Battersea Matters the newsletter of the Society SPRING 2019 From Beirut to Battersea Refugee families are finding a welcome here, says Jenny Sheridan

ntil August 2018, Suzy (not her real name) was a refugee Uliving for over four years in miserable conditions in Lebanon, where she had fled when her family’s property was looted and bombed. As an Armenian Christian in Syria, her life was constantly at risk. However grim the conditions in Lebanon, at least she and her daughters were relatively safe. Now the family is living in Battersea, thanks to a scheme set up by the government in 2015, when images of three year old Alan Kurdi’s tiny body, washed up on a Turkish English-language classes for tourist beach, shocked the world. recently arrived families are held at Through the Vulnerable Persons Katherine Low Settlement Relocation Scheme, (VPRS), the UK committed to taking 20,000 of the and the local community. To avoid on a course funded by BWR. She most traumatised and vulnerable using social housing intended for hopes eventually to go to college Syrian refugee families from camps local people, private landlords are and become an accountant. Her two in the region. The feedback from asked to offer tenancies at housing girls, aged 9 and 10 attend the Love neighbouring boroughs who benefit rate and the local community to Learn homework club at Katherine have adopted the VPRS has been offer other support including helping Low Settlement. Serena Cox, St overwhelmingly positive. Kingston the families integrate. Mary’s refugee representative, is one has resettled 26 families, Lambeth In Battersea, it was hard to find of the volunteers there. ‘They are pledged to take 20, but now has 23 private landlords, so BWR decided both bright, love maths and work and is looking forward to welcoming to step in. Suzy is living in a flat on hard’, she says. ‘I am sure the family more. Wandsworth now has seven the Winstanley Estate belonging to will be an asset to Britain.’ families and an eighth arrives this St Peter’s and another couple from month. St Peter’s have offered their two Scared bedroom flat to a refugee family, Serena is also helping to support Partnership while they temporarily relocate another BWR family. Ahmed and Since Suzy arrived in London, she to Cambridge. Members of the Sahar (not their real names) have has been supported by Battersea congregation of St Michael’s, near three small boys, aged six, five and Welcomes Refugees (BWR), a group Wandsworth Common, have actually three. The youngest was born in a set up in 2017 by members from bought a three bedroom flat in the refugee camp in Jordan. ‘I gather it six local churches: St Mary’s, St middle of Battersea, specifically for was four years of hell’, says Serena. Peter’s, St Michael’s, St Barnabas, St VPRS. ‘The camp was run by violent gangs, Luke’s and All Saints, all keen to do Suzy and her children have been they could hear the bombs over the something practical to help refugees. living on the Winstanley estate border and packs of feral dogs The VPRS is a three way partnership since last August. She is studying roamed between the tents. The between the government, which pays English at South Thames College children are still scared of loud noises housing benefit, the local authority, to improve her skills and is also and of dogs.’ which provides a support package, training to become a nail technician

Don’t forget to visit our website: batterseasociety.org.uk for regular updates on Battersea Society news, events and planning matters From the editor Battersea and Sussex, but for the to be cheerful on the news certainly. rare breed apples in trugs outside the One of the few sparks of cheer I can The death shop every autumn, bringing ancient perceive is the huge number of local of the high favours, aromas and textures to our voluntary organisations and charities street – tables. working to improve community life in we’ve been Another depressing sign of the Battersea. Some of them have come reading times is the Northcote Road market. together to form an alliance to work about it for Last Saturday there were only three even more effectively – you will read years, and stalls in a street once lined end to about it in future issues of Battersea nothing end with them. Clapham’s Venn Matters. One of the first fruits of this much has Street is the nearest, and is excellent, alliance is a Battersea Charities Week been done to resuscitate it. Battersea but I wonder why neither Battersea in June, culminating in the Falcon has done better than many areas of nor Putney have managed to sustain Road Festival, where the Society will London, and Northcote Road has a street or farmers’ market. have a stall. done better than much of Battersea. Perhaps the new Clapham May and June will be busy, But now things may be changing. Junction BID (Business Improvement with the festival, the Arts Fringe One of the most interesting and District) will end our high street woes and the Heritage Festival. I hope individual shops around, the Hive and bring life, light and little lambkins to see many of you at these Honey Shop, has closed its doors leaping along . Perhaps. happy community events. I feel that, like the Man on the after 20 years, and will now be selling Jenny Sheridan Bus below, I must stop myself from online only. I will miss them, not only [email protected] falling into despair, or at least a state for their amazing range of honey, 020 7350 2749 much of it from their own hives in of severe grumpiness. No reasons

Man on the Battersea Bus How many of these they consumed if they ever got inside, I don’t know, Mike Roden tries to look on the bright side but I can’t help feeling that recording the occasion on Instagram is the main Of late there’ve been days when I gangs of local crows seem attraction. felt like emulating Private Frazer from determined to stop them settling in. The selfie is a phenomenon of our Dad’s Army and shrieking ‘Doomed Their black and white shiny plumage bonkers modern age which shows – we’re all doomed’ to nobody in is very fetching, though en masse no sign of going away. Apparently particular. I’m writing this on the Ides their constant cackling can be most people prefer the Mona Lisa to of March and though I haven’t yet maddening. But I shall continue to be behind them with their own face seen portents and omens foretelling follow a habit I learned from my mum in the forefront of the picture. I gather the death of Kings I’m aware that the and politely wish good morning to my that the Taj Mahal suffers the same world is gradually being suffocated first magpie of the day. I suppose it’s fate. A rather grimmer fate sometimes by a tide of plastic, that a way of hoping the ‘one for sorrow’ awaits those determined to get their temperatures (and thus part of the traditional faces in front of a magnificent piece sea levels) are rising much rhyme won’t count if of scenery like the Grand Canyon quicker than predicted, knife you’re nice to them. or a Himalayan peak. They inch crime has reached epidemic Continuing to look on backwards towards an unfenced proportions, and Westminster the bright side, nothing could edge trying to frame the perfect shot is currently showing a drama have been brighter than the until suddenly the edge is no longer serial which may or may not be garishly pink-painted shop which there. Neither of course are they. approaching its last episode. we approached one day on our Right – on that eminently cheerful Pull yourself together, I hear way to Victoria station. The queue note I should get going and leave you you cry. Worse things happen at sea. of (mostly) young women which in peace. Incidentally, have you ever Look on the bright side. snaked away from the front door noticed that the word ‘Right’ said There may be some truth in that. was heroically long, but cheerful, purposefully to display an intention to Spring after all is starting to peep and people were taking it in turns to leave is a pretty good indication that shyly round the corner. A nearby record pictures of themselves in the they’ll spend the next ten minutes magnolia is in full blossom and this shop doorway. not going anywhere, needing to find year the makeshift bird table near their coat, or scarf or car keys, or our kitchen window is starting to Cupcakes bike lamp. Or that once they do get attract visitors – a pair of blackbirds, It turned out to be the recently outside they’ll start a conversation on dunnocks, bluetits pecking at the fat opened Ebury Street outpost of the doorstep, usually with the door balls, and the occasional robin calling Peggy Porschen’s Parlour which open letting all the cold air in. Like I’m in to keep an eye on things. bakes and sells ‘cupcakes, layer doing now. The number of magpies round here cakes and coveted confections’ and I am leaving. Really. See you next is on the rise, but our quarrelsome was obviously the place to be seen. time. And mind how you go.

2 Before the war, in A UN refugee which he served in camp in Lebanon the Free Syrian Army, Ahmed was a specialist tailor, and has also worked as a chef. ‘They are a really lovely family’ says Serena. ‘Ahmed is warm and kind, very hands-on with the boys and does at least half the childcare. Sahar is prescriptions, assist with more reserved. Despite form filling and organise having so little, she has social events and the a keen eye for beauty occasional treat. At half and though their flat is term, one family was utterly bare, other than a copy of the cleaned and furnished by BWR given tickets for the London Eye and Koran, there are always flowers. I feel volunteers. The churches had a the other tickets for a Thames boat that she is even more traumatised wedding-style list of goods the trip. Both families were thrilled. than the children. They have all families would need, ranging from It is a big commitment of time but experienced quite a culture shock wardrobes to washing up bowls. Serena says it is deeply rewarding. on top of what they went through Randall Close Day Centre donated ‘The families could not be more in Syria and Jordan. And they worry winter items such as blankets and still grateful. They are committed to their desperately about their families back sends a weekly vegetable box to the new life and when they can they want home.’ families. When parishioners realised to give back to the community that that Ahmed and Sahar’s boys had has taken them in. Suzy, who now Classes arrived with only the summer clothes volunteers at St Peter’s, says she Ahmed and Sahar go to Katherine they were wearing, they donated can’t describe what it is like to see Low Settlement for free English warm second hand clothing and her daughters relaxed and free from classes and the boys attend junior some toys including, to their delight, fear for the first time in years. And homework club there. One of BWR’s a small bicycle. Ahmed and Sahar and their boys aims is to help Ahmed into full Members of BWR help the family have blossomed since they arrived, employment. find their way around Battersea, exhausted and traumatised, last The three flats were all decorated, take them to the dentist, sort out September.’

Translation New film club celebrates world cinema Both families have had extensive Chris Morgan-Locke and Roger Booker urge us to join help from the council, who assisted with everything from Arabic/English The inaugural screening of the new translation to organising schools, Clapham Common Film Club took GPs and bank accounts. place at the Omnibus Theatre on 25 Battersea Welcomes Refugees is February. Screenings are in the new committed to supporting these two upstairs space at Omnibus which families whom they have housed, has tiered seating, good projection as well as the new family arriving facilities and a capacity of 70. This this month and the other five Syrian was the first of a trial season of five families scattered round Wandsworth. monthly films over the spring and The mission of the club is to show However, they would love some help. summer. The plan is for the club to be the best of world cinema past and Serena says, ‘Anyone who a membership organisation with the present in a congenial community can speak a bit of Arabic would membership fee covering entry to all setting. The next screening is on be particularly welcome. Most showings at no additional cost. Our Sunday 31 March at 7.00 for 7.30pm of all we would love to hear from projected break even membership and will be A Fireman’s Ball (Milos anybody who might have a two or cost for this season is £35. The Forman, Czechoslovakia, 1967). three bedroom flat they would be response will determine whether the The next will be on Monday 29 prepared to rent to a family for two club has a future into a longer season April and will feature a film from years. They would receive slightly for 2019 – 2020. Italy or Canada. There is a limit on below the market rent but the flat We received much positive membership numbers so put the would be looked after beautifully.’ date in your diary now and join then. feedback following an earlier article If you are able to help in any way, in Battersea Matters so we thank Email [email protected] for more please contact: those who came on Monday 25th. information and membership details. [email protected]

3 Refuge in creativity new community might look like. below: Betsey introduces the Christmas show. The emerging community is built inset: children act the parts of weary refugees Rev Betsy Blatchley on melding on three of my passions – the children, from many different faith spirituality and the arts arts, spirituality and social justice. backgrounds, mingled with senior I believe that when we combine US Embassy staff, developers, In previous eras when new housing these, we have the best chance of councillors, council arts staff and developments were being built, a nurturing human and community representatives from local arts church would have been part of the fourishing in an area of rapid change organisations. It felt like a first taste building programme, but in the 21st and starkly contrasting century that’s no longer a given. So, demographics. As a as the huge redevelopment along community of artists and the river between and creatives who share these Vauxhall brings tens of thousands of passions has emerged, both new residents, workers and visitors from Battersea and across to the area – how does the church London, and we have met respond? to plan and dream together, In the case of the Church of a range of initiatives have in the Diocese of Southwark, emerged. by asking the question ‘What One of the most exciting makes a good city?’ It seeks to of these to date was provide accessible opportunities for Refugee: A Christmas sanctuary, peace, conversation and Story at Battersea Power spiritual questioning in our hectic Station’s Village Hall, just before of how this trio of arts, spirituality city life. As part of that response, Christmas. The event built on and social justice can build bridges a year ago I was licensed to the contemporary dance company between communities and help us brand new role of Pioneer Minister Springs Dance, working with children to refect on ‘what does a society of in the Arts in Nine Elms, based in from St George’s Primary School, welcome look like?’ the parish of Battersea Fields and its on the Patmore Estate, to develop three existing churches. My brief – to a new dance piece. It was inspired Bridge establish a new spiritual community by the delightful illustrated book Building on this success, we are in the /Nine Refuge by Anne Booth and Sam planning another event in the Village Elms developments around arts and Usher. This simple retelling of the Hall as part of Wandsworth Arts creativity. Nativity focuses on the theme of Fringe. Creative Soul: An Arts Spa, the family as refugees seeking the on Sunday 5 May, is an opportunity Arts-in-education kindness of strangers. The book’s for adults to come and spend an For me, personally, it was a wonderful author introduced the event and read afternoon being refreshed, energised merging of two vocations. The first the book (which is sold in aid of the and nurtured through film, dance, twenty years of my working life were charity War Child) to an entranced craft, art, music and much more. in the world of theatre, initially as audience of nearly 200 adults and We hope that this will lead to further a performer and arts-in-education children. pop-up well-being events across facilitator and then for many years Then Battersea Welcomes Battersea and Nine Elms. We are as a producer. The past fifteen years Refugees talked about their work also developing an exciting summer have been spent as an ordained in housing Syrian refugee families cultural programme to coincide priest, but the arts have locally, but it was the children who with the ‘Happiness Bridge’ project always played a part in were centre stage. The dance – refurbishing the area below the my ministry. piece, which told the Christmas railway bridge on Thessaly Road. My last job in story whilst exploring themes Later in the year we are looking at theatre was at the of welcome, danger and some exciting initiatives around World National Theatre journey, was stunning and Slavery Day in the autumn and an on the South Bank. moving, especially as many ambitious Advent project. So plenty Now, seventeen years of the children had no previous to keep me busy! later, I have returned to dance experience. Sam Evans, It might not be quite what church the river to develop a new music director of BPS Community would have looked like in the great community on the ‘extended’ South Choir, rounded off the event by building boom of the Victorian era, Bank - as the cultural footprint begins leading the audience in carol singing. but I am loving this new challenge to stretch to the new Nine Elms In the foyer the Brownies displayed of creating a spiritual community development – albeit to something of their work on the refugee theme for through the arts in Battersea. a building site at the moment! My first the audience to look at while enjoying Facebook www.facebook.com/ year has been a whirlwind of building mulled wine provided by a local NineElmsArtsMinistry relationships in this incredibly vibrant restaurant. Twitter @9ElmsArtsRev area and linking up with artists and The event attracted an incredibly Email betsy.blatchley@southwark. creative people to explore what this diverse audience – parents of the anglican.org

4 Planning Matters Monica Tross waits for the 19 bus and the St Mary’s slipway

NORTHCOTE LIBRARY AND others. There is CHATHAM HALL a link to this (and Opinions are mixed about the our LIP response) architectural merits of the library, on the planning with some describing it as an iconic consultation brutalist building and others calling section of our it merely brutal. Whatever people website. think of the building itself, and of Chatham Hall, many are concerned NINE ELMS/ about the plans put forward for their PIMLICO BRIDGE How a new Northcote replacement. We have expressed The latest stage of this saga was Library could look if the plans proceed our concerns about the detail of the heralded by the Evening Standard plans (you can see our views on the in a way which suggested work is application website, 2018/5833). In about to start but the reality is a 19 BUS particular we have objected to the little slower-paced. A report to the I hear from TfL that: ‘We are now omission of any affordable housing Council’s 13 February Finance and reviewing over 7,000 responses to the from the mix. However we have also Corporate Resources committee consultation and hope to publish a questioned the extent of the work agreed the recommendation that consultation report in the first quarter and asked whether a more modest the bridge run from Grosvenor Road of 2019.This report will set out our scheme of improvements would have (Claverton Street) north of the river to next steps regarding the proposals made more financial sense for the Kirtling Street in the south. However that were consulted on. At present I council tax payer. We have written to while further technical validation am not able to give a more specific ask for more details but await a reply. work will be done, no further money timeframe for when the results will was allocated and there will be a be published. However, once the GETTING TO GRIPS WITH LIP pause in the work programme. A report has been published, we will Last year we responded to the TfL decision to continue to stage three contact everyone who responded to consultation on their Transport is to be brought back to the Finance the consultation to let them know; the Strategy and this year began with Committee at an unspecified future outcome will also be published on the our response to the WBC Local date. Although we have always been consultation web page.’ Implementation Plan (LIP), designed highly sceptical about the sense in to meet this strategy. It was dispiriting using so many resources on a not UPDATES – AND AN APOLOGY to find that much of what we had obviously needed bridge, this is Smaller planning applications are still to say is little changed from our probably the best route of the options slowing down and we are currently response to the same consultation put forward. waiting to hear about new plans for back in 2010. We are still asking for the Mail Site. There is something to be done to improve SLIPWAY AT ST. MARY’S, to be an exhibition during the week of Clapham Junction station and still BATTERSEA CHURCH ROAD 25 March, check out our website for drawing attention to the congestion at Thanks to the vigilance of one of details. A further application relating the junction of and our members we were alerted to an to the Winstanley regeneration has Battersea Church Roads. Clapham application for a slipway extension to been made, 2019/0024 and we have Junction station has changed enable Duck Tours to operate from made brief comments. I was grateful management and we are meeting the there. Duck Tours operate the large to readers who alerted me to the fact Network Rail manager to brief him on amphibious vehicles that tour around I’d muddled my public houses in the our concerns. I will report back in the Westminster and have previously last issue (not as a result of spending next issue. included a river trip from next to the too long inside, I assure you). It is of MI6 building at Vauxhall as part of the course The Castle in Battersea High CORE STRATEGIES – A ROLLING tour. We swung into action and have Street, not the Crown. PROCESS objected to these plans. Quite apart Wandsworth Council’s key planning from the disturbance to the riverside, KEEPING IN TOUCH documents were last adopted just think of the added congestion We always like to hear from our in March 2016 and already the along Battersea Church Road – see members (including pointing out consultation process is starting again. LIP comments above. St. Mary Park mistakes) so do let us have any This lists 98 questions and, with input councillors are trying to find out comments, on this article, on from members of both the Open whether there is any danger of the exhibitions, or on planning in general. Spaces and Planning Committees, plans going ahead and we will report [email protected] will we managed to respond to most back when we know more. find us. of them – some in more detail than

5 retire.’ Another says he was at a loose end and that making things give him a challenge. Sharing jokes is as important as sharing technical skills and working together to assemble machinery. The men meet every Wednesday. New members are always welcome and although it is mostly aimed at men, women are also welcome to join. In the film Janet says, ‘I’ve learnt to use tools, so now I don’t need to pay people to do things at home. I can do it myself.’ The project is supported by Sheltered Housing Services but is run by the members themselves. It is not suitable for people needing care or special assistance, but anyone Ship ahoy! needing additional support can attend with a carer, if the carer remains on Elaine Curley tells the tale of the boat that the Men in Sheds built site to help. The boat is now at Alton Playgroup in Roehampton. A documentary telling the tale of Isolation can be a major cause of ill- a group of local men who came health, both mental and physical and The documentary can be viewed on together to create the Battersea this project has proved a successful the Wandsworth Council website at Men’s Shed is now ready to view. The way of getting men out of their homes the following link: film shows how the men, all over 55, and interacting with each other on https://youtu.be/q4wr3dwR1pk began the project to tackle loneliness an array of community and personal Anyone interested in finding out and social isolation by building a shed woodworking projects. more about Battersea Men’s Shed or where they could make and restore any of the other projects run by the furniture and how they progressed to Notorious Community Development Team can crafting a boat they launched on the The documentary is a fascinating look contact Elaine Curley at last June. at how the project developed right up [email protected] to the current time and shows how This Community Editor’s note much its members have achieved Development,initiative is based in I acquired a handsome new bird by working together. One member Dimson Lodge, Battersea Church feeder from Mike in the Men’s Shed. acknowledges, ‘Men are notorious Road where the men have converted They also make bird boxes and for sitting around at home after they an unused room into a workshop. planters.

What is a silent disco walking tour? version of Mozart’s Don Giovanni, set And why would anyone call a play in present day Milan during Fashion Die! Die! Old People Die!? These Week, 16 – 19 May. questions and no doubt many more On 3, 11 and 19 May there will be may find answers in Wandsworth interactive storytelling on the life of Arts Fringe, running from 3 – 19 May. Charlotte Despard, performed in the Here are just a few of the events avenue that bears her name. happening in and around Battersea. The Battersea Society’s The above play, described as contribution will be a talk on all seriously funny, will be performed aspects of print-making, by Professor 3 –19 May 2019 by the well-known theatre group Jo Stockham, at the Royal College of Ridiculismus. They will be at Art on 9 May. 8 – 18 May. At both weekends during the The disco walking tour – ‘a Fringe, choirs from all over south- hilarious dance-walk adventure west London will be singing their through Wandsworth’s streets’ – will hearts out, from classical to pop and start from BAC on 18 May. musicals, at Battersea Power Station Omnibus Theatre will host a Circus West.

6 Finding a away through conflict Jenny Reid, director of Wandsworth Mediation Service, explains how it can help

Wandsworth Mediation Service not get resolved. This causes their concerns, discuss points of is a local charity providing a free stress, worry and hostility on both difference and agree issues in a community mediation service to sides. At the mediation session, collaborative way. With the support of neighbours, families and communities the mediators set ground rules, the mediators, they worked towards in confict. Since we were set up making it a safe space for people an agreement on the guidelines in 2004, our wonderful team of to express themselves. At the start for Alison going out with friends, 57 trained mediators have helped each person gets the communication hundreds of people reach a peaceful chance to speak without between Alison and agreement with their neighbours Susan, and practical being interrupted I felt listened and families by giving them time and steps to rebuild for ten minutes. The to and guided. space to discuss the issues and find trust. mediators summarise I felt that they shared solutions. Several weeks what the parties say helped me find Mediation is a confidential process after the last and encourage them solutions … where people who are in confict first session, both to consider what they (I felt) much meet separately with two mediators, Susan and Alison have in common – for lighter when I and afterwards come together to feel that trust had example a desire to end left’ have a round-table mediation session. the confict. They do not been rebuilt and The mediators, who are impartial, tell the parties what to communication has help them identify the issues, listen do, but they guide them improved. Alison is to each other, and decide how they to thinking about how they might coming home at the agreed time and might change the way they do things do things differently in future. That letting Susan know who she is out in the future. The ownership by the parties, with. Both are communicating without mediators do not coupled with the possibility shouting and Alison feels that her tell the parties ‘Your of a different way of mum is listening to her views. what to do, but mediation behaving toward each Susan told us, ‘Everything is facilitate the service has other, brings a commitment going well since the mediation. It discussions so been of great to trying to doing things in really helped – both of us coming that the parties benefit … a new way. together and working as a unit. Our can express what I would highly Here’s a recent quote communication is better, we’re talking they want to recommend from a party to mediation: without shouting.’ say and listen to you … ’ ‘Your mediation service each other before has been of a great benefit Coaching working out an to myself and, hopefully, to We also offer confict coaching to agreement on how to resolve the the other parties involved in the past people when the other person is not confict. few months. You have conducted willing to mediate and the feedback yourselves in a very considerate we have had from recent cases has Families and objectively fair manner, and I been very positive: Many different types of problems can would highly recommend you for any ‘I felt listened to and guided. I felt be mediated. We mediate between future matters friends or family might that they helped me find solutions in ex-partners over child contact experience.’ dealing with what I considered issues, arrangements, as well as dealing with In a recent intergenerational case, but now think of as events … I walked building disputes,financial issues Susan* and her teenage daughter, away feeling that I had a better sense concerning inheritance and property Alison*, had a strained relationship. of direction. Once again, thank you matters. We also support families by Susan felt that her daughter was for your service. It was objective, yet offering inter-generational mediation disrespectful and not keeping to the personal and made me feel much between different members of the rules. Alison would often come home lighter when I left.’ same family over all generations and late and had been in trouble with We offer training courses to ages. Often we help neighbours in the police. Alison felt that her mum help you communicate better with confict over boundaries, noise and didn’t listen to her and was hard to your neighbours, families and parking. We can help with a wide communicate with. friends, and to deal with confict. range of cases, including commercial (*names and some details have been ones, for which we charge. All Points of difference changed to protect privacy) the fees generated support our Susan and Alison attended three community work. sessions at Wandsworth Mediation Why does mediation work? Often Service over four weeks with the people in confict stop listening to same two mediators. These sessions each other and the confict does gave them a chance to express

7 Great Bus Journeys of the World No 24 Mike Roden takes the 38 from Victoria to Clapton Pond

While waiting at Victoria Station for Windmill Street was named after 24 September 1930 with the premiere the 170 bus, Ioften watch the 38 set the windmill which was recorded of Private Lives by Noël Coward, off to Clapton Pond. I had no idea here in 1585 and demolished in the who also appeared in the play, with where this was, or whether there was late 1600s. The Windmill Theatre Adrienne Allen, Gertrude Lawrence and an actual pond. So on a breezy March presented nude tableaux vivants Laurence Olivier. Those were the days. morning I board the 38 at Victoria. during the 1930s and 1940s. I gather Across Buckingham Palace Road it’s now a table dancing club but Spy is the first of the two patches of obviously I can’t confirm that. Passing the revamped Tottenham greenery that make up Grosvenor The London Trocadero was built in Court Road station we turn onto New Gardens. The arresting sculpture in 1896 and featured a Lyons restaurant Oxford Street with its numerous fast the second park, showing a lioness with grand opera stylings. It closed food places. For those who’d rather attacking an antelope is by Jonathan in 1965 and only in 1984 was the get a walking stick or umbrella there’s Kenworthy, and was installed in 2000. building reopened as a tourist-led the shop at number 53. The business leisure attraction. It has changed was founded by James Smith in Massive hands several times and since 2014 1830. The fittings date from around The bus moves alongside the wall of there have been plans for a hotel. 1865 and this is seen as a perfect Buckingham Palace Gardens towards That reminds me of Battersea Power (and rare) example of Victorian shop Hyde Park Corner. Charles Sargeant Station’s history, so let’s wait and see. front design. Jagger’s magnificent Artillery Memorial The bus now carries us into makes no attempt to idealise war. Chinatown Bloomsbury. You can’t miss St A massive stone howitzer towers There are at least 80 restaurants in George’s Bloomsbury which was over several life-size bronze statues Chinatown and numerous Chinese the sixth and last of Nicholas including – very controversial at the businesses ranging from banks to Hawksmoor’s London churches and time – a dead soldier anonymous herbalists. In the early 20th century, was consecrated on 28 January 1730. under a tarpaulin. A plaque London’s Chinese population Improbably the crypt houses the commemorates Jagger on a house in concentrated in Limehouse, which Museum of Comedy. Albert Bridge Road, where he lived at suffered heavy damage during the Heading onward we pass the end of his life. Blitz. After the war they gradually the Grade II listed home of the We’re now on Piccadilly following moved elsewhere in London. Swedenborg Society named after the a number 14 bus, a route I covered The current Chinatown became philosopher Emanuel Swedenborg in the Summer 2018 edition. The odd established in the 1970s. (1688 – 1772). There’s a library here, sculpture over Fortnum and Mason’s The bus queue inches along together with a museum, bookshop entrance (a duo with featureless flat Charing Cross Road past the and events space. heads) is the work of Lynn Chadwick. Montague Pyke. This is now a On the other side of Bloomsbury The piece is from the collection of Wetherspoons house but was Way is Pushkin House, another listed Frank Cohen who has loaned other originally one of a chain of cinemas building and an independent Russian pieces of artwork displayed around that Pyke ran across London. They cultural centre. the store. were mostly converted shops, but this Opposite Bloomsbury Square The bus is now part of a slow- one was purpose built and opened on Gardens is Sicilian Avenue, an ornate moving convoy, and up ahead I see a August 26, 1911 as the Cambridge pedestrianised arcade which opened number 19 – whose fate has not yet Circus Cinematograph Theatre. in 1910. It used to live up to its been decided by TfL. It’s probably It was his fourteenth and last name with a day-long noisy bustling quicker to walk along Piccadilly cinema. After an employee died Mediterranean atmosphere. Today at than sit here, but in the interests of in a fire here he was accused of 10.30 am there seems to be nothing accuracy I’ll stay put! manslaughter. Although he was open. Its recent ‘restyling’ might Finally at Piccadilly Circus, we acquitted his fortunes declined. explain its soul-less look. turn onto Shaftesbury Avenue. Great The Phoenix Theatre opened on The bus crosses Southampton

8 Left to right: Artillery Memorial, Marble Arch; Note: All of the Great Bus railways changed the village for ever. gateway in Chinatown, Sicilian Avenue; James Journeys have been cleverly Heading towards Hackney Central Smith Umbrella shop, Holborn; Dalston Junction extracted from Battersea Matters and can be Station my eye is caught by the sign Overground Station, Hackney downloaded from ‘Vegan Chips’. This is the local branch www.batterseabus.co.uk of Sutton and Sons, one of north London’s most popular fish and chip shop chains – but here offering only vegan versions of fish, burgers and pies. I’m intrigued by battered Tofish (made presumably from Tofu). If you ever sample its delights, let me know. Heading through another scatter of small shops and bars we turn up Amhurst Road. A brief pause at the stop for Hackney Central Station then Row and we’re now on Theobalds springs on his property. Sadler the bus heads onto Dalston Lane Road. It was traditionally pronounced enhanced ticket sales by claiming that towards journey’s end. Clapton Girls’ ‘Tibbalds’ but it’s probably best to drinking the water would be effective Academy is on a site where there has avoid that usage if seeking directions. against pretty well all known ailments. been a school of some sort since the The poet Coleridge was born at The theatre gradually declined in early eighteenth century, including the number 15, and PM Benjamin Disraeli popularity as the discovery of other London Orphan Asylum. It eventually at number 22. spas enticed away Sadler’s mainly became a girls’ grammar school, aristocratic customer base. The current whose most famous pupil was the Downhill building is the sixth on the site and was singer Helen Shapiro (you may now The bus stops at Red Lion Street. completed in 1998 at a cost of £54m. sing a few bars of ‘Walking back to Nearby is Red Lion Square, which We head up St John Street to the Happiness’ her 1961 hit). has had a mixed career over the Angel. This is probably named for a centuries. Early in the 18th century historic pub of that name. The Old Farmers the new houses were highly Red Lion Theatre is one of London’s For centuries the land round Clapton successful in attracting ‘men of most innovative Fringe theatre was owned by the bishops of quality’ such as lawyers and doctors. venues. Many of its productions London, and occupied by tenant By the 19th century things went transfer to the West End. Probably the farmers who supplied the City of downhill with writers and artists like most successful one in recent years London. Prosperity came in the late Rossetti, Burne-Jones and William is the anarchic and hugely funny The 18th century when Clapton became Morris moving in. Respectability Play that Goes Wrong. fashionable as a country retreat for returned when it was laid out as a On Islington High Street I spot the the wealthy. After the arrival of the public garden in 1885. On the edge current incarnation of the Angel Inn railways many of the large houses of the square is Conway Hall which which is of course a Wetherspoons and their grounds made way for the has a varied programme of talks and pub. Nearby is Angel tube station. building of more modest homes. concerts and a library with the UK’s Waddingtons included Angel as one But there was one constant, and largest collection of humanist works. of the light blue properties in the first the bus has now arrived there: my We’re in Clerkenwell now, turning British editon of Monopoly in 1935. destination – Clapton Pond. It’s now up Rosebery Avenue. The name Rent with a hotel £500! at the centre of a small unpretentious recalls a former chairman of the After Islington Green the road park – a very pleasant place to sit LCC, Lord Rosebery, who in 1894 ahead offers little of interest. Rows of on a sunny day, but a touch chilly succeeded Gladstone as Liberal small shops mixed with private and today. It’s fed by a natural spring Prime Minister, was defeated at the council residential estates don’t send which once helped with the irrigation election the following year and then my pencil scribbling. of surrounding farmland. Though resigned the Liberal leadership in Still, the Walter Sickert Community its fortunes have waxed and waned 1896. Having a busy road named Centre catches my eye. The artist over the years, it now has a working after him may have been some sort of who some years ago was accused fountain and the fencing is intact, consolation. (without real evidence) of being Jack and it has an air of being looked after. Exmouth Market is home to a large the Ripper lived in Islington, and there That’s down to the recent efforts of number of restaurants and bars, as is a collection related to him and his the Clapton Pond Neighbourhood well as book, record and gift shops. family in the local museum. Action Group. The street market – reinstated in 2006 Another long stretch of road with Anyway I plant the Battersea Society – is open during the week. nothing much to report, and then flag I bring with me on these occasions The bus stops near Sadlers Wells. we’re In Hackney entering Dalston. [Editor’s note: no he didn’t!] hop on the There’s been a theatre here since Once a small rural village, this 38 bus going in a homeward direction, 1683 when Richard Sadler opened a probably gets its name from Deorlaf’s and disembark at Hackney Downs ‘Musick House’. The name originates tun (farm). Dalston Junction station, station to take a nine minute train ride from the supposedly health-giving is a reminder that the coming of the to Liverpool Street Station.

9 Rich pickings! Historian Sue Demont celebrates a significant collection obtained by the Society

A few weeks ago the Battersea Society was offered the opportunity to purchase – at a very reasonable price – a selection of books, prints and pamphlets from the collection of the late Patrick Loobey, local historian and book compiler. Music to the ears of the Society’s Heritage Committee! – as members are always on the lookout for undiscovered or out of print resources on our historic borough. One particularly interesting item is the 1926 Official Guide to the borough’s ‘history, features, public buildings and institutions’ which is certainly comprehensive. It begins with sections on the council’s community whose pride shone in a ‘screaming all the way for they housing estates and open spaces spirit of independence through the seemed to know they were going to and gives a surprisingly detailed vast number of churches, voluntary their death’. These little books also history of the area going right back to societies and youth organisations’ the include some interesting, though the original ‘Badericesege’, the island Rotary Club set out to capture the poorly reproduced photos. granted to the Saxon Badric in 693 reminiscences of local residents who The Annual Reports of Battersea whose name eventually evolved into had lived all their lives here. As the Borough Council for the years ‘Battersea’. The book covers every interviews were conducted almost 1931/2 and 1933/4 are of more aspect of municipal life; we learn that 40 years ago this means that many limited interest, though the former the Nine Elms Baths include of the recollections date coincides with the redevelopment of one of the largest back to well before the first the St John’s College Estate which is swimming pools in World War. For example, described in some detail, including England; that ‘high Mrs F Williams (b. 1880) the proposal for the newly re-named class orchestral describes her childhood Old Battersea House to house a concerts’ are held in one of the ‘little houses collection of pictures, pottery and at the Town Hall on off Battersea Park Road’ ‘old-English furniture’. alternate Sundays; where almost everyone and that the Central kept rabbits and chickens, Famous pastor Library includes a whose eggs could be The centenary record of the Battersea museum displaying a bought ‘very cheaply’. Chapel (1797 – 1897) is also one for collection of Battersea She also recalled playing the specialist, but contains the odd enamels from the 1750s in the old buildings that striking observation, such as ‘Mr ‘now very rare and highly pre-dated the mansion Hughes (the first minister) strove to prized by collectors’. fats on Prince of Wales meet the religious and educational The guidebook is fairly Drive. needs of a suburban village’ which is bursting with civic A Mrs Richman of Wadhurst an intriguing description of Battersea pride and includes many interesting Road recalled that one of her weekly in the 1790s. The chapel’s most photos, such as the Maternity Home chores was to bring home a sackful famous pastor was the Reverend established in Bolingbroke Grove in of coke from the Nine Elms coke Israel May Soule, who ‘laboured to 1921 and a splendid shot of Battersea factory, which she transported in an keep pace with the rapidly increasing Bridge from the Chelsea foreshore. old push chair; she always carried population’ from the 1830s onwards. a hair pin with her for when a wheel Soule evidently did this to good effect Spirit came off. Another interviewee as he added around 500 members to There are also some nuggets in two used to get distressed by the local the chapel, and the police estimated little booklets published by the Rotary slaughterhouse, where a ‘man with that over 7000 people gathered for Club of Battersea in the early 1980s. a stick’ would drive in the sheep his funeral in 1873. His name lives on Lamenting the disappearance of and pigs. On occasion a few would today in Maysoule Road. the so-called ‘Battersea spirit … a escape and run down Usk Road A particularly endearing item

10 BATTERSEA SOCIETY EVENTS • Sunday 14 April Spring Lunch at Bread Centrale Plantation Wharf 12.30 for 1pm. £19 for two courses, £23 for three

• Tuesday 30 April Talk on proposed Heart of Battersea project by architect Camilla Ween.Dimson Lodge, Battersea Church Road (opposite St Mary’s church) 6.30 for 7. Free

• Thursday 9 May RCA Reveals … Printmaking, hosted by the Battersea above: map from Walter Johnson’s 1910 survey of Battersea Park, Society, talk by Professor Jo inset: the Reverend Israel May Soule Stockham, Head of Printmaking Programme, Royal College is Walter Johnson’s 1910 survey be observed. Those were the days … of Art 6.30 for 7pm. Free of Battersea Park ‘as a centre for Finally, plaudits are due to Patrick nature-study’. This worthy tome goes Loobey himself, for assembling into exhaustive detail on the natural such an interesting array of old • Sunday 19 May history of the park, but the ‘Outline photographs for his two volumes Unveiling of commemorative Calendar’ which concludes the book in the Images of London series. plaque for Pamela Hansford is a gem, advising the visitor Representations of schools, Johnson at 53 Battersea on the fora and fauna shops, churches, factories, Rise 3pm. Free they should expect the railway, bridges and to see each month streetscapes across • Monday 20 May with a somewhat the borough are well- Visit to the Postal Museum idiosyncratic reproduced and Phoenix Place WC1, 1pm. £15 commentary. In helpfully captioned; January we are both books also told that the contain a chapter on • Sunday 26 May house sparrow Battersea Park. Notable Women of Battersea will be noisy walk with Jeanne Rathbone, towards the end For sale starting at Battersea Arts of month; one The bulk of the Centre, 12 noon. £5 donation month later we collection will be kept learn that the intact for the present, • Thursday 6 June rooks will be busy and if anyone would Talk by Carol Rahn on Growing making journeys like to browse through Up in Wartime Battersea. ‘between Clapham any of the books Royal College of Art, 6.30 for and Wimbledon mentioned above they 7pm. £5 donation on door Park’. February is are welcome to contact also the month when me. However, thanks to the Wednesday 12 June ‘bats begin to fy at dusk generosity of Janet Smith of the • Guided tour of Lodge and and may be seen crossing the Wandsworth Historical Society, we Museum of the Grand Order of streets of Battersea’. In August the have been able to purchase multiple Water Rats (the lodge of actors swallow prepares to depart, and the copies of the two photo books and & comedians) 2pm. £17.50 reader is recommended to watch this will be offering these for sale in from Battersea Bridge; in October the summer on our various stalls. the redwings arrive and the ladybirds Thursday 18 July Sue Demont • hibernate. As the year ends, focks Summer Party in the grounds of Chair, Heritage Committee of greenfinches, chaffinches and St Mary’s Church 6.30 – 9pm. £10 [email protected] skylarks (though Johnson warns that they will have ceased singing) can still 11 Weather and wildlife: what are the impacts? Valerie Selby explains why it’s difficult to measure the effects of a hot summer

The weather in 2018 reached too cold to feed effectively. This may inset: a male Purple Hairsreak extremes of both hot and cold. What also have a knock-on effect this year butterfly were the effects of the heatwave on as fewer adults being able to breed wildlife locally? For several reasons, in 2018 will be refected in fewer it is difficult to distinguish between individuals overwintering into 2019. short-term impacts and long-term The fip side to all this is an dedicated volunteer. I am hopeful effects. To fully understand these increase in records of species more we can determine in particular the we need accurate records across usually seen on the continent, such last record annually for some of the a long timeframe, to work out what as marbled white or brown hairstreak. migratory bird species. are natural population fuctuations The trend seems to be a gradual If we correlate that with versus immediate impacts of weather increase over the last few years, weather records we may be able or the longer-term impacts of climate which may indicate that these species to understand the impacts better. change. are expanding their range due to Initial results for the chiffchaff and We are an unusual country in a change in climate. As warmer the blackcap for example seem to that while we have a long history of conditions extend for longer periods suggest that the weather here does recording wildlife, we rely hugely on year on year, these species can not determine when species arrive volunteer effort for this. Sometimes survive and thrive here where once but does infuence when they leave. this is affected by non-scientific they couldn’t and so can move into The blackcaps disappear as soon as factors: observers may choose to suitable habitats and establish viable the temperature starts to drop while study a species based on visual populations. the chiffchaffs linger for longer. As appeal or ease of identification or Another key factor which we have consistent recording over a closeness to home rather than its infuences species populations is long time frame at these sites we can value as a fagship for wider species the availability of suitable habitat. begin to understand the differences groups or habitats. It can be hard to determine if between In Wandsworth I am lucky that we populations change in response to population trends have volunteer recorders of both birds weather/climate impacts versus weather and butterfies who have been happy or if they are due to impacts more to share their records and who have better (or worse) habitat. accurately. been recording now, in some cases, In 2018 some This is all a very for several decades. species had an long way round to exceptionally answer the topic set for Stressed good year such me, namely ‘the effects Records for butterfies in the borough as the White of the extraordinary across 2018 indicate that the extreme Letter Hairstreak weather this year on plants heat meant that many butterfy and the Purple Hairstreak; in and wildlife’. species had rapidly completed their some cases, (particularly the former) As you can tell, there is no clear life cycle and/or were pushed into an we have deliberately managed the answer and for most animals and early hibernation to save resources. commons to encourage them by plants it is too soon to know. If you This meant that very few were seen planting disease resistant elms would like to help you can get in later in the summer. Indeed, there and maintaining active coppicing touch with the team at GiGL. They is a fear that food plants used by of existing elm stumps. We shall have links to the many wildlife the larvae of some species became have to wait for a few more years recording schemes and societies stressed by drought as the summer to see if the population increase in London so you can find out wore on and may not do well this is (as we hope) down to improved more, meet like-minded others and year. This could cause larvae (and management (which will be refected take advantage of the many varied therefore subsequently adult butterfy) by stable numbers being spotted training opportunities available numbers to slump in 2019, as year on year in suitable locations). to give you the confidence to get happened in 1977 after the summer Alternatively it could have been a started. Who knows, in years to drought of 1976. ‘one-off’ infuenced by the weather, come your records might be the ones Some butterfy species that that tell us what we need to know. overwinter as adults and usually Bird data emerge in the early spring (eg We are currently working with Valerie Selby is Biodiversity & Parks brimstone, small tortoiseshell, Greenspace Information for Greater Development Manager peacock and comma) did poorly. London (GiGL) (www.gigl.org.uk) to for Enable Leisure & Culture This was due to the wet weather that analyse trends in bird data gathered [email protected] coincided with their emergence time over the last 20 years on Wandsworth in spring 2018 resulting in them being and Commons by a very

12 Common People Richard Fox and Julia Bott look forward to The Friends of Wandsworth Common’s first birthday

How time fies. It seems no time at the sonic signals, which guide you Our equipment is bought by a new all since 125 people packed into the where to look. It was so popular we’re Battersea Rise shop, The Source Bulk Skylark café on a rainy Saturday last putting on two events this year, in Foods and by the Skylark cafe. We May to launch our Friends group. So April and September. Butterfies are separate out recyclables and either much has happened since, and now another topic where we’ll do more take them home or get a special we’re planning our first birthday party this year, helped by the Common’s collection as there is no recycling cum AGM in mid May. Thanks first to volunteer recorder (and former MAC collection from the Common. We all our members – over 300 of them chair) Ian Cunningham. Other events hope to change that. The bagging of – volunteers and committee who’ve have included a nature focused swan and duck food, started by the helped us achieve so much. photography walk, art class and pub MAC in 2013, continues under the quiz. Friends and provides critical project Knowledge In January we started a Heritage funding. Most visible to members have been group to raise the profile of the Both these projects, as well as our events, mostly small scale ‘walks Common’s historical features being fun and community spirited, and talks’, mostly nature themed (including the old Battersea parish have an educational element and a to further our mission to celebrate boundary markers). Charles Walton useful demonstration effect. We also our beautiful greenspace and help (another former MAC chair) will support Naturescope’s efforts to bring keep it that way by spreading be hosting a history walk in the more schools onto the Common to knowledge of the biodiversity and spring and we’ll be participating in learn about nature and how to look the management challenges. But the Wandsworth there’s also been much behind the Heritage Festival scenes work with Enable LC who with a walk about manage the Common, with the the Craig telescope Council and other organisations, not which stood on least the long-standing Management The Scope in the Advisory Committee (the MAC) which 1850s. This year is effectively spawned the Friends. also the centenary Tree walks have been a particular of the Bolingbroke favourite, led by the Common’s tree Bowling Club. officer Jessica Stocks, supported by We’re helping her managers in Enable. These walks them celebrate by fill up very quickly, showing how promoting use of much people value the Common’s the bowling green treescape. To satisfy demand we’re with a teaching putting on five walks this year and session and friendly match at the end top: Wandswork there’s also our self-guided ‘tree trail’ of April, followed by monthly ‘beer Common, a green you can follow on your mobile phone. and bowls’ events. lung for Battersea. above: Volunteers Our first walk was about bats – We’ve started regular litter picks, making short work two volunteers from the London Bat attracting around 20 people of all of the litter Group brought monitors to pick up ages, from children to octogenarians.

13 after it. We’ve also helped them together on several policy issues, those with active Friends groups bring ‘walking4health’ and chi gung notably the MMP and the re-tendering fare better in a period of relentless programmes to the Common for less of the contract for managing the funding pressure. It’s often forgotten active users. Common, currently held by Enable. that Councils have no statutory Our main projects include We’ve made joint representations responsibility to maintain information boards at strategic, but about both to the Council and also greenspaces so unobtrusive, points and reinstating put in a joint objection to the Jaggard they’re an easy the drinking fountain. Both will Way development, focussing on the target for cuts. feature in the new Management and impact on the Common. All this has Our launch has Maintenance Plan (MMP), so once made our first year incredibly busy, raised the profile of it’s published in April we’ll be able to but with hindsight we launched at Wandsworth Common – make more headway. Longer term just the right time to infuence these we even had a film made we hope to compile an oral history to critical issues. about us last year which capture older residents’ memories. nicely showcases how we’re building Last but not least there is the thorny Links a community focused on enjoying, issue of what happens to Neal’s We have links with the greenspace learning about and protecting the Lodge. That’s an example of where sub-committees of the Battersea Common. Last but not least, we are a joint MAC/Friends approach is and Wandsworth Societies and our pleased to be part of the events in starting to pay dividends. Everything counterparts in Tooting Common July that will see London declared we do though is constrained by and Battersea and Wandsworth the first National Park Capital City. resources, especially organisers able Parks. We believe we are stronger You can see all our latest news, to make things happen. for collaborating with all these events and information and how to We work very closely with the organisations, from whom we’ve get involved at MAC. They remain the statutory point learned a lot. www.wandsworthcommon.org of contact with the Council while the The value of greenspaces for email friends@wandsworthcommon. Friends focus more on user outreach health and wellbeing is increasingly org and follow us on Twitter and In- and engagement. We’ve worked acknowledged, with evidence that stagram @wwcommon

Railway news London women celebrated in verse s ke The Clapham Junction rail ar p On 28 March, London Undercurrents, London Undercurrents S disaster of 1988 was not the first lz a joint poetry collection by Joolz can be ordered from o mortal accident. In August 1892 o a train coming from Feltham Sparkes and Battersea poet Hilaire, Holland Park Press: J collided with an empty train, will be published www. by Holland Park e hollandparkpress. resulting in a fire. The guard of ir a Press. Hilaire l co.uk/books/london- the empty train, who lived on i H Patmore Street, died and others says, ‘It’s the undercurrents, or from were injured. culmination any good bookshop. of more than The London Pneumatic You can also buy it direct from Hilaire five years’ work, Despatch Company trialled a on 07527 844 719. researching and system of underground rail for It may also be available from writing poems delivering parcels in Battersea in Wandsworth libraries. 1861. about women who have lived and Both are described in the worked in our different patches of spring issue of the Wandsworth London; Joolz focussed on Islington, Historian. and Battersea was my area. Two [email protected] poems from our book were published in Battersea Matters in autumn 2018. ‘Along the way, we have been Clapham Junction rail crash: excited by the women we’ve an apology discovered – innkeepers, munitions As many eagle-eyed readers workers, Victorian cyclists, market have no doubt spotted, there gardeners – many of them, like us, was an error in my report of drawn to London from elsewhere. the disaster. It took place on It’s wonderful to be able to share 12 December 1988, not 1998. these women’s voices more Apologies. widely now, in book form. Exciting Jenny Sheridan times for us, in the best sense!’

14 Across the Common by Elizabeth Berridge It is in Across the Common where the autobiographical entwines with Janice Morphet admires an octogenarian ‘young writer’ the fictional. In the book it is the narrator’s father, sitting in his garden deckchair before he dies, who In 1964, Elizabeth Berridge (1919 her husband, Reginald Moore, in a unlocks her mother’s family secrets. – 2009) won the Yorkshire Post’s City bookshop that he ran, When the narrator’s own book of the year prize for Across married and moved to Wales marriage is close to the Common, which describes the until 1951, where her children disintegration, she secrets hidden in a family living in a were born. Both Elizabeth comes back to the house with a whose garden backs and Reginald had poems and family home to see onto Wandsworth Common. The short stories published in this if this will cure her Common, with its access gate to period and he edited a series panics, revisiting the it from the family garden, plays a of literary magazines. They local shopkeepers who major part in the secret past which returned to London after the remembered her mother is discovered when the first person war when Elizabeth wrote and recognizing familiar narrator leaves her husband to return and published more and people on the Common, to her family home where her aunts, became a book critic for the to see if this will unlock with whom she grew up, still live. In Telegraph and the Spectator. the past. Yet she realises the story, the house was developed that she always knew by her grandfather at the time when Unknown the answer to the family much of the surrounding area was Elizabeth’s work is little known now secret, even if there is a shock at the still fields. ‘The new station, with its and her Guardian obituary describes realisation of this. The garden gate to geraniums and infrequent trains up her being rediscovered: ‘Two young the Common and the folly look-out to Victoria had been hailed by some editors, themselves novelists of tower were her grandfather’s undoing. residents and bitterly regretted by distinction – in deciding what they Her family made ‘an ideal picture, fit others who had come to … retire to would include in the next issue of for an album, common in an England the British Council’s New Writing of that time; and who would want to clean air and peace. Each idge err look below the surface for darkness of the new prosperous B and unaware of her earlier work th e and violence?’. The attractions and houses was topped by b – picked out one of Berridge’s a z distractions of suburban life, distant London women celebrated in verse i short stories for its originality an individual folly; my l E s and excellence, and in the yet accessible from the encroaching ke grandfather had built ar city, could be just an illusion of p a tower on his with a belief that its inclusion would S lz encourage ‘other young separation. As the novel finishes, o square look-out. As o the suburban aunts, stuck in their J a child I had gazed writers’. They were astonished, over to the far south, though delighted, to meet the Edwardian memories and fears, have past Richmond and places I octogenarian contributor at the a television installed. Life will not be could not then name … to the South launch party.’ Her collection of short the same again – across the common. Downs.’ stories Tell it to a Stranger written www.theguardian.com/books/2009/ Elizabeth Berridge attended in 1947 has also been published by dec/16/elizabeth-berridge-obituary Clapham County High School in Persephone Press. Broomwood Road, but despite many stories about her early life, it Heritage Festival seems unlikely that the house in this May – June 2019 Another intriguing talk will be on Wandsworth Prison’s appearances novel was indeed that where she Wandsworth’s Heritage Festival grew up. Perhaps it was the house in film, theatre, literature and music. is one of the highlights of the year. The Battersea Society’s of a school friend. Berridge’s father, This year it will run from Saturday 25 Hubert, was a land agent and the contribution is Growing up in May to Sunday 9 June. The theme Wartime Battersea, a talk by Carol family lived at 11 Althorp Road, until is Entertainment, though other areas he died in 1932. As a land agent he Rahn illustrated with video clips of of the borough’s history will also be people who lived (and in most cases had a second address in 3 Grosvenor addressed. Gardens, where his office may have still live) here, made as part of the Among the events in 2019 are War Comes Home project. This been located. Her mother lived in a walk in Battersea Park exploring Ravenslea Road before she was will be held in the Royal College of Festival of Britain sites and a talk Art on 6 June. Jeanne Rathbone married. Hubert left little money on on music halls, to be held in BAC. his death and her mother and sister will also be leading a walk on the Battersea was home to several notable women of Lavender Hill. then moved to Ellerton Road while music halls and variety theatres Elizabeth was put to work in a City The festival is organised by the in the 19th century, all but the borough’s heritage department, bank. She had always dreamed of Grand now demolished, though being a writer and then, without based at Battersea Library. parts of the Queen’s Theatre Programmes will be available online telling her family, moved her job remain off Queenstown Road. to that of a copywriter. She met and in libraries from early May. 15 Blackbook – the Battersea Burgundy? Underneath the arches, Jenny Sheridan meets an ambitious winemaker

College in Sussex he travelled and worked widely in wine-making areas before returning to set up the business. All Blackbook Winery’s grapes are hand-picked on small vineyards in south and east England just two hours drive from the Battersea office cum cellar. ‘We want to showcase our growers; everything in wine comes from good healthy grapes,’ says Sergio. ‘All our wines are single vineyard and most are also single variety, though we are experimenting with blends. The vineyards are family owned and run. It’s like our business – it’s just the two of us, we are self- funded, through savings and family support. It’s what we do.’

Railway arch As well as the pinot noir (grown in Essex and described as having undertones of sour cherry, blackberries and pepper), Blackbook makes a sparkling wine and a chardonnay as well as a rosé and a blended red. Sergio brings the grapes he last place you might from the vineyard to the railway and the river. I can step outside and expect to find a winemaker arch. The white is pressed then see the stacks of the power station. Tproducing high-end wines fermented in burgundy barrels using Beautiful!’ is in a railway arch in Battersea – natural yeasts. The red is fermented In the tradition of small winemakers Broughton Road, to be precise. in aged barrels and is trodden by and negotiants on the continent, These wines are English. And some foot to gently mix the grape juice Sergio also sells the wine himself, of them are red. English sparkling without extracting bitter tannins – like and says the ‘farm gate to consumer’ wine is already a success, but Sergio squeezing a teabag, Sergio says, ethos is a great selling point, as Verrillo has set himself the challenge without making the tea too strong. is the fact that most of the wine is of producing cool climate pinot noir. The wines are made to age well. grown organically and is vegan. Sixty ‘English red wine can be stellar,’ ‘My son was born in 2017, so we’ll five per cent goes to bars, shops he says. Warming to his topic, he put a couple of cases aside and get and restaurants, the rest is sold to explains that other areas of the world back to you in 18 years to tell you individuals online or from the arch. with a similar climate – cool, rainy, how it tastes,’ he jokes. He is pleased that the Wine Society is variable – produce famous vintages, The decision to work In Battersea stocking two of Blackbook’s wines. citing Alsace, Burgundy and northern came about largely because the ‘Tours’ are on offer, but the website California. These climates produce family lives admits that they are limited by the wines with lower alcohol and higher ten minutes size of the railway arch. However acids. away, ‘so I can they include a talk from Sergio about Sergio and his wife Lynsey started get here in a the winemaking process and a their wine business in 2016. They fash. And it’s tutored tasting. There is going to be describe themselves as passionate easy to get the a spring release (of new wines) party Londoners – Sergio is from the grapes here, on Saturday 27 April, with food and USA and Lynsey is Scottish. Sergio without too wine on sale and music playing. worked as a sommelier in restaurants much crappy www.blackbookwinery.com (including Battersea’s Chez Bruce) London traffic. Arch 41, London Stone Business before deciding to move from selling And then we’re Estate, Broughton Road, SW8 3QR wine to creating it. After a degree in two minutes viticulture and oenology at Plumpton from the park

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