Southwark: An Illustrated History

Citation

Freeman, M. (2000), "Southwark: An Illustrated History", New Library World, Vol. 101 No. 6, pp. 282-287. https://doi.org/10.1108/nlw.2000.101.6.282.5

London’s most historic borough has a long and famous story to tell and this well‐produced and beautifully illustrated book covers this tale well in a clear, readable yet authoritative way. Owing to the rapid developments under way and the onslaught of builders and planners, paradoxically, the hidden and unappreciated past of Southwark has been further revealed. Dickens, Chaucer and Shakespeare feature in the borough’s story – and, of course, those modern icons Del Boy and Rodney (Peckham being part of Southwark). Rome established its presence early on and Boudicca is thought to have laid waste to the settlement in AD60.

Southwark grew steadily during the mediaeval period, boasting four theatres in Elizabethan times, including the famed Globe. Urbanisation, industrialisation and the Victorian period are well covered, as are the terrible cholera epidemics of the 1830s and the subsequent massive sewerage and public health measures undertaken to combat this ancient foe. During the ravages of the Second World War, Southwark suffered badly and 2,500 civilians died from air and V1/V2 bombing. Modern Southwark is thriving, redeveloping fast and a place of great contrasts – including a new Globe Theatre. All in all, an interesting and well‐produced book and a credit to the author and the Local Studies Library of Southwark.