SOUTHWARK, a central borough of London. Pop. (1931) 171,657; area 1,131 acres. The borough is connected with the City of London by Blackfriars, Southwark and London bridges; the thoroughfares converge at St. George's Circus; another important junction is the "Elephant and Castle." The name is taken from the southward works or fortifica tions of London. Numerous Roman remains have been found. Southwark witnessed various episodes during the invasions of the Norsemen, and was fortified by the Danes against the City in the reign of Ethelred the Unready. Besides the priory of St. Mary Overy, there was the hospital of St. Thomas, founded in 1213 from the neighbouring priory of Bermondsey, being the origin of the modern hospital of the same name in Lambeth (q.v.). Bordering the river (Bankside) was Winchester House, a seat of the bishops of Winchester for five centuries from 1107.
The convergence of roads to cross London Bridge gave South wark its mediaeval importance and its inns became famous (e.g., the "Tabard" of the Canterbury Tales). At an early date it was
incorporated, and its familiar title of "The Borough" still sur vives. It came, at least in part, under the jurisdiction of the City in 1327. Edward III. granted the city forever the town and borough of Southwark, a privilege confirmed by Edward IV. In this connection was constituted the Bridge Ward Without, the alderman of which is elected not by the borough, but by the other aldermen from among themselves. The authority of the City over the borough is now merely nominal.
At Bankside were the Bear and the Paris Gardens and the Globe theatre, the scene of the production of many of Shake speare's plays for fifteen years after its erection in 1599.
Southwark is a bishopric of the Church of England created by act of 1904 (previously a suffragan bishopric in the diocese of Rochester), and also of the Roman Catholic Church. The cathedral of St. Saviour belonged to the Augustinian priory of St. Mary Overy, or Overies (i.e., St. Mary over the river).