View source for Blackheath, London

{{Short description|Area of south-east London, England}}
{{Distinguish|Blackheath, West Midlands}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox UK place
| static_image_name         = Southeast View of All Saints' Church in Blackheath Common.jpg
| static_image_caption      = [[All Saints' Blackheath|All Saints' Church]], designed by [[Benjamin Ferrey]], dates from 1857
| country                   = England
| region                    = London
| official_name             = Blackheath
| coordinates               = {{coord|51.47|0.01|display=inline,title}}
| population                = 26,914
| population_ref            = (2011 Census. Lewisham Ward: 14,039)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=13688945&c=Blackheath&d=14&e=62&g=6333052&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&o=362&m=0&r=1&s=1476354032570&enc=1|title=Lewisham Ward population 2011|access-date=13 October 2016|publisher=Office for National Statistics|work=Neighbourhood Statistics|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161021060131/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=13688945&c=Blackheath&d=14&e=62&g=6333052&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&o=362&m=0&r=1&s=1476354032570&enc=1|archive-date=21 October 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> (2011 Census. Blackheath Westcombe Ward: 12,875)<ref name="stats">{{cite web|title=Blackheath Westcombe Demographics (Greenwich, England)|url=http://blackheath-westcombe.localstats.co.uk/census-demographics/england/london/greenwich/blackheath-westcombe|website=blackheath-westcombe.localstats.co.uk|access-date=13 October 2016}}</ref>
| os_grid_reference         = TQ395765
| london_borough            = Lewisham
| london_borough3           = Greenwich
| post_town                 = LONDON
| postcode_area             = SE
| postcode_district         = SE3, SE12, SE13
| dial_code                 = 020
| constituency_westminster  = [[Lewisham East (UK Parliament constituency)|Lewisham East]]
| constituency_westminster1 = [[Greenwich and Woolwich (UK Parliament constituency)|Greenwich and Woolwich]]
| constituency_westminster2 = [[Eltham (UK Parliament constituency)|Eltham]]
| charingX_distance_mi      = 6.4
| charingX_direction        = WNW
}}

'''Blackheath''' is an area in Southeast London, straddling the border of the [[Royal Borough of Greenwich]] and the [[London Borough of Lewisham]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Area guide for Blackheath |url=https://www.kfh.co.uk/south-east-london-and-north-kent/blackheath/ |publisher=Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward}}</ref> Historically within the county of [[Kent]], it is located {{convert|1|mi|adj=on}} northeast of [[Lewisham]], {{convert|1.5|mi}} south of [[Greenwich, London|Greenwich]] and {{convert|6.4|mi}} southeast of [[Charing Cross]], the traditional centre of London.

The area southwest of its station and in its [[Wards of the United Kingdom|ward]] is named Lee Park. Its northern neighbourhood of Vanbrugh Park is also known as St John's Blackheath and despite forming a projection has amenities beyond its traditional reach named after the heath. To its west is the core public green area that is the heath and [[Greenwich Park]], in which sit major London tourist attractions including the [[Greenwich Observatory]] and the [[Prime meridian (Greenwich)|Greenwich Prime Meridian]]. [[Blackheath railway station]] is south of the heath.

==History==
===Etymology===
;Records and meanings
[[File:Southern Side of the Whitefield Mount, Blackheath Common.jpg|thumb|left|The Whitefield Mount is a mound on Blackheath Common]]
The name is from [[Old English]] spoken words 'blæc' and 'hǣth'. The name is recorded in 1166 as ''Blachehedfeld'' which means "dark,<ref name="Mills">{{Cite book| author=Mills, A.D. | title= Dictionary of London Place Names |publisher=Oxford  |isbn=978-0199566785 | date=11 March 2010 }}</ref> or black heath field" – field denotes an enclosure or clearing. [[Samuel Lewis (publisher)|Lewis]]'s topological dictionary opines, considering the adjective developed equally into derived term bleak, that Blackheath "takes its name either from the colour of the soil, or from the bleakness of its situation" before adding, reflecting Victorian appreciation, mention of "numerous [[Victorian house|villas]] with which it now abounds...it is pleasantly situated on elevated ground, commanding diversified and extensive views of the surrounding country, which is richly cultivated, and abounds with fine scenery".<ref name=sl>''A Topographical Dictionary of England'', ed. [[Samuel Lewis (publisher)|S. Lewis]] (London, 1848), pp. 270-275. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/topographical-dict/england/pp270-275, accessed 11 August 2019.</ref> It was an upland, open space that was the meeting place of the [[hundred (county subdivision)|hundred]] of [[Blackheath, Kent (hundred)|Blackheath]].<ref name="Mills"/>

;Formal name for estates around the heath
By 1848 Blackheath was noted as a place with two [[chapelry|dependent chapels]] under Lewisham [[vestry]] and another, [[St Michael and All Angels, Blackheath|St Michael and All Angels]], erected 1828-1830 designed by [[George Smith (architect)|George Smith]]. The latter made use of £4000 plus land from land developer [[John Cator]],<ref>[https://www.se3.org.uk/history/ se3.org.uk] St Michael and All Angels community website</ref> plus a further £11,000 from elsewhere.<ref name=sl/> The name of Blackheath gained independent official boundaries by the founding of an Anglican parish in 1854 (construction of the parish church, [[All Saints' Blackheath|All Saints]], began in 1857), then others (in 1859, 1883 and 1886) which reflected considerable housing built on nearby land.<ref>[http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10080393  St John's, Blackheath] showing as offshoot E.P. of Greenwich E.P. since 1854 ''Vision of Britain'' (website), © 2009–2017, the [[University of Portsmouth]]</ref><ref>[http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10149990 All Saints, Blackheath] E.P. an offshoot E.P. of Lewisham E.P. since 1859 ''Vision of Britain'' (website), © 2009–2017, the [[University of Portsmouth]] and others</ref><ref>[http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10039253 The Ascension, Blackheath] – an offshoot E.P. of Lewisham E.P. since 1883 ''Vision of Britain'' (website), © 2009–2017, the [[University of Portsmouth]] and others.</ref><ref>[http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10039265 Blackheath Park] (St Michael and All Angels, formerly St Peter's) – an offshoot E.P. of Charlton E.P., Kidbrooke Liberty and Lee E.P. since 1886 ''Vision of Britain'' (website), © 2009–2017, the [[University of Portsmouth]] and others.</ref> In local government, Blackheath never saw independence;<ref name=vision>[http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/20186/units Units covering this area] ''Vision of Britain'' (website), © 2009–2017, the [[University of Portsmouth]] and others</ref><ref name="achurchnearyou.com">[http://www.achurchnearyou.com/search/?lat=51.468&lon=0 Parish locator and church information by grid reference], ''A Church Near You'', [[Church of England]], retrieved 2019-08-11</ref> at first split between the Lewisham, Lee, Charlton and Greenwich vestries or civil parish councils and Kidbrooke liberty,<ref>[http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10041120/boundary Boundaries of Boundary Map of Kidbrooke Pariochial Liberty/Civil Parish] ''Vision of Britain'' (website), © 2009–2017, the [[University of Portsmouth]] and others.</ref> which assembled into [[Greenwich District (Metropolis)|Greenwich]], [[Plumstead District (Metropolis)|Plumstead (in final years called Lee)]] and [[Lewisham District (Metropolis)|Lewisham District]]s then re-assembled with others into Greenwich and Lewisham [[metropolitan borough]]s in 1900.<ref name=vision/>

;Etymological myth
An [[urban myth]] is Blackheath could derive from the [[Great Plague of London|1665 Plague]] or the [[Black Death]] of the mid-14th century. A local burial pit is nonetheless likely during the Black Death, given the established village and safe harbour (hithe) status of [[Greenwich]]. At those times the high death rate meant that a guaranteed churchyard burial became impractical.

===Archaeology===
A key [[Ancient trackway#Great Britain|Celtic trackway]] (becoming a [[Roman road]] and later [[Watling Street]]) scaled the rise that is shared with [[Greenwich Park]] and a peak {{convert|1|mi}} [[boxing the compass|east-by-southeast]], [[Shooters Hill]]. In the west this traversed the mouth of [[Deptford Creek]] (the [[River Ravensbourne]]) (a corruption or throwback to earlier pronunciation of deep ford).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dartfordarchive.org.uk/early_history/transport_rs.shtml|title=Roman and Saxon Roads and Transport|work=dartfordarchive.org.uk|author=Dartford Grammar School|publisher=Kent County Council}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author1=Patrick Hanks|author2=Flavia Hodges|author3=A. D. Mills|author4=Adrian Room|title=The Oxford Names Companion|date=2002|location=Oxford|publisher=the University Press|isbn=978-0198605614|page=1003}}</ref> Other finds can be linked to passing trade connected with royal palaces. In 1710, several Roman urns were dug up, two of which were of fine red clay, one of a spherical, and the other of a cylindrical, form; and in 1803, several more were discovered in the gardens of the [[Earl of Dartmouth]] and given to the [[British Museum]].<ref name=sl/>

===Royal setting===
[[File:The Pagoda (9175938843).jpg|thumb|The Pagoda, built 1760]]
Certain monarchs passed through and their senior courtiers kept residences here and in Greenwich.  Before the [[House of Tudor|Tudor]]-built [[Palace of Placentia|Greenwich Palace]] and Stuart-built [[Queen's House]], one of the most frequently used was [[Eltham Palace]] about {{convert|2.5|mi|km|1}} to the southeast of the ridge, under the late [[Plantagenet]]s, before cessation as a [[Royal Residences of the United Kingdom|royal residence]] in the 16th century.

On the north side of the heath, [[Ranger's House]], a medium-sized red brick Georgian mansion in the [[Palladian]] style, backs directly onto Greenwich Park.  Associated with the Ranger of Greenwich Park, a royal appointment, the house was the Ranger's official residence for most of the 19th century (neighbouring [[Montagu House, Blackheath|Montagu House]], demolished in 1815, was a royal residence of [[Caroline of Brunswick]]). Since 2002, Ranger's House has housed the [[Julius Wernher|Wernher Collection]] of art.

The Pagoda is a notably exquisite home, built in 1760 by Sir [[William Chambers (architect)|William Chambers]] in the style of a traditional Chinese pagoda. It was later leased to the [[George IV|Prince Regent]], principally used as a summer home by Caroline of Brunswick.

===Meeting point===
[[File:Blackheath.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|An aerial view of the heath looking south, with [[All Saints' Blackheath|All Saints' Church]] in the centre rear of the heath]]

Blackheath was a rallying point for [[Wat Tyler]]'s [[Peasants' Revolt]] of 1381,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Wat Tyler and the Peasants Revolt|url=https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/Wat-Tyler-the-Peasants-Revolt/|access-date=2020-12-03|website=Historic UK|language=en-GB}}</ref> and for [[Jack Cade]]'s Kentish rebellion in 1450 (both recalled by road names on the west side of the heath). After camping at Blackheath, [[Cornwall|Cornish]] rebels were defeated at the foot of the west slope in the [[Cornish Rebellion of 1497|Battle of Deptford Bridge]] (sometimes called the Battle of Blackheath) on 17 June 1497.

In 1400, [[Henry IV of England]] met here with Byzantine Emperor [[Manuel II Palaiologos]] who toured western royalty to seek support to oppose [[Bayezid I|Bayezid I (Bajazet)]], the Ottoman Sultan. In 1415, the lord mayor and aldermen of London, in their robes of state, attended by 400 of the principal citizens, clothed in scarlet, came hither in procession to meet [[Henry V of England]] on his triumphant return from the [[Battle of Agincourt]].<ref name=sl/>

Blackheath was, along with [[Hounslow Heath]], a common assembly point for army forces, such as in 1673 when the [[Blackheath Army]] was assembled under [[Marshal Schomberg]] to serve in the [[Third Anglo-Dutch War]].  In 1709–10, army tents were set up on Blackheath to house a large part of the 15,000 or so German refugees from the [[Palatinate (region)|Palatinate]] and other regions who fled to England, most of whom subsequently settled in America or Ireland.<ref>Bittinger, Lucy Forney. ''The Germans in Colonial Times'' (Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott Co., 1901), p. 67</ref>

With Watling Street carrying stagecoaches across the heath, en route to north Kent and the [[English Channel|Channel]] ports, it was also a notorious haunt of [[Highwayman|highwaymen]] during the 17th and 18th centuries. As reported in Edward Walford's ''Old and New London'' (1878), "In past times it was planted with [[gibbet]]s, on which the bleaching bones of men who had dared to ask for some extension of liberty, or who doubted the infallibility of kings, were left year after year to dangle in the wind."<ref name=Walford>[http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=45277 'Blackheath and Charlton', ''Old and New London'': Volume 6 (1878), pp. 224-236] accessed: 4 November 2009</ref> In 1909 Blackheath had a local branch of the London Society for Women's [[Suffrage]].<ref>[[Elizabeth Crawford (historian)|Elizabeth Crawford]]. ''The Women's Suffrage Movement: a reference guide, 1866-1928'', ''s.v.'' "Blackheath"</ref>

===Mineral extraction===
The Vanbrugh Pits, known locally as the Dips,<ref>{{Cite web|title=History {{!}} Friends of Westcombe Woodlands|url=http://www.westcombewoodlands.org/history/index.html|access-date=2020-12-03|language=en-US}}</ref> are on the north-east of the heath. A former gravel workings site,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.londongardensonline.org.uk/gardens-online-record.asp?ID=LEW004 |title=London Gardens Online |publisher=London Gardens Online |access-date=15 June 2013}}</ref> it has long been [[passive rewilding|reclaimed by nature]] and form a feature in its near-flat expanse; particularly attractive in spring when its [[gorse]] blossoms brightly.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/inmyarea/openspaces/parks/blackheath/Pages/Vanbrugh-Pits.aspx |title=Vanbrugh Pits on Blackheath |publisher=Lewisham.gov.uk |access-date=15 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728033837/http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/inmyarea/openspaces/parks/blackheath/Pages/Vanbrugh-Pits.aspx |archive-date=28 July 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Vanbrugh Park===
The remains of the pits and adjoining neighbourhood Vanbrugh Park, a north-east projection of Blackheath with its own church, so also termed '''St John's Blackheath''',<ref>[https://www.achurchnearyou.com/search/?lat=51.474&lon=0.02 St John's Blackheath: Parish locator and church information by grid reference], ''A Church Near You'', [[Church of England]], retrieved 2019-08-11</ref> are named after Sir [[John Vanbrugh]], architect of [[Blenheim Palace]] and [[Castle Howard]], who had a house with very large grounds adjoining the heath and its continuation Greenwich Park. The house which was originally built around 1720 remains, remodelled slightly, [[Vanbrugh Castle]]. In his estate he had 'Mince Pie House' built for his family, which survived until 1911.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ideal-homes.org.uk/lewisham/assets/galleries/blackheath/mince-pie-house |title=Mince Pie House, Vanbrugh Fields, Blackheath, c. 1910 &#124; Lewisham Galleries |publisher=Ideal Homes |date=29 September 2010 |access-date=15 June 2013}}</ref>

Its church, [[St John's Blackheath|St John the Evangelist's]], was designed in 1853 by [[Arthur Ashpitel]].<ref name="Homan30–31">{{cite book|last=Homan|first=Roger|title=The Victorian Churches of Kent|year=1984|publisher=Phillimore & Co. Ltd|location=Chichester|isbn=0-85033-466-7|pages=30–31}}</ref> The [[Blackheath High School]] buildings on Vanbrugh Park include the [[Church Army Chapel, Blackheath|Church Army Chapel]].

===Blackheath Park===
[[File:Lewisham Met. B Ward Map 1916.svg|thumb|A map showing the Blackheath ward of Lewisham Metropolitan Borough as it appeared in 1916.]]
Blackheath Park occupies almost all of former {{convert|0.4|mi2|adj=on}} [[Sir Gregory Page, 2nd Baronet|Wricklemarsh House]].<ref>In 1669, [[Sir John Morden, 1st Baronet]] purchased it for £4,200; the mansion and {{convert|283|acre|km2}} were sold in 1783 by [[Sir Gregory Page-Turner, 3rd Baronet]] for £22,000 to John Cator.</ref> Developed into [[upper middle class]] homes by [[John Cator]], it forms the south-east of Blackheath: from Lee Road, Roque Lane, Fulthorp Road and the Plantation to all houses and gardens of right-angled Manor Way. Built up in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, it contains large and refined [[Georgian architecture|Georgian]] and [[Victorian architecture|Victorian]] houses – particularly [[Michael Searles]]' crescent of semi-detached/terrace houses linked by colonnades, The Paragon ({{circa|1793-1807}}).<ref>Howard Colvin, ''Biographical Dictionary of British Architects, 1600-1840'', 3rd ed. 1995, ''s.v.'' "Searles, Michael".</ref> Its alternate name, the Cator Estate, extends to lands earlier those of Sir [[John Morden]], whose [[Morden College]] (1695) is a landmark in the north, with views of the heath. The estate has 1950s and '60s [[Span Developments|Span]] houses and flats with gardens with discreet parking.

Its Anglican church ([[St Michael and All Angels, Blackheath|St Michael & All Angels]]) is dubbed the ''Needle of Kent'' in honour of its tall, thin spire (it is also nicknamed the ''Devil's Pick'' or the ''Devil's Toothpick''). Nearby, within the Blackheath Park conservation area, is [[Our Lady of Christians Church, Blackheath|Our Lady of Christians Church]], a [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] church built from 1890 to 1891 and designed by Alfred Edward Purdie in the [[Gothic Revival architecture|Gothic Revival style]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Alfred Edward Purdie |url=https://victorianweb.org/art/architecture/purdie/index.html |access-date=2024-11-06 |website=victorianweb.org}}</ref> It has a complete set of stained glass windows by [[Hardman & Co.]] and it is a [[Grade II listed]] building.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Blackheath - Our Lady Help of Christians |url=https://taking-stock.org.uk/building/blackheath-our-lady-help-of-christians/ |access-date=2024-11-06 |website=Taking Stock |language=en-GB}}</ref>

===Other churches===
[[File:Church of the Ascension, Blackheath (01).jpg|thumb|right|The Church of the Ascension in Blackheath, a Grade II* structure]]
The Church of the Ascension (see [[Grade I and II* listed buildings in the London Borough of Lewisham|local II*]] [[listed building]]s) was founded by Susannah Graham late in the 17th century.<ref name=asc>{{NHLE|num=1192114|desc=Church of The Ascension}}</ref> Its rebuilding was arranged about 1750 by her descendant, the [[William Legge, 1st Earl of Dartmouth|1st Earl of Dartmouth]].<ref name=asc/> Further rebuilding took place in the 1830s leaving at least parts of the east end from the earlier rebuild. At this time galleries for worshippers overlooked three sides.<ref name=asc/> 

===Ownership and management of the heath===
{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title           = Metropolitan Commons Supplemental Act 1871
| type                  = Act
| parliament            = Parliament of the United Kingdom
| long_title            = An Act to confirm a scheme under "The Metropolitan Commons Act, 1866," relating to Blackheath.
| year                  = 1871
| citation              = [[34 & 35 Vict.]] c. lvii
| introduced_commons    = 
| introduced_lords      = 
| territorial_extent    = 
| royal_assent          = 29 June 1871
| commencement          = 
| expiry_date           = 
| repeal_date           = 
| amends                = 
| replaces              = 
| amendments            = 
| repealing_legislation = 
| related_legislation   = [[Metropolitan Commons Act 1866]]
| status                = 
| legislation_history   = 
| theyworkforyou        = 
| millbankhansard       = 
| original_text         = https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/Vict/34-35/57/pdfs/ukla_18710057_en.pdf
| revised_text          = 
| use_new_UK-LEG        = 
| UK-LEG_title          = 
| collapsed             = yes
}}
Under the '''{{visible anchor|Metropolitan Commons Supplemental Act 1871}}''' ([[34 & 35 Vict.]] c. lvii), the management of the heath passed by statute to the [[Metropolitan Board of Works]]. Unlike the commons of Hackney, Tooting Bec and Clapham, its transfer was agreed at no expense, because the [[Earl of Dartmouth]] agreed to allow the encroachment to his manorial rights. It is held in trust for public benefit under the [[Metropolitan Commons Act 1866]] ([[29 & 30 Vict.]] c. 122). It passed to the [[London County Council]] in 1889, then to the [[Greater London Council]], then in 1986 to the two boroughs of Greenwich and Lewisham, as to their respective extents. No trace can be found of use as common land but only as minimal fertility land exploited by its manorial owners ([[manorial waste]]) and mainly for small-scale mineral extraction. Main freeholds (excluding many roads) vest in the Earl of Dartmouth and, as to that part that was the Royal Manor of Greenwich, the [[Crown Estate]]. The heath's chief natural resource is gravel, and the freeholders retain rights over its extraction.

==Sport==
In 1608, according to tradition, Blackheath was the place where [[golf]] was introduced to England – the [[Royal Blackheath Golf Club]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.royalblackheath.com/index.lasso?pg=ec7e88a710c7a8e9&mp=cbc638823c5eb85e |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715205035/http://www.royalblackheath.com/index.lasso?pg=ec7e88a710c7a8e9&mp=cbc638823c5eb85e |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 July 2011 |title=Our History: Royal Blackheath Golf Club – The Oldest Golf Club in the world |access-date=15 July 2011}}</ref> (based in nearby [[Eltham, London|Eltham]] since 1923) was one of the first golf associations established outside [[Scotland]], and possibly the first golf club ever established. Blackheath also gave its name to the first [[field hockey|hockey]] club, established during the mid 19th century.

[[File:Blackheath War Memorial in London.jpg|thumb|left|The war memorial in Blackheath]]

In the 18th century, Blackheath was the home of [[Greenwich Cricket Club]] and a venue for [[cricket]] matches. The earliest known senior match was [[Kent county cricket teams|Kent]] v [[London Cricket Club|London]] in August 1730. A contemporary newspaper report said "the Kentish champions would have lost their honours by being beat at one innings if time had permitted".<ref>Buckley, p. 4.</ref> The last recorded match was Kent v London in August 1769, Kent winning by 47 runs.<ref>Buckley, p. 52.</ref>

Cricket continued to be played on the 'Heath' but at a junior level. By 1890, [[London County Council]] was maintaining 36 pitches. Blackheath Cricket Club<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blackheathcc.com |title=blackheathcc.com |publisher=blackheathcc.com |access-date=15 August 2013}}</ref> has been part of the sporting fabric of the area, joining forces with Blackheath Rugby Club in 1883 to purchase and develop the [[Rectory Field]] as a home ground in Charlton. Blackheath Cricket Club hosted 84 first-class [[Kent County Cricket Club|Kent County]] matches between 1887 and 1971.

[[Blackheath Rugby Club]], founded in 1858, is one of the oldest documented [[Rugby football|rugby]] clubs in the world<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Elders – the world's oldest Rugby Clubs – WhereToPlayRugby News|url=https://wheretoplayrugby.com/news/2020/06/03/the-elders-the-worlds-oldest-rugby-clubs/|access-date=2020-12-03|language=en-US}}</ref> and was located until 2016 at [[Rectory Field]] on Charlton Road. The Blackheath club also organised the world's first rugby international (between [[England national rugby union team|England]] and [[Scotland national rugby union team|Scotland]] in [[Edinburgh]] on 27 March 1871) and hosted the first international between England and [[Wales national rugby union team|Wales]] ten years later – the players meeting and getting changed at the Princess of Wales public house. [[Blackheath Rugby Club|Blackheath]] was one of the 12 founding members of [[the Football Association]] in 1863, as well as nearby [[Blackheath Proprietary School]] and [[Perceval House|Percival House (Blackheath)]].

Along with neighbouring [[Greenwich Park]], Blackheath is the start point of the [[London Marathon]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Course History|url=https://www.virginmoneylondonmarathon.com/en-gb/news-media/media-resources/history-london-marathon/course-history/|access-date=2020-12-03|website=virginmoneylondonmarathon.com}}</ref> This maintains a connection with [[Sport of athletics|athletics]] dating back to the establishment of the Blackheath Harriers (now [[Blackheath and Bromley Harriers Athletic Club]]) in 1869. One of the Marathon start routes runs past the entrance to Blackheath High School for Girls, home of Blackheath Fencing Club.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blackheathfencing.org.uk |title=blackheathfencing.org.uk |publisher=blackheathfencing.org.uk |access-date=15 August 2013}}</ref>

There is also a long history of [[kite flying]] on the heath.

==Geography==
{{wide image|Blackheath Panorama.jpg|1000px|Panorama of the Blackheath heath}}

Blackheath is one of the largest areas of [[common land]] in [[Greater London]], with {{convert|85.58|ha|acre}} of protected commons.<ref name="defra">{{cite web| url=http://www.defra.gov.uk/rural/protected/commons/ | title=Common Land and the Commons Act 2006 | publisher=[[Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs|Defra]] | date=13 November 2012 | access-date=3 February 2013}}</ref> The heath is managed by Lewisham and Greenwich councils.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/inmyarea/openspaces/parks/blackheath/Pages/default.aspx |title=Lewisham Council - Local parks - Blackheath |publisher=Lewisham.gov.uk |access-date=15 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130831000233/http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/inmyarea/openspaces/parks/blackheath/Pages/default.aspx |archive-date=31 August 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Highlights on the Greenwich side include the Long Pond (also known as Folly Pond), close to the main entrance of Greenwich Park.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/directory_record/3758/blackheath |title=Blackheath - Greenwich |publisher=Royalgreenwich.gov.uk |date=30 April 2012 |access-date=15 June 2013}}</ref> On the Lewisham side are three ponds, with Hare and Billet pond considered to be the most natural and probably the best wildlife habitat.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/inmyarea/openspaces/parks/blackheath/Pages/Ponds.aspx |title=Lewisham Council - Local parks - Ponds on Blackheath |publisher=Lewisham.gov.uk |access-date=15 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120703110100/http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/inmyarea/openspaces/parks/blackheath/Pages/Ponds.aspx |archive-date=3 July 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://natureconservationlewisham.co.uk/tag/hare-and-billet-pond/ |title=Hare and Billet Pond |publisher=Nature Conservation Lewisham |date=5 October 2012 |access-date=15 June 2013}}</ref> Lewisham retains important areas of acid grassland that support locally rare wild plants such as [[Erodium cicutarium|Common stork's bill]], [[Rumex pulcher|Fiddle dock]] and [[Medicago arabica|Spotted medick]]. Key areas are to the east of Granville Park between South Row and Morden Row and on the cricket field east of Golfers Road.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/inmyarea/openspaces/parks/blackheath/Pages/Grasslands.aspx |title=Lewisham Council - Local Parks - Grasslands on Blackheath |publisher=Lewisham.gov.uk |access-date=15 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120831194644/http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/inmyarea/openspaces/parks/blackheath/Pages/Grasslands.aspx |archive-date=31 August 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="lewisham1">{{cite web |url=http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/inmyarea/openspaces/parks/blackheath/Pages/Habitat-changes-and-ecological-decline-.aspx |title=Lewisham Council - Local parks - Habitat changes and ecological decline of Blackheath |publisher=Lewisham.gov.uk |access-date=15 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120831194602/http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/inmyarea/openspaces/parks/blackheath/Pages/Habitat-changes-and-ecological-decline-.aspx |archive-date=31 August 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The heath's habitat was well known to early botanists. In the 18th century [[Carl Linnaeus]] reportedly fell to his knees to thank God when he first saw the gorse growing there. However, this disputed account is more often attributed to [[Putney Heath]].<ref name="Fries">{{cite book|last1=Fries|first1=Theodor Magnus|last2=Jackson|first2=Benjamin Daydon|title=Linnaeus|date=2011|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=9781108037235|page=158}}</ref> This environment supported both the flora and fauna of wild grassland. In 1859, Greenwich Natural History Society recorded a wide list of animal species, including [[natterjack toad]]s, [[hare]]s, [[common lizard]]s, [[bat]]s, [[quail]], [[ring ouzel]] and [[nightingale]]. Today, bats remain and migrating ring ouzel may occasionally be seen in spring.<ref name="lewisham1"/>

Extensive mineral extraction in the 18th and early 19th centuries, when gravel, sand and chalk were extracted left the heath transformed. This left large pits in many parts. In 1945 pits were filled with bomb rubble from [[World War II]], then covered with topsoil and seeded with [[Ryegrass|rye grass]], leaving Vanbrugh Pits to the north-east side and Eliot Pits in the south-west. Infilled areas stand out, especially in late spring and early summer, from their deep-green rye grass.<ref name="lewisham1"/>

{{Geographic location
|title     = '''Neighbouring areas'''
|Centre    = Blackheath
|North     = [[Greenwich, London|Greenwich]]
|Northeast = [[Charlton, London|Charlton]]
|East      = [[Shooters Hill]]
|Southeast = [[Kidbrooke]]
|South     = [[Lee, London|Lee Green]]
|Southwest = Lewisham
|West      = [[Lewisham]]
|Northwest = [[Deptford]]
}}

== Politics and government ==
Blackheath is covered by the constituencies of [[Lewisham East (UK Parliament constituency)|Lewisham East]], [[Greenwich and Woolwich (UK Parliament constituency)|Greenwich and Woolwich]] and [[Eltham and Chislehurst (UK Parliament constituency)|Eltham and Chislehurst]] for [[List of United Kingdom general elections|elections]] to the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom]].

Blackheath is part of the [[Blackheath Westcombe (ward)|Blackheath Westcombe ward]] for elections to [[Greenwich London Borough Council]].

==Culture and community==
[[File:Blackheath Bartley Park.jpg|thumb|Memorial fountain on south side of Batley Park in [[Westcombe Park|the Standard]]]]
Two clusters of amenities vie for retail and leisure: the "Village" around [[Blackheath railway station]] to the south of the heath and the "Standard" in the north of St Johns/Vanburgh Park i.e. beyond the A2 road, named after the Royal Standard pub<ref>TfL http://content.tfl.gov.uk/bus-route-maps/blackheath-royal-stand.pdf</ref> (in [[Royal Borough of Greenwich|Greenwich]]). The north of the green is in the [[Westcombe Park]] neighbourhood, which has its own railway station about 400 metres north – part of East Greenwich.<ref name="achurchnearyou.com"/> The total {{convert|0.35|ha|1|adj=on}} green and fountain sub-green was at first one [[village green]], known during the 18th century as Sheepgate Green, beside a crossroads of what was the London-Dover road. Around 1885 local philanthropist William Fox Batley had it refurbished and it became known as Batley Green or Batley Park;<ref name=WPCAAppraisal>[http://www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/downloads/download/15/westcombe_park_conservation_area_appraisal Westcombe Park Conservation Area: Character Appraisal, March 2010]. Accessed: 20 July 2015</ref><ref>Rimel, Diana (2006), "History of the Standard", ''[http://westcombe.gold.ac.uk/newspdfs/wnews2-06.pdf Westcombe News] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110313164614/http://westcombe.gold.ac.uk/newspdfs/wnews2-06.pdf |date=13 March 2011 }}'', February 2006, p.6. Accessed: 20 July 2015.</ref> Batley's contribution is recorded in an inscription on a memorial fountain.

Just south of the railway station is the [[The Conservatoire|Blackheath Conservatoire of Music and the Arts]]. It is located close to [[Blackheath Halls]], a concert venue today owned and managed by [[Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance]]. To the north of the railway station, in Tranquil Vale, [[All Saints' Parish Hall]] is a locally listed building in [[Arts and Crafts movement|Arts and Crafts style]], built in 1928. It has housed the [[Mary Evans Picture Library]] since 1988.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mary Evans Picture Library – Client Update|url=https://www.maryevans.com/about.php?pageName=about3|access-date=2020-12-03|website=maryevans.com}}</ref>

The heath was host to an annual fireworks display on the Saturday in November closest to [[Guy Fawkes Night]]. This was jointly organised and financed by the London Boroughs of Greenwich and Lewisham, but Greenwich Council withdrew its share of the funding in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/8399263.BLACKHEATH__Greenwich_Council_pulls_out_of_fireworks_display/ |title=BLACKHEATH: Greenwich Council pulls out of fireworks display|publisher=Newsshopper.co.uk |date=17 September 2010 |access-date=29 August 2011}}</ref> The event was suspended during the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom|COVID-19 pandemic]] in 2020, and central government funding cuts forced its suspension from 2021.<ref name="Uyal-02Nov2022">{{cite news |last1=Uyal |first1=Berk |title=Blackheath Fireworks 2022: Lewisham Council confirms cancelled event |url=https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/23093882.blackheath-fireworks-2022-lewisham-council-confirms-cancelled-event/ |access-date=20 February 2023 |work=News Shopper |date=2 November 2022}}</ref><ref name="fireworks">{{cite web |title=Blackheath fireworks |url=https://lewisham.gov.uk/inmyarea/events/fireworks |website=Lewisham Council |access-date=20 February 2023}}</ref> 

In September 2014, the inaugural ''On Blackheath'' festival was hosted on the heath. The line-up included [[Massive Attack]], [[Frank Turner]] and [[Grace Jones]].<ref>[http://www.festicket.com/festival/blackheath-2014/ Saturday, 13 September 2014 – Sunday, 14 September 2014], On Blackheath. Retrieved: 24 August 2015.</ref> The festival was repeated in September in 2015 (included [[Elbow (band)|Elbow]], [[Madness (band)|Madness]] and [[Manic Street Preachers]]),<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20140708223545/http://www.onblackheath.com/line-up/ 2015 Headliners]}}, On Blackheath. Retrieved: 24 August 2015.</ref> 2016 (included [[Primal Scream]], [[James (band)|James]] and [[Squeeze (band)|Squeeze]]), 2017 (included [[The Libertines]], [[Travis (band)|Travis]] and [[Metronomy]]),<ref name="Ellis-06Sep2017">{{cite news |last1=Ellis |first1=David |title=OnBlackheath Festival 2017 tickets, line up and everything you need to know |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/reveller/attractions/onblackheath-festival-2017-tickets-line-up-and-everything-you-need-to-know-a3628611.html |access-date=20 February 2023 |work=Evening Standard |date=6 September 2017}}</ref> and 2018 (included Squeeze, [[De La Soul]] and [[Paloma Faith]])<ref name="Trenaman-07Sep2018">{{cite news |last1=Trenaman |first1=Calum |last2=Fletcher |first2=Harry |title=OnBlackheath: Tickets, line-up and everything you need to know |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/music/onblackheath-2018-tickets-line-up-paloma-faith-a3930066.html |access-date=20 February 2023 |work=Evening Standard |date=7 September 2018}}</ref> then moved to July in 2019 (included [[Jamiroquai]], Grace Jones, [[Soul II Soul]]).<ref name="Embley-10Jul2019">{{cite news |last1=Embley |first1=Jochan |title=OnBlackheath festival 2019: Tickets, line-up, stage times, food and more |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/music/onblackheath-tickets-line-up-stage-times-food-festival-a4186851.html |access-date=20 February 2023 |work=Evening Standard |date=10 July 2019}}</ref> The event was cancelled during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021.

==Transport==
[[File:Roundabout on Wat Tyler Road, Blackheath Common - geograph.org.uk - 1600343.jpg|thumb|200px|Roundabout on Wat Tyler Road, Blackheath Common]]

===Rail===
[[Blackheath railway station|Blackheath station]] serves the area with [[National Rail]] services to [[London Victoria railway station|London Victoria]], [[Charing Cross railway station|London Charing Cross]], [[Cannon Street railway station|London Cannon Street]], [[Slade Green railway station|Slade Green]] via [[Bexleyheath railway station|Bexleyheath]], [[Dartford railway station|Dartford]] via Bexleyheath or via [[Woolwich Arsenal railway station|Woolwich Arsenal]] and [[Gravesend railway station|Gravesend]].

[[Westcombe Park railway station|Westcombe Park station]] also serves northern parts of Blackheath, with National Rail services to [[Luton railway station|Luton]] via [[Blackfriars railway station|London Blackfriars]], London Cannon Street, [[Barnehurst railway station|Barnehurst]] via Woolwich Arsenal, [[Crayford railway station|Crayford]] via Woolwich Arsenal and [[Rainham railway station (Kent)|Rainham]] via Woolwich Arsenal.

===Buses===
Blackheath is served by [[London Buses]] routes [[London Buses route 53|53]], [[London Buses route 54|54]], [[London Buses route 89|89]], [[London Buses route 108|108]], [[London Buses route 202|202]], [[London Buses route 286|286]], [[London Buses route 335|335]], [[London Buses route 380|380]], [[London Buses route 386|386]], [[London Buses route 422|422]], [[London Buses route SL4|SL4]], [[London Buses route N53|N53]] and [[London Buses route N89|N89]]. These connect it with areas including [[Bexleyheath]], [[Bow, London|Bow]], [[Canary Wharf]], [[Catford]], [[Charlton, London|Charlton]], [[Crystal Palace, London|Crystal Palace]], [[Deptford]], [[Elephant & Castle]], [[Eltham, London|Eltham]], [[Greenwich, London|Greenwich]], [[Kidbrooke]], [[Lee, London|Lee]], [[Lewisham]], [[New Cross]], [[Plumstead]], [[Greenwich Peninsula|North Greenwich]], [[Sidcup]], [[Slade Green]], [[Stratford, London|Stratford]], [[Sydenham, London|Sydenham]], [[Welling]] and [[Woolwich]].

==See also==
*[[List of people from Greenwich]]
*[[List of people from Lewisham]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* [[Felix Barker|Barker, Felix]]. ''Greenwich and Blackheath Past'' (Historical Publications, 1993)
* Henderson, Ian T. & David I. Stirk. ''Royal Blackheath'' (1981)
* [[Neil Rhind|Rhind, Neil]]. ''Blackheath Centenary 1871–1971: A Short History of Blackheath from Earliest Times'' (GLC, 1971)

==External links==
{{Commons category|Blackheath, London|Blackheath}}
*[http://www.blackheath.org The Blackheath Society]
*[https://blackheathvillage.co.uk Blackheath Village – a local guide of businesses and events in Blackheath, South East London.]
*{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Blackheath|short=x}}
*{{Cite Americana|wstitle=Blackheath |short=x}}

{{LB Greenwich}}
{{LB Lewisham}}
{{Parks and open spaces in London}}
{{English cricket venues to 1770}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Blackheath, London| ]]
[[Category:1730 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Areas of London]]
[[Category:Common land in London]]
[[Category:Conservation areas in London]]
[[Category:Cricket grounds in London]]
[[Category:Defunct cricket grounds in England]]
[[Category:Defunct sports venues in London]]
[[Category:Districts of the Royal Borough of Greenwich]]
[[Category:Districts of the London Borough of Lewisham]]
[[Category:District centres of London]]
[[Category:English cricket venues in the 18th century]]
[[Category:Nature reserves in the London Borough of Lewisham]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1730]]
[[Category:Sports venues in London]]