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Issue 3 / Spring 2014

IMPERIAL PEABODY BEST OF THE WAR MUSEUM HOUSING: ELEPHANT: : BOROUGH ARMENTS THIS BACK THIS TRIANGLE PIE AND SUMMER DEVELOPMENT MASH ISSUE

THE ELEPHANT 1 OBE, Hannah Maule-ffinch Bowling Frank photo: Cover THIS IS THE ELEPHANT This is the Elephant. And this is the Elephant Magazine.

he Elephant Magazine is the quarterly publication dedicated to all things . We want Tto celebrate all that is fabulous about our neighbourhood and our community. We want to look back with fondness on the area’s past and look forward with optimism to the future. The Elephant is changing and the Elephant Magazine will be following every step of the way.

Photography from left to right: Bert Hardy (Getty Images); Musician, Elefest; The Strata; George Dyer, tailor; Mary Wollstonecraft (© National Portrait Gallery London); East Street; Station; Combonation performer, Elephant and the Nun; The Heygate estate; Metropolitan Tabernacle; Difference engine (Carsten The Elephant Magazine is published by Council. We’d welcome your ideas, comments and contributions, so please get in touch. Ullrich CC-BY-SA-2.5); Elephant pendent, Carol Mather; Siobhan Davies (Rachel Cherry); Hotel Elephant; Ukulele; ; Eugen Sandow; Ministry Editor: Richard Wells / Additional copy: Nikki Spencer / Photography: Hannah Maule-ffinch, Jamie Simonds and Graham Maxwell. of Sound; Elephant statue; The Rockingham estate; Denis Norden; The Coronet; Young performers at Azucar festival; Dancer at Azucar festival. Designed by Nic Marucci, Design and printed by Swiss Post / Enquiries: [email protected]

2 THE ELEPHANT THE ELEPHANT 3 consider how to make best use of both buildings when drawing-up their plans. ARTWORKS, AND THE TEMPORARY LIBRARY

While plans for the future of the town hall site are being developed, the council will open a new temporary library, this summer, at the Artworks REBUILDING site on Elephant Road. Parts of the Cuming collection will also be back on display in a new, temporary home at WALWORTH Chumleigh Gardens in . Artworks Elephant is a new venture which consists of forty recycled shipping containers which are being converted to provide low cost studio TOWN HALL and retail space for creative and start- up companies in Southwark. Currently being built as part of efforts to ensure productive use is made of what would otherwise be vacant space, during the redevelopment of the Heygate estate, Artworks is due to open in the late spring with the library following a couple of months later.

Artworks promises to bring new life and activity to the Elephant during It’s been a year since the fire at Walworth Town Hall which gutted the its redevelopment and to act as an building and put the library next door out of action. Now the council ‘incubator’ for entrepreneurs. It’s hoped that many of the retailers and has approved plans for rebuilding the town hall and announced a new, businesses that join the Artworks will eventually take permanent space along temporary library for Elephant Road. the brand new high street on Walworth Road and Heygate Street created as part of the regeneration. or many people in the Elephant, civil partnership and citizenship Heritage on the project. Much of the Walworth Town Hall and its ceremonies can be held there. interior of the building was destroyed The purpose-built Newington Fneighbouring library have been but, where possible, the remains of the Temporary Library will provide services flag-bearers for local heritage. With The vision is for a town hall which will facade and those key historical elements to the local community, including study this in mind, the council began a offer local groups space and facilities from the interior, which have survived the space, while the old library remains out consultation with local residents (in to grow and prosper and to provide fire, will be preserved and restored. A of action and while a decision is made October last year) over proposals to better ways for people to do business design competition, incorporating public on how the town hall will be rebuilt, rebuild the town hall as a new world with the council. At this stage, it’s consultation, will be at the heart of the including the permanent new and class civic centre for the community. just the outline proposal which has council strategy for appointing a lead improved library space. Over 90 per cent of those taking part been approved and there’s still much architect to the project. in the consultation agreed with the more work to do, including further Find out more about the operation to council’s vision for the town hall and, in consultation with the community, in The first phase of consultation indicated save the town hall in the aftermath March, the cabinet approved the first order to flesh-out the plans. that provision of an improved library of the fire and what’s coming next in high level brief for the project. space was a priority for local residents. the new video just published on the The town hall is a Grade 2 listed The Newington Library building (next council’s youtube channel: The plan includes space for both a building and throughout the remedial door to the town hall) was already in www.youtube.com/southwarkcouncil new library and a museum to house work, undertaken over the past year, a poor condition and sustained further the Cuming collection. It also includes the council has been careful to salvage water damage during the fire. The Find out more about Artworks at a café, new community space and a as many original features as possible council wants to retain both buildings theartworks-uk.com and the town hall

registrar service - meaning marriage, and has worked closely with English and so the architects will be asked to at www.southwark.gov.uk/wth library the at Artworks Stabilising new the hall. Middle: How will look. interior of the left: Bottom town Top: Drying right: inspect out. Bottom the building Council officers

4 THE ELEPHANT THE ELEPHANT 5 When it reopens on 19 July this year, Elephant and Castle’s London will be at the centre of the nation’s First World War centenary commemorations.

his summer, for the first time, visitors will be a key part. Diaries, souvenirs complete with a soundscape to evoke will be able to see the ground- and letters will sit alongside weapons what daily life was like for the troops. Tbreaking new First World War and uniforms, photographs, art and “A lot of trench life wasn’t about fighting galleries and a newly designed atrium film – many of which have never been but was about waiting, being with your where iconic objects – including Harrier seen before. mates, playing cards, all those small and Spitfire planes and a V2 rocket – human things” explains James. will be suspended dramatically from “We’ve got 1,100 square metres of the ceiling. space and 1,200 physical objects – so The WW1 galleries are just one part that gives you an idea of the scope. There of the museum’s major revamp. New With building work nearing completion will also be over 60 different interactives terraces have been installed above a and exhibits starting to take their place, and audio visual projections”. dramatic new atrium; Level 1 of which it’s a time of eager anticipation at the will present key stories from the Second Road museum, particularly for One interactive, which might strike World War. While further up the James Taylor, Head Curator of the new a chord with the locals, features a museum, visitors will be able to explore galleries. “It’s very exciting to go on monumental oil painting by Walter Bayes, contemporary conflicts from 1945 though site and see it all taking shape” he says who taught at Camberwell School of Arts to the present day. enthusiastically. “The big new atrium and Crafts (below). It depicts a familiar space designed by Foster + Partners is scene of civilians sheltering at Elephant There are also three new shops and stunning and I mean stunning” he beams. and Castle Tube Station – albeit in 1918. two museum cafés, run by Peyton and Byrne, the larger of which has an outdoor James has spent the last four years, “It may surprise people that air raids terrace overlooking Geraldine Mary working with his team to decide exactly were happening in the First World Harmsworth Park. what items from the museum’s extensive War” says James. “The first ones were collection will go on display in the new by and while in terms of Come 19 July, there will be so much to galleries. “It’s been a tough job as there’s devastation, the impact was not the see that James’ number one tip for visitors so much good material” he explains. same as the Blitz, the psychological is to take their time. “It’s an incredible He’s keen to point out, however, that effect on people was significant”. amount to get around in one visit. Much those objects which aren’t on show don’t better to dip in and out” he recommends. just “lie around and gather dust”. “It’s Feeding the Front, a four-metre interactive “Look around the atrium, have a coffee, very much a living collection, we have a table, will allow visitors to discover the maybe do half of the new galleries this website viewing programme and other unprecedented scale of production time and half another”. museums to exhibit at too”. required to keep the troops fed and fighting. “It wasn’t just shells and bullets” And of course that’s a whole lot easier The new galleries will be split into 14 explains James “but also the hay for the if the museum just happens to be on areas which will explore the story of the horses and the supply of tinned food as your doorstep... First World War through the lives of those you couldn’t live off the land”. who experienced it, both on the front line For more information visit and on the home front. Personal testimony Life at the Front will recreate a trench, www.iwm.org.uk

The Underworld: Taking cover in a Tube station during a London air raid (Walter Bayes 1918) 6 THE ELEPHANT THE ELEPHANT 7 JOBS AND TRAINING

Well over a hundred Southwark residents have already gained employment on Lend Lease construction sites in the Elephant, more than 70 of whom were DEVELOPMENT previously unemployed. Local Southwark resident, Michael (pictured) has been working on Lend Lease’s Trafalgar Place site since November as a traffic and fire marshal, PICKS UP PACE AT having been recruited through Be Onsite. Michael said: “I live ten minutes away in but used to come to this area a lot when I was a kid so it’s good to be back. Working as a traffic marshal means you’re part of a team, which is enjoyable ELEPHANT PARK because you have to work together and your teammates rely on you. I also get to talk to local people walking past the site Lend Lease developments account for roughly half of all the investment and it’s great when they take an interest in what’s going on and I can explain what going into Elephant and Castle. As their projects gain momentum, more we’re doing”. opportunities for local people are becoming available. Find out more If you’re looking for work and would like YOU HAVE TO WORK to find out more about the opportunities NEW HOMES, available, get in touch with Southwark TOGETHER AND YOUR NEW JOBS AND Works, which will provide you with all the “ A NEW NAME support and advice you need. TEAMMATES RELY ON YOU Tel: 0800 052 0540 The regeneration of the former Heygate Email: [email protected] Estate has taken another major step Or visit Unit 239, Elephant & Castle forward with the council approving Shopping Centre, London, SE1 6TE detailed planning proposals for the first 360 homes on site. A NEW HOARDING CALLING ALL LOCAL FOR TRAFALGAR PLACE The homes will be built along the south- GARDENERS ” eastern part of the estate and represent Eagle-eyed locals may have noticed a the first phase of the Masterplan (for Situated on the former Heygate Estate, new hoarding which has been installed which outline planning consent was at the corner of Wansey Street and around the Trafalgar Place building granted last year). Brandon Street, is Mobile Gardeners’ site. But it’s not just any hoarding - local Park - a temporary space created by and school children from Victory School, Construction begins in the autumn and for the community, whose name reflects which neighbours the site, have worked will create a number of job and training the fact that the garden can move as the with local artist Reuben Powell to design opportunities for local people, including redevelopment of the estate progresses. their own artwork for the installation. 20 apprenticeships and at least 44 full-time jobs. The Park is a space for growing, Construction workers on the site modelled relaxing, for learning and entertainment. for the young people - check out the The homes will showcase the latest Lend Lease has named the new Lend Lease will be asking local people It offers free tenancies for container drawings next time you’re passing. sustainable building practices and development Elephant Park, reflecting to suggest names for the new buildings, gardening so local residents can grow innovations. There will be a strong focus the fact that the regenerated site will streets and parks to be built on site. their own plants and come and go as The next event will be the Elliott’s Row on urban nature, including green roofs house ’s largest new For more information about how to get they like. Transformation on Sunday 27 April and green walls, which will attract park for 70 years. You can see how involved, email: [email protected] 2pm. Help transform the little pocket new wildlife to the area and create the Elephant Park project will look Growing season is now well under way park on the corner of St George’s Road a greener environment. when complete above. so contact [email protected] and Elliott’s Row with new planting. for more details or to get involved in one Supported by the Co-op Bank. of their events.

8 THE ELEPHANT THE ELEPHANT 9 Katie Spragg, artist Spragg, Katie

urning off the busy Walworth One of Pullens Yards’ longest serving since 1980, have been hand making Road, heading down Amelia Street tenants is abstract artist Frank Bowling up to 25 lutes a year for customers from Tand into Pullens Yards, with its (below), a contemporary of David all over the world. Many choose to visit cobblestones and handsome brickwork, Hockney whose work can be found at Pullens Yards, personally, to pick up feels almost like walking onto a film set. the Tate, the V&A, MoMA in New York their finished product. “If you’ve had a and at countless other museums and lute made for you, you don’t want to be It’s not difficult to see why it caught the galleries. In 2005 he became the first reliant on air freight” Sandi points out. eye of Tom Hooper, director of the black British artist to be elected to the Oscar winning film The King’s Speech. Royal Academy and an OBE followed. A few years ago, the pair made a Back in 2009, Hooper, drawn to baroque guitar for Keith Richards. the well preserved buildings and the Frank has had a studio in Peacock’s “He played one in the Pirates of the nostalgic character of the area, used the Yard for over 30 years and despite Caribbean film” explains Sandi. “We yards to evoke a small slice of 1930s having just turned 80 he still visits every didn’t make that one, but playing it gave London complete with giant Bovril ads day, weekends and Christmas included, him a taste for the real thing and by all and fake smog. to paint, describing it as “my happiest accounts he still has it”. time”. He’s just put the finishing touches The Yards were purpose built for crafts to a huge colourful canvas called Across More recent tenants of Pullens include people and small traders in the 1870s the Wadi for this year’s Royal Academy 26 year old Katie Spragg, who by local builder James Pullen. They Summer show. describes herself as “a ceramicist and THE CREATIVE were saved from the threat of demolition illustrator, re-teller of stories and general in the 70s and are now home to a “It’s a nice place to come and work” creator”. She moved into a shared thriving artistic community, one of only he says, adding that one consequence studio on Iliffe Yard a year ago and a few places in London with such a of sharing pretty basic facilities (central particularly likes the camaraderie that concentration of creative talent. The heating is not an option here) is that working together on their twice yearly three remaining original yards, Clements, everyone gets to know one another. Open Studios creates. “At my old studio SPACE THAT’S Peacock and Iliffe provide space for an “There’s no running water in my studio you shut yourself behind your door and amazing range of artists and designers so I go into the yard to get water, which didn’t see anyone all day but here it with studios at ground level and means I bump into others and pass the really is a community”. “It’s so beautiful workrooms above, accessed via steep time of day” Frank explains. and picturesque” she adds, although wooden staircases. she’s discovered that the cobbles When he needs a cup of tea he heads do have one drawback “they’re a PULLEN THEM IN for The Electric Elephant on the corner nightmare when you cycle over them”. of Iliffe Yard. The café, which opened six years ago, has become a focal point Summer Open Studios for the yards and “they’re very generous This year’s Summer Open Studios With silversmiths and ceramicists, fashions designers and florists, with their portions of bread and butter take place at Pullens Yards from artists and architects, (even a lute maker) Pullens Yards is pudding” reveals Frank. 13-15 June. a unique creative community. Next door to Frank are lute makers Visit www.pullensyards.co.uk for Stephen Barber and Sandi Harris who, more information.

10 THE ELEPHANT THE ELEPHANT 11 WHAT’S ON TAKING The Large Three Sisters by Anton Chekhov. A new version by Anya Reiss 3 April - 3 May

CENTRE STAGE The Little A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle is enjoying its new home in the Elephant, Adapted for the stage by Lila Whelan and Greg Freeman although if Chris Smyrnios hadn’t spotted a ‘To Let’ sign on his walk 19 March - 12 April Debris by Dennis Kelly to work things may have turned out differently. 23 April - 17 May

o say that Southwark Playhouse’s huge warehouse at the back, it had Hollywood icon and one of the Artistic Director, Chris Smyrnios, real potential. Elephant’s most famous sons, Sir Michael Thas had a challenging few years is Caine, is a patron and the theatre an understatement. In just four months, Chris and his team has strong roots in the local community. transformed the space into a fully Every year they engage with more Back in 2010, Network Rail announced functioning theatre with two auditoriums; than 5,000 school pupils through free that, due to the redevelopment of the 240-capacity space known as school performances and in school station, the popular fringe “The Large” and “The Little” which holds support. The Playhouse also has YoCo, theatre would have to move from the 120. They also had space to include a vibrant youth-led theatre for ages 11- Tooley Street railway arches that had rehearsal rooms and vastly improved 25. “We help people who want careers been its home since 2006. backstage facilities. in theatre” says Chris “but we also help build people’s confidence and A huge protest campaign was launched, “When we were in Tooley Street, one skills for life”. backed by Stephen Fry and Andy of our dressing rooms was actually a Serkis, with 1,500 written objections to tent, so it’s great to finally have really There’s an all day bar/café and Chris Network Rail’s plans. The national press nice, clean dressing rooms with central and his team have clearly worked hard took up the story and finally the theatre heating. The fact that I no longer have to make Southwark Playhouse’s new was promised space in a designated to unblock the toilets is just a bonus” home inviting with comfy sofas, rich red leisure area in the new development. The declares Chris. velvet curtains and a couple of theatrical only snag? This wouldn’t be until 2018. touches including a few stage props and They moved to Newington Causeway bar tables made from staging. So they had to find somewhere else last May and Chris says it feels good to go. Far from an easy task, as Chris to be back in this part of the borough “When you walk through the door explains “The places we found didn’t as it’s their “spiritual home”. you’re guaranteed a nice warm have enough space and if they did, they welcome from friendly staff and were too expensive. If there was enough The theatre first opened on the a great show” he enthuses. space and they were affordable we Road in 1993 found we just couldn’t get a long enough with the aim of providing a space for Southwark Playhouse lease”. Then one day he spotted a emerging young actors, directors and 77-85, Newington Causeway building to rent on his way into work. producers. Over the past 31 years it London SE1 6BD 020 7407 0234 has built a strong reputation for www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk “It was nothing very glamorous” he producing high quality cutting edge recalls. “It was used by a firm who made theatre south of the river, putting on The bar/café is open from Mon to Fri, ignition systems for classic cars” but with about 20 shows a year and attracting 9am to midnight, Sat 1pm to midnight, offices at the front and workshops and a visitors from across the capital. closed Sundays.

12 THE ELEPHANT THE ELEPHANT 13 PEABODY: BREATHING NEW LIFE INTO THE ELEPHANT

Peabody has provided affordable homes to Londoners since Victorian times. Now in the 21st Century, and with their new plans for Borough Triangle and Newington Butts underway, the Elephant and Castle based charity is still going strong. Top left: Site of the Borough Triangle development. Top right: Gateway centre. Middle: Stamford Street estate. Street Middle: Stamford centre. right: Gateway Top development. left: Triangle Site of theTop Borough Estate right: Road Bottom Coopers project. fashion Threads left:Bottom in Peabody’s Participants

eabody was established in 1862 of purpose, and a strong feeling The Borough Triangle scheme will serve the Blackfriars estate was amongst on the multi-phase redevelopment of the to create hundreds of apprenticeship by the American banker and of belonging’ to thousands as a gateway from London Bridge to the first social housing to be built in Coopers Road estate and several other opportunities for young Londoners. Pphilanthropist, George Peabody, more Londoners. the Elephant, breathing new life into Southwark. Demand for homes in the local projects which will produce around with a gift of £500,000 - the equivalent the neighbourhood. The plans promise area was high and the estate was 500 new affordable homes in total. Peabody is carrying out a period of of many millions of pounds today. The Peabody and the Elephant more jobs, homes and community space expanded from its original 16 blocks public consultation on their plans for Peabody mission was to provide much Elephant and Castle is undergoing for local people. New cafés, shops to 19, providing low-cost homes for Community investment Borough Triangle and would welcome needed housing for poor Londoners a huge transformation and Peabody and office spaces at the ground floor 384 families. New estates followed at Much more than a housing provider, feedback from everyone in the area. and this continues to be a central part is to play a major role in this of the buildings will complement and Stamford Street (1875) and Southwark Peabody has substantial experience of their work today. regeneration. They’ve signed up enhance existing businesses and a new Street (1876). in community regeneration too. Last Find out more and have your say on the to build 188 affordable homes at public courtyard will provide green year they delivered over 14,000 plans at www.boroughtriangle.co.uk The Group now owns and manages Newington Butts on the site of the spaces and areas for children to play. The association continues to this day. hours of community work in areas around 27,000 homes for more than old London Park Hotel. And this year Peabody employs over 500 people at as diverse as literacy workshops, For more about Peabody and 70,000 residents in nearly every they unveiled new plans to build a Peabody in Southwark their Walworth Road and Westminster parenting programmes and youth-led the opportunities they provide visit London borough. They’re building new new head office, another 500 homes Peabody and Southwark go way Bridge Road offices and works for the projects. They supported more than www.peabody.org.uk homes too, and with millions spent on and new public space for the back. It’s almost 150 years since benefit of nearly 5,000 local residents. 320 unemployed people into jobs, community investment programmes each community at Borough Triangle on Peabody built its first homes in the They continue to build good quality, got over 850 young people involved year, Peabody is extending their mission the corner of Borough Road and borough. Constructed on the former affordable homes in Southwark too. This in community programmes for the first of providing ‘a good home, a real sense Newington Causeway. site of The Magdalen Hospital in 1871, includes their partnership with the council time and led a consortium of businesses

14 THE ELEPHANT THE ELEPHANT 15 THE BEST OF THE ELEPHANT: LOCAL PEOPLE WERE “ASKED TO VOTE FOR THEIR ARMENTS PIE AND MASH ‘ICON’ AND ARMENTS RECEIVED THREE TIMES AS Customers come from far and wide to tuck into freshly made pie, mash and eels at Arments, the third generation family business MANY VOTES AS THEIR celebrating its 100th birthday this year. NEAREST RIVALS. oy Arment started working as a Saturday boy, cleaning the pie Rmoulds in his parents’ pie and mash shop when he was 12 years old. He joined the family business properly when he left school and eventually took over the company when his parents retired in 1982. A year later he got married to ” Cheryl and together they’ve run Arments Roy and Cheryl Two of the regulars ever since. were asked to vote for their ‘icon’ and own champagne” says Cheryl. Visitors “It’s in Roy’s blood” says Cheryl as we Arments received three times as many to London also love Arments and their sit and chat around one of the formica votes as their nearest rivals. visitor’s book has messages from people topped tables on a bustling Tuesday all across the globe. lunch-time. “He grew up with it. He’s They are clearly delighted at the lived it and breathed it”. accolade but it was the comments While the décor may be old fashioned, that people sent in with their votes that Arments has moved with the times in Arments is celebrating its centenary particularly struck a chord with Cheryl. other ways. They’ve recently added this year and the couple attribute their “One person wrote that she used to two kinds of vegetarian pies to the enduring success to “tenacity”, “hard come with her dad as a little girl and menu (a Quorn soya mince pie and a work” and offering “good quality food at now she’s bringing her dad as an old cheese and spinach version) and have a good price”. “We won’t compromise man. It’s lovely how Arments is a part introduced gift vouchers. They’ve also in ingredients, we use the best meat and of people’s lives”. got a ‘Pie in a Box’ delivery service - everything is freshly made” explains Roy. which means that wherever you are in The customers who are in the shop Britain, you can still enjoy a traditional They’ve been at their current address today clearly feel the same way. There taste of London. in Westmoreland Road for 35 years, are family groups and friends who have having moved from premises just travelled from , Essex and beyond; Arments opposite, where once it had been “all a nan who has been bringing her grand- 7-9 Westmoreland Road, marble top tables and sawdust on the daughter since she was small and a man London SE17 2AX floor”. “We refurbished it in the 80s and who reveals poignantly that he comes 020 7703 4974 that’s the way it’s stayed” says Roy. “It’s every year on his late mum’s birthday as www.armentspieandmash.com still very old school”. It was this quality a way of remembering her. which caught the eye of producers Open 10.30am-5pm Tues & Weds, from the classic retro TV series, Life on People often turn to Arments for a til 4.30pm Thurs, 5.30pm Fri and 6pm Mars, who used the shop as one of their family celebration. They regularly Sat. Closed Sunday, Monday and locations. The shop has also featured in cater for parties, including pie and Good Friday. several of episodes of . mash wedding breakfasts, and they’re especially popular for golden weddings. To mark their centenary, Arments Earlier this year, the shop was awarded “We have a few booked in where we will be putting on a day of celebration a blue plaque for their contribution to reserve a corner of the shop. People on 12 April. the borough of Southwark. Local people can put up decorations and bring their

16 THE ELEPHANT THE ELEPHANT 17 THE ONLY WAY TO HAVE THAT“ THE ELEPHANT’S KIND OF LUXURY - UNDERBELLY WAS TO TAKE IT ” The Elephant and Castle junction around 1900 with the Elephant and Castle 1900 The Elephant and Castle junction around

lephant and Castle’s ‘destination’ difficult to find, housing was unsanitary first mentioned by the newspapers in led by Alice Diamond, a big, physically citizens may well have had friends and A century ago, status came at a cost. Building the and scarce and money was almost 1873, was a confederation of criminals imposing woman whose punch was family on the other side of the law. Alice Etransport infrastructure, particularly always tight. But perhaps more than that, who controlled much of London’s enhanced by the diamond rings studding and her girls were also free with their the Elephant was the railways from the 1860s onward, and certainly beyond the bright lights, life underworld until the 1950s (when her fingers - as Brian McDonald notes in money; neighbourliness and generosity enjoying its heyday which made the Elephant the hub for all in the Elephant could be demoralising. east London’s Kray twins brought a The Gangs of London, they were “enough in times of trouble were more important of , meant losing significant For a lot of people, education had new level of savagery to criminal life). to put out an eye”. Alice was also a to a lot of people than a clean criminal as a shopping and housing stock (sacrificed for the viaducts, to take a back seat to getting a job, tactical genius with a flair for leadership. record. And finally, the criminal fraternity entertainment district; bridges, stations etc) which, in turn, led earning a wage and helping to support They had specialists in smash-and- She organised the Forty Thieves into of the era had rules and generally stuck to overcrowding. their family. Economic necessity often grab raids, cat burglary, safecracking cells of four or five, each with their own by them. Violence was frowned upon ‘the Piccadilly of robbed bright, ambitious residents of the and fencing. Other members worked function. A group of cells would either and considered especially unacceptable During the previous century, as the new opportunity to expand their horizons. racecourses, either running protection descend on a single store - causing when turned against bystanders the South’. But there bridges over the Thames were built, the rackets for bookies or simply conning chaos and aiding their escape - or on or ‘civilians’. was another, less Elephant had evolved from a sleepy Some of those residents rebelled against bookies and punters alike. a number of stores at once, thwarting mediaeval farming village to become the narrowness of their world and set a co-ordinated response from the police. Small comfort it might be, but when glamorous, lawless a fashionable Georgian commuter out to use their talents on the wrong The Elephant Gang also had another we consider the problem of crime side to the area too. suburb. But, as time wore on, industry side of the law. Others crossed the line arm, the Forty Thieves, an all-female Alice, her Forty Thieves and the Elephant today, perhaps we should reflect and transport increasingly claimed space simply to fulfill their need for excitement gang which specialised in shoplifting. Gang, were (as McDonald notes) that every generation has faced the Local historian from housing. The elegant Georgian and adventure. For many a young man In an era before CCTV, and one much generally accepted by their neighbours same challenge. For, along with its kings townhouses were repeatedly subdivided or woman from the neighbourhood, more prudish than our own, they took and some of the criminals were even and queens, commerce and culture, Dr Patricia Dark and began to decay. By the Victorian the lure of the glamorous lives as seen full advantage of the privacy afforded celebrated. We might not condone this threaded throughout London’s history is takes a closer look. period, the theatres, cinemas and shops in the media and the local world of women in large department stores. The but it’s easy to understand why. First of a strong criminal seam which stretches of the area now stood side by side entertainment and celebrity proved Forty Thieves came to run what was all, successful criminals (ones who didn’t back centuries. with a working-class neighbourhood too much temptation. It seemed that the probably the single largest shoplifting get caught) were considered a living, notorious for its overcrowded housing only way to have that kind of luxury - operation in UK history - so prolific, in breathing slap in the face to the system To find out more about the area’s and the toughness of its residents. was to take it. fact, that the mere appearance of a that blighted so many chances. They criminal past visit the Local History gang member near a smart West End were locals made good, the only way Library, 211 Borough High St and start This unglamorous Elephant was a very For all these reasons and more, the shop caused total panic. they thought they could. The criminal with The Elephant Boys or Gangs of different place. For a lot of people, life Elephant became one of London’s gangs also tended to inter-marry and London. www.southwark.gov.uk/libraries was hard: work was strenuous and often criminal centres. The Elephant Gang, In the 1920s, the Forty Thieves were to marry other locals, so law-abiding

18 THE ELEPHANT THE ELEPHANT 19 Locals tell us Locals the Elephantthe love about MY ELEPHANT what they

AND CASTLE up andeveryone enjoys themselves. You starts! party the come here to meet so far from home. Itmakes America. South iteasierbeing scenery. to dowith all over UKgothere the for anything Road 80sandpeoplefrom sincethe Walworth the off had aplacejust chandlers, onourdoorstep. They have and Tesco. shoppingcentre,the which hasIceland Walworthneed onthe Road aswell as there’smeat, then you could everything StreetI goto East Market, to get mainly there. parties like Coronet. the I’ve beento somegreat always liked area the andIespecially filmandmediaat to study LSBU. I’ve when Iwas younger butIcameback uni. Imoved my outofLondonwith mum a [email protected] forsuggestions future features. Drop us to hearyour feedback andwelcome by Southwark Council.We would love isproducedThe ElephantMagazine it’s placewhere the community,American ForCastle. Latin the I like Elephantand Sebastian people from allover community andlots of such a bigColombian I like itbecausethere’s Rodrigo theatrical Flints, the great we that have theatrein the andit’s I work asatechnician Will goodfor shopping. very andit’s friendly is very over 20years. Everyone I’ve lived around here for Jennifer Ineedfor everything bars, restaurants and is here: cinemas, Ineed Everything Naciye super-frothy coffee. andtheyscrumptious alsodofabulous, music aswell. place for food andabeer. They dolive socialise here. LaBodeguita isagood and peoplefrom other with ourcountry andit’sAmerica great Icanmeet up that mobile there. from I’moriginally South and you for accessories canalsoget your market outsideisgoodtoo. Ibuyfresh fruit The andyoufriends canbookparties. were babies. it. They’ve itsince they beendrinking comes outallfrothy andmy nieceslove you itinthere. canbuyitanddrink It Sarsaparilla -they sellitondraught so like homemade 60s. Iparticularly their my mumwhenIwas aboy late inthe which isgreat. andcreativefor artists businesses, I’ve heard they’re goingto bespace containers next to Newington library. by vibrant the coloured citrus shipping in my lunch break! I’malsointrigued for inthereaisle just lost noodles.Iget Walworth Road where there’s awhole good place to go with good placeto gowith shopping centre isa Superbowl inthe The LondonPalace Diego to betaken there by Iused is wonderful. Walworthon the Road herbalist Baldwins, the Gary are absolutely Yardcafé onIliffe Elephant The Electric The doughnutsat Jess oneonthe enormous here, the especially supermarkets around I love oriental the Kate

April 2014