Most of the land around what became Rouel Road had been owned by John Rolls, 1st Baron Llangattock. Before any major construction took place, the area had been rural – small farms, market gardens and cottages. But Spa Road railway station, the original terminus of the London & Greenwich Railway, opened almost next to the future site of Rouel Road in 1836.
The name ’Rouel’ was approved in 1864, probably taken from Rouel Cottages. Houses were built in 1867. Much of the land and properties were managed by John Rolls’ agents. Lord & Lady Rolls were the last aristocratic landlords of Rouel Road.
Bermondsey was known for its work with leather and hides and as industrialisation began, leather tanning became predominant. One of two large tanneries was sited on the east side of Rouel Road – later the Liptons preservative factory was built on the site.
There were many food and provision factory in the vicinity. The blancmange manufacturers Pearce & Duff moved from Long Lane, Borough to the Spa Road corner of Rouel Road in 1890, formerly the site of glue makers – Young and Company. The Pearce & Duff factory closed after a fire in the 1960s.
Liptons were producing jam and preservatives from 1894 onwards and other small and medium-sized manufacturers were sited in adjacent side roads. Lucy Road had a metallic cask works and tin manufacturers, and off Dockley Road was a deep stamping works.
The Rouel Tavern was situated at number 70 and the road also had a large 1860s-built Congregational church which was later used as a synagogue.
The houses in Rouel Road – particularly those constructed to the northeast, before and after Lucy Road and Cadbury Road – were of a large and accommodating nature. Their design incorporated a large basement – the colloquial term was an ’airey’.
