Charlton, London
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Charlton is an area in south-east London, in the London Borough of Greenwich, located between Greenwich and Woolwich.
The core of the area is The Village, which is on a hillside overlooking the River Thames. Suburban sprawl has led to the name being applied to a large area reaching down to the south bank of the river, roughly where the Thames Barrier crosses the river, although the barrier itself is located at Woolwich Reach.
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[edit] History
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." (from A Tour through Great Britain)
Apart from the Barrier, the area's other most notable feature is Charlton House, a Jacobean mansion by 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, and of murdered civil servant Edward Drummond. 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.
[edit] Sport
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.
- Andy Fordham, World darts champion was born and raised in Charlton.
- 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.
[edit] Transport
[edit] Nearest tube stations
[edit] Nearest railway stations
- Blackheath railway station
- Charlton railway station
- Westcombe Park railway station
- Woolwich Dockyard railway station
[edit] Road transport
Charlton lies to the east of the southern approach to the Blackwall Tunnel crossing of the River Thames and close to the A2 road.
