Nunhead facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nunhead |
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 Nunhead Green |
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 Nunhead
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| Population | 13,620 (2011 Census. Ward) |
| OS grid reference | TQ355755 |
| • Charing Cross | 4 mi (6.4 km) NW |
| London borough | |
| Ceremonial county | Greater London |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LONDON |
| Postcode district | SE15, SE4 |
| Dialling code | 020 |
| Police | Metropolitan |
| Fire | London |
| Ambulance | London |
| EU Parliament | London |
| UK Parliament |
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| London Assembly |
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Nunhead is a lively area in London, England. It's located about 4 miles (6.4 km) southeast of Charing Cross, which is a central point in London. Nunhead is home to the large, 52-acre Nunhead Cemetery, a historic place with lots of trees and wildlife. This area has traditionally been a place where working-class families lived. Like many parts of London, it is slowly changing as new people move in and new businesses open. Nunhead also has several underground water storage tanks, called reservoirs, which were built a long time ago by a water company.
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What's in a Name? The Story of Nunhead
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The name "Nunhead" was first written down in 1583. People believe the name comes from a local pub that was once called The Nun's Head or The Nunhead Tavern.
There's a local story that says the name comes from a sad event during the time when King Henry VIII closed down monasteries. The legend claims that the head of the leader of a nunnery (a place where nuns lived) was put on a spike on the green after she died. However, there is no real proof to support this story. It's possible that a nunnery in the area was linked to an older nunnery from the 12th century that owned land nearby.
Nunhead's Past: A Look Back
In 1762, an old map showed Nunhead as a small village with about ten buildings. It was called "NoneHead" back then. This village was where Nunhead Green and Nunhead High Street are today. Fields and a river separated it from other nearby villages.
In 1834, a group called the Worshipful Company of Girdlers built some special homes called almshouses. These were seven Tudor-style cottages that still stand today. More almshouses were built in 1853 to help older people who worked in the beer and wine trade.
An interesting fact is that in 1868, a company called Brocks Fireworks built a factory here. A local pub, The Pyrotechnists Arms, got its name because it was close to this fireworks factory.
Nunhead grew a lot, and by 1878, it became its own church area. In 1887, over 10,000 people lived here! Nunhead later became part of the Metropolitan Borough of Camberwell in 1900.
There was even a Nunhead Football Club that played from 1888 to 1949. Nunhead has many beautiful old houses from the late Victorian and early Edwardian times.
St Antholin's Church
St Antholin church was first built in 1877. It was made of red brick and looked like churches from the 13th century. The money to build it came from selling the land of another church that was torn down. Some parts, like a wooden screen designed by Sir Christopher Wren, were brought from the old church.
Sadly, the church was badly damaged by bombs in 1940 during World War II. It was rebuilt and opened again in 1957, then renamed St Antony's Church in 1958.
In 2001, St Antony's Church was sold and became the Lighthouse Cathedral, used by a different Christian group. A bell from the original St Antholin's church is now in another church nearby, St Silas.
Making Nunhead Better
Nunhead is part of a plan by the local council to improve the area. This plan is called the Peckham Programme. One idea was to have a new tram line called the Cross River Tram serve the area. However, the Mayor of London decided in 2008 that this project would not happen because of money problems.
Nearby Places to Explore
- East Dulwich
- Brockley
- Peckham
- New Cross Gate
- Telegraph Hill
Getting Around Nunhead
Nunhead railway station is on Gibbon Road. You can catch trains from here to places like Blackfriars and Victoria. These trains are run by Southeastern and Thameslink.
Nunhead also has many London Buses services. Bus route 78 starts in Nunhead and goes all the way to Shoreditch. It passes through busy areas like Liverpool Street, goes over the famous Tower Bridge, and past the historic Tower of London. The P12 bus also goes through Nunhead, ending at the Surrey Quays shopping centre.
Nunhead is connected to other parts of London like Brockley, Honor Oak, East Dulwich, Peckham, and New Cross.
Nunhead's Community and Fun Events
Nunhead has a strong community spirit and hosts several fun events:
- Nunhead Cemetery Open Day: This happens every May and is organized by a group called Friends of Nunhead Cemetery. It's a chance to explore the beautiful cemetery.
- Nunhead Beats the Bounds: This is an annual event where people from Nunhead walk around the edge of the area. It's a great way to build community spirit and usually happens on the first Saturday in July.
- Nunhead American Radio: This is a radio show on Resonance 104.4FM that talks about Nunhead and its residents, especially the American community living there.
- Nunhead Art Trail: This event lets local artists and craftspeople show their work in their homes and gardens. People can come and see, and even buy, the art.
Famous People from Nunhead
- Harold Bride - He was born in Nunhead in 1890 and was a seaman.
