Did you know that...
The 10th-century document, Burghal Hidage, mentions Southwark SE1 as Suthriganaweorc which means “the fort of Surrey men”. In the 11th century Domesday Book, the area bears the name of Sudweca that derives from the Old English words for south and work.
In Roman Britain, Southwark was the lowest bridging point of the River Thames. The tallest building in the UK, The Shard, is a 95-story skyscraper that measures 309 meters. The historic inn, The Tabard, that is mentioned in The Canterbury Tales was found in the area. The inn was built in 1307 and demolished in 1873.
John Harvard, the founder of Harvard University, was born in Southwark SE1. Shakespeare’s Globe is a reconstruction of the 16th century Globe Theater that was demolished in 1644. The building is a faithful reproduction of the original.
Charlie Chaplin was one of the most famous residents of the Southwark area. Rumor has it that he picked up his famous walk from a man who used to deliver bread not far away from Old Kent Road.
Britain’s first self service petrol station opened on the south end of Southwark Bridge in 1961.
The original bridge of London bridge in Southwark SE1 was moved 7,000 miles away to the USA. It is currently located in Lake Havasu City, Arizona.