London
Town Guide


Battersea District

SW8, SW11
Nearest Tube: Sloane Square
Nearest Station: Vauxhall BR Station


This part of south-west London, situated to the south of the River Thames between Brixton and Wandsworth, dates back to the 1st century AD. At the time the area was surrounded by marshland and the name is derived from the Saxon for "Badric's Island".

By the 16th and 17th centuries, the marshland had been drained and Battersea was a predominantly agricultural area. This remained largely unchanged until the late 19th century when market gardening was still the primary occupation in the area.

But industrialisation in the 19th century transformed everything. The railway first came to Battersea in the 1850s bringing with it all manner of new industries to the area. The population grew dramatically and the southern parts of the area were taken over by housing.

The district remained predominantly working-class until well into the 1970s. Then the 1980s property boom saw the gentifrication of the area, and as a result it became nicknamed 'South Chelsea'.

Over the years many historical artefacts have been found in the Battersea area, some of which can be seen in the British Museum, including the famous Battersea Shield. Nowadays the most famous places in the district include Battersea Park, Battersea Power Station and, of course, Battersea Dogs Home.


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