10 Things You Might Not Know About Thamesmead

Thamesmead is an interesting place but don't take our word for it, take a look at these 10 facts you might not know...

1. Out of sight, underneath the elevated section of Harrow Manor Way is an amazing  multi-million pound youth and community centre, The Link Thamesmead, which has been described as one of the most innovative and most exciting in the country. Offering activities, opportunities and spaces for hire - find out more at www.thelinkthamesmead.co.uk or better still, go to see it for yourself in Belvedere Road, SE2 9BS.

2. The makeover of all makeovers! A framework is being developed by Trust Thamesmead, Bexley Council and Gallions Housing Association for a massive regeneration project in South Thamesmead. Funded by the Greater London Authority it sets out plans for investment over the next 10-15 years, and includes community led projects, building refurbishments, new-build projects and improvements to parks and streets.

3. The Thamesmead Match Fund was launched last week by the South Thamesmead Regeneration Partnership to support resident-led projects and initiatives. If you have ideas for a community project, click here.

4. Misfits is a cult British science fiction comedy-drama television show and it's filmed in Thamesmead. It's about a group of young offenders sentenced to work in a community service programme, where they obtain supernatural powers after a strange electrical storm.

5. In November 2012, Thamesmead was named film location of the month by Film Fixer. Lots of filming happens in Thamesmead, take a look here.

6. Word has it that Gucci are interested in filming a TV advert in Thamesmead.

7. A report on the impact of Crossrail has revealed Abbey Wood and Woolwich are on track to be property hot spots. The two locations (which Thamesmead sits firmly in-between) are among six in London where “significant property investment could take place” due to the rapid train link which is set to open in 2018.
 
8. After the fall of Saigon and the American withdrawal from Vietnam in the late 1970s, a small group of Vietnamese refugees built a community in Thamesmead, which still thrives today.

9. Thamesmead isn't just, as many believe; just a housing estate dating back to the 1960s. Archaeological works at what is now Slocum Close and the Thamesmead-Erith spine road suggest that the marshes may indeed have been inhabited by settlers during the prehistoric period.

10. In its early days Thamesmead was known as ‘The Woolwich-Erith Riverside Project' but with the help of the local papers a ‘Name the New Town' competition was launched in November 1966. There were 565 entries and some of the more bizarre suggestions were ‘New Wooabbeleri', ‘Bamboo Estate' and ‘Blumguston'.

The winner was Mr Anthony Walton, a London Transport supplies officer from Barnehurst who won the £20 prize and by March 1967 the new town had been formally christened with its name of ‘Thamesmead'.

Contact us to let us know what you think or if you know of any other interesting facts about Thamesmead.