Did you know that...
New Cross Gate takes its name after the New Cross tollgate on the New Cross turnpike, established in 1718 and operated during the 18th and early 19th centuries. The area was formerly called Hatcham. In the Domesday Book, the area is mentioned as Hacheham. It means Hæcci’s home, Hæcci is a personal Anglo-Saxon name.
Famous alumni of the Haberdashers’ Aske’s Hatcham College include singer Katy B, children’s writer Jeremy Strong, Olympic sprinter Chris Lambert, comedy writer Sid Green, singer Peter Perret of The Only Ones, singer Danny Bowes and guitarist Luke Morley of Thunder, and actor Rafe Spall.
The first railway station, called New Cross, was opened in 1839. Later, in 1923, it changed its name to New Cross Gate to avoid confusion, as there were actually two stations named New Cross in close proximity.
Two members of the RnB group Damage attended St James Hatcham C of E Primary School in the area. Singer Jade Jones, who is from the area, is ex-Spice Girls Emma Bunton’s partner.
Every Tuesday musicians from all over town gather to perform during the fabulous New Cross Inn jam night. People like to say that live music is dying throughout London, but New Cross Gate is one of the wonderful exceptions.
The area was a home for the largest tram depot in London until the last London tram ran from Woolwich to New Cross in 1952. The formerly tram depot has become a bus garage that accommodates up to 300 buses today.
