WEST GROVE (BLACKHEATH) to GREENWICH TOWN CENTRE 

Route 1: Along Point Hill (road) and Royal Hill (road)

Scot, American (born 1880 DUNFERLINE). businessman and philanthropist. He helped to set up 2.509 University and Public libraries. 66o in the UK, 1.689 in the US.

In order to give the means to  the ambitious and industrious, to help themselves improve themselves, working their way to success (meritocracy). He was thinking of immigrants, Black-Americans (“COLORED CARNEGIE LIBRARIES”).

By means of large grants to build significant buildings, where prominent doorways, monumental staircases , huge lampposts or lantern were symbols (elevation by learning and enlightenment).

Local authorities had to apply, demonstrating their needs, providing the site,  drawing public funds to run the library, providing annually a 10% of the cost of construction to support its operation, provide FREE SERVICE

Built in 1840, by GEORGE SMITH. Reb.1878.

Originally it had a high-level platform, but the track was lowered when the line was put in a CUT-AND-COVER TUNNEL to run East, 1878.

FIRST STEAM POWERED SUBURBAN  RWY in the London area: 14th December 1836. LONDON SPA ROAD St - DEPTFORD - GREENWICH. “Church bells rang and people cheered along the route, as the LM and 300 guests were carried along the roust a starling 10 miles per hour. At DEOTFORD, in true coaching style, drinks were ordered…”.

Long viaducts were constructed (900 arches!!!: one company even hope, vainly, to rent them out as dwelling homes!!!). Nowadays the VIADUCT from LONDON BRIDGE STATION  may be considered the world’s larger solid structure.

Hillside sections had to be excavated.

Tens of thousands were employed to construct the line. Over 100.000 were evicted from their homes (there was violent opposition).

The TERMINI would become the STEAM PALACES of the competing companies, providing  an impressive welcome

The WORLD’S FIRST public railway was the SURREY IRON RWY, from WANDSWORTH to CROYDON. That was in 1803, and wagons were drawn by horses

But by September 1825, the Oystermouth Railway in Swansea had already been running for 18 years, in what the Guinness Book of Records acknowledges as the world's first fee-paying passenger railway line.
Originally built under an act of Parliament, the Oystermouth Railway or Tramroad Act 1804, to move limestone from the quarries of Mumbles to Swansea and to the markets beyond, it carried the world's first fare-paying railway passengers under an agreement effective from 25 March 1807. It later moved from horse power to steam locomotion, and was finally converted to electric power, using the largest tram cars ever built for service in Britain, before closing in January 1960, in favour of motor buses.

West Greenwich House was the Greenwich District Board of Works Offices from 1876 to 1900. The Memorial Stone was laid by Thomas Norfolk Esq. the Chairman of the District Board of Works on the 11th April 1876 and the building was opened by the same dignitary (also a noted Deptford brewer) on the 18th April 1877. A Dinner was held in the Ship Tavern that evening to celebrate. The first meeting of the District Board of Works was held on 25th April 1877. 
The Metropolitan Borough Council came into existence in 1900and Ralph Gooding was the first Mayor. 

Greenwich Pumping Station, known until c. 1986 as Deptford Pumping Station,^[1] is a sewagepumping station in the London Borough of Greenwich built in 1865 to the east of Deptford Creek. It is part of the London sewerage systemdevised by Sir Joseph Bazalgette in the mid 19th century. Today operated by Thames Water.

Deptford pumping station was constructed to raise sewage from the southern interceptor sewers by 18 ft (5.5 m) into the Southern Outfall Sewer, where it would flow onwards to Crossness Sewage Treatment Works. In the  Deptford was the south London equivalent of Abbey Mills pumping station, which performed a similar function for the Northern Outfall Sewer.

The original Deptford pumping station building, now a Grade II listed building, was built in London stock brick in an Italianate style,^[3][4] and comprised two engine houses with a linking boiler house.^[5] It initially housed four steam-powered beam engines (later replaced by diesel and electric pumps).^[6] When installed, the engines at Deptford were the largest ever built.^[7][8] Two adjacent coal sheds are also Grade II listed.

There was famously a wooden bridge at this crossing point which charged a toll. It was  closed in 1920’s after falling into disrepair.

It’s modern replacement in 2002 is a steel lifting mechanism which continues to allow access for boats that occasionally make their way up and down the creek. A long local campaign and collaboration from all sectors of the local community succeeded in getting it designed and built. One of it’s key protagonists Pete Pope died in 2012 and his ashes were scattered here in noisy celebration.

Route 2. Along CADE ROAD  and CROOMS HILL (road)

On the east wall is an inscribed stone tablet, which reads: ‘THIS CONDUIT HEAD, part of the water supply to the ROYAL HOSPITAL (for seamen) at GREENWICH was built about 1710’.

Built in the 1720s for a naval captain, Ranger’s House was later home to politicians, military officers and royals, including the Rangers of Greenwich Park, for 180 years.

The collection was gathered by the fabulously wealthy Sir Julius Wernher, who could buy the very best and had a passion for what he called the ‘splendidly ugly’ – tiny, unusual artworks expertly crafted in rich materials.

You’ll see nearly 700 varied works of art, including Dutch Old Masters, fine Renaissance bronzes and silver treasures, medieval and Renaissance jewellery and tapestries with scenes of Chinese life.

Named after the first Duke of Montagu, it was the amalgamation of two late-seventeenth century houses with the addition of Park Corner House. The residence of Caroline of Brunswick, queen consort to King George IV from 1801 to 1813. Demolished in 1815, all that remains is a bath reputedly used by the queen.

Writer, shopkeeper and socialite. Born on a slave ship bound for the West Indies (his birth year is approximate). His first name was Charles, but he was baptised Ignatius. His mother died soon after arriving in New Granada and his father died by suicide rather than become a slave. He was brought to England by his owner and given to three sisters who gave him the name of Sancho. Befriended by John, 2nd Duke of Montagu who encouraged his education he became butler to his wife. At her death he was left an annuity and opened a shop in Westminster. He became the friend of many famous people of the time, including David Garrick and Gainsborough who painted his portrait. He was the first known Afro-Briton to have voted in a British election. His edited letters were published after his death. 

Large, rambling, mellow brick and stone. Roof balustrade, rounded windows. overlooking own garden and the RANGER’S HOUSE one.

It was b. for ANDREW SNAPE, SARJEANT FARRIER to King Charles Ii. In 1674 he filched the land from the royal domain!. And ,ccording to EVELYN,  “a man full of projects”.

it became home to GENERAL WOLFE’s parents, and from here he left for QUEBEC.

1802. Extended by JOHN SOANE.

Now, private flats.

La bataille des Plaines d'Abraham se termine par la défaite des forces françaises et par la mort des généraux Wolfe et Montcalm. Jean-Baptiste-Nicolas-Roch de Ramezay, lieutenant du roi, signe la reddition de la ville, qui est livrée aux Britanniques le 18 septembre 1759, mettant ainsi un terme au siège de Québec. L'année suivante, Montréal capitule et la Nouvelle-France est officiellement cédée à la Grande-Bretagne en 1763. 

The Pevsner Guide describes Crooms Hill as "the pride of domestic architecture in Greenwich".^[4] Much of the housing dates from the seventeenth century to the early nineteenth century.^[5] Although some Tudor era buildings survive^[6] much of the land was developed when Greenwich Park was enclosed in 1619 leaving the road outside the walls. Many of the new residences were built by wealthy merchants and others from the City of London as second homes 

B 1697.  For COMMODORE SIR ROBERT ROBINSON , Lieutenants Governor of the Royal Hospital.
One of the finest of this period in Ldn. Hooded porch. Finely carved shell motif in blue background. Very high pitched roof, gable ended, double span tiled roof.

Relatively low, brick mansion with large gabled dormers and pilasters on brackets supporting the upper floor. 
A rare example of an a 1630s domestic building (early!j with ans unaltered exterior.

1724.Built by JOHN JAMES, who intended to live here but never did.

Was it the home of SIR JAMES THORNHILL?

1803 additions.

1920. Converted into apartments. A 3 bedroom apartment now: £1’8m!

A Roman Catholic mission was established in Greenwich in 1793 to serve around 500 Catholic pensioners in the Royal Naval Hospital. A chapel was originally built in Park Vista but proved inadequate, and fundraising began for a new church, led by a priest, Richard Michael North. His mother had reputedly vowed to build a church dedicated to Our Lady after her two sons were rescued following a Thames boating accident, and donated the site on Croom's Hill. The church was constructed between 1846 and 1851, at a cost of over £8,000.

Designed by William Wardell in a Decorated Gothic style, with a landmark fine East tower surmounted by a tall  spire, plus a pinnacle spire of Adam stair turret. 
Presbitery.

Chancel and Chapel of St.Joseph and Lady Chapel

Fittings and decorative elements designed by Augustus Pugin and his son E. W. Pugin (stained glass window, tomb chest of Canon Richard North). It was opened in 1851.

For Wardell, it was his first major work, and later he would become a recognised architect in Australia.

Anti-RC protests took place here when it was constructed, and an effigy of the Pope was burned on the Heath

B. 17th c with 18th c. additions. The Chief Joiner of QEI lived here (timber work?). 

Site belonging to GHENT ABBEY since 818 (a concession of ALFRED THE GREAT’s granddaughter). Thence, “grange” or abbey farm

A GAZEBO overlooks the road and the park. 1672, small, square, with a pyramidal roof and a carved plaster ceiling.

When built, by WILL HOOKER (Sheriff and LM) , a high brick wall surrounded the park. 1665

The LANIER FAMILY of  Elizabethan musicians lived here

A bedroom apartment here, now?: £1’8 m

HAWKSMOOR discovered that Greenwich Park was home to a series of ‘conduits’ – an underground water system that relied on gravity to carry water downhill. Elements of this system may have served the Tudor Greenwich Palace, built on the banks of the River Thames in the 1400s.

Hawksmoor decided to expand and improve this old system, rebuilding and relining brick structures through which to channel water. He arranged for a series of ‘conduit houses’ to be built around the park to provide access to the water system – and large brick reservoirs to collect the water before it was carried in lead pipes down the hill.

“Greenwich Park has an exciting secret. Did you know that the park is home to one of England’s best-preserved Anglo-Saxon barrow cemeteries? The cemetery can still be seen today.

The area around Croom’s Hill, north of The Avenue and west of the Meridian line, used to be a large burial ground, dating back to between AD 480 and AD 700. If you look closely – particularly during hot summers when the grass is parched – you may be able to spot a series of circular mounds. Each mound is known as a ‘barrow’, and it marks the location of at least one grave.”

Social reformer and minister. Born in Settle, Yorkshire. Whilst working in the slums of Greenwich, he became appalled at the deprivations and cruelties suffered by children. He wrote 'The Gaol Cradle, Who Rocks It?', urging the creation of juvenile courts and children's prisons as a means of diverting children from a life of crime. In 1884, he was a co-founder of the London Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, which became the NSPCCin 1889 with Waugh as its first director, until 1905. Died at 4 Runwell Terrace, Westcliffe-on-Sea, Essex.

We can't find confirmation that this Rev. Waugh is the 'Revd. B. Waugh' who was one of the managers of the 1873-75 changes at Aske’s Hospital, but it seems very likely.

A poet associated in the 1930s, with AUDEN and SPENDER, with the causes of the Left. He was a member, until 1939, of the CPGB.

After the War, more of a voice of the poetry establishment. Appointed Poet Laureate in  1957.

Under the pseudo NICHOLAS BLAKE, he published detective stories.

ACTOR DANIEL is his son.

B. 1968 in the shell of a music hall, associated or attached to the next door pub.  Greenwich, in the 19th c had MH of a certain ambitious scale, attracting big names, and public from far away:  This one, the GOOD DUKE HUMPHREY COFFEE TAVERN, MORTON’S…

It survived under successive names (GR.PAL. OF VARIETIES, PARTHENON, GRE.HIPPODROME, and finally the ROSE & CROWN).

MARIE LLOYD, DAN LENO,  VESTA TILLEY … Some stars lodged at the SREAD EAGLE.

An old coaching inn

Originally 1650s, 1730s. The principal coaching inn inn Greenwich, with services to London and the Kent coastal towns.  The then SILVER ST, now NEVADA, was the main road, Former coach office booking hall and archway to the  c.1780 stable yard. 

William IV reigned from 1830 to 1837 and was succeeded by his niece the Queen Victoria. The Corporation of the City of Londonvoted the funds to erect a monument in his memory. It was originally located in the recently constructed King William Street in the City of London, raised on a high plinth on the former site of the Boar's Head Inn.^[3] The former king is shown wearing the uniform of an admiral, in acknowledgement of his previous service in the Royal Navy. It was one of the first statues to be created using granite.

By the mid-1930s the increasing motor traffic meant that William's statue was adding to delays and the City was looking to redevelop the site. It was agreed that the statue should be shifted to Greenwich and be placed by the site of the recently demolished St Mary's Church.

This work is a depiction of Nelson's ship, HMS Victory, with sails made of printed fabric in a colourful West African pattern inside a large glass bottle stopped with a cork; the bottle is 4.7 metres long and 2.8 metres in diameter (15.4 ft × 9.2 ft).^[11]According to the Greater London Authority, the artwork is the first "to reflect specifically on the historical symbolism of Trafalgar Square, which commemorates the Battle of Trafalgar, and will link directly with Nelson's column. It is also the first commission by a black British artist."^[12] The work proved popular, and its removal in early 2012 led to fears that it would be sold to a Korean collector.^[13][14]The Art Fund launched a public appeal to raise money to buy the work from the artist.^[13] By April 2012 the money was raised, including £264,300 donated from the public and £50,000 each from The Art Fund and Shonibare's gallery Stephen Friedman.^[11]The work was the first of the commissions to be relocated and is now part of the permanent collection of the National Maritime Museum

I hope you are enjoying this guide!