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 Southwark has an immensely rich and important archaeological heritage dating from 10,000 years ago to the industrial remains of the last century.
The Romans set up their provincial capital of Britain at a settlement near London Bridge and Borough High Street. This area was also the location of the medieval settlement of Long Southwark, famed for its fairs and inns.
The areas of archaeological importance stretch beyond this to include Bankside where important Elizabethan and Stuart playhouses such as the Globe and the Rose were located. Historic villages further south also contain important archaeological information.
Southwark Council has policies to protect the borough's archaeology and a dedicated archaeology officer ensures that these are adhered to. View a copy of the draft Southwark archaeology policy and supplementary planning guidance (pdf 444kb). To view this document you will need Adobe Acrobat.
This policy identifies seven archaeological priority zones (APZs). These are:
- Borough, Bermondsey, Riverside
- Peckham village
- Camberwell village
- Walworth village
- Elephant and Castle, Kennington Road
- Dulwich village
- Old Kent Road
In addition to the APZs, there are seven scheduled ancient monuments in Southwark that are protected by law. Any development that affects a scheduled ancient monument requires scheduled monument consent from the Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport as advised by English Heritage.
When development proposals are submitted for these areas, the archaeology officer conducts initial appraisals to assess the archaeological implications and ensures that any necessary investigations take place. The applicant may need to supply a desk-based assessment to the council and conduct archaeological trial investigations (evaluations) that either take place before the application is determined or secured by condition on a planning consent. If important archaeological remains are found, these may be preserved in situ. Total or partial archaeological excavation may be acceptable if remains do not merit preservation.
The results of archaeological investigations are written in reports, copies of which can be requested from the council's regeneration department. Alternatively you can request the reports from the Greater London Sites and Monuments Record at English Heritage. Click here to email the Sites and Monument Record Centre at English Heritage. For more information go to the  English Heritage website.
Contact us
Design and conservation team
Tel: 020 7525 5448
Fax: 020 7525 5432
designconservation@southwark.gov.uk
Chiltern
Portland Street
London
SE17 2ES
Opening hours: 9am to 5pm |