Beat the Bounds – Southwark Borough 50th Anniversary

Southwark Council, formed as part of the 1970s local government reorganisation, came into being at Easter 1975. Love them or loathe them it is still an excuse for a bike ride! Werner likes anniversaries so planned and led a ride that follows the borough boundary as closely as possible. Started 9am with 13 riders from London Bridge. After briefly heading east to Tower Bridge we Took an anticlockwise route that started by following the Thames, Southwark’s northern boundary. Intially through More London early enogh to avoid security and thorugh Borouh Market before the tourists arrived. Even mnaged to cycle past the Globe and through Blackfriars Station to Bernie Spain Gardens without too many problems with walkers. The advantage of an early start.

At this point on the South Bank Southwark meets Lambeth and a long stretch inland followed with Lambeth as our neighbour. Shortly after leaving the Thames we came to Short St off The Cut where the street sign on the right side says “Lambeth” and one on the left “Southwark”. Passed the west-most point in Southwark at Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park (Imerial WarMuseum). Long run down Kennington Park Road then skirting the east border of Kennington Open Space where Pat photographed some interesting murals. More main road downCamberwell New Rd eventually along Liz’s street where she told us bin collecitons and parking rules differ between the 2 sides of the road. Briefly heading north on Coldharbour Lane before turning south along Denmark Hill which is the boundary road all the way to Herne Hill.. Yet more busy road (Croxted Road) folowed by the Paxton Roundabout and Gypsy Hill. Pretty steep. Most walked somewhere but we all made it up to Crystal Palace Parade.

At this point Southwark is bordered in rapid succession by 4 boroughs, Lambeth, then Croydon and Bromley. Finally Lewisham at the north end ot Crystal Palace Parade that was to be our companion all the way back to the Thames. Gently cyling along the top sevtion of Sydenham Hill, then the steep descent to the Hornman Museum (just in Lewisham). Well deserved coffee break in sunshine at the museum, then off again and a surprise to me to find us turning right up Forest Hill Road and alomg Honour Oak Park past One Tree Hill. I always thought this area was in Lewisham. Lots of quiet streets through Nunhead and down to the Old Kent Road at Ilderton Rd. Lots of Millwall fans making their way to a home game at the New Den. This is just on the Lewisham side of the boundary and we passed close by it on Bolina Road. Another surprise as we crossed the Surrey Quays one-way system at Cope St before heading east to where I thought the boundary was and through to the Thames. On old parish boundary stone is preserved on the Thames path marking the point that is now the borough boundary. Once again the river is the boundary and we followed the Thames path as closely as we could passing South and Greenland Docks and Surrey Docks Farm. At the Super Sewer site (Cherry Gardens) we paused to observe how the extension of dry land created durng the tunnelling was being removed to return the river to its previous course. Reached Tower Bridge around 1 pm as planned and decided to end the ride there.

We had “beaten the bounds”. Apart from the river and the hilly ridge at Crystal Palace, Southwark does not have a boundary that is obvious on the ground. The present London boroughs function effectively as administrative entities. But after 50 years they have not developed distnctive personalities.

Thanks to John S. for back marking. The 30 km route is linked below as a gpx file.

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