Shooter's Hill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Shooter's Hill |
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 The water tower on Shooter's Hill is a local landmark |
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 Shooter's Hill
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| Population | 13,433 (2011 Census ward) |
| OS grid reference | TQ435765 |
| London borough | |
| Ceremonial county | Greater London |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LONDON |
| Postcode district | SE18, SE3 (part) |
| Post town | WELLING |
| Postcode district | DA16 |
| Dialling code | 020 |
| Police | Metropolitan |
| Fire | London |
| Ambulance | London |
| EU Parliament | London |
| UK Parliament |
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| London Assembly |
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Shooter's Hill is a cool area in South East London, located in the Royal Borough of Greenwich. It's right next to the London Borough of Bexley. You can find it north of Eltham and south of Woolwich.
At 132 meters (about 433 feet) high, Shooter's Hill is the highest spot in the Borough of Greenwich. It's also one of the tallest places in Greater London. The main road that goes through the area, called Shooter's Hill Road, is part of the A207 road, the A2 road, and even the ancient Watling Street.
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History and Geography
Shooter's Hill might have gotten its name from people practicing archery there a long time ago, during the Middle Ages. But it's also famous for being a place where highwaymen (robbers who attacked travelers on roads) used to hide.
During the Second World War, Shooter's Hill was super important for defending London. It had many anti-aircraft guns to shoot down enemy planes. It was also part of a special defense line, meant to stop a land invasion if German forces tried to come from Dover along Watling Street. The local Home Guard even had special weapons like flame throwers ready! There was even a prisoner-of-war camp built on what is now part of a golf course.
Shrewsbury Park, north of the golf course, was home to a barrage balloon. These balloons were used to make it harder for enemy planes to fly low. During the Battle of Britain, these balloons were looked after by a special squadron.
In 1697, a traveler named Celia Fiennes wrote in her diary about the amazing views from Shooter's Hill. She described seeing "a vast prospect" of trees, fields, gardens, and many small towns along the River Thames, with ships sailing by.
Because it's so high, Shooter's Hill offers fantastic views over the River Thames to the north. You can even see central London clearly to the west! There are also some great green spaces nearby, like Oxleas Wood, Eaglesfield Park, and Shrewsbury Park. You can also find Woodlands Farm, which is one of the last remaining farms in inner London and is now an educational charity.
Shooter's Hill Road is an old road that goes up and over the hill. It follows the path of Watling Street, which was a Roman Road connecting London with Roman towns in north Kent. This road was used by horse-drawn mail coaches traveling between London and Dover.
Famous Books and Shooter's Hill
Shooter's Hill has appeared in some famous books!
- In Byron's Don Juan, the main character is robbed on Shooter's Hill when he first arrives in London.
- Charles Dickens mentions Shooter's Hill in A Tale of Two Cities, where a coach struggles to go up the hill. He also talks about a pub there in The Pickwick Papers.
- The name Shooter's Hill is also in Bram Stoker's Dracula and H. G. Wells' The War of the Worlds.
Cool Landmarks
One of the most noticeable buildings is the unique Gothic Revival water tower at the top of Shooter's Hill. It was built in 1910 and can be seen from far away.
Another cool landmark is Severndroog Castle. It's a "folly," which means it's a building built just for fun or decoration, not for defense. It was designed in 1784 to remember Commodore Sir William James. He was a naval commander who attacked and destroyed a pirate fortress in India in 1755.
There's another water tower further west on Shooter's Hill. It was built in the 1890s to supply water to a hospital that is no longer there. This tower has been turned into a family home!
The former Royal Herbert Hospital, now called the Royal Herbert Pavilions, is a historic building nearby. The Memorial Hospital is still working today.
In 1749, 'The Bull' public house opened near the top of the hill. It was a popular stop for coaches to get refreshments.
You can also find an old milestone from the 1700s in the grounds of Christ Church. It shows distances to places like Dartford and London Bridge. A later addition on the milestone remembers the Battle of Ypres from World War I, noting the many casualties.
The Shrewsbury Barrow is a very old Bronze Age burial mound. It's about 25 meters wide and 1.5 meters high. It's the last one left from a group of six burial mounds that used to be on Shooter's Hill.
Road Changes
In the 1950s, the road on the western side of the hill was made less steep. This was because older, less powerful cars often struggled to get to the top. A small part of the road was removed, and the slope was made longer and flatter. You can still see where this change happened, as the pavement next to the road is higher than the road itself in some places.
Schools in the Area
- Ark Greenwich Free School
- Christ Church Primary School
- Plumcroft Primary School
- Shooter's Hill Post 16 Campus, Red Lion Lane
Famous People from Shooter's Hill
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Many interesting people have lived or studied in Shooter's Hill:
- Writer Algernon Blackwood was born here in 1869.
- Engineer Samuel Brown tested one of the earliest automobiles (cars) by driving it up Shooter's Hill in 1826! His car used hydrogen as fuel.
- TV cook Fanny Cradock and her husband Johnnie Cradock lived on Shooter's Hill Road.
- Musician Jools Holland went to Shooters Hill Grammar School.
- Comedian Frankie Howerd also studied at Shooters Hill Grammar School.
- Comics writer Steve Moore lived in the same house on Shooter's Hill his whole life.
- Engineer Perceval M. Parsons developed a special metal called 'manganese bronze' in his lab behind his house on Shooters Hill Road. This metal was used for ship propellers.
- Musician Steve Peregrin Took (from the band T.Rex) also went to Shooters Hill Grammar School.
- British singer-songwriter Boy George (from Culture Club) lived on Shooters Hill Road.
Nearby Places to Explore
- Woolwich
- Eltham
- East Wickham
- Plumstead
- Welling
- Blackheath
- Kidbrooke
- Westcombe Park
- Falconwood
- Mottingham
- Well Hall
Getting Around
Shooter's Hill has many Transport for London bus services. These buses can take you to places like Blackheath, Woolwich, Eltham, Greenwich, Bexleyheath, Thamesmead, Lewisham, and Crystal Palace. The closest train stations are Welling and Falconwood railway stations.
