Borough of Southwark

“South Works” -  This borough situated on the River Thames is home to the southern approach to London Bridge.  This was the only bridge over the Thames in Central London until Westminster Bridge was built in 1750. This led to the area catering to travelers, traders and residences of the country’s ecclesiastical leadership who were in London for Parliamentary sessions. German, Dutch and Flemish craftspeople, denied the opportunity to use their trade north of the River due to exclusion in the trade guilds in the City, crossed the River Thames and found a place where they could use their skills. This area for similar reasons of restrictions became home to forms of entertainment that were not allowed on the north side of the River.  Bear-baiting rings were common in the 1500s, which gave way to purpose-built playhouses such as The Rose, The Globe and The Swan.  Shakespeare lived in the area and wrote many of his famous plays here. Its situation on the River and being directly across from the two financial hubs on the north side, The City and Westminster, meant that it was a good docking place for merchant ships.  The largest commercial dock in the western world was located here between the years of 1693 and 1763. It was able to handle 120 merchant ships at one time.  The area of Rotherhithe, known for its shipbuilders, was home to many sea captains and was also the home to religious dissenters.  From here The Mayflower set sail with members of the Southwark Independent Church.  Another famous resident with American connections was John Harvard who immigrated to America in 1637 with 400 books.  He died the next year and bequeathed half of his estate to erect Harvard College, later Harvard University. The literary tradition of the borough is very rich.  Robert Browning was born in Camberwell, Charles Dickens’ family was put into Marshalsea Debtors Prison and he references many places in Southwark in his writings.  Charles H. Spurgeon also wrote and preached in the Metropolitan Tabernacle located in the Walworth area of the borough.  Amazingly, this structure survived the Blitz while most structures in the Elephant and Castle area were destroyed. Southwark is also the home of the local London government. City Hall and the Mayor’s Office are located on the south bank next to Tower Bridge.

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