Southwark
London's south bank — historic entertainment district across the Thames
London's south bank — historic entertainment district across the Thames
Southwark ("the Borough") was situated on the south side of the Thames, directly opposite the City of London. Southwark was connected to the north side by London Bridge, and later by Westminster Bridge, which opened in 1750. Southwark had a rich and unique history, especially with regard to its association with the London entertainment industry. In the time of Elizabeth I and James I, the borough was the place where the Globe Theatre, bear baiting pits, and the infamous "stews" (brothels) on Bankside were located. However, much had changed by the eighteenth century, though it was still a densely populated borough with a mix of social types and a unique character.
Southwark's administrative history was unusually complicated. Part of Southwark came under the jurisdiction of the City of London, specifically the ward known as Bridge Without, which was acquired by the City in 1550. The remainder came under the jurisdiction of the magistrates for Surrey, who met at the quarter sessions. In addition, the local affairs of the borough were overseen by the vestries of the four parishes of St Saviour, St George the Martyr, St Olave, and Christchurch.
This split jurisdiction led to administrative confusion. The City part of Southwark had the benefits of the relatively efficient rule of the Corporation, while the Surrey part had the same haphazard parish-level administration that existed in Westminster and Middlesex. The result was an uneven quality of services, some streets were well lit and paved, while others were dark and neglected.
Southwark is notably underrepresented in Harris's List. Despite its historical association with entertainment and vice, only a handful of entries can be geocoded to addresses south of the Thames. This might be due to a variety of reasons, such as the inconvenience of crossing the river (until Westminster Bridge opened in 1750, the only river-crossing point was London Bridge), the social geography of the readership (which was largely centred in Westminster and the West End), and the fact that by the mid-eighteenth century, the sex business had moved decisively to the north bank.
| Parish | Population (1740s) |
|---|---|
| St Saviour Southwark | 14,527 |
| St Mary Magdalen Bermondsey | 10,620 |
| St Olave Southwark | 9,515 |
| St John Horselydown | 8,120 |
| Newington | 7,914 |
| St George Southwark | 7,073 |
| Christchurch Southwark | 4,202 |
The population statistics demonstrate that Southwark was a significant urban area in its own right, with a combined population of over 60,000 by the 1740s. The lack of information regarding this area in Harris's List says as much about the purpose of the book and its intended audience as it does about the geography of sex work. Harris's List was intended for the gentlemen who ate at the Shakespeare's Head tavern and who attended the theatres of Drury Lane, not those who crossed the river to Southwark.