Plumstead Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Plumstead
Plumstead Common Road in 2015
Plumstead
Population	16,736 (2011 Census Ward)
OS grid reference	TQ445785
London borough	Greenwich
Ceremonial county	Greater London
Region	London
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	LONDON
Postcode district	SE18
Dialling code	020

Police	Metropolitan
Fire	London
Ambulance	London

EU Parliament	London
UK Parliament	Greenwich and Woolwich Erith and Thamesmead Eltham
London Assembly	Greenwich and Lewisham
List of places UK England London 51°29′N 0°05′E / 51.49°N 0.09°E / 51.49; 0.09

Plumstead ward (green) within the Royal Borough of Greenwich (light grey)

Plumstead is a part of southeast London, located in the Royal Borough of Greenwich, England. It is found to the east of Woolwich.

Plumstead's Past: A Look Back in Time
Learning in Plumstead: Schools and Education
Sports History: Football in Plumstead
Getting Around: Transport in Plumstead
- Rail Travel
- Bus Services
Famous Faces: People from Plumstead
Places Nearby: Exploring Plumstead's Neighbors
Gallery
See also

Plumstead's Past: A Look Back in Time

The ancient burial mound on Winn's Common in Plumstead

Plumstead has been lived in for a very long time. The oldest timber structure ever found in London was discovered here. In 2009, archaeologists found an ancient wooden trackway near Belmarsh Prison. This trackway is almost 6,000 years old!

In 960, King Edgar gave four pieces of land, called Plumstead, to St Augustine's Abbey near Canterbury. Later, Earl Godwin took these lands for his son, Tostig.

After King Edward the Confessor became king, he gave the lands back to the monastery. But when Edward died in 1066, Tostig tried to take them again.

After the Battle of Hastings in 1066, William the Conqueror gave Plumstead to his half-brother, Odo, Bishop of Bayeux. The Archbishop of Canterbury and the abbot of St Augustine's managed to get some of the land back for the monastery.

The old Church of Saint Nicholas in Plumstead

The Domesday Book of 1086, a famous survey of England, lists Plumstead in two parts. It shows that the abbot of St. Augustine's and the Bishop of Bayeux both held land here.

Over the years, different people had claims to the land in Plumstead. In 1287, Lora de Ros gave her rights to land and woods in Plumstead to the abbot. This was in exchange for prayers for her and her family.

In 1314, during the time of Edward II of England, the abbot was asked to show his rights to hold a weekly market in Plumstead on Wednesdays. He also had rights to a yearly fair for three days around St. Nicholas' Day.

For unknown reasons, King Edward III said that Plumstead residents only had to send one man to the sheriff, instead of the usual four. This was a special rule for Plumstead. In 1363, King Edward also confirmed all the special rights and lands given to the monastery by earlier kings.

By the time of Richard II of England, the taxes from Plumstead were quite valuable. Henry VI of England also confirmed the monastery's rights.

Plumstead manor and its church stayed with the monastery until 1539. This was when King Henry VIII closed down many monasteries. The abbot, John Essex, gave the abbey and all its lands, including Plumstead, to the King.

Plumstead around 1845

Plumstead grew very quickly in the 1880s. Many houses were built for workers at the Royal Arsenal. Smaller terraced houses were built near the river. Larger homes were built further up the hill, near Plumstead Common. The Plumstead Common Act 1878 made sure that Plumstead Common would always be a public open space.

Plumstead was also home to some religious groups, like the Peculiar People and the Plymouth Brethren. Quakers also met nearby.

Even with all the new houses, Plumstead kept many green areas. These include Winns Common, Plumstead Common, Shrewsbury Park, and Rockcliffe Gardens.

Learning in Plumstead: Schools and Education

Terraced housing along the High Street at Plumstead

Plumstead Manor School is a well-known school in the area. It started as Plumstead County School for Girls in 1913. It later became a comprehensive school in 1967. The school was only for girls until September 2018, when it started welcoming students of all genders.

There are also many primary schools in Plumstead. These include St. Patricks RC Primary School, St. Margaret's CofE Primary School, Gallions Mount Primary School, Timbercroft Primary School, Bannockburn Primary School, Plumcroft Primary School, Greenslade Primary School, South Rise Primary School, and Conway Primary School.

Sports History: Football in Plumstead

Arsenal Football Club used to play in Plumstead! When they were known as Royal Arsenal or Woolwich Arsenal, they played here between 1886 and 1913. They played at different grounds, mainly the Manor Ground and the Invicta Ground.

Getting Around: Transport in Plumstead

Rail Travel

Plumstead railway station connects the area to other places. You can catch National Rail trains to London Charing Cross (via Lewisham), London Cannon Street (via Greenwich, Bexleyheath, or Sidcup), Kentish Town (via Greenwich), Dartford, and Rainham.