Issue 197 Summer 2018

CAMBERWELL QUARTERLY

The magazine of the Camberwell Society No 197 Summer 2018 £1.50 (free to members)

www.camberwellsociety.org.uk

Open Gardens Day – p10

Jenny Eclair – p5 Seavington House – p8 The Promenade – p12 Contents Gazette Report from the Chair ...... 3 Camberwell Station ...... 4 LOCAL SOCIETIES, VENUES AND EVENTS Tribute to Nick Holt ...... 4 We recommend checking details Local author Jenny Eclair ...... 5 Restaurant Reviews: Fladda ...... 6 www.stgilescambewell.org Nunhead Cemetery Good Neighbour ...... 7 Brunswick Park Neighbourhood Linden Grove, SE15. Friends of Seavington House ...... 8 Tenants and Residents Association Nunhead Cemetery (FONC) Wyndham Road’s White Elephant .9 Patricia Ladly 7703 7491 020 8693 6191 Open Gardens Day pictorial ...... 10 [email protected] w ww.fonc.org.uk The Promenade ...... 12 This and That ...... 15 Burgess Park, Friends of Peckham Society Letters ...... 16 www.friendsofburgesspark.org.uk Peter Frost 020 8613 6757 Book Review: Camberwell from old [email protected] Sunday 16 August, 2pm, Peckham Photos ...... 18 Walk. Meet at Peckham Rye Station Mary Boast Prize ...... 18 Butterfly Tennis Club www.peckhamsociety.org.uk Directory ...... 19 www.butterflytennis.com Ruskin Park, Friends of Doug Gillies 020 7703 5018 Camberwell Arts Promoting the arts in Camberwell SE5 Forum THE CAMBERWELL and Camberwell in the Arts SE5Forum.org.uk SOCIETY [email protected] [email protected] MEMBERSHIP & EVENTS www.camberwellarts.org.uk South London Gallery Membership is open to anyone who 65 Peckham Road SE5. Open: Camberwell Gardens Guild Tuesday to Sunday – 12pm-6pm, lives, works or is interested in Membership enquiries to: Camberwell. closed on Monday Pat Farrugia, 17 Kirkwood Road, www.southlondongallery.org The Executive Committee is elected SE15 3XT annually at the Society’s AGM. Southwark Friends of the Earth Meetings of the Executive Carnegie Library, Friends of Stephanie & Jim Lodge Committee are usually held on the [email protected] or 020 7701 3331. Emails: ﬁrst Thursday of the month – please [email protected] (for [email protected] contact the Secretary for details. membership queries) [email protected] Members are welcome to attend as observers with prior notice to the St Giles, Friends of Secretary, Robert Wainwright (see Concerts in St Giles’ Church 16 Sears Street, SE5 7JL inside back cover for contact details). Camberwell Church Street [email protected] [email protected] www.stgilescambewell.org Sub-Committees on planning, the public realm, trafﬁc and transport, publications and local Dulwich Picture Gallery Wells Way Triangle Residents history form an important part of College Road, SE21 7AD Association the Society’s work and all members 020 8693 5254. Andrew Osborne are welcome to involve themselves www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk [email protected] in areas which interest them. Herne Hill Society Forthcoming Events Jeffrey Doorn 020 7274 7008 Historic Walk Membership: Herne Hill Society Details to be advised PO Box 27845, SE24 9XA Christmas Party Monday, 3 December www.hernehillsociety.org.uk Lambethans’ Society Visit us on Facebook See Brixton Society website www.brixtonsociety.org.uk

Maudsley Learning ORTUS learning and events centre, The views expressed in the 82-96 Grove Lane, SE5 8SN Camberwell Quarterly are not www.maudsleylearning.com necessarily those of the Society unless clearly stated as such. The Camberwell Society is a registered Minet Conservation Association Cover: A wall of roses seen on on charity (No 264751). 020 7737 8210 Open Gardens Day. More blooms on www.minet.fsnet.co.uk page 10. Photo:Elaine Clarke

2 Report from the Chair Meet Nick Mair, the Society’s new Chairman all, energetic Nick Mair strode across Camberwell Green; whipping off a red facemask Tto explain his journey from guerilla gardener to Chair of the Camberwell Society. The mask was for a press photo highlighting pollution from traffic on the Green as part of the campaign to reopen Camberwell Station. Nick is keen on Camberwell’s green agenda. It was planting the verges in Stories Mews and McNeill Road that first brought him to the attention of the Society. That was some 14 years ago when Nick, wife Camilla, their son and daughter moved to Camberwell from Fulham. Stories Mews was then a mess, a local dumping ground. Nick started by clearing rubbish. He planted seeds donated by his Somerset based parents. Then neighbours joined in. Now some 30 people have donated plants, including a mother who travels from Reading Nick Mair and his homemade solar stove to see her Camberwell son, bringing with her fig trees and plants for annually and getting to know its Place in Camberwell and green McNeil Road. nooks and crannies planting through grants from Engaging others is one of Nick’s l Promoting Camberwell history Southwark’s Greener Cleaner Safer skills – perhaps learnt from 19 years in primary schools by producing a Fund. as a teacher. As Director of Languages resource that is helpful for Nick is not blind to the problems at a local school he sets novel oral hard-pressed teachers of Camberwell. He knows the local tests – a helicopter carrying an l The Peckham to Camberwell people who help the police sweep for injured patient has only three minutes Creative Corridor. Southwark has knives hidden by gang members, sees of fuel left, you are in the Control been awarded £50k by the Greater the shuttered shops in Camberwell Room, what do you say to the London Authority to investigate Church Street and takeaway helicopter pilot – in French? His establishing London’s first Creative wrappings littering the Green but enthusiasm for instruction was Enterprise Zone along the Peckham says “there is no point just moaning”. apparent at last year’s Open Gardens Road which would stimulate growth The answer, in his view, is to bring Day when he demonstrated a in creative industries through skills, together competent people with a homemade solar stove. An training, education, and work spaces. deep knowledge or commitment to enthusiastic cyclist, he pedals down l A visual reality corridor to guide Camberwell, who know the issues Greendale to work every day and patients from Denmark Hill station and have the right skill sets to make volunteers for the local Bike Project to King’s, perhaps a phone app change, as the Society has been which fixes up bikes for refugees. showing the famous people who doing since 1970. Nick, who took over as Chair of have lived here Stories Mews is a good example the Society from Nick Holt in May, l A new entrance to Denmark Hill of the Mair philosophy: “When people enthuses about the need to safeguard Station to relieve the overcrowding get involved with things locally the Camberwell’s architecture, creativity and consequent stress area tends to get better. ” The weekly and mix of “hugely interesting l Affordable space for businesses tidy up of a bin bag full of of rubbish people”. He says: “It’s essential that and artists has dwindled to less than a carrier Camberwell has a clear identity and l Camberwell Society Blue Plaques bag and the former dumpsite is now does not get subsumed into East in shop windows showing previous blooming – tulips and spurges in the Dulwich, Peckham and Brixton,” uses of the premises based on the spring followed by Bears Breeches and he reels off multiple projects and successful scheme in West Norwood and chrysanthemums in summer –a ideas from the Society and its run by the Norwood Society to truly green result. members which would help encourage people to engage with demonstrate the areas uniqueness: local history l Beating the bounds of Camberwell l More pocket spaces like Datchelor Marie Staunton

3 Camberwell Station Reopen Camberwell Station, say campaigners

The Camberwell Station group, pictured on Camberwell Green, is supported by many local families Photo: Paul Odulate upporters of reopening convince Minster for Transport Jo would provide a time-saving of 15 Camberwell Station donned Johnson that using the train rather minutes for those travelling from anti-pollution masks at than cars and buses will improve Camberwell to Elephant and Castle. CamberwellS Green in May to local air quality. They are briefing Users already on the train would highlight air pollution levels that are local MPs Harriet Harman and Helen experience an average delay of only twice the legal EU limit in the centre Hayes, who will hand the Minister a 42 seconds (and only on those trains of Camberwell. Traffic is a major 2,000-signature petition to reopen the that stopped at Camberwell). The source of air pollution in the area and Camberwell station. study says that this change reopening the Camberwell railway Campaigner Sophy Tayler, who “arguably… would not be noticed station, which closed in 1919, could obtained the background planning by existing users”. provide a cleaner transport alternative, documents and comments, says: According to Tayler: “More rail they say. “We are worried TfL is shunting this users come from outside London The SE5 Forum won access (via important project into the sidings. than get on at Camberwell, so we a Feedom of Information request) to The studies fail to take seriously don’t get a high enough BCR studies showing clean air is not a traffic pollution, slow bus services, (Benefit Cost Ratio) to boost the priority in TfL’s analysis of the growing population and difficult business case for reopening. But this benefit of reopening the station. access to hospitals in Camberwell.” could mean inner-city Camberwell Campaigners, backed by the According to the SE5 Forum, the never gets a meaningful chance to Camberwell Society, will now aim to studies suggest the train service improve transport options and air quality.” Locals are now asking for a say in the economic and social assessment Nick Holt: an outstanding Chairman of the local benefits that they believe ost following up on decisions, his keen TfL’s business case should provide. members sense of humour successfully They say the 36-page report TfL Mof the Society balancing differing views. He dealt commissioned to cover “economic will know that tactfully with sensitive issues such as appraisal and wider impacts Nick Holt the Bridge on Camberwell Grove assessment” does not mention retired at the which so divided members and Camberwell’s hospitals or the AGM in May residents, encouraging members to particular needs of patients, staff and after seven air their differing views in the visitors in relation to transport. It also dedicated years Quarterly. fails to take into account the growing as Chairman. His leadership has Nick has been an excellent local population, new housing always been guided towards the good Chairman and we thank him for his developments and five redevelopment of Camberwell as a whole. The outstanding contribution to the areas, all of which would benefit position demands considerable work Society. from the station. It fails to consider and responsibility on behalf of the We are most fortunate that the area’s future. If it continues to Society. Nick has been assiduous in another Nick, Nick Mair (is the name suffer poor transport, poor air quality arranging the enjoyable monthly catching?!), the retiring Head of and challenges, in attracting and Executive Committee meetings, Modern Languages at Dulwich growing local business. hosting them generously in his lovely College, has kindly agreed to be the The legal EU limit for nitrogen dioxide is 40 house in Camberwell Grove. next Chairman. micrograms per cubic metre(μg/m3). The level recorded in May 2018 outside McDonald’s Much of the Society’s restaurant in Camberwell was 84.3 administrative work has devolved on Nicholas Roskill micrograms per cubic metre, according to him and he has been punctilious in President Southwark Green Party.

4 Local Authors

“I’m intrigued by what goes on behind closed curtains” s part of characters are realistic, three dimensional, if not always likeable – Camberwell any advice on how to create Quarterly’s series believable characters? on writers, Camberwell A I think being a performer has been novelist, playwright and useful when it comes to writing stand-up comic Jenny characters – it’s very important that they should be able to walk into a Eclair breaks off from room wearing the right shoes. performing in Grumpy 8. Your daughter is a playwright – Old Women to answer 10 what advice did you give her on questons from CQ’s Marie writing? Staunton Jenny Eclair None – she’s cleverer than I am.

1. Why did you set your first novel in yourself to find time to write? 9. Any advice for new writers on Camberwell? finding a publisher, an agent and When I’m not on the road or on stage publicising books? I used to live in a flat on Camberwell then I’m usually in my study. I Grove in the 80s and it was the first gravitate towards it quite naturally, Sorry –I know that I’ve been lucky glimpse I’d had of the kind of I don’t have to frog march myself in enough to have had a profile in London Bohemia that has almost there. comedy before I became a novelist disappeared – the road grabbed me and it helped open doors. On the flip and never really let go. I’m always 4. You write fiction, non fiction and side it’s been hard to convince people intrigued by what goes on behind plays – how do you decide which that I’m deadly serious about the closed curtains. subject will fit which format? quality of my writing.

2. Why did you move to Camberwell? It’s a combination of commissions 10. Your blog often recommends and personal choice – I don’t think books – which writers have I needed to get away from about any of it too closely – I tackle inﬂuenced you most? Manchester and a lot of unhealthy any deadlines ﬁrst and then muck stuff that was going on up there. An about. Anyone who can tell a good story old school friend was studying at and anyone who can create great Camberwell Arts School and I stayed 5. Your novels are full of close characters. Amongst many, many with her in Brixton until I saw an ad observations – do you carry a others, I like Kate Atkinson and on a notice board for a room in notebook or rely on memory? Curtis Sittenfeld and Donna Tart. Camberwell and I moved in with a horrible man and his horrible wife Both. and was horribly unhappy for ages until a friend I worked with in a wine 6. Your books have surprises and SOUTH bar said I could move in with her. twists in the plot – do you plot them EAST She was married to the singer Joe all out before writing? GUITAR Jackson, but he was touring the TUITION States and she was lonely, so I moved No, sadly I have no idea how the in – to Camberwell Grove. books get written – I have to almost POP | ROCK | BLUES | JAZZ BEGGINNER | INTERMEDIATE rely on the characters to do it for me. WEEKDDAY EVENINGS | WEEKENDS 3. You are very busy performing and touring. How do you organise 7. Reviews often remark that your southeastguitarth t it ttuition.co.uk ition.co.uk

5 Restaurant Review All in all, a great place for a slap-up meal in south London ladda surfaced on Camberwell Church Street last year with its upmarket fish and chips and stylishF decor. It’s had a makeover since the former chippie closed down, with a separate dining area kitted out in industrial lighting and muted tones that contrast oddly with the 90s music. A lovely but dozy waiter takes our drink orders and disappears, re-emerging to fiddle indecisively with the playlist, unable to decide on the exact nature of his 90s nostalgia trip. We pore over the menu and try to ignore the slightly strange ambience. Fish on offer here includes cod, haddock and mackerel. Other options fiddle to the fish here, which is no Thankfully, dessert brought are scampi, fishcakes, calamari (more bad thing. things back from the brink. A on that later), and pies. The curry sauce has the oomph chocolate pudding with berry sauce There’s also a drinks list of real homemade curry and the and ice cream was simple and featuring craft beers that could give mushy peas have a trace of mint that delicious. some of the Brixton Village joints a feels a bit more cheffy than your Dinn er didn’t exactly go run for their money. ordinary chip shop fare. swimmingly – the slightly odd We opt for the haddock and Both delicious, both arguably ambience and calamari-gate saw to calamari with chips, mushy peas, and improvements on the original. that – but it’s still a great place for a curry sauce. Sadly at this point I have to talk slap-up meal in one of south The fish is fresh and falls into about the calamari, which turned up London’s busier dining hotspots. soft, steaming flakes when I tear like the unwanted lovechild of a through the batter. It’s so good that it fairground donut stand and a pile of Oliver Rahman makes me wonder why I don’t eat at overcooked onion rings. a chippy more often. It was all stringy squid and Fladda, 55 Camberwell Church The chips are also excellent, heavy, unseasoned grease. I couldn’t Street (on the corner of Datchelor although they’re playing second eat much. Maybe just an off day? Place where you can dine alfresco).

6 Restaurant Review Somewhere to share a good bottle of wine and great food here must be something about the window seat in “Good Neighbour”, Camberwell’s Tnewest wine bar and eatery, because every time we’ve been there a loved-up couple has been ensconced and smooching on the comfy stools in candlelight providing even livelier people-watching than the crazy road outside. Inside, it’s the vibe that brings you back over and over again. Soft light, interesting music at just the right volume, friendly and interested staff who interact with genuine warmth with their clients to match the impressive pressed metal ceilings. Last time we were there, we watched with warming hearts as an older gentleman in a suit ordered a glass of red and as the barista continued to prepare drinks, regaled her with the story of his day as recipient of an award for services to the community. He was so proud – but also very clearly alone – and she listened with Photo: Marie Staunton attention and kindness, embodying the eatery’s name which, apparently, fish. We tried the lamb flatbread, a If the ground floor is packed – was the brainchild of owner, generously heaped combination of and it often is in the latter part of the Australian chef Paul Williamson, meat, olive, red pepper and tzatziki, week – then there is a generous whose stated aim was to provide and the sweetcorn fritter and haloumi downstairs section where there are locals with somewhere to share a stack that sounded like it should be even booths for a party of perhaps a good bottle of wine and some great on a breakfast menu with a side of dozen people. For those who have food. He has certainly achieved both. bacon but instead was slimmer and lived in Camberwell for a while, you It is a tapas-style menu, with lots quite delicious as an evening bite. might have been in these rooms of interesting smaller dishes (£5-£9) There are also cheese and previously when they were reading made to be shared, including a charcuterie plates at £11 each or a rooms in the Camberwell Library. traditional range of dips as well as combination for £12.50 while sides Under the pleasant low light, they soy and pork belly bites with a include aubergine kasundi and fetta, now reflect a cosy, twilight feel. smoky bourbon sauce and deep-fried a “truffled mac and cheese” and seabream goujons to dip in white bean and chorizo. Robert Wainwright homemade tartare sauce or pork and To accompany the food, there is chorizo meatballs in arrabiata. a good-sized and reasonably priced The plates, priced between £7.50 wine list, a selection of local craft Good Neighbour: 21 Camberwell to £10.50, include three vegetarian beers and cocktails including a really Church Street. To book call dishes as well as lamb, chicken and well-made Negroni. 07981 396 180

7 Seavington House CS and local residents object to proposed redevelopment What is proposed In fact there is a change in the amenity and privacy of occupiers and level equal to the storey height neighbours. New development, Seavington House and garages between the application site and the extensions, alterations and Champion Hill SE5 8DN 1A DKH site. The cross section of conversions should not subject Redevelopment of the site block B on page 30 shows this neighbours to unacceptable noise involving the demolition of the clearly. The slope of the site makes it disturbance, overlooking or loss of existing two-storey residential possible for an extra storey to be security.” block and single-storey garages; added on the downhill site of block There are numerous vantage and the construction of a five- B, alongside the site of 1A DKH. points for overlooking 1A DKH from storey block on the corner of The overall effect of the block A, including from living room Champion Hill and the adjacent development is that the two new windows and balconies, which makes estate road, to provide 14 x 1 blocks proposed by this application the proposals unacceptable in terms bed, 14 x bed, 7x3 bed and 1x4 are overbearing in relation to their of privacy. bed residential units (36 units) immediate neighbours, exacerbated The application states that the together with associated by their immediate proximity to the 12m gap between the two buildings landscap ing. pavement edges of Dog Kennel Hill is Council policy (pages 19 and 20 of and Champion Hill. the Design and Access Statement) but the Residential Design Standards 2. The second related problem is the states that this is an acceptable gap The Society’s letter to effect of the development, only in relation to the front of a particularly Block A,on the proposed dwelling facing a street, and the the Council development at 1A Dog Kennel Hill. required gap at the back of a The Camberwell Society has This development of 9x5 storey dwelling is 21m. This should be several concerns regarding this houses was granted permission in considered the appropriate standard application March 2011 on the basis that its in this case. principal orientation was to the north 1. The first is that the proposed to avoid overlooking the houses to 3. The residential accommodation buildings are bigger than every other the south. that is provided in this proposal building existing and proposed in the The introduction of a five-storey barely meets the minimum space immediate vicinity of the site. The building 12m away from the 1A standards required. It is difficult to sketch view of the area on page 8 of DKH principal elevation contravenes imagine for example how six people the Design and Access Statement the Council’s own guidelines could live a full life in the four identifies all the buildings in the contained in the Southwark bedroom flat apparently thought vicinity that are over four storeys Residential Design Standards 2011, suitable for that number (page 41 of high, whilst ignoring the buildings which specify the amount of daylight the Design and Assess Statement). opposite the site in Champion Hill, required in habitable rooms. The There is also very little amenity which are the buildings closest to the daylight received on every floor of space, and what there is impinges on site, and range from one to three the 1A DKH block would fail to meet the privacy of the prospective storeys. the required levels if Block A were to residents of 1A Dog Kennel Hill. The applicants have also sought be built. to exaggerate the impact of the The Southwark Residential Summary: five-storey building proposed for 1A Design Standards 2011 also state The proposed flats are too large and Dog Kennel Hill by making it seem that: domineering in the context of the that 1A DKH site and the application “House and flat developments scale of the existing buildings in the site are at the same level. should be arranged to safeguard the immediate area.

The site as it is now and (right) an artist’s impression of what is proposed

8 Wyndham Road development News of opposition Wyndham Road’s white elephant from Champion Hill amberwell’s newly elected failed to comment. campaigners Councillors are being Barbara Pattinson, Chair of the challenged to get a massive SE5 Forum, is writing to he Save Champion Hill Cbuilding site abandoned in 2015 Camberwell Green’s newly elected campaign has ramped up its moving again. In 2014, building Councillors Dora Dixon Fyle, Kieron opposition to the started on four apartment blocks on Williams and Tom Flynn. “We need Tdevelopment of Seavington House, Crown Street SE5 and eone larg our newly elected Councillors to the flats and garages on the junction block of flats on the other side of the understand how let down local of Champion Hill across the road railway on the corner of Wyndham people feel by stalled developments,” from Dog Kennel Hill School. Road and Camberwell Road SE5 in she says. “It is dispiriting to see no Campaigners argue that the Council’s 2014. The buildings on Crown Street progress on Wyndham Road and proposal to build two five-storey were almost completed, while the people are questioning the amount of blocks going right up to the boundary large site was barely finished, but in time it is taking to move on with is too big for the site, will result in July 2015 work stopped. other sites such as Peacocks and the the loss of green space and affect As local resident Stephen Bourne Post Office building in Denmark Hill. sight lines for people using the explains: “Builders removed their We are looking to our junction. hard hats, downed tools, and walked Councillors to help reverse this tone The Council argues that it is off the five sites in July 2015 and no of neglect in Camberwell.” committed to delivering 11,000 new work has been carried out since. My The Camberwell Society’s Chair council homes by 2043, and in order efforts to find out what has happened of Planning, Tim Gaymer, is to achieve that, every available site has fallen on deaf ears.” concerned about slow progress being needs to be actively explored. The The company with planning made on sites affected by Parritt Seavington House site is permission to build the flats, Parritt Leng’s demise. Another major site underdeveloped and offers the Leng, which changed its name to Perrit Leng owned in the Higgs opportunity to replace a small Kherg Construction Ltd, went into Industrial site at Loughborough number of garages and 10 bedsits, liquidation. A2 Dominion, who build Junction has been acquired by with 36 council homes at social rent. homes for key workers, took over the Peabody who are currently consulting Campaigners criticize the quality site and in 2016 A2 said some 76 on building 130 new homes and of the development as being “anti” homes would be completed by 2018. commercial space on the site. The social housing.” But the sites have remained Wellfit Street scrap metal yard owned “Beyond the scale of the abandoned and not one further brick by them was subject to litigation on property itself, doing the whole area has been laid since 2015. Despite who had the right to occupy it in the a disservice – we believe it is many telephone calls and emails High Court last year. "anti-social housing” in that it does from the Quarterly A2 Dominion Marie Staunton not provide for disabled persons, does not provide for parking for carers and does not improve the air, in that it takes away greenery,” says the campaign. The drawings used in the consultation are, campaigners say, misleading as they understate the height of the development. The proposed flats are also criticised as being too small, barely meeting minimum space requirements, are built too close to neighbouring houses which they will overlook and rob of some daylight (see https://www.championhill.org.uk/). A petition opposing the size and design of the development on change.org has gathered over 340 signatures. Campaigners are asking locals to object in writing to Councillor Peter John OBE at [email protected] and cc: to Councillor Sarah King at [email protected] Waiting for the green light on stalled Wyndham Road flats

9 Open Gardens Day Blooming Camberwell

10 Open Gardens Day

Blooming Camberwell Photos: Elaine Clarke

11 The Promenade Could The Promenade be restored to its former glory?

ou could be forgiven for thinking that the photograph above shows a Georgian terraceY in London shortly after the Second World War, or that this terrace is in some provincial town suffering where the industry that built the town has now disappeared. But it is not. This terrace exists in Camberwell, where the popular conception is that it has been an area “on the up” for quite some time. This picture was taken less than a mile from similar terraces which are now considered desirable places to live. They have been carefully repaired and put in good order, and are afforded some protection by being Listed of Architectural and Historical interest and lie within Conservation Areas. However this terrace is not Listed of Architectural and Historical Interest although it has recently been included in the newly created Walworth Road Conservation Area. This is thanks to efforts by the Walworth Society supported by the Conservation Ofﬁcers. This terrace, called Bethel Place on the 1832 map, is on the Camberwell side of Boundary Lane The 1831 map showing Bethel Place (marked by the red square)

12 The Promenade

in Albany Road and Boundary Lane. Mary Boast, in her book on Camberwell, said that this area was once the end of the canal serving Camberwell, which would have generated much trade and general activity. The canal lies beneath the park. As Mary Boast so succinctly put it, “in under two centuries a whole townscape has come and gone”, and with that the reason for converting Bethel Place into the Promendade. The northern-most house, No 73, was destroyed in the Second World War. But before then there is also an easement on the properties for what became the proposed extension to the Bakerloo Line. In 1931 it was proposed that there was to be an intermediate station between the Elephant and Camberwell on this corner, possibility on the bombed site, although a press cutting of 1971 says that this could no longer be justified by the likely volume of use. While other houses in the terrace would not have been demolished for the station, there was an easement made in 1951 to allow soil beneath these houses to be removed. The effects of this potential tunneling must have been a major disincentive to spending money on these buildings. Now that there is an alternative route for the extension to which marks the boundary of the shops built in the front gardens. the Bakerloo line going down the Old parish of St Giles, Camberwell. It is According to an article from the Kent Road, these easements are in SE5 and therefore I think it should South London Press, discovered in effectively null-and-void. Perhaps be of interest to the Society. the Camberwell Society Archive, they could legally be lifted. Squatters have got into one there were high hopes of a But what can be done to build house in the terrace which appears to commercially successful enterprise – on the good work of the Walworth have fallen into such as state of difficult to comprehend with what Society in including the terrace in the disrepair. Why has this happened? It exists today. What would Mrs Hill Conservation Area? The document is because it is on a main road. But (see panel on page 14), who opened they have produced has not assessed other houses nearby, which are in a a shop and was formerly a what is significant about the terrace. much better state of repair, are Listed manageress of a shop in Is the Georgian terrace of housing is as being of Architectural and Knightsbridge, think of the more important architecturally and Historical interest and lie within the Promenade today? The shops sold historically, than the late 19th century Addington Square Conservation Area specialist items, rather than being shopping, or their modern shopfronts? designated many years ago. corner shops, grocers, bakers or It is hard to imagine that the modern Considerable money has been spent butchers. The developer had a shop shopfronts would be considered of on nearby Burgess Park, which selling mantles, which I first thought value, although the late 19th century clearly gives pleasure to many were fireplaces or chimneypieces decorative pilasters between the residents, but this feel-good factor rather than an item of clothing worn shopfronts survive. does not seem to have rubbed off on by women, which they were. The At the end of last year there was the terrace. description suggests that shop owners a meeting with the Conservation In the 1880s the terrace was lived above their shops, accessed via converted into The Promenade, with a passage from the rear from openings Continued on next page

13 The Promenade Could The Promenade be restored to its former glory? Continued from previous page attended, that was largely to to many of the shops in Walworth or understand the history of the area. Camberwell. So potentially the shops Officer, representatives of the I have measured the overall size could be removed, and the front Georgian Group, the Walworth and of the demolished and fire damaged gardens reinstated. This would allow Camberwell Societies to discuss the house numbers 73 and 75, to draw two further floors to revert to terrace. Nigel Haigh and I attended out a base plan which could be used residential use. Illustrated (below) is on behalf of the Camberwell Society. to assess what use these buildings a drawing showing how part of the The Conservation Officer has could be put to. For instance, whether 19th century pilaster between the discussed the fire damaged building, the upper floors could be three one shops could be incorporated with number 75, with the District Surveyor bedroom flats accessed from the rear, railings. and he does not think that the building or these three floors could be a four I am reminded of the television is liable to collapse. However, there bedroom maisonette. These would be programme, The Secret History of must be the potential threat of another an attractive commercial proposition our Streets, where Jeremy Bennett fire or water damage causing rot to for a buy-to-let investor, although the said that Camberwellians who bought neighbouring properties. At the investor would need to do some work their houses in Camberwell Grove in meeting there was a consensus that to the lower floors to make them the 1960s compared notes of what the house which was demolished in watertight and fire proof in they had found in their houses and the Second World War should be preparation for getting a tenant for were enthusiastic about their rebuilt to the same outer form and the the shops. A commercial letting agent restoration. Camberwell does not majority wanted to retain and has advised that these shops will be often offer many such opportunitues restore the shop frontage. difficult to rent. Many of us will not today; although two houses at the Since then Southwark Council be surprised at this, as there are many Church Street end of Camberwell has applied for the Walworth Road shops with “to rent” boards in the Grove which were also in poor Conservation to be designated as a central part of our main shopping condition have recently had offers Heritage Action Zone. This has been street in Denmark Hill. accepted on them. Might Bethel successful and is the only place in The Promenade lies between the Place offer a similar opportunity? London to receive a designation shopping centres of Camberwell and There could be a large house with a award this year. It will provide Walworth, and Southwark Council in 25 foot long rear garden or two expertise and some limited funding their planning policies have not households or large maisonettes. over a five-year period. There was a designated the shops as a protected start-up meeting in March, which I shopping frontage as they have done Peter Cooke

South London PressEdited extract from the article, dated 1881 The vast area of ground in the Camberwell Road, lately known as Bethell Terrace (and now re-named “The Promenade”), consists of a row of elegant shops, of handsome elevation and commanding appearance, which add materially to the adornment of the neighbourhood. The shops are numbered 73 to 91, Camberwell Road. The shops 73, 75 and 77, are occupied by Mr Simmons, who is displaying first-class furniture, glass, earthenware, electro-plated goods and ironmongery, in a handsome frontage of about 100 feet. Attached to this establishment are immense basements for storing goods, and in the upper part there are about 20 show-rooms. No 85 is occupied by Mr Andrews, the well-known boot and shoe manufacturer. No. 87 is so well fitted that it can hold its own in appearance with any West end establishment. It is stocked with a large selection of ladies’ mantles, ulsters etc of the latest fashions. No. 80 is a millinery establishment opened by Mrs Hill so long known as the manageress to Messrs Walker & Co of Knightsbridge. Each shop has an elevation of about 90 feet, with the handsome plate-glass fronts reaching to the ground, the pilasters being of polished red granite, surmounted with bold stone-carved caps. Above the shops are fitted richly gilded iron rails. A mews has been formed, with stables Drawing showing th 19th century pilaster and railings and comfortable dwelling rooms for coachmen.

14 This and That The Ballad of Whatever became of...? Dogman n the previous issue we posed possible a relative in Camberwell (Dennis Noble) questions from readers. Here are Grove. That person may have been a someI answers. beneficiary in her Will, which does survive and which may help. In Camberwell there lived a man Where did Eleanor Coade live? However, after finding a house, you With fourteen dogs in his backyard The late Stephen Humphrey gave then need to work out what number His shorts held up with baler twine some guidance in 2016 in how this that house later became. He liked to keep his bare legs warm question might be answered. He By rubbing them with lard suggested that as her family were Peter Cooke Dissenters and she is described in Each day he rummaged through the Alison Kelly's book as a Baptist Was Claude Rains born in bins further information might be gleaned Camberwell? His garden full of litter from records regarding the funeral. David Smith contacted us to confirm Drank tea from empty dog food tins The family tomb was at Bunhill that Patrick Humphries’ query was And snacked on slabs of butter Fields Cemetery, City Road, E1. correct: Claude Rains was born in Humphrey thought that this was Camberwell. This links him to south His Georgian house had no mod cons easier than finding a house of a east London and C S Forester. No heat, no light, no water on Windows boarded up with tape The front steps piled with clutter

Matted hair, greasy beard Aircraft noise Weather beaten cheeks ocal campaign group Plane Hell Eyes that looked right through you Action has recently published When he passed you in the street LCorridors of Concentration, co-produced with HACAN, The story was he used to be highlighting the increase in planes A teacher of photography overﬂying south east London. Extremely learned in his day They have been campaigning for Then gradually he lost his way noise monitors to measure the decibel levels of Heathrow planes One day he simply disappeared and now have 511, including one in Gone to the Maudsley so we heard Camberwell at the Ark All Saints Sectioned and taken up the road Academy on Wyndham Road. His ramshackle house gutted and Results show that noise levels here sold are as high as they are in Richmond. Theresa Giffard Charging points for Our apologies electric cars was pleased to see the obituary of eedback from Southwark’s my husband Gavin Stamp in the recent draft Kerbside Strategy QuarterlyI and I am glad that you indicated strong interest in took the occasion to urge readers on switchingF to electric and other forms to follow his example in preserving of low emission vehicles. the best of our architectural heritage. As a result, the Council is Something, however, went wrong looking at the possibility of ﬁtting with the picture. The image captioned electric vehicle charging points into “A drawing of Gavin by Rosemary street lights. This is cheaper, quicker Hill” is in fact a cartoon of Gavin and and easier to roll out with less impact his friend and fellow historian Ken on the streetscape than conventional Powell by the great Louis Hellman. electric vehicle charge points. Where Their birthdays were close together feasible, this light infrastructure and Hellman depicted them as Pisces. would enable residents to pay for, I have no such talent. and directly charge, their electric car from lamp columns located on the Rosemary Hill kerbside.

15 Letters In memory of a committed gardener who had a vision f you walk into Lettsom Gardens via the Grove Park gate you will We welcome your letters. Please email see a small blue plaque on the them to the editor at Iright-hand wall. It commemorates a [email protected] remarkable duo, Cathy Winthrop and Doris Renville. or write to Margaret Powley-Baker, They were firm friends who met in the 1970s over the future of the 4 Datchelor Place, SE5 7AP piece of land that was to become Lettsom Gardens in 1980. Both were garden. Local children had fun Cathy and Doris were dedicated born and bred in Camberwell and playing in this untamed area. to “Lettsom”. Doris’s husband’s ended up living in Nos 12 and 11 Doris and Cathy were founder diary in the early 1990s records how, Grove Park, respectively. members of the Lettsom Gardens after 8pm he was often still waiting In the 1970s the Council had a Association, formed in 1980 to run for Doris to come home for dinner. plan to build an estate of houses on the small park which the Council set The success of their work resulted in land which included the garages up for us at a peppercorn rent. The two shy women setting up a behind No 8 Grove Park, the remains whole garage area was cleared, the gardening business – very different of Dr Lettsom’s private garden hard play area was laid down and the from their earlier work in offices in behind Nos 9-12 and most of the hectare of land was divided to form the City and Camberwell. They gardens of the houses at the top of Lettsom Gardens (two-thirds of the established regular gardening slots all Camberwell Grove. The Camberwell area) and The Camberwell Gardens over Dulwich, including the Cheshire Grove gardens were cut off in the Guild Allotments (one-third). We Home in Athol House. A familiar early 1970s and rapidly overgrown persuaded the Council to make a sight in the morning was Cathy and by trees. The houses were pedestrian gate into Grove Hill Doris taking their bicycles through subsequently squatted for a long time Road and so “Lettsom”, as it’s Lettsom to cycle down the Green before the Council sold them off to known to kids today, was set up and Dale to their gardening jobs in be developed into the flats that are run by volunteers. It is still going 38 Dulwich. there today. The area proposed for a years later. Eventually, due to Cathy’s ill housing estate gradually became Cathy and Doris were elected to health, they had to give up their derelict and overgrown until the the Committee as the “Gardening gardening business, but although lock-up garages behind No 8 were Co-ordinators”, so on gardening days Cathy died in 1999 Doris maintained demolished and the concrete area they were the ones directing her interest in Lettsom until she was broken up. volunteers as to what to do to keep became housebound and could only All this time local residents had the gardens pleasant and wild. Our watch what was going on through her been trying to tame the land, aim was not to have a regular park kitchen window at the top of No 11 especially that behind Nos 9-12 (all neat paths and flower beds) but a Grove Park. Grove Park which had become a wild space where wildlife could In the 1994 LGA spring bramble wilderness. Cathy and Doris roam, with the dominant species newsletter a tribute to Doris, written joined in this attempt to make a being human children. when she resigned as gardening co-ordinator, said: “It’s easy to take The Lettsom gardeners pictured with Doris’s plaque an amenity like Lettsom Gardens for granted, but much of what has made it such a pleasant experience for all of us and our children, has been the work of a committed gardener who had a vision of what Lettsom could be, and worked selflessly and diligently to realise it. That gardener was Doris Renville”. This tribute also acknowledged Cathy’s contribution and mentioned that she had had to resign earlier due to ill health. The “blue” plaque, funded by a collection made at Doris’s funeral in May 2016, reads: “In memoriam Cathy Winthrop (1932-1999) and Doris Renville (1930 to 2016)

Alison Telfer

16 Letters Repeating the mistakes of the past? “Put divisive issue avil Street, which runs north to bed” off the Peckham Road, near where the Camberwell Town was disappointed to see a whole HHall used to be housed, still has some page devoted to the bridge modest houses with well mannered campaignI and street party on Page 14 elevations surviving (top picture). (CQ 196). There are post-war developments Realistically if Camberwell which unfortunately do not produce, Society wants to be taken seriously for me, the same pleasure on seeing as representing the wider them: and they are rather overbearing Camberwell interests rather than just (second from top). those of the Grove they should stop Nearer Burgess Park is Wells printing that sort of obvious bias. Way and there again there are modest It alienates your readers and houses with well mannered undermines all the good work you elevations (third from top). However actually do. there is a proposed development I guess the general feeling is the opposite at the Burgess Business consultation should have put this Park at Park House Street, Planning divisive issue to bed and the Application 17/AP/4797, which faces Camberwell Quarterly on balance onto Wells Way and seems to me to should not indulge certain members be overbearing and discordant further and keep scratching at the (bottom). Surely we should not repeat scab. the same mistake as Havil Street? Whilst some of the comments Melissa Perkins wholly support this application, many object to the extent of the Members of the Society have a development, which rises to 14 right to air their views in the storeys. Residents of nearby newly Quarterly and we have printed all the built Camberwell Fields development letters and comments received on this have objected and said that anything issue. However, the future of the over ﬁve storeys is out of keeping bridge has now been decided and the with the surrounding area. time has come to declare that this correspondence is now closed. Peter Cooke Ed

17 Book Review Insight for newcomers and memories for long-term residents Camberwell from Old went on to say that her Camberwell had all but gone. “What will it be like Photographs in 50 years?” she wondered. In Edwardian Camberwell to the another shot a young lad snarls at the present day camera. The author’s “thank you” By Eddie Brazil was met by a tirade of four-letter Publisher: Amberley expletives that mostly ended with Price £14 the word “off”. Fortunately not all ISBN 978-1-4456-5557-4 the author’s subjects looked unhappy! Available in Kindle, Kobo and iBook The creation of Burgess Park formats. features strongly. You can see the swathes of Victorian terraces his is a fascinating book. It knocked down make way for it. One starts off with the Edwardian wonders how much they would be period and many of the worth today. Tsubjects pictured may be familiar. The 1970s were the time of the Camberwell Church Street and the Abercrombie Plan for the demolition Green are always favourite subjects of hundreds of perfectly good houses. for old pictures, the buildings shown Another picture shows traffic It also gave birth to the Camberwell here are easily recognisable. The old conjestion at the junction of Demark Society which was formed by local public convenience at the bottom of Hill and Camberwell New Road. residents to halt the destruction. Denmark Hill, now a traffic island, Taken around 1949, it is jammed The final chapter is a wonderful looks far more presentable than its with nine public conveyances account of a football match between modern replacement, the hideous comprising four buses and five trams. Dulwich Hamlets FC and the Monty edifice now displayed so prominently Some things don’t change. Python All Stars. Pictures include on the corner of the Green. What makes this book so one of John Cleese striding There is a picture of a horse interesting is that the author, who purposefully up the pitch looking drinking from a trough on was brought up in south east London, remarkably Basil Fawlty-esque as a Southampton Way. Sadly, the trough in the Rainbow Street area, began Dulwich player lurks behind. In has gone but the street lamp that taking photographs of Canberwell as another shot Peter Cook is laughing illuminated the water still stands, a boy and has depicted its progress as Graham Chapman is sent off for relocated away from the middle of ever since. being drunk. Terry Jones, Michael the road and onto the pavement. It is There is a section on Camberwell Palin, Terry Gilliam are also among believed that this trough marked the people. In 1975 an elderly lady looks those featured. boundary between Camberwell and indignant when her picture is taken Peckham. but relented enough to speak and Edie Wilson

Don’t miss out on the “Mary Boast Local History Prize! ou still have time to enter the competition is open to both members Camberwell Society’s and non-members of the Society. competition for the Mary Awards will be presented after the Boast History Prize. This seeks to Camberwell Society’s Local History Y Walk in September 2018. encourage those with an interest in the past to take up the exciting work of “making history” and by research Prizes to uncover new subjects of local First prize: £125 + Publication in interest or bring new insights to more the Camberwell Quarterly familiar subjects. The prize Second prize: £50 + Publication in commemorates the work of the Camberwell Quarterly Camberwell’s local historian, Mary Boast (1921-2010). Terms and Conditions and Entry Forms Submissions local history subject should be These can be obtained from Between 1,000 and 3,000 words on a received by 31 August 2018. The [email protected]

18 Directory

Chartered Accountants Stained Glass CAMBERWELL SOCIETY Stained Glass Windows p15 7791 620011 K A Jeffries & Company p19 8693 4145 OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE Estate Agents Tuition OFFICERS Roy Brooks p6 and p17 8299 3021 South East Guitar Tuition p5 southeastguitartuition.co.uk President: Garden Centres Nicholas Roskill 020 7703 4736 Dulwich Pot & Plant Garden p19 7733 3697 Upholstery (Licensing) A V Fowlds p15 7703 2686 56 Grove Lane SE5 8ST Newsagents R K News p14 7703 2784 Local Information Chairman: South London Guide. Website on all aspects Nick Mair 07557 868 1591 of South London, including shops, services Pilates 156 Camberwell Grove SE5 8RH Artichoke Pilates Studio p7 7358 5454 and property. www.southlondonguide.co.uk Vice-Chair: Isabel Begg 07785 221 470

To advertise in Secretary: Robert Wainwright 07775 858 765 The Quarterly 55 Grove Lane SE5 8SP please Assistant Secretary: Paola Totaro 07789 606 062 contact the 55 Grove Lane SE5 8SP Editor, see Treasurer: Kim Blackwell 020 7703 9170 details below 78 Camberwell Grove SE5 8RF

Assistant Treasurer: Liz Allen 020 7703 9170 78 Camberwell Grove SE5 8RF

K.A. Jeﬀries & Company COMMITTEE Chartered Accountants Tony Coleman 020 7564 0168 *" "$" % $ $# (Transport & Traffic) !"$ #$ %'" #'$ "* $$"# # )%# ### Liz Cook 07973 760 529 "& (!$ #( "$ ( (Membership) %$)$ #$$%$ "$" % $ $# Tim Gaymer 7737 1059 # "" &#$ $%# ##$&$# (Planning) 18 Melbourne Grove, East Dulwich SE22 8RA Tel: 020 8693 4145 Fax: 020 8299 0326 Email: saj@kajeﬀries.co.uk Nick Holt 020 7501 9941 204 Camberwell Grove SE5 8RJ

Barbara Pattinson 020 7274 8045 (SE5 Forum & Community Liaison)

Margaret Powley-Baker 020 7701 4417 CONTRIBUTE TO THE (Editor - Camberwell Quarterly) QUARTERLY! OTHER CONTACTS LOCAL HISTORY: email: Articles, letters, photographs [email protected]

and other MEMBERSHIP: contributions are always welcome. Annual membership costs £20 (household) £15 (individual) or £10 (concessionary) Membership form available online: Contact the Editor, www.camberwellsociety.org.uk Margaret Powley-Baker, PLANNING: on 020 7701 4417 email: [email protected] The Camberwell Society is the recognised or via email at amenity society for those living, working or [email protected] interested in Camberwell.