Camberwell: Difference between revisions

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'''Camberwell''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|æ|m|b|ər|ˌ|w|ɛ|l}} {{respell|KAM|bər|wel}}) is an [[List of areas of London|area]] of [[South London]], England, in the [[London Borough of Southwark]], {{convert|2+3/4|mi|km|round=0.5|abbr=off}} southeast of [[Charing Cross]].

Camberwell appears in the [[Domesday Book]] as ''Cambrewelle''.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DSIOAQAAMAAJ | title=Oxford Dictionary of London Place Names | author=Anthony David Mills | publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] | year=2001 | isbn=0-19-280106-6}}</ref> The name may derive from the [[Old English language|Old English]] Cumberwell or Comberwell, meaning 'Well of the [[Britons (historical)|Britons]]', referring to remaining Celtic inhabitants of an area dominated by [[Anglo-Saxons]].<ref name="telegraph.co.uk">{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/5394738/Ancient-well-that-gave-name-to-Camberwell-unearthed.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/5394738/Ancient-well-that-gave-name-to-Camberwell-unearthed.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Ancient well that gave name to Camberwell unearthed |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=27 May 2009 |access-date=27 February 2011 |location=London}}{{cbignore}}</ref> An alternative theory suggests the name may mean 'Cripple Well', and that the settlement developed as a hamlet where people from the [[City of London]] were expelled when they had a contagious disease like [[leprosy]], for treatment by the church and the clean, healing waters from the wells.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}} Springs and wells are known to have existed on the southern slope of [[Denmark Hill]], especially around Grove Park.

It was already a substantial settlement with a church when mentioned in the [[Domesday Book]], and was the parish church for a large area including [[Dulwich]] and [[Peckham]]. It was held by Haimo the Sheriff (of Kent). Its Domesday assets were: 6 [[hide (unit)|hide]]s and 1 [[virgate]] (i.e. {{Convert|750|acres|ha|abbr=off|disp=or}}); 1 church, 8 [[plough]]s, {{convert|63|acre|ha|abbr=off}} of [[meadow]], [[woodland]] worth 60 [[hog (swine)|hog]]s. It rendered £14. Up to the mid-19th century, Camberwell was visited by Londoners for its rural tranquillity and the reputed healing properties of its mineral springs. Like much of inner South London, Camberwell was transformed by the arrival of the railways in the 1860s.<ref name="telegraph.co.uk"/> [[Camberwell Green]] is now a very small area of common land; it was once a traditional village green on which was held an annual fair, of ancient origin, which rivalled that of [[Greenwich]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Weinreb |first=Ben |url=http://archive.org/details/londonencycloped00ias |title=The London Encyclopedia |date= |publisher=Adler & Adler |others= |year=1986 |isbn=978-0-917561-07-8 |location=Bethesda, MD |pages=141 |language=en}}</ref>

There is evidence of a black community residing in Camberwell, made up mostly of [[Atlantic slave trade|enslaved people from Africa and North America]] during the 18th and 19th centuries.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Black Lives in England - Black British History in the 18th and 19th Centuries {{!}} Historic England |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/research/inclusive-heritage/the-slave-trade-and-abolition/sites-of-memory/black-lives-in-england/ |access-date=2023-03-28 March 2023 |website=historicengland.org.uk |language=en}}</ref> Some of these people fled their [[Slavery in Britain|slavery]] in an attempt to create a new life for themselves in the streets of London. While very little is known about most of the escapees, some insight can be gained into the life of sailor James Williams, an enslaved man from the Caribbean.<ref>{{Cite web |title=4th Queen’sQueen's Own Hussars {{!}} National Army Museum |url=https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/4th-queens-own-hussars |access-date=2023-03-28 March 2023 |website=www.nam.ac.uk |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Runaway slave database |url=https://www.runaways.gla.ac.uk/database/table/ |publisher=University of Glasgow}}</ref>

''Camberwell St Giles'' is the name given to an ancient, and later civil, parish in the [[Brixton (hundred)|Brixton]] hundred of [[Surrey]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Camberwell St Giles Surrey Family History Guide |url=https://www.parishmouse.co.uk/surrey/camberwell-st-giles-surrey-family-history-guide/ |website=Parishmouse Surrey |access-date=18 February 2020}}</ref><ref name=vision_parish>Vision of Britain – [http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10128742&c_id=10001043 Camberwell parish] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101010063334/http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10128742&c_id=10001043 |date=10 October 2010 }} ([http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/bound_map_page.jsp?first=true&u_id=10128742&c_id=10001043 historic map]{{Dead link|date=November 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }})</ref> The parish covered {{convert|4570|acre|ha|abbr=off}} in 1831 and was divided into the liberty of [[Peckham]] to the east and the hamlet of [[Dulwich]] to the southwest, as well as Camberwell proper. The parish tapered in the south to form a point in what is now known as the [[Crystal Palace, London|Crystal Palace]] area.<ref name=vision_parish/> In 1801, the population was 7,059 and by 1851 this had risen to 54,667.<ref>Vision of Britain – [http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_theme_page.jsp?u_id=10128742&c_id=10001043&data_theme=T_POP Camberwell population]</ref> In 1829, it was included in the [[Metropolitan Police District]] and in 1855 it was included in the area of responsibility of the [[Metropolitan Board of Works]], with Camberwell Vestry nominating one member to the board. In 1889 the board was replaced by the [[London County Council]] and Camberwell was removed administratively from Surrey to form part of the [[County of London]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Kirby |first1=Alison |title=History of Brunswick Park – Declared "one of the prettiest open spaces in south London" |year=2018|journal=Camberwell Quarterly|issue=196|page=9|url=http://www.camberwellsociety.org.uk/rw_common/plugins/stacks/armadillo/media/CQ196_2.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730004026/https://www.camberwellsociety.org.uk/rw_common/plugins/stacks/armadillo/media/CQ196_2.pdf |archive-date=2021-07-30 July 2021 |url-status=live |access-date=18 January 2020}}</ref>

The area has historically been home to many factories, including [[R. White's Lemonade]], which originated in Camberwell, as well as [[Dualit]] toasters.<ref>{{cite web |title=Our History - Dualit Website |url=https://www.dualit.com/pages/our-history}}</ref> Neither of these companies is now based in the area.

[[Wilson's School]] was founded in 1615 in Camberwell by Royalroyal Chartercharter by Edward Wilson, vicar of the Parish of Camberwell. The charter was granted by [[James VI and I|James I]]. The school moved to its current site in [[Croydon]] in 1975. A school for girls, [[Mary Datchelor Girls' School]], was established in Camberwell in 1877. It was built on two houses at 15 and 17 Grove Lane, the location of a former manor house. All except one of its 30 pupils came from the parish of St Andrew Undershaft in the City of London. The funding for the school came from a bequest from Mary Datchelor, who died childless. Proceeds of a property in [[Threadneedle Street]] used as a coffee-house were used to pay for apprenticeships for the poor boys of the parish, but as demographics in the City changed, it was decided to set up a school. By the 1970s, the school was receiving funding from the [[Clothworkers' Company]] and the [[Inner London Education Authority]] funded teaching posts. The school came under pressure from ILEA to become co-educational and comprehensive. Faced with this choice or becoming fully private, the school's governors instead decided to close in 1981. The school buildings were later used as offices for the charity [[Save the Children]] but have now been converted to flats.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://heritage.southwark.gov.uk/objects/317/mary-datchelor-school-camberwell-grove;jsessionid=BB9D9B6B2FAF4191B8CFC96178470121|title=Mary Datchelor School, Camberwell Grove – Works – Southwark Heritage|website=heritage.southwark.gov.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/c/F100193|title=The Discovery Service|first=The National|last=Archives|website=discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.exploringsouthwark.co.uk/mary-datchelor-school/4593161554|title=Mary Datchelor School – Exploring Southwark|website=exploringsouthwark.co.uk|access-date=12 August 2018|archive-date=12 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180812151607/http://www.exploringsouthwark.co.uk/mary-datchelor-school/4593161554|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Camberwell Collegiate School]]

[[File:CamberwellPalace.jpg|thumb|upright|left|A c. {{circa|1900}} poster for the Camberwell Palace]]

[[File:Portrait of John Ruskin (4671937).jpg|thumb|EngravingWood-engraving of the Victorian art critic and watercolourist [[John Ruskin]] by Henry Sigismund Uhlrich. Ruskin lived in Camberwell for many years]]

The core of the later-to-be YBAs, graduated from the Goldsmiths BA Fine Art degree course in the classes of 1987–90. [[Liam Gillick]], [[Fiona Rae]], [[Stephen Park (artist)|Steve Park]] and [[Sarah Lucas]], were graduates in the class of 1987. [[Ian Davenport (artist)|Ian Davenport]], [[Michael Landy]], [[Gary Hume]], [[Anya Gallaccio]], [[Henry Bond]] and [[Angela Bulloch]], were graduates in the class of 1988; [[Damien Hirst]], [[Angus Fairhurst]], [[Mat Collishaw]], [[Simon Patterson (artist)|Simon Patterson]], and [[Abigail Lane]], were graduates from the class of 1989; whilst [[Gillian Wearing]], and [[Sam Taylor-Wood]], were graduates from the class of 1990. During the years 1987–90, the teaching staff on the Goldsmiths BA Fine Art included [[Jon Thompson (artist)|Jon Thompson]], [[Richard Wentworth (artist)|Richard Wentworth]], [[Michael Craig-Martin]], [[Ian Jeffrey]], [[Helen Chadwick]], [[Mark Wallinger]], Judith Cowan and [[Glen Baxter (cartoonist)|Glen Baxter]]. Collishaw has a studio in a pub in Camberwell.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hungertv.com/art-culture/feature/art-in-the-east-end-mat-collishaw |title=Art in the East End: Mat Collishaw |work=hungertv.com |date=28 May 2012 |access-date=7 November 2012 |archive-date=4 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104015532/http://www.hungertv.com/art-culture/feature/art-in-the-east-end-mat-collishaw/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> as does the sculptor [[Anish Kapoor]].<ref>Architects Journal June 2012 http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/daily-news/caseyfierro-unwraps-anish-kapoor-studio/8625145.article</ref>

[[Thomas Hood]], humorist and author of ''"[[The Song of the Shirt]]''", lived in Camberwell from 1840 for two years; initially at 8, South Place, (now 181, Camberwell New Road). He later moved to 2, Union Row (now 266, High Street). He wrote to friends praising the clean air. In late 1841, he moved to [[St John's Wood]].<ref>'Camberwell', Old and New London: Volume 6 (1878), pp. 269–286 Date accessed: 13 February 2011.> http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=45281</ref> The Victorian art critic and watercolourist [[John Ruskin]] lived at 163 [[Denmark Hill]] from 1847, but moved out in 1872 as the railways spoiled his view.<ref name="southlondonguide.co.uk">{{cite web|url=http://www.southlondonguide.co.uk/camberwell/history.htm|title=Welcome to Camberwell Guide|publisher=Southlondonguide.co.uk|access-date=27 February 2011}}</ref> Ruskin designed part of a stained-glass window in [[St Giles' Church, Camberwell]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stgilescamberwell.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=57&Itemid=73|title=The Ruskin Window|publisher=Stgilescamberwell.org.uk|access-date=27 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101116035609/http://www.stgilescamberwell.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=57&Itemid=73|archive-date=16 November 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Ruskin Park]] is named after him, and there is also a John Ruskin Street.

[[Muriel Spark]], the author of ''[[The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (novel)|The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie]]'' and ''[[The Ballad of Peckham Rye]]'' lived, between 1955 and 1965, in a [[bedsit]] at 13 Baldwin Crescent, Camberwell.<ref>{{Citation | title = The Go-Away Bird | first = Ferdinand | last = Mount | newspaper = The Spectator | type = review of ''Muriel Spark, the Biography'' by Martin Stannard | url = http://www.spectator.co.uk/books/5258633/the-goaway-bird.thtml | access-date = 13 April 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100618052705/http://www.spectator.co.uk/books/5258633/the-goaway-bird.thtml | archive-date = 18 June 2010 | url-status=dead | df = dmy-all }}</ref> The novelist Mary Jane Staples, who grew up in [[Walworth]], wrote a book called ''The King of Camberwell'', the third instalment of her Adams family saga about Cockney life. Comedian [[Jenny Eclair]] is a long-term resident of Camberwell, and the area features in her 2001 novel ''Camberwell Beauty'', named after a species of [[Nymphalis antiopa|butterfly]]. Playwright [[Martin McDonagh]] and his brother, writer/director [[John Michael McDonagh]], live in Camberwell. The 2014 novel ''[[The Paying Guests]]'' by [[Sarah Waters]] is set in 1920s Camberwell.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/aug/14/paying-guests-sarah-waters-review-satire-costume-drama|title=The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters review – satire meets costume drama|date=15 August 2014|website=The Guardian}}</ref> In [[Daniel Defoe]]'s novel ''[[Roxana]]'' (1724) the eponymous protagonist imagines her daughter, Susan, "drown'd in the Great Pond at Camberwell".

Camberwell is referred to in the film ''[[Withnail and I]]'' – "[[Camberwell carrot]]" is the name of the enormous [[Joint (cannabis)|spliff]] rolled using 12 rolling papers, by Danny the dealer.<ref>{{IMDb title|id=0094336|title=Withnail and I (1986)}}</ref> His explanation for the name is, "I invented it in Camberwell and it looks like a carrot".{{citation needed|date=February 2019}}

The avant-garde band [[Camberwell Now]] named themselves after the area.

[[London Underground]] has planned a [[Bakerloo line extension to Camberwell]] on at least three occasions since the 1930s.<ref>Transport for London: [https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/tube/bakerloo-extension Bakerloo line extension] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923125632/https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/tube/bakerloo-extension/ |date=23 September 2021 }}, 5 January 2016</ref>

[[Denmark Hill railway station|Denmark Hill]] and [[Loughborough Junction railway station|Loughborough Junction]] railway stations serve Camberwell, whilst [[Peckham Rye railway station|Peckham Rye]] and [[East Dulwich railway station|East Dulwich]] are both approximately {{convert|1|mi|km|round=0.5|abbr=off|spell=in}} from [[Camberwell Green]]. These stations are all in [[London fare zone 2]].<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://content.tfl.gov.uk/london-rail-and-tube-services-map.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151010031957/http://content.tfl.gov.uk/london-rail-and-tube-services-map.pdf |archive-date=10 October 2015-10-10 |url-status=live|title=London's Rail & Tube Services|year=2020|website=[[Transport for London]] and [[National Rail]]}}</ref> [[London Overground]], [[Southeastern (train operating company)|Southeastern]], and [[Govia Thameslink Railway|Thameslink]] trains serve Denmark Hill. There are regular rail services to various destinations across [[Central London]]. There are also direct rail links to destinations elsewhere in London and the [[South East England|South East]] from Denmark Hill.

Residents of the area have included children's author [[Enid Mary Blyton]], who was born at 354 Lordship Lane, East Dulwich, on 11 August 1897 (though shortly afterwards the family moved to Beckenham),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/chronology.php|title=The Enid Blyton Society|website=enidblytonsociety.co.uk}}</ref> and the former leader of the [[TGWU]], [[Jack Jones (trade unionist)|Jack Jones]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.homesandproperty.co.uk/area-guides/greater-london/living-in-camberwell-area-guide-to-homes-schools-and-transport-links-36896.html|title=Living in Camberwell: area guide to homes, schools and transport links|date=22 August 2014}}</ref> who lived on the Ruskin House Park estate. [[Karl Marx]] initially settled with his family in Camberwell when they moved to London in 1849.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Karl Marx: His Life and Work|last=Rühle|first=Otto|publisher=Routledge|year=2013|page=169}}</ref> Others include the former editor of ''[[The Guardian]]'' [[Peter Preston]].<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/jan/07/peter-preston-obituary |title = Peter Preston obituary|newspaper = The Guardian|date = 7 January 2018|last1 = McKie|first1 = David}}</ref> ''The Guardian'' columnist [[Zoe Williams]] is another resident,<ref name=" guardian.co.uk My Neighbour, the Lion Man of Peckham">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/Columnists/Column/0,,1727778,00.html |title=Zoe Williams: My neighbour, the Leopard Man of Peckham |work=The Guardian |access-date=27 February 2011 |location=London}}</ref> whilst [[Florence Welch]] of the rock band [[Florence + the Machine]] also lives in the area,<ref name=TILwelch>{{cite web |url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/lifestyle/article-23726059-florence-welch---my-london.do |title=Florence Welch – My London |work=Evening Standard |date=31 July 2009 |author=Amy Grier |access-date=27 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100914231621/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/lifestyle/article-23726059-florence-welch---my-london.do |archive-date=14 September 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> as do actresses [[Lorraine Chase]] and [[Jenny Agutter]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2015-01-18/call-the-midwifes-jenny-agutter-i-do-love-playing-a-nun/ |title=Jenny Agutter on Call the Midwife, the Railway Children and the pitfalls of Hollywood |work=Radio Times |date=18 January 2015 |access-date=27 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/actress-jenny-agutter-joins-forces-with-camberwell-community-leaders-to-help-boost-local-businesses-featuring-denmark-hill-railway-station/ |title=Actress Jenny Agutter joins forces with Camberwell community leaders to help boost local businesses featuring Denmark Hill Railway Station – South London News |publisher=Londonnewsonline.co.uk |date=16 August 2019 |access-date=27 May 2020}}</ref> [[Syd Barrett]], one of the founders of [[Pink Floyd]], studied at [[Camberwell College of Arts]] from 1964.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/syd-barretts-last-remnants-sold-in-frenzy-of-bidding-426398.html |title=Syd Barrett's last remnants sold in frenzy of bidding |work=The Independent |date=30 November 2006 |access-date=27 February 2011 |location=London |first=Terry |last=Kirby}}</ref> [[Clifford Harper]], illustrator and anarchist, has lived in Camberwell since 1974.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}}

* [[Henry Bessemer|Sir Henry Bessemer]], inventor, had an estate in Denmark Hill<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jl-IAwAAQBAJ&q=sir+henry+bessemer+camberwell&pg=PT184|title=Camberwell Through Time|first=John D.|last=Beasley|date=15 November 2010|publisher=Amberley Publishing Limited|isbn=9781445627267|via=Google Books}}</ref>

* [[Jeremy Bowen]], BBC war correspondent<ref>{{cite web|author=Jeremy Bowen |url=https://twitter.com/BowenBBC/status/1142375686943981570 |title=Jeremy Bowen on Twitter: "As a Camberwell resident since the 1980s, I'd like to say that mostly it's calm and peaceful. Though there can be some police activity at night." |via=Twitter |date=22 June 2019 |access-date=27 May 2020}}</ref>{{Primary source inline|date=June 2023}}

* [[Florence Collingbourne]] (1880–1946), British actress and singer<ref>[https://www.ancestry.co.uk/interactive/8912/ONS_B18802AZ-0061?pid=38666009&backurl=https://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv%3D1%26dbid%3D8912%26h%3D38666009%26tid%3D%26pid%3D%26usePUB%3Dtrue%26_phsrc%3Ddjv3312%26_phstart%3DsuccessSource&treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=djv3312&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&_ga=2.125041354.1335830168.1588585387-1197399642.1515349816 England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837–1915 for Florence Eliza Collingbourne: 1880, Q1-Jan–Feb–Mar – Ancestry.com {{subscription required}}]</ref>

* [[Catherine Dean (artist)|Catherine Dean]], artist<ref name="Albert Houthuesen Chronology">{{Cite web|url=http://www.houthuesen.com/Chronology.htm|title=Albert Houthuesen Chronology}}</ref>

* [[Thomas Green (sculptor)|Thomas Green]] (1659-&ndash;1730)<ref>''Dictionary of British Sculptors'' 1660-1851 by Rupert Gunnis p.179</ref>

* [[Albert Houthuesen]], artist<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.houthuesen.com/Chronology.htm|titlename="Albert Houthuesen Chronology}}<"/ref>

* [[David McSavage]], Irish stand-up<ref>{{Cite web|last=Nolan|first=Larissa|date=9 May 2021-05-09|title=David McSavage: I like having the status of an outsider|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/david-mcsavage-i-like-having-the-status-of-an-outsider-cnjkx983q|access-date=2022-04-22 April 2022|website=[[The Times]]|language=en}}</ref>