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{{infobox UK place|
|official_name = Camberwell
|country = England
|region = London
|constituency_westminster = [[Camberwell and Peckham (UK Parliament constituency)|Camberwell and Peckham]]
|constituency_westminster1 = [[Dulwich and West Norwood (UK Parliament constituency)|Dulwich and West Norwood]]
|post_town = LONDON
|postcode_area = SE
|postcode_district = SE5
|london_borough = Southwark
|dial_code = 020
|os_grid_reference = TQ325767
|latitude = 51.4736
|longitude = -0.0912
|static_image_name = Camberwell Green.jpg
|static_image_caption = [[Camberwell Green]]
|charingX_distance_mi = 2.7
|charingX_direction = NW
}}
'''Camberwell''' is a district of south [[London]], England, and forms part of the [[London Borough of Southwark]].<ref name=southwark>Southwark London Borough Council - [http://www.southwark.gov.uk/YourCommunity/Camberwell/ Community guide for Camberwell]</ref> It is a built-up inner city district located {{convert|2.7|mi|km|1}} southeast of [[Charing Cross]]. To the west it has a boundary with the [[London Borough of Lambeth]].
==History==
===Toponymy===
Camberwell appears in [[Domesday Book]] as ''Cambrewelle''.<ref name=mills>Mills, A., ''Oxford Dictionary of London Place Names'', (2001)</ref> The name may derive from the [[Old English language|Old English]] Cumberwell or Comberwell, meaning 'Well of the [[Britons (historical)|Britons]]', referring to remaining Celtic inhabitants of an area dominated by [[Anglo-Saxons]].<ref name="telegraph.co.uk">{{cite news|author=7:21PM BST 27 May 2009|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/5394738/Ancient-well-that-gave-name-to-Camberwell-unearthed.html|title=Ancient well that gave name to Camberwell unearthed|publisher=Telegraph|date=2009-05-27|accessdate=2011-02-27|location=London}}</ref> An alternative theory suggests the name may mean 'Cripple Well', and that the settlement developed as a hamlet where people from the [[City of London]] were expelled when they had life threatening [[diseases]] like [[leprosy]], for treatment by the church and the clean, healing waters from the wells. Springs and wells are known to have existed on the southern slope of [[Denmark Hill]], especially around Grove Park.
===Economic development===
[[Image:CamberwellPalace.jpg|thumb|upright|left|A c. 1900 poster for the Camberwell Palace]]
It was already a substantial settlement with a church when mentioned in the [[Domesday Book]], and was the parish church for a large area including [[Dulwich]] and [[Peckham]]. It was held by Haimo the Sheriff (of Kent). Its domesday assets were: 6 [[hide (unit)|hide]]s and 1 [[virgate]]; 1 church, 8 [[plough]]s, {{convert|63|acre|m2}} of [[meadow]], [[woodland]] worth 60 [[hog (swine)|hog]]s. It rendered £14. Up to the mid-nineteenth century, Camberwell was visited by Londoners for its rural tranquillity and the reputed healing properties of its mineral springs. Like much of inner South London, Camberwell was transformed by the arrival of the railways in the 1860s.<ref name="telegraph.co.uk"/>
Early [[music hall]]s in Camberwell were in the back hall of [[public house]]s. One, the "Father Redcap" (1853) still stands by [[Camberwell Green]], but internally, much altered. In 1896, the [[Dan Leno]] company opened the "Oriental Palace of Varieties", on [[Denmark Hill]]. This successful venture was soon replaced with a new theatre, designed by Ernest A.E. Woodrow and with a capacity of 1,553, in 1899, named the "Camberwell Palace". This was further expanded by architect Lewen Sharp in 1908.<ref>[http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=41455 ''Shaftesbury Avenue'', Survey of London: volumes 31 and 32: St James Westminster, Part 2 (1963), pp. 68-84] accessed: 12 June 2008</ref> By 1912, the theatre was showing films as a part of the [[variety theatre|variety programme]] and became an [[Associated British Cinemas|ABC cinema]] in September 1932 – known simply as "The Palace Cinema". It reopened as a variety theatre in 1943, but closed on 28 April 1956 and was demolished.<ref>[http://cinematreasures.org/theater/18126 ''Camberwell Palace Theatre''] (Cinema Treasures) accessed 12 June 2008</ref>
The 1957 film, ''[[The Smallest Show on Earth]]'',<ref>{{IMDb title|title=The Smallest Show on Earth (1957)|id=0050985}}</ref> which tells the tale of a struggling family-run suburban cinema, is thought to have been based on the Palace. Nearby, marked by Orpheus Street, was the "Metropole Theatre and Opera House", presenting transfers of [[West End theatre|West End shows]]. This was demolished to build an [[Odeon Cinemas|Odeon cinema]] in 1939. The cinema seated 2,470, and has since been demolished.<ref>[http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/Camberwell.htm ''Camberwell Halls and Entertainment''] (Arthur Lloyd Theatre History) accessed: 12 June 2008</ref> A second ABC cinema, known originally as the Regal Cinema and later as the ABC Camberwell, opened in 1940. With only one screen but 2,470 seats, the cinema was one of the largest suburban cinemas in London and continued to operate until 1973, after which it was used as a bingo hall until February 2010. The building retains its Art Deco style and is Grade II listed.<ref>[http://cinematreasures.org/theater/18111 ''ABC Camberwell''] (Cinema Treasures) accessed 22 February 2010</ref>
===Local government===
[[Image:CambCamberwellParishBoundaryMarker.jpg|thumbnail|right|Boundary marker for Camberwell Parish on the route of the [[Effra]] at [[Gipsy Hill]] is now partially buried by later layers of pavement.|100px]]
''Camberwell St Giles'' formed an ancient, and later civil, parish in the [[Brixton (hundred)|Brixton]] hundred of [[Surrey]].<ref name=vision_parish>Vision of Britain - [http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10128742&c_id=10001043 Camberwell parish] ([http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/bound_map_page.jsp?first=true&u_id=10128742&c_id=10001043 historic map])</ref> The parish covered {{convert|4570|acre|km2}} in 1831 and was divided into the liberty of [[Peckham]] to the east, the hamlet of [[Dulwich]] to the southwest, as well as Camberwell proper. The width of the parish tapered in the south to form a point at what is now known as the [[Crystal Palace, London|Crystal Palace]] area.<ref name=vision_parish/> In 1801 the population was 7,059 and by 1851 this had risen to 54,667.<ref>Vision of Britain - [http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_theme_page.jsp?u_id=10128742&c_id=10001043&data_theme=T_POP Camberwell population]</ref> In 1829 it was included in the [[Metropolitan Police District]] and in 1855 it was included in the area of responsibility of the [[Metropolitan Board of Works]], with Camberwell Vestry nominating one member to the board. In 1889 the board was replaced by the [[London County Council]] and Camberwell was removed from Surrey, to form part of the [[County of London]]. In 1900 the area of the Camberwell parish became the [[Metropolitan Borough of Camberwell]].<ref>Vision of Britain - [http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10108032&c_id=10001043 Camberwell MB] ([http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/bound_map_page.jsp?first=true&u_id=10108032&c_id=10001043 historic map])</ref> In 1965 the metropolitan borough was abolished and its former area became the southern part of the London Borough of Southwark in [[Greater London]].
==Geography==
[[Image:Nymphalis antiopa.JPG|thumb|Camberwell Beauty butterfly]]
Camberwell today is a mixture of relatively well preserved [[Georgian architecture|Georgian]] and 20th-century housing, including a number of [[tower block]]s. [[Camberwell Grove]], Grove Lane and [[Addington Square]] have some of London's most elegant and well-preserved Georgian houses. The crossroads at the centre of Camberwell is the site of [[Camberwell Green]], a very small area of common land which was once a traditional village green on which was held an annual fair of ancient origin which rivalled that of [[Greenwich]]. An extensive range of bus routes have stops at Camberwell Green. The [[Camberwell Beauty]] is a butterfly (''Nymphalis antiopa'') which is rarely found in the UK - it is so named because two examples were first identified on [[Coldharbour Lane]], Camberwell in 1748. {{Citation needed|date=August 2011}} A large mosaic of the Camberwell Beauty used to adorn the Samuel Jones paper factory on Southampton Way. The paper factory has since been demolished but the mosaic was removed and re-installed on the side of Lynn Boxing Club on Wells Way.
The Salvation Army's [[William Booth]] Memorial Training College, designed by [[Giles Gilbert Scott]], was completed in 1932: it towers over South London from [[Denmark Hill]]. It has a similar monumental impressiveness to Gilbert Scott's other local buildings, [[Battersea Power Station]] and the [[Tate Modern]], although its simplicity is partly the result of repeated budget cuts during its construction: much more detail, including carved Gothic stonework surrounding the windows, was originally planned. Camberwell is home to one of London's largest teaching hospitals, [[King's College Hospital]] with associated medical school the Guy’s King’s and St Thomas’ (GKT) School of Medicine. The [[Maudsley Hospital]], an internationally significant psychiatric hospital, is located in Camberwell along with the [[Institute of Psychiatry]]. {{Citation needed|date=August 2011}}
Nearest places are [[Dulwich]], [[Brixton]], [[Peckham]], [[Walworth, London|Walworth]], [[Elephant and Castle]], Stockwell, [[Herne Hill]], [[Vauxhall]] and [[Kennington]].
On 3 July 2009 a major fire swept through [[2009 Lakanal House tower block fire|Lakanal House]], a twelve-storey tower block. Six people were killed and at least 20 people were injured.
==Culture==
Camberwell has several art galleries including [[Camberwell College of Arts]], the [[South London Gallery]] and numerous smaller commercial art spaces. The annual Camberwell Arts Festival is well supported. The [[Blue Elephant Theatre]] on Bethwin Road is the only theatre venue in Camberwell.<ref>[http://www.blueelephanttheatre.co.uk Blue Elephant Theatre website]</ref>
A group now known as the YBAs, the Young British Artists, began in Camberwell - in the Millard building of Goldsmith's College on Cormont Road. A former convent and secretarial school, the Millard was the home of Goldsmiths Fine Art and Textiles department until 1988, it has been converted to flats and is now known as St Gabriel's Manor.
The core of the later-to-be YBAs, graduated from the Goldsmiths BA Fine Art degree course in the classes of 1987–90. [[Liam Gillick]], [[Fiona Rae]], [[Stephen Park|Steve Park]] and [[Sarah Lucas]], were graduates in the class of 1987. [[Ian Davenport]], [[Michael Landy]], [[Gary Hume]], [[Anya Gallaccio]], [[Henry Bond]] and [[Angela Bulloch]], were graduates in the class of 1988; [[Damien Hirst]], [[Angus Fairhurst]], [[Mat Collishaw]], [[Simon Patterson (artist)|Simon Patterson]], and [[Abigail Lane]], were graduates from the class of 1989; whilst [[Gillian Wearing]], and [[Sam Taylor-Wood]], were graduates from the class of 1990. During the years 1987–90, the teaching staff on the Goldsmiths BA Fine Art included [[Jon Thompson]], [[Richard Wentworth (artist)|Richard Wentworth]], [[Michael Craig-Martin]], [[Ian Jeffrey]], [[Helen Chadwick]], [[Mark Wallinger]], Judith Cowan and [[Glen Baxter (cartoonist)|Glen Baxter]]. Collishaw has a studio in a pub in Camberwell.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hungertv.com/art-culture/feature/art-in-the-east-end-mat-collishaw |title=Art In The East End: Mat Collishaw | Art & Culture |publisher=Hunger Tv |date=2012-05-28 |accessdate=2012-11-07}}</ref> as does the sculptor [[Anish Kapoor]] <ref>Architects Journal June 2012 http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/daily-news/caseyfierro-unwraps-anish-kapoor-studio/8625145.article</ref>
In his memoir Lucky Kunst, Gregor Muir, writes: "Not yet housed in the university building at New Cross to which it eventually moved in the late 1980s, Goldsmiths was a stone's throw away in Myatts Field on the other side of Camberwell Green. In contrast to Camberwell's Friday night bacchanal, Goldsmith's held its disco on a Tuesday evening with dinner ladies serving drinks, including tea, from a service hatch. This indicated to me that Goldsmiths was deeply uncool." The building was also the hospital where [[Vera Brittain]] served as a nurse and described in her memoir [[Testament of Youth]].<ref>Lucky Kunst: The Rise and Fall of Young British Art p11 Aurum Press, London 2012 ISBN 1845133900</ref> The core of the later-to-be YBAs, graduated from the Goldsmiths BA Fine Art degree course in the classes of 1987–90. Liam Gillick, Fiona Rae, Steve Park and Sarah Lucas, were graduates in the class of 1987. Ian Davenport, Michael Landy, Gary Hume, Anya Gallaccio, Henry Bond and Angela Bulloch, were graduates in the class of 1988; Damien Hirst, Angus Fairhurst, Mat Collishaw, Simon Patterson, and Abigail Lane, were graduates from the class of 1989; whilst Gillian Wearing, and Sam Taylor-Wood, were graduates from the class of 1990. During the years 1987-1990, the teaching staff on the Goldsmiths BA Fine Art included [[Jon Thompson]], [[Richard Wentworth (artist)|Richard Wentworth]], [[Michael Craig-Martin]], [[Ian Jeffrey]], [[Helen Chadwick]], [[Mark Wallinger]], [[Judith Cowan]] and [[Glen Baxter (cartoonist)|Glen Baxter]].
[[Thomas Hood]], humorist and author of ''[[The Song of the Shirt]]'', lived in Camberwell from 1840 for two years; initially at 8, South Place, (now 181, Camberwell New Road). He later moved to 2, Union Row (now 266, High Street). He wrote to friends praising the clean air. In late 1841, he moved to [[St John's Wood]].<ref>'Camberwell', Old and New London: Volume 6 (1878), pp. 269-286 Date accessed: 13 February 2011.> http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=45281</ref> The Victorian art critic and watercolourist [[John Ruskin]] lived at 163 [[Denmark Hill]] from 1847, but moved out in 1872 as the railways spoiled his view.<ref name=southlondonguide.co.uk>{{cite web|url=http://www.southlondonguide.co.uk/camberwell/history.htm|title=Welcome to Camberwell Guide|publisher=Southlondonguide.co.uk|accessdate=2011-02-27}}</ref> Ruskin designed part of a stained-glass window in [[St Giles' Church, Camberwell]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stgilescamberwell.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=57&Itemid=73|title=The Ruskin Window|publisher=Stgilescamberwell.org.uk|accessdate=2011-02-27}}</ref> [[Ruskin Park]] is named after him, and there is also a John Ruskin Street.
Other famous writers who have lived in the area include the poet [[Robert Browning]], who was born in Camberwell, and lived there until he was 28,<ref name=southwark.gov.uk>{{cite web|url=http://www.southwark.gov.uk/info/200159/history_of_southwark/1034/southwarks_historic_villages/3|title=Camberwell history - Southwark's historic villages|publisher=Southwark.gov.uk|date=2010-01-26|accessdate=2011-02-27}}</ref> and [[Muriel Spark]], the author of ''[[The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (novel)|The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie]]'' and ''[[The Ballad of Peckham Rye]]''. The novelist Mary Jane Staples, who grew up in Walworth, wrote a book called ''The King of Camberwell'', the third instalment of her Adams family saga about Cockney life.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lovereading.co.uk/author/67/Mary-Jane-Staples.html|title=Mary Jane Staples books|publisher=Lovereading.co.uk|accessdate=2011-02-27}}</ref> Comedienne [[Jenny Eclair]] is a long term resident of Camberwell. The area features in her 2001 novel "Camberwell Beauty", named after a species of [[Nymphalis antiopa|butterfly]]. Playwright [[Martin McDonagh]] and his brother, writer/director [[John Michael McDonagh]], live in Camberwell.
Other residents include former editor of ''[[The Guardian]]'' [[Peter Preston]]<ref name="guardian.co.uk A bridge too far">{{cite news|author=Logged in as click here to log out|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2007/nov/12/comment.homeaffairs|title=Peter Preston: A bridge too far|publisher=The Guardian|date=2009-08-24|accessdate=2011-02-27|location=London}}</ref> and ''The Guardian'' columnist [[Zoe Williams]].<ref name=" guardian.co.uk My Neighbour, the Lion Man of Peckham">{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/Columnists/Column/0,,1727778,00.html|title=Zoe Williams: My neighbour, the Leopard Man of Peckham|publisher=guardian.co.uk|accessdate=2011-02-27|location=London}}</ref> [[Florence Welch]] of the rock band [[Florence + the Machine]] also lives in the area<ref name=TILwelch>{{cite web|url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/lifestyle/article-23726059-florence-welch---my-london.do|title=Florence Welch - My London|publisher=Thisislondon.co.uk|date=31 July 2009|author=Amy Grier, ES Magazine|accessdate=2011-02-27}}</ref> as do actresses [[Lorraine Chase]] and [[Jenny Agutter]].<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/property/article-2047423/Lorraine-Chase-sells-Georgian-pad-paid-classic-adverts.html | location=London | work=Daily Mail | first=Mark | last=Anstead | title=Luton airport wafted me... to this paradise: Lorraine Chase sells Georgian pad paid for by classic adverts | date=10 October 2011}}</ref> [[Syd Barrett]], one of the founders of [[Pink Floyd]], studied at [[Camberwell College of Arts]] from 1964.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/syd-barretts-last-remnants-sold-in-frenzy-of-bidding-426398.html|title=Syd Barrett's last remnants sold in frenzy of bidding|publisher=The Independent|date=2006-11-30|accessdate=2011-02-27|location=London|first=Terry|last=Kirby}}</ref>
The avant-garde band [[Camberwell Now]] named themselves after the area. [[Basement Jaxx]] recorded three songs about Camberwell: "Camberwell Skies", "Camberskank" and "I live in Camberwell"<ref>{{cite web|author=By Göran - Dec 4 2011 |url=http://www.timeout.com/london/feature/527/50-best-london-songs-50-41 |title=The 100 best London songs – Songs about London – Time Out London |publisher=Timeout.com |date= |accessdate=2012-11-07}}</ref> which are on the ''The Singles: Special Edition'' album (2005). Camberwell is referred to in the film ''[[Withnail and I]]'' — "[[Camberwell carrot]]" is the name of the enormous [[Joint (cannabis)|spliff]] rolled using 12 rolling papers, by Danny the dealer.<ref>{{IMDb title|id=0094336|title=Withnail and I (1986)}}</ref> His explanation for the name is, "I invented it in Camberwell and it looks like a carrot".
==Transport==
Camberwell is connected to central London by [[A215 road|Camberwell Road]] in the north and [[Camberwell New Road]] in the west. It is very well served by bus routes: its location means that it is easy to travel into central London with journey times of 20 to 30 minutes, though often much longer in the rush hour.
Camberwell had been served by three railway stations until the First World War, [[Camberwell Gate railway station|Camberwell Gate]], [[Camberwell New Road railway station|Camberwell New Road]] and [[Denmark Hill railway station|Denmark Hill]]. Like many less well used stations in inner London, ''Camberwell Gate'' and ''Camberwell New Road'' were closed in 1916 'temporarily' because of war shortages and were never reopened. {{Citation needed|date=August 2011}}
London Underground have planned a [[Bakerloo line extension to Camberwell]] on at least three occasions since the 1930s, and this is again said to be under consideration.<ref>''[http://icsouthlondon.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0300southwark/tm_objectid=16685898&method=full&siteid=50100&headline=tube-line--may-extend-south-within-20-years--name_page.html Tube line 'may extend south within 20 years']'' {{dead link|date=September 2012}}</ref>
Nearest railway stations are [[Loughborough Junction railway station]] and [[Denmark Hill railway station]].
==Notable residents==
* [[Ian Iqbal Rashid]], filmmaker and writer
* [[John Bostock]], professional footballer
* [[Edward Burnett Tylor]], [[anthropologist]]
* [[Florence Welch]], musician
* [[Jack Whicher]], detective
* [[Jeremy Bowen]], BBC war correspondent
* [[Henry Bessemer|Sir Henry Bessemer]], inventor
==See also==
*[[List of people from Southwark]]
*[[List of schools in Southwark]]
*[[Camberwell Public Baths]]
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.camberwellsociety.org.uk Camberwell Society]
* [http://www.se5forum.org/ SE5 Forum, a community group]
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[[Category:Camberwell| ]]
[[Category:Districts of Southwark]]
[[Category:Areas of London]]
[[Category:Districts of London listed in the Domesday Book]]{{Usedwps}}