News
Articles: Eltham, name and history
Published: May 08, 2004 - 12:32 AM
Last November another EHS past student, my best friend from Eltham State School and EHS was living in London England on an exchange. Living in Canada, I thought we (self and husband) should trot over and visit her and her husband, whom I had not seen since 1967.
After an emotional reunion we got down to the meaty details of sight seeing and decided we should visit Eltham, the name sake of our home town and school....
After an emotional reunion we got down to the meaty details of sight seeing and decided we should visit Eltham, the name sake of our home town and school....
Many years ago I had asked one of our teachers, Mr MacLeod, what Eltham meant. He said we were named after this town near London and that was all. We found the town is now a south east suburb and accessible by the underground. We also found there a palace, a city full of charm and some very interesting details.
Firstly, Eltham is a name that goes back over 1000 years. In Olde English ELT means Swan and HAM means town. So Elt-ham (as it is pronounced there) means Swan village. Can't say I ever saw a swan in Eltham outside of Monsalvat, but it is a lovely name and evokes a beautiful image of pre-industrial Eltham.
Secondly, there is a wonderful Palace at Eltham, one with a spine tingling history that should be taught in school, but we certainly weren't ever taught about it. Briefly, this Palace was built sometime prior to 1086 when the Domesday book records Eltham as being held by Odo, Bishop of Bayeux, the half brother of William the Conquerer. In 1295 the Manor House was aquired by Anthony Bek, Bishop of Durham. He then constructed a defensive wall and dug the moat, which is still there. He also constructed a timber draw-bridge.
In 1305 Bek gifts the manor to Edward, Prince of Wales, the future Edward 11, who in 1311 grants it to Isabella, his Queen. Eltham has now become a Royal Residence.
In 1316 Edward and Isabellas second son John, is born at Eltham and baptized in the chapel.
In 1347 The Order of the Garter is established at Eltham by Edward 111 with tournaments of celebration held in the courtyard, called Tilt Yard.
1475 to 1483 during the reign of Edward 1V, the Great Hall and moat bridge are built. This bridge is still in use though the old timbers were replaced in 1612, thus it is called "The New Bridge".
In 1499 Erasmus (Dutch Philosopher) and Sir Thomas More visit Prince Henry (later Henry V111) who spends most of his childhood at Eltham. Henry V111 also raised his own children at Eltham Palace. Mary and Elizabeths chambers are long gone but the walls, with their delicate ornamental brickwork are standing by the rose garden where the Princesses chambers once were.
In 1525 Cardinal Wolsey draws up "The Eltham Statutes" at Eltham, for the running of the Royal Household. These are the basis of today's rules and regulations for the House of Windsor.
1648 saw the ransacking of Eltham during the English Civil war by the Parliamentary troops. This so enraged the troops loyal to the Crown they crushed the Parliamentary troops down the road in Greenwich. The Great Hall is allowed to fall into disrepair and is used for the next 400 years as a stable and animal barn.
1859 sees Crown tenant Richard Bloxham make improvements to the site including a new residence next to the great hall called Eltham Court.
From 1911 to 1914, mamny major works are carried out on the palace. It has ceased to be a royal residence, however the owners saw the need to preserve the history of the great hall and braced the rotting roof timbers with steel braces.
1933 The palace and grounds were leased to the Courtauld Family who restore the Palace and the Great Hall, which becomes a centre piece of their home. Their art-deco decoration of their own "wing" is still as vibrant today as when the family was in residence.
In 1945 the palace became the home of the Royal Army Educational Corps and in 1970 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 11 visits Eltham Palace to mark the 50th anniversary of the Corps.
Happily in 1995 English Heritage took over the responsibility of the Palace and its restoration of interior and gardens. Today it is a vibrant and "living" historical presence within the boundaries of London.
Now, one of the important "finds" of this trip to Eltham was on the wall of the moat as you cross the bridge into the Palace grounds. There is a rampant horse with a star in the upper left corner (as you look at it). Our very school badge was obviously modelled upon this crest, a crest that was chiselled into the walls when the first part of the moat was built.
Now isn't that a remarkable history? Our town named after such a historical site, bearing the insignia of that site. Surely that should be taught to every student who passes through EHS. It is our history and something to be remarkably proud of. I am so glad I finally got to Eltham England and discovered who we really are.
Firstly, Eltham is a name that goes back over 1000 years. In Olde English ELT means Swan and HAM means town. So Elt-ham (as it is pronounced there) means Swan village. Can't say I ever saw a swan in Eltham outside of Monsalvat, but it is a lovely name and evokes a beautiful image of pre-industrial Eltham.
Secondly, there is a wonderful Palace at Eltham, one with a spine tingling history that should be taught in school, but we certainly weren't ever taught about it. Briefly, this Palace was built sometime prior to 1086 when the Domesday book records Eltham as being held by Odo, Bishop of Bayeux, the half brother of William the Conquerer. In 1295 the Manor House was aquired by Anthony Bek, Bishop of Durham. He then constructed a defensive wall and dug the moat, which is still there. He also constructed a timber draw-bridge.
In 1305 Bek gifts the manor to Edward, Prince of Wales, the future Edward 11, who in 1311 grants it to Isabella, his Queen. Eltham has now become a Royal Residence.
In 1316 Edward and Isabellas second son John, is born at Eltham and baptized in the chapel.
In 1347 The Order of the Garter is established at Eltham by Edward 111 with tournaments of celebration held in the courtyard, called Tilt Yard.
1475 to 1483 during the reign of Edward 1V, the Great Hall and moat bridge are built. This bridge is still in use though the old timbers were replaced in 1612, thus it is called "The New Bridge".
In 1499 Erasmus (Dutch Philosopher) and Sir Thomas More visit Prince Henry (later Henry V111) who spends most of his childhood at Eltham. Henry V111 also raised his own children at Eltham Palace. Mary and Elizabeths chambers are long gone but the walls, with their delicate ornamental brickwork are standing by the rose garden where the Princesses chambers once were.
In 1525 Cardinal Wolsey draws up "The Eltham Statutes" at Eltham, for the running of the Royal Household. These are the basis of today's rules and regulations for the House of Windsor.
1648 saw the ransacking of Eltham during the English Civil war by the Parliamentary troops. This so enraged the troops loyal to the Crown they crushed the Parliamentary troops down the road in Greenwich. The Great Hall is allowed to fall into disrepair and is used for the next 400 years as a stable and animal barn.
1859 sees Crown tenant Richard Bloxham make improvements to the site including a new residence next to the great hall called Eltham Court.
From 1911 to 1914, mamny major works are carried out on the palace. It has ceased to be a royal residence, however the owners saw the need to preserve the history of the great hall and braced the rotting roof timbers with steel braces.
1933 The palace and grounds were leased to the Courtauld Family who restore the Palace and the Great Hall, which becomes a centre piece of their home. Their art-deco decoration of their own "wing" is still as vibrant today as when the family was in residence.
In 1945 the palace became the home of the Royal Army Educational Corps and in 1970 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 11 visits Eltham Palace to mark the 50th anniversary of the Corps.
Happily in 1995 English Heritage took over the responsibility of the Palace and its restoration of interior and gardens. Today it is a vibrant and "living" historical presence within the boundaries of London.
Now, one of the important "finds" of this trip to Eltham was on the wall of the moat as you cross the bridge into the Palace grounds. There is a rampant horse with a star in the upper left corner (as you look at it). Our very school badge was obviously modelled upon this crest, a crest that was chiselled into the walls when the first part of the moat was built.
Now isn't that a remarkable history? Our town named after such a historical site, bearing the insignia of that site. Surely that should be taught to every student who passes through EHS. It is our history and something to be remarkably proud of. I am so glad I finally got to Eltham England and discovered who we really are.