- Blackheath (hundred)
infobox historic subdivision
Name= Blackheath
HQ= Blackheath
Status= hundred
Start= in antiquity
End= 1889
Replace= various, see text
Map of the Hundred of Blackheath, published in 1797
PopulationFirst= 121,753
PopulationFirstYear= 1851
PopulationLast= 234,987
PopulationLastYear= 1887
AreaFirst= convert|12650|acre|km2|0
AreaFirstYear= 1831
AreaLast= convert|17316|acre|km2|0
AreaLastYear= 1887Blackheath was an ancient hundred in the north west of the county of
Kent ,England . Its area has been entirely absorbed by the growth ofLondon ; with its name currently referring to the Blackheath district.Mills, A., "Oxford Dictionary of London Place Names", (2001)] Its former area now corresponds to theLondon Borough of Greenwich , theLondon Borough of Lewisham and part of theLondon Borough of Bromley .History
The name is first recorded as "Blachehedfeld" in 1166, meaning "dark-coloured heathland". The open space at Blackheath, was the location that early hundred meetings took place. In the
Domesday Book of 1086 it is recorded as the hundred of "Grenviz" (Greenwich), [ [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=53779&strquery=kent%20blackheath#s2 British History Online] - The Hundred of Blackheath] and part of theSutton at Hone lathe. [ [http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit_page.jsp?u_id=10054643&c_id=10001043 Vision of Britain] - Blackheath hundred] The hundred contained the parishes of Charlton,Chislehurst , St Paul and St NicholasDeptford , Eltham,Greenwich ,Kidbrooke , Lee,Lewisham ,Woolwich andMottingham .The northern boundary with the Becontree hundred of
Essex was theRiver Thames , however there was also a land boundary; the Woolwich parish included two small detached parts north of the river, [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/image.aspx?compid=42740&filename=fig1.gifBritish History Online] - Map of Becontree Hundred, (1973)] totalling convert|402|acre|km2|1. [ [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=42740#s3 British History Online] - The Origin of North Woolwich, (1973)] Also to the north along the river was a short boundary with theIsle of Dogs and theTower division of theOssulstone hundred ofMiddlesex . [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/image.aspx?compid=53779&filename=fig7.gifBritish History Online] - Map of Blackheath Hundred, (1973)] In the west it borded the Brixton hundred ofSurrey . Within Kent, it was bounded by the hundreds of Bromley and Beckenham to the south, Ruxley to the south east and Lesnes to the east.In 1831, the hundred occupied convert|12650|acre|km2|0. [ [http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_cube_table_page.jsp?data_theme=T_POP&data_cube=N_AREA_A&u_id=10054643&c_id=10001043&add=Y Vision of Britain] - Blackheath hundred - area ( [http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/bound_map_page.jsp?first=true&u_id=10054643&c_id=10001043 historic map] )] The parishes of St Paul and St Nicholas, Deptford, and the parish of Greenwich were included in the
Metropolitan Police District by theMetropolitan Police Act 1829 and in 1840 the rest of the hundred was included by theMetropolitan Police Act 1839 .The population in 1851 is recorded as 121,753 and in 1861 it is recorded as 187,696. [John Marius Wilson, "
Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales ", (1870-72)] In 1887 the hundred is recorded as occupying an area of convert|17316|acre|km2|0, with a population of 234,987. [John Bartholomew, "Gazetteer of the British Isles", (1887)]Replacement
The hundreds of England declined in administrative use because of the rise of various "ad-hoc" boards. In 1855, most of the hundred (except Chislehurst and Mottingham) was included in the area of responsibility of the
Metropolitan Board of Works by theMetropolis Management Act 1855 . The hundred was effectively abolished when the area (except Chislehurst and Mottingham) became part of theCounty of London in 1889. The entire area has formed part ofGreater London since 1965.In 1894 and 1900 all local government functions were effectively replaced by a system of uniform districts, which were consolidated over time and finally replaced in 1965 by the
London boroughs which are still in use today.References
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