A History Of Elephant and Castle
Elephant and Castle, where we are based, is often a talking point not for its name. Elephant and Castle is not officially classified as an area of London, the surrounding area is properly known as Newington but the proximity of the London Underground station has led to the area being more commonly known as “Elephant and Castle” or just “Elephant”. The name is derived from a coaching inn of in the same name. The earliest surviving record of this name relating to the area appears in the Court Leet Book of the Manor of Walworth which met at “Elephant and Castle, Newington” on 21st March 1765. Previously the site of the inn was occupied by a blacksmith and cutler whose coat of arms featured an elephant with a castle on its back. It is thought that the coat of arms is meant to depict a howdah which is carriage carried by an elephant or camel and was considered a symbol of wealth. The presence of this image in the blacksmith and cutler’s coat of arms is thought to be because of the use of elephant ivory in handles.
The Elephant and Castle coaching inn was even famous enough to be mentioned by Shakespeare in Twelfth Night. In Act 3 Scene 3 Antonio says “In the south suburbs, at the Elephant, is best to lodge”, although it is thought among some historians that Shakespeare may have been paid to advertise local hostelry in his plays which is why he often makes many local London references despite plays being set all over the world. “The Elephant” was a common shortening for the Elephant and Castle Inn at the time, as in present day it is very often referred to as “Elephant”.
Currently, Elephant and Castle is undergoing a huge change. Firstly, it is losing the roundabout for which it is famous as they make way for more pedestrianised space near the shopping centre. The shopping centre, itself, is under plans to be completely demolished and rebuilt due in most part to its reputation as one of the ugliest buildings in London. There are 2 new developments happening in the area. One close to Newington Butts which will include the opening of a new leisure centre and the redevelopment of the Heygate Estate into now “Elephant Park” which spans all of the way from Walworth Road to New Kent Road is finally under development for an entirely new housing complex, it’s this development which includes the new shopping centre and includes space for the Elephant and Castle market, which is well known, to reform after the works have been completed.