Records of the Parish of St Olave's, Southwark

The records of the Parish of St Olave's include Vestry minutes 1552-1900, Churchwardens Accounts 1546-1591, Church Building 1737-1740, Charities (see St John, Horselydown), Poor Law Records 1757-1858 (with gaps), Rating and Valuation records 1707-1901, Burial dues 1843-1853, churchyard and christening fees 1854-1855, notes on peramulations of the parish 1846 and 1853.

The parish and Southwark as a whole was part of the County of Surrey before 1889, it then became part of London with the formation of The London County Council. (Please see Surrey History Centre and London Metropolitan Archives for records not kept at Southwark Local History Library and Archive).

This was an ancient parish in Southwark, whose parish church existed from at least 1088. Part of it was detached to form the parish of St John, Horselydown in 1733. After that date the two parishes had a joint administration of property and charities. St Olave's did not become a recognised Vestry under the Metroplis Local Management Act of 1855; most of its functions passed to the St Olave's District Board of Works in 1856. It remained as a civil parish for lesser purposes until 1900.