Liberty over London Bridge: A History of the People of Southwark

by Margaret Willes

The first complete history of Southwark, London’s stubbornly independent community over the Thames   Southwark’s fortunes have always been tied to those of the City of London across the river. But from its founding in Roman times through to flourishing in the medieval era, the Borough has always fiercely asserted its independence. A place of licence, largely free of the City’s jurisdiction, Southwark became a constant thorn in London’s an administrative anachronism, a commercial rival, and an asylum for undesirable industries and residents.   In this remarkable history of London’s liberty beyond the bridge, Margaret Willes narrates the life and times of the people of Southwark, capturing the Borough’s anarchic spirit of revelry. Populated by a potent mix of talented immigrants, religious dissenters, theatrical folk, brewers, and sex workers, Southwark often escaped urban jurisdiction—giving it an atmosphere of danger, misrule, and artistic freedom. Tracing Southwark’s history from its Roman foundation to its present popularity as a place to visit, through Chaucer, to Shakespeare, and on to Dickens, Willes offers an indispensable exploration of the City’s unacknowledged mirror image.

304 pages, Hardcover

Published February 20, 2024

About the author

Margaret Willes studied modern history and architectural history at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. She was an editor at three London publishing houses before becoming the Publisher at the National Trust, where she began the Trust's own book imprint. In addition to producing the list that included many illustrated books, she also acted as the author of works such as Memories of Childhood (1997) and Scenes from Georgian Life (2001).

Reviews

[Geraldine Burnett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well researched and an interesting topic. Probably good for history buffs and those with excellent concentration skills. As a part time history enthusiast I feel it could have been improved by removing some detail to footnotes and trying to make the stories clearer to follow - so many details and names are added in to every chapter that you need to read it at least three times to follow the main thrust of the story. For example, a figure dies and then we learn about the name of the person who inscribed their tomb and a side fact about who their nephew was, then we move back to the main story of the impact of this figure’s death. The inscription of their tomb not massively relevant to the main story, and could be better as a footnote for people interested in it. I can only manage about 10 pages of this at a time before needing to put it down. But as a local to Southwark I am very appreciative that it has been written!

[Paul Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

As only the fifth reviewer of this recently published book my 4* rating will have slightly skewed the average rating of 3.5*, which is what I think the book merits. An intensely researched work it is better suited to the professional historian that the casual reader in that the dates and names come in torrents and the narrative thread rather thin at times. Also, the treatment of each era is uneven with significant concentration on certain time periods whilst others are rather skated over. Ultimately my decision to opt for a 4* rating is based on the fact that I had the pleasure of meeting the author in the Courtauld gallery and found her both charming and engaging.