Ahoy mateys Did you know that Greenwich Peninsula was once a notorious pirate hangout?
Greenwich Peninsula a sprawling area in South East London boasts a rich and layered history. It wasn’t always the modern development we see today. For centuries it was known as Greenwich Marshes or Bugsby’s Marshes.
Imagine the 17th century The northern tip Blackwall Point became infamous. Pirates’ corpses swung in cages a grim warning to others. The area’s transformation began in the 16th century. Dutch engineers drained the marshes turning them into pastureland. Then in the 1690s the Board of Ordnance built a gunpowder magazine. This was the government’s main powder store. It served until 1771 when a safer location was found.
The 19th century brought industrialization. Heavy guns were made at Henry Blakeley’s Ordnance Works. Other industries included chemicals submarine cables and shipbuilding. Henry Bessemer even built a steel works here. But it closed due to an economic downturn in 1866. The South Metropolitan Gas Company’s enormous gasworks dominated the peninsula for over a century. It was the largest in Europe producing town gas coke tar and chemicals. It had its own railway and jetty. Two massive gas holders once stood here. The larger one was the biggest in the world. Sadly it was damaged in 1917 and again in 1978 by an IRA bomb.
The late 20th century saw the closure of most industries. The gasworks and power station fell silent. Much of the peninsula became a contaminated wasteland. But change was on the horizon.
Since the 1990s massive regeneration has reshaped Greenwich Peninsula. English Partnerships invested millions. New homes offices schools and parks appeared. The Millennium Dome now The O2 became a landmark. Ravensbourne University London a media and design university opened its doors in 2010. New roads riverside walkways and public art added to the area’s appeal. The Jubilee line extension brought the underground to North Greenwich making the peninsula more accessible.
Today Greenwich Peninsula is a vibrant mix of old and new. A testament to the area’s transformation from pirate haunt to modern urban hub. The Pilot Inn a surviving pub stands as a reminder of the peninsula’s past. A combined heat and power centre now provides district heating. The Optic Cloak a striking metal tower is a modern addition to the landscape. The redevelopment is ongoing. The peninsula is planned to develop further over the next two decades. So come and explore this fascinating and ever-evolving corner of London.