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The first mention of Nunhead comes from 1680. Supposedly, the name derives from The Nun’s Head inn. Rumor has it that a nun was beheaded here, but no historical evidence supports this folk tale. The first local church was built in 1877. St Antony’s Church was established in 1957 on the site of the old church. Its grade II listed status was revoked in 2001. Since then, it is known as the Lighthouse Cathedral. With 10,000 residents in 1887, this was one of the most populated South London areas. Carden Road and Tresco Road buildings feature early Edwardian architecture.
Biographer Claire Tomlin states that Charles Dickens suffered the stroke that would end his life a few days later at his mistress’s place Windsor Lodge in Linden Grove, Nunhead. Mistress Nelly Ternan supposedly transported him to his Gad’s Hill manor to avoid a public scandal. Windsor Lodge was at 31 Linden Grove opposite the church. Nunhead railway station was opened in 1871. The lines were electrified in 1925. Nunhead Beats the Bounds is a community event that takes place on the first Saturday of July each year. The residents’ march starts in Queens Road and ends near Camberwell New Cemetery.
Nunhead Cemetery is an SE15 local nature reserve. It is among London’s Magnificent Seven private cemeteries. It opened in 1840 under the name All Saints’ Cemetery. Grocer Charles Abbot was the first person buried here. Notable burials include chemist Sir Frederick Abel who was one of the two inventors of cordite. Actress Cicely Nott rests here as well. Writer William Brought who authored Pygmalion; or, The Statue Fair, performer Jenny Hill, and 18th-century Edward John Eliot are also buried here. The cemetery served as a filming location for an episode of TV series Spooks, scenes from 1971 movie Melody, and TV series London’s Burning.