Honor Oak is one of four (with Nunhead, Hilly Fields and Blythe Hill) roughly conical hills at the Lewisham/Southwark boundary. All offer unparalleled views across London.

One Tree Hill was preserved as a public open space after considerable public campaigning in response to threats to develop it in the late 1890s.

Streets at the time were lit by gas, if at all, so the fireworks (perhaps made by Brocks in Nunhead) had much less competition than today.