FROM THE CLOCK TOWER TO THE VICARAGE. 105 
Hill, which is an ancient name in Lewisham, going back to early 
times, and probably at one time the old place of meeting, is 
perpetuated in Court Hill Road, which was formed in 1865. The 
Congregational Church was built in 1866, and the handsome 
Sunday Schools attached in 1880. 
At the corner of Hither Green Lane stood the barns, etc., of 
the four-gabled house above mentioned, and the site is now in 
the market. 
The name Hither Green first appears in the Parish Registers 
in 1716, and in most of the earliest references is spelt Hether or 
Heather Green—which is the most probable origin of the name. 
On the other hand, in the early part of the 19th century the lower 
PLATE 45.—-OLD GABLED HOUSE ON THE SITE OF THE CONGREGATIONAL 
CHURCH. 
portion of Hither Green Lane, near Brownhill Road, was known 
as ‘* Further Green,” which would indicate ‘‘ hither” or ‘* nearer” 
as the origin. Although proof is wanting there seems little doubt 
that the ancient name was Romburgh, which is of frequent 
occurrence in documents of the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries, but 
has now quite disappeared. Hither Green for many years con- 
sisted of farm land. There were a few cottages built on a strip 
of roadside waste near and opposite the ‘‘ Spotted Cow,” and a 
few houses standing in their own grounds. The site of two of 
these is now occupied by the Park Hospital, the greater part 
of the grounds of which was the original ‘‘ green” enclosed in 
:810. 
