Nine Elms facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nine Elms |
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 Embassy of the United States |
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 Nine Elms
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| London borough | |
| Ceremonial county | Greater London |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LONDON |
| Postcode district | SW8, SW11 |
| Dialling code | 020 |
| Police | Metropolitan |
| Fire | London |
| Ambulance | London |
| EU Parliament | London |
| UK Parliament |
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| London Assembly |
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Nine Elms is an exciting area in London, England. It's located in the London Borough of Wandsworth, right next to the famous River Thames. To its west is Battersea, to the south is South Lambeth, and to the east is Vauxhall.
This area used to be mostly factories and industrial places. But now, it's changing a lot! More and more homes and businesses are being built here. You'll find some famous landmarks like the huge Battersea Power Station, busy railway lines, and the New Covent Garden Market. The well-known Battersea Dogs & Cats Home is also in Nine Elms.
Nine Elms has many homes along the river, including places like Chelsea Bridge Wharf and Embassy Gardens. There are also three big housing areas called Carey Gardens, the Patmore Estate, and the Savona.
History of Nine Elms
The name "Nine Elms Lane" first appeared around 1645. It was named after a line of elm trees that grew along the road. People think a path might have been there even earlier, around the 1200s.
In 1838, when the London and Southampton Railway was being built, Nine Elms was described as a "low, wet area." It sometimes flooded from the River Thames. There were willow trees, trimmed trees, and windmills, which made it look a bit like the Netherlands.
The Nine Elms railway station opened on May 21, 1838. It was the first train station in London for the London and South Western Railway (LSWR). This company used to be called the London & Southampton Railway. The station building was designed by William Tite. People could travel to the station by steam boats on the Thames.
The station closed in 1848. This was because the railway line was extended to a new station at Waterloo. The old Nine Elms station then became a place where train carriages and engines were built and repaired. These works moved away in 1909. The buildings were damaged during World War II and were later taken down in 1968. The flower section of the New Covent Garden Market was built there instead.
Gasworks, which made gas for lighting and heating, were built in 1853. They were near the waterworks of the Southwark and Vauxhall Waterworks Company. Later, the famous Battersea Power Station was built on this same spot.
Vauxhall Motors, a car company, started in Nine Elms in 1857. It was first called Alex Wilson and Company. The company moved to Luton in 1907. There used to be a special sign remembering where the first factory was. This area has now been redeveloped with new shops and apartments.
Since the 2010s, Nine Elms has been greatly redeveloped. Many new homes and businesses have been built. This includes the new United States Embassy. In 2021, the Northern line of the London Underground was extended to serve the area. There are now two new Tube stations: Nine Elms and Battersea.
Local Government in Nine Elms
Most of Nine Elms is looked after by three local politicians called councillors. They are elected to the Wandsworth Council every four years. A small part of Nine Elms is managed by the Lambeth Council. The next elections for these areas are planned for May 2022.
Nine Elms is also represented in the national government by one Member of Parliament (MP). An MP is a person elected to speak for their area in the country's main parliament. The current MP for Nine Elms is Marsha de Cordova from the Labour Party.
Future of Nine Elms
In October 2008, the United States Embassy in London announced it would move to Nine Elms. It moved from its old location in Mayfair. The new embassy building was finished in December 2017 and opened in January 2018. The Embassy of the Netherlands in London also decided to move to Nine Elms in April 2013.
On February 16, 2012, Wandsworth Council approved big plans for a new development. This project, called Embassy Gardens, will build almost 2,000 new homes. It will also include shops, cafes, restaurants, business spaces, a hotel, a health centre, and sports areas.
Work started in 2013 to improve the area around Battersea Power Station. This includes building new shops, cafes, restaurants, art places, offices, and homes. A very important part of this work was extending the London Underground to serve the area. The extension branches off the Northern line at Kennington. It then runs west to Nine Elms and Battersea, adding two new stations. The power station building itself was expected to be repaired by 2016, with the whole project finished by late 2020.
In 2015, Wandsworth council chose a design for a new pedestrian bridge. This bridge would connect Nine Elms and Pimlico. However, as of 2021, there are no firm plans to build this bridge yet.
