About Herne Hill: Local HistoryHistory HearThis oral history project collects memories of life in Herne Hill, whether from long ago or more recently The Half Moon RememberedAn excerpt from an interview with Robert Harrison, former leaseholder (2006 to 2013) of the Half Moon pub, as told to Jason Tate ‘Where does the name Herne Hill come from?’Let’s be honest: no one really knows the origin of the name! ‘The beginnings of Herne Hill’For centuries there has been a road from Camberwell to the valley under Herne Hill ‘The nineteenth century’A further significant land purchase was in 1809 by the glass-maker John Blades of Ludgate Hill. He bought the estate that occupied land which was eventually to form the basis of Brockwell Park ‘Towards modern times’Regular horse-tram services had arrived in Herne Hill in 1884. Electrification and double-decker trams came in the early 1900s when the London County Council took over the service ‘Herne Hill today’Today, Herne Hill is a lively, vibrant and diverse community; and sought after as a place to live. It has excellent shops, bars, restaurants and parks - and its own Lido |