The Nymphalis Antiopa (aka the Camberwell Beauty) is a particularly rare species of
Butterfly. Apparently, they like hanging out in Camberwell. Their first recorded sighting
occurred here in 1748.
Camberwell is a district within the London Borough of Southwark, 3 miles from Charing
Cross. The area is known for art study and display, the most prominent examples being
the Camberwell College of Arts and neighbouring South London Gallery.
Each year, the long-running Camberwell Arts Festival takes place during the Summer.
It was part of the Parish of St Giles along with Peckham, Nunhead, some of
Herne Hill and most of Dulwich.
There are various theories about the name Camber, but it's clear that the syllable
alludes to the clean, healing waters from the mineral springs and wells on the southern
slope of Denmark Hill. "Treatment" was available from them by those forced out of the city
if they became inflicted with a contagious disease like leprosy.
Rat Records has been a Camberwell draw for more than 15 years. They stock a rich variety
and vinyl hunters queue outside it on Saturday mornings to get first dibs on that week’s
500 or so batch of new presses.
Archaeologists confirmed discovery of the original 2000+ year old Camber Well dug up
from under a woman's garden lawn in 2009. 19th Century Ordinance Survey maps pinpointed
its location as accurately as just two feet away from its original spot.
This little village green known as Camberwell Green has traditionally held an annual fair
going back to the ancient period of the 13th century on this same spot.
It rivalled that of Greenwich.
The Hill Bakery & Deli moved here from Deptford in 2015 from a guy who abandoned the corporate
world of journalism to bake bread for his neighbours in Telegraph Hill. They use naturally
leavened (aka sourdough) bread made with a wild yeast culture and proudly showcase other
small-scale, local producers of craft beer from Brixton, pasta from Dulwich, jams and
preserves from Hackney and cheese from Sussex. None of which you will find in any supermarket.
Denmark Hill, Maudsley Hospital and Ruskin Park were all named after prominent figures
living nearby at their inception. Maudsley hospital, 1907, dates back to the foundation
of Bethlem, or Bedlam Royal Hospital in 1247 as the first psychiatric institution on the
planet. Liverpool Street railway terminus now covers over its original site.
Ruskin park also opened in 1907 to champion diverse green spaces. It stretches itself
to Brixton and Herne Hill with facilities that include ponds, tennis and games courts,
a kid's play area and paddling pool, formal gardens and a charming wooden bandstand. Most
of these are dog free for the comfort and safety of children and their carers and to
help protect the parks wildlife.
The park is useful to staff, patients and families travelling to and from King's College
and Maudsley hospitals immediately adjacent as well as for exercise and escaping
the pressures of ward life.