Things you didn't know about... Camberwell

Who needs Bath when you have Camberwell?
Camberwell used to be the place to come and take the waters, thanks to its prolific springs and wells. Its name may either mean "Welsh Well" or, from Saxon, "Cripple's Well". It's where people from the City were banished if they had diseases such as leprosy, to take in Camberwell's waters and pray at the church. And the church is St Giles—patron saint of lepers.

Camberwell rose to the occasions
Folklore holds that Camberwell was the site of a battle between Boudicca and her Iceni and the Romans. It was also the scene for state occasions. The first was when Henry V chose Camberwell as the site for his triumphant return to London after the Battle of Agincourt. And then in 1416 it was where the Emperor of Germany was royally received on his state visit to London.

Camberwell, you beauty
The butterfly Nymphalis antiopa, extinct in the UK, is better known as the Camberwell Beauty after the first examples were spotted on Coldharbour Lane in 1748.

Never mind the Camberwell Beauty—what about the Camberwell Carrot?
Not an example of local produce—the Camberwell Carrot was a monstrously large cannabis cigarette created by the dealer Danny in cult film Withnail and I. And why did he call it the Camberwell Carrot? "I invented it in Camberwell and it looks like a carrot."

Camberwell is a byword for the arts
The Camberwell School of Art has been around for more than 100 years—alumni include film-maker Mike Leigh (Life Is Sweet, Abigail's Party, Secrets and Lies) and Young British Artists Damien Hirst (sharks etc.) and Tracey Emin (dirty bed, tent etc.). Jarvis Cocker was also a regular on the scene—the Pulp track 59 Lyndhurst Grove is about going to a party in Camberwell.

Spring was immortalised on Camberwell Green
In 1842 composer Felix Mendelssohn stayed with relatives in Camberwell and was inspired to write his much-loved Spring Song—reportedly, his original title was Camberwell Green.

Camberwell—acting the part
Camberwell has a strong tradition of film and theatre—actor Boris Karloff was a local boy, and residents have included Emma Thompson, her ex-husband Kenneth Branagh, Robbie Coltrane and Michael Caine.

Browning in Camberwell
Victorian poet Robert Browning was also born and bred in Camberwell.