Blackheath, London Beggers Bush 1695

A Survey of the king’s lordship or manor of East Greenwich by Samuel Travers (1695) shows “Beggers Bush” as a feature south of Greenwich Park. The words appear east of what is now Tranquil Vale, just south of the crossroads with Hare & Billet Lane, next to which is it says “A Cross”. It appears to at the point where the boundary between Greenwich and Lewisham meets the road.

It isn’t clear whether it marks a single feature or an area. Duncan says of this map that “opposite the “Hare and Billet” was a portion called “Beggars’ Bush”. However, where similar text is used elsewhere it describes physical features, such windmills, “The Maze”, “Queen Eliz. Well” and “The Mount for trying of Mortars”.

I haven’t been able to find any later reference to the site. An 1862 map shows a spot height of 124ft at about the same place. The site is also between two points at which a confusion of north/south and east/west routes meet. Beggars Bushes elsewhere are often found on exposed elevations, where an isolated bush or clump may become notable on the skyline as it is approached (see Godmanchester). Lewisham Council says “Gorse and broom, typical heathland shrubs which once covered much of Blackheath, are still abundant here, along with occasional young trees of oak and silver birch.”

The record in 1695 predates the notoriety of Blackheath as a haunt for highwaymen, which is sometimes proposed as an explanation for the name. It is more likely to be an application of the literary usage to a notable landmark.

OS Grid

TQ 394762

Sources

See the original map presented online by the National Maritime Museum – an exemplary, elegant example of online access
A survey of the Kings lordship or manor of East Greenwich … the park and desmesn-lands there with the remains of his Majesty’s palaces and mansion houses situate either within or without the limits of the ground granted for erecting an hospital for seamen….. By Samuel Travers Esqr. Surveyor General. (G297:20/23) 1695

Duncan, L.L. A History of the Borough of Lewisham, Proceedings of the Lewisham Antiquarian Society, vol. 1902-1907, Blackheath, 1908, (see p.58)

Lewisham Council – History of Blackheath

Posted: March 26th, 2011 | Filed under: Places | Tags: Blackheath, London, Map | 1 Comment »