Blackheath, London facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blackheath |
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 All Saints' Church, designed by Benjamin Ferrey, dates from 1857 |
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 Blackheath
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| Population | 26,914 (2011 Census. Lewisham Ward: 14,039) (2011 Census. Blackheath Westcombe Ward: 12,875) |
| OS grid reference | TQ395765 |
| • Charing Cross | 6.4 mi (10.3 km) WNW |
| London borough | |
| Ceremonial county | Greater London |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LONDON |
| Postcode district | SE3, SE12, SE13 |
| Dialling code | 020 |
| Police | Metropolitan |
| Fire | London |
| Ambulance | London |
| EU Parliament | London |
| UK Parliament |
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| London Assembly |
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Blackheath is a cool area in Southeast London. It sits right on the edge of two London boroughs: Greenwich and Lewisham. Long ago, it was part of the county of Kent. Blackheath is about 1 mile northeast of Lewisham and 1.5 miles south of Greenwich. It's also about 6.4 miles southeast of Charing Cross, which is seen as the very center of London.
The area near the Blackheath train station is called Lee Park. Another part, Vanbrugh Park, is also known as St John's Blackheath. Even though it's a bit separate, it has places named after the main heath. To the west, you'll find the big green space of the heath itself. Next to it is Greenwich Park, home to famous London spots like the Greenwich Observatory and the Prime Meridian. Blackheath railway station is just south of the heath.
Contents
History of Blackheath
What's in a Name?
The name Blackheath comes from old English words: 'blæc' (meaning dark or black) and 'hǣth' (meaning heath, an open, uncultivated land). In 1166, it was called Blachehedfeld, which meant "dark heath field." A "field" back then could mean an enclosed or cleared area.
Some people think Blackheath got its name from the dark color of its soil. Others believe it's because the area felt "bleak" or exposed to the weather. In Victorian times, people loved the many nice houses built there. They also enjoyed the amazing views of the countryside from this high spot. Blackheath was once a meeting place for a local area called the hundred of Blackheath.
There's a popular story that Blackheath got its name from the Plague of 1665 or the Black Death in the 1300s. People thought it was a burial ground for plague victims. While it's true that many people died during the Black Death, and a burial pit might have been needed, the name Blackheath was used long before these plagues.
Ancient Discoveries
A very old Celtic path used to go through Blackheath. This path later became a Roman road and is now known as Watling Street. It climbed the hill shared with Greenwich Park. In the west, it crossed the mouth of Deptford Creek.
People have found interesting things from the past in Blackheath. In 1710, Roman urns (pots) were dug up. Some were made of fine red clay. In 1803, more were found in the gardens of the Earl of Dartmouth and given to the British Museum. These finds show that people lived and traveled through Blackheath a very long time ago.
Royal Connections
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Many kings and queens, and their important helpers, passed through Blackheath. Some even had homes here and in Greenwich. Before the Tudor-built Greenwich Palace, Eltham Palace was a popular royal home. It's about 2.5 miles southeast of Blackheath.
On the north side of the heath is Ranger's House. This is a beautiful red brick mansion built in the Georgian style. It's right next to Greenwich Park. For most of the 1800s, it was the official home of the Ranger of Greenwich Park, a royal job. Today, Ranger's House holds the Wernher Collection of amazing art.
Another special home is The Pagoda, built in 1760 by Sir William Chambers. It looks like a traditional Chinese pagoda. Later, Prince Regent used it as a summer home.
A Place for Meetings and Rebellions
Blackheath was a famous gathering spot for big events.
- In 1381, Wat Tyler's Peasants' Revolt started here.
- In 1450, Jack Cade's Kentish rebellion also gathered at Blackheath.
- In 1497, Cornish rebels camped here before being defeated in the Battle of Deptford Bridge.
Important people also met here:
- In 1400, King Henry IV of England met the Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Palaiologos.
- In 1415, the mayor and citizens of London came to Blackheath to welcome King Henry V of England after his victory at the Battle of Agincourt.
Blackheath was also a common place for armies to gather. In 1709–10, army tents were set up to house many German refugees. These people had fled their homes and later settled in America or Ireland.
Because Watling Street crossed the heath, it was a busy road for stagecoaches. This also made it a popular spot for highwaymen (robbers) in the 1600s and 1700s. These highwaymen would sometimes attack travelers.
Vanbrugh Park and Blackheath Park
The Vanbrugh Pits, also called the Dips, are on the northeast side of the heath. These used to be gravel pits. Now, nature has taken them over, and they are beautiful, especially in spring when the gorse plants bloom bright yellow.
The nearby area, Vanbrugh Park, is named after Sir John Vanbrugh. He was a famous architect who designed Blenheim Palace. He had a large house, Vanbrugh Castle, and grounds next to the heath.
Blackheath Park is in the southeast part of Blackheath. It was developed into homes for wealthy families by John Cator. You can find large and beautiful Georgian and Victorian houses here. One famous example is The Paragon, a crescent of unique houses. Morden College, built in 1695, is another important building in this area.
Sports and Fun
Blackheath has a long history with sports!
- In 1608, it's believed that golf was first played in England here. The Royal Blackheath Golf Club, one of the oldest golf clubs outside Scotland, was founded in 1766.
- Blackheath also gave its name to the first hockey club in the mid-1800s.
Cricket was very popular on Blackheath in the 1700s. The Greenwich Cricket Club played matches here. Today, Blackheath Cricket Club is still active. In 1883, it teamed up with the Blackheath Rugby Club to buy and develop the Rectory Field as their home ground.
Blackheath Rugby Club, started in 1858, is one of the oldest rugby clubs in the world! They even helped organize the very first international rugby match between England and Scotland in 1871. Blackheath was also one of the 12 founding members of the Football Association in 1863.
Blackheath is also famous as the starting point for the London Marathon. This big running event connects to the area's history with athletics. The Blackheath Harriers (now Blackheath and Bromley Harriers Athletic Club) started here in 1869.
People also love to fly kites on the wide open heath.
Geography and Nature
Blackheath is one of the largest areas of common land in Greater London. It has about 85.58 hectares (211 acres) of protected land. The councils of Lewisham and Greenwich manage the heath.
On the Greenwich side, you'll find the Long Pond, also called Folly Pond. On the Lewisham side, there are three ponds. Hare and Billet pond is considered the most natural and best for wildlife. Lewisham also has special areas of acid grassland. These support rare wild plants like Common stork's bill and Spotted medick.
The heath's natural environment was well-known to early plant scientists. In the 1700s, Carl Linnaeus, a famous botanist, was said to have been so amazed by the gorse growing there that he knelt to thank God.
Long ago, the heath was home to many animals. In 1859, people recorded natterjack toads, hares, common lizards, bats, and different birds like quail and nightingales. Today, bats still live here, and you might see migrating ring ouzels in spring.
In the 1700s and 1800s, people dug up a lot of gravel, sand, and chalk from the heath. This left large pits. After World War II in 1945, some pits were filled with rubble from bombed buildings. They were then covered with soil and grass. This is why some areas, like Vanbrugh Pits and Eliot Pits, look different today.
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Deptford | Greenwich | Charlton | |
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Shooters Hill | ||
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| Lewisham | Lee Green | Kidbrooke |
Community and Culture
Blackheath has two main areas for shops and fun. One is called the "Village" and is near Blackheath railway station. The other is called the "Standard" in the north, named after the Royal Standard pub. The northern part of the green is in the Westcombe Park area, which has its own train station.
A small green area with a fountain, now called Batley Park, was once known as Sheepgate Green. In the 1880s, a kind person named William Fox Batley helped fix it up. His contribution is remembered on a memorial fountain.
Just south of the train station is Blackheath Conservatoire of Music and the Arts. Nearby are Blackheath Halls, a concert venue managed by Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. North of the station, in Tranquil Vale, is All Saints' Parish Hall. This building, built in 1928, is in the Arts and Crafts style. Since 1988, it has been home to the Mary Evans Picture Library.
For many years, Blackheath hosted a big fireworks display in November, close to Guy Fawkes Night. This event was very popular. However, due to funding cuts and the COVID-19 pandemic, the fireworks show has been paused since 2020.
Since 2014, Blackheath has also hosted the On Blackheath festival. This music festival brings famous bands and artists to the heath. Past performers include Massive Attack, Elbow, Madness, and Grace Jones. The festival was also cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic.
Getting Around Blackheath
By Train
Blackheath station has train services to many places in London and beyond. You can catch trains to London Victoria, London Charing Cross, and London Cannon Street. Trains also go to places like Slade Green, Dartford, and Gravesend.
Westcombe Park station serves the northern parts of Blackheath. From here, you can get trains to Luton, London Blackfriars, and London Cannon Street. Trains also go to Barnehurst, Crayford, and Rainham.
By Bus
Blackheath is well-connected by London Buses routes. Buses like the 53, 54, 89, and 108 serve the area. These buses can take you to many different parts of London, including Bexleyheath, Bow, Catford, Charlton, Crystal Palace, Deptford, Greenwich, Lewisham, Stratford, and Woolwich.
See also
In Spanish: Blackheath (Londres) para niños
