Charlton, London

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Location
Charlton


OS grid reference:	TQ415785
Latitude:	51.487674°
Longitude:	0.038992°
Administration
London borough:	Greenwich
County level:	Greater London
Region:	London
Constituent country:	England
Sovereign state:	United Kingdom
Other
Ceremonial county:	Greater London
Historic county:	Kent
Services
Police force:	Metropolitan Police
Fire brigade:	London Fire Brigade
Ambulance service:	London Ambulance
Post office and telephone
Post town:	LONDON
Postal district:	SE7
Dialling code:	020
Politics
UK Parliament:	Greenwich and Woolwich
London Assembly:	Greenwich and Lewisham
European Parliament:	London
London \| List of places in London

Charlton is a place in south-east London, in the London Borough of Greenwich, sandwiched between east Greenwich and the Woolwich Dockyard area of Woolwich.

The core of the area is The Village, which is situated on a hillside overlooking the River Thames, but suburban sprawl means the name is now applied to a large area reaching down to the south bank of the river - where the Thames Barrier is located.

At one time, Charlton enjoyed a somewhat sordid reputation. In the 1720s, it was described by Daniel Defoe:

Charleton, a village famous, or rather infamous for the yearly collected rabble of mad-people, at Horn-Fair; the rudeness of which I cannot but think, is such as ought to be suppressed, and indeed in a civiliz'd well govern'd nation, it may well be said to be unsufferable. The mob indeed at that time take all kinds of liberties, and the women are especially impudent for that day; as if it was a day that justify'd the giving themselves a loose to all manner of indecency and immodesty, without any reproach, or without suffering the censure which such behaviour would deserve at another time. (A Tour through Great Britain)

Apart from the Barrier, the area's other most notable feature is Charlton House, a Jacobean mansion (architect: John Thorpe), built for Sir Adam Newton between 1607 and 1612. Sir Adam was tutor to Prince Henry, son of King James I of England, and was also responsible for building nearby St Luke's Church (burial place of Spencer Perceval (1762-1812), the only British Prime Minister to be assassinated). On the northern edge of the garden of Charlton House is a mulberry tree planted in 1608 by order of King James in an effort to cultivate silkworms.

Later, Charlton House became the home of the Maryon-Wilson family, after whom a nearby park, location for the film Blow-Up, is named. Since 1925, the house has been owned by the London Borough of Greenwich and has functioned as a library and community centre.

Charlton is perhaps best known as the home of Charlton Athletic F.C.. The club plays at The Valley (a former chalk pit) situated to the north of the village, close to the main road and railway line between Greenwich and Woolwich. Further south, close to Blackheath Standard, is the Rectory Field, home of the venerable Blackheath Rugby Club.

[edit] Famous residents

Children's author Bernard Ashley, after whom a street is named.
Civil engineer William Henry Barlow (1812-1902) lived at Highcombe, 145 Charlton Road, SE7.
TV presenter Dave Berry.
Poet Walter de la Mare (1873-1956) was born in 83 Maryon Road (demolished in 1960s).
English Egyptologist, Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie (1853-1942) born at Maryon Road, Charlton, SE7.
Italian-born novelist Italo Svevo (1861-1928) lived at 67 Charlton Church Lane, SE7.