Editing Rotherhithe

{{Short description|Residential district in south-east London, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox UK place
| country                  = England
| map_type                 = Greater London
| region                   = London
| population               = 13,743,
| population_ref           = (2011 Census. Ward)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=13689056&c=Rotherhithe&d=14&e=62&g=6337038&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&o=362&m=0&r=1&s=1476351120305&enc=1|title=Southwark Ward population 2011|access-date=13 October 2016|publisher=Office for National Statistics|work=Neighbourhood Statistics|archive-date=21 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161021060156/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=13689056&c=Rotherhithe&d=14&e=62&g=6337038&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&o=362&m=0&r=1&s=1476351120305&enc=1|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| official_name            = Rotherhithe
| static_image_name        = St. Mary's Church, Rotherhithe in February.jpg
| static_image_caption     = St. Mary's Church, Rotherhithe
| london_borough           = Southwark
| constituency_westminster = [[Bermondsey and Old Southwark (UK Parliament constituency)|Bermondsey and Old Southwark]]
| post_town                = LONDON
| postcode_area            = SE
| postcode_district        = SE8, SE16
| dial_code                = 020
| os_grid_reference        = TQ358796
| coordinates              = {{coord|51.4989|-0.0426|type:city_region:GB-SWK|display=inline,title}}
}}

'''Rotherhithe''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|r|ɒ|ð|ər|h|aɪ|ð}} {{respell|RODH|ər|hydhe}}) is a district of [[South London]], [[England]], and part of the [[London Borough of Southwark]]. It is on a [[peninsula]] on the south bank of the [[Thames]], facing [[Wapping]], [[Shadwell]] and [[Limehouse]] on the north bank, with the [[Isle of Dogs]] to the east. It borders [[Bermondsey]] to the west and [[Deptford]] to the south-east. The district is a part of the [[London Docklands|Docklands]] area.

Rotherhithe has a long history as a port, with [[Elizabethan era|Elizabethan]] shipyards and working docks until the 1970s. In the 1980s, the area along the river was redeveloped as housing through a mix of warehouse conversions and new-build developments. The [[Jubilee line]] was extended to the area in 1999, giving fast connections to the [[West End of London|West End]] and to [[Canary Wharf]]; the [[East London Line|East London]] [[London Underground|underground]] line was converted to part of the [[London Overground]] network in 2010, which provides easy access to the [[City of London]]. As a result, Rotherhithe is now a [[gentrification|gentrifying]] residential and commuter area, with [[urban regeneration]] progressing around Deal Porter Square<ref>{{cite web |title=Canada Water Plaza - Canada Water Plaza |website=Southwark Council |date=27 July 2010 |url=http://www.southwark.gov.uk/info/200190/current_projects/1773/canada_water_plaza |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101111192309/http://www.southwark.gov.uk/info/200190/current_projects/1773/canada_water_plaza |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 November 2010 |access-date=1 August 2015 }}</ref> at [[Canada Water]]; a new town centre with restaurant and retail units, as well as new residential developments, is emerging here around the existing freshwater dock and transport hub.

Rotherhithe is {{convert|4.5|km|abbr=on}} east of [[The centre point of London|London's centre point]] at [[Charing Cross]].

==Etymology==
The name "Rotherhithe" is thought to derive from the [[Old English language|Anglo-Saxon]] ''Hrȳðer-hȳð'' and it is suggested it means "landing-place for cattle".<ref name="dpn">A Dictionary of British Place-Names, A.D. Mills [http://www.oxfordreference.com/views/ENTRY.html?subview=Main&entry=t40.e11170 ''Rotherhithe''], Oxford University Press, 2003, {{ISBN|0-19-283131-3}}</ref> The first recorded use of this name was in about 1105, as ''Rederheia''.<ref name="dpn"/> Other explanations of the name have been 'Red Rose Haven' and 'rehra' (mariner's) hythe (haven or landing place).<ref name="Trail">A Trail Walk around Old Rotherhithe. {{ISBN|0 9515227 1 X}}</ref> In the past ''Rotherhithe'' was also pronounced and written as ''Redriff'' or ''Redriffe'',<ref name="tour">BBC London, [https://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2005/06/07/coast05walks_stage1.shtml A Thames Tour of Rotherhithe]</ref><ref>[http://www.phon.ucl.ac.uk/home/wells/blog0710b.htm John Wells’s phonetic blog], ''Redriff'', 31 October 2007</ref> however until the early 19th century, this name was applied to the whole river front from [[St Saviour's Dock]] to Bull Head Dock, this near the entrance to Surrey Water.<ref name="book1"/> On the Ordnance Survey five feet to the mile, London 1893–1896 maps, Redriff appears in two places, by Beatson Street and by Nelson Dockyard to Durand's Wharf.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ordnance Survey Maps, London, Five feet to the Mile, 1893-1896 - National Library of Scotland|url=https://maps.nls.uk/os/london-1890s/|access-date=2020-08-27|website=maps.nls.uk}}</ref>

==Description==
[[File:Rotherhithe OS OpenData map.png|thumb|Map of Rotherhithe]]
[[File:HOWLAND GREAT WET DOCK IN THE PARISH OF ROTHERHITHE.jpg|thumb|Howlands Dock in the parish of Rotherhithe (c. 1850)]]
[[File:Bermondsey Met. B Ward Map 1916.svg|thumb|A map showing the Rotherhithe wards of Bermondsey Metropolitan Borough as they appeared in 1916.]]

The docks were closed and largely filled in during the 1980s, and have now been replaced by modern housing and commercial facilities, but Rotherhithe retains much of its character and its maritime heritage. The largest surviving dock on the south bank, [[Greenland Dock]], is the focal point for the southern part of the district, while there are many preserved wharves along the riverside at the north end of Rotherhithe. [[St. Mary's Church, Rotherhithe|St. Mary's Church]] is at the centre of the old Rotherhithe village, which contains various historic buildings including the [[Brunel Engine House]] at the south end of the [[Thames Tunnel]].

Canada Dock was the dock basin furthest away from the River Thames in the Surrey Docks complex, and it was linked to Albion Dock and Greenland Dock at its northern and south-eastern extremities via the Albion Canal. The dock has been remodelled, and its northwest half retained as an ornamental lake, renamed [[Canada Water]]. The canal has remained as a walkway and water feature within the redeveloped area.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jbutler.org.uk/London/Southwark/Rotherhithe.shtml|title=Southwark - Rotherhithe|first=John A|last=Butler|website=www.jbutler.org.uk}}</ref>

[[Southwark Council]] and the [[Greater London Authority]] have announced a significant regeneration project focused on [[Canada Water]] and Rotherhithe. Known as the 'Canada Water Masterplan', the project has proposed the development of an additional 3,500 homes, as well as a new high street, town square, parks, leisure centre and footpath links. The landmark Tesco store will also be relocated.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20180130013746/http://www.canadawatermasterplan.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/2158-Stage-4-exhibition-handout-web.pdf Canada Water Masterplan Exhibition handout] </ref> The project would be developed in multiple phases over the coming 15 to 20 years. Some local community groups oppose the plan based on environmental and cost considerations.<ref>[https://canadawaterwest.org/ Canada Water West Action Group]</ref>

Rotherhithe is the home of the [[football (soccer)|football]] team [[Fisher F.C.]] and Ballers Football Academy, who train & play fixtures at St Pauls Stadium. The Championship team [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall Football Club]] is nearby in the [[London Borough of Lewisham]].

The sustainable transport charity [[Sustrans]] has proposed the construction of a bicycle and pedestrian swing bridge from Rotherhithe to Canary Wharf, and cost-benefit and feasibility studies were undertaken. In January 2009 the London Mayor [[Boris Johnson]] said he would not fund the bridge, citing budget cuts due to the credit crunch,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sustrans.org.uk/default.asp?sID=1093338220720|title=Sustrans - Join the movement|website=sustrans.org.uk|access-date=31 March 2018|archive-date=14 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090114103814/http://www.sustrans.org.uk/default.asp?sID=1093338220720|url-status=dead}}</ref> with the result that the project was effectively put on ice. However the idea is still being supported by Sustrans.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.brunelbridge.london/ | title=Brunel Bridge – a proposed pedestrian and cycling bridge between Rotherhithe and Canary Wharf | website=www.brunelbridge.london | access-date=1 August 2015 | archive-date=5 July 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705222921/https://brunelbridge.london/ | url-status=usurped }}</ref>

There are two Anglican churches in Rotherhithe: [[St. Mary's Church, Rotherhithe|St. Mary's Church]],<ref>{{cite web|title=St. Mary the Virgin - Rotherhithe |url=http://www.stmaryrotherhithe.org/|access-date=1 December 2013}} St Marychurch Street, SE16 4JE</ref> and [[Holy Trinity Church, Rotherhithe]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Father Andrew Doyle, Vicar. |date=December 2013|title=Holy Trinity Rotherhithe |url=http://www.holy-trinity-rotherhithe.org.uk/}} Bryan Road, SE16 5HF</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Andie Byrnes |title=A history of Trinity Church, Rotherhithe |date=20 June 2013 |url=http://russiadock.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/the-history-of-trinity-church.html}}</ref> There are two Roman Catholic churches: St Peter and the Guardian Angels,<ref>{{cite web |title=St Peter and the Guardian Angels |url=http://catholicdirectory.org/Catholic_Information.asp?ID=65629}} 72 Paradise St, SE16 4QD</ref> and Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception.<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception |url=http://www.rcourlady.org.uk/}} St. Elmos Road, SE16 6SJ</ref>

===King's Stairs Gardens===
[[King's Stairs Gardens]] is a small park on the river towards the [[Bermondsey]] boundary. In September 2011 [[Thames Water]] announced that they wanted to build an access [[shaft (civil engineering)|shaft]] for the "super-sewer" [[Thames Tideway Tunnel]]. Due to local action by The Save King's Stairs Gardens Campaign, which collected over 5000 signatures, Thames Water decided to build the access shaft in Chambers Wharf instead.<ref>[https://www.tideway.london/locations/chambers-wharf/ Tideway – Chambers Wharf]</ref>

==Local landmarks and history==
[[File:Academy Architecture 1895 Accepted Design for Rotherhithe Town Hall View from Neptune Street and Lower Road MURRAY AND FOSTER Architects.jpg|thumb|1895 accepted design for Rotherhithe Town Hall, view from Neptune Street and Lower Road]]
The Mayflower TRA Hall now occupies the site of the old Rotherhithe Town Hall.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rotherhithe Town Hall and Library |url=http://www.exploringsouthwark.co.uk/rotherhithe-town-hall/4593864827 |access-date=9 March 2018}}</ref> The building ceased to be a town hall in 1905 when the former Rotherhithe Council merged with the old Bermondsey Borough Council and the new council used premises in [[Spa Road, Bermondsey|Spa Road]]. The old Rotherhithe Town Hall became a library and a museum. It was razed to the ground by repeated bomb hits and near misses during the Second World War (see [[#Second World War|below]]).<ref>{{cite news |first=James |last=Blackman |date=28 May 2009 |title=Bring the statues back home to Rotherhithe |newspaper=Southwark News |url=http://www.southwarknews.co.uk/00,news,15276,466,00.htm}}</ref>

Rotherhithe had its own general hospital, [[St Olave's Hospital]], on Lower Road close to the old town hall. Built originally in the early 1870s on land adjoining Rotherhithe Workhouse, it became the infirmary of St Olave's Union in 1875, and was renamed St Olave's Hospital in 1930. Subsequently, becoming part of the Guy's Hospital Teaching Group in 1966, it closed in 1985 and the site has been redeveloped into the residential Ann Moss Way.

The Terriss Theatre (named after the actor, [[William Terriss]]) opened in 1899 and was later renamed the Rotherhithe Hippodrome of Varieties. It stood on Lower Road by Culling Road. It was bombed in the 1940s and stood empty until demolition in 1955.

When the roundabout facing the Rotherhithe Tunnel was redeveloped in the early 1980s, several 19th century buildings were demolished including a school and a nunnery. A public house, the ''"Europa"'', described in an early 20th-century history of the area as one its oldest, was also demolished.

The ''[[Daily Mail]]'' and ''[[Evening Standard]]'' newspapers were printed at Harmsworth Quays in Rotherhithe from 1989 to 2012. The building became the [[Printworks (London)|Printworks]] events venue until its demolition in 2024.

== Ecclesiastical parish ==
[[File:The Angel, Rotherhithe (01).jpg|thumb|right|The Angel, a 19th-century pub in Rotherhithe now Grade II listed]]

The [[St Mary's Church, Rotherhithe|ancient parish]], dedicated to [[St Mary]], was in the [[Diocese of Winchester]] until 1877, then the [[Diocese of Rochester]] until 1905, and then finally in the [[Diocese of Southwark]]. From 1840, as the population of Rotherhithe increased, a number of new parishes were formed:<ref name=" Rotherhithe">{{cite web|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=43036|title=Parishes: Rotherhithe - British History Online|website=www.british-history.ac.uk|access-date=31 March 2018}}</ref>

* Christ Church, Rotherhithe in 1840
* All Saints, Rotherhithe in 1842
* [[Holy Trinity Church, Rotherhithe|Holy Trinity, Rotherhithe]] in 1842
* St Barnabas, Rotherhithe in 1873

In addition, as the population of neighbouring Deptford increased, parts of Rotherhithe parish were included in the new parish of:
* '''St Katherine, Rotherhithe''' in 1886 ''with parts of St James, Hatcham''

===Nordic connection===
{{See also|Nordic churches in London}}
[[File:FinnChLondon.JPG|right|thumb|The Finnish Church, Albion Street]]
[[File:West Face of St Olav's Church, Rotherhithe (I).jpg|left|thumb|upright|St Olav's, Rotherhithe's Norwegian church]]

Because much of the former [[Surrey Docks]] had strong trade links to [[Scandinavia]] and the [[Balts|Baltic]] region, the area is still home to a thriving Scandinavian community.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/48-hours-in-scandinavian-london-5365972.html|title=48 hours in Scandinavian London|website=[[Independent.co.uk]]|date=24 February 2001}}</ref> During World War II, in fact, it housed the Norwegian Government-in-Exile. Originally established as seafarers' missions, Rotherhithe is home to a [[Church of Norway|Norwegian]],<ref>[http://www.norway.org.uk/norwayuk/norwegianseamenschurch/church.htm Norwegian Church and Seamen's Mission, St Olav's Church] accessed 4 July 2007</ref> a [[Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland|Finnish]]<ref>[http://www.finnishchurch.org.uk/ The Finnish Church in London] accessed 4 July 2007</ref> and a [[Church of Sweden|Swedish]]<ref>[http://www.swedish-church.org.uk/ The Swedish Church in London] accessed 4 July 2007</ref> church. The [[Finnish Seamen's Mission#The Finnish Church, London|Finnish Church]] and the [[The Norwegian Church in London|Norwegian Church]] are both in Albion Street; they were built in 1958 and 1927 respectively (Rotherhithe Library is between them). There are also a number of "community centres" for the Nordic community in London, including hostels, shops and cafés and even a [[sauna]], mostly linked closely to the churches.

Some of the redeveloped areas were built by [[Nordic countries|Nordic]] architects, such as the Greenland Passage development<ref name=passage>[http://www.greenlandpassage.co.uk/development.html Greenland Passage development] accessed 4 July 2007</ref> by Danish Company [[Kjær & Richter]]. This gives some areas a distinctly "Nordic" feel in terms of house and street design.

The relationship with Scandinavia and the Baltic is also reflected in the names of some of the buildings (such as the [[Frederik IX of Denmark|King Frederik IX]] Tower),<ref name=passage/> the street names (e.g. Finland Street, Sweden Gate, [[Baltic Quay]], Norway Gate, Helsinki Square) or other place names (e.g. Greenland Dock). Another major influence factor was trade with [[Russia]] and [[Canada]] (mainly timber), reflected in names such as Canada Water<ref>[http://www.canadawater.org Canada Water Campaign and Canada Water Consultative Forum] accessed 4 July 2007</ref> and the [[Russia Dock]] Woodland.

===Other connections===
Rotherhithe is also a popular place to live with South Africans, according to the UK census of 2011,<ref>{{cite web|title = DataShine: Census|url = http://datashine.org.uk/#table=QS203EW&col=QS203EW0041&ramp=YlGnBu&layers=BTTT&zoom=11&lon=-0.1070&lat=51.4449|access-date = 2015-09-04}}</ref> and there was a South African themed pub at 351 Rotherhithe Street.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Orange Bull, Rotherhithe |url = http://whatpub.com/pubs/SEL/10719/orange-bull-rotherhithe}}</ref>

===The ''Mayflower''===
In July 1620, the ''[[Mayflower]]'' sailed from Rotherhithe and picked up 65 passengers, probably from [[Blackwall, London|Blackwall]], then proceeded to [[Southampton]] on the south coast of England to begin loading food and supplies for the voyage to [[Americas|America]]. At that time, the [[Puritan|English Separatists]], who later became known as the "[[Pilgrim Fathers]]", were mostly still living in the city of [[Leiden]], in the [[Netherlands]]. There they hired a ship called the ''[[Speedwell (1577 ship)|Speedwell]]'' to take them from [[Delfshaven]] in the Netherlands to Southampton to join the ''Mayflower''.<ref>[http://www.mayflowerhistory.com/History/voyage3.php Archived copy] www.mayflower.com {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101229100950/http://mayflowerhistory.com/History/voyage3.php |date=29 December 2010 }} Route and Maps of the Voyage</ref>

The ship's master, [[Christopher Jones (Mayflower captain)|Christopher Jones]], died shortly after his return in 1621 and is buried in an unmarked grave at St Mary's Church. No one can be sure where on the Rotherhithe peninsula the ''Mayflower'' was berthed, but the ''Mayflower'' pub near St Mary's Church claims the honour, and lists the names of the ''Mayflower'' passengers on their wall. The building itself, despite external and interior appearances, dates only from the 1950s.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ufSsUlkWKaYC&q=Mayflower|title=London 2: South|last1=Cherry|first1=Bridget|last2=Pevsner|first2=Nikolaus|date=March 1983|publisher=Yale University Press|isbn=0300096518}}</ref> The extent to which the pub was damaged during the [[Second World War]], and was rebuilt or simply restored, is uncertain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hidden-london.com/nuggets/mayflower/|title=Mayflower - Hidden London|website=hidden-london.com}}</ref>

===China Hall===
[[File:Surrey Lock, Rotherhithe.jpg|thumb|right|The 19th-century Surrey Lock in Rotherhithe, now a Grade II listed structure]]

On Lower Road, about halfway between Surrey Quays and Canada Water stations, there was a public house called the China Hall; at one time it was the entrance to a [[riparian]] playhouse visited by [[Samuel Pepys]] and mentioned in his diary. It is not known how long the theatre remained on the site, but it was reinvigorated in 1777 and [[George Frederick Cooke]] acted there the following year. In the winter of 1779, it was destroyed in fire. The site of the theatre became a well-known tea-gardens, with the "usual arbours and 'boxes'" during the Victorian period, but by the 1920s, most of the gardens had been absorbed into the Surrey Commercial Docks as part of a timber yard.<ref>{{cite book|last=Wagner |first=Leopold |year=1921 |title=A new book about London: a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore|location=London |publisher= Allen & Unwin|pages=[https://archive.org/stream/newbookaboutlond00wagnrich#page/189/mode/1up 190,191]}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |first1=Edward Josselyn |last1=Beck |first2= Thomas George |last2=Bonney |year=1907 |title=Memorials to serve for a history of the parish of St. Mary, Rotherhithe in the county of Surrey and in the administrative county of London|publisher=Cambridge University Press|pages=[https://archive.org/stream/memorialstoserv00bonngoog#page/n374/mode/1up Appendix 259,260]}}</ref>

===Second World War===
Like the rest of the London Docks, the Surrey Commercial Docks were targeted by the [[Luftwaffe]]. On 7 September 1940, on the first day of the [[London Blitz#First phase|London Blitz]], the [[Scots Pine#Names|deal]] yards of Surrey Docks were set ablaze. The raid ignited over a million tonnes of timber in Quebec Yard, causing the most intense single fire ever seen in Britain.<ref>{{cite book|first=Peter |last=Stansky|year=2007|title=The first day of the blitz: September 7, 1940| edition=illustrated |publisher=Yale University Press |isbn=978-0-300-12556-6|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=t5inp5IAhksC&pg=PA81 81]}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Harris |first1=Clive |last2=Bright |first2=Neil |year=2010 |title=A Guide to Wartime London: Six Walks Revisiting the Blitz |edition=illustrated |publisher=Casemate Publishers |isbn=9781848841727 |pages=[https://books.google.com/books?id=wrItyApr7bUC&pg=PA69 69]–70}}</ref>

The bombing of the old Rotherhithe Town Hall during the Second World War gives an indication of how heavy the bombing in Rotherhithe was. The first damage to the building occurred when Luftwaffe bombs landed nearby in April 1941, and there was more bomb damage in February and June 1944. Later the same month (June 1944) the Town Hall was severely damaged by a direct hit from a V1 [[doodlebug (flying bomb)|doodlebug]]. In November 1944 it was further damaged by near misses, and was finally destroyed by one of the last V1s to land on London.{{sfn|Blackman|2009}}

[[Haakon VII of Norway|King Haakon VII]] made many of his famous radio broadcasts to [[occupation of Norway|occupied Norway]] from [[The Norwegian Church in London|Saint Olav's Norwegian Church]] in Rotherhithe, where the Norwegian royal family were regular worshippers during their exile.<ref>[http://www.southwark.anglican.org/thebridge/0912/0912p8.pdf The Diocese of Southwark, ''The Bridge'', December 2009 - January 2010: Scandinavia in Rotherhithe] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928095639/http://www.southwark.anglican.org/thebridge/0912/0912p8.pdf |date=28 September 2013 }}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Rotherhithe London June 2016 002.jpg|thumb|left|Several waterfront developments, such as Blenheim Court, can be seen from the Thames.]]

Rotherhithe is joined to the north bank of the Thames by three tunnels. The [[Thames tunnel]] to [[Wapping, London, England|Wapping]] was the first underwater tunnel in the world.<ref>{{cite news |first=Greg |last=McKenzie |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8565534.stm |title=World's oldest underwater tunnel opened to public |work=bbc.co.uk |date=12 March 2010 |access-date=26 September 2013}}</ref> Built by the [[Brunel]]s, and originally intended to carry cross-river freight, it became a pedestrian tunnel due to the money running out to build the necessary ramps for vehicle traffic. It was used as a railway tunnel from 1869, and is now part of the London Overground network, which on 27 April 2010 started running trains on the route of the former [[East London Line]]. The later [[Rotherhithe Tunnel]] (opened 1908) carries a two-lane road to [[Limehouse, London, England|Limehouse]]. The [[Jubilee line]] extension (opened 1999) has a railway tunnel to Canary Wharf in the [[Isle of Dogs]].

Parts of Rotherhithe Street were at one time or another called Jamaica Street, Lavender Street, Low Queen Street, Queen Street, Redriff Wall, Redriff, Rotherhithe Wall, Shipwright Street and Trinity Street.<ref name="book1">Shipbuilding in Rotherhithe – An historical introduction by Stuart Rankin</ref>

In 1702 Edward Swallow built a shipyard near what is now Lavender Street. John Whetstone took over in 1709, Robert Inwood in 1756 and Job Cockshott in the early 1800s, when it was divided into Lavender Dock and Lavender Wharf. In 1862 William Walker re-amalgamated the dock and wharf, but in 1870 they were separated. From 1865 John and William Walker built [[Lothair (clipper)|clippers]]<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Lavender Dock |url=https://www.layersoflondon.org/map/records/lavender-dock |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=www.layersoflondon.org}}</ref> and W. Walker & Co, who had a {{Convert|256|ft|abbr=on}} dry dock on the Thames bank from 1869,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Limehouse Hole: The riverside area |url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-london/vols43-4/pp388-397 |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=www.british-history.ac.uk}}</ref> built 17 ships there between 1866 and 1882.<ref>{{Cite web |title=W. Walker & Co |url=http://shippingandshipbuilding.uk/list.php?a1Page=1&a1PageSize=20&vessel=&year_built=&builder=10084 |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=Shipping and shipbuilding}}</ref> James Turner built ships there from 1873 to 1886, followed by John Medhurst until at least 1890.<ref name=":0" />

Rotherhithe is part of the SE16 postcode district. Electorally, the western half is Rotherhithe ward of [[Southwark London Borough Council]] and the eastern half in Surrey Docks ward.

As much of Rotherhithe was occupied by the now-defunct [[Surrey Commercial Docks]], the district is sometimes referred to as "Surrey Docks" or (since the late 1980s) "[[Surrey Quays]]", though the latter name tends to be used more for the southern half of the peninsula. An eastern part, which became an island when the docks were in use and the [[lock (water transport)|locks]] open, is called "Downtown". This name was never related to the idea of a "[[downtown]]" in the American sense, although there was a club of that name there for many years which has now closed. This part of Rotherhithe has since the 1980s been quiet and suburban in nature. Durand's Wharf is a park in Rotherhithe Street and holds an Outdoor Gym.<ref>{{cite web|title=Outdoor Gyms|url=http://www.southwark.gov.uk/info/200435/free_outdoor_activities/2611/outdoor_gyms|website=Leisure and Culture|publisher=London Borough of Southwark|access-date=3 September 2015|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304112102/http://www.southwark.gov.uk/info/200435/free_outdoor_activities/2611/outdoor_gyms|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Notable people==
[[File:James Walker, Engineer - geograph.org.uk - 1876498.jpg|thumb|Bust of the Scottish civil engineer [[James Walker (engineer)|James Walker]] at Greenland Dock]]

* [[Marc Isambard Brunel]] (1769–1849) and his son [[Isambard Kingdom Brunel]] (1806–1859) built the [[Thames Tunnel]] between Rotherhithe and Wapping.
* [[Max Bygraves]] (1922–2012), entertainer, was born in Rotherhithe.
* [[Michael Caine]] (born 1933), actor, was born Maurice Joseph Micklewhite in Rotherhithe.
* [[Thomas Coram]] (1668–1751) a philanthropic sea captain, retired to Rotherhithe where he campaigned for establishment of the [[Foundling Hospital]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Harris |first=Rhian |date=5 October 2012|title=The Foundling Hospital |publisher=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/victorians/foundling_01.shtml}}</ref>
* [[Eliza Fay]] (1755 or 1756–1816), author of ''Original Letters from India'' (1817),<ref>''Original Letters from India'' (New York: NYRB, 2010 [1925]), ed. E. M. Forster. {{ISBN|1-59017-336-8}}</ref> was born in Rotherhithe.
* [[Malcolm Hardee]] (1950–2005), comedian, lived on a houseboat in Greenland Dock, Rotherhithe. He owned and ran the Wibbley Wobbley pub-boat on the same dock, and was drowned there.
* [[John Short Hewett]] (1781–1835) cleric and academic, was Rector of Rotherhithe between 1817 and 1835
*[[James Kemnal|Sir James Kemnal]] (1864–1927) industrialist<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kemnal-road.org.uk/Pages/People/JamesKemnal.html|title=Kemnal Road History|website=www.kemnal-road.org.uk}}</ref>
* [[Myleene Klass]] (born 1978), singer, lived in Rotherhithe in the early 2000s.
* [[George Lambourn]] (1900–1977), artist, was born in Rotherhithe.
* [[Sean Lock]] (1963–2021), comedian, lived in Rotherhithe in the 1990s.
* [[Aaron Manby (ironmaster)|Aaron Manby]] (1776–1850) assembled and launched the world's first seagoing iron-hulled ship at Rotherhithe in 1822.
* [[Billy Mehmet]] (born 1985), professional footballer, attended [[Bacon's College]] in Rotherhithe in the 1990s.
* [[David Haye]] (born 1980), professional boxer, attended [[Bacon's College]] in Rotherhithe in the 1990s.
*[[Mutesa II of Buganda|King Mutesa II of Buganda]] (1925–1969) died in exile in his flat in Rotherhithe in 1969 following an interview with journalist [[John Simpson (journalist)|John Simpson]].
* [[Carol Raye]] (1923–2022), actress
* [[George Tate (Royal Navy captain)|George Tate]] (1700 1794), Royal Navy captain
* [[James Townsend Saward]] (1798–c1875) Victorian English barrister and forger was born in Rotherhithe.
* [[James Walker (engineer)|James Walker]] (1781–1862) worked on the design and construction of [[Greenland Dock]], where a memorial [[Bust (sculpture)|bust]] of him stands.
* [[Joan Wall (field hockey)|Joan Wall]] (1933–2023), field hockey player and sports administrator, born in Rotherhithe.<ref name="GuardianObituary">{{cite news |last=Wall |first=John |date=4 April 2023 |title=Joan Wall obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/apr/04/joan-wall-obituary |access-date=19 March 2025 |work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref>

==Main sights==
{{columns-list|colwidth=20em|
* [[Brunel Engine House]]
* [[Finnish Seamen's Mission#The Finnish Church, London|Finnish Church]]
* [[Canada Water]]
* [[Southwark Park]]
* [[Greenland Dock]]
* [[Lavender Pond]]
* [[Russia Dock Woodland]]
* [[South Dock, Rotherhithe|South Dock]]
* [[Stave Hill]] (including Ecological Park)
* [[St. Mary's Church, Rotherhithe|St. Mary's Church]]
* [[Thames Tunnel]]
* [[Surrey Docks Farm]]
* [[Nelson Dock Pier]]
* [[Cuckold's Point]]
* [[King Edward III’s Manor House]]
}}

==Transport==
===Railway===
Rotherhithe is served by three stations:
* [[Rotherhithe railway station]] was formerly a [[London Underground]] station on the [[East London Line]]; it was rebuilt as a [[London Overground]] station and reopened on 27 April 2010. It is located near to the river, to the north. It's now part of the [[Windrush line]] on the London Overgound network.
* [[Surrey Quays railway station]] is located to the south of the district. It was also an Underground station and was converted to the Overground network at the same time as Rotherhithe station. Like the other stations, it's now part of the Windrush line.
* [[Canada Water tube station]] is located in central Rotherhithe. It is now an important transport interchange, as both London Overground's East London line (Now the Windrush line) and the [[Jubilee line]] of the London Underground serve it; there is also a bus station here. This station is at the centre of a major [[urban regeneration|regeneration]] project,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.canadawatermasterplan.com/|title=Home - British Land : Canada Water Masterplan|website=British Land : Canada Water Masterplan|access-date=2017-05-08}}</ref> with rapid construction of new flats. 
Other nearby stations are [[Bermondsey tube station]] (also on the Jubilee line), [[South Bermondsey railway station]] to the south-west and [[London Bridge railway station]] to the west.

===Buses===
The area is served by [[Transport for London]] bus services 1, 47, 188, 199, 225, 381, C10 and P12; [[night buses]] N1, N199 and N381 also stop here.<ref>{{cite web|title=Buses from Rotherhithe|url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/gettingaround/maps/buses/pdf/rotherhithe.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120812204224/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/gettingaround/maps/buses/pdf/rotherhithe.pdf |archive-date=2012-08-12 |url-status=live|publisher=TfL|access-date=5 March 2013}}</ref> [[Canada Water bus station]] is an important stop and interchange, given its proximity to the tube station.

===Walking and cycling===
The riverbank carries part of the [[Richmond, London|Richmond]] – [[Thames Barrier]] (28&nbsp;miles – 45&nbsp;km) section of the [[Thames Path]] through London. Most of the riverbank is accessible, apart from sections where warehouses and estates have established rights to the riverside.

A [[Rotherhithe crossing|new bridge]] for pedestrians and cyclists has been proposed between Rotherhithe and Canary Wharf.

===Taxis===
[[London taxi]]s (black cabs) can often be found on Salter Road.

===River boat===
* [[Greenland Pier|Greenland Dock Pier]] are served by [[Thames Clippers]] routes RB1, RB2, RB6 and RBS.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stops in Surrey Quays|work=Bus Times |date=2023 |access-date=31 May 2023 |url= https://bustimes.org/localities/surrey-quays |quote=}}</ref>
* [[Nelson Dock Pier|Docklands Pier]] for [[Canary Wharf – Rotherhithe Ferry]] only

{{adjacent stations|system=London River Services
|line1=Rotherhithe to Canary Wharf Service|left1=Canary Wharf Pier|right1=
|line2=Commuter Service|left2=Canary Wharf Pier|right2=Masthouse Terrace Pier}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Rotherhithe Mayflower.jpg|Mayflower public house
File:Rotherhithe Albion.jpg|Albion Channel
File:Rotherhithe Riverside.jpg|Riverside developments
File:Michael Caine - Gate House St Olave's Hospital Lower Road London SE16 7BN.jpg|[[St Olave's Hospital]]
<!-- Deleted image removed: File:Stave Hill View Docklands.jpg|View from Stave Hill towards Canary Wharf -->
<!-- Deleted image removed: File:Stave-Hill-Scene.jpg|Russia Dock woodland -->
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* BBC London [https://www.bbc.co.uk/london/coast05/ Coast – Rotherhithe Walk]
* [http://www.canadawater.org/ Canada Water Campaign]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20101111192309/http://www.southwark.gov.uk/info/200190/current_projects/1773/canada_water_plaza Canada Water Plaza]
* [http://www.russiadockwood.ukfriends.com/index.html Friends of Russia Dock Woodland] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103161335/http://www.russiadockwood.ukfriends.com/index.html |date=3 November 2012 }}
* LDDC Completion Booklets [http://www.lddc-history.org.uk/surrey/index.html Surrey Docks] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071026081112/http://www.lddc-history.org.uk/surrey/index.html |date=26 October 2007 }}
* London Voices [http://www.se16.info/ Rotherhithe, Surrey Docks, Surrey Quays, London SE16]
* [http://londonist.com/2009/07/rotherhithe_picture_research_librar.php Londonist Discovers Rotherhithe Picture Research Library]
* Maritime Rotherhithe [http://www.southwark.gov.uk/uploads/file_10433.pdf Walk A: Transport, Industry and the Docks] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080829114702/http://www.southwark.gov.uk/Uploads/FILE_10433.pdf |date=29 August 2008 }} by Stuart Rankin, Southwark, 2004, {{ISBN|0-905849-40-X}}
* Maritime Rotherhithe [https://web.archive.org/web/20080829115620/http://www.southwark.gov.uk/Uploads/FILE_10435.pdf Walk B: Shipyards, Granaries and Wharves] by Stuart Rankin, Southwark, 2004, {{ISBN|0-905849-37-X}}
* [http://www.saveksg.com/ Save King's Stairs Gardens Campaign]
* [http://se16london.co.uk/ SE16 online community] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222051550/http://se16london.co.uk/ |date=22 December 2017 }}
* [http://www.finnishchurch.org.uk The Finnish Church in London]
* The National Archives database record for [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/hospitalrecords/details.asp?id=123&page=61 St Olave's Hospital]

===Maps===
* [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=rotherhithe,+London&spn=0.028732,0.054305&hl=en Google Maps: Map]
* [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=rotherhithe,+London&spn=0.028732,0.054305&t=k&hl=en Google Maps: Satellite Photo]

===History===
* British History Online [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=45390 The Environs of London: volume 1], Rotherhithe, County of Surrey, pp.&nbsp;470–477, [[Daniel Lysons (antiquarian)|Daniel Lysons]], 1792
* British History Online [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=45271 Old and New London: Volume 6], Rotherhithe, pp.&nbsp;134–142, Edward Walford, 1878
* British History Online [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=43036 A History of the County of Surrey: Volume 4], Parishes: Rotherhithe, pp.&nbsp;83–92, H.E. Malden (editor), 1912,
* {{cite web|first=Stephen |last=Henden|url=http://www.flyingbombsandrockets.com/V1_summary_se16.html |title=V1 & V2 logs SE16 Rotherhithe and Bermondsey |publisher=Flying Bombs and Rockets|access-date=26 November 2010}}

== External links ==
* {{Commons category-inline|Rotherhithe}}

{| border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin:auto;"
|-
| style="width:600px;" |
|-
|<!--col1-->{{Geographic location
|title     = '''Neighbouring districts, geographic features, and places'''
|Northwest = [[River Thames]], [[Wapping]]
|North     = River Thames, [[Limehouse]]
|Northeast = River Thames, [[Westferry]]
|West      = [[Canada Water]], [[Bermondsey]]
|Centre    = Rotherhithe
|East      = River Thames, [[Canary Wharf]]
|Southwest = [[South Bermondsey]], [[Peckham]]
|South     = [[Surrey Quays]], [[New Cross]]
|Southeast = [[Deptford]], [[Greenwich]]
}}
|}
{{London Borough of Southwark}}
{{History of the formation of Southwark}}
{{Areas of London}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Rotherhithe| ]]
[[Category:Areas of London]]
[[Category:Districts of London on the River Thames]]
[[Category:Districts of the London Borough of Southwark]]
[[Category:Peninsulas of England]]
[[Category:Port of London]]
[[Category:Ports and harbours of the Thames Estuary]]
[[Category:Redeveloped ports and waterfronts in London]]
[[Category:Redevelopment projects in London]]
[[Category:Shipbuilding in London]]
[[Category:Former civil parishes in the London Borough of Southwark]]