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Suburbs: Ravensbourne

Rotherhithe is Saxon for red haven, alluding to the colour of the soil. The name of Deptford indicates the deep ford over the Ravensbourne, London Districts and Suburbs. which is now spanned by a bridge. Greenwich means the green town, or, more precisely, the verdant settlement beside the wick, or reach of the river [see CHISWICK]; whereas Woolwich was originally Hylwich, i.e., hill town. The Isle of Dogs is a corruption of "Isle of Ducks," so described in ancient documents on account of the number of wild-fowl always to be found there. New Cross derived its name from "The Golden Cross," a famous old coaching-house, rebuilt and renamed "The New Cross." Lewisham is properly Leawreham, or meadow-home. Blackheath is a corruption of Bleakheath. Eltham was formerly written "Ealdham," the Anglo-Saxon for the old home or dwelling, referring to the palace occupied by the English kings down to the time of James I. Catford is a contraction of Cattleford, signifying a shallow portion of the Ravensbourne easily forded by cattle. [The University town on the Isis received its present name of OXFORD for a similar reason.] Beckenham denotes a home beside the beck or brook. Here again the Ravensbourne comes into notice. Sydenham means the home or habitation in the south, The names of Forest Hill, Norwood, a contraction of Northwood, and Westwood remind us that the whole of this district was formerly a large tract of wooded land. Dulwich is a corruption of Dalewich, the town in the dale. Honor Oak owes its designation to the boundary oak, under whose umbrageous shade Queen Elizabeth is said to have dined. Nunhead derived its name from "The a Camberwell Nuns' Head," a place of holiday resort for Londoners, dating back more than two hundred years. Peckham was originally Beckham, home distinguished for its becks or brooks.

Brixton is a corruption of the Anglo-Saxon "Brigestan," the bridge of stone. Camberwell derived its name from a miraculous well discovered close by the parish church dedicated to St. Giles, the patron of cripples. Cam is Celtic for crooked.

In this instance the word applies to the cripples, or rather to their patron saint. [On the other hand, the University town of Cambridge was so called from the bridge over the CAM, a river distinguished for its winding course.] Stockwell is in allusion to the well found in the stoc, or wooded place, in Anglo- Saxon times. Kennington means a settlement in the King's meadow. One of the palaces of Henry VIII. stood here. Newington denotes the new town in the meadow. Finally, the name of St.

George's Fields was derived from the neighbouring church of St. George the Martyr.