View source for Lewisham

{{short description|Area of London}}
{{about||the larger local government district|London Borough of Lewisham|other uses}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox UK place
| official_name            = Lewisham
| region                   = London
| country                  = England
| london_borough           = Lewisham
| population               = 60,573
| population_ref           = (Ladywell, Lewisham Central, Lee Green and Blackheath wards 2011)
| constituency_westminster = [[Lewisham North (UK Parliament constituency)|Lewisham North]]<br /> [[Lewisham West and East Dulwich (UK Parliament constituency)|Lewisham West and East Dulwich]]
| post_town                = LONDON
| postcode_area            = SE
| postcode_district        = SE13
| dial_code                = 020
| os_grid_reference        = TQ385755
| coordinates              = {{coord|51.461|-0.005|display=inline,title}}
| static_image_name        = Joe lew (1).jpg
| static_image_caption     = Lewisham Central at night
}}

'''Lewisham''' ({{IPAc-en|audio=LL-Q1860 (eng)-Back ache-Lewisham.wav|ˈ|l|uː|ɪ|ʃ|əm}} {{respell|LOO|ish|əm}}) is an area of southeast [[London]], England, {{convert|6|mi|km|0|abbr=off|spell=on}} south of [[Charing Cross]]. It is the principal area of the [[London Borough of Lewisham]], and was within the [[Historic counties of England|historic county]] of [[Kent]] until 1889. It is identified in the [[London Plan]] as one of 35 major centres in Greater London,<ref name=london_plan_f08>{{cite web |author=[[Mayor of London]] |title=London Plan (Consolidated with Alterations since 2004) |url=http://www.london.gov.uk/thelondonplan/docs/londonplan08.pdf |url-status=dead |publisher=[[Greater London Authority]] |date=February 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100602000714/http://www.london.gov.uk/thelondonplan/docs/londonplan08.pdf |archive-date=2 June 2010}}</ref> with a large shopping centre and street market. Lewisham had a population of 60,573 in 2011.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lewisham is made up of four wards, Central, Ladywell and Blackheath |url=http://www.ukcensusdata.com/lewisham-e09000023 |access-date=24 April 2016 |archive-date=11 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170911232055/http://www.ukcensusdata.com/lewisham-e09000023#sthash.RA5pvqsv.dpbs |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:John Cleveley Junior - A View at Lewisham (print) - Lewisham.jpg|thumb|left|'A View of Lewisham' (1770) by [[John Cleveley the Younger|John Cleveley Junior]]]] 
[[File:South Face of the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin, Lewisham (01).jpg|thumb|The medieval Church of Saint Mary the Virgin in Lewisham]]
The earliest written reference to Lewisham &ndash; {{langx|ang|liofshema}} &ndash; is from a charter from 862 which established the boundaries with neighbouring Bromley.<ref>{{cite web|title=St Mary's Church Lewisham – 1100 Years at the Centre of Lewisham|url=https://ourhithergreen.com/2018/08/st-marys-church-lewisham-1100-years-at-the-centre-of-lewisham/|access-date=2021-09-23|website=Our Hither Green|language=en-GB}}</ref>

Lewisham is sometimes said to have been founded, according to Bede, by a [[pagan]] [[Jutes|Jute]], Leof, who settled (by burning his boat) near [[St Mary]]'s Church ([[Ladywell]]) where the ground was drier, in the 6th century,<ref>{{cite web |title=A Brief History Of The Lewisham Borough |url=http://www.lewishamcard.co.uk/latest/2016/4/6/a-brief-history-of-lewisham-borough |website=Lewisham Card |access-date=17 November 2022}}</ref> but there seems to be no solid source for this speculation, and there is no such passage in Bede's history.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bede's Ecclesiastical History of England |url=https://www.gutenberg.org/files/38326/38326-h/38326-h.html |website=www.gutenberg.org |publisher=Project Gutenberg |access-date=17 November 2022 |date=17 December 2011}}</ref>

As to the etymology of the name, [[Daniel Lysons (antiquarian)|Daniel Lysons]] (1796) wrote:

:"In the most ancient [[Saxon]] records this place is called ''Levesham'', that is, the house among the meadows; ''leswe'', ''læs'', ''læse'', or ''læsew'', in the Saxon, signifies a meadow, and ham, a dwelling. A Latin legal record, dated 1440, mentions a place in Kent as ''Levesham'' which may refer to Lewisham.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://aalt.law.uh.edu/AALT1/H6/CP40no717/bCP40no717dorses/IMG_1931.htm |title=Plea Rolls of the Court of Common Pleas; National Archives; CP 40/717; second entry; Walter Wheler, husbandman, as defendant in a plea of debt |work=Documents from Medieval and Early Modern England from the National Archives in London |year=2013 |access-date=19 December 2014}}</ref> It is now written, as well in parochial and other records as in common usage, Lewisham."<ref>{{cite book |title="Lewisham", The Environs of London: volume 4: Counties of Herts, Essex & Kent |url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/london-environs/vol4/pp514-536 |year=1796 |pages=514–536 |access-date=19 December 2014}}</ref>

"Leofshema" was an important settlement at the confluence of the rivers [[River Quaggy|Quaggy]] (from Farnborough) and [[River Ravensbourne|Ravensbourne]] (Caesar's Well, Keston), so the village expanded north into the wetter area as drainage techniques improved.

[[File:Church of St Stephen, Lewisham.jpg|thumb|left|The 19th-century Church of St Stephen in Lewisham]]

[[Alfred the Great|King Alfred]] was Lord of the Manor of Lewisham, as is celebrated by a plaque in Lewisham Library.

The Manor of Lewisham, with its appendages of Greenwich and Combe, was given by Elthruda, [[Alfred the Great|King Alfred]]'s niece, to the [[Saint Peter's Abbey, Ghent]] in a Charter dated  18 September around 918,<ref>{{cite book |last=Barratt |first=Nick |author-link=Nick Barratt |year=2012 |title=Greater London – The Story of the Suburbs |location=Vauxhall Bridge Road, [[London]] |publisher=[[Random House]] |page=512 |isbn=9781847945327}}</ref> of which Lewisham then became a cell, or an [[alien priory]]. This grant is said to have been confirmed by [[Edgar the Peaceful|King Edgar]] in 964, and by [[Edward the Confessor]] in 1044, with the addition of many privileges.

In the mid-17th century, the then vicar of Lewisham, [[Abraham Colfe]], built a [[grammar school]], a [[primary school]] and six [[almshouse]]s for the inhabitants.

In the 17th century the Manor of Lewisham was purchased by [[George Legge, 1st Baron Dartmouth|George Legge]], later [[Earl of Dartmouth|Baron Dartmouth]]. His son [[William Legge, 1st Earl of Dartmouth|William]] was raised by [[Anne, Queen of Great Britain|Queen Anne]] to several positions of honour and trust, and was a member of her [[Privy Council of the United Kingdom|privy council]]; and on 5 September 1711, was ennobled as Viscount Lewisham, and [[Earl of Dartmouth]]. His grandson George, Lord Dartmouth, obtained the privilege of holding a fair twice a year, and a market twice a week, upon Blackheath in the parish. The fair used to be held on 12 May and 11 October, but in 1772 it was discontinued, (except for the sale of cattle) by the Earl of Dartmouth, as [[lord of the manor]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.personalia.co.uk/manuscripts/history.htm |title=Legge, William, first Earl of Dartmouth |work=Personalia |year=2014 |access-date=19 December 2014}}</ref>

The village of Lewisham had its [[nucleated village|nucleus]] in its southern part, around the parish church of St Mary, towards the present site of [[University Hospital Lewisham]]. The centre migrated north with the coming of the [[North Kent line]] to [[Dartford railway station|Dartford]] in 1849, encouraging commuter housing. The ''Official Illustrated Guide to South-Eastern and North and Mid-Kent Railways'' of June 1863, by George Measom, describes Lewisham as follows: "Lewisham Station, situated on the slope of an eminence amidst picturesque scenery, beautiful green meadows rising abruptly to the summit of the hill on the left, dotted with handsome residences and gardens, while the Common is seen intersected by various crossroads and studded with country inns and houses on the low ground or valley to the right. The area of the parish is 5,789 acres... Lord of the manor, the Earl of Dartmouth to whom it gives the title Viscount."

Lewisham was administratively part of [[Kent]] until 1889, and then formed part of the [[Metropolitan Borough of Lewisham]] in the [[County of London]] until 1965.

[[File:Lewisham Clock Tower (I).jpg|thumb|left|The 19th-century clock tower in Lewisham]]

The town centre was hit by a [[V-1 flying bomb]]<ref>{{cite web |url= http://lewishamwarmemorials.wikidot.com/memorial:lewisham-v1-site-lewisham-high-street-marks-spencer |title=Lewisham, V1 Site High Street, Marks & Spencer |work=Lewisham War Memorials |year=2014 |access-date=19 December 2014}}</ref> in 1944: there were over 300 casualties including 51 fatalities, and it devastated the high street, which was fully restored by the mid-1950s. This horrific event is commemorated by a plaque outside the [[Lewisham Shopping Centre]] (opened in 1977). The plaque was on the pavement outside the [[Marks & Spencer]] store in the main shopping precinct. However, suffering wear and tear, the local authority arranged for it to be mounted to the façade.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lewisham council to replace plaque commemorating the lives lost in wartime bombing |url=http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/8868210.LEWISHAM__Worn_away_high_street_war_plaque_to_be_replaced/ |first=Mark|last=Chandler|work=[[News Shopper]] |date=22 February 2011|access-date=5 April 2013}}</ref>
In 1955 [[Sainsbury's]] opened a store in Lewisham which was reported to be Europe's largest self-service supermarket, with 7,500 square feet of retail space, although the one now incorporated in the 1977 shopping centre is much smaller.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.museumoflondon.org.uk/SainsburyArchive/Themes/Progress/Self-service/selfserviceexpansion.htm|title=Self Service Expansion|publisher=Museum of London}}</ref> The area at the north end of the High Street was [[pedestrian]]ised in 1994. It is home to a daily street market and a local landmark, the [[clock tower]], completed in 1900 to commemorate [[Victoria of the United Kingdom|Queen Victoria]]'s [[Diamond Jubilee]] in 1897. The police station, opened in 2004 to replace the station in [[Ladywell]], is one of the largest in Europe.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.laing.com/news/139/27/Largest-PFI-Police-Station-in-South-East-to-open-on-Friday.html |title=South East London Police Stations |work=Laing |year=2014 |access-date=19 May 2021 }}</ref>

Lewisham Cricket Club was one of the most prestigious London sides during the [[Victorian era]]. From 1864 they played at Lewisham Cricket Ground, which lay north of Ladywell Road, until its closure later in the 19th century. Lewisham Swimming Club was also very successful, with several of its members representing England at [[water polo]] and other [[gymkhana]] events. During the [[World War I|First World War]], Lewisham Hospital's infirmary became the Lewisham Military Hospital, and during the [[World War II|Second World War]] the hospital was hit by a V-1 flying bomb, which destroyed two wards, injured 70 people and killed one nurse.

Lewisham is also the site of one of the [[Lewisham rail crash|worst disasters]] on the [[Rail transport in Great Britain|British railway network]] in the 20th century. On 4 December 1957 a crowded steam-hauled passenger express headed for the [[Kent]] coast overran signals at danger in thick [[fog]] near [[St Johns railway station|St Johns station]] and crashed into a stationary electric train for the Hayes branch line. The force of the impact brought down an overhead railway bridge onto the wreckage below. An electric multiple unit about to cross the bridge towards [[Nunhead]] managed to pull up in time. Ninety passengers and crew died in the accident.

In 1969, Lewisham was identified in the [[Greater London Council]]'s ''Greater London Development Plan'' as one of the top tier Major Strategic Centres. However, the Major Strategic Centres were identified based on their exiting retail trade turnover and their relationship with the Primary Road Network was mostly coincidental in that only some of them coincided with the primary network.<ref name="Hart1">{{cite journal |last=Hart |first=David |author-link=David Hart (political activist) |year=1984 |title=A Policy Biography of the Greater London Council: Planning and Transport |journal=Built Environment |volume=10 |issue=2 |page=106-107|jstor=23286284}}</ref>

In 1977, the [[Battle of Lewisham]] saw 500 members of the [[National Front (UK)|National Front]], who were attempting to march through the area, and their police escort, attacked by more than 4000 counter-demonstrators.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/august/13/newsid_2534000/2534035.stm|title=1977: Violent clashes at NF march|date=13 August 1977|access-date=23 February 2020|language=en-GB}}</ref>

The [[Docklands Light Railway]] was extended to [[Lewisham DLR station|Lewisham]] in 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thetrainline.com/stations/lewisham |title=Lewisham Station &#124; Trains to Lewisham |publisher=[[Trainline]] |access-date=8 May 2020}}</ref> Molesworth Street widened to create a bypass around the shopping area as part of the "Lewisham 2000" project, including sculptures by John Maine.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Lewisham Council|url= https://lewisham.gov.uk/inmyarea/arts/your-local-arts/visual-art/galleries/public-art/lewisham-public-art|title=Lewisham Public Art}}</ref> This saw the demolition of the 1932 art deco [[Lewisham Odeon]] which had also provided a live music venue hosting artists from Johnny Cash to the Rolling Stones.

The 2010s and early 2020s saw the construction of many [[high-rise]] residential buildings around Loampit Vale and Molesworth Street. The former roundabout by Lewisham station was replaced with an "H" junction to release land for further private development.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Future of London |url=https://www.futureoflondon.org.uk/2018/08/14/overcoming-barriers-linking-lewisham/|title=Overcoming barriers linking Lewisham|date=14 August 2018 }}</ref> This was to be supported by the cancelled Bakerloo Line extension to Lewisham.
[[File:Razzle Dazzle Boogie Woogie.jpg|alt=Razzle Dazzle Boogie Woogie by Phil Coy (2013)|thumb|''Razzle Dazzle Boogie Woogie'' by Phil Coy (2013), Lewisham. Ten colour sound reactive backlit glass façade, based on digital camouflage pattern.]]
In 2013 the Glass Mill Leisure Centre opened opposite [[Lewisham station]] with its façade defined by a large scale embedded kinetic artwork "Razzle Dazzle Boogie Woogie"<ref>{{Cite web|date=12 June 2013|title=Public art in Lewisham|url=https://lewisham.gov.uk/inmyarea/arts/your-local-arts/visual-art/galleries/public-art/lewisham-public-art|website=Lewisham Council}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=23 July 2015|title=Phil Coy, Razzle Dazzle Boogie Woogie|url=https://futurecity.co.uk/portfolio/razzle-dazzle/|website=FutureCity}}</ref> by the artist [[Phil Coy]]. The project was awarded the Best Built Project – Community Scale Scheme in the London Planning Awards 2013/14.<ref>{{Cite web|date=21 February 2015|title=The Glass Mill|url=https://www.architecture.com/find-an-architect/la-architects-ltd/lewes/the-glass-mill-lewisham-leisure-centre#|website=RIBA}}</ref>

==Governance==
[[File:Lewisham Town Hall (9175916169).jpg|thumb|[[Lewisham Town Hall]], completed in 1932]]
[[File:Lewisham Met. B Ward Map 1916.svg|thumb|A map showing the wards of Lewisham Metropolitan Borough as they appeared in 1916]]
The parish of Lewisham was governed by a [[administrative vestry|vestry]]; and from 1855 until 1900 by the [[Lewisham District (Metropolis)|Lewisham District Board of Works]], in combination with Penge. Following the [[London Government Act 1899]], the [[County of London]] was split into 28 metropolitan boroughs in 1900. Lewisham, with the parish of Lee, became part of the [[Metropolitan Borough of Lewisham]]. In 1965, under the [[London Government Act 1963]], the current 32 London boroughs were formed and today Lewisham is part of the [[London Borough of Lewisham]].{{fact|date=July 2024}}

[[Lewisham London Borough Council]] is based in Catford. The current directly elected mayor is [[Brenda Dacres]]. In the [[London Assembly]], the London Borough of Lewisham is joined with the [[Royal Borough of Greenwich]] to form the [[Greenwich and Lewisham (London Assembly constituency)|Greenwich and Lewisham constituency]], with the current Assembly Member being [[Len Duvall]]. For Westminster elections, Lewisham is covered by the [[Lewisham Deptford (UK Parliament constituency)|Lewisham Deptford]] constituency, whose [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) {{as of|2021|lc=y}} is [[Vicky Foxcroft]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/politics/constituencies/E14000789|title=Lewisham Deptford parliamentary constituency – Election 2019|work=BBC News|access-date=11 April 2020|language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Commercial area and amenities==
[[File:University Hospital Lewisham Riverside02.jpg|thumb|University Hospital Lewisham, Riverside Building]]
[[File:Lewisham House, 25 Molesworth Street, SE13 7EX - geograph.org.uk - 436664.jpg|thumb|Lewisham House, 25 Molesworth Street]]
Lewisham's commercial area is one of the largest in south-east London. [[Lewisham Shopping Centre]], opened in 1977, has 70 stores and is over 330,000 square feet. Shops include [[Marks & Spencer]], [[W H Smith]], Sainsbury's, [[H&M]], [[TK Maxx]], [[JD Sports]], [[SportsDirect.com]], [[Argos (retailer)|Argos]] and [[Boots UK|Boots]].<ref>[http://www.lewishamshopping.co.uk/shops Lewisham Shopping Centre: Shops] Retrieved 12 March 2014</ref> The centre is between Molesworth Street (a dual carriageway section of the A21) and Lewisham High Street. Lewisham Market and the Central Library are outside the shopping centre in the High Street. Also part of the complex is the Lewisham House office tower, once the tallest building in the borough and formerly occupied by [[Citibank]]. There are proposals to convert this brutalist skyscraper to flats.{{Citation needed|date=October 2018}}

Lewisham has a bowling alley<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mfabowl.com/lewisham/|title=Lewisham – Eating, Drink, Bowling, Rock & Rolling…|website=mfabowl.com}}</ref> and the Glassmill Swimming pool and Gym.

Lewisham has a number of parks, such as Hilly Fields and Lewisham Park.

For 14 years between 2001 and 2015, Lewisham was the only London Borough not to have a cinema. Lewisham once had many cinemas, such as the Lewisham Odeon. In 1930 there were 30 venues showing films.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lewishamlostcinemas.wordpress.com/lewishams-lost-cinemas/|title=Lewisham's lost cinemas|date=28 January 2011}}</ref> As of 2022, there is only one cinema operating in the borough: Catford Mews.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Magazine |first=Wallpaper* |date=2022-03-27 |title=Watch Oscar-worthy movies in fine contemporary cinema design |url=https://www.wallpaper.com/architecture/cinema-design-and-architecture-we-love-around-the-world |access-date=2022-04-12 |website=Wallpaper*}}</ref>

Opened in 1894, [[University Hospital Lewisham]] is a [[National Health Service]], [[acute medicine|acute]] hospital run by the [[Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust]] serving the whole London Borough of Lewisham as well as some surrounding areas. In July 2012 the government recommended that Lewisham's [[Emergency department|Accident & Emergency ward]] should be closed, with emergency provision transferred to [[Queen Elizabeth Hospital, London]]. However, there was a strong campaign in Lewisham against the proposed closure, including a march on 24 November 2012,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-20479702 |title=Thousands march to save Lewisham A&E and maternity unit |work=BBC News |date=24 November 2012 |access-date=29 October 2013}}</ref> and a successful legal challenge. In July 2013, the [[High Court of Justice|High Court]] ruled that the closure of Lewisham A&E could not go ahead.<ref>{{cite news |author=Ross Lydall |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/lewisham-hospital-campaigners-win-court-battle-to-save-ae-from-downgrade-8739293.html |title=Lewisham hospital campaigners win court battle to save A&E from downgrade |work=London Evening Standard |date=31 July 2013 |access-date=29 October 2013}}</ref> In October 2013, the [[Court of Appeal of England and Wales|Court of Appeal]] ruled that Health Secretary [[Jeremy Hunt (politician)|Jeremy Hunt]] did not have power to implement cuts at Lewisham Hospital.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-24729477 |title=BBC News – Lewisham Hospital: Appeal Court overrules Jeremy Hunt |work=BBC News |access-date=29 October 2013}}</ref>

==Education==
Secondary schools in Lewisham include:
* [[Addey and Stanhope School]]
* [[Bonus Pastor Catholic College]]
* [[Conisborough College]]
* [[Deptford Green School]]
* [[Forest Hill School]] (Boys only)
* [[Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham College]]
* [[Haberdashers' Knights Academy]]
* [[Prendergast School]]
* [[Prendergast Ladywell School]]
* [[Prendergast Vale School]]
* [[St Matthew Academy]]
* [[Sedgehill School]]
* [[Sydenham School]]
* [[Trinity Church of England School]]

==Transport==
[[File:Lewisham DLR stn entrance.JPG|thumb|Lewisham DLR entrance]]

===National Rail===
[[Lewisham station]] provides the area with [[Southeastern (train operating company)|Southeastern]] services to [[London Victoria railway station|London Victoria]], [[Charing Cross railway station|London Charing Cross]], [[Cannon Street railway station|London Cannon Street]], [[Dartford railway station|Dartford]] via [[Woolwich Arsenal railway station|Woolwich Arsenal]], Dartford via [[Bexleyheath railway station|Bexleyheath]], [[Gravesend railway station|Gravesend]] via Bexleyheath, [[Slade Green railway station|Slade Green]] via Bexleyheath, Slade Green via [[Sidcup railway station|Sidcup]], [[Hayes railway station|Hayes]] and [[Orpington railway station|Orpington]].

===DLR===
Lewisham station also provides [[Docklands Light Railway|DLR]] services to [[Bank–Monument station|Bank]] via [[Canary Wharf DLR station|Canary Wharf]].

===Buses===
Lewisham is served by many [[London Buses]] routes.
*[[London Buses route 21|21]] to [[Newington Green]] via [[New Cross]], [[London Bridge station|London Bridge]] and [[Moorgate]]
*[[London Buses route 47|47]] to [[Bellingham, London|Bellingham]] via [[Catford]] or to [[Shoreditch]] via [[Canada Water bus station|Canada Water]] and London Bridge (24 Hour service)
*[[London Buses route 54|54]] to [[Elmers End]] via Catford and [[Beckenham]] or to [[Woolwich]] via [[Blackheath, London|Blackheath]]
*[[London Buses route 75|75]] to [[Croydon]] via Catford, [[Penge]] and [[South Norwood]]
*[[London Buses route 89|89]] to [[Slade Green]] via Blackheath, [[Welling]] and [[Bexleyheath]]
*[[London Buses route 108|108]] to [[Stratford bus station|Stratford]] via Blackheath, [[North Greenwich bus station|North Greenwich]], [[Poplar, London|Poplar]] and [[Bow, London|Bow]] (24 Hour service)
*[[London Buses route 122|122]] to [[Crystal Palace, London|Crystal Palace]] via [[Brockley]], [[Forest Hill, London|Forest Hill]] and [[Sydenham, London|Sydenham]] or to [[Plumstead]] via [[Eltham, London|Eltham]] and Woolwich
*[[London Buses route 136|136]] to [[Elephant & Castle]] via New Cross and [[Peckham]] or to [[Grove Park, Lewisham|Grove Park]] via Catford
*[[London Buses route 178|178]] to [[Woolwich]] via [[Kidbrooke]]
*[[London Buses route 180|180]] to [[Belvedere, London|Belvedere]] via [[Greenwich, London|Greenwich]] and Woolwich
*[[London Buses route 181|181]] to Grove Park via Catford
*[[London Buses route 185|185]] to [[London Victoria railway station|Victoria]] via Catford, [[Dulwich]] and [[Camberwell]]
*[[London Buses route 199|199]] to Bellingham via Catford or to Canada Water via Greenwich
*[[London Buses route 208|208]] to [[Orpington]] via Catford and Bromley
*[[London Buses route 225|225]] to Canada Water via New Cross or to [[Hither Green]]
*[[London Buses route 261|261]] to [[Locksbottom]] via Grove Park and Bromley
*[[London Buses route 273|273]] to [[Petts Wood]] via Grove Park and [[Chislehurst]]
*[[London Buses route 284|284]] to Grove Park via Catford
*[[London Buses route 321|321]] to [[Foots Cray]] via Eltham and [[Sidcup]] or to New Cross (24 Hour service)
*[[London Buses route 380|380]] to [[Belmarsh Prison]] via Blackheath and Woolwich
*[[London Buses route 436|436]] to [[Battersea]] via New Cross, Peckham and Camberwell
*[[London Buses route P4|P4]] to [[Brixton]] via Brockley and Dulwich
*[[London Buses route N21|N21]] to Bexleyheath via Eltham or to [[Trafalgar Square]] via New Cross and London Bridge (Night Bus)
*[[London Buses route N89|N89]] to [[Erith]] via Blackheath, Welling and Bexleyheath or to Trafalgar Square via New Cross, Peckham, Elephant & Castle and [[Blackfriars, London|Blackfriars]] (Night Bus)
*[[London Buses route N136|N136]] to [[Oxford Circus]] via New Cross, Peckham, Camberwell, Victoria and Trafalgar Square or to [[Chislehurst]] via Catford and Grove Park (Night Bus)
*[[London Buses route N199|N199]] to [[St Mary Cray]] via Catford, Bromley and Petts Wood or to Trafalgar Square via Greenwich, Canada Water and London Bridge (Night Bus)

==Redevelopment==
[[File:River Ravensbourne, Lewisham.JPG|thumb|Cornmill Gardens development around the [[River Ravensbourne]], 2013]]
[[File:Lewisham Gateway skyline 21 January 2023.jpg|thumb|New developments around Lewisham station]]
[[Lewisham London Borough Council]]'s local development plan was intended to improve Lewisham's town centre to become a metropolitan centre to rival [[Bromley]], [[Croydon]] and [[Kingston upon Thames]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/inmyarea/regeneration/lewishamtowncentre/Pages/Lewisham-Centre-and-adjoining-land-.aspx| author=London Borough of Lewisham| author-link=London Borough of Lewisham| publisher=LB Lewisham | title=Lewisham Shopping Centre }} Accessed 30 June 2013</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/inmyarea/regeneration/lewishamtowncentre/Pages/default.aspx
| author=London Borough of Lewisham| author-link=London Borough of Lewisham| publisher=LB Lewisham | title=Regenerating Lewisham town centre }} Accessed 30 June 2013</ref>

There is a skyscraper adjacent to the shopping centre which used to be owned by [[Citibank]] until they moved to the [[London Docklands|Docklands]] which may be converted to residential.

There are four major development sites around on Loampit Vale:

*The Renaissance development comprises flats in buildings from five to 24 storeys, including private and [[L&Q]] social housing, as well as the new Glass Mill [[leisure centre|Leisure Centre]], which opened in 2013 and replaced the Ladywell leisure centre.<ref>{{cite web|title='Renaissance' at Loampit Vale|url=http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/inmyarea/regeneration/lewishamtowncentre/LoampitVale/Pages/default.aspx|publisher=London Borough of Lewisham|access-date=19 March 2014}}</ref>
*Lewisham Gateway<ref>{{cite web|title=Lewisham Gatway|url=http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/inmyarea/regeneration/lewishamtowncentre/Pages/Lewisham-Gateway.aspx|work=London Borough of Lewisham|publisher=LB Lewsiham|access-date=19 March 2014}}</ref> is a much-delayed redevelopment site bounded by the DLR station, Lewisham High Street, the shopping centre and the railway to Blackheath. The highway layout has been changed from a roundabout to two signalised junctions, while the rivers Ravensbourne and Quaggy have been re-routed. The development is intended to include shops, restaurants, bars, cafes, leisure facilities and up to 800 homes. The first phase of construction started in May 2014 with a 15 and 25-story residential building east of the DLR station.<ref name="Gateway">{{cite web|title=Lewisham Gateway|url=https://www.lewisham.gov.uk/inmyarea/regeneration/lewishamtowncentre/Pages/lewisham-gateway.aspx|website=Lewisham Council|access-date=13 December 2017}}</ref>
*Thurston Road industrial estate had planning consent granted in 2008; however, the development has been heavily delayed. The development was completed in 2016 and includes L&Q social housing.<ref>{{cite news|last=Mark|first=Chandler|title=Long-delayed development at Lewisham's Thurston Road Industrial Estate granted extra time|url=http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/9159983.Extra_time_granted_for_long_delayed_Lewisham_development/?ref=rss|access-date=19 March 2014|newspaper=News Shopper|date=26 July 2011}}</ref> The scheme is a mixed used site, which includes residential and commercial buildings of between two and 17 storeys, as well a car park.<ref>{{cite web|title=Thurston Rd industrial estate|url=http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/inmyarea/regeneration/lewishamtowncentre/Pages/Thurston-Road-industrial-estate.aspx|work=London Borough of Lewisham|publisher=LB Lewisham|access-date=19 March 2014}}</ref>
*The former Sherwood Court industrial estate is now the Chapter student housing scheme.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Mayor of London |url=https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/planning/planning-applications-and-decisions/planning-application-search/sherwood-court|title=Sherwood Court|date=17 December 2019 }}</ref>
*[[Lewisham Shopping Centre]] and surrounding areas will be redeveloped to provide 1700 new homes, a revamped shopping centre high street and a green meadow running through the middle.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Spocchia |first1=Gino |title=Studio Egret West reveals plans for 1,700 homes at Lewisham shopping centre |url=https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/studio-egret-west-reveals-plans-for-1700-homes-at-lewisham-shopping-centre |website=Architect's Journal |access-date=19 November 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Lee |first1=Claudia |title=Plans for new Lewisham town centre, with green meadows and public art, to be unveiled |url=https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/plans-for-new-lewisham-town-centre-with-green-meadows-and-public-art-to-be-unveiled/ |website=South London Press |access-date=19 November 2023}}</ref>

==Notable people==
{{alumni|residents|date=November 2018}}
Among those who were born or have lived in Lewisham are:

*[[Joe Absolom]] (actor) born and brought up in Lewisham 
*[[Jim Legxacy]] (rapper) born and attributed to Lewisham
*[[Merky ACE]] (grime music artist) born and brought up in Lewisham 
*[[Ginger Baker]] (drummer of [[Cream (band)|Cream]]) born and brought up in Lewisham<ref name = WaPo>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/ginger-baker-rock-drumming-colossus-of-cream-dies-at-80/2019/10/06/f1aff9ae-e828-11e9-9c6d-436a0df4f31d_story.html|title=Ginger Baker, rock drumming colossus of Cream, dies at 80|first=Andrew|last=Marton|date=6 October 2019|access-date=1 March 2023|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref>
*[[Natasha Bedingfield]] (singer/songwriter) brought up in Lewisham 
*[[Rosa May Billinghurst]] (suffragette) lived in Lewisham
*[[D-Block Europe]] (hip hop collective) born and brought up in Lewisham 
*[[Yannick Bolasie]] (footballer), brought up in Lewisham
*[[Herbert Burden]] youngest soldier to be executed by the British Army in World War I, born in Lewisham
*[[Kate Bush]] (musician) lived in [[Brockley]] and Lewisham
*[[Hughroy Currie]] (Boxer), British Heavyweight Champion in 1985–86. Lived in Catford, Brockley and briefly Bromley.
*[[Ann Batten Cristall]] (1769–1848), poet and schoolteacher
*[[General (United Kingdom)|General]] [[John Crocker|Sir John Crocker]] (British Army general, service in World War I and World War II), born in Lewisham
*[[Leland Lewis Duncan]] (photographer, writer) born in Lewisham
*[[Franz Goedecker]] (merchant and artist), lived in Lewisham<ref>"GOEDECKER Franz Caspar Hugo" in ''Probate Calendar for England and Wakes'' (1885), p. 367</ref>
*[[Malcolm Hardee]] (comedian) lived in [[Blackheath, London|Blackheath]] and was born in Lewisham<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cook |first=William |date=2005-02-04 |title=Malcolm Hardee |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2005/feb/04/guardianobituaries.artsobituaries |access-date=2025-07-20 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
*[[Danielle Harold]] (actress best known for playing Lola in ''Eastenders'') born and raised in Lewisham
*[[Keeley Hazell]] (page-3 girl & model) born in Lewisham
*[[Jessica Hynes]] (actress and comedian) born in Lewisham
*[[Greg James]] (TV and radio presenter) born in Lewisham
*[[Eman Kellam]] (TV presenter) born and brought up in Lewisham
*[[Frank King (cricketer, born 1911)|Frank King]] (cricketer) born in Lewisham
*[[Kwes]] (record music producer and [[Warp Records|Warp]] recording artist) born and brought up in Lewisham
*[[Elsa Lanchester]] (Anglo-American actress) born in Lewisham
*[[Lillie Langtry]] (actress) lived in Wickham Way, Lewisham<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brockleysociety.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/BrockleyConservationAreaCharacterAppraisalPartt1.pdf|title=Brockley conservation area, character appraisal, LB Lewisham}}</ref>
*[[Neal Lawson]] (politician) was born in Lewisham
*[[Angie Le Mar]] (comedian, radio broadcaster) was born and brought up in Lewisham
*[[Emma Leslie]] (English writer, 1838–1909) lived in Lewisham
*[[Delroy Lindo]] (actor) born in Lewisham
*[[Marie Lloyd]] (entertainer) lived in Lewisham and [[New Cross]]
*[[Ruben Loftus-Cheek]] (footballer)
*[[Alexander McQueen]] (designer) born in Lewisham
*[[Josh Maja]] (footballer), born in Lewisham
*[[Russ Millions]] (rapper) born and brought up in Lewisham
*[[MNEK]] (musician) was born in Lewisham
*[[Edith Nesbit]] (writer) lived in Blackheath, [[Grove Park, Lewisham|Grove Park]] and Lewisham
*[[P Money]] ([[Grime (music)|Grime]] music artist) born and brought up in Lewisham
*[[Eddie Nketiah]] (footballer), born in Lewisham
*[[Novelist (rapper)|Novelist]] ([[Grime (music)|Grime]] music artist) born and brought up in Lewisham
*[[Gary Oldman]] (actor) born and raised in [[New Cross]]
*[[William Henry Page|William Page]] (historian and general editor of the [[Victoria County History]]) lived in Lewisham from 1875 until he emigrated to [[Queensland]] in 1881
*[[Jonathan Palmer]] former [[Formula One]] driver and commentator
*[[Mica Paris]] (musician) lived in Lewisham
*[[Muriel Pavlow]] actress, born 1921.
*[[Montague Phillips (chemist)|Montague Phillips]] (Chemist) lived in Lewisham
*[[Gladys Powers]] (centenarian), born in Lewisham
*[[Maxi Priest]] (musician), born and raised in Lewisham
*[[Luke Pritchard]] (musician), born in Lewisham
*[[Louise Redknapp]] (singer, TV presenter and former wife of footballer [[Jamie Redknapp]]), born in Lewisham
*[[Kieran Richardson]] (footballer) lived in Lewisham
*[[David Rocastle]] (footballer) born and raised in Lewisham and Brockley. Attended primary school in Brockley
*[[Sidi Bou Said (band)|Sidi Bou Said]] (band) consists of four women from Lewisham<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Larkin |first=Collin |url=https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/acref/9780195313734.001.0001/acref-9780195313734-e-52457 |title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |year=2016 |isbn=9780195313734 |edition=4 |chapter=Sidi Bou Said |author-link=Colin Larkin |orig-date=Print publication 2006; published online 2009 |via=[[Oxford Reference]]}}</ref>
*[[Alan Saville]] (British [[Prehistory|prehistorian]] worked extensively on the [[Grime's Graves]] [[Flint mining|flint mine]] in [[Norfolk]]) born in Lewisham in 1946
*[[Doris Stokes]] (spirit-medium) lived in Lewisham
*[[Doveton Sturdee]] British [[Admiral of the Fleet]], born in Lewisham
*[[David Sylvian]] (musician) lived in Lewisham.
*[[Kae Tempest]] (spoken word performer, poet, recording artist, novelist and playwright) grew up in [[Brockley]]
*[[Eamonn Walker]] (TV and film actor, husband of Sandra Walker), born in Lewisham
*[[Richard Walsh (actor)|Richard Walsh]] (actor), born in Lewisham
*[[Conrad Williams (athlete)|Conrad Williams]] Commonwealth Games 2014 gold medalist
*[[Ian Wright]] (footballer) lived in Lewisham and Brockley
*[[Shaun Wright-Phillips]] (footballer and son of Ian Wright) grew up in Brockley
*[[Sid Vicious]] (musician), born in Lewisham<ref>{{cite news |last=Craig |first= Zoe |year=2016 |url=https://londonist.com/london/features/lewisham-facts |title=9 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Lewisham |work=[[Londonist]] |access-date=29 December 2023}}</ref>
*[[Troy (TV series)|Troy von Scheibner]] (magician), born in Lewisham
*[[Henry Williamson]] (author), born and raised in Lewisham
*[[Bill Wyman]], bass player of [[the Rolling Stones]], born in Lewisham Hospital

==Geography==

Almost all of the [[SE postcode area|SE13]] postcode district, which is associated with Lewisham is within the [[London Borough of Lewisham]], except for the Coldbath Estate and part of the Orchard Estate along Lewisham Road, which are covered by the [[Royal Borough of Greenwich]]. The town includes areas such as St Johns and Hither Green, as well as Lee and Ladywell to the south and east.

{{Geographic location
|title     = '''Neighbouring areas of Lewisham'''
|Centre    = Lewisham
|North     = [[Deptford]], [[Greenwich]]
|Northeast = [[Blackheath, London|Blackheath]]
|East      = [[Lee, London|Lee]]
|Southeast = [[Hither Green]]
|South     = [[Catford]]
|Southwest = [[Ladywell]]
|West      = [[Brockley]]
|Northwest = [[New Cross]], [[St Johns, London|St Johns]]
}}

===Climate===
The nearest Met Office climate station is based in [[Greenwich Park]]:

{{London weatherbox}}

==See also==
*[[London Borough of Lewisham]]
*[[Lewisham Shopping Centre]]
*[[University Hospital Lewisham]]
*[[Lewisam]]
*[[Lewisham, New South Wales|Lewisham, Sydney]], named after Lewisham
*[[Lewisham station|Lewisham Station]]
*[[Battle of Lewisham]]
*[[Lewisham rail crash|Lewisham Rail Crash]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [http://www.lewishamhistory.org.uk/ Lewisham Local History Society]
*[http://www.libcom.org/history/articles/battle-of-lewisham-1977/ The Battle of Lewisham – an article on london based website libcom.org]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060818222026/http://www.lewishamlawcentre.org.uk/ Lewisham Law Centre]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060427064012/http://www.ideal-homes.org.uk/lewisham/main/index.html Lewisham at Surbubia]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061015182534/http://www.lewisham.myzen.co.uk/gallery/ Lewisham Photographs]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060815161900/http://www2.lewisham.gov.uk/lbl/LewishamVoices/ Lewisham Voices]
* [http://www.lewisham.gov.uk London Borough of Lewisham]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100806185708/http://www.lewishamforum.co.uk/ Lewisham Forum]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160414185827/http://www.storyvault.com/video/view/a_life_in_lewisham_south_london_spanning_90_years1 90 Years of Life in Lewisham]
* [http://www.mjrharris.co.uk/category/lewisham-council/ Lewisham Councillor Mike Harris]

{{LB Lewisham}}
{{London Districts}}
{{Major Development Projects in London}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Districts of the London Borough of Lewisham]]
[[Category:Areas of London]]
[[Category:Major centres of London]]
[[Category:Former civil parishes in the London Borough of Lewisham]]