New to the area?
Useful information for new residents to Blackheath and Greenwich
If you are new to the area it can sometimes be a little daunting finding your bearings.
Here are brief histories of Blackheath, Greenwich and Charlton to get a feel for the area…
Digging into historical Blackheath
Having called our opticians Blackheath Eyecare we wanted to write about this great area we work and live in.
Blackheath has a long history of myths surrounding its name. Its origins have been linked to the Black Death during medieval times, with claims that this town was home to a large burial pit for the dead. However, this is only a myth. Instead, Blackheath gets its name because its landscape—the soil, brush and other plants—were of a much darker colour than the greener fields near the Thames. The soil of Blackheath was rocky and not good for cultivating growth like nearby farmers’ fields. The rocky soil was used for its gravel and stones. Where it had been dug up and pits formed, have now become ponds.
In times past, the London road towards Dover that wound through the heath was an isolated area and travellers had to be watchful not to fall prey to highwaymen. Now that was only one aspect of this dark, yet beautiful landscape. Blackheath was a place of leisure and refreshment. Historically, many fairs were held in this town and still are to this day. 1871 marked the declaration that the heath became an open space for the public.
During the latter part of the 17th Century, Blackheath grew to become one of the wealthier suburban areas surrounding London. More houses and townhomes were built in the northern-west section of the town and the ‘well-to-do’ area known as Dartmouth Row was built. More landowners began building homes and around 1805 Blackheath came into its own with a shopping district centre which drew new patrons to the area.
During the beginning of the 19th Century, several estates in Blackheath saw monumental development so more domestics and labourers were needed to staff this expansion. They also needed housing, so a burgeoning community of the working and middle class came to live in the back of the main area of the central village square—known as Blackheath Vale. By the end of the 19th Century, the middle class started moving into larger houses and out of the more working-class sections of the town.
Development in Blackheath
One of the larger estates in Blackheath Park was first built in the latter part of the 18th Century and underwent renovations during the early part of the 19th Century. Lovers of architecture will appreciate the various aspects of both Georgian features and Victorian features placed strategically throughout the estate.
A feature of note is a section of the estate which is partially detached from the main structure. This section of promenade housing is in the shape of a crescent moon and connected by porticoes. This addition took 14 years to build, with work beginning in 1793. Several embellishments were added in 1930 and during the ensuing years. The local parish church nearby was finished in 1830. Its spire was extremely tall and very thin. Locals gave it the nickname of a toothpick for the devil.
Sports in Blackheath
Tradition claims that the great sport of golf was made known to the English in 1608. Blackheath also played a role in establishing England’s premier hockey club in the middle of the 19th Century. The most celebrated sports fact about Blackheath is that their rugby club was started in 1858 and it was the first recorded one in England. Their rugby club organised the world’s first international game in 1871.
The long sporting dynasty of Blackheath continued. On the actual health landscape, Cricket was first played there in the early 1820’s. For over 150 years from that point, Blackheath hosted many feature cricket matches. Flying kites had been a popular pastime at the heath for many years. This tradition of flying kites in Blackheath continues to the present day.
Places of Interest in Blackheath
Apart from visiting us as your optician in Blackheath for your eyecare needs, Blackheath, a London suburb, is more commonly identified by the name “Blackheath Village”. Blackheath is not actually a village, although it is often times referred to as one. The rail station in Blackheath is toward the south end of the town. Many chic shops, cafés and pubs grace the main streets of the town. Standing on the actual heath is a parish church called All Saints. Blackheath Eyecare is located at the Royal Standard.
Music and Art
The Blackheath Music and Arts Conservatory is further south of the rail station. A concert hall, owned by a local Greenwich college, is the next door neighbour to the conservatory. True to the local feel of a village, a farmer’s market takes up residence each weekend in the main town centre. This market is quite popular with all the locals. Another popular event is the fireworks presentation on the weekend in November which is nearest Guy Fawkes Day. It’s an amazing display and is the grandest one in the UK, with usually over forty-thousand in attendance.
A place to stroll
Blackheath Common is over 250 acres of preserved land which was originally declared open space for the public in 1871. The rugged beauty of this space is that its elevated and has a great vantage point, nearby the Thames. The vistas are beautiful—of three surrounding counties, in fact. The landscape boasts several ponds, which were formed in centuries past when the rocky landscape was excavated for the gravel and stones. In the past, the heath was more natural and wild. Now it is maintained, but still with the intent of keeping the naturally wild-like feel, as expressed by the beautiful wild flowers covering the land.
The main Park in Blackheath is an open-spaced grassy area near the town centre. For countless generations, the locals and visitors alike have flocked to this green oasis for peaceful relaxation in the outdoors. It’s a scenic picnic spot in the summer and a fun place for people to get outdoors and enjoy some casual sporting activities.
Recreation and family fun in Blackheath
Blackheath has a variety of family friendly fun things to do. There is a play park for families with young children, up to 12 years old. This play park has an amazing, fun-filled adventure area for the children to explore—a multileveled, oversized soft jungle gym. With more than four slides, a wide climbing wall, what more could children want in a playground. The playground also offers a track for motorised play bikes for the children, with two separate areas, one for the older children and one for the younger ones. Parents can relax at coffee shop tables while watching their children play.
The Pond in Blackheath is a stunning feature of the Blackheath landscape and has been for multiple generations in the town. The pond is located nearby the wild heath landscape, but also close to the centre of town. It’s a customary spot for the locals to meet each other. Recently, the pond area has been developed with the tourist in mind. Now it’s an even more scenic area for people to gather and relax after meandering through the bustling town streets.
The Halls of Blackheath is one of the area’s finest venues for entertainment. The building is historic and quite architecturally stunning—with wonderful acoustics indoors and the interior decor is elegant. The hall offers entertainment yearlong and features a variety of shows, including: musicals, comedy shows, modern dance, art shows and plays from the more traditional playwrights.
Here at Blackheath Eyecare we are proud to be located around such a rich, diverse and friendly community.
Charlton’s history, in brief
Charlton, located in South London, is part of the Royal Borough of Greenwich. This enchanting suburb is located 11.6 km east-southeast of Charring Cross, or the centre of London.
Well placed in the historic centre of the county, Charlton is a major residential hub today and caters to all kinds of populations including young professionals, families and has a rich and diverse local culture encompassing several ethnic groups.
Charlton retains its own historical identity because of the well-preserved old village centre composed of the famous Charlton House, the old village garden just across the house, St. Luke’s Parish Church and the village street.
Historic Charlton
The name of Charlton is derived from two Old English words ‘ceorl’ and ‘tun’ and means ‘farmstead of the freemen or peasants’. Somewhere between 50 BC and 250 AD, a large Romano-British settlement rested on top of a hill north of the present village. There was also a Saxon village not very far from the modern-day site with a church established in the 11th century.
The history of the place is enshrined in the public records ever since the great survey of England and Wales in the 1000s was recorded Domesday Book. It was made for the purpose of determining who was liable for what taxes.
Bermondsey Abbey, an ancient abbey was given the area of Charlton by a Bishop, and within two centuries was also granted rights to host markets on Mondays. In the 1200s, this meant wealth and prosperity for the entire district. Some of the annual fairs seemed to have been very rowdy, but it all increased the prosperity of the place.
Over many fruitful, yet uneventful, years Charlton prospered. Charlton House was built in 1607 and St Luke’s Church was also built in the same century. Another important landmark in the history of Charlton is that it was an important industrial centre during Victorian times. This occurred with the laying of a railway line in 1852 through Charlton. It even had one of the first telegraph systems in the world. But the industrial activity has died down to a large extent now, the decline starting in the 1960s.
Charlton Today
Today, however, Charlton has progressed to being a residential area with all kinds of facilities, but yet boasting of a rich history in the development of England and London. Extensive bus services connect Charlton to other parts of London and it also has its own local train station. Since it is located on the river Thames, boats are also available for transport. With shopping complexes and retail outlets, Charlton today is a very busy business centre. But it has retained its charm and is well worth a visit on a trip to London.
Blackheath Eyecare is located on the boarders of Charlton at the Royal Standard and as many patients living in Charlton London.
The Manor of Charlton
Not to be confused with Carlton House, the Prince Regent’s home during the Regency, Charlton House is an English manor of the kind dotted about the English landscape. Built in 1607 of red brick and stone, Charlton House is a major attraction for tourists.
The Manor of Charlton was assessed in the Doomsday Book as having belonged to the Norman King William the Conqueror. The book lists the possessions of William and recorded ownership transfer to his half brother, Odo, a Bishop of Bayeux. After a few years, ownership of The Manor was then transferred to the Prioriy of Bermondsey. The title of The Manor of Charlton remained in the possession of the church until King Henry VIII mandated the dissolution of the monasteries.
Historians say that the modern Charlton could have been established around 1607. This is the year when the Manor of the Charlton was acquired by Sir Adam Newton. At this time the Scottish scholar worked as the tutor of Prince Henry, son of James I. The construction of Charlton House began in 1607 and was completed in 1612.
With it’s beautiful gardens and old-time feel of the mansion, it is a primary attraction. A main feature not to be missed when visiting Charlton House is the recently made Amnesty International Peace Garden.
Blackheath Eyecare is located about 1 mile away at the Royal Standard and welcomes visitors and residents in Charlton London.
Places of interest around Charlton
The Thames Barrier
The Thames Barrier is the name given to the second biggest movable water flood barrier in the world. It can be raised and closed according to the water tides, preventing the city of London from being flooded, in case of danger. The barrier was originally built to protect Charlton from flooding. The construction of Thames Barrier commenced in 1973. The design is attributed to Greater London Council by Rendel, Palmer and Tritton and was inaugurated by H.M. Queen Elizabeth II on 8 May 1984. Thames Barrier is also a tourist attraction in Charlton. The visitor centre near the Barrier gives multi-media presentations of why and how the structure was built.
The Maryon-Wilson Properties
The Maryon-Wilson family owned the The Manor of Charlton from 1767 to 1923. It was in 1829 when the family decided to acquire the village green located in front of the house and added it to the The Manor grounds.
The village green was host to the annual Horn Fair. The Horn Fair is an ancient gathering described as notorious and lascivious. Right after the village green was transferred to the ownership of the Maryon-Wilson, the event was moved to the nearby Fairfield Grove.
Charlton has four parks. Charlton Park, Maryon Wilson Park, Hornfair Park and Maryon Park.
Charlton Park
The main park features the magnificent Charlton House. It is the finest and best-preserved Jacobean mansion in London. The Charlton House was designed by John Thorpe, one of the earlisest British architects in London. An old mullberry tree is also frequently visited, planted near the House grounds. The locals believe that it is the first mullberry tree in Charlton. The Charlton House is not open to the public, but is available for wedding ceremonies and other functions.
Maryon Wilson Park
Opened to the public in 1926, the park has a number of small streams passing through it and an impressive sparse of towering willow trees. Although most of the park has remained undisturbed, there is a small zoo for the children. Unfortunately for visitors, and possibly, fortunately for the animals, the tours are limited to the first 50 people who sign up for it per day. The park is a favourite place for afternoon picnics.
Maryon Park
The Maryon Park is like a combination of Maryon Wilson and Hornfair. The lush green park is heavily wooded with a central activity ground surrounded by thick vegetation. It features bowls green, children playground, tennis courts and a perfect place where you can lie down lazily and watch the blue skies on a sunny afternoon.
Hornfair Park
The Hornfair Park was opened in 1935. It offers a variety of activities that an urban park usually offers. The park is flat, unlike Maryon, and has playing fields, tennis courts, playgrounds, a swimming pool as well as an outdoor lawn bowls area.
The Horn Fair
The Horn Fair has been taking place in Charlton since medieval times. This fair was very vibrant and brought people from other areas to Charlton for fun, food and drink. However, it was banned in 1874 due to drunkenness and disorderly behaviour also adding to the entertaninments on show. In 1973, this practice was revived and now takes place in the manor and grounds of Charlton House. But undeniably, it is much less rowdier and more of a family event than the earlier incarnationrlton.
Athletic FC
This football club, started in 1905 by the amalgamation of several youth clubs, has just been promoted to the championship last year. Having won two FA cup finals was an achievement from this club, even though they only won one of them. The club is also known locally as The Addicks and the stadium used by them is called The Valley.
Charlton Athletic has often played in several different grounds, but their permanent mainstay is now The Valley. The club is supported mostly by Londoners from the neighbouring boroughs. The team colours are red and white and the club crest is blue and white.
Considering that football is a mainstay of British culture, Charlton Athletic FC is an important part of the local culture and history of Charlton.
However, Charlton also has a strong sports association with both Rugby and Cricket. The Blackheath Club is the oldest Rugby Club in the world, founded in 1958, has its home in Charlton. Likewise, the Kent Cricket Club also has a historical association with the area, though not actually located there.
Great Pubs, Bars and Restaurants
Aside from the vast expanse of lush green vegetation and several activity grounds, Charlton also offers cheaper accommodations compared to those in central London. There are numerous dining outlets that serve excellent food and drinks. Charlton bars, pubs and clubs are a delight to young professionals and commuters. Some of the best are Bugle Horn, Rose of Denmark, The Antigallican, The Pickwick and the White Horse. For Chinese food lovers, the Dragon & Phoenix at Charlton Church Lane has some of the most delectable Oriental food choices you can find in the area. For exotic Indian dishes, head to The Village to sample The Viceroy culinary offerings.
Blackheath Eyecare
While we cannot boast that your visit will be a exciting as the places above we have wonderful ranges of glasses and sunglasses for some great retail therapy.
Greenwich through the Ages
Greenwich is a district in South East London, rich with historical monuments and maritime legends. Originally named Greenwich by the Danes because of the greenery and the nearby river, the town is today divided into East Greenwich and West Greenwich. The district has a very strong history from the time of the Danish conquest and earlier. Today, it is one of the most historically rich districts of London, and is a showcase of Britain’s culture and heritage. In addition, it is also where the Prime Meridian is located and hence Greenwich Mean time. Greenwich is also a UNESCO heritage site.
History
Greenwich, due to its strategic location, has always had settlers. There is some evidence of Bronze Age artefacts found in excavations, quickly followed by traces of Celtic, Saxon and Roman civilisations. Greenwich played an important role during the Danish invasions with the Danish army camping on the riverside in Greenwich.
The Greenwich Palace was built at the time of the Plantagenets by Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, and has since been popular among the royalty. Renamed as Palace of Placentia, this Greenwich palace not only was the main residence of Henry VII, but also saw the birth of two of the most famous monarchs in England, Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. William Shakespeare is known to have staged plays for Elizabeth I in this palace. The Civil War saw this palace used as a prisoner of war camp, and during the Restoration period, it was pulled down to make way for a grander palace for Charles II.
Much of the history of Greenwich has been concentrated in this palace, which exists no longer. Charles II also built the Greenwich Park and the Royal Observatory. Mary II commissioned the Royal Naval Hospital in 1692. When George I landed in England for his accession, it was in Greenwich. Very recently, Greenwich was given the status of Royal Borough for the diamond jubilee celebrations of Queen Elizabeth II.
Maritime Association
Greenwich has a strong maritime history ever since the Danes camped there, and possibly, since a long time before that. Since the 16th century, Greenwich has been a focal point for British seafaring, ever since Henry VIII financed and built the navy that soon became very popular and powerful. Henri Grace à Dieu, the largest ship ever in England was launched from Woolwich by Henry VIII, who had managed to build up the biggest navy England ever had. The manufacture of naval ships would remain primarily in Greenwich until 1869.
One of the major naval contributions that Greenwich has given England and the world is the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and the Prime Meridian. A prime meridian is a longitudinal line where the longitude is defined as 0°. It was originally used as the average solar time in the Royal Observatory but is no longer used as the global standard of time. This was the standard used for a long time before we moved to Coordinated Universal Time.
Greenwich today
Today, Greenwich may no longer be the strategic royal and seafaring hub that it once was, but it still is a major tourist hub. With such a rich and varied history, it is inevitable that it should be so. In addition, we also have the Greenwich University with three campuses, and more than a thousand courses. Very well connected from all parts of London, Greenwich has recently been made a Royal Borough and gains the benefits of being one. Today, Greenwich is well-known as the place to go if you want a little out of the way English experience.
Blackheath Eyecare is located a stone’s throw away at the Blackheath Royal Standard and welcomes residents and visitors from Greenwich.
Royal Observatory, Greenwich
In 1649, when Charles II ascended the throne after the Civil War, he brought back stability and along with it, many innovations. One of which was the setup of the Royal Observatory of Greenwich, constructed in 1675. This was innovative because it was the first time a purpose built scientific laboratory had been built in Britain for stellar observation.
History
By the time of building the Royal Observatory, England had become a naval power. The English navy, originally built up by Henry VIII and then expanded by his daughter Elizabeth I, had become a major seafaring power by Charles II ascension to the throne. The Observatory was built to improve ocean navigation, to accurately and precisely calculate latitudes and longitudes. John Flamsteed was appointed as the first Astronomer Royal and had the job of keeping the calculations and ensuring that the latitudes and longitudes were accurate. Hence, it was also sometimes called the Flamsteed House.
After the death 2000 sailors at sea, there was a reward of £20,000 to anyone who can find a longitude at sea. The conundrum was finally solved by John Harrison, a clockmaker from Yorkshire, by the invention of the maritime chronometer.
The Building
The Royal Observatory was built by Sir Christopher Wren, with Robert Hooke as an assistant. Well known for his architecture, Sir Christopher Wren’s primary love was, however, the sciences. In building this Observatory, he managed to combine both his loves and created a masterpiece.
The building was authorised a budget of £500, but it went £20 over the budget, yet did not please Flamsteed since the alignment was off a few degrees. Most of the building was made of recycled material, and much of it was taken from Duke Humphrey’s Tower.
There is a time ball on top of one of the rooms, aptly describing the nature of the monument in itself.
Prime Meridian
The Royal Observatory is also the home of the Prime Meridian, which is the Longitude of Longitude 0° 0′ 0″. This line divides the earth into eastern and western hemispheres and forms the basis of all kinds of calculations of the east-west distances.
The Prime Meridian was the basis of the Greenwich Mean Time, calculated in the 19th century for providing a standard unit of time across the world. With increasing globalisation and increased interaction between different countries, it became imperative that some such a method was found. The Greenwich Mean Time was the first coordinated time internationally ever, and was decided on formally in a conference of 23 countries.
Since 1999 the meridian has been marked by a laser light shining across the sky in green, which can be seen from almost 40 miles (36 Km) with the naked eye.
Interesting Aspects
On February, 1894, there was a bomb attack on the Royal Observatory, the first of its kind in England by a foreigner. A French national called Martial Bourdin set off the bomb in Greenwich Park but perished in his own attempt because the explosives went off before the specified time. The man himself died thirty minutes later, but there is no information on whether the Royal Observatory was the intended target or why such an attack was being made in the first place.
The Observatory today
Today, all the scientific and astronomical work of the Royal Observatory has been relocated to better equipped laboratories, but the Royal Observatory of Greenwich still stands as a major tourist attraction and is a monument to four centuries of astronomical innovation and world changing seafaring prowess.
There is also an Astronomy Centre, to which entry is free. Here, visitors can learn about various things related to astronomy and see the oldest meteorite in existence, almost 4.5 billion years old! As well as this, the Royal Observatory houses the Planetarium, the Harrison Timekeepers and the largest refracting telescope in the UK.
In addition to this, there are numerous other attractions in the Royal Observatory. The museum contains various different types of astronomical tools that have been collected over the years. They also had many navigational materials used in the past including the H4, a longitude chronometer, Fedchenko clock, Shepherd Clock and much more.
The Royal Observatory is still a vibrant building that helps in educating visitors about the history of astronomy, British seafaring expertise, as well as aspects of international timekeeping standards. The Observatory has not lost its significance in an increasingly technological world and retains its charm for the tourist and the enthusiast alike.
Interesting places to visit in Greenwich
Greenwich Market
Considered as one of London’s best markets, the Greenwich Market is one of the oldest and most fanciful one in England. Open from Tuesdays to Sundays, this market caters to the public even on bank holidays, between 10:00 to 17:30. This market has been in existence since 1700s, and has seen gradual changes in its operations. But now, as then, it remains London’s favourite market. Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays see arts, crafts and food items on sale while antiques and vintage stuff are sold on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
Cutty Sark
The original Cutty Sark was a clipper ship built in 1869 as a cargo ship. It carried tea and wool and was named after the witch in Robert Burn’s poem. Today, it is well preserved as a museum ship and is an important landmark in Greenwich.
Though the ship was gutted by a fire in 2007, it was a lucky coincidence that much of the timber from the ship had been taken out elsewhere for preservation. This saved the ship which was then restored and relaunched for the benefit of the public in April 2012. The cost of restoration took about £35 million, but it is worth every penny spent.
Royal Observatory
The Royal Observatory is a part of the National Maritime Museum and is the place of the Prime Meridian. It also includes the Harrison timekeepers, a planetarium and a refracting telescope.
It was built by King Charles II and was used as a proper astronomical building with research facilities. At a later date, in the 20th century, the research facilities were relocated, but the Observatory remains one of the major tourist attractions in the area.
Old Royal Naval College
The Old Royal Naval College is a masterpiece of architecture and has been accorded the status of a World Heritage site. Originally constructed as a Royal Hospital for seamen, yet another association of Greenwich with British seafaring. The hospital was first called Royal Hospital for Seamen at Greenwich, but later on became just the Greenwich Hospital. After that, it served as the Royal Naval College until 1998. Today, it serves various purposes. Some of the buildings are used by some colleges for educational purposes and others are let open to the public for sightseeing.
The O2
The O2 is the name given to an entire district in North Greenwich, encompassing all kinds of entertainment. It was originally built for the 2000 Millennium celebrations and includes a cinema, restaurants, pubs, shopping complexes, and the usual entertainment aids. In addition, there is also an exhibition space where different exhibitions are held through the year. But The O2 is best known for the O2 arena where different concerts take place and many famous musicians have already played there.
Greenwich Park
The Greenwich Park is a large enclosure encompassing around 13 acres and has deer, foxes and birds and other kinds of wildlife. The park also has a slope from the top of which there is an excellent and breathtaking view of London. It is a designated world heritage site.
National Maritime Museum
Because of Greenwich’s strong association with maritime history, the National Maritime Museum is one of the must-go places in Greenwich.The museum recently celebrated it’s 75th anniversary this year. The museum showcases the entire history of Britain’s seafaring history. The museum includes some other attractions as well.
Queen’s House
The Queen’s House was built in 1712 for Henrietta Maria, Queen of England and wife of Charles I. It is an excellent place to go for those who are interested in fine art.
Blackheath Eyecare
Last but not least we would also recommend that if you are in the area to pop into our practice and say hello.
