Great Hole Blackheath Hill


On the night of Sunday 7 April 2002 a hole started to appear in Blackheath Hill. The fact that it happened so late in the day was the reason why there were no casualties. Had it happened a few hours later in Monday morning rush hour it could have been very different. Nearby residents were quickly evacuated from their homes.

This photograph was taken on 16 April 2002, at which time the hole was still growing slowly. This was the 53 route, which was diverted via Blackheath Village and Lewisham. This not only causes severe disruption to the 53, but many other route in the area suffered because of the extra traffic running through either Lewisham or Greenwich. 
The road was eventually reopened, one lane each way on 23 December 2002.
Photograph. John King.

At first the 53 was diverted from Lewisham  via Brookmill Road to Deptford, this was later revised to run via Lewisham Road to join Blackheath Road past the hole. Here can be seen TA227. X227 NNO. in Lewisham Road on 16 April 2002.
Photograph. John King.

This view of  23 August 2002. shows TA309. X309 NNO. in Lewisham on the diversion. This bus has just turned out of Belmont Hill, behind can be seen a 54 on its normal route.
Photograph. John King.

One consequence of the Blackheath hole was that because of the disruption to the 53 extra buses were drafted in to cover the busy section of the route between New Cross (Sainsbury's) and Elephant & Castle. Blue Triangle ran the extras, here T11. WYV 11T. can be seen at the first stop outside New Cross Sainsbury's.
26 July 2002.
Photograph. John King.

For more information on the Blackheath hole see:- http://gihs.gold.ac.uk/blackhole/hole.htm
The home page of the Greenwich Industrial History Society is:- http://gihs.gold.ac.uk/


This page was designed and is maintained by Toby and John King, I would accept any comments or questions  See Index Page


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