An 1868 Gazetteer description of the following places in Camberwell

 

CAMBERWELL

"CAMBERWELL, a parish in the eastern division of the hundred of Brixton, in the county of Surrey, 3 miles to the S. of St. Paul's, London. The original parish of Camberwell extended over an area of about 4,342 acres, including within its limits the pleasant suburban districts of Dulwich, Herne Hill, and Peckham, with a considerable extent of open country. This place is mentioned in Domesday Book as Cambrewell, and a church appears to have existed here before that survey was made." (There is more of this description).

"DENMARK HILL, a suburban district in the parish of Camberwell, hundred of Brixton, in the county of Surrey, 1½ mile S. of Camberwell, and 3 miles S. of London Bridge. In the High-street are several good shops.

The living is a curacy in the diocese of Winchester, value £700, in the patronage of trustees. The church is dedicated to St. Matthew. There is also a grammar school, some part of which is of ancient date."

"DULWICH, a hamlet in the parish of St. Giles, Camberwell, E. division of the hundred of Brixton, in the county of Surrey, 4 miles S. of St. Paul's, and about 2 from the Lower Norwood station on the Crystal Palace line. It stands in a valley at an elevation of about 100 feet above the sea-level. The ancient name of the hamlet was Dykawys, or Dilwisshe. " (There is more of this description).

"FOREST HILL, a hamlet in the parish of St. Giles in the borough of Camberwell, county Surrey, 1 mile E. of Dulwich, of which it forms part, and 4 miles S. of St. Paul's. It is a station on the Croydon and Crystal Palace lines. The hamlet is situated in a pleasant rural spot, commanding a good view of the neighbouring hills, and adorned with several handsome villa residences surrounded by pleasure grounds. There is also a small place of the same name near Windsor Forest, county Berks."

"GOOSEGREEN, a hamlet in the parish of Camberwell, hundred of Brixton, county Surrey, 4 miles S.E. of St. Paul's, London. It is situated in the vicinity of Peckham Rye."

"HERNE HILL, a hamlet and suburban district in the parish of Camberwell, county Surrey, 3 miles S. of St. Paul's, London. It is a station on the London, Chatham, and Dover railway. It is situated near Dulwich, and is now covered with villa residences surrounded by gardens.

The living is a perpetual curacy, value £500. The church, dedicated to St. Paul, was built in 1844 by Mr. Alexander, and has a spire 115 feet high."

"PECKHAM, a hamlet and suburban district in the parish of Camberwell, E. division of the hundred of Brixton, county Surrey, 3½ miles S. by E. of St. Paul's, London. Until a few years ago it was an inconsiderable village, forming one principal street, but has recently become a suburb of London, containing 28,135 inhabitants, besides 8,154 within the ecclesiastical district of St. Mary Magdalene.

It includes Peckham New Town, near the Surrey canal, where Nell Gwynne once had a house, and Peckham Rye, a country spot towards Forest Hill, containing many villas and well-built houses. Here are situated the Nunhead cemetery, the City Union poorhouse, Peckham House lunatic asylum for City paupers, the Licensed Victuallers' asylum, built in 1826 on 6 acres of ground, at a cost of £25,000, and at New Cross the Royal Naval school, built in 1835 for the education of 200 sons of officers.

The living is a perpetual curacy in the diocese of Winchester, value £300. The district church was built in 1842, at a cost of £4,323, defrayed by the Church Commissioners; but there are five other churches and proprietary episcopal chapels, also places of worship for Baptists, Independents, and Wesleyans. There are National, Lancastrian, and infant schools."

[Description(s) from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868)
Transcribed by Colin Hinson ©2003] These pages are intended for personal use only, so please respect the conditions of use.