Battersea history

Battersea means Badric’s Island in Anglo-Saxon. It was originally an island surrounded by water and marshes. Battersea Square was the original centre of the village. The Raven public house in the square has survived from the time of Charles II. The local church, St Mary’s, existed at the time of the Norman conquest, but was rebuilt in 1777. For most of its life, Battersea was a thriving agricultural area because the soil was particularly fertile. Battersea was especially famous for its asparagus – bunches were called “Battersea bundles”. This rural idyll all changed when the London and Southampton Railway opened a huge terminus and depot at Nine Elms in 1838. New Covent Garden now occupies the site of the Nine Elms yard. Industry moved into the area as well. The population grew from 3,000 in 1800 to 169,000 in 1900. Much of the area was taken over for housing for the workers - 24,000 new homes were built. More of the remaining open area was developed as the Shaftesbury Park estate in 1872.

The agricultural area near the river was turned into Battersea Park. The Commissioners for Improving the Metropolis were authorised by an Act of Parliament in 1846 to create a royal park in Battersea Fields. They bought 320 acres, of which nearly 200 form the park. The rest was sold for housing. The park was laid out by Sir James Pennethorne. The Buddhist Peace Pagoda was built in 1985 near the river overlooking Chelsea. This was the site of a duel between the Duke of Wellington and the Earl of Winchelsea in 1829. The Earl had accused the Duke of treason against the Constitution – fighting talk. When one of the seconds gave the order to fire, Winchelsea kept his pistol at his side, and Wellington deliberately fired wide. Winchelsea then fired his pistol into the air and apologised. The first Battersea Bridge was a wooden bridge built in the 18th century. It was replaced in 1886-1890 by the present cast iron bridge designed by Sir Joseph Bazalgette.

The Battersea power station was designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, who also designed Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral. The first part of the power station opened in 1933, but the second stage was not completed until 1953. It was closed down in 1983.