Description
Blackheath is common land, the name probably arising from the colour of the soil. It has been managed for public use since 1871 when it was taken over by the MBW, although it has long had public access courtesy of the lords of the manor, an important place for a multitude of events from fairs to actions of highwaymen, royal celebrations to rebellions, battles to religious gatherings. Associations with sporting activities include its early use for golf, cricket and football. Until the C18th and rise of speculative building Blackheath was largely undeveloped and consisted of a few cottages; a number of the ponds are probably the remains of gravel pits. During WWII parts of Blackheath were ploughed and other areas had Nissen huts for the army. The northern part of the heath is in LB Greenwich, the southern part in LB Lewisham.
Practical Information
| Site location | Shooters Hill Rd/Mounts Pond Rd/Wat Tyler Rd/Billet Rd/Eliot Vale/Prince of Wales Rd/Montpelier Row |
|---|---|
| Postcode | SE3 0TY |
| What3Words | ///raft.trades.arena |
| Type of Site | Public Open Land |
| Borough | Lewisham |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted |
| Facilities | cricket, football pitches; nature trail |
| Public Transport | Rail: Blackheath. Bus: 53, 54, 89, 108, 202, 380 |
| Research Updated | 5 February 2024 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
The northern part of Blackheath is in LB Greenwich adjacent to Greenwich Park (q.v.); the southern part is in LB Lewisham, the borough boundary being Shooters Hill Road.
Blackheath has long had free public access, courtesy of the Lords of the Manor. Although Blackheath was important from early times as a result of being the last high point on Watling Street and also due to its proximity to Greenwich Palace, Blackheath village did not develop until the 1680s when house-building began around the heath. By the mid C18th there was only a small cluster of houses known as Dowager's Bottom near the site of Blackheath station today, while towards the river fashionable Greenwich was growing rapidly. Blackheath was still gorse-covered and a dangerous haunt of criminals, a problem that continued into the C19th when police began to patrol the area and most of the gorse was removed, set alight in the 1820s for the amusement of Queen Caroline, wife of George IV. After this house building around the heath began in earnest and it was now deemed a safer place to live. Gravel, sand and chalk extraction took place during the C18th and C19th, the large pits later infilled with rubble from bombed buildings after WWII, apart from Vanbrugh Pits in the Greenwich north-east section, which provides the best impression of what the heath must have looked like with gorse, broom and heathland shrubs, and to a lesser extent Eliot Pits in the south-west.
Blackheath has been managed for public use since 1871 when part was given over to the Metropolitan Board of Works for regulation and management under the Metropolitan Commons Supplemental Act 1871. During the war parts of the Heath were ploughed for food production and other areas had army Nissen huts not all of which were removed until 1953, after which the heath was levelled and re-seeded. Three of the four ponds on Blackheath are in Lewisham, Hare and Billet Pond (named after a nearby pub) and Mounts Pond, which were probably the remains of gravel pits filled with water, and the Prince of Wales Pond, which was probably deliberately created and which has been used for model boating since the 1850s. The management of Blackheath passed in 1889 to the newly formed LCC, and in the C20th to the two boroughs of Lewisham and Greenwich although ownership remains with the Lords of the Manor, the Earl of Dartmouth the current owner in the Lewisham section, the Crown in the Greenwich section. From 1993 both Lewisham and Greenwich Councils adopted a management plan that would encourage wildlife and nature conservation, allowing grass to grow longer with less frequent mowing of the heath to encourage wildlife.
Blackheath has long had free public access, courtesy of the Lords of the Manor. Although Blackheath was important from early times as a result of being the last high point on Watling Street and also due to its proximity to Greenwich Palace, Blackheath village did not develop until the 1680s when house-building began around the heath. By the mid C18th there was only a small cluster of houses known as Dowager's Bottom near the site of Blackheath station today, while towards the river fashionable Greenwich was growing rapidly. Blackheath was still gorse-covered and a dangerous haunt of criminals, a problem that continued into the C19th when police began to patrol the area and most of the gorse was removed, set alight in the 1820s for the amusement of Queen Caroline, wife of George IV. After this house building around the heath began in earnest and it was now deemed a safer place to live. Gravel, sand and chalk extraction took place during the C18th and C19th, the large pits later infilled with rubble from bombed buildings after WWII, apart from Vanbrugh Pits in the Greenwich north-east section, which provides the best impression of what the heath must have looked like with gorse, broom and heathland shrubs, and to a lesser extent Eliot Pits in the south-west.
Blackheath has been managed for public use since 1871 when part was given over to the Metropolitan Board of Works for regulation and management under the Metropolitan Commons Supplemental Act 1871. During the war parts of the Heath were ploughed for food production and other areas had army Nissen huts not all of which were removed until 1953, after which the heath was levelled and re-seeded. Three of the four ponds on Blackheath are in Lewisham, Hare and Billet Pond (named after a nearby pub) and Mounts Pond, which were probably the remains of gravel pits filled with water, and the Prince of Wales Pond, which was probably deliberately created and which has been used for model boating since the 1850s. The management of Blackheath passed in 1889 to the newly formed LCC, and in the C20th to the two boroughs of Lewisham and Greenwich although ownership remains with the Lords of the Manor, the Earl of Dartmouth the current owner in the Lewisham section, the Crown in the Greenwich section. From 1993 both Lewisham and Greenwich Councils adopted a management plan that would encourage wildlife and nature conservation, allowing grass to grow longer with less frequent mowing of the heath to encourage wildlife.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ393766 |
|---|---|
| Site Ownership | Earl of Dartmouth (Lewisham)/Crown Estates (Greenwich) |
| Site Management | LB Lewisham/LB Greenwich; Joint Blackheath Working Party |
| Listed Structures | LBII: Memorial Shelter & Pavilion; All Saints Church; Jubilee Memorial Fountain; K5 Telephone Kiosk; Hyde Vale Fountain and Cattle Trough |
| On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens | No |
| Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965 | Yes: Common (CL11)/Green (TVG77 - Tranquil Vale) |
| Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931 | No |
| Local Authority | Lewisham |
| In Conservation Area | Yes |
| Conservation Area Name | Blackheath |
| Tree Preservation Order | Not known |
| Nature Conservation Area | Yes - Metropolitan Importance with Greenwich Park |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | Yes |
| Special Policy Area | Yes (part) - Area of Archaeological Priority; Area of Special Character |
| Other LA Designation | Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site buffer zone. All Saints Church: local landmark |
Please note the Inventory and its content are provided for your general information only and are subject to change. It is your responsibility to check the accuracy.
Nearby parks and gardens
Blackheath is common land, the name probably arising from the colour of the soil. It has been managed for public use since 1871 when it was taken over by the MBW, although it has long had public access courtesy of the lords of the manor, an important place for a multitude of events from fairs to actions of highwaymen, royal celebrations to rebellions, battles to religious gatherings. Associations with sporting activities include its early use for golf, cricket and football. Until the C18th and rise of speculative building Blackheath was largely undeveloped and consisted of a few cottages; a number of the ponds are probably the remains of gravel pits. During WWII parts of Blackheath were ploughed and other areas had Nissen huts for the army. The northern part of the heath is in LB Greenwich, the southern part in LB Lewisham.
* on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens
Greenwich Park's history dates back to pre-Roman times. After the Norman Conquest it became a large manor, which was inherited in 1427 by the Duke of Gloucester who enclosed the park in 1433. After his death it was taken by Henry VI's wife, and became the Manor of Plesaunce or Placentia and had associations with royalty until the early C18th. Henry VII built a royal palace here and the park was formally laid out for Charles II in the French style with a series of terraces and many trees planted, some of which remain. A great supporter of scientific research, Charles commissioned Sir Christopher Wren to build the Royal Observatory here. Greenwich Meridian Line crosses the landscape, dividing the world into the east and west hemispheres. James II was the last monarch at Greenwich, his daughter Mary later donating the palace site for a hospital for sailors and the park was made available to pensioners at the Hospital. The public were first allowed into the park during the C18th.
Greenwich Park's history dates back to pre-Roman times. After the Norman Conquest it became a large manor, which was inherited in 1427 by the Duke of Gloucester who enclosed the park in 1433. After his death it was taken by Henry VI's wife, and became the Manor of Plesaunce or Placentia and had associations with royalty until the early C18th. Henry VII built a royal palace here and the park was formally laid out for Charles II in the French style with a series of terraces and many trees planted, some of which remain. A great supporter of scientific research, Charles commissioned Sir Christopher Wren to build the Royal Observatory here. Greenwich Meridian Line crosses the landscape, dividing the world into the east and west hemispheres. James II was the last monarch at Greenwich, his daughter Mary later donating the palace site for a hospital for sailors and the park was made available to pensioners at the Hospital. The public were first allowed into the park during the C18th.
The Pagoda is a 3-storey Chinoiserie pavilion built in c.1763-80 as a summerhouse for the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch, whose property Montague House, demolished 1815, was located at some distance away near the Ranger's House on Blackheath. The Pagoda was designed by Sir William Chambers; after the Buccleuchs left Montague House it was leased, with Princess Caroline of Brunswick an early tenant. The gardens to The Pagoda House were laid out in the style of Gertrude Jekyll in the 1920s.
