Lewisham Races in August 1836

Did you know that Lewisham once had its own races?  The Lee, Lewisham, Greenwich and Eltham Races were held on a course on meadows next to the main road on the lower side of Blackheath. In August 1836 The West Kent Stakes (worth 15 sovereigns), The Railway Stakes (worth 50 sovereigns) and the Greenwich Borough Cup (worth 50 sovereigns) were held there.

This comes from the sporting intelligence section of  The Morning Chronicle of 19th August 1836. One of the many newspapers that you can access on the 19th Century British Newspapers . This is one of the online resources available to all Lewisham Library Service members to use in a library or from home.

You can find out more on our website

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE . 
The Morning Chronicle (London, England), Friday, August 19, 1836; Issue 20844

"Here then is Deptford ...." - Poem in Thankfull Sturdee's Reminiscences of Old Deptford

In 1895 Thankfull Sturdee published his Reminiscences of Old Deptford, a collection of 67 illustrations of the Deptford area reproduced from original art works and photographs. In the front he included a poem, but without any attribution. We'd like to find out who wrote it but haven't had any luck with our searches so far. If any one can help throw some light on this - please add your information below or email us at local.studies@lewisham.gov.uk

Children of the Great War

Do you have a relative who fought in The Great War, served in the Ambulance Corps, in Munitions, or experienced the War on the Home Front? 2014 marks the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War. As part of the commemorations Age Exchange invite you to share your family history and contribute to an international archive.

Age Exchange invites you to go along to 11 Blackheath Village on Tuesday July 16th, 11am - 4pm to share your unique family story, passed down through generations. Please also take with you any relevant photos, objects, and memorabilia for them to copy and photograph. Your story will be recorded and will become part of the touring exhibition, and theatre production, and will contribute to an international archive that commemorates the 100th  Anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War in 2014.

For further information contact:
Age Exchange,11 Blackheath Village, London SE3 9LA
Tel: 020 8318 9105
Email: greatwar@age-exchange.org.uk

The Landing of the Queen's Presents

On 12th June 1842 an Arabian man-of-war 'the first that ever appeared in English waters' came up the Thames and moored off the Victualling Yard at Deptford. The vessel came from Zanzibar carrying presents from the King of Muscat for Queen Victoria - including four valuable Arabian horses.

You can find out more about this in the Illustrated London News which is available online in all of Lewisham's Libraries and which can be used at home, etc, with your library card barcode. All of our online services can be accessed from here - http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/myservices/libraries/virtual-library/Pages/Online-services.aspx

Stephen Lawrence honoured with blue heritage plaque

Pic: Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust

A Nubian Jak Community Trust blue plaque has been put up as a memorial to Stephen Lawrence.

EastLondon Lines writes:
 "Stephen Lawrence has been honoured with a blue heritage plaque in tribute to his life. Lawrence is the third person to receive this kind of memorial.

The plaque was  unveiled during a service led by Chairman of the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust, Symon Sentain and Doreen Lawrence, Stephen’s mother, at The Stephen Lawrence Centre in Deptford on May 21 ...."

Stephen Lawrence honoured with blue heritage plaque
Posted from EastLondon Lines

First World War: then and now - HLF launches small grants scheme

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has launched First World War: then and now, a £6 million small grants programme to help communities mark the Centenary of the First World War.

HLF is making at least £1 million available per year for six years until 2019. It will provide grants between £3,000 and £10,000 enabling communities and groups right across the UK to explore, conserve and share their First World War heritage and deepen their understanding of the impact of the conflict.

Successful projects will include:

• researching, identifying and recording local heritage
• creating a community archive or collection
• developing new interpretation of heritage through exhibitions, trails, smartphone apps etc
• researching, writing and performing creative material based on heritage sources

The new programme can also provide funding for the conservation of war memorials.

HLF has already invested £12 million in projects – large and small – that will mark the Centenary of First World War. If a group have a project idea to mark the Centenary of the First World War, an online application pack is available from the First World War: then and now page. If a group needs a grant of more than £10,000 for a First World War project, it can apply to HLF through its open programmes.

HLF-funded First World War projects

The tragic story of the Accrington Pals regiment inspired young people to create a short film about the Lancashire battalion. The film recounts the attack on Serre in 1916 that claimed the lives of most of the battalion’s soldiers and the impact on their families.  (Award £11,200)

Volunteers in Huddersfield are researching the history of rugby league, in particular the impact the war had on their local club. They are learning about the life of star team player Douglas Clark and the recruitment efforts aimed at enlisting rugby players.  (Award £99,800)

Local people in the Wylye Valley are finding out how this rural community was transformed during the early months of the First World War when a six mile site of temporary army camps were set up to train soldiers to fight in France. The largest village in the valley then had a population of 50, and the influx of trainees totalled 24,000.  (Award £18,000)

The Diamond War Memorial project revealed that the men commemorated on the monument in the centre of Derry-Londonderry were from both Unionist and Nationalist backgrounds. This discovery challenged perceptions about identity, and the monument itself is now viewed as a shared landmark in the city.  (Award £49,800)

Black families in Liverpool have been researching their roots and uncovering fascinating stories of about how their ancestors were involved in the First World War. The project will produce a collection of oral histories and potentially a range of objects and archive material that will enhance the collection at the new Museum of Liverpool.  (Award £10,000)

Lewisham Local History and Archives Centre holds a large range of primary material and resources relating to the First World War, and the boroughs of Deptford and Lewisham during the early part of the 20th century. For further information or discuss how we can support a project please email us at local.studies@lewisham.gov.uk, call us on 020 8297 0682, or drop in and visit.

Barnes Wallis, the Dambusters Raid and New Cross

70 years ago today at 9.28pm on 16 May 1943, the first of 19 Lancaster heavy bombers lifted off from RAF Scampton at the start of the Dambusters Raid on the Ruhr dams in Germany.  Immortalised by the Dambusters film and famous theme tune the bombers used the 'bouncing bomb' invented by  Sir Barnes Wallis - a New Cross resident from 1892 - 1909. 

Barnes Wallis was commemorated by the unveiling of a Lewisham Maroon Plaque at his former home at 241 New Cross Road on 29 September 1984. You can see images of the unveiling on our Picasa web album site

The wording of the plaque reads "Sir Barnes Wallis C.B.E. F.R.S., 1887-1979, Pioneer of aircraft design, lived here, 1892-1909"