Herne Hill
Encyclopedia
Herne Hill is located in the London Borough of Lambeth
and the London Borough of Southwark
in Greater London
. There is a road of the same name which continues the A215
north of Norwood
Road and was called Herne Hill Road.
attracted a large number of herons, but other explanations have also been suggested.
Herne Hill is situated between the more well-known areas of Brixton, Dulwich and Camberwell. It also straddles two boroughs, and is a community of just under 12,000 people, with a range of independent shops, art galleries, bars and restaurants. Famous Herne Hill residents from history include John Ruskin
and the Lupino family
, and actor Roddy McDowall
was born there.
. Near a hilltop
in Brockwell Park stands Brockwell Hall, which was built in 1831. The land surrounding it was opened to the public in 1891 after it was purchased by London County Council. Brockwell Park hosts the annual Lambeth Country Show and was the site of London's Gay Pride
festival for several years in the 1990s. The park also houses Brockwell Lido
, an open-air swimming pool
built in 1937.
Situated in a park off Burbage Road, the Herne Hill Velodrome
was built in 1891, is the only remaining cycle racing track in London
, and hosted the track cycling
events in the 1948 Olympic Games
. Unlike most modern, steeply-banked velodromes, it is a shallow concrete bowl. It also has a football pitch, and was home of Crystal Palace F.C.
from 1915 until 1918. The 'Save the Herne Hill Velodrome' campaign is currently seeking to find a way to secure the future of the site and make it a viable long-term facility for all, including local residents and schools.
The Grade II listed Half Moon Pub on Half Moon Lane has hosted a boxing
gym for over 50 years, currently run by former British and European light welterweight champion Clinton McKenzie
. It is on the route of the River Effra
.
St Paul's church on Herne Hill was originally built by G Alexander in 1843-4, at a cost of £4958, but dramatically rebuilt after a destructive fire by the gothic architect G E Street
in 1858, and is now listed Grade II*.
The lake in Sunray Gardens at the junction of Elmwood Road and Red Post Hill, was originally the fish pond in Casino house dating from 1796 to 1797 (now demolished), of which the adjoining Casino Estate still bears the name. Sunray Gardens is a Grade II Listed landscape.
for building a library
within the Herne Hill area. It is also a listed Grade II building.
A Blue Plaque at 51 Herne Hill
(by the junction with Danecroft Road) marks the former home of author Sax Rohmer
(a.k.a. Arthur Henry Ward), most famous as author of the series of novels featuring the master criminal Dr. Fu Manchu.
London Borough of Lambeth
The London Borough of Lambeth is a London borough in south London, England and forms part of Inner London. The local authority is Lambeth London Borough Council.-Origins:...
and the London Borough of Southwark
London Borough of Southwark
The London Borough of Southwark is a London borough in south east London, England. It is directly south of the River Thames and the City of London, and forms part of Inner London.-History:...
in Greater London
Greater London
Greater London is the top-level administrative division of England covering London. It was created in 1965 and spans the City of London, including Middle Temple and Inner Temple, and the 32 London boroughs. This territory is coterminate with the London Government Office Region and the London...
. There is a road of the same name which continues the A215
A215 road
The A215 is an A road in South London, from Elephant and Castle to Shirley. It runs through the London Boroughs of Lambeth, Southwark and Croydon....
north of Norwood
Norwood
- Australia :* Norwood Secondary College, Secondary School in Ringwood, Victoria.* Norwood, South Australia, suburb of Adelaide**Electoral district of Norwood, a state electoral district in South Australia...
Road and was called Herne Hill Road.
History
The name Herne Hill initially appeared in 1798, when the area was farms and woodland. It has been suggested that it derives from previously being called Heron's Hill, as the River EffraRiver Effra
The River Effra is a river in south London, England. It is now mainly underground. The name cannot be traced back much earlier than 1840 , so speculation that it came from a Celtic word for torrent is unwarranted...
attracted a large number of herons, but other explanations have also been suggested.
Geography
John Ruskin
John Ruskin was the leading English art critic of the Victorian era, also an art patron, draughtsman, watercolourist, a prominent social thinker and philanthropist. He wrote on subjects ranging from geology to architecture, myth to ornithology, literature to education, and botany to political...
and the Lupino family
Lupino family
Lupino was the surname of a British theatre family tradition that could trace their roots back to an Italian émigré of the early 17th century. This family tradition comprised two actual families *the earlier Luppino or Lupino family...
, and actor Roddy McDowall
Roddy McDowall
Roderick Andrew Anthony Jude "Roddy" McDowall was an English actor and photographer. His film roles included Cornelius and Caesar in the Planet of the Apes film series...
was born there.
Local features
The area is home to Brockwell ParkBrockwell Park
Brockwell Park is a 50.8 hectare park located between Brixton, Herne Hill and Tulse Hill, bordered by Brixton Water Lane, Norwood Road, Tulse Hill , and Dulwich Road in South London....
. Near a hilltop
Hilltop
-Place names:England*Hilltop, Buckinghamshire*Hilltop, DerbyshireHong Kong*Hilltop Building, Cloud View Road, North PointUnited States*Hilltop, former name of Fuller Acres, California*Fairmede-Hilltop, Richmond, California, commonly referred to as "Hilltop"...
in Brockwell Park stands Brockwell Hall, which was built in 1831. The land surrounding it was opened to the public in 1891 after it was purchased by London County Council. Brockwell Park hosts the annual Lambeth Country Show and was the site of London's Gay Pride
Gay pride
LGBT pride or gay pride is the concept that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people should be proud of their sexual orientation and gender identity...
festival for several years in the 1990s. The park also houses Brockwell Lido
Brockwell Lido
Brockwell Lido is a large lido in Brockwell Park, Herne Hill, London. It opened in July 1937, closed in 1990 and after a local campaign was re-opened in 1994.- History :...
, an open-air swimming pool
Swimming pool
A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, or simply a pool, is a container filled with water intended for swimming or water-based recreation. There are many standard sizes; the largest is the Olympic-size swimming pool...
built in 1937.
Situated in a park off Burbage Road, the Herne Hill Velodrome
Herne Hill Velodrome
The Herne Hill Velodrome is a velodrome or track cycling venue in south London. It is one of the oldest cycling tracks in the world, having been built in 1891. It hosted the track cycling events in the 1948 Summer Olympics and was briefly the home of Crystal Palace F.C...
was built in 1891, is the only remaining cycle racing track in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and hosted the track cycling
Track cycling
Track cycling is a bicycle racing sport usually held on specially built banked tracks or velodromes using track bicycles....
events in the 1948 Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
. Unlike most modern, steeply-banked velodromes, it is a shallow concrete bowl. It also has a football pitch, and was home of Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
from 1915 until 1918. The 'Save the Herne Hill Velodrome' campaign is currently seeking to find a way to secure the future of the site and make it a viable long-term facility for all, including local residents and schools.
The Grade II listed Half Moon Pub on Half Moon Lane has hosted a boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
gym for over 50 years, currently run by former British and European light welterweight champion Clinton McKenzie
Clinton McKenzie
Clinton McKenzie is a former professional boxer. He fought in the light welterweight division and became the British light welterweight title holder and lost to European title fights.-Background:...
. It is on the route of the River Effra
River Effra
The River Effra is a river in south London, England. It is now mainly underground. The name cannot be traced back much earlier than 1840 , so speculation that it came from a Celtic word for torrent is unwarranted...
.
St Paul's church on Herne Hill was originally built by G Alexander in 1843-4, at a cost of £4958, but dramatically rebuilt after a destructive fire by the gothic architect G E Street
George Edmund Street
George Edmund Street was an English architect, born at Woodford in Essex.- Life :Street was the third son of Thomas Street, solicitor, by his second wife, Mary Anne Millington. George went to school at Mitcham in about 1830, and later to the Camberwell collegiate school, which he left in 1839...
in 1858, and is now listed Grade II*.
The lake in Sunray Gardens at the junction of Elmwood Road and Red Post Hill, was originally the fish pond in Casino house dating from 1796 to 1797 (now demolished), of which the adjoining Casino Estate still bears the name. Sunray Gardens is a Grade II Listed landscape.
North of Herne Hill
The Carnegie Public Library on the road now named Herne Hill Road opened in 1906 after a Lambeth Librarian got a grant from Andrew CarnegieAndrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie was a Scottish-American industrialist, businessman, and entrepreneur who led the enormous expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century...
for building a library
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
within the Herne Hill area. It is also a listed Grade II building.
A Blue Plaque at 51 Herne Hill
A215 road
The A215 is an A road in South London, from Elephant and Castle to Shirley. It runs through the London Boroughs of Lambeth, Southwark and Croydon....
(by the junction with Danecroft Road) marks the former home of author Sax Rohmer
Sax Rohmer
Arthur Henry Sarsfield Ward , better known as Sax Rohmer, was a prolific English novelist. He is best remembered for his series of novels featuring the master criminal Dr...
(a.k.a. Arthur Henry Ward), most famous as author of the series of novels featuring the master criminal Dr. Fu Manchu.
Notable former and current residents
- Harriet HarmanHarriet HarmanHarriet Ruth Harman QC is a British Labour Party politician, who is the Member of Parliament for Camberwell and Peckham, and was MP for the predecessorPeckham constituency from 1982 to 1997...
MP. In 2008 there were two separate Fathers 4 Justice protestsFathers 4 Justice protestsFathers 4 Justice is a fathers' rights pressure group based in the United Kingdom, who have staged many protests which have received national news coverage because of their circumstances.-Tower Bridge protest:...
on the roof of her house. - James NesbittJames NesbittJames Nesbitt is a Northern Irish actor. Born in Ballymena, County Antrim, Nesbitt grew up in the nearby village of Broughshane, before moving to Coleraine, County Londonderry. He wanted to become a teacher like his father, so he began a degree in French at the University of Ulster...
- Elly JacksonElly JacksonEleanor Kate "Elly" Jackson is an English singer-songwriter and the lead singer of the electropop duo La Roux. She is well known for her red hair and androgynous style.-Biography:...
(La RouxLa RouxLa Roux are an English electropop duo made up of singer, keyboardist, co-writer and co-producer Eleanor Kate Jackson, and co-writer and co-producer Ben Langmaid. Jackson describes their relationship as "very much a half and half sharing situation... not like a singer producer outfit", but also...
) - Roddy McDowallRoddy McDowallRoderick Andrew Anthony Jude "Roddy" McDowall was an English actor and photographer. His film roles included Cornelius and Caesar in the Planet of the Apes film series...
star of Planet of the Apes film series -born and raised in Herne Hill - James Fielding journalist for the Sunday Express
- Bert Temple, founder of the Ancient Order of Froth Blowers was born and raised in Herne Hill
- Barney Geddes moved here in 2003 and considers the area a vital inspiration for his music and art
Nearest Railway Stations
- Brixton railway stationBrixton railway stationBrixton Railway Station is a commuter railway station in the centre of Brixton, inSouth London, UK. It is on the Chatham Main Line which runs from London Victoria to Orpington. Trains are operated by Southeastern. The typical service is one train every 15 minutes in both directions.Brixton Railway...
- Herne Hill railway stationHerne Hill railway stationHerne Hill railway station is in Herne Hill, a location in the London Borough of Lambeth, South London, England. Its location is .The station is above road level near the junction of five main roads, between Railton Road and Milkwood Road. There is no entrance in Milkwood Road, but there is a...
- Loughborough Junction railway stationLoughborough Junction railway stationLoughborough Junction railway station is in Brixton in the London Borough of Lambeth. It is between Elephant & Castle and Herne Hill stations and is served by First Capital Connect and at peak hours by Southeastern.-History:...
- North Dulwich railway stationNorth Dulwich railway stationNorth Dulwich railway station is in the London Borough of Southwark in Dulwich, south London. The station and all trains serving it are operated by Southern, and it is on the boundary of Travelcard Zone 2 and Travelcard Zone 3 .The Grade II listed railway station was designed in a hybrid Romanesque...
- Tulse Hill railway stationTulse Hill railway stationTulse Hill railway station is in the London Borough of Lambeth in south London, between railway bridges over the A205, South Circular Road and the A215, Norwood Road...
- West Dulwich railway stationWest Dulwich railway stationWest Dulwich railway station is in the London Borough of Southwark in West Dulwich south London. It is in Fare Zone 3, and the station and all trains are operated by Southeastern...
- Denmark Hill railway stationDenmark Hill railway stationDenmark Hill railway station is a railway station in the London Borough of Southwark in London, England, on the Inner South London Line. The station is managed by Southeastern and is served by trains of that company and Southern. It is in Travelcard Zone 2. It is located on Champion Park in the...
- West Norwood railway stationWest Norwood railway stationWest Norwood railway station is in the London Borough of Lambeth in West Norwood, south London. The station, and all trains serving it, is operated by Southern, and it is in Travelcard Zone 3. Services from Platform 1 go to London Victoria and London Bridge via Tulse Hill...
Nearest places
- BrixtonBrixtonBrixton is a district in the London Borough of Lambeth in south London, England. It is south south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London....
- CamberwellCamberwellCamberwell is a district of south London, England, and forms part of the London Borough of Southwark. It is a built-up inner city district located southeast of Charing Cross. To the west it has a boundary with the London Borough of Lambeth.-Toponymy:...
- Denmark HillDenmark HillDenmark Hill is an area and road in the London Borough of Southwark. The road forms part of the A215; north of Camberwell Green it becomes Camberwell Road; south of Red Post Hill it becomes Herne Hill. Its postcode is SE5. Nearby streets whose names refer to different aspects of the same...
- DulwichDulwichDulwich is an area of South London, England. The settlement is mostly in the London Borough of Southwark with parts in the London Borough of Lambeth...
- Tulse HillTulse HillTulse Hill is a district in the London Borough of Lambeth in South London, England. It lies to the south of Brixton, east of Brixton Hill, north of West Norwood and west of West Dulwich.-History:...
- West NorwoodWest NorwoodWest Norwood is a place in the London Borough of Lambeth.It is primarily a residential suburb of south London but with some light industry near Knights Hill in the south....
- ClaphamClaphamClapham is a district in south London, England, within the London Borough of Lambeth.Clapham covers the postcodes of SW4 and parts of SW9, SW8 and SW12. Clapham Common is shared with the London Borough of Wandsworth, although Lambeth has responsibility for running the common as a whole. According...