In 1904 these four were combined into a single civil parish called Bermondsey, which was conterminous with the metropolitan borough.

[2] The Victorian vestry hall on Spa Road, SE16, was bombed during the Second World War.

[3] Bermondsey Town Hall continued to house civic offices, latterly for Southwark Council, until being sold off in 2012.

The crown and axe were the emblem of St Olave's District Board of Works, and were derived from the royal arms of Norway, Saint Olave being the anglicised name of King Olaf II of Norway.

The symbolism in the coat of arms were incorporated into a sculpture called The Bermondsey Lion that was unveiled in The Blue in 2011.

[10][11] In the first election to the borough council, held on 1 November 1900 the Moderates (supported by the Conservative party) gained a majority.

The results were a major reverse for the Municipal Reform party with just two councillors elected.

Labour held the council at the subsequent elections, holding all the seats from 1934 to 1945 and from 1949 until the borough's abolition.