| Official Name: | London Borough of Lewisham |
| Settlement Type: | London borough |
| Image Blank Emblem: | Lewisham Council Logo.svg |
| Blank Emblem Type: | Council logo |
| Blank Emblem Size: | 100px |
| Subdivision Type: | Sovereign state |
| Subdivision Name: | United Kingdom |
| Subdivision Type2: | Constituent country |
| Subdivision Name2: | England |
| Subdivision Type3: | Region |
| Subdivision Name3: | London |
| Subdivision Type4: | Ceremonial county |
| Subdivision Name4: | Greater London |
| Established Title: | Created |
| Established Date: | 1 April 1965 |
| Seat Type: | Admin HQ |
| Seat: | Catford |
| Government Type: | London borough council |
| Governing Body: | Lewisham London Borough Council |
| Leader Title2: | London Assembly |
| Leader Name2: | Len Duvall AM for Greenwich and Lewisham |
| Leader Title3: | MPs |
| Leader Name3: | Ellie Reeves (Labour) Vicky Foxcroft (Labour) Janet Daby (Labour) |
| Area Total Km2: | 35.15 |
| Area Rank: | (of) |
| Population Rank: | (of) |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Timezone: | GMT |
| Utc Offset: | ±00:00UTC |
| Timezone Dst: | BST |
| Utc Offset Dst: | +1 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postcodes |
| Postal Code: | , |
| Area Code: | 020 |
| Blank1 Name: | ONS code |
| Blank1 Info: | 00AZ |
| Blank2 Name: | GSS code |
| Blank2 Info: | E09000023 |
| Blank Name Sec2: | Police |
| Blank Info Sec2: | Metropolitan Police |
| Website: | Council Website |
Lewisham is a London borough in south-east London, England. It forms part of Inner London. The principal settlement of the borough is Lewisham. The local authority is Lewisham London Borough Council, based in Catford. The Prime Meridian passes through Lewisham. Blackheath, Goldsmiths, University of London and Millwall F.C. are located within the borough.
The modern borough broadly corresponds to the area of the ancient parishes of Lee and Lewisham, plus the later parish of Deptford St Paul, created in 1730 when the ancient parish of Deptford was subdivided. (The other Deptford parish created in 1730, Deptford St Nicholas, went instead to the borough of Greenwich.) Most of the area was historically in the county of Kent, although Deptford St Paul straddled the boundary with Surrey, with its chapelry of Hatcham (the area now known as New Cross) being in the latter county. From 1856 the area was governed by the Metropolitan Board of Works, which was established to provide services across the metropolis of London.[1]
In 1889 the Metropolitan Board of Works' area was made the County of London. From 1856 until 1900 the lower tier of local government within the metropolis comprised various parish vestries and district boards. In 1900 the lower tier was reorganised into metropolitan boroughs, two of which were Lewisham (covering the parishes of Lewisham and Lee) and Deptford (covering the parish of Deptford St Paul).[2]
The larger London Borough of Lewisham was created in 1965 under the London Government Act 1963, as an amalgamation of the former area of the metropolitan boroughs of Lewisham and Deptford.[3]
Minor boundary changes have occurred since its creation. The most significant amendments were made in 1996, when the former area of the Royal Docks in Deptford was transferred from the London Borough of Greenwich.[4]
See also: List of districts in Lewisham. The borough is surrounded by the Royal Borough of Greenwich to the east (where the border runs between Deptford and Horn Park), the London Borough of Bromley to the south (where the border runs between Horn Park and Crystal Palace Park), and the London Borough of Southwark to the west (where the border runs between Crystal Palace Park and Rotherhithe). The River Thames forms a short section of northern boundary with the Isle of Dogs in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. Deptford Creek, Pool River, River Quaggy and River Ravensbourne pass through the borough.Major landmarks include All Saints Church in Blackheath, the Citibank Tower in Lewisham, Dietrich Bonhoeffer Church (Sydenham's German Church, technically located in Forest Hill) and the Horniman Museum in Forest Hill. Millwall F.C. are based in the borough, their stadium The Den being located in South Bermondsey.
See main article: Lewisham London Borough Council. The local authority is Lewisham Council, based at Lewisham Town Hall and the adjoining Laurence House in the Catford area of the borough. Since 2002 the council has been led by the directly elected Mayor of Lewisham. A speaker fulfils the civic and ceremonial roles previously undertaken by the (non-political) mayor prior to 2002. The current mayor, Brenda Dacres, was the first black woman directly elected mayor in England when elected in March 2024.[5]
Since 2000, for elections to the London Assembly, the borough forms part of the Greenwich and Lewisham constituency.
The borough includes the constituencies of Lewisham Deptford, Lewisham West and Penge and Lewisham East.
These are the MPs who have represented constituencies covered by the borough since its formation in 1964. Constituencies change their boundaries over time, even where names remain the same.
| MP | Party | Represented | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heidi Alexander | Labour | Lewisham East | 2010–2018 | |
| Christopher Chataway | Conservative | Lewisham North | 1964–66 | |
| Janet Daby | Labour | Lewisham East | 2018–present | |
| James Dickens | Labour | Lewisham West | 1966–70 | |
| Jim Dowd | Labour | Lewisham West | 1992–2017 | |
| Vicky Foxcroft | Labour | Lewisham, Deptford | 2015–present | |
| John Selwyn Gummer | Conservative | Lewisham West | 1970–74 (Feb) | |
| Carol Johnson | Labour | Lewisham South | 1964–74 (Feb) | |
| Patrick McNair-Wilson | Conservative | Lewisham West | 1964–66 | |
| John Maples | Conservative | Lewisham West | 1983–92 | |
| Roland Moyle | Labour | Lewisham North Lewisham East | 1966–74 (Feb) 1974 (Feb)-79 | |
| Colin Moynihan | Conservative | Lewisham East | 1983–92 | |
| Bridget Prentice | Labour | Lewisham East | 1992–2010 | |
| Christopher Price | Labour | Lewisham West | 1974 (Feb)-79 | |
| Ellie Reeves | Labour | Lewisham West | 2017–present | |
| John Silkin | Labour | Deptford Lewisham, Deptford | 1964–74 (Feb) 1974 (Feb)-87 |
According to the 2011 census,[6] Lewisham has a population of 275,885, is 53% white and 47%, and 43% of households are owner-occupiers.
A 2017 report by Trust for London and the New Policy Institute found that Lewisham has a poverty rate of 26%, close to the London-wide figure of 27%.[7]
| Ethnic Group | Year | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 estimations[8] | 1981 estimations[9] | 1991 census[10] | 2001 census[11] | 2011 census[12] | 2021 census[13] | ||||||||
| Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | ||
| White Total | – | 91.9% | 193,492 | 84.9% | 180,234 | 78% | 164,098 | 65.8% | 147,686 | 53.6% | 154,749 | 51.5% | |
| White: British | – | – | – | – | – | – | 141,814 | 56.9% | 114,446 | 41.5% | 111,726 | 37.2% | |
| White: Irish | – | – | – | – | – | – | 5,206 | 1.9% | 6,990 | 2.8% | 5,055 | 1.7% | |
| White: Gypsy or Irish Traveller | – | – | – | – | – | – | 208 | 0.1% | 116 | 0.0% | |||
| White: Roma | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1,033 | 0.3% | |
| White: Other | – | – | – | – | – | – | 15,294 | 6.1% | 27,826 | 10.1% | 36,819 | 12.3% | |
| Asian or Asian British Total | – | – | – | – | 9,576 | 4.1% | 12,881 | 5.2% | 25,534 | 9.3% | 26,927 | 9% | |
| Asian or Asian British: Indian | – | – | – | – | 2,790 | 3,487 | 1.4% | 4,600 | 1.7% | 5,046 | 1.7% | ||
| Asian or Asian British: Pakistani | – | – | – | – | 739 | 1,090 | 0.4% | 1,596 | 0.6% | 2,361 | 0.8% | ||
| Asian or Asian British: Bangladeshi | – | – | – | – | 636 | 1,229 | 0.5% | 1,388 | 0.5% | 1,826 | 0.6% | ||
| Asian or Asian British: Chinese | – | – | – | – | 2,380 | 3,431 | 1.4% | 6,164 | 2.2% | 6,296 | 2.1% | ||
| Asian or Asian British: Other Asian | – | – | – | – | 3,031 | 3,644 | 1.4% | 11,786 | 4.3% | 11,398 | 3.8% | ||
| Black or Black British Total | – | – | – | – | 37,524 | 16.2% | 58,260 | 23.4% | 74,942 | 27.2% | 80,473 | 26.8% | |
| Black or Black British: African | – | – | – | – | 8,554 | 22,571 | 9.0% | 32,025 | 11.6% | 37,834 | 12.6% | ||
| Black or Black British: Caribbean | – | – | – | – | 23,229 | 10% | 30,543 | 12.3% | 30,854 | 11.2% | 31,883 | 10.6% | |
| Black or Black British: Other Black | – | – | – | – | 5,741 | 5,146 | 2.1% | 12,063 | 4.4% | 10,756 | 3.6% | ||
| Mixed or British Mixed Total | – | – | – | – | – | – | 10,399 | 4.1% | 20,472 | 7.4% | 24,253 | 8.2% | |
| Mixed: White and Black Caribbean | – | – | – | – | – | – | 4,760 | 1.9% | 8,539 | 3.1% | 8,726 | 2.9% | |
| Mixed: White and Black African | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1,599 | 0.6% | 3,559 | 1.3% | 3,774 | 1.3% | |
| Mixed: White and Asian | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1,565 | 0.6% | 3,045 | 1.1% | 4,359 | 1.5% | |
| Mixed: Other Mixed | – | – | – | – | – | – | 2,475 | 1.0% | 5,329 | 1.9% | 7,394 | 2.5% | |
| Other: Total | – | – | – | – | 3,649 | 1.5% | 3,284 | 1.3% | 7,341 | 2.6% | 14,151 | 4.8% | |
| Other: Arab | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1,456 | 0.5% | 1671 | 0.6% | |
| Other: Any other ethnic group | – | – | – | – | 3,649 | 1.5% | 3,284 | 1.3% | 5,795 | 2.1% | 12,480 | 4.2% | |
| Ethnic minority: Total | – | 8.9% | 34,463 | 15.1% | 50,749 | 21.8% | 84,824 | 34.2% | 128,289 | 46.4% | 145,804 | 48.5% | |
| Total | – | 100% | 227,955 | 100% | 230,983 | 100% | 248,922 | 100.00% | 275,885 | 100.00% | 300,553 | 100% | |
The following table shows the religious identity of residents residing in Lewisham according to 2021 census results
| Religion | 2021[14] | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Number | % | ||
| 131,706 | 43.8 | ||
| 22,264 | 7.4 | ||
| 826 | 0.3 | ||
| 6,459 | 2.1 | ||
| 720 | 0.2 | ||
| 3,270 | 1.1 | ||
| Other religion | 2,269 | 0.8 | |
| 110,379 | 36.7 | ||
| Religion not stated | 22,660 | 7.5 | |
| Total | 300,553 | 100.0 | |
The male population in Lewisham is 157,820, and the female population is 142,733. The average age of people living in Lewisham is 37 years old.[15]
The following table shows the age distributions of residents residing in Lewisham according to 2021 census results.
| Age | 2021 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Number | % | ||
| Below 14 | 54,877 | 18.26 | |
| Between 15 and 24 | 34,479 | 11.47 | |
| Between 25 and 34 | 58,434 | 19.44 | |
| Between 35 and 44 | 51,254 | 17.05 | |
| Between 45 and 54 | 40,770 | 13.56 | |
| Between 55 and 64 | 32,091 | 10.68 | |
| Between 65 and 74 | 16,092 | 5.35 | |
| Between 75 and 100 | 12,557 | 4.18 | |
| Total | 300,553 | 100.0 | |
See main article: List of schools in Lewisham.
The London's Poverty Profile, a report by Trust for London and the New Policy Institute, found that 42% of 19-year-olds in Lewisham lack level 3 qualifications. This is the 3rd worst rate out of 32 boroughs.[16]
In 2018, Lewisham had the third highest rate of exclusions of pupils from secondary schools of any area in England.[17]
Lewisham station, once known as Lewisham Junction, is located at the junction of the lines to Dartford and Hayes, and is also the terminus of the southern branch of the Docklands Light Railway.
The East London Line (on the London Underground network) terminated at New Cross and New Cross Gate until December 2007. An extension to this line opened on 23 May 2010, serving Brockley, Honor Oak Park, Forest Hill, and Sydenham. This forms part of the London Overground network.
The South London Line runs along the extreme North West of the borough, at present there are no stations that are within the borough. There is a proposal for a new station at providing a link to Clapham Junction.
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There are no Tube stations currently in the borough, as the East London Line has been part of London Overground since 2006. However, an extension of the Bakerloo line beyond Elephant & Castle to Lewisham and Hayes has been proposed.[18]
Quietway one links Lewisham to Greenwich and in toward central London
One Cycle Superhighways will operate through Lewisham in the future.
In March 2011, the main forms of transport that residents used to travel to work were: train, 18.6% of all residents aged 16–74; driving a car or van, 11.2%; bus, minibus or coach, 11.2%; underground, metro, light rail, tram, 9.7%; on foot, 4.3%; work mainly at or from home, 2.8%; bicycle, 2.6%.[19]
48% of households in the borough are car free, compared to 42% across Greater London.[20]
Lewisham won London Borough of Culture for 2020. The prestigious award, is a major initiative launched by the Mayor of London in June 2017, will see Lewisham receive £1.35 million to stage an ambitious, year-long programme of cultural events celebrating the wealth of creative talent in the borough and delivering lasting social change.
Millwall Football Club was originally formed in 1885, in Millwall on the Isle of Dogs, East London. They retained the name, even though they moved across the river to New Cross, South London in 1910. In 1993 they moved to their current stadium, The Den which is in Bermondsey, but falls under the Borough of Lewisham. The Borough has a Non-League football club Lewisham Borough Football Club, who play at the Ladywell Arena, Catford.
The motto of the borough is "Salus Populi Suprema Lex", which means (roughly translated) "The welfare of the people [is] the highest law."
The borough is twinned with the following towns:
The borough has also signed a "friendship link" with Ekurhuleni, near Johannesburg, South Africa.
The honour of Freedom of the Borough has been awarded to: