London
Town Guide


Herne Hill District

SE24

Herne Hill is the district of south-east London that lies just north of Dulwich. The name is said to have come from the herons that once frequented the local river, but it is more likely that the name comes from a wealthy family who once lived here.

Like many parts of outer London the area was remote and rural for much of its history. By the 18th century it was a popular country residence for wealthy families and so there were several elegant town houses in the district.

In the 19th century however, everything changed. The railway reached Herne Hill in the 1860s and the area was soon transformed with sprawling residential suburbs. The houses catered mainly towards the working classes and as a result the district lost its fashionable status.

The district is still predominantly residential. In the 1965 boundary changes Herne Hill became divided between the borough of Lambeth and the borough of Southwark.


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