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In the Roan Schools, founded in 1643 by John Roan, the son
of a member of the Royal household when it was at the Palace of
Placentia, Greenwich, has one of the oldest teaching foundations
in London.
Most educational services are now under the control of the
I.L.E.A. or church organisations but there are still some private
schools in the area which are conducted independently of the
Education Authority and which cater for fee-paying pupils.
Within the Borough, the "Arts" are well patronised and the
Rangers House on Blackheath is becoming noted for its art
displays, poetry reading sessions, etc. Recently, the building of a
theatre on the site of the old Parthenon Music Hall has been given
the Council's blessing and financial support. Municipal entertainment,
especially for the very young and the elderly, is a prominent
feature in the Council's policies.
Social centres providing for all shades of cultural and educational
tastes have been established at Charlton House, Kidbrooke House,
Shrewsbury House, and West Greenwich House under the auspices
of the Greenwich Community Council in conjunction with the
I.L.E.A. and, in this connection, it can be stated that there are
upwards of 178 clubs and societies affiliated to this Community
Council.
Besides Associations for rowing and barge sailing, the local
sports clubs include the famous Blackheath Football Club (the
oldest of all rugby football clubs) and the newer professional
Charlton Athletic Football Club. It is hard to believe that the
area supports 2 golf clubs, one of which is the Royal Blackheath,
the oldest golf club in the world. With royal sanction it was formed
nearly 360 years ago as the "Society of Blackheath Goffers" at a
time when James I was wont to play with his friends while holding
court at Greenwich. It is reputed that the army title of "Field
Marshal" which dates from 1736 was copied from the appellation
used by the Blackheath Club a century earlier.
Considering that the Borough is a constituent part of the
country's greatest conurbation, it is well served with parks and
open spaces. These are evenly distributed throughout its area
and form 12.8% of its total acreage, equivalent to 6½ acres per
1,000 of its population. Shooters Hill, which encompasses Oxleas
and Shepherdleas Woods, Castlewood, Jackwood and Eltham
Common in total amounting to some 312 acres, gives a continuous
expanse of woodland as attractive and extensive as Hampstead
Heath. Greenwich Park, designed by Le Notre of Versailles fame,
with its historical associations and surroundings, covers an area
of 185 acres of rich fauna and flora. On its southern boundary