Did you know that...
It is believed that Lewisham Hither Green stands on the site of the Romborough hamlet which was destroyed by the Black Death plague back in the 14th century. The original location of this South East London area was at the intersection of George Lane and Hither Green Lane. The latter is an old Roman road. Lewisham Hither Green has remained an area full of lush woods for quite a while. The first houses were built here in the 18th century when most of the trees had been felled. Larger residences were built in the 19th century. The building of the railway kick-started the urban development of this SE13 area.
Corbett Estate in Lewisham Hither Green has many terraced Victorian houses from the 19th century. At that time, Archibald Cameron Corbett, 1st Baron Rowallan bough land from North Park Farm and built many houses here. The estate borrows his name. Some of the roads here have Scottish names as Corbett hails from Scotland. He donated the land for St Andrew’s Church. St Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland. Corbett was a Quaker so there was no pub here and still isn’t. St. Swithun’s Church in Lewisham Hither Green dates from 1892. The building was designed by architect Ernest Newton. The organ is from Blenheim Palace.
Mountsfield Park in Lewisham Hither Green was established in 1905. The original site included the now-demolished Mountsfield house where famous entomologist Henry Tibbats Stainton lived. Manor House Gardens and Manor Park are other parks in this area. Hither Green Hospital was originally called Park Fever Hospital. It was established in 1897. Architect Edwin T. Hall designed the building. Lewisham Hither Green is notoriously known for the 1967 Hither Green rail crash. The busy Sunday evening train heading to London Charing Cross derailed between Hither Green and Grove Park stations. Forty-nine people were killed.
