In 1770, one Thomas Keyse discovered a natural spring. He had opened a tea garden beside what is now Spa Road, on the banks of the River Neckinger. The fortuitous discovery of a chalybeate spring enabled the gardens to be described as ’Bermondsey Spa’. During the 18th century, drinking mineral water was considered good for one’s health. As a result Bermondsey boomed and led to the development of the health-giving elixir which ’Spa Road’ commemorates. Unlike the tapwater-based spring in the nearby ’Only Fools And Horses’ Peckham, Bermondsey Spa was the real deal, although it closed in 1804.

The road then spent thirty quiet years until it took its place in London history as the capital’s first station: Spa Road became the terminus of the London and Greenwich Railway (later the South Eastern and Chatham Railway). Keyse’s tea gardens were roughly situated at the site of the station on the south side of Spa Road.

Spa Road - then Grange Road - marked the location where the railway could start to head over undeveloped open country towards Deptford and Greenwich. When extended to London Bridge, a viaduct had to be built over the newly-built south eastern suburbs - Spa Road marked the edge of the metropolis in 1835 when the railway was built. Construction of the viaduct had started at Corbetts Lane which was still in the countryside. 100 000 bricks were laid every day constructing it, causing a shortage of bricks in the rest of London.

Grange Road was renamed Spa Road once the station opened but development in the area was slow - daily commuting had not yet been invented. The local fields lasted for another decade or more.

The first fatal railway accident in London occurred at Spa Road station on Monday 7 March 1836:



Spa Road station, pictured from the south, with stairs leading up to it from the street (1836) (click image to enlarge)


“Mr James Darling, poulterer, Leadenhall-market, deposed that on Monday afternoon last, about three o’clock, he was standing by the platform on the Greenwich and London Railway, near the Spa-road, which is erected for the purpose of assisting passengers to get into the coaches that proceed on the railway. He was waiting for the steam engine to come from Deptford, which was shortly expected with a train of carriages, and which on arrival would be detached from that train to be joined to the train of coaches in which passengers would be conveyed to Deptford, and which train was on the railroad on the south line. While standing there he saw the train coming from Deptford. At that moment he was assisted on the platform. He had just been speaking to the deceased. The train came in at a rapid rate, and at the place where the engine is detached it receded from the north to the south line, and was not stopped till it came with a very violent concussion against the carriages. From the shock, witness was completely turned round. The train, by the impetus given it, was propelled to the barrier on the north line; on reaching which witness observed the deceased on the ground, dead.”
London Evening Standard

In December 1836, the viaduct between Spa Road and London Bridge opened allowing trains to run to central London. In April 1840, the extension to Greenwich opened. In 1872, the station was relocated some 200 metres to the east.

Briefly fashionable before heavy industry moved in, Bermondsey’s vestry hall was built on Spa Road in 1881. The original vestry hall was extended to create the Bermondsey Town Hall in 1930. Bermondsey’s public library was opened next to it

Spa Road station closed in 1915 and the disused station building is now part of a light industrial estate. A number of elements of the original station – including the ticket office and remnants of the platforms – are still visible.