History of the local areas

Contents

The Royal Borough

The Royal Borough

The Royal Borough of Greenwich is known for its rich naval history, royal connections, and world-famous landmarks, but there's much more to discover.

Historic milestones

  • The first railway in London opened in 1836 between London and Greenwich.
  • England’s first golf club was founded on Blackheath.
  • One of the earliest mulberry trees in Britain grows in Charlton.
  • A ferry has operated in the borough since 1308.
  • The first telephone cable to be laid under the Atlantic to America was manufactured in Charlton
  • The Blackwall Tunnel was the largest underwater tunnel in the world when it opened in 1897

Royal connections and early history

The borough’s royal history stretches back centuries:

  • In 1012, Archbishop Alfege of Canterbury was killed by Viking raiders in Greenwich. The site is now marked by St. Alfege Church, designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor.
  • Eltham Palace, dating from the 14th century, was a royal residence for over 200 years and still features the original Great Hall.
  • The Greenwich Palace, built in the 15th century, was the birthplace of Henry VIII.

Notable areas and events

  • Plumstead was once a farming village known for sheep and fruit.
  • Blackheath was a gathering place for pilgrims, armies, and, at times, highwaymen. In 1381, Wat Tyler led over 100,000 people to Blackheath during the Peasants’ Revolt against the poll tax.
  • Eltham was home to English monarchs, including Edward II, Edward III, and Henry VIII. Geoffrey Chaucer once served as Clerk of Works there.
  • Greenwich became globally significant as the home of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), the international time standard since 1884.

Industry and innovation

The borough played a major role in Britain’s naval and industrial development:

  • Henry VIII founded Woolwich Dockyard to build warships, including the Great Harry.
  • The Royal Arsenal in Woolwich produced weapons, ammunition, and explosives for the British military.
  • Local factories along the Thames manufactured products such as gas, cables, soap, and linoleum for global markets.
  • The site of Henry VIII’s birthplace, the Palace of Placentia, later became the Royal Naval College and is now the Old Royal Naval College.