sign in sign up
<<
Home , Peckham, South Bank

CAMBERWELL QUARTERLY

The magazine of the Society No 179 Winter 2013/14 £1 (free to members)

www.camberwellsociety.org.uk

In praise of Wren Road – p8

Camberwell Farmers’ Market – p4 Austin’s of Peckhm Rye – p6 Contents Gazette Report from the Chair 3 LOCAL SOCIETIES, VENUES AND EVENTS The Farmers’ Market 4 We recommend checking details

Austin’s of Rye 6 Neighbourhood See Society website Tenants and Residents Association www.brixtonsociety.org.uk In praise of Wren Road 8 Jason Mitchell 07985 548 544 [email protected] Minet Conservation Association Book Review 11 020 7737 8210 , Friends of www.minet.fsnet.co.uk Madcap Violet 12 For meetings, events and updates on Burgess Park improvements Cemetery Community Council 13 www.friendsofburgesspark.org.uk Linden Grove, SE15. Friends of [email protected] (FONC) Christmas Party 14 020 8693 6191 Butterfly Tennis Club www.fonc.org.uk www.butterflytennis.com Directory 15 Peckham Society Camberwell Gardens Guild Peter Frost 020 8613 6757 Membership enquiries to: Sunday 16 February 3pm An update Pat Farrugia, 17 Kirkwood Road, on archaeology in THE CAMBERWELL SE15 3XT (Christopher Constable) Goose SOCIETY Green Centre, St John’s Church MEMBERSHIP & Carnegie Library, Friends of www.peckhamsociety.org.uk EVENTS See the Friends’ tray in the Library or [email protected] , Friends of Doug Gillies 020 7703 5018 Membership is open to anyone Concerts in St Giles’Church who lives, works, or is interested Camberwell Church Street SE5 Forum in Camberwell. [email protected] SE5Forum.org.uk [email protected] The Executive Committee is elected annually at the Society’s South Gallery Old Town Hall, 151 AGM. Meetings of the Executive 65 Peckham Road SE5. Walworth Road, SE17 1RY. Committee are usually held on Open: Tuesday to Sunday – 12pm- 020 7525 2332 the first Thursday of the 6pm, closed on Monday (Currently closed due to fire) month – please contact the www.southlondongallery.org Secretary for details. Members Picture Gallery are welcome to attend as Southwark Friends of the Earth College Road, SE21 7AD observers with prior notice to Stephanie & Jim Lodge 020 8693 5254. the Secretary, Robert 020 7701 3331. Emails: www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk Wainwright (see inside back [email protected] cover for contact details). [email protected] Society Jeffrey Doorn 020 7274 7008 Sub-Committes on planning, the Wells Way Triangle Residents Membership: Herne Hill Society public realm, traffic and Association PO Box 27845, SE24 9XA transport, publications and local Andrew Osborne www.hernehillsociety.org.uk history form an important part [email protected] Lambethans’ Society of the Society’s work and all members are welcome to involve themselves in areas which interest them.

The views expressed in the Camberwell Quarterly are not necessarily those of the Society unless clearly stated as such. The Camberwell Society is a registered Cover: Datchelor Place will be the first pocket space created. This is an artist’s charity (No 264751). impression of it how might look (see page 13)

179.2 Report from the Chair Getting about in Camberwell

elcome to the winter segregation of cars and bikes is going edition of the to be the only way of preventing the WCamberwell Quarterly. tragic accidents that we have seen in Let me wish you all the compliments recent weeks, one of which was of the season and a healthy and unfortunately in Camberwell? happy 2014. Now to aviation: I see that I want first to talk about has given the planning transport – trains, bikes and planes in go-ahead to the new helipad on top of fact. On the trains front, you will find King’s which will allow the air a photo on page 7 of the opening of ambulances to land there rather than station. While this is in Ruskin Park. I am sure that the good news after all the disruption time saved will be critical when you caused by the works, I can’t help consider the work that they do with thinking, as a rush-hour user, that the major accidents in the south of designers have somehow missed a . On the related topic of trick. To my mind, the redesign was a aircraft noise, Society member Nigel great opportunity to add extra station Haigh has now established a dialogue access points on Windsor Walk and with the right people at Southwark further down Champion Park. The Council, and I am sure that our views station seems to have been a victim Nick Holt will be taken into account. of its own success with the coming of Following the editor’s appeal in the London Overground, and the good news comes in the form of the the last issue for help with the resulting change in many people’s works for the Cycle Superhighway Quarterly, I am delighted to welcome travel patterns. We did have the that passes through Camberwell on Marie Staunton to the team and hope station designers come along to our its way to and beyond. There she will find the work fun and 2012 AGM and I might well take this is also a new cycle repair shop and rewarding. up with them. The queues in the café in Camberwell, to reflect the in- I hope too that you enjoy the mornings, both for tickets and to get creasing interest in cycling in articles in the CQ, and as ever, I am in and out of the station seem to have London. However (and here let me always happy to hear from members simply moved around the corner. say that I am not a cyclist), I must and non-members alike about Isn’t this what travel planning was confess to finding confusing some of Camberwell matters! meant to be about? the new road markings along When it comes to bikes, then Camberwell New Road. Then there is Nick Holt there is good news and bad news. The the bad news – surely complete [email protected]

179.3 Farmers’ Market Eclectic bunch of stall holders provides a range of goodies

efore dawn breaks over Romney Marsh local farmer BClive Ovenden, 55, is up at 4am selecting meat for Camberwell Farmers’ Market. It is Saturday and over the next five hours an Italian baker, two theatre designers, a jazz pianist, a couple of fruit growers and a former nursery teacher will make their way to Camberwell Green. An eclectic bunch of stallholders. Climate change forced Clive to stop the vegetable farming that had supported his family for six generations. “Now we get hardly any rain in summer. I have been on the land all my life and it is getting dryer and dryer,” he says. So four years ago Clive Ovenden is the sixth generation of his family to farm in the Romney the Ovendens switched to Marshes.“Climate change forced us to switch to lifestock from fruit and veg” livestock. Hebridean sheep, Sussex cows and other rare breeds graze free online funding site Kickstarter in future is bright. The Green is being range on their 500 acres in Kent June. “People we have never met remodelled – with a great space for which is also home to pigs, goats, invested up to £500 in us.” the market next to the and chickens, geese and ducks. Everything They are now setting up a shops – over the next year or two.” Clive sells comes from the farm shop/café to sell food and recycled Annette Cauneen from Urban which supports a butcher and his two furniture next to the Green. “We Farmers who runs the market talks of apprentices, Rebecca and Crystal (the come here every week to sell our more events like the Christmas trade is increasingly popular with home-made jams and chutneys and market to grow customers but keep girls) as well as Clive’s wife, daughter keep in touch with everyone who has the ethos of producers selling direct Zoe and son Ryan. supported us and let them know how to customer. From six generations to six the hunt for a shop is going.” Next to Barbara are Chelsea, 40, months – that is how long Pigeon Helen and Georgia live in and Karen from Thrognall Farm, 250 Hole, the stall opposite Clive, has Camberwell as does Barbara acres near Sittingbourne in Kent. been running. Grinning behind their Pattinson whose ten-year campaign Chelsea, who has the biggest smile jams and chutneys former theatre for a Camberwell market led to a free on the market, is always willing to designers Helen Steidl, 29, and stall for her SE5 Forum. This supplement her fruit and veg with Georgia Ellison, 28, tell how they ex-nursery teacher has seen business special orders. “Customers ask for all raised £21k in 30 days through the slowly building on the Green. “The sorts of things – dandelions, nettles and even thistles.” Chelsea and Karen pick the fruit and veg straight from the fields of Joan Attwood’s family farm every Friday. They enjoy the work, except for the cold when thermals are essential. Which is why Chelsea hopes her three children will get nice warm office jobs. It is the sun of his native Salerno that Marcello Rizzo, 47, misses. “When the weather is good I love the Green but when it is freezing it is hard to come.” Trained as an Arabic teacher he returned to the family trade of baking when he came to the UK, setting up his own business a year ago. Paninis and classics like torta di nonna, Grandma’s cake, are baked to the family recipe and taken out of the oven on Saturday mornings Helen Steidl and Georgia Ellison behind their home-made jams and chutneys before Marcello drives up from Kent.

179.4 Camberwell Green Farmers’ market

Marcello Rizzo (left) brings Italian recipes from the family bakery in Salermo to Camberwell Green, and Edmund May (right) who plays jazz piano when not selling artisan breads at the Flour Station stall

And the jazz pianist? That is Edmund May, 27, who sells Borough brown and sourdough breads at Flour Station, next to Marcello. After graduating from Durham he found working on farmers’ markets “lovely work” which leaves him time for jazz. The downside is a big temptation to eat the produce. “There is nothing like that croissant and coffee at 10am when you have just set up the stall,” he says. Flour Station is an offshoot of Jamie Oliver’s 15 restaurant, started at and is now one of London’s “ten best bakeries”. Edmund, who has worked at other farmers’ markets, finds Camberwell customers more varied. Barbara Pattinson mans the SE5 Forum stall. A resident since 1966, she says Marcello agrees: “Not as posh as major new investment means that a lot is now happening in Camberwell Tonbridge market where I also have a stall.” Clive says that as Camberwell is quieter than Herne Hill market it is easier to get to know the customers – one of them, a barrister, recently arranged work experience in the Tem- ple for Clive’s daughter Sophie. At 2pm stalls start packing up but it is after dark when Clive arrives home. But the market chat is enjoyable he says. And certainly enjoyable for the Camberwell customers – where else can you practise your Italian and Arabic, get stinging nettles, invest in a new business, catch up on SE5 gossip and discuss jazz composition – oh yes, and buy Sunday dinner. Chelsea from Thrognall Farm sells greens – and dandelions, nettles and Marie Staunton thistles if you wish

179.5 Profile Remembering a local character and his family’s emporium

squadron and in 1949 he joined the ground floor was reserved for the bet- family firm of G Austin & Sons Ltd ter quality antiques. Tony’s 1997 arti- in Peckham. cle has a postscript saying that a The firm started out as a dairy straw poll of readers of the Quarterly farm in Peckham in the 1860s. Later revealed that 90% of them had at it carted corn, coal and flour before least one item in their house from becoming a removal and storage Austin’s. It does not categorise them contractor, as well as selling by floor. furniture. At one time G Austin & Derek learned his trade from his Sons was the largest furniture and uncle George and from attending the antiques emporium in Europe. and Morley In Tony Wilson’s article in the College at evening classes. George Camberwell Quarterly of 1997 (No would tour the south coast auction 114 and from which this article is sales and every Friday morning the Derek Austin largely drawn) he said that in Ted All- London dealers would arrive to watch beury’s novel Deep Purple it was the door slide back to reveal what any long-standing residents noted that “most of the furniture had George had to offer. of Camberwell will come from the second floor of One of Derek’s proudest Mremember Austin’s Austin’s of , the discoveries was an early piece of furniture emporium on Peckham Rye wonderful emporium where the Meissen by Böttger, the very first and it is with regret that we report the shrewder members of the upper hard white porcelain made in Europe. death of its proprietor, Derek Austin, classes and the Diplomatic Corps It was bought for two shillings (ten who died in May. furnished their houses.” The pence today) and sold for rather more Derek was born in June 1925. reference to the second floor was in Christie’s. It is now in a Swiss During World War II he served as a significant as that is where young museum. Lancaster captain in an RAF bomber people could find a bargain. The Derek had a deal in the late 1950s with Henry Sherek, West End impresario. Sherek would buy the furniture needed for a play at the beginning of the run and sell it back at the end at half price. Austin’s furnished many West End productions including a “hurly-burly” room for Gigi. It is perhaps in this connection that Dame Edith Evans came to Peck- ham to check that she could get up easily from a chaise-longue on which she was to repose in a West End play. I remember sitting in on Derek Austin’s conversation with Tony Wilson in preparation for the article. Above: George Austin’s store, and below: Austin’s emporium in Peckham Rye Derek said how appalled he was that from where the upper classes and Diplomatic Corps furnished their homes a neighbour had his furniture delivered by two casually dressed men in trainers. This seemed to concern him more than that the furniture came from the World of Leather. Austin’s delivery men were always suitably attired. Tony’s article records that if “one of the men came with his shoes not polished, he would be sent home and lose a day’s pay.” Austin’s staff had also all been trained on how to address a duke, an earl or a princess. The latter would have been useful when Tony Armstrong-Jones, who was a long-standing customer, brought his bride, Princess Margaret,

179.6 Transport Denmark Hill station is finished at last to Austin’s. Cecil Beaton also visited frequently, on one occasion looking for a wedding present for Margot Fonteyn. Austin’s was based on low profit margins and high sales volumes with stock changing 12 times a year. The export market accounted for a quarter of the turnover with buyers from Japan and Italy. However, the supply of cheap bargain and museum quality furniture began to dry up, and in 1994 Derek and his sister Valerie, who had become company secretary, decided to close. The site was cleared and now in its place stands Austin’s Court. Following his retirement Derek gave lectures at the Dulwich Art Gallery on furniture and became master of the Worshipful Company of Upholders [old name for Norman Baker MP, Minister for Transport, cuts the ribbon to mark the formal upholsterers] in the City in 1996-7. unveiling of the station’s improvements The long-standing annual Derek Austin Award for Cabinet Making embers of the Society’s office, a new station entrance, better and Furniture Restoration at London Mexecutive committee attended passenger waiting areas and Metropolitan University continues. the formal unveiling of the accessible toilets. improvements at Denmark Hill The opening ceremony on 10 Peter Cooke station by the Minister for Transport, September was also attended by Norman Baker MP. More than representatives from Network Thanks to Bob Fowlds of A V Fowlds £6million of work has been Rail, Southeastern Trains, the & Sons Ltd, the long-standing family completed at the station, providing London Assembly, Southwark firm of upholsterers in Camberwell, step-free access between pavement Council, local hospitals and the SE5 for bringing to our attention the news and platforms, improvements to Forum. of Derek Austin’s death. information screens, public address systems and signage, a new ticket Alex Blacknell





  

  Knowing Estate Agency 020 8299 3021 roybrooks.co.uk

179.7 Architecture In praise of Wren Road

evsner didn’t think much of Fig 1 The Camberwell Green: Old House on P the Green in “CAMBERWELL GREEN still has the early 19th its green, but little else of note century with, except for some houses on the to the left, the W. side (No.15, C18 with big White House. top window with fan motif, At that time and Nos. 7-13, an early C19 there was a terrace). The most conspicu- pond at the ous building is the NATIONAL south-east BANK of 1899 by corner of the A. Williams, in the Edwardian Green. baroque style with a corner Photo: Southwark Local tower as if it were a town hall. History Nothing much in Camberwell Library Church Street, ...”

Victorian and Edwardian vernacular architecture, characteristic of most of the Camberwell Green conservation area, was not esteemed. Its neo-classical ornaments tended to be dismissed as attempts by builders or their clients to ape the appearance of the mansions of their social superiors. H J Dyos, for example, wrote, “Architectural taste, like manners, travels downwards, and it must have seemed unthinkable that one’s house should not bear some resemblance, however remote, to the façade and the layout of more exclusive properties.” I think this is misleading. We can look at buildings just for what they are. They are attractive or unattractive because of their intrinsic qualities of proportion and balance, without reference to any interpretation of their place in the social struggle. The ancient models which inspired the designers of the great neo-classical buildings do not become less valuable when they inspire speculative builders or a widespread desire for their application in ordinary housing. So to Wren Road, an uncelebrated and lucky survival; a small collection of pleasing buildings Fig 4 The site of the Old House on the Green, and the boundary of its marred only (at least in my view) by property (red), and similarly for the White House (green), superimposed on the flats at the end of the street. If the 1894 map, which I have updated as necessary. you shop in Butterfly Walk, then Wren Road is just the quick way and looking up. extended as far as Daneville Road, from the Green, a bit dirty, too many Wren Road began when an 18th was sold in 1850. The house was parked cars, the odd street drinker. century house known only as the Old demolished, Wren Road took its But it is worth stopping for moment House on the Green, whose grounds place, and the grounds were split into

179.8 Architecture

perhaps, “No, hang on, isn’t the height between the upper windows and the roof a bit too big?” The explanation for this oddity is seen in the side view (Fig 3). The building is unexpectedly narrow, only one room deep. To compensate for this, the builders put two rooms in the roof, each with a window on the gable end. To accommodate these rooms it was necessary to heighten the front wall. The sites of the Old House on the Green (in red) and the White House (in green) are shown on Fig 4, along with the corresponding property boundaries. I assume that the Congregational Church planned from the outset to put up the terrace that became Nos 1-7. Allowing space for that, and for whatever was required for the road, left just a Fig 2 (Above) The front view of 13 Wren Road, Wren Cottage. and narrow strip on the east side, into Fig 3 (Below) shows the side view Photos: Donald Mason which Wren Cottage was tucked. A building that could possibly be plots for development. it is shown on the 1861 Dispatch The Congregational Church bought a atlas and also in the 1862 Stanford large plot and built a substantial atlas, but these are both clearly very chapel, since replaced by the inaccurate. Then there is mention of Colonnades. it by name in 1869. In the last The oldest of the buildings that decades of the century the censuses now occupy the street is probably the show that it was occupied by the Lloyds Bank corner building. It chapel keeper. appears in directories from 1854. Its Nos 1-7 probably went up in the first occupant was a bookseller, and 1860s. They don’t appear in the 1860 for many years part of it was a Post directory, but individual buildings are Office. mentioned from 1867. The developers At some point what is now apparently sold the freehold in 1871. No 13 was put up on the other side I particularly like the windows on the of the street. Originally it was known upper storeys. as Wren Cottage. In 1881, as part of its widening At first glance you think, “That’s of Church Street, the Metropolitan a nice looking façade”, but then Board of Works bought the White House and its grounds. This Fig 5 1-7 immediately enabled the building of Wren Road Nos 10-12. The history isn’t quite Photo: Donald Mason straightforward. The land on which they stand is shown unambiguously in the Congregational Church’s deeds as part of the grounds of the Old House on the Green. On the other hand, the 1870 Ordnance Survey map shows it equally unambiguously as part of the grounds of the White House – hence the alternative boundaries in Fig 4. I can only suppose that the proprietor of the

Continued on next page

179.9 Architecture

In praise of Wren Road Continued from revioust page

(Above) Fig 6 10-12 Wren Road; (Above right) Fig 7 14 Wren Road; and (Below) Fig 8 Lloyds Bank building Photos: Donald Mason White House took advantage of the sale of the Old House on the Green to make an offer acceptable to the Church, and so enlarge his property. In any event, Nos 10-12 were up by 1888. These are my favourite buildings in the street. The windows politely reflect those of the terrace opposite. Then, somehow, the combination of the proportions, the absence of bay windows, the curved corner, the windows in the end wall and the off-centre chimney stack create a building of great charm. At the same time as it bought the White House, the Metropolitan Board of Works bought the narrow corner property neighbouring Wren Cottage, which enabled the creation buildings to go up was the Lloyds naturally dominates the view up the of a much wider building plot on the Bank building. street is, I think, misconceived. The corner of Camberwell Green, where Lloyds bought the buildings on apparent attempt to echo the chapel the very tolerable London and the plot in around 1925. It retained doesn’t really work. What should South-Western Bank building opened the 1850s corner building, but soar, simply squats. for business in 1885. demolished whatever was between it More practically, a minor tragedy This left two oddly shaped plots and Nos.1-7. It employed Edward in the long process of replacing the backing at an angle on to the new Maufe to design a much larger chapel is that one or more of the houses in Church Street. The current structure, one which very earlier designs included provision for long, thin, and quaint No 14 was in successfully harmonizes with the a library. place on one of the plots by 1894. original 1860s structure. The adjoining plot seems now to Finally, the flats at the end, the Donald Mason house only gateposts, clearly part of Colonnades. The side elevation is the same building event, and fairly harmless, what you see from (A fully referenced version of this definitely an ornament to the street. Morrisons but tend not to notice. The article can be btained from the author The next of the existing end elevation, however, which at [email protected])

179.10 Book Review The Piccadilly Circus of

Elephant and Castle – a History “it is not likely I ever shall be”. By Stephen Humphrey  The Southwark diocese of the Amberley Publishing Church of England was only created £14.99 in 1906.  Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of found Stephen’s book in our Being Earnest includes a chap trying kitchen one Sunday afternoon to avoid association with the Elephant Iand could not put it down. He and its less fashionable Chatham and provides a fascinating summary of Dover Railway Line. the history of the Elephant and With the benefit of hindsight it’s Castle, its architecture, famous easy to see how the post war personalities, shops, transport and development of the Elephant could more with a particular focus after have been improved. However, it was 1850. One central theme throughout a different time. Diversity of the book is that the Elephant and architecture was not in vogue and Castle was a vibrant centre of life, money was in short supply. Town commerce and culture south of the planners were captivated by master river all the way through until the plans and a desire to improve traffic 1930s – a genuine “Piccadilly Circus of these two routes at the Elephant flow. The ugly nature of the of south London”. Many Camberwell and Castle created a mini-boom in redevelopment which has blighted residents, including me, bought their the area. the area over the last few decades is a first home somewhere off the  We have only called it the warning against what Humphrey Walworth Road and find it hard to in the last 150 describes as “the dead hand of imagine such times now. I cycle years. It was called Newington from outside intervention” and “concrete round the back! However, there is a the 14th century until then. brutalism”. The area actually thrived note of hope as the Elephant enters  Sir Edwin Lutyens put forward a and has its origins in localism and its next phase with the current beautiful plan for the redevelopment local people starting independent regeneration programme. of the Elephant in 1942 but businesses and serving the local Here are just a few things I unfortunately died before it could community. learnt: gain sufficient support. I will be going on one of  The vast majority of the beautiful  The ugly aluminium box in the Stephen’s tours! buildings around the Elephant were middle of the roundabout was created pulled down rather than destroyed in as a memorial to Michael Faraday Andy Blacknell the war. We were still pulling down and houses the original electricity lovely buildings like John Farrer’s sub-station for the London Elephant and Castle Pub (or Hotel) in Underground. 1959. The book includes some lovely  Charles Spurgeon raised the pictures of the Elephant in its prime money and had finished building and the architecture was varied and the Metropolitan Tabernacle by the beautiful. The only survivors now are age of 26. It held 6,000 people. Its the Bakerloo line station and the predecessor was close to the Globe façade of the Metropolitan Tabernacle. and held only 1,200. It was burnt  When was down in 1898 and rebuilt by his son opened in 1750, it created a second and then destroyed again in World route over the Thames to Kent via War Two. Spurgeon took no salary “New” Kent Road. The convergence and was not a teetotaller and added,

   

       

179.11 In days gone by... Madcap Violet’s view of Camberwell and the (old) Society

was interested to read Fiona Mull and is apparently still in use. I and blackbirds”. Subotsky’s article about George wonder how many authors are Violet North, we are told, “lived IGissing’s Year of the Jubilee, (CQ commemorated by a lighthouse in in a tall house in Camberwell Grove 173). I have always been their honour! which had been her home for many a disappointed in Gissing’s quoted Black lived in Airlie House, day”. Her father was Sir Acton assertion that “architectural grace can Camberwell Grove and some of his North, a Canadian railway magnate nowhere be discovered in the houses characters are evidently based on for whom Camberwell was of Grove Lane” where we live! local Camberwell people. (Does presumably a sufficiently smart Gissing must have known anyone have a record of Airlie address. Development was clearly a Camberwell quite well to write of it House?) source of anxiety even in those days, as he did, but another Victorian Madcap Violet (written in 1876) a few years after the railway line author, William Black, a close passed through Camberwell. contemporary of Gissing, has set the “Have they built over Grove Park scene of one of his books partly in “I like Camberwell yet?” asks Violet of her Camberwell and its area, where he companion, young Miller. “Certainly lived for some years. better than not,” was the answer. “And the big Black is hardly known at all cedars are still there and the tall elms today but in his time (1841-1898) he Chamonix” and the rooks’ nests?” “Not a thing was compared favourably with altered.” “I like Camberwell better Anthony Trollope and his novels, is the name given to Violet North, “a than Chamonix and therefore it is about 40 in number, were immensely spirited girl of sixteen or seventeen, more beautiful.” “I’m anxious to popular. Some complained that his tall and strikingly handsome in figure discover what it is in the place that writings displayed too much interest with abundant masses of raven-black makes it the rival of Chamonix.” in his own pastimes of hunting, hair, dark eyes under darker So closed the discussion which shooting, fishing and sailing. eyelashes” who is introduced in the ended in a unanimous decision that Be that as it may, Black is novel at Miss Main’s school in Chomonix was a miserable and remembered by a lighthouse built in Camberwell Grove. This fictional despicable place compared with a the form of a Gothic tower and school is thought to be based on the certain chosen spot in Camberwell. according to a plaque over the door, Camberwell Collegiate school in a The novel, including much “on a spot that he knew and loved, by former part of the Lettsom estate and sailing and shooting in Scotland, his friends and admirers from all over renamed “Pelican House”. Violet would hardly appeal to a modern the world”. This was erected in 1901 imitates Miss Main in a scene in publisher, with no sex within its 402 close to Duart Castle on the Isle of front of the class and describes how pages of adventures: but, according “you are aware that it is the shocking to Black’s biographer, Wemyss Reid, practice of the little boys and girls in it was the most finished and STAINED GLASS many districts of Africa to go about consequently most satisfactory of all WINDOWS without clothes: and you are aware of his novels. The final chapter is the Camberwell Society for helping entitled “De schmerzensreiche”, a the missionaries to take out a few word not even in my large German garments to these poor little things”. dictionary. I tracked this down to a Violet narrowly avoids expulsion song in Goethe’s Faust, probably for her exploits and goes for a walk meaning a rich young lady of sorrows, in the “higher reaches of Camberwell after the sad loss of Violet’s closest Grove where the world was filled friend. Readers in those days were with the laden blossoms of fruit expected to be well educated! trees and the blowing of sweet winds and the singing of thrushes Nicholas Roskill

Traditional and Modern Designs   Repairs and Restoration  µ    For a Free   Consultation Call WKHLUKRPHV EXVLQHVVHV¶ 07791 620011     [email protected] www.angidriver.co.uk

179.12 Camberwell Community Council Tragic death reinforces cycling concerns

rom the one-minute silence to mark the death of a local Fcyclist to the opening of a new superhighway, cycling concerns dom- inated last November’s meeting of Camberwell Community Council. Over 50 people stood to pay tribute to Richard Mazira, killed on the Walworth Road. A Zimbabwean refugee, Richard had received a Southwark Civic award and a “local hero” prize for his work with local mental health charity Above: An artist’s impression of how the north end of Grove Lane might look Cooltan Arts. Residents raised concerns that local councils more say in pays their full university fees. And the newly opened cycling services. any community group who wants to superhighway through the centre of run an event – from a fun day to a Camberwell from Benhill Road to Pocket spaces fete – can apply for a grant from Medlar Street was not enough to One of the proposed “pocket spaces“ £100 to £1000. guarantee safety. The Council for Camberwell, Datchelor Place, Some local groups are clearly decided to investigate attaching should go ahead in March 2014. The feeling the financial pinch. “Trixie mirrors“ to traffic lights to other five – Grove Lane, (pictured Camberwell After School project enable drivers to see cyclists more above) Artichoke Place, Wren Road, which serves four local schools clearly. Coldharbour Place and Selbourne (Comber Grove, St Joseph, John Proposals for a new mandatory Road – are being implemented Ruskin and St John the Divine) has cycle lane in Denmark Hill went together with nearby road schemes so lost its grant, faces a £20k deficit and forward but there was strong concern will not start until next year. may have to cut some of its after about the speed of traffic and safety The pocket spaces are part of the school and school holiday clubs. on the approach to King’s College £11m Camberwell regeneration Hospital. The Council agreed to project. Artists’ impressions show Camberwell Green ask the police to look at speed limit seats, planters, pavement cafés in The scheme to improve Camberwell enforcement in this stretch of road. pedestrianised corners of Green is ready to go to a planning Camberwell. application in January. If approval is Overcrowded buses obtained in March work will begin in South London people can talk Local Groups September 2014 and finish in Spring about buses for hours – and at the Wheels for Wellbeing, a charity, 2015. Community Council they almost did. promoted its accessible cycling The Chair of the London Assembly’s courses – helping people to enjoy Greendale Transport Committee, Val Shawcross, cycling regardless of disability, health A survey of the wildlife and flora of reported that all ten of London’s most condition or age. Greendale is being carried out to see overcrowded routes are in south east Southwark Pensioners Centre if it can be restored to public use. London, four of them Camberwell encouraged the over 50s to attend the local routes – 185,176, 484 and 171. Centre in Camberwell Road which Controversial parking The overcrowding that three quarters offers everything from Tai Chi to Strong objections from the floor of bus passengers reported in a recent knitting to advice. stopped proposals for new visitors GLA survey is due to the growth The meeting applauded the parking in Valmer Road, Camberwell in population (London is predicted to report of Lyndhurst School’s Road, Street and grow from 8m people to 9.4m by international show, celebrating the Dartford Road going forward. The 2022) and the lack of growth in bus family links children have throughout discussion was deferred to the next provision which has flatlined in the the world with Capoeira and Samba Community Council meeting in last four years. dancing, puppets, sign language February. The Transport Committee is workshops and African theatre. asking TfL to show how it will meet The Southwark Youth Police arrests rising demand for buses, report on Community Council photographed The Police Safer Neighbourhoods “bus busyness”, work with the NHS the meeting as part of their local art team reported 19 arrests for drug on access to hospitals and health projects. Southwark is rewarding dealing and robbery between August centres, roll out more youth who have made a positive and November. environmentally friendly buses, contribution to the community introduce flexible tickets and give through its scholarship scheme which Marie Staunton

179.13 St George’s Circus / Christmas Party The restoration of St George’s Circus The Christmas party

here was an excellent turnout at the Camberwell Society’s TChristmas Party held on 10 December at the Crooked Well. We would like to thank the many Society members who donated prizes, provided food and prepared the room for the party, as well as Hector and Jen and all the staff at the Crooked Well. We would also like to thank the following traders and organisations who so generosly donated prizes for the raffle.

The boarded-up Duke of Clarence pub and the two terraces at St George’s Archistory of your House Circus have finally had their hoardings and scaffolding removed to reveal BikePS “The Clarence Centre for Enterprise and Innovation” which will be used by Butterfly Pharmacy the University. The buildings were due to be demolished and their Cruson restoration is in part thanks to the Camberwell Society which, in 2000, took Edwardes Cycles the unusual step of commenting on planning issues outside the SE5 area and Garden Room Therapy joining forces with other protesting parties. The Grove Lane Residents Morrisons Association, under the chairmanship of Julia Roskill, added its support, Ortus Learning Centre pointing out, among other things, the historical relevance of the buildings. Pesh Flowers Seabass Bikes Snappy Snaps

A cheque for £1,212.00, a record amount, was handed over to last year’s Charity of the Year, the Hollington Youth Centre. The Society’s chosen charity for 2014 is the Camberwell Arts Festival which this year celebrates its 20th anniversary. To commemorate this milestone this year’s festival will be named The Score.

179.14 Directory

Accessories Local Information CAMBERWELL SOCIETY Bright Colours p14 brightcolours.co.uk South London Guide. Website on all aspects of OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE South London, including shops, services and Chartered Accountants property. www.southlondonguide.co.uk K A Jeffries & Company p15 8693 4145 OFFICERS Newsagent Estate Agents R K News p14 7703 2784 GJM Propeties P3 & p11 77824330 President: Jeremy Bennett Roy Brooks p7 8299 3021 30 Grove Lane SE5 8ST 7703 9971 Packaging Materials Electrical Installations J Hunnex & Sons Ltd p15 7703 3439 Chairman: Nick Holt WCG Electrics Ltd p12 7737 0757 204 Camberwell Grove SE5 8RJ 7501 9941 Pilates Florist Artichoke Pilates Studio p3 7358 5454 Vice-Chair: Alex Blacknell Pesh p15 7703 9124 48 Grove Lane SE5 8ST 7277 4041 Gardening Stained Glass Dulwich Pot & Plant Garden p11 7733 3697 Stained Glass Windows p12 7791 620011 Secretary: Robert Wainwright 55 Grove Lane SE5 8SP 07775 858765 Home Massage Upholstery London Massage to You p14 97977 966175 A V Fowlds p15 7703 2686 Assistant Secretary: Paola Totaro 55 Grove Lane SE5 8SP 07789 606062

TO ADVERTISE IN THE QUARTERLY Treasurer: Kim Blackwell 78 Camberwell Grove SE5 8RF 7703 9170 Contact the Editor, Margaret Powley-Baker, Assistant Treasurer: Liz Allen Email [email protected] 78 Camberwell Grove SE5 8RF 7703 9170

COMMITTEE

Tim Gaymer 7737 1059 Planning

Yoga & meditation classes Barbara Pattinson 7274 8045 SE5 Forum & Community Liaison Mindfulness courses Workshops & talks Margaret Powley-Baker 7701 4417 Editor – Camberwell Quarterly www.zenyoga.org.uk 2d Camberwell Grove Nicholas Roskill 7703 4736 Licensing

OTHER CONTACTS

LOCAL HISTORY: email: [email protected]

MEMBERSHIP: Annual membership costs £15 (household) £8 (individual) or £3 (concessionary) Membership form available online: www.camberwellsociety.org.uk

PLANNING: K.A. Jeffries & Company email: [email protected] Chartered Accountants Registered to carry out audit work and regulated for a range of investment activities by the Institute of Chartered Accountants The Camberwell Society is the recognised in England & Wales. Dealing with general finance and amenity society for those living, working or management problems of family businesses. interested in Camberwell. All aspects of income tax and inheritance tax planning. 18 Melbourne Grove , London SE22 8RA Tel: 020 8693 4145

179.15