Historic Southwark
Southwark is London’s most historic borough. It has witnessed and participated in a wide variety of important events over the centuries, playing a crucial role not only in London's history, but in shaping the very world we live in today.
Archeology in Southwark 
Southwark has an immensely rich and important archaeological heritage dating from 10,000 years ago to the industrial remains of the last century. To find out more about see the Southwark's Archaeological Heritage page and the Southwark's Archaeology Service page.
Early History
Evidence of prehistoric lake dwelling communities has been found in the area of the Old Kent Road. By the time the Romans came to the Thames valley the south bank of the river was mainly a low lying flood plain with marsh and mudflats surrounding higher areas of sand and gravel. On one of these gravel islands the Roman's built the first crossing place across the Thames to Londinium on the north side of the river, at approximately the site of today's London Bridge. Roman Southwark grew rapidly, covering up to 45 acres at its peak.
Medieval Southwark
During Anglo Saxon times Southwark became the greatest traffic and trading centre in the country. By 1295 that it was the only town outside of the City permitted to send two representatives to Parliament. However, Southwark was not powerful enough in the medieval period to achieve full borough status, nor in later years to repel the administrative control of the City of London.
 From its early days, Southwark became a repository for the undesirable but entirely natural elements that any urban area generates. Those wishing to escape the regulations of the City established themselves in the Borough and Bankside area. Brothels which had been expelled from the City took up residence in Bankside. The population was increased over the centuries by London's poor, immigrants, criminals, and other socal outcasts.
Bermondsey History
Explore Bermondsey's history, almost certainly one of the oldest parts of Southwark. It is believed that a Benedictine Monastery was based here during Saxon times and evidence has been found of Roman occupation. Find out more about Bermondseys history and Bermondey today
London Bridge
The first London Bridge was built by Romans sometime after AD43 and some of its wooden remains have been uncovered on the north side of the river. During its life the wooden structure was renewed several times, and it was probably to this earliest bridge that the nursery rhyme ‘London Bridge is falling down’ refers.
 Southwark Prisons
Southwark was home to many of the most important prisons in the country until recent times. Many people, both the famous and long since forgotten, were imprisoned in the locality in conditions ranging from the almost luxurious to the very uncomfortable. Southwark's prisons included the Marshalsea, which was in the Medieval period originally a prison for political and religious prisoners but by the 18th century was a debtor's prison.
 Shakespeare's Southwark
William Shakespeare lived in London at the height of the play house boom at Bankside and he was inevitably drawn towards Southwark. The area was to have a great influence on him and his works. He wrote the majority of his greatest works whilst resident here and they were first performed at The Globe. Southwark is even mentioned in his works.
John Harvard
John Harvard is one of Southwark's famous icons, who was co- founder of the Harvard university. Find out more about his roots in Southwark, plus the library and blue plaque dedicated to him.
Pilgrim Fathers
Southwark has many links with the Pilgrim Fathers who set sail for America in 1620. The story begins before then however. In 1586 a group of people were sent to The Clink for refusing to obey the religious laws of Elizabeth 1, thus beginning a tradition of religious dissent within Southwark.
The Mayflower
It appears that only one of the Pilgrim Fathers actually came from Southwark. The crew however provide many links to Southwark. The most important is the Captain and part owner of The Mayflower, Christopher Jones.
Abolition and Slave Trade
Explore the timeline produced by the Cuming Museum and Local History Library that maps the transatlantic slave trade to Southwark, and the borough's connection with the abolition of the slave trade.
Southwark's Villages 
For most of Southwark's history, and up until the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the the area south of the river was essentially rural and was a landscape of meadows, farms, and market gardens. Southwark's historic villages included places such as Peckham, Walworth and Dulwich.
 Dickens' Southwark
Charles Dickens has a long and deep association with Southwark, both personal and literary, and particularly with the area known as the Borough. He also set scenes in his novels in Camberwell, Bermondsey, Walworth and Dulwich.
Industrial Southwark
By the 17th century, Southwark was the second largest urban area in England. The riverfront became increasingly important as overseas and domestic trade expanded. During the industrial revolution, Southwark developed further as a great manufacturing centre. Industrial Southwark included engineering, glass, leather, paper, gas, brewing, vinegar and even steam powered corn mills.
Southwark's World connections
Southwark’s proximity to the river Thames led to strong links across the world. As Southwark’s importance as a trading and manufacturing centre grew over the centuries, its population was increased by communities of migrants from Europe and people from different part of the world. Find out how Southwark's world connections have made Southwark's population is one of the most diverse in the UK.
War Memorials in Southwark
There are an estimated 70,000 war memorials throughout the UK in many differing forms; more than 300 of them are in Southwark. The memorials range from the frequently-seen community crosses or plaques to buildings, lynch gates, gardens, hospitals, organs, chapels and windows.
Find out more about Southwark's history
If you are interested in the history of Southwark you can learn more by visiting the Cuming Museum or the Southwark Local History Library. The Cuming Museum Southwark Gallery tells the story of the history of the borough and features historic objects, audio visual displays and other sources of information. The Southwark Local History Library holds historic maps, documents, books and a wide range of archival material for researching the history of the borough.
The Southwark Local History Library has produced a series of illustrated publications on the history of Southwark that are for sale at Southwark Libraries, the Southwark Local History Library and the Cuming Museum. For a list of publications and information on mail order see the Southwark Local History Library publications page.
Contact us
Southwark culture service
Tel: 020 7525 2000
PO BOX 64529
London
SE1 5LX
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