Rotherhithe
Coordinates: 51°29′56″N 0°02′33″W / 51.4989, -0.0426
Rotherhithe is a district of central south-east London in the London Borough of Southwark. It is located on a peninsula on the south bank of the Thames, facing Wapping and the Isle of Dogs on the north bank, and is a part of the Docklands area.
Rotherhithe 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 Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620. The ship's captain, Christopher Jones, lived in Rotherhithe and was buried there in 1622.
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History
The name "Rotherhithe" derives from Anglo-Saxon hryðer-hȳð = "Landing-place for cattle" or from redhra-hyð = "Sailor haven". The first recorded use of this name is circa 1105, as Rederheia[1][2]
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. An eastern part, which became in effect an island when the docks were in use and locks open is called "Downtown". In the past Rotherhithe has also been known as the cognate "Redriff".[3] It is part of the SE16 postal district. Electorally, the western half is Rotherhithe ward and the eastern half Surrey Docks ward.
Redriff was the fictional birthplace of Jonathan Swift's character Lemuel Gulliver, of Gulliver's Travels fame, and where his family waited for him.
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, which since 23rd December 2007 has been closed for conversion to become part of the London Overground network by summer 2010. 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.
Although the docks were closed and largely filled in during the 1980s, and have now been replaced by modern housing and commercial facilities, Rotherhithe is still dominated by its former maritime heritage.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.
Rotherhithe had its own general hospital, St Olave's Hospital, in Lower Road. 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.
When the roudabout facing the Rotherhithe Tunnel was redeveloped in the early 1980's, several nineteenth century buildings were demolished including a school and a nunnery. A public house described in an early twentieth century history of the area as one its oldest, was also demolished.
Rotherhithe is the traditional home of the football team, Fisher Athletic F.C., although the team currently ground shares in Dulwich Hamlet.
The sustainable transport charity Sustrans has proposed the construction of a bicycle and pedestrian swing bridge from Rotherhithe to Canary Wharf, and a feasibility study is underway.[4]
The Scandinavian connection
- See also: Nordic churches in London
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 the Norwegian Government-in-Exile. Originally established as seafarers' missions, Rotherhithe is home to a Norwegian [5], a Finnish [6] and a Swedish [7] church. The Finnish Church and the Norwegian Church are both located in Albion Street; they were built in 1958 and 1927 respectively (Rotherhithe Library is located between them). 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 built by Nordic architects, such as the Greenland Passage development [8] by Danish Company Kjaer & 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 the King Frederik IX Tower) [8], 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 [9] and the Russia Dock Woodland.
Notable people associated with Rotherhithe
- Max Bygraves was born in Rotherhithe , as was Michael Caine on 14 March 1933 as Maurice Joseph Micklewhite.
- Princess Margaret met her husband-to-be, photographer Tony Armstrong-Jones, in a house in Rotherhithe.
- Myleene Klass lives in Rotherhithe with her partner Graham Quinn and their daughter.
Cultural references
- In the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies, Harmsworth Quays Printing was used as the scene for Carver's print works.
- Gulliver's wife in Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels, lived in Redriff.
- Rotherhithe is alluded to in the British Sea Power song Carrion and the Elvis Costello song New Amsterdam.
- Adam Carter from Spooks supposedly lives in Canada Wharf on Rotherhithe Street, and much of the series is filmed on locations around Rotherhithe and the Docklands.
- In the ending chapter of Charles Dickens's Oliver Twist there is a lively depiction of a Rotherhithe slum district of the mid 19th century.
Places of interest
- Brunel Engine House
- Finnish Church, 33 Albion Street
- Canada Water
- Southwark Park
- Greenland Dock
- Russia Dock Park
- South Dock
- Stave Hill (Ecological Park)
- St. Mary's Church
- Surrey Quays shopping centre
- Thames Tunnel
- Surrey Docks Farm
- The Hilton Docklands
- Cuckold's Point
Transport
Nearest places
Nearest tube stations
- Bermondsey tube station
- Canada Water tube station
- Rotherhithe tube station
- Surrey Quays tube station
Nearest railway stations
River boat service piers
- Greenland Dock (Commuter Service)
| Preceding station |  London River Services |
Following station | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Terminus
|
Rotherhithe to Canary Wharf Service | Terminus |
Gallery
 Historic Mayflower Pub |
 Albion Channel |
 Riverside Developments |
 View from Stave Hill over Canary Wharf |
 Stave Hill woodland |
References
- ^ A.D.Mills, Oxford Dictionary of English Place-Names, ISBN 0192831313
- ^ BBC: A Thames Tour of Rotherhithe
- ^ [http://www.phon.ucl.ac.uk/home/wells/blog0710b.htm Professor John Wells Emeritus Professor of Phonetics in the University of London]
- ^ Sustrans London Route News accessed 4 Jul 2007
- ^ Norwegian Church and Seamen's Mission, St Olav's Church accessed 4 Jul 2007
- ^ The Finnish Church in London accessed 4 Jul 2007
- ^ The Swedish Church in London accessed 4 Jul 2007
- ^ a b Greenland Passage development accessed 4 Jul 2007
- ^ Canada Water Campaign and Canada Water Consultative Forum accessed 4 Jul 2007
External links
- Rotherhithe, Surrey Docks, Surrey Quays, London SE16
- Canada Water
- The Finnish Church in London
- St Olave's Hospital
Maps
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