Property for sale or rent in Bermondsey SE1, SE16
The name Bermondsey comes from a chap called Beornmund, with the ‘ey’ bit meaning an island or a place near water. No-one seems to know who he was, but Bermondsey was mentioned in the Domesday Book, so it certainly goes back a long way.
After the Great Fire of London, it became a popular middle class area. St Mary Magdalen Church, still standing in Bermondsey Street, is from this era. In the eighteenth century, the discovery of a spring led to it becoming known as something of a spa.
Moving forward to the nineteenth century, J.M.W. Turner created his famous painting of The Fighting "Temeraire" from Bermondsey. However, by the mid-19th century many parts of Bermondsey had become slums as a result of industrial plants, docks and immigrant housing. The area around St Saviour's Dock, known as Jacob's Island, was one of the worst in London, and was immortalised in Charles Dickens's novel Oliver Twist.
The area was extensively redeveloped during the later 19th and early 20th centuries with the expansion of the river trade and the arrival of the railways. During the industrial boom of the 19th century it became the processing and trading area for leather and hides. Many buildings from this era survive around Leathermarket Street, including the huge Leather, Hide and Wool Exchange.
To the east of Tower Bridge, Bermondsey's 3½ miles of riverside were lined with warehouses and wharves, of which the best known is Butler's Wharf. They suffered severe bomb damage in the war (although other parts of Bermondsey survived largely unscathed) and became redundant in the 1960s following the collapse of the river trade.
After standing derelict for some years, many of the wharves were redeveloped during the 1980s. They have now been converted into a mixture of residential and commercial properties and have become some of the most upmarket and expensive of their kind in London.
According to Time Out, Bermondsey Street would win the award for ‘funkiest newcomer’ if they were giving out gongs for cool streets. It’s full of design studios, galleries, fashion outlets and top restaurants, and it’s in the midst of development that will see it become even trendier.
The truth is, though, that the whole area – often referred to as ‘the new Clerkenwell’ – is very much on the up and up, fuelled by a wide choice of property and convenience for Central London and the City.
There’s also no shortage of things to see and enjoy, whether it’s the galleries, theatres and museums of the South Bank, the many tempting goodies to be found at Borough Market, or the succession of fashionable bars and restaurants.
The only thing Bermondsey lacks is large open spaces, although Bankside Gardens, Jubilee Gardens and the Southwark Cathedral churchyard are all pleasant spots to escape to, and there’s always something new to see in a walk along the river.
Properties in Bermondsey
Bermondsey is an area growing fast in popularity. It has a wide range of properties from ex-council, converted warehouses to new build luxury penthouses, as well as exciting new loft developments in and around Bermondsey Street. Many of the working warehouses and wharves along Bermondsey’s 3.5 miles of riverside frontage have been redeveloped into fantastic waterside residential properties.
Prices are rising sharply, but there’s still good value to be had, particularly away from the riverside, and there’s certainly no shortage of choice.
Buying or renting in Bermondsey – useful information
Transport links – Bermondsey Underground is on the Jubilee line, while London Bridge is on both the Jubilee and Northern lines, and also offers many mainline trains. For more details, see Transport for London
Schools – There are many good schools, both primary and secondary in the area. Examples of the latter include the City of London Academy in Southwark, St Michaels’s RC School and Bacon College. For more information, see the School League Tables
Places of interest in Bermondsey – Bermondsey Square Antiques Market • The Bermondsey Street Gallery • Tower Bridge • Borough Market • HMS Belfast • London Dungeon • Clink Museum • Fashion and Textile Museum • Butler’s Wharf • Unicorn Theatre
Local Authority – Southwark. Details of amenities, council tax rates and more are on the Southwark Council website
Find out more about property in Bermondsey
Outlet Estate Agents offers a wide choice of property for both sale and rent in Bermondsey, including flats, apartments, lofts, houses and commercial premises. For current examples, seeproperties to rent or for sale in Bermondsey
In addition, anyone with property to rent or for sale in Bermondsey or elsewhere in SE1 or SE16 is welcome to contact us.
Have a look as well at one or two of our property guides covering nearby areas. These include:
Waterloo Property Guide
Whitechapel Property Guide
Wapping Property Guide
Elephant & Castle Property Guide
For further information on living, buying, selling, renting or letting in Bermondsey, please contact us
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