William Barefoot
Encyclopedia
William Barefoot was a notable local politician in south-east London
during the early part of the 20th century.
He was a born in Frances Street, Woolwich
, and lived for a time in Griffin Street, Plumstead
.
He served as a local councillor in Eltham
for 33 years, was mayor of the Metropolitan Borough of Woolwich
three times (1925-1927), and served on the national executive committee of the Labour Party
. In 1928, he wrote Twenty-five years' history of the Woolwich Labour Party, 1903-1928, published by the "Kentish Independent" Printing Works. He died from a heart attack suffered in the council chamber at Woolwich town hall.
He is commemorated by a plaque in Well Hall Pleasaunce, erected in September 1942, which reads: "He loved nature and his efforts to beautify Woolwich are reflected in the creation of this Pleasaunce" (Barefoot had been instrumental in the creation of the Pleasaunce as a public park and gardens). A small park, William Barefoot Gardens in Alliance Road, Plumstead, and William Barefoot Drive in New Eltham, London SE9 are also named after him.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
during the early part of the 20th century.
He was a born in Frances Street, Woolwich
Woolwich
Woolwich is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.Woolwich formed part of Kent until 1889 when the County of London was created...
, and lived for a time in Griffin Street, Plumstead
Plumstead
Plumstead is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich. Plumstead is a multi cultural area with large Asian and Afro-Caribbean communities, in similarity to local areas such as Woolwich and Thamesmead...
.
He served as a local councillor in Eltham
Eltham, London
-Parks and open spaces:There is a large variety of open green space in Eltham, in the form of parkland, fields and woodland.*Avery Hill Park is large, open parkland, situated to the east of Eltham. It is most notable for its Winter Garden, a hothouse containing tropical trees and plants from around...
for 33 years, was mayor of the Metropolitan Borough of Woolwich
Metropolitan Borough of Woolwich
The Metropolitan Borough of Woolwich was a Metropolitan borough in the County of London from 1900 to 1965.-Formation:The borough was formed from the civil parishes :*Eltham *Plumstead...
three times (1925-1927), and served on the national executive committee of the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
. In 1928, he wrote Twenty-five years' history of the Woolwich Labour Party, 1903-1928, published by the "Kentish Independent" Printing Works. He died from a heart attack suffered in the council chamber at Woolwich town hall.
He is commemorated by a plaque in Well Hall Pleasaunce, erected in September 1942, which reads: "He loved nature and his efforts to beautify Woolwich are reflected in the creation of this Pleasaunce" (Barefoot had been instrumental in the creation of the Pleasaunce as a public park and gardens). A small park, William Barefoot Gardens in Alliance Road, Plumstead, and William Barefoot Drive in New Eltham, London SE9 are also named after him.