Gazetteer of
British Place Names

New Cross is a metropolitan district lying in the south-west of Deptford, partly in Kent and partly in Surrey. The precise origin of the 'New Cross' name is not certain but it likely relates to the ancient crossroads here, where Watling Street is crossed by the routeway from Lewisham to Rotherhithe, this crossroads being on the Surrey-Kent border. A New Cross Heath was recorded in the 15th century, when the surrounding area was still heavily wooded. The New Cross Inn stands on the north-west corner of this crossroads, on the Surrey side. From 1718 this stretch of Watling Street was turnpiked under the New Cross Turnpike Trust, the original tollgate being at the crossroads. The hamlet of Hatcham lay to the west of the crossroads, though the New Cross name has become dominant for the area around the crossroads, possibly due to the naming of the New Cross and New Cross Gate railway stations. Deptford Town Hall (1905) is in the Baroque style and has statues of four naval figures, including Drake and Nelson, along its front. The district is within the council area of Lewisham.

Place Type: Urban locality
Historic County: Kent / Surrey
Lat, Long: 51.475655,-0.036943
Grid Reference: TQ 3642 7701
Council Area: Lewisham CA
Strategic Authority Area: Greater London SA
Police Area: Metropolitan PA

GBPN ID: 32130
Entry Type: Main listing (P)
URL: https://gazetteer.org.uk/place/New_Cross,_Kent_32130

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