Dulwich history

“Dulwich” apparently is Old English meaning “The meadow where the dill grew”. The manor was bought by Edward Alleyn in 1605. Alleyn was an actor and a part owner of the Fortune and Rose Theatres in London. He would have known Shakespeare. Alleyn decided to use his money to set up a school for poor boys. The Old College was built in 1618 and in 1619 he set up a foundation called the College of God’s Gift at Dulwich to run the school. When he died he left the whole Dulwich estate to the College. Alleyn’s collection of pictures was eventually turned into the Dulwich Picture Gallery. New Dulwich College was built in 1870.