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11
GENERAL INFORMATION AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS
The division in 1855 of the Parliamentary Borough of Greenwich
as constituted under the Reform Act of 1832 gave rise to the
district now known as the Metropolitan Borough of Greenwich
which comprises the ancient parishes of St. Nicholas, Deptford
(formerly West Greenwich), Greenwich (formerly East Greenwich)
and Charlton with the Liberty of Kidbrooke and, as from November
1900, it became one of the twenty-eight municipalities of the
County of London.
The river Ravensbourne (Deptford Creek) separates St.
Nicholas from Greenwich, whilst the Royal Naval College and
Greenwich Park divide most of the older part of Greenwich
from East Greenwich, the more modern part of the borough, the
latter including a large area of marsh land at present quite unsuitable
for the erection of dwelling-houses.
Although documented history of Greenwich appears to begin
only during King Alfred's reign, circa 900, there is evidence that
Greenwich has been inhabited for over two thousand years—
certainly Crooms Hill is pre-Celtic while Shooters Hill, along with
many other place names, is of Celtic origin. In Latin it was
described as Grenovicum viridis sinus a viridariis and in Saxon
Grenawic, i.e., the Green Town or dwelling upon the bank of the
river. Saxon burial mounds and barrows dating from the 6th
century are still to be seen in Greenwich Park and recovered coins
and fragments of pottery show an almost continuous Roman
settlement from 41 B.C. to 423 A.D.
Village life survived the Roman's departure and it is difficult
to imagine that Greenwich was a most attractive fishing village
until comparatively recent times. The occupations of its inhabitants
were, and for that matter still are, very closely linked with shipping
for here the river affords an excellent roadstead. So much so that
in the time of King Ethelred (1011 A.D.), the whole Danish Fleet
lay off Greenwich for three or four years whilst the army was for
the most part encamped on Blackheath. This army ravaged the
whole country and sacked the City of Canterbury from whence
they brought Archbishop Alfege to his martyrdom at Greenwich
on 19th April, 1012. Domesday Book, compiled in 1086 records
the existence at that time of a church on this site, a situation which
has continued to the present day.
When Westminster became the centre of government, Greenwich
again became a royal resort and was the favourite royal
palace from the time of Edward I (1296) to James II (1685) and
it was here in its heyday that the great Elizabethan admirals.