 3,500 homes, as well as a new high street, town square, parks, leisure centre and footpath links. The landmark Tesco store will also be relocated. The project would be developed in multiple phases over the coming 15 to 20 years. Some local community groups oppose
975-751: A trading voyage to Bantam , on the island of Java in present-day Indonesia . His sailing experience in Limehouse made him known as Captain Christopher Newport, of Limehouse, Mariner. Charles Dickens' godfather , Christopher Huffam, ran his sailmaking business from 12 Church Row (Newell Street). Huffam is said to be the inspiration for the Paul Dombey character in Dickens' Dombey and Son . James McNeill Whistler and Charles Napier Hemy sketched and painted at locations on Narrow Street's river waterfront. Contemporary residents include
1050-588: Is a district in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in East London . It is 3.9 miles (6.3 km) east of Charing Cross , on the northern bank of the River Thames . Its proximity to the river has given it a strong maritime character, which it retains through its riverside public houses and steps, such as The Grapes and Limehouse Stairs. The area gives its name to Limehouse Reach, a section of
1125-659: Is an important stop and interchange, given its proximity to the tube station. The riverbank carries part of the Richmond – Thames Barrier (28 miles – 45 km) section of the Thames Path through London. Most of the riverbank is accessible, apart from sections where warehouses and estates have established rights to the riverside. A new bridge for pedestrians and cyclists has been proposed between Rotherhithe and Canary Wharf. London taxis (black cabs) can often be found on Salter Road. Limehouse Limehouse
1200-590: 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 , and originally intended to carry cross-river freight, it became a pedestrian tunnel due to the money running out to build the necessary ramps for vehicle traffic. It was used as a railway tunnel from 1869, and is now part of the London Overground network, which on 27 April 2010 started running trains on
1275-407: Is served by National Rail c2c and Docklands Light Railway . On 22 April 1991, two trains collided between Limehouse and Poplar during morning rush hour , requiring a shutdown of the system and evacuation of passengers by ladder. A number of London Buses routes serve Limehouse, including routes 15 , 115, 135 , D3 and night bus routes N15 , N550 and N551 . Limehouse is connected to
1350-551: Is served by Surrey Quays railway station on the London Overground route. Surrey Docks are so called because the borders of Surrey and Kent met in this area until 1889. After the closure of the docks, the area remained derelict for over a decade; much of the warehousing was demolished and over 90% of the docks filled in. The only surviving areas of open water were Greenland Dock , South Dock , part of Canada Dock (renamed Canada Water ), remnants of Norway Dock and
1425-463: Is served by Transport for London bus services 1 , 47, 188 , 199, 225, 381, C10 and P12; night buses N1, N199 and N381 also call here. Greenland Dock Pier is the nearest place for boarding London River Services , operated by Thames Clippers . Rotherhithe Rotherhithe ( / ˈ r ɒ ð ər h aɪ ð / RODH -ər-hydhe ) is a district of South London , England , and part of
1500-463: Is still underway. The location of Canada Water Surrey Quays lends its name to local property developer CWSQ . Since 2007, there have been campaigns to change the name of the railway station back to Surrey Docks . The area is served by Surrey Quays railway station on the London Overground route. The nearest London Underground station is at Canada Water , on the Jubilee line . Surrey Quays
1575-465: Is thought to derive from the Anglo-Saxon Hrȳðer-hȳð and it is suggested it means "landing-place for cattle". The first recorded use of this name was in about 1105, as Rederheia . Other explanations of the name have been 'Red Rose Haven' and 'rehra' (mariner's) hythe (haven or landing place). In the past Rotherhithe was also pronounced and written as Redriff or Redriffe , however until
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#17327722648261650-571: The Diocese of Southwark . From 1840, as the population of Rotherhithe increased, a number of new parishes were formed: In addition, as the population of neighbouring Deptford increased, parts of Rotherhithe parish were included in the new parish of: Because much of the former Surrey Docks had strong trade links to Scandinavia and the Baltic region, the area is still home to a thriving Scandinavian community. During World War II, in fact, it housed
1725-555: The King Frederik IX Tower), the street names (e.g. Finland Street, Sweden Gate, Baltic 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. Rotherhithe is also a popular place to live with South Africans, according to
1800-566: The London Borough of Southwark . It is on a peninsula on the south bank of the Thames , facing Wapping , Shadwell and Limehouse on the north bank, with the Isle of Dogs to the east. It borders Bermondsey to the west and Deptford to the south-east. The district is a part of the Docklands area. Rotherhithe has a long history as a port, with Elizabethan shipyards and working docks until
1875-824: The National Road Network by the A13 Commercial Road which passes west–east through Limehouse, while the A1203 Limehouse Link tunnel passes under Limehouse Basin, linking The Highway with the Docklands Northern Relief Road . The northern entrance of the Rotherhithe Tunnel emerges in Limehouse, to the west of the Basin and close to Limehouse railway station. Narrow Street forms a part of
1950-827: The Regent's Canal via the Commercial Road Lock to the north, and the River Thames via Limehouse Basin Lock to the south. The Limehouse Cut connects the Basin to the River Lea in the east. Sir Humphrey Gilbert lived here, and was an advocate of opening up the Northwest Passage . This inspired Martin Frobisher to sail to Baffin Island , and he returned with a mysterious black rock. Gilbert set up
2025-647: The Society of the New Art with Lord Burghley and the Earl of Leicester , who had their alchemical laboratory in Limehouse; however, their attempts to transmute the black rock into gold proved fruitless. (Humphrey's brother Adrian Gilbert was reputed a great alchemist and worked closely with John Dee .) Captain Christopher Newport lived in Limehouse for several years up until 1595. He rose through
2100-598: The constituency of Limehouse , which he represented while Deputy Prime Minister. After WWII he moved constituencies to Walthamstow West . On 25 January 1981, MPs Shirley Williams , Roy Jenkins , William Rodgers and David Owen made the Limehouse Declaration from the bridge over Limehouse Cut in Narrow Street : it announced the formation of the Council for Social Democracy in opposition to
2175-630: The " Pilgrim Fathers ", were mostly still living in the city of Leiden , in the Netherlands . There they hired a ship called the Speedwell to take them from Delfshaven in the Netherlands to Southampton to join the Mayflower . The ship's master, Christopher Jones , died shortly after his return in 1621 and is buried in an unmarked grave at St Mary's Church. No one can be sure where on
2250-719: The "usual arbours and 'boxes'" during the Victorian period, but by the 1920s, most of the gardens had been absorbed into the Surrey Commercial Docks as part of a timber yard. Like the rest of the London Docks, the Surrey Commercial Docks were targeted by the Luftwaffe . On 7 September 1940, on the first day of the London Blitz , the deal yards of Surrey Docks were set ablaze. The raid ignited over
2325-454: The 1942 film Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror , when Holmes enlists the aid of rather unsavory residents to help catch a Nazi agent. St Anne's Limehouse was built by Nicholas Hawksmoor . A pyramid originally planned to be put atop the tower now stands in the graveyard. The church is next door to Limehouse Town Hall and close to Limehouse Library , both Grade II listed buildings ,
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2400-524: The 1970s. In the 1980s, the area along the river was redeveloped as housing through a mix of warehouse conversions and new-build developments. The Jubilee line was extended to the area in 1999, giving fast connections to the West End and to Canary Wharf ; the East London underground line was converted to part of the London Overground network in 2010, which provides easy access to the City of London . As
2475-644: The 1980s been quiet and suburban in nature. Durand's Wharf is a park in Rotherhithe Street and holds an Outdoor Gym. Rotherhithe is served by three stations: Other nearby stations are Bermondsey tube station (also on the Jubilee line), South Bermondsey railway station to the south-west and London Bridge railway station to the west. The area is served by Transport for London bus services 1, 47, 188, 199, 225, 381, C10 and P12; night buses N1, N199 and N381 also stop here. Canada Water bus station
2550-777: The Commercial Road. On 30 July 1909, the Chancellor of the Exchequer David Lloyd George made a polemical speech in Limehouse attacking the House of Lords for its opposition to his " People's Budget " and speaking of the Budget's social aims. This was the origin of the verb 'to Limehouse', "To make fiery (political) speeches such as Mr. Lloyd George made at Limehouse in 1909". From 1906 to 1909, Clement Attlee worked as manager of Haileybury House,
2625-661: The Immaculate Conception. King's Stairs Gardens is a small park on the river towards the Bermondsey boundary. In September 2011 Thames Water announced that they wanted to build an access shaft for the "super-sewer" Thames Tideway Tunnel . Due to local action by The Save King's Stairs Gardens Campaign, which collected over 5000 signatures, Thames Water decided to build the access shaft in Chambers Wharf instead. The Mayflower TRA Hall now occupies
2700-633: The Limehouse Chinatown mystique. The Limehouse district of London is depicted in the silent film Broken Blossoms or The Yellow Man and the Girl (1919), directed by D. W. Griffith , "where the Orient squats at the portals of the West". Limehouse is also the setting of the 1926 film The Blackbird , directed by Tod Browning and starring Lon Chaney . The Limehouse district features prominently in
2775-541: The London Docklands. The sheer scale of the Canary Wharf proposals, and, in due course, the rapid implementation of the first phase of development, provided the impetus to the transport improvements which completely altered prospects for Limehouse as well as for the Isle of Dogs . The derelict Regent's Canal Dock was converted into Limehouse Marina. The Troxy concert venue is located in Limehouse on
2850-624: The London Mayor Boris Johnson said he would not fund the bridge, citing budget cuts due to the credit crunch, with the result that the project was effectively put on ice. However the idea is still being supported by Sustrans. There are two Anglican churches in Rotherhithe: St. Mary's Church , and Trinity Church. There are two Roman Catholic churches: St Peter and the Guardian Angels, and Our Lady of
2925-819: The Norwegian Government-in-Exile. Originally established as seafarers' missions, Rotherhithe is home to a Norwegian , a Finnish and a Swedish church. The Finnish Church and the Norwegian Church are both in Albion Street; they were built in 1958 and 1927 respectively (Rotherhithe Library is between them). There are also a number of "community centres" for the Nordic community in London, including hostels, shops and cafés and even
3000-430: The River Thames in the Surrey Docks complex, and it was linked to Albion Dock and Greenland Dock at its northern and south-eastern extremities via the Albion Canal. The dock has been remodelled, and its northwest half retained as an ornamental lake, renamed Canada Water . The canal has remained as a walkway and water feature within the redeveloped area. Southwark Council and the Greater London Authority have announced
3075-470: The River', a gastropub , now run by Gordon Ramsay . It is housed in the Grade II listed, former dockmaster 's and customs house , for Limehouse Dock. The Stepney Greencoat School is a Church of England primary school that was founded in 1710 by leading community members to local children, it has served the area as it transformed from an industrial to the mixed, multicultural settlement that Limehouse has become today. Limehouse station , opened in 1987,
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3150-483: The Rotherhithe peninsula the Mayflower was berthed, but the Mayflower pub near St Mary's Church claims the honour, and lists the names of the Mayflower passengers on their wall. The building itself, despite external and interior appearances, dates only from the 1950s. The extent to which the pub was damaged during the Second World War , and was rebuilt or simply restored, is uncertain. On Lower Road, about halfway between Surrey Quays and Canada Water stations, there
3225-438: The Thames bank from 1869, built 17 ships there between 1866 and 1882. James Turner built ships there from 1873 to 1886, followed by John Medhurst until at least 1890. Rotherhithe is part of the SE16 postcode district. Electorally, the western half is Rotherhithe ward of Southwark London Borough Council and the eastern half in Surrey Docks ward. As much of Rotherhithe was occupied by the now-defunct Surrey Commercial Docks ,
3300-438: The Thames which runs south to Millwall after making a right-angled bend at Cuckold's Point , Rotherhithe. The west-to-east section upstream of Cuckold's Point is properly called the Lower Pool. The name relates to the local lime kilns or, more precisely, lime oasts , by the river and operated by the large potteries that served shipping in the London Docks . The name is from Old English līm-āst "lime-oast", and appears in
3375-399: The UK census of 2011, and there was a South African themed pub at 351 Rotherhithe Street. In July 1620, the Mayflower sailed from Rotherhithe and picked up 65 passengers, probably from Blackwall , then proceeded to Southampton on the south coast of England to begin loading food and supplies for the voyage to America . At that time, the English Separatists , who later became known as
3450-411: The area as one its oldest, was also demolished. The Daily Mail and Evening Standard newspapers were printed at Harmsworth Quays in Rotherhithe from 1989 to 2012. The building became the Printworks events venue until its demolition in 2024. The ancient parish , dedicated to St Mary , was in the Diocese of Winchester until 1877, then the Diocese of Rochester until 1905, and then finally in
3525-468: The area during the late 1980s and early 1990s, with 5,500 new homes being built; this ranged from individual detached housing to large apartment complexes, such as Baltic Quay . South Dock was converted into a marina – now the largest in London – and a sailing facility (named Surrey Docks Watersports Centre ) was constructed on Greenland Dock . The northern part of Canada Water and the infilled Russia Dock became wildlife reserves. Leisure facilities and
3600-493: The area. Limehouse Basin was amongst the first docks to close in the late 1960s. By 1981, Limehouse shared the docklands-wide physical, social and economic decline which led to the setting up of the London Docklands Development Corporation . In November 1982, the LDDC published its Limehouse Area Development Strategy. This built on existing plans for Limehouse Basin, and offered a discussion framework for future development, housing refurbishment and environmental improvements across
3675-408: The back of the Thames wharves, boasts one of the few surviving early Georgian terraces in London. Next to the terrace is the historic Grapes pub, rebuilt in 1720 and well known to Charles Dickens, featuring as the Six Jolly Fellowship Porters in Our Mutual Friend . A few doors along was Booty's Riverside Bar but this closed down in 2012. Almost every building on the other side of Narrow Street
3750-406: The cause of the death of Thomas Franke, of Herewich , late steersman (conductor) or "lodysman" of a ship called "la Mary Knyght" of Danzsk in Prussia. A jury sworn, viz., John Baille, Matthew Holme, Robert Marle, Henry Mark, Alexander Bryan, John Goby, Richard Hervy, Walter Steel, Peter West, Richard Stowell, John Dyse, and Walter Broun. They find that the said Thomas Franke was killed by falling on
3825-493: The district is sometimes 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. An eastern part, which became an island when the docks were in use and the locks open, is called "Downtown". This name was never related to the idea of a " downtown " in the American sense, although there was a club of that name there for many years which has now closed. This part of Rotherhithe has since
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#17327722648263900-555: The early 19th century, this name was applied to the whole river front from St Saviour's Dock to Bull Head Dock, this near the entrance to Surrey Water. On the Ordnance Survey five feet to the mile, London 1893–1896 maps, Redriff appears in two places, by Beatson Street and by Nelson Dockyard to Durand's Wharf. The docks were closed and largely filled in during the 1980s, and have now been replaced by modern housing and commercial facilities, but Rotherhithe retains much of its character and its maritime heritage. The largest surviving dock on
3975-441: The former now used as a community centre and the latter as a hotel. Across the road is the Sailors' Mission , where Situationist International held its conference in 1960. The building subsequently became a run-down hostel for the homeless which became notorious for its squalor, although it has since been converted into a luxury apartment block. Further to the southwest, Narrow Street , Limehouse's historic spine, which runs along
4050-522: The granting of block votes to the trade unions in the Labour Party to which they had previously belonged. They soon became leading politicians in the Social Democratic Party . Today, Limehouse is part of the constituency of Poplar and Limehouse and has been represented in the House of Commons since 2019 by Apsana Begum MP (Independent), and in the London Assembly since 2016 by Unmesh Desai AM ( Labour ). The area inspired Douglas Furber (lyricist) and Philip Braham (composer) in 1921 to write
4125-452: The hideout of the Chinese supervillain . The notion of East End opium dens seems to have originated with a description by Charles Dickens of a visit he made to an opium den in nearby Bluegate Fields , which inspired certain scenes in his last, unfinished, novel The Mystery of Edwin Drood (1870). More recently, the popular graphic novels of Alan Moore , From Hell (1989) and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (1999) contain
4200-471: The late 19th century, often featured in pulp fiction works by Sax Rohmer and others. Like much of the East End it remained a focus for immigration , but after the devastation of the Second World War many of the Chinese community relocated to Soho . On 12 February 1832, the first case of cholera was reported in London at Limehouse. First described in India in 1817, it had spread here via Hamburg . Although 800 people died during this epidemic, it
4275-409: The new County of London in 1889. In 1900, metropolitan boroughs were created for the County of London, and Limehouse became a part of the Metropolitan Borough of Stepney . In 1965, the County of London was replaced by Greater London , and Stepney borough merged with neighbouring boroughs to form Tower Hamlets. From its foundation, Limehouse, like neighbouring Wapping , has enjoyed better links with
4350-462: The north bank of the Thames Path and had previously been the principal street in Limehouse. It includes the Cycleway 3 between Tower Gateway to Barking , one of London's first Cycle Superhighways . Though no longer a working dock, Limehouse Basin with its marina remains a working facility. The same is not true of the wharf buildings that have survived, most of which are now highly desirable residential properties. Limehouse Basin connects to
4425-438: The old town hall. Built originally in the early 1870s on land adjoining Rotherhithe Workhouse, it became the infirmary of St Olave's Union in 1875, and was renamed St Olave's Hospital in 1930. Subsequently, becoming part of the Guy's Hospital Teaching Group in 1966, it closed in 1985 and the site has been redeveloped into the residential Ann Moss Way. The Terriss Theatre (named after the actor, William Terriss ) opened in 1899 and
4500-521: The plan based on environmental and cost considerations. Rotherhithe is the home of the football team Fisher F.C. and Ballers Football Academy, who train & play fixtures at St Pauls Stadium. The Championship team Millwall Football Club is nearby in the London Borough of Lewisham . The sustainable transport charity Sustrans has proposed the construction of a bicycle and pedestrian swing bridge from Rotherhithe to Canary Wharf, and cost-benefit and feasibility studies were undertaken. In January 2009
4575-560: The popular jazz standard " Limehouse Blues ", which was introduced by Jack Buchanan and Gertrude Lawrence in the musical revue "A to Z". Much later, it was reprised in the ballet "Limehouse Blues" featuring Fred Astaire and Lucille Bremer in the musical film Ziegfeld Follies (1946) and by Julie Andrews in Star! (1968). In both instances the actors were in yellowface. Other notable performances on film include those by Hoagy Carmichael in To Have and Have Not (1944) and by Borrah Minevich and His Harmonica Rascals in One in
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#17327722648264650-402: The river than the land, the land route being across a marsh . Limehouse became a significant port in late medieval times . Although most cargoes were discharged in the Pool of London before the establishment of the docks, industries such as shipbuilding , ship chandlering and rope making were established in Limehouse. Limehouse Basin opened in 1820 as the Regent's Canal Dock . This
4725-472: The route of the former East London Line . 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 . Parts of Rotherhithe Street were at one time or another called Jamaica Street, Lavender Street, Low Queen Street, Queen Street, Redriff Wall, Redriff, Rotherhithe Wall, Shipwright Street and Trinity Street. In 1702 Edward Swallow built
4800-456: The sailing ranks from a poor cabin boy to a wealthy English privateer and eventually one of the Masters of the Royal Navy . He became rich pirating Spanish treasure vessels in the West Indies . In 1607 he sailed the Susan Constant , followed by the Godspeed and Discovery , as Admiral of the Fleet to Jamestown . He helped secure England's foothold in North America through five voyages to Jamestown. He sailed his entire life, dying on
4875-453: The same month (June 1944) the Town Hall was severely damaged by a direct hit from a V1 doodlebug . In November 1944 it was further damaged by near misses, and was finally destroyed by one of the last V1s to land on London. King Haakon VII made many of his famous radio broadcasts to occupied Norway from Saint Olav's Norwegian Church in Rotherhithe, where the Norwegian royal family were regular worshippers during their exile. Rotherhithe
4950-447: The sharp end of an anchor The area was part of the historic (or ancient) county of Middlesex , but military and most (or all) civil county functions were managed more locally, by the Tower Division (also known as the Tower Hamlets) , under the leadership of the Lord-Lieutenant of the Tower Hamlets (the post was always filled by the Constable of the Tower of London ). The role of the Tower Division ended when Limehouse became part of
5025-481: The site of the old Rotherhithe Town Hall. The building ceased to be a town hall in 1905 when the former Rotherhithe Council merged with the old Bermondsey Borough Council and the new council used premises in Spa Road . The old Rotherhithe Town Hall became a library and a museum. It was razed to the ground by repeated bomb hits and near misses during the Second World War (see below ). Rotherhithe had its own general hospital, St Olave's Hospital , on Lower Road close to
5100-423: The south bank, Greenland Dock , is the focal point for the southern part of the district, while there are many preserved wharves along the riverside at the north end of Rotherhithe. St. Mary's Church is at the centre of the old Rotherhithe village, which contains various historic buildings including the Brunel Engine House at the south end of the Thames Tunnel . Canada Dock was the dock basin furthest away from
5175-499: The whole of Limehouse. It was based on four major projects: Limehouse Basin, Free Trade Wharf, what was then known as the Light Rapid Transit Route (DLR) and the Docklands Northern Relief Road, a road corridor between The Highway and East India Dock across the north of the Isle of Dogs. In the mid-1980s, developments on the nearby Isle of Dogs (particularly at Canary Wharf), proved to be the catalyst to delivering infrastructure improvements which benefitted Limehouse and some other areas of
5250-484: The world. Crews would be paid off at the end of their voyages and, inevitably, permanent communities of foreign sailors became established, including colonies of Lascars and Africans from the Guinea Coast . Large Chinese communities developed at Shadwell , Limehouse and the adjoining Pennyfields area of Poplar . These were established by the crews of merchantmen in the opium and tea trades, particularly Han Chinese . The area achieved notoriety for opium dens in
5325-417: Was a public house called the China Hall; at one time it was the entrance to a riparian playhouse visited by Samuel Pepys and mentioned in his diary. It is not known how long the theatre remained on the site, but it was reinvigorated in 1777 and George Frederick Cooke acted there the following year. In the winter of 1779, it was destroyed in fire. The site of the theatre became a well-known tea-gardens, with
5400-663: Was an important connection between the Thames and the canal system, where cargoes could be transferred from larger ships to the shallow-draught canal boats. This mix of vessels can still be seen in the Basin: canal narrowboats rubbing shoulders with seagoing yachts . From the Tudor era until the 20th century, ships crews were employed on a casual basis. New and replacement crews would be found wherever they were available – foreign sailors in their own waters being particularly prized for their knowledge of currents and hazards in ports around
5475-486: Was destroyed by bombing in the Second World War , including hundreds of houses, Taylor Walker & Co 's Barley Mow Brewery and a school. One notable exception is a former public house , known locally as 'The House They Left Behind', because it was the only Victorian terrace to survive. It still stands today, with the aid of three large supporting pillars. Further along the street is 'Bread Street Kitchen on
5550-407: Was fewer than had died of tuberculosis in the same year. Unfortunately, cholera visited again in 1848 and 1858. The use of Limehouse Basin as a major distribution hub declined with the growth of the railways, although the revival of canal traffic during World War I and World War II gave it a brief swansong. Today, Stepney Historical Trust works to advance the public's education in the history of
5625-558: Was later renamed the Rotherhithe Hippodrome of Varieties. It stood on Lower Road by Culling Road. It was bombed in the 1940s and stood empty until demolition in 1955. When the roundabout facing the Rotherhithe Tunnel was redeveloped in the early 1980s, several 19th century buildings were demolished including a school and a nunnery. A public house, the "Europa" , described in an early 20th-century history of
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