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13
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.
This 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, in accordance with the Local Government Act, 1899, 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 includes a large area of marsh land at present quite unsuitable
for the erection of dwelling-houses.
The sub-soil of the greater portion of the Borough consists of
gravel and sand, the exception being in the Kidbrooke area which
is mainly clay and throughout the whole of the borough the altitude
varies from a few feet below high-water mark on the Marshes up to
249 ft. above sea level on the Shooter's Hill Road by the Borough
boundary.
Greenwich, which in Latin 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, lies mainly on a natural slope
from the Thames to Blackheath thereby affording extensive views
of London and the River and it is to this fact, coupled with its
historical connection with Royalty, that it owes its fascination.
Few residential districts near the city of London are so full
of historical associations as Greenwich whose streets are among
the most interesting of any in the Capital and whose wealth of
surviving buildings is unrivalled. History has played a large part
in determining the types of industries located within its boundary
with their consequent effects on the social conditions of its community.
Notwithstanding that documented history of Greenwich appears
to begin only during King Alfred's reign when he was Lord of the
Manor, circa 900, there is evidence that Greenwich has been inhabited
for over 2,000 years—certainly Crooms Hill is pre-Celtic whilst
Shooter's Hill, along with many other place names, is of Celtic
origin. Recovered coins and fragments of pottery show an almost
continuous Roman settlement from 41 B.C. to 423 A.D. and Saxon
burial mounds and barrows dating from the 6th century are still
to be seen in Greenwich Park.