Plumstead

2:24pm Wednesday 20th June 2007

The village of Plumstead has been swamped over the years by developments at nearby Woolwich.

Not surprisingly the name Plumstead has a lot to do with plums. The name is derived from the Anglo Saxon for the place where plum trees grow'.

Fruit growing took place until the mid-19th century, with extensive orchards on the south side of Plumstead High Street.

The growth of the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich had a massive impact on Plumstead in the 19th century, with large-scale housing developments changing the village forever.

Plumstead's population rocketed from just over 1,000 in 1801 to nearly 25,000 in 1861.

Plumstead Common came under threat of development in the 1870s, but a campaign was launched to save it, culminating in riots.

The common was acquired by the Metropolitan Board of Works in 1877 to be preserved as a public open space. Nowadays the common is an ideal place for picnics or recreation.

The vast Plumstead Marshes, once home to flocks of birds, have almost been entirely taken over by the growth of Thamesmead. However, some areas of the marshes have been retained as open space and wildlife sites.

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