Historic Lewisham
Explore hidden histories, historic photos, and things you never knew about Lewisham from the collections and archives of Historic England.
Discover Lewisham's listed buildings and places
Introducing some of Lewisham's most significant historic sites, curated from the National Heritage List for England.
Excalibur Estate, Nos 1-7 (Odd) , No 25 and No 39
Lewisham
Six Uni-Seco prefabricated houses, 1945-6, with minor late C20 alterations. Read the official list entry to find out more.
Former Master Shipwright's House at Royal Dockyard, Deptford
Lewisham
House, built 1708 as the residence of the Master Shipwright to the Royal Naval Dockyard, Deptford, on the site of an earlier building.
Maritime Greenwich
Greenwich
The official listing for all World Heritage sites is held by UNESCO and can be found on their website.
Baring Hall Hotel and associated stable block
Lewisham
Public house and stabling block designed by Ernest Newton, 1881-1882, with later additions.
Roman Catholic Church of the Annunciation and St Augustine with attached presbytery and parish hall
Lewisham
A centrally-planned circular Roman Catholic church of 1963-4 by Raglan Squire & Partners, a reworked and reduced version of their competition entry...
Rivoli Ballroom
Lewisham
Ballroom, 1958-9, for the promoter Leonard Tomlin in a former cinema of 1913 by Henley Attwater. Minor later alterations.
Holbeach School Including School Keeper's Cottage, Boundary Wall and Entrance Gates
Lewisham
Board school, 1900-1 by TJ Bailey, extended 1905 and 1914. Minor later alterations. Read the official list entry to find out more.
Lee Green Fire Station
Greenwich
Fire Station, 1906, by the Fire Brigade Branch of the London County Council Architects Department.
Former Prudential Building
Lewisham
Former insurance offices, with row of shops and residential accommodation above, 1908, by Paul Waterhouse for the Prudential Assurance Company.
Eastern Boundary Wall to the former Royal Dockyard, Deptford
Lewisham
A late-C18 brick boundary wall, which was extended in the early C19, and altered in the C20.
Church of St Paul
Lewisham
1713-30 by Thomas Archer. Restored in 1856 by J Whichcord, and several times in the C20. Read the official list entry to find out more.
Tudor naval storehouse at Convoys Wharf
Lewisham
Deptford Dockyard is one of the earliest Royal Naval dockyards.
The Fellowship Inn Public House and attached hall
Lewisham
Public house. 1923-4 with alteration to the rear hall c1926. FG Newnham for the brewery Barclay Perkins and Co.
Crofton Park (St Mary Magdalen) War Memorial
Lewisham
First World War memorial, formed of a wooden cross with Christ sculpture set on a brick plinth with plaque.
Lewisham War Memorial, Memorial Gardens
Lewisham
First World War memorial, designed by E A Stone, unveiled on 7 May 1921. Read the official list entry to find out more.
High Street Buildings
Lewisham
Parade of five shops with apartments above, c1896, by Alexander Hennell. Minor later alterations mostly at ground floor level.
River Wall to former Naval Victualling Yard, Deptford
Lewisham
River wall. Built 1816-20 to the designs of John Rennie with Jolliffe and Banks as contractors.
Louise House
Lewisham
Former Girls Industrial Home, 1891, with Thomas W Aldwinckle as architect and William Johnson, builder. Minor later alterations.
Blackheath Quaker Meeting House with cobbled area of forecourt
Lewisham
Blackheath Quaker Meeting House, built in 1971-2 by Trevor Dannatt and Partners for the Blackheath Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends.
Lewisham Bridge Primary School
Lewisham
Primary school, designed 1912 and built 1914, by the School Division of the London County Council's Architect's Department, at that time headed by...
Deptford Fire Station
Lewisham
Fire station, 1903, by London County Council's Fire Stations Division, with minor later alterations. Read the official list entry to find out more.
Former Sydenham Public Lecture Hall with entrance gates, piers and railings
Lewisham
Former public lecture hall, working men's institute and national school, later a London County Council school, now an adult education institute.
Rileys (Former Temperance Billiard Hall)
Lewisham
Former Temperance Billiard Hall, 1909-10 by Norman Evans, Architect to Temperance Billiard Halls Ltd. Later alterations, to interior in particular.
Deptford (St Paul's) War Memorial
Lewisham
Deptford (St Paul's) War Memorial is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons: Group value: with the Grade I-listed Church of St Paul.
New Cross Fire Station
Lewisham
Fire station, 1891-4, by the Fire Brigade Section of the London County Council Architect's Department (chief architect Robert Pearsall).
Church of St Hilda, Crofton Park
Lewisham
Parish church, 1905-08 by FH Greenaway and JE Newberry in Arts and Crafts Gothic manner. Read the official list entry to find out more.
St Stephen’s Church War Memorial, Lewisham
Lewisham
St Stephen’s Church War Memorial, unveiled 3 September 1921, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons: Group value: with the Church...
Deptford War Memorial
Lewisham
First World War memorial erected in commemoration of the men of Deptford who lost their lives during the Great War.
Drinking Trough
Lewisham
A Metropolitan Drinking Fountain and Cattle Trough Association trough of 1888. Read the official list entry to find out more.
Church of the Ascension
Lewisham
1690s origins; nave rebuilt in the 1830s; E parts perhaps date from a rebuilding of c1750. Architects unknown.
Former Deptford Town Hall, with dwarf wall and railings to north
Lewisham
The former Deptford Town Hall, 1903-1907 (opened 1905), designed in an Edwardian Baroque style by Lanchester, Stewart and Rickards for the...
Church Hall of St Hilda's, Crofton Park
Lewisham
The church hall at St Hilda's, Crofton Park (built 1899-1900) is designated at Grade II for the following principal reasons: It is an intact...
Crofton Park (St Hilda's) War Memorial
Lewisham
First World War memorial, unveiled in 1920. Read the official list entry to find out more.
Church of St Laurence and Community Centre
Lewisham
Parish church, 1967-8, by Covell Matthews Partnership with community centre attached. Minor later alterations.
Historic Lewisham through time
The National Heritage List for England contains hundreds of details about buildings and places, including the periods in which they were built and the uses they've had over the years. Explore how your local area has changed through time.
Medieval AD 1066 to AD 1540
This period, sometimes known as the Middle Ages, began with the Norman invasion in AD 1066. It saw a significant rise in military and defensive buildings such as castles and earthworks, as well as religious houses dominating a largely agricultural landscape.
The monarchy and Church dominated the period, which also saw the break with the Roman Church and the English reformation.
Post medieval AD 1540 to AD 1901
The Post-Medieval period brought seismic changes to life in England, with religious reformation leading to the democratization of worship and the destruction of hundreds of religious houses.
In parallel, there was a huge expansion of scientific study and enlightenment that permanantly altered the nation's social structure and landscape. Industrialization and mass production lead to wider global trade, emigration, and immigration.
20th century AD 1901 to AD 2000
The 20th century saw an incredible expansion of England's transport networks, with suburban growth shadowing rapid infrastructural expansion. The establishment of state schools, hospitals, and modern technical colleges, with new architectural styles, radically changed the appearance of towns and cities.
Two catastrophic world wars and the 1918 pandemic also brought unprecedented change, altering England's built environment and social structures forever.
Medieval AD 1066 to AD 1540
This period, sometimes known as the Middle Ages, began with the Norman invasion in AD 1066. It saw a significant rise in military and defensive buildings such as castles and earthworks, as well as religious houses dominating a largely agricultural landscape.
The monarchy and Church dominated the period, which also saw the break with the Roman Church and the English reformation.
Post medieval AD 1540 to AD 1901
The Post-Medieval period brought seismic changes to life in England, with religious reformation leading to the democratization of worship and the destruction of hundreds of religious houses.
In parallel, there was a huge expansion of scientific study and enlightenment that permanantly altered the nation's social structure and landscape. Industrialization and mass production lead to wider global trade, emigration, and immigration.
20th century AD 1901 to AD 2000
The 20th century saw an incredible expansion of England's transport networks, with suburban growth shadowing rapid infrastructural expansion. The establishment of state schools, hospitals, and modern technical colleges, with new architectural styles, radically changed the appearance of towns and cities.
Two catastrophic world wars and the 1918 pandemic also brought unprecedented change, altering England's built environment and social structures forever.
Aerial photos of Lewisham
Historic aerial photography shows the growth and changes in England's urban and rural landscapes, revealing secrets that are impossible to see from the ground.
Downham
Downham, the annual meeting of the Oxo Sports Club held at the Oxo Sports Ground, 1937
Downham
Downham, the annual meeting of the Oxo Sports Club held at the Oxo Sports Ground, 1937
Catford
A residential area under construction at Bellingham, Catford, 1937
Catford
A residential area under construction at Bellingham, Catford, 1937
Downham
The Flower House Estate under construction, Downham, 1948
Downham
The Flower House Estate under construction and environs, Downham, 1948
Catford
The J. Robertson and Sons Jam and Marmalade Manufactory, Catford, 1922
Catford
Robertson's Preserve Factory (Ravensbourne Works) and Gleniffer Laundry, Catford, 1952
Catford
A residential area under construction surrounding Waters Road and Battersby Road, Catford, 1937
Catford
A residential area under construction surrounding Waters Road and Battersby Road, Catford, 1937
Historic England Archive images of Lewisham
The Historic England Archive holds and cares for over 15 million images, from the 1850s to the present day. Discover stunning images of Lewisham's past.
Charles George Harper Collection
Forest Hill, Lewisham, Greater London Authority
Date created: 1892 - 1933
The spire from the former church of St Antholin, in the grounds of Round Hill House
John Gay Collection: London
Blackheath, Lewisham, Greater London Authority
Date created: 1955 - 1965
General view looking past the Hare and Billet public house on Grote's Place, towards Eliot Road and Hare and Billet Road, with the Hare and Billet...
John Gay Collection: Modern Architects
Lewisham, Greater London Authority
Date created: 1974
View looking north-west across the Lammas Green estate, with houses to the foreground and flats visible beyond.
John Laing Collection
Lewisham, Greater London Authority
Date created: 29 Jul 1987
The interior of Woolworths 'Kidstore' at the Riverdale Centre in Lewisham
Nigel Temple Collection of Postcards of Parks and Gardens
Lower Sydenham, Lewisham, Greater London Authority
Date created: 1900 - 1920
GENERAL VIEW
John Gay Collection: London
Blackheath, Lewisham, Greater London Authority
Date created: 1955 - 1965
A general view looking south-east in Tranquil Vale, a road in Blackheath, with a bookshop at number 74 in the foreground.
John Gay Collection: Modern Architects
Lewisham, Greater London Authority
Date created: 1974
View looking north-west across the Lammas Green estate, with houses to the foreground and flats visible beyond.
John Laing Collection
Lewisham, Greater London Authority
Date created: 16 Jun 1996
A group of people posed outside the Lewisham Centre for a sponsored abseil at the Citibank offices, raising money for the Winged Fellowship Trust
Nigel Temple Collection of Postcards of Parks and Gardens
Lower Sydenham, Lewisham, Greater London Authority
Date created: 1900 - 1920
GENERAL VIEW
John Gay Collection: London
Blackheath, Lewisham, Greater London Authority
Date created: 1955 - 1965
A general view looking south-east in Tranquil Vale, a road in Blackheath, with a bookshop at number 74 in the foreground.
John Laing Collection
Lewisham, Greater London Authority
Date created: 16 Jun 1996
Three women posed on the roof of the Citibank offices in Lewisham, raising money in a sponsored abseil for the Winged Fellowship Trust
Nigel Temple Collection of Postcards of Parks and Gardens
Lower Sydenham, Lewisham, Greater London Authority
Date created: 1900 - 1930
GENERAL VIEW OF SYDENHAM RECREATION GOUND WITH CHILDREN AROUND A TREE
Stories about heritage in Lewisham
Historic England publishes news, blogs, videos and podcasts celebrating England's heritage. Discover the stories we have about Lewisham.
A Brief History of Prefabs
Mentions Excalibur Estate, Nos 1-7 (Odd) , No 25 and No 39
Over 200,000 homes in Britain were destroyed by bombs during the Second World War.
‘Twas Christmas Day in the Historic England Archive
Mentions Lewisham
Take a look at a selection of historic images that capture something of Christmas past.
An Introduction to Quaker Meeting Houses
Mentions Lewisham, Blackheath Quaker Meeting House with cobbled area of forecourt
The earliest Quaker meeting houses were distinctive for their simple, functional design; built by local craftsmen, they sit modestly in the landscape.
Devastating V2 Rocket Attack on Woolworths, New Cross, London
Mentions Lewisham
On 25 November 1944 a German V2 rocket bomb made a direct hit on a crowded Woolworths store in south London.
7 Extraordinary Listed Post-War Housing Estates
Mentions Lewisham
Alexandra Road Estate was listed at Grade II* on 18th August 1993. It was the first post-war housing estate to receive protection by listing.
8 Sites That Tell the Story of Italians in England
Mentions Lewisham
Italians have lived in England from the time of the Roman Empire in 43AD and the cultures of the two countries have been intertwined for centuries.
The First 7 UK World Heritage Sites
Mentions Maritime Greenwich
Discover the first UK sites to receive UNESCO World Heritage Site listing.
Funding for 57 New Projects Across England That Will Tell the Untold Stories of Our Nation’s Working-Class Heritage
Mentions Olympia Convoy's Wharf
New Everyday Heritage Grants will fund community-led projects that aim to further the nation’s collective understanding of the past.
11 Remarkable Historic Pubs Given Protection
Mentions Blythe Hill Tavern and attached gate piers and walls, Lewisham
A project to save rare historic pub interiors sees 11 remarkable pubs being newly listed, having their listing upgraded or list entry updated.
Explore your social history through photos
Over 10,000 images from the Historic England Archive have been specially selected and re-captioned for teachers, students, and anyone who wants to learn more about heritage in their local area.
Tranquil Vale, Blackheath, Lewisham And Blackheath, Greater London
Period: 1960s (1960 - 1969)
A general view looking south-east in Tranquil Vale, a road in Blackheath, with a bookshop at number 74 in the foreground.
Tranquil Vale, Blackheath, Lewisham And Blackheath, Greater London
Tomb of Jane Mary Clouston, Lewisham, Greater London
Period: Victorian (1837 - 1901)
The tomb of Jane Mary Clouston is in Brockley Cemetery. It dates back to around 1871 and was designed by J. Lord, mason of Deptford.
Tomb of Jane Mary Clouston, Lewisham, Greater London
The Pagoda, Pagoda Gardens, Lewisham, Greater London
Period: Georgian (1714 - 1836)
This house was formerly a pavilion attached to Montagu House. It was built in 1770-80 for the 3rd Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch.
The Pagoda, Pagoda Gardens, Lewisham, Greater London
The Ladywell Water Tower, Lewisham, Greater London
Period: Victorian (1837 - 1901)
In London, the only new workhouse to be built specifically for the elderly was erected in 1897-1900, at Ladywell, for St Olave's Union.
The Ladywell Water Tower, Lewisham, Greater London
Thackeray's Almshouses, Catford, Greater London
Period: Victorian (1837 - 1901)
Thackeray's Almshouses in Rushey Green were built and endowed in 1840 for Six Aged Females by John Thackeray of The Priory, Lewisham, who died on the...
Thackeray's Almshouses, Catford, Greater London
Statue of Robert Aske, Deptford, Greater London
Period: Georgian (1714 - 1836)
This statue of Robert Aske stands in the forecourt of Aske's Haberdasher's Boys' School in Pepys Road.
Statue of Robert Aske, Deptford, Greater London
St John's School, Albyn Road, Deptford, Greater London
Period: Victorian (1837 - 1901)
The parish was established in 1855 and the church and school were built on Albyn Road.
St John's School, Albyn Road, Deptford, Greater London
Livesley Memorial Hall, Catford, Greater London
Period: Edwardian (1902 - 1913)
This recreation hall was built in 1911 by S.Y.Shoubridge for the employees of the South Suburban Gas Company.
Livesley Memorial Hall, Catford, Greater London
Discover more Heritage nearby
Have you got another local place, or somewhere you're planning to visit? Take a look at these other places nearby
Southwark
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