Have you ever noticed how a quiet, green space can hold tales of danger and intrigue? Here, on Eltham Common, we’re not just looking at a beautiful park. We’re standing on ground where history, both tragic and thrilling, unfolded. Eltham Common is a haven of peace in southeast London. It forms a triangle between Well Hall Road and Shooter’s Hill and is part of a larger area of parkland called Eltham Park North. Imagine this, once these woods and fields were notorious for highwaymen and robbers. They would demand “protection money” from travelers daring to cross, even though a gibbet stood as a deterrent on the Common’s northwest corner. The tales of these outlaws are woven into the very fabric of the Common. This very ground was also the scene of a chilling murder. In February 1918, Nellie Grace “Peggy” Trew, a clerk at Woolwich Arsenal, was murdered as she walked home from Plumstead Library. This crime, known as the “Badge and Button Murder,” was a sensation in its time. It was an overcoat button and a cap badge that were key pieces of evidence in the trial. RAMC-veteran David Greenwood was found guilty and sentenced to death. Even though he was eventually pardoned, the haunting memory of his crime still clings to the Common. So, as you soak in the beauty of Eltham Common, remember that its serenity conceals layers of stories, reminding us that history is not always peaceful, but always fascinating.
Southfields Methodist Church
Curiosity stirred within the heart of Southfields as a new chapter began. Southfields Methodist Church held its first public service