Stephen Bourne Maps 400 Years of Black History Across Camberwell

A new self-guided walking tour penned by local historian Stephen Bourne covers over 400 years of Black history in Camberwell, highlighting figures like broadcaster Una Marson and medical pioneer Harold Moody.

Origins Tied to a Healing Spring

Camberwell is a London suburb in SE5 mentioned in the 1086 Domesday Book. It formed part of Surrey until 1889 and now lies within the London Borough of Southwark. The name likely derives from Camber Well, a reputed healing mineral spring that attracted visitors for centuries. Some historians link the name to the well of the crooked or cripples and to St Giles, patron saint of lepers. Until the 18th century the area remained a rural farming village centred on St Giles Church and Camberwell Green, where the annual Camberwell Fair had taken place since 1279.

Railway-Driven Change and Growth

The suburb changed from a tranquil spa village to a dense urban area in the 1860s after railway expansion. Population records show growth from 7,059 in 1801 to 259,425 by 1901. These shifts created the dense street pattern that still defines much of the neighbourhood today.

Black History in Focus

Stephen Bourne's tour brings forward the contributions of Black residents across those centuries. It draws attention to broadcaster Una Marson and medical pioneer Harold Moody among others. The route lets walkers trace the same streets and open spaces that appear in the older records of the village and the later suburb.

Residents and visitors can follow the tour at their own pace using the route notes prepared by Bourne. The material connects the documented history of the mineral spring, the medieval fair and the 19th-century population increase with the stories of the individuals named on the walk.