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HERNE HILL SOCIETY EVENTS At United Church Hall, at 7:30 for 7:45pm, unless otherwise stated. Wednesday 13 May: “Helping Combat Climate Change” by Rob Basto. He obtained a PhD for research into the Earth’s atmosphere, now runs a software production company and is actively involved with environmental groups. We need dramatically to reduce our use of HERNE HILL JUNCTION: fossil fuels. The problem is serious, but the solution is simple. The talk gives a global GO-AHEAD CONFIRMED perspective of the situation and how we can tap On 9th April, a message came from Derrick into the abundant clean renewable energy Anderson, 's Chief Executive, to those available. on the Friends of Committee Wednesday 10 June: who have been leading the opposition to the “Cantors and Canticles: Jewish and Christian regeneration plans for Herne Hill. Derrick Music Antiquity to Present Day” Anderson's message stated that "works on the by Alexander Knapp, pianist, composer and main part of the junction are planned to lecturer. Dr Knapp has held positions at commence soon after Easter. I can confirm that SOAS, Cambridge, Goldsmith’s, RCM and no instructions have been given to suspend the City University. works pending the undertaking of an The relationship between the two musical independent review." traditions, with many recorded examples. The review referred to is a comparison Sunday 5 July: between the approved scheme and an “Herne Hill Heritage Trail, the West Side alternative design submitted at the last minute Story” Guided walk by Robert Holden by those opposed to the project. A detailed Meet Herne Hill Station at 2:30pm examination and evaluation of the 'alternative' Sunday 2 August: scheme has already been carried out by Society summer visit: Venue to be advised independent consultants and by Lambeth's own experts. As reported in the last Newsletter, on Sunday 9 August: safety grounds alone the agreed scheme is the “Herne Hill Architecture” Guided walk by Ian McInnis preferred option. Meet Herne Hill Station at 2:30pm At a recent meeting with local community Wednesday 9 September: representatives who are members of the “Sex and Scandal in Sydenham” by Steve Junction Project Board, Lambeth's Executive Grindlay, Sydenham Society. Director of Housing, Regeneration and Environment, Chris Lee, gave his full Behind the respectable facade of late Victorian commitment and strong support for the project. and Edwardian Sydenham were dark secrets: He also described it as a key feature in his theft, embezzlement, promiscuity, unrequited Department's Business Plan and had assigned love and so-called “acts of gross indecency”. it "high priority". Plus suicides, lives in ruins and the “greatest unsolved crime of the 20th century.” continued on Page 3 1

TRANSPORT NEWS “To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive” (ancient quotation perhaps applied to branch-line trains?) BUSES UPDATE Bus 42 Developments Latest news in this long-running saga is that residents in East , together with support from Village Ward Councillors and the local papers, are getting together a petition to extend the route to Sainsbury’s, where a bus stand is already in place. (TfL) have advised that, without such a petition, the proposed extension can’t be considered as, of course, they have rejected all previous approaches. Watch this column. Deepdene Road Deepdene Road is now displayed as a destination stop on both the 68 and 468 buses, but the on-board announcements still erroneously refer to this stop as Sunset Road. I have advised TfL: what more can one do?? Herne Hill Bus Lane COMMUNITY NOTICE BOARD After four years of campaigning with a small group Thanks to the Society’s successful application to the of other like-minded stalwarts, the totally Dulwich Community Council’s Cleaner, Greener, unnecessary bus lane on Herne Hill northbound Safer award scheme, have now installed a from Kestrel Avenue to Herne Hill Road has been community notice board in Half Moon Lane. This is reduced from an incredible 7am - 7pm Monday- available for local organisations to advertise Saturday, to 7am - 10 am and 4pm - 7pm Monday themselves and their events. to Saturday. This is a remarkable success and will make life easier for the many users of this stretch of road. I am afraid that all efforts to reduce the even worse bus lanes commencing opposite Sunray Avenue northbound on and southbound at junction have not borne fruit and we are stuck with 7am to 7pm Monday to Sunday inclusive. PLEASE NOTE THAT THESE TIMES ALSO APPLY TO THE SHORT SOUTHBOUND STRETCH SUNRAY AVENUE TO RED POST HILL, although there is no obvious sign along that stretch. UNDERGROUND Blackfriars underground station is now closed for two years into 2011 for essential upgrading works to the part of the station, to include longer platforms and step-free access. There are of course many other options but nonetheless this is a Robert Holden, a member of the Society’s Committee, is looking after it for us and the local very long closure. community. If you would like to put a notice on the David Cianfarani board, please get in touch with Robert – contact details on the back page. 2

PARKING PROBLEMS Junction - from Front Page IN HERNE HILL Lambeth has received the final formal confirmation from Transport for London (TfL) of £1.6 million Residents of those roads north of Herne Hill station on the Lambeth side (between Milkwood, Fawnbrake funding for the project. This means that most of the Avenue and Kestrel Avenue), were a bit startled in necessary funding is now in place. The latest March to see notices about the introduction of double estimate for the total project cost is £1.8 million. yellow lines on certain corners in the area (and Any short-fall will be made up from a combination elsewhere in the Borough). This was proposed as a of "Section 106" (planning gain) funding and safety measure, to enable refuse collection and other money from funds for promoting accessibility, large vehicles to get round corners. This has become highway safety schemes and walking. more difficult with cars parking close to corners and Work on some of the peripheral aspects of the often blocking dropped kerbs, but it would have the project continues. The improvements to Rymer and effect of reducing the amount of on-street parking Hurst Streets are almost complete. We have space. received assurances from Lambeth that work on the We welcomed the safety aspects of the proposal; but main part of the project, that is the area around the were concerned that it was only a short time since entrance to Brockwell Park, will start in early May somewhat tortuous and controversial consultation or, under a "worst-case" scenario, by the middle of about introducing a CPZ in the area. As Lambeth is that month. On this basis, the project will be committed to a review of the CPZ in less than a year, largely completed by mid September. Whilst the we felt the issue ought to be considered together with work is under way, access to the Park will be via a this review. ramp to be constructed immediately to the west of We understand that, following a number of the present toilet block - soon to be demolished. representations, the current proposal in respect of Special arrangements will be made for pedestrian these local roads will not to go ahead for the time access to the Park during large events, such as the being. Lambeth Country Show in July. DT Further information is included in a Newsletter CPZ for ‘The Groves’ published by Lambeth that is being delivered to 7,500 households in Herne Hill. There is full and A two-stage consultation exercise carried out in 2007 regularly updated information on the project in the and 2008 by Lambeth, showed that a majority of Herne Hill Society's website people living in Hawarden Grove and Guernsey www.hernehillsociety.orq.uk. Grove are in favour of parking controls. The JB consultation also showed people living on the Lambeth side of Croxted Road, between Hawarden Grove and Norwood Road, also wanted residents’ FROM THE ARCHIVES parking to be introduced. Lambeth has now issued plans and a timetable for introducing a Controlled Parking Zone in this area. Parking restrictions will apply from noon to 2.00pm Monday to Friday. This is designed to discourage commuter parking and other long-term parking by non-residents. Also included will be provision for 30 minute short-term parking (8.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday) at the Norwood end of Rosendale Road, to serve the needs of customers using the parade of shops there. Before the scheme can be implemented, Lambeth has to carry out a further statutory consultation exercise. This will involve street notices and advertisements in the local press describing the proposals; and alerting bus companies. It will give one final opportunity for anyone against the scheme to express an objection. Subject to the results of the statutory consultation exercise, the scheme is scheduled to be implemented in May. JB

Advertisement in the News, July 1913 3

THE GREAT PLANT HUNT In awarding a Commendation to the refurbished , the Civic trusts describes it as “a IN HERNE HILL good example of how an existing facility can be St Jude’s School in Herne Hill is the first of 22,000 brought up to date without losing the historical primary schools in the country to receive a Darwin’s qualities of the existing building. Local people were Treasure Chest. This exciting venture, developed by extensively consulted during the design process, and the Wellcome Trust in conjunction with the facilities are well used.” Gardens, is intended to help every pupil in the country to learn more about the natural world and join in with celebrating Charles Darwin’s bicentenary.

The Michael Tippett School, also awarded a Commendation, is described as “the first ‘Building Schools for the Future’ (BSF) project in London, The launch took place on 4th March and was attended accommodating up to 80 students aged between 11 by senior representatives from the Wellcome Trust and 18 with profound and multiple learning and from Kew and was introduced by Sir David difficulties. The scheme demonstrates excellent Attenborough. School staff and children from Year 2 sustainability and inclusion, with provision for bus listened as Sir David explained the importance of the drop off, and in general, meets or exceeds good natural world and the need to look after our practice guidance. The school is non-threatening and environment. The school has a well tended nature provides a friendly environment for children as well garden and Sir David led a group of children round as making a positive contribution to the local built this, hotly pursued by a dozen photographers and an environment.” interview crew from BBC London news. It was a JB fine early spring day and Sir David gamely joined a few six years olds on their knees looking for the first signs of spring. GRANT AWARD FOR SOCIETY BOOK The latest book from the Society’s Local History Group will be about the Milkwood Estate. Following CIVIC TRUST AWARDS FOR a request by the Milkwood Residents’ Association, HERNE HILL we have been researching and writing the history of this part of Herne Hill, covering the area comprising Two Herne Hill buildings have been selected for Heron, Lowden, Milkwood and Poplar Roads. Commendation in this year’s Civic Trust Award programme – Brockwell Lido and the Michael We recently made an application to the Capital Tippett School in Milkwood Road. Community Foundation for financial support from their Grassroots Grants programme. Thanks to the Launched in 1959, the Civic Trust scheme has Foundation’s generosity, we have been awarded a rewarded over 5,600 buildings which have made a grant of £2,940 that we shall put towards the costs of difference to local people and their communities by producing the book based on our research. We plan to providing the design and facilities which have made publish ‘Milkwood Estate – A History’ in the better places for people. summer. It will tell the story of how this area came The Awards recognise the best in the built into being and all aspects of the life of its people, environment, from architecture to planning, from the earliest records to the present day. It will be townscape to infrastructure. But they also recognise an invaluable account of this part of Herne Hill, not the public realm in its wider context, and a continuing just for those who live there, but for anyone interested belief that development should be for the benefit of in local history and the development of local people – those who use it, and those who just pass by. communities during the 19th and 20th centuries. JB 4

HHS CHAIR’S ANNUAL me, with other contributors always welcomed. We are very grateful to John Smallwood who continues REPORT 2008-9 in the vital role as the Production Editor. Thanks Firstly, I want to thank the whole Committee for must also go to Caroline Knapp who, besides her their consistent hard work and support for the important duties as Membership Secretary, Society. Everyone has a job and our monthly organises Newsletter distribution, helped by a Committee meetings consist of reports and lively small but dedicated team. One of that team is discussion around our future activities. former Chair Brenda Jones. She has organised John Brunton has continued in his very active role visits this year to the British Library, with Colin as Vice-Chair, including the work with the Herne Wight, and Hall Park; and represented the Hill Junction Project Board and leading on Society on working groups involved with the planning and licensing on the Lambeth side. His Dulwich Community Hospital and the Three Hills opposite number in the planning role on the Forum. We are also grateful to her for collecting Southwark side is David Taylor, who has also the advertising money that helps towards the cost continued his representing the Society on the of the Newsletter. Brockwell Lido Steering Group and on We also communicate to Herne Hill, consultations about controlled parking zones in and the world through our website and receive Lambeth. Laurence Marsh and Mike Rundell are regular enquiries on a variety of subjects. Many also on the busy Planning Subcommittee. Jeff thanks to Colin Wight who runs the website, Doorn, our Secretary, has brought a wide variety of designs our posters and is also our audio-visual interesting speakers to our monthly meetings. He supremo. I must also mention Shirley Chumbley has also represented the Society on the Lambeth and Pat O’Malley who make the refreshments for Local History Forum and, last summer, led a our monthly meetings. history walk in the rain. We are still looking for a Minute Secretary for the The History Group of John Brunton, Jeff Doorn, Committee and would welcome anyone who Robert Holden, Brenda Jones, Caroline Knapp and wished to volunteer for this important role. Bernard Nurse have finished their work on the During the year we learned that our application to history of the Milkwood Estate and are now Southwark Council for a Cleaner Greener Safer investigating ways of getting it published. The (CGS) award to fund a community notice board in Society Archive is in the safe hands of Anne Half Moon Lane has been successful. We have Sharpley. For many years our Transport applied to the Herne Hill Ward purse for a representative has been Bill Kirby. However, we matching notice board for , near the have been pleased to welcome David Cianfarani as station, and hope this will be in position soon. Our a transport adviser to the Committee. I must thank CGS bid last year for seat on Herne Hill or in Half Bill for his dedicated service to the Committee and Moon Lane was not approved. However, we hope the Society. for better success in this year’s bid for funding to Some of the most enjoyable occasions are when we regenerate the parade of shops in Half Moon Lane, meet the public and sell our publications at events between Warmington and Beckwith Roads. such as the July Lambeth Country Show. We work We remain involved with the work of the Herne as a team, usually two people doing a two hour Hill Forum and attend the quarterly Dulwich slot. New helpers for the stall are always Community Council and Brockwell Park welcomed, so do let us know if you would like to Management Advisory Committee meetings. We get involved. are members of the Civic Trust and the London We also took our stall to Cemetery Open Forum of Civic and Amenity Societies and receive Day in May, Fair in June, Lambeth regular news and information from them. On a Archives Open Day in November and the Carnegie lighter note, we were successful in the annual Brain Winter Fair in December. Robert Holden is now in of Lambeth competition, with our team coming a charge of publications. His hard work is making a strong second to the winning Streatham Society real difference to sales figures that provide a very team. important and useful source of income. Vital to Amongst all these good things happening, I had to Robert’s role is Diana Chadney who parcels up and report a very sad event in September when David posts or hand delivers orders. Diana also arranges Patient died. He had been our Treasurer for almost raffle prizes and produces the really excellent twenty years. Our sympathies go to his wife Jacqui reviews of our monthly meetings. and his family. The Newsletter continues to be a very important This has been another busy and successful year for part of our work. It is a collaborative effort by the the Society. Thank you all for your support. Editorial Group of John Brunton, Jeff Doorn, and SN

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ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING environmental impact. It has been shown that each club car takes between seven and fifteen privately 2009 owned cars off the road. People who convert to car The AGM took place on 11th March at the United club use and who get rid or their own cars, drive some Church hall. It was well attended by around 50 64% less and use more public transport; and they members; and the business of the evening was walk and cycle twice as much as non car club conducted first, before the talk. members. The Chair, Sheila Northover, gave her annual report, Members of a car club usually pay an annual fee plus which was then followed by reports from Rosalind a charge for each mile and hour they use a car. A car Glover (Treasurer), Jeff Doorn (Secretary) and club can be quite a money saver. According to some Caroline Knapp (Membership Secretary). The Chair research, if you drive less than 6,000 miles a year, then proposed Bill Kirby as the Society’s first then a car club will save between £1,000 and £1,500 President, and this was seconded and then approved annually, compared with the cost of buying and by all present. The committee retired and our new running your own car. So perhaps worth thinking President conducted the elections. about! JB Those elected to serve for 2009-10 were the officers: Sheila Northover Chair HERNE HILL SOCIETY John Brunton, Vice Chair ACCOUNTS 2008 Jeff Doorn, Secretary The following is a summary of our 2008 accounts: Rosalind Glover, Treasurer Total income for the year was £4,749.93, made up as follows: and on the committee Diana Chadney, Robert Holden, Brenda Jones, Caroline Knapp, Laurence Subscriptions and donations: £1,435.50 Marsh, David Taylor, and Colin Wight, and a special Newsletter advertising: £462.50 welcome to new committee member Nick Baker. Publication and other sales: £2,012.51 Following the elections questions were taken from the floor and then after the coffee break, we learned about Bank interest: £455.98 Educating Ethel from Anne Ward. Gift Aid: £383.44 SN Total expenditure was £4,423.24, made up of: Stationery, postage and printing of Newsletter etc.: CAR CLUBS: MORE ON-STREET £1,720.71 BAYS FOR HERNE HILL Hall hire and stall fees: £402.20 On the Lambeth side, Herne Hill already has two on- Insurance: £190.00 street car club bays – one opposite 287 Rosendale Road and the other in Spenser Road by the junction Speaker fees: £205.00 with Dulwich Road. On the Southwark side there is a Refreshments/raffle prizes: £84.01 bay in the driveway of 42 Half Moon Lane. Subscriptions to other organisations: £200.00 There are no on-street car club bays anywhere in Southwark. However, the Borough has now Purchase of publications: £1,121.26 announced proposals to introduce 75 such bays, Equipment and other miscellaneous expenses: including four in Herne Hill. Two are planned for £500.06 Ruskin Walk, and one each in Stradella Road and in There was a surplus of income over expenditure of Hollingbourne Road. Southwark is currently £326.69, rather less than the 2007 surplus of negotiating with a car club company to provide £1,221.86. This is mainly due to falls in the income vehicles. from our three main sources – subscriptions and Subject to completion of the necessary traffic orders donations, publication sales and Newsletter and a consultation exercise, it is expected that the new advertising. bays will be implemented “within the next few Please let me know if you would like a copy of our months”. The consultation exercise will give local ‘examined’ accounts (contact details on the back residents the opportunity to comment and, if page). Alternatively they are shown on our website necessary, to object to individual proposals. www.hernehillsociety.org.uk. The presence of a car club can have a significant Rosalind Glover

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SUNRAY ESTATE CONSERVATION AREA On 20th January 2009, Southwark Council declared the Sunray Estate as a Conservation Area. Most of us will be familiar with these streets of cottage style houses built in the garden city style of the first part of the 20th century. They were designed by Edwin Hall for the then Borough Council and built in the early 1920s as a response to Lloyd George’s call for ‘homes fit for heroes’. The qualities of the design of the area had been recognized as long ago as 1982, when it was identified as an Area of Special Character by the Sunray Estate 1920s Council and design guidelines were issued for an ‘Article 4’ direction was approved in 1987. This residents. To protect some aspects of its character, means that planning permission is required for some types of development where it is normally not necessary, such as extensions, boundary walls and external alterations. Declaration as a Conservation Area results in some additional controls, such as the requirement to notify the Council of any works to trees and any proposed demolition. The Council is required to produce a management plan for the area and an appraisal identifying potential improvements. A draft appraisal has been carried out and is available on the Southwark Council’s website.

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CLEANER GREENER a Registered park. We are currently working to ensure that each Conservation Area has its own appraisal and SAFER BID 2009 management plan with an ambitious programme to The Society has applied to Southwark Council for a consult on and adopt five a year. Those already grant under their Cleaner, Greener, Safer scheme to adopted are available to download on the website. regenerate the parade of shops known as Ruskin Contact us or keep on eye on the consultations section Parade in Half Moon Lane, between Hollingbourne of our planning pages on the web to see which are and Beckwith Roads. The bid asks for: coming next. • resurfacing of the forecourts and footways Trees are given some protection inside conservation • installation of bollards to prevent the parking of areas or are protected by Tree Preservation Orders. vehicles directly in front of the shops on the wide TPOs can be checked on the planning pages of the pavement website. The visual and amenity benefit of trees in the character of conservation areas can be very important • heritage lamp-posts and hanging baskets and we are all increasingly aware of their importance • rationalising street signage in helping to cool and shade our urban environment. • new cycle racks to add to those already there For advice on trees on private land within your • more short term shopper parking where possible, conservation areas, please contact our tree officer, Ian and improvement to the exit from Howletts Road Leonard ([email protected] or 020 7926 1191). • additional tree planting Our urban design expertise is currently directed • encouraging traders to improve their shop fronts. towards advising on planning applications for new We wait for the decision later in the year. buildings in the Borough, on helping to shape new SN places in the Borough such as the intended Waterloo City Square and Gateway and on helping prepare policies. Our supplementary planning policies include those on residential alterations, conversions URBAN DESIGN AND and shop-fronts. Lambeth Planning is currently CONSERVATION IN LAMBETH working on our new guiding spatial planning policies with the first to come being our draft Core Strategy We now have a few new members of the and Site Allocations documents. The consultation Conservation and Urban Design team at Lambeth period runs from 6th April to 18th May – again, our Council, and so with our new staff, we are looking website will be a good source of information. forward to renewed community links in 2009! We have some exciting initiatives which we are A main focus for the team is the care of the some hoping to progress this year, including the preparation 2,300 listed buildings in the Borough by advising on of a Local List of Buildings of special architectural or applications for changes. Lambeth’s listed buildings, historic interest. We look forward to continued unlike some other , are very varied contact with the Herne Hill Society. in type. They range from the nationally-known Rachel Godden twentieth-century cultural buildings on the South Team Leader, Conservation and Urban Design Bank to the Victorian funerary monuments of West Lambeth Planning, Phoenix House, 10 Norwood cemetery; and even to the windmill at Road, London SW8 2LL . Herne Hill ward has about 40 listed 020 7926 1201, [email protected] or buildings, including the entrance block to Herne Hill [email protected] Station, Carnegie Library and Brockwell Lido. We can give advice on appropriate repair techniques for NEW LAMBETH COMMUNITY listed buildings, or refer you to relevant sources of information. We are always happy to hear from POLICE CONSULTATIVE GROUP owners of listed buildings before proposals for REPRESENTATIVE changing them are put together and a listed building application made. To check whether your building is John Frankland has agreed to be the new Society listed, or whether it is in a Conservation Area, you representative on the LCPCG and on the Southwark can use our public access database at equivalent. www.lambeth.gov.uk/planning or telephone our town He will report from time to time on proceedings there. planning advice centre on 020 7926 1180. If anyone would like John to raise issues with either Lambeth has 61 Conservation Areas, including the of these Groups, he can be reached at area round the junction of Herne Hill and Milkwood [email protected]. Road, Poets Corner and Brockwell Park, which is also SN 8

STREATHAM SOCIETY TORNADO WHISTLES THROUGH COACH TRIP HERNE HILL STATION: 14th February 2009 This year’s Streatham Society coach trip will be on Saturday 6th June and is a combined visit to the Full of expectation about a grand gathering for the Bluebell Steam Railway and Chartwell. Herne Hill Saturday night sighting of the new steam engine Society members are welcome reserve places on the named Tornado, I rushed down my road and across to tour. The total cost is £30 (including a ticket for the the station hoping not to miss it. Would I find room railway and £10 entrance to Chartwell) or £20 for on the platform? Who would be there? Would the National Trust Members. train pass by slowly enough for us all to see and admire? The coach will leave the Odeon Cinema, Streatham High Road at 8.30am and arrive back at about 6.30pm I arrived huffing and puffing up the stairs to Platforms 1&2 and saw, not a veritable host, but just – 7.00pm. two lone figures, George and Mary! But where were Further details and bookings to Brian Bloice, 220, all the others? George pointed down the end of the Woodmansterne Road, Streatham, SW16 5UA, platform, and yes, there was a little gathering. I strode tel: 020 8764 8324. on down, waving cheerily as I approached. But I didn't recognise any of them! One young couple were HORNIMAN PLANT SALE celebrating Valentine's Night rather originally, and another young man had come all the way from The Friends of the Horniman will be holding their Brixton. Each had a camera at the ready. I'd forgotten annual Plant Sale Plus in the Horniman Gardens, mine, as usual. SE23 3PQ, on Saturday 16th May from 11.00am to The Tornado wasn't quite on time, but this didn't 3.00pm. matter at all. George and Mary weren't sure which The sale will feature all kinds of plants donated by the way it would be passing through, so when I told them Friends and bedding plants grown in the Horniman it would definitely be travelling towards Victoria, Nursery. they hastily made their way downstairs and up to the opposite platform for a better photo. I stayed put. There will also be stalls selling cakes, home produce, bric-a-brac and household goods; and a large bookstall.

The Tornado A whistling and the beautiful sound of a steam engine weren't long in coming. But it chugged gracefully alongside Platform 1, with merry calls from the driver and boiler men waving at us from their windows. They were pulling the Pullman coaches that we so often see at rest in Victoria Station. Their passengers didn't look the slightest bit interested in the cheering 'crowd'. I think one was doing the crossword puzzle in his newspaper. Can you see George's picture here? No? Well, it came out as an 'interesting' red line. After all, he was a little too far away and the Tornado chugged rather faster than we'd hoped. Tea and cake warmed us up back home. But I'm so sorry you all missed it! CK

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PLANNING AND LICENSING the impact on neighbours, including any possibility of producing an unacceptable sense of enclosure, before 8 Acland Crescent reaching a decision on this application. We have objected to an application that includes a two storey side and side/rear extension, a single Lambeth has granted permission for the development, storey front and front/side porch, and a full width rear subject to provisions designed to protect neighbour’s dormer. Our view is that this development would privacy and amenity. breach a number of Lambeth’s current planning Plot opposite 251-275 Milkwood Road policies, including those relating to protecting the A proposal was submitted to Lambeth in December quality of the street-scene, protecting neighbours 2007 to create a terrace of nine four-bedroom family from an unacceptable sense of enclosure and houses on this site running parallel to Milkwood overlooking, and loss of privacy. Road, along with eleven car-parking spaces. In 82 Frankfurt Road commenting, we expressed concerns about the impact The Society recently objected to an application for a on trees and wildlife; on the effects on highway rear and roof extension. We felt it was too large, out safety; and the negative visual impact of the proposed of character with the rest of the building, and would design on the local street scene. Lambeth result in an inharmonious appearance to the street. subsequently refused the application. However the developers appealed this decision. We wrote to the Southwark has now refused the application. Planning Inspectorate supporting Lambeth’s decision 40 Gubyon Avenue and repeating our earlier concerns. There has been an application for a development that The Planning Inspectorate has dismissed the appeal. includes building a single storey rear and side infill extension. In commenting, we urged Lambeth Hypnotik, 75-79 Norwood Road Planning to take full account of the impact on These premises, previously known as Brockwell's, neighbours, including any possibility of producing an used to be open until 4.30am, with entertainment, sale unacceptable sense of enclosure, before reaching a of alcohol etc. until 4.00am Following a police raid decision on this application. in March 2008, Brockwell’s was closed. It later reopened under a new name, ‘Hypnotik’, but with the Lambeth subsequently approved the application. hours of operation severely curtailed. Sale of alcohol, 23 Guernsey Grove music, dancing etc. had to stop at 1.00am and the We have objected to an application to construct a premises had to close at 1.30 Monday to Saturday. single storey ground floor rear extension. Our The equivalent Sunday hours were 11.30pm and reasons include: that the extension would give midnight respectively. neighbours an unacceptable sense of enclosure and Earlier this year, an application was submitted to loss of privacy; it would harm the appearance of the Southwark to extend trading hours to 3.30am existing building and the integrity of the terrace; and Thursdays to Saturdays, with closing time half an would breach a number of Lambeth’s planning hour later. Sunday opening would be extended to half policies as set out in the current Unitary Development past midnight. Plan. Along with many local residents, the Society objected 77 Herne Hill to this application. Under the previous opening The Society has commented on a planning application hours, local residents had suffered from late night for the former Hart to Hart restaurant. The application disturbances, with noise and other nuisances from is for a new shop-front, fencing above the new wall, customers leaving the premises in the early hours. and use of the front terrace as an outdoor eating area These all stopped immediately ‘Brockwell’s’ was for the restaurant. We objected a few months ago closed. We were therefore concerned that the when a new higher wall started being built without disturbances would start again were the premises be permission and Southwark enforcement were very permitted to return to very late opening. In our quick to get the height reduced. submission to Lambeth we also raised questions We welcome the reuse as a restaurant but feel that the about the suitability of the owners to hold a premises hours of operation for the terrace, until 11.00pm, licence. could cause disturbance to local residents. We have Southwark Licensing Committee held a hearing on therefore asked that permission be granted for six 25th March to consider this application. The outcome months so that its use and any complaints can be was that the application was refused. However, the monitored. current licence was modified to permit sale of alcohol 46 Kestrel Avenue till 1.30am on Saturday and Sunday mornings and to We commented on an application to construct a single close half an hour later. The other licence conditions storey ground floor rear and side infill extension. In remain unchanged. particular, we urged Lambeth to take full account of continued on Page 11 10

Planning from Page 10 ANTIQUES ROAD SHOW Plot Adjacent to 86 Railton Road Lambeth refused permission for a block of 4 x 2 As trailed in the last newsletter, Committee member bedroom flats that has been built on this site, because Robert Holden was filmed at it has not been built in accordance with the originally in June last year for the Antiques Road Show. The approved designs. The developers have appealed programme was shown on 15th February and Robert this decision. was shown talking to antique expert Judith Miller about his grandmother and the maternity box she used We have commented to the Planning Inspectorate in her work as a midwife in the thirties and forties. supporting Lambeth’s position on the grounds that the Robert also had her midwifery register, which records building, as constructed, is significantly different his own delivery by his grandmother. He explained from the designs approved by Lambeth. In particular: the contents of the box, including the net for weighing the building façade demonstrates poor detailing and is the new born baby, and the baby’s gas mask, which of poor architectural quality, thus detracting from the fortunately was never used. local street scene; and that It has been built closer than originally agreed to number 70 Chaucer Road, resulting in an unacceptable sense of enclosure and domination as well as potential loss of light for people living there. 311 Railton Road We have objected to an application for partial change of use from a dry cleaners to a minicab office. A second minicab operation in this area would unacceptably add to traffic volumes and parking stress; and would be contrary to the aims of the Junction regeneration project, i.e. to give priority in the area to pedestrians. 92, Red Post Hill As a direct result of the programme he has been The Society has objected to an application for a large approached by the Wandsworth Historical Society to rear extension to this house. It lies within the recently do a talk, and also by a woman who thought her birth declared Sunray Gardens Conservation Area and might be in the records, but unfortunately it was not. accordingly any application has to respect the existing A story that began at Lambeth Archives Open Day character of the area. The predominant style in the and was told at one of our monthly meetings has now area is based on the cottage idiom, very much in the been shared with millions of viewers in the UK and garden city style with modest sized houses and large will be shown around the world. gardens. We feel that the proposed extension is not in SN keeping with the overall character and therefore should be refused. BROCKWELL PARK BOMB Peabody Estate, Rosendale Road There was a report in the South London Press in Although the Society did not submit comments to January that you may have missed. It concerned an Lambeth, in the last Newsletter we reported on a empty 14mm shell case, fragments of a V1 Flying planning application to make a number of Bomb and an apparently intact 15 inch incendiary environmental improvements throughout the estate. bomb that were found in Brockwell Park after the Lambeth Planning Committee has refused the Second World War. These artefacts were handed to application. The grounds cited for this refusal include Brian Green, who many people know from the Art inadequate information about tree planting and Stationers in , by a woman who was parking provision, the poor quality of the materials sorting out her father’s possessions after he had died proposed and the inappropriate siting of a bulk and came upon the collection. storage facility. She knew Brian as a local historian and so thought he might be interested. She assured Brian the bomb was NEW MEMBERS not live. However, after a few days with it in his shop, Brian decided he had better make absolutely A very warm welcome to our most recent new sure and rang the police to make enquiries. He was members: Alan Edmunds, Mr. & Mrs. Patrick surprised by the reaction this call triggered, as the Roberts, Ann Smith, Geoff Worley; and to Life bomb squad arrived, roads were closed, shops were Members Sally McManus and Dr. Sam Rodgers. evacuated and for several hours Dulwich Village was We are sad to announce the recent death of Life very quiet. The bomb was removed and made safe Member Mrs Valerie Chandler, after a long illness. and the village returned to normal. CK SN 11

RECASTING CRYSTAL PALACE Two years later, Queen Victoria again attended the an illustrated talk by John Greatrex opening ceremony. A talk on our own local landmark site was always The Palace was never the huge success expected, going to be popular, and John's guided tour through partly because the rules of the Lord's Day the history of the Crystal Palace, lavishly Observance Society prevented it from opening on illustrated, was a winner. Sundays, which was the only day off for most working people, at least until the law was changed The great structure erected in Hyde Park was only in 1861. ever scheduled to stand for six months, the question was, “what then?”. A site was chosen on 1901 saw the last major function and the Palace the top of in South London, and began to fall into disrepair. During WWl it was work began on dismantling the great structure. used as a naval training establishment, and then 900,000 square feet of glass was sent back to became the first . In the Chance Brothers of Birmingham to be melted and 1930's restoration was begun, but catastrophe recast. The acres of blinds and curtains which had struck in 1936 when the Great Fire razed the prevented the visitors from frying had to be rolled building almost to the ground. After the two huge and stored, and the 100,000 exhibits went to water towers were removed in WW2 lest they museums. guide German bombers, and the upper station was closed, virtually nothing remained except the lower Paxton redesigned the new Crystal Palace to be station, now part of Crystal Palace Station. half as big again as the old building. The relocation to Sydenham cost £1,300,000 (the This is where John Greatrex and the Crystal Palace original cost £150,000) and the cost was never Museum came in. It was found that in fact, one recovered. corner of the iron structure had survived, though it was badly corroded and in poor condition. The The iron framework was moved by Pickford’s, Crystal Palace Corner Project was born! The metal using horse teams, which had to be doubled to get columns were recast in Wolverhampton and, with the help of The Black Country Living Museum and the loan of their narrow boat, brought down the Grand Union Canal to the Marina in London. Also on the narrow boat were 200 sacks of coal. There were some misgivings as to how the boat would fare on the Thames, but all was well. The columns were laid out in their original positions in Hyde Park, to be filmed by the BBC with Adam Hart-Davis. The next stage of the journey in 2005 to Belair in Dulwich was achieved by "Carters Steam Fair" who donated the use of their trailer. The final haul to the Crystal Palace site was by courtesy of Laughton's Haulage. After two years of waiting, the columns had to be scraped free of rust, and painted by volunteers. The original foundations were found to be covered by bomb-damage rubble, so new foundations• of concrete were put in, and holes drilled for the bolts, all with the help of the Crystal Palace Foundation. The great day arrived for the columns to be erected, in the company of various local dignitaries, and children from Paxton's School, who touchingly, brought posies to lay at the site. The standing corner is 22 feet tall, only one sixth of the original, but imposing enough to remind us of past glories. The spirit of Joseph Paxton surely lingers the wagons up the local hills. Horse troughs thereabouts, smiling. proliferated along the route. Two railway stations DC were built and two huge water towers to supply the fountains and waterways planned for the Park.

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OTHER SOCIETIES’ EVENTS and other activities. Refreshments and storytelling. Continuing to 31 May at Reading & Wildlife Garden, Carnegie Library, 188 Dulwich Picture Gallery: Herne Hill Road. ‘Sickert in Venice’ Last chance to see this splendid Tuesday 9 June at 6:45 for 7:00pm exhibition. Southwark and Lambeth Archaeological Society: Friday 8 – Sunday 17 May Evening Walk in led by Richard Buchanan. Dulwich Festival: Meet Maze Hill Station. Walks, talks, theatre, music and comedy. Thursday 11 June at 7:30 for 8:00pm www.dulwichfestival.co.uk Dulwich Decorative and Fine Arts Society: Sunday 10 May at 10:00am “The Turner Prize – its History & Controversies” by Barry Friends of Brockwell Park: Venning. Venue as 14 May. Five Parks Walk. Meet at Brockwell Hall. Saturday 20 June at 1:00pm Tuesday 12 May at 7:30pm Friends of Ruskin Park: Southwark and Lambeth Archaeological Society: Summer Fair. Stalls, music, fun, food and fresh air. “The Elephant Entertains” Thursday 25 June at 6:00 – 8:00pm by Richard Norman, Historian South London Botanical Institute: at Co-op Hall, 106 The Cut, Waterloo SE1. Open Evening. Details as 31 May. Refreshments 7:00. £1.00 donation. Saturday & Sunday 18-19 July Thursday 14 May at 7:30 for 8:00pm Lambeth Country Show: Dulwich Decorative and Fine Arts Society: Local societies & charities stalls, music, food, displays “Four Women Artists: Artemisa Gentileschi, Rosalba and funfair. Carriera, Angelica Kauffman & Berte Morrisot” by Pamela Halford, at James Allen Girls School. £7, Monday 7 September at 8:00pm students £1. Streatham Society: “Dr Johnson and the Thrales” by Stephanie Pickford, Saturday 16 May at 11:00 – 5:00pm curator of the Johnson Museum. The Friends of Nunhead Cemetery: at “Woodlawns”, 16 Leigham Court Road SW16 Open Day. Local societies’ stalls, guided tours, refreshments. Monday 18 May at 8:00pm Streatham Society: “Ernest George, Streatham’s Gentleman Architect” by Brian Bloice at “Woodlawns”, 16 Leigham Court Road SW16. Thursday 21 May at 6:00 – 8:00pm South London Botanical Institute: Open Evening. Visit the garden with a glass of wine. Free admission. at 323 Norwood Road SE24. Sunday 31 May at 2:00pm Friends of Brockwell Park: 17th Annual Tree Celebration. Meet at the Clock Tower. Saturday 6 June at 10:30 for 11:00am British Association for Local History (BALF): “Almshouses” by Prof Nigel Goose. Open forum, “Local History & the Media” at Friends Meeting House, Euston Road NW1. As HHS is an affiliate of BALF, our members may join this and other visits at member rates. See www.balh.co.uk for details. Saturday 6 June at 11:00 - 4:00pm Friends of Carnegie Library: Spring Watch Saturday. Join in making a bog garden 13

ASHWELL'S PATENT TOILET LOCK Since publishing “Herne Hill Personalities – biographies of 146 people who lived in Herne Hill”, we keep coming across people who would have well deserved inclusion in our book, if only we had known about them at the time. The two latest discoveries are Arthur Ashwell, the inventor of ‘Ashwell’s Patent Toilet Lock’, and Chester Cross who worked with The invention must have made both men’s fortunes. Arthur to improve the device. A few years later, Arthur had moved to a large property in and Chester Cross had been able Arthur Ashwell, a ‘Gentleman’, lived at ‘Fairfield’, to give up the druggist profession and lived, still in Thurlow Park Road, SE24, next door to West Shakespeare Road, on the income as Proprietor of the Dulwich Station. A man of some means, his income patent for “Ashwell’s Door Indicator Fastener”. came from investments and from property. The story goes that Arthur was on a train from Herne Hill to With grateful thanks to Steve van Dulken of the Waterloo when he was inspired to conceive a solution British Library for providing information on Ashwell, to the problem of how to determine whether or not a Cross and their patent. toilet was occupied without going through the JB embarrassing process of trying the door only to find it locked. His solution was a sliding door bolt that HERNE HILL’S operated, through a cog and a spindle, a metal disc NATWEST BRANCH that rotated to show the word ‘vacant’ and, when the door was locked, ‘engaged’. His patent for the invention was filed on 17th February 1882. Helped by his friend Chester Cross, a ‘druggist’ of 61 Shakespeare Road, Arthur worked to improve his device. In 1885 he brought out a second patent, simplifying the construction and making it “less liable to breakage from rough usage”.

DULWICH POT & PLANT GARDEN 12B Red Post Hill, SE21 7BX. 020 7733 3697 POTS Traditional and Contemporary Exterior and Interior Terracotta, Glazed, Polystone, Metal, Ceramic, Terrazzo, Fibreglass PLANTS Trees, Specimen Shrubs, Grasses, Herbaceous, Perennials, Annuals The London County and COMPOSTS Bank in 1909 Multipurpose, John Innes, Ericaceous, Organic, In November 1897, the London and Westminster Pebbles, Slate, Gravel, Grit, Bank completed the purchase of the site at the corner of Herne Hill and Milkwood Road, for £1,950. GIFTS Tenders for the building work were obtained; and the job was awarded to the builders Holliday and Vases, Interior pots, Tool sets, Lights, Hats, Greenwood. The total construction cost was £8,097: Children's Tools and many other Gardening for the bank and the Manager’s residence (£4,537) Goodies! and for the two shops and three flats (£3,550). Unfortunately a plasterers’ strike held up work. This Free local delivery meant that the bank didn’t open for business until 12th Free parking outside North Dulwich Station December 1898, a month after the scheduled date. continued on Page 15 14

NatWest from Page 14 Mr. J. B. Anderson, a 1st Class Paying Cashier at the Bank’s City Office, was appointed Manager of the Herne Hill Branch, but SUMMER AT THE only at his current salary of £400 a year. He was also DULWICH PICTURE GALLERY required to provide Security of £3,000. Mr. Beck, a 4th Class Passbook Keeper at the Mincing Lane This summer, Dulwich Picture Gallery highlights Branch, was appointed 3rd Class Ledger Keeper at European and Asian works in two concurrent the Herne Hill Branch. Three Tellers were also exhibitions. ‘The Polish Connection’, opening 2 employed. June, brings a contemporary twist to the gallery’s In 1909, the London and Westminster Bank merged historic links with that country. It was the paintings with the London and County Banking Company to purchased on behalf of King Stanislaw Augustus for form the London County and Westminster Bank. his proposed Polish national collection which formed This merged with Parr's Bank in 1918 to form the the basis of Dulwich Picture Gallery after the king London County Westminster and Parr's Bank. In was forced to abdicate. This new show will juxtapose 1923 the name was shortened to Westminster Bank portraits of the king on loan from Warsaw with an Limited. installation by London-based Polish artist Antoni In 1968 the Westminster Bank and the National Malinowski. Provincial Bank, along with National Provincial's subsidiary the District Bank, announced their ‘Utagawa Hiroshige: Japanese prints from the intention to merge. The operations of all three banks Honolulu Academy of Arts’ opens 8 July. were combined over the following 18 months and Hiroshige’s woodblock prints of 100 Famous Views they began to trade as the National Westminster Bank of Edo [Tokyo] and his other Japanese landscapes from 1st January 1970. influenced such Western painters as Van Gogh and The Herne Hill branch was closed on 12th November Whistler and are much loved internationally. 1993 and the business transferred to the bank’s and branch. This was the start of Both shows continue to 27 September; they will be the rot. NatWest’s closure was followed by that of reviewed in the next issue of this Newsletter. the Building Society, by Barclays in 1998, Dulwich Picture Gallery is open Tuesday – Friday then last year by Lloyds, leaving Herne Hill a totally bank-free zone. However, the attractive building does 10am-5pm; weekends & Bank Holiday Mondays now form part of the small Conservation Area that, 11am-5pm. Late opening 6:30-10pm the third following a proposal from the Society, Lambeth Thursday of the month. Gallery and Exhibition £9; established in 2008. Seniors £8; Conc. £5; Friends and children free. Based on information kindly provided by NatWest JD Group Archives. JB 15

EDUCATING ETHEL: work, laundry, cooking, sewing and cleaning. The the story of education for girls in Lambeth Lambeth Ragged School provided for the very by Anne Ward poorest. Reading was taught so that the poor "should know their Bible and their place". Some Anne Ward of Lambeth Archives gave us an children received no education at all. It was not illuminating talk on the development of primary made compulsory until 1870, and was not free until and secondary education for girls in the 19th and 1907. 20th centuries. In Cheltenham in 1850 a revolution began. Dorothy Beal, the headmistress of Cheltenham Ladies College introduced a curriculum for her girls, similar to that of boys, of academic subjects leading to examinations and qualifications. By 1880, the Streatham Girl's High School was teaching mathematics, algebra, English, history, Latin and Greek. Miss Amy LeFoy the headmistress sent pupils to Cheltenham to train as teachers. Sport was now an established subject, and we had photographs of girls playing tennis in Streatham Hill Girls School c.1905 1910, and hockey in 1920, with rather shorter hair and skirts. The Streatham Middle class children were educated separately. Hill High School was known for its library, and Boys went to boarding or grammar schools, and boasted a laboratory for teaching chemistry. took examinations leading to a career in politics, Meanwhile, efforts were being made to improve the lot of the poor. At Norwood Industrial School girls were taught to use sewing machines as part of their domestic training. Various other schools arose, among them the Dames' School and Belmont House School, run by charities, then the National Schools. Pictures from 1907 showed children from Orphanage having drill, swimming, games, singing, writing and laundry. Scholarships became more widely available, though mostly taken up by middle class children. St. Martin in the Fields and Charles Edward Brooke Schools took both fee-paying and scholarship pupils, while Brixton Stockwell Girls Domestic Science Class 1929 Central School offered both academic law, the Church, or perhaps the civil service. Girls and secretarial training. The standard were mostly taught at home by a governess. was very high, and many girls went into the Civil Academic subjects were not included, as education Service. was deemed dangerous for women, and apt to After WW2, there was a drive to get women back cause brain fever and barrenness. Girls learnt to into the home. Nurseries were closed down, and play the piano, speak a little French, to sing and to women were discouraged from working, or paint in watercolours, and similar pursuing . How fortunate that the accomplishments. climate of opinion changed, as economic Working class girls, if any education was received conditions improved. at all, were trained for their station in life: domestic DC

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OBITUARY, STEVE WYSOM Steve and Sue have been members of the Herne Hill Society since coming to live here and Sue has been involved with the Friends of Carnegie Library since it was formed. Sadly, Steve died suddenly in January. Several members represented the Society at his funeral.

READERS AND WRITERS Journalist and broadcaster Amanda Craig comes to the Carnegie Library on Monday 18 May to discuss her latest book, Hearts and Minds. Her fourth novel centres on five seemingly very different people who find their lives in London connected in undreamed-of ways. This free event begins at 6.45pm. The Carnegie evening is one of fifteen organised by Lambeth Libraries for the Readers and Writers Festival 2009. The programme, which runs from 5- 29 May, features talks and discussions with a wide Steve was born in Kingston-on-Thames in 1956. He range of authors, both new and established. Comic met Sue Madden, his partner for twenty five years, at and serious novels, history, poetry and graphics all the Antiquarian market in Kings Road where Sue had get an airing; film, music and creative writing events an antique textiles stall and Steve was managing an are also included. antique clothing stall. During this time Steve took a Pick up a festival brochure from the library for full gardening course which led him to setting up his own details and information about the initiative to make gardening business in Rye and then in “every Lambeth home a reading home”. Herne Hill where he and Sue came to live in 1998. JD

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ASTRONOMERS AND ODDITIES: The Society received "Grace and Favour" The Royal Astronomical Society accommodation at this time in Somerset House. The government of the day rather coveted this and its Library space, and offered them a place in South a talk by Peter Hingley Kensington. This was indignantly refused by the Peter is the Librarian of the Royal Astronomical Society, who described it as "exile to a distant Society (RAS), and began by announcing that suburb". In 1874 they were offered Burlington normally his talks were given to groups of amateur House, in Piccadilly, (newly refurbished in a style astronomers, which made us feel slightly nervous. described by Pevsner as "high Victorian cruelty"). He also declared it impossible to cram 500 years of This has since housed the Society and its Library, history into 45 minutes, but in the event, he had with its collection of books and manuscripts, maps, jolly good try. Facts and figures, illustrations, archives and relics are kept. anecdotes and witty asides flew from him like Sir William Herschel was the first President of the sparks. Pity the chronicler, whose pen seemed Society. His first career had been as a musician, likely to set fire to the notepaper. and came from Germany to take up a position as bandleader. His passion was astronomy and the building of telescopes, aided by his sister Caroline. He was a skilled observer and cataloguer, and discovered the planet Uranus in 1781. Bigger and better telescopes were needed, culminating in a monster 40 feet in length (12 metres) with a mirror 49 in. (124cm.) wide, built in 1789, and resembling something glowering outside the War Museum. The great and famous flocked to see the giant device, including the composer Haydn. His view of the heavens is thought to have inspired "The Creation". This telescope was taken to the Cape of Good Hope by Herschel's son John, but a smaller version is still owned by the family. Here we had a whirlwind run through the history of the telescope, beginning with simple lenses from before recorded history, through Ptolemy and Copernicus, Egypt and China, arriving in the Netherlands, where in 1606, a group of spectacle makers is credited with the invention of the first

Sir William Herschel

The Society was founded in 1820 by half a dozen astronomers, some professional, some amateur. They met in The Freemason's Tavern in Lincolns Inn Fields. Their aim was to support astronomical research, which until then had been mostly in the hands of gentleman amateurs. The first Council meeting was planned, with the Duke of Somerset as President. The Duke happened to be a great friend of Sir Joseph Banks, President of the Royal Society. Banks was bitterly opposed to the new Society, and the Duke withdrew his support on the morning before the grand opening. Nevertheless, the Society prospered, and in 1831 was granted a Royal Charter by George the Fourth. The Society was opened to women in 1915 and has achieved a woman President. The RAS requires no formal qualifications from its members, styled Fellows, though 75% are professional astronomers. The granting of the Charter mysteriously caused a huge row, with at least one member walking out in a rage. Herschel's 40-foot telescope 18 telescope. News reached Galileo in Italy who then FROM THE ARCHIVES invented his own, greatly improving the design. Progress was fast now, and great names peppered the talk - Johannes Kepler and Hans Lippershey Herne Hill Youth Sent For Trial were building telescopes in Germany, while in At Bow-street on Monday, John Albert Sir Isaac Newton made the first practical Cockersley, 21, of Guernsey-grove, Herne reflection telescope in 1668, and so on to Herschel hill, was charged on remand before Sir A. again. Moving on at speed to modern times, we de Rutzen with forging and uttering found Sir William Pearson inventing the orrery, Sir requests for repayment of income tax on Arthur Eddington, Sir Harold Jeffries, and many dividends with intent to defraud the more, arriving at Einstein and his work. We glided over radio astronomy, gamma rays, X-rays, and Commissioners of the Inland Revenue. ultraviolet telescopes. We dwelt awhile on eclipses, He had been employed as boy clerk in the astrophotography and observatories. Income Tax Repayment Department at Somerset House, and - it was alleged – he There were many observatories built locally, notably on , where stood a 48 had obtained the names of people who inch refracting-Iensed Leviathan. On Denmark were entitled to refund of the income tax Hill, Sir Henry Bessemer owned a 15 inch but who were not likely to claim it and reflecting telescope in his observatory. There was had, in their names sent requests for also one at West Norwood, though sadly no refund, giving addresses which turned out pictures remain. We did see some amazing to be those of shops in South London. He photographs of nebulae and planets, volcanoes was said to have obtained nearly £200 in exploding and spectacular eclipses, and also some four months in this manner. of the priceless engravings owned by the Society, Various witnesses, whose names had been rare, amusing and occasionally risqué. forged, gave evidence and the prisoner All this and a great deal more we enjoyed, and still was committed for trial. there was time for questions. It was a splendid evening and a privilege to hear such a distinguished speaker. DC From the Brixton and Lambeth Gazette, January 1911

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Copy deadline for the Autumn ENVIRONMENTAL issue is Friday 17th July 2009. PHONE NOS. Opinions expressed in this Newsletter are Lambeth Streetscene (cleansing, rubbish those of the authors, and not necessarily removal, pot holes, abandoned vehicles, those of the Editors or the Herne Hill Society graffiti removal etc.) Committee. Phone number: 020 7926 9000

Southwark Streetscene (equivalent): Advertising space is available in this Newsletter for local businesses at the Phone number: 020 7525 2000 following rates: Full page £40.00 Half page £25.00 YOUR COUNCILLORS Quarter page £12.50 Herne Hill Ward, Lambeth: Eighth page £ 7.50 Jim Dickson (Lab.) [email protected] (07932 Classified (business card) £ 5.00 792 435) Kirsty McHugh (Lab.) [email protected] (4 insertions for the price of 3) (020 7924 9038) Full page is standard A4 (297 x 210mm). Becca Thackray (Green) Either you can provide your own artwork [email protected] (07946 219394) or we can help with typesetting, free of c/o Lambeth Town Hall, Brixton Hill, SW2 1RW. charge, and include your logo. Thurlow Park Ward, Lambeth: Please contact: Brenda Jones Irene Kimm (Con.) [email protected] 020 7771- 1409 (020 7926 2149) Clare Whelan (Con.) [email protected] (020 THE HERNE HILL SOCIETY 7926 2149) Committee 2009 - 2010 John Whelan (Con.) [email protected] President Bill Kirby 020 7274 0532 (020 7926 2149) Chair Sheila Northover 020 7274 2638 Email: [email protected] c/o Lambeth Town Hall, Brixton Hill, SW2 1RW. Vice Chair John Brunton 020 8678 1757 Village Ward, Southwark: Email: [email protected] Robin Crookshank Hilton (Con.) Secretary Jeff Doorn 020 7274 7008 [email protected] Email: [email protected] Treasurer Rosalind Glover 020 8678 1757 (020 8613 6046) Email: [email protected] Toby Eckersley (Con.) Committee Nick Baker [email protected] [email protected] Diana Chadney 020 7274 7210 (020 7701 3112) Email: [email protected] Robert Holden 020 8674 5101 Nick Vineall (Con.) [email protected] Email: [email protected] (020 7358 3524) Brenda Jones 020 7771 1409 c/o Town Hall, Peckham Road, London SE5 8UB Membership Sec. Caroline Knapp 020 7274 2443 Email: [email protected] Your GLA Member Laurence Marsh 020 7737 0568 Valerie Shawcross AM (Lab.) Email: [email protected] David Taylor 020 7733 5031 [email protected] Email: [email protected] (020 7983 4407) Colin Wight 020 7733 2573 GLA, City Hall, The Queen's Walk, London SE1 2AA Email: [email protected] (co-opted) John Smallwood 020 7401 3561 Your MP Mobile: 07956 468 466 Tessa Jowell MP (Lab.) [email protected] (020 Email:[email protected] Editorial Address and Membership subscriptions: 8333 1372) Herne Hill Society, PO Box 27845, LONDON SE24 9XA House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA Website address: www.hernehillsociety.org.uk

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