Rotherhithe

The name "Rotherhithe" derives from the Old English hryther hyth, meaning "Landing-place for cattle".

Rotherhithe is in the extreme north east of the London Borough of Southwark.

In the early 12th century, King Henry I gave approximately half of Rotherhithe to the Bermondsey Abbey. The abbey later went on and acquired must of the rest. However, everything was lost to King Henry VIII when he took over the churches. Kind Edward III also had some input into this area, where he built a manor house in the mid-14th century.

Due to its proximity to the wider section of the Thames, shipbuilding has become a traditional industry in the area. At one point during King James I's reign, the shipwrights of Rotherhithe has a royal charter that allows them to control the industry within the region. After over 70 years of disputes, the charter was cancelled.

Rotherhithe was then turned into a number of docks, which eventually was consolidated by the Surrey Commercial Dock Company. There are an attempt in building a canal all the way to Portsmouth. But in the end, they only went as far as Peckham.

The entire area was destroyed in the London Blitz (1940) and was literally flattened by the end of World World II. Trade resumed after the war. However, it was short lived as the growing size of ships, London traffic congestion as well as the move to pallets and containerisation lead to the decline. The docks were eventually shut down in 1970.

As part of the Greater London Development Plan of 1976, the land were transferred to the London Dockland Development Corporation in 1981. Originally, a number of local-authority buildings were erected around the Canada Waters and Rotherhithe area. Later on, the project was deemed to be a failure and slowly, private development began to take place.

Properties in Rotherhithe, especially waterfront ones, have turned into modern (and sometimes luxury) accomodations. Although the Southwark Council has taken back the control of the area in 1996-1998, private property developments continue to be the driving force behind the population growth in Rotherhithe.

Rotherhithe is now serviced by a number of bus service. It has access to the East London line on the Rotherhithe tube station. With a 10 minute walk, you can also get to Canada Water station for the quick and new Jubilee line underground service.