Facts about Battersea
Battersea History
Industry in the area was concentrated to the northwest just outside the Battersea-Wandsworth boundary, at the confluence of the River Thames and the River Wandle. Which gave rise to the village of Wandsworth. This was settled from the 16th century by Protestant craftsmen Huguenots. Fleeing religious persecution in Europe, who planted lavender and gardens and established a range of industries such as mills, breweries and dyeing, bleaching and calico printing.
Along the Thames, a number of large and, in their field, pre-eminent firms grew. Notably, the Morgan Crucible Company, which survives to this day and is listed on the London Stock Exchange. Price’s Candles, which also made cycle lamp oil; and Orlando Jones’ Starch Factory.
General Info
Battersea is a district of South West London, England, within the London Borough of Wandsworth. It is located on the south bank of the River Thames, 2.9 miles southwest of Charing Cross. The tradition of local government in England was based in part of Manor, and later on the Parish. Battersea’s governance can be traced back to 693 when the manor was held by the nunnery of St. Mary at Barking Abbey.
After the Norman Conquest of 1066, control of the manor passed to Westminster Abbey, ending at the time of the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1540. Local control rested with an officer appointed by the abbey, variously termed a beadle, reeve or sergeant, whose responsibility it supervised the farm servants of the manor, and to enforce and direct customary work performed by manorial tenants.
