CAMBERWELL QUARTERLY
The magazine of the Camberwell Society No196 Spring 2018 £1.50 (free to members)
www.camberwellsociety.org.uk
A morning with Camberwell Green Police team – p4
History of Brunswick Park – p8 Camberwell writers – p12 Contents Gazette Report from the Chair ...... 3 LOCAL SOCIETIES, VENUES AND EVENTS Camberwell Green Police team...... 4 We recommend checking details Reasons of conscience (COs) ...... 7 History of Brunswick Park ...... 8
Obituary: Gavin Stamp ...... 11 Brunswick Park Neighbourhood Nunhead Cemetery Local writers (Bourne & Buckler) 12 Tenants and Residents Association Linden Grove, SE15. Friends of Patricia Ladly 7703 7491 Nunhead Cemetery (FONC) The Bridge Campaign ...... 14 [email protected] 020 8693 6191 Whatever became of...?...... 15 www.fonc.org.uk Burgess Park, Friends of AGM Notice ...... 15 Peckham Society www.friendsofburgesspark.org.uk Camberwell Arts Festival ...... 16 Peter Frost 020 8613 6757 [email protected] Sunday 15 April, 3pm, Peckham Art in Burgess Park ...... 17 Society AGM in the Goose Green Planning...... 18 Butterfly Tennis Club Centre, East Dulwich Road, SE22 www.butterflytennis.com Directory ...... 19 www.peckhamsociety.org.uk Camberwell Arts Ruskin Park, Friends of Promoting the arts in Camberwell Doug Gillies 020 7703 5018 and Camberwell in the Arts THE CAMBERWELL SE5 Forum [email protected] SE5Forum.org.uk SOCIETY www.camberwellarts.org.uk MEMBERSHIP & EVENTS [email protected] Camberwell Gardens Guild South London Gallery Membership is open to anyone who Membership enquiries to: 65 Peckham Road SE5. Open: lives, works or is interested in Tuesday to Sunday – 12pm-6pm, Camberwell. Pat Farrugia, 17 Kirkwood Road, SE15 3XT closed on Monday The Executive Committee is elected www.southlondongallery.org annually at the Society’s AGM. Carnegie Library, Friends of Southwark Friends of the Earth Meetings of the Executive [email protected] or Stephanie & Jim Lodge Committee are usually held on the [email protected] (for 020 7701 3331. Emails: first Thursday of the month – please membership queries) contact the Secretary for details. [email protected] Members are welcome to attend as [email protected] observers with prior notice to the Concerts in St Giles’ Church Secretary, Robert Wainwright (see Camberwell Church Street St Giles’, Friends of inside back cover for contact details). [email protected] 16 Sears Street, SE5 7JL [email protected] Sub-Committees on planning, the Dulwich Picture Gallery www.stgilescambewell.org public realm, traffic and College Road, SE21 7AD transport, publications and local Wells Way Triangle Residents history form an important part of 020 8693 5254. the Society’s work and all members www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk Association are welcome to involve themselves Andrew Osborne in areas which interest them. Herne Hill Society [email protected] Jeffrey Doorn 020 7274 7008 Forthcoming Events Membership: Herne Hill Society AGM, Tuesday 15 May PO Box 27845, SE24 9XA Open Gardens Day, Sunday 3 June www.hernehillsociety.org.uk Xmas Party, Monday 3 December 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 Minet Conservation Association Camberwell Society is a registered 020 7737 8210 Cover: Viewing art in Burgess Park charity (No 264751). www.minet.fsnet.co.uk (see story on page 17)
2 Report from the Chair Nick signs off after seven years in the chair his is my last letter as Chair of another open meeting later in the the Camberwell Society. I year – watch for details on our have been Chair since 2011, Facebook page and do come along if Tand seven years of me is more than you can. There is no minimum time enough for anyone. I will therefore commitment if you are interested in be stepping down at our annual becoming a member of the Executive general meeting (which will take Committee, just a desire to do your place on Tuesday 15 May – the bit in making Camberwell such a details appear on page 15). I am good place to be. really pleased to tell you that my This issue of CQ highlights the successor will be our current sheer variety of things going on in Vice-Chair, Nick (yes, another one) Nick Holt Camberwell. We spend a morning Mair, who I know will do a super job with the Camberwell Green police as your Chair. There will be more be angry about – usually a planning team, profile two local authors in about Nick in a future issue. or local transport matter – and so if what will be the first of a series, as As I have written on many there is something that you feel well as looking back at the saga of occasions, the Camberwell Society is strongly about, or would like to the railway bridge on Camberwell your society, and I would therefore change, or you would simply like to Grove. We also take a look at Art in encourage you to be active members. feel a bit more involved with Burgess Park. Our main aim is to try and contribute Camberwell, then do let me know. It has been both a privilege and a to making Camberwell a great place In January we held a public pleasure to serve as your Chair, and I for all those who live or work here, meeting of the Executive Committee would like to take this opportunity to and there is always so much more in the Grove pub on Camberwell thank you all for your support; it has that can be done. We also raise money Grove. The purpose was to give been much appreciated. for good locally focused charities – prospective members a feel for the this year it is St Giles Trust. issues that we deal with. It was a Nick Holt Sometimes it needs something to success and we will be holding [email protected]
STOP PRESS Mary Boast History Competition: Enter now! See page 19.
Electronic CQ survey We are considering producing electronic copies of the Quarterly. If you are interested in receiving your copy this way, please contact the editor at: [email protected]
3 A Day in the Life of Camberwell A morning with the Camberwell Green Police team t is 6am on a dark winter out weapon sweeps in estates where internship at the bar. So she started morning. The streetlights are still there is gang activity to look for volunteering as a police officer for 16 lit as Richard Price, in blue jeans knives hidden in flower beds and hours a month in Islington, found she Iand grey hoodie, slips into the Safer behind drain pipes. It gives talks in was good at working with people Neighbourhood team office at 9 schools to dissuade pupils from and, encouraged by her mentor, the Wren Road. By 6.30, changed into carrying weapons. Today, South female DCI who dealt with the uniform – blue trousers, white shirt Camberwell, one of the other teams London Bridge attack, joined the with police number and rank insignia that Price is responsible for, will police. A mere five feet three inches of sergeant comprising three white carry out test purchases at local shops tall, Charlotte, 24, is still very chevrons on the epaulettes, Velcro with Trading Standards officials to effective in quelling disturbances. In name badge on the front – he scrolls ensure knives and fireworks are not body camera footage from last through his emails reading the being sold unlawfully. bonfire night she can be seen calmly borough briefing, duty officer and At 8am Police Constables Mark but firmly detaining suspected trouble CID handovers information, and McKay and Charlotte Browning makers. She says, “No one has ever checks the overnight anti-social arrive. They too start their nine-hour said to me you cannot do this because behaviour reports and crimes. shift by checking the Southwark women are less physically strong. In There have been 11 crimes overnight crime briefing. Both of fact people are still less likely to hit a reported in Camberwell over the past them came to Camberwell through woman and we can be better at 24 hours: one burglary, one attempted the Police Now scheme that recruits calming people down.” She carries burglary, three incidents of criminal graduates to work in local policing as the eight kilo police uniform lightly, damage, one robbery, three thefts of part of safer neighbourhood teams. but regrets that regulations no longer pedal bikes, one car broken into and History graduate McKay was allow her to dye her hair flame red. one domestic assault. Between one recruited after working as a journalist For safety reasons her long hair must and a dozen crimes are reported daily for three years. He gives two reasons be tied securely in a bun. in the ward which covers the triangle for joining the force: better prospects Mark and Charlotte are analytical between Southampton Way, John and the inspiration of a police about the social context of crime. In Ruskin Street and Coldharbour Lane. detective uncle who led the police Camberwell Green 67 per cent of Almost 16,000 people live here. To investigation into the 2001 Selby residents are in the lowest 20 per cent find out what has been happening train disaster. Having completed his income bracket. “People in most near you check mandatory two years, McKay asked deprived areas are most likely to be https://www.police.uk/metropolitan/E to stay on in Camberwell because the the victims of property crime. The 05000535/crime) operations he had been involved in, poorest 10 per cent of people are Recent trends are a rise in youth such as closing a crack house and twice as likely to be victims of violence between gangs in Walworth reducing anti-social behaviour around personal crime as the next 20 per and Peckham, mopeds being used for the Green, have had a visible impact. cent. Crime is often opportunistic. snatch thefts, reduction in anti-social Charlotte graduated from Burglars usually live near these behaviour on the Green, continued Cambridge in law intending to people, many of whom are out all drug dealing in out of the way places, become a criminal barrister. But a day, working long hours. In more opportunistic burglary and theft. In placement with the Hertfordshire well-off areas, there are secondary 2016 Southwark recorded a 25 per Police was a lot more fun than her guardians – gardeners, child carers, cent reduction in violent crime and a cleaners – so spontaneous crime is 28 per cent reduction in gun crime not so easy.” since 2010. At 10am Police Community Price plans the day. He has to Support Officer Danny Cloud arrives. make the best use of his Camberwell Working family-friendly hours, ten to Green team, made up of two police seven, he can drop off his children at constables and one community school on the way to work. He clocks support officer. They have to patrol in on his computer, checks the crime the area, investigate crimes and make briefing and plans his day. Tasks “cocooning” visits. Because burglars include a visit to flats involved in a tend to strike in the same place, neighbour dispute. With over a dozen victims of house break-ins are visited, years’ experience of policing in their neighbours alerted and advised Camberwell Green, Danny is familiar about prevention, with the aim of with the parties and suspects that creating a safe cocoon round the area conflict has again flared up because to prevent more break-ins. In addition, one of them has stopped taking their there are London-wide activities such medication. “A lot of neighbour as the anti-knife crime Operation disputes involve mental health issues. Sceptre. Every week the team carries Sergeant Richard Price They start with noise, shouting that
4 A Day in the Life of Camberwell
becomes too much for neighbours, people smoking weed and noisy visitors. If there is no solution the situation escalates and can lead to harassment. Often we need to make a referral to the mental health team and we have a good relationship with South London and Maudsley NHS Trust.” Over his dozen years working in Camberwell Green, the intervention that gave Danny the most satisfaction started with a call from a relative who could not get a reply from a lady in Camberwell. Danny found her housebound with a broken toilet, no hot water, no working light bulbs, 18 inches of rubbish piled on the floor, The Safer Neighbourhood team: (l-r) PC Mark McKay, Sergeant Richard phone broken and living on crisps, Price, PCSO Danny Cloud and PC Charlotte Browning cheese and wine delivered by the local shop. He organised a plumber, now there are two PCs, one PCSO warning stating that their behaviour cleaning, a phone and dropped in and part of a sergeant’s time. Sergeant was unreasonable, persistent and daily. That made a difference. His Price, whom Danny calls the having a bad effect on the worst experience was some years ago “skipper” (inspectors are called community. The drinkers were given during a disturbance at a local “guv’nor”) is not only responsible information about the service offered secondary school when he and the for three teams, but is often seconded by Lifeline in Camberwell Road for schools officer were surrounded by to London-wide operations. people who wanted to stop drug and about a hundred school pupils Consequently the workload is higher, alcohol abuse. Then community shouting and throwing stones. “We there is less time for patrolling, for protection notices were issued, and a radioed for help. The schools officer prevention, for local police input into court order obtained excluding the was down. I was the only one left planning decisions and shifts are two ringleaders from the area. Some standing when my sergeant came longer. Like the rest of the team, of the benches where the group running round the corner like the Danny is acutely aware of the cost of congregated were removed from the cavalry, waving his baton.” policing. A court order on anti-social Green and that particular group is no Over the past dozen years behaviour costs the force some £15k longer causing regular disturbances. secondary schools in the area have to £20k. Throughout 2015 about seven much improved, although a “lack of Anti-social behaviour, often from per cent of all calls to police from the respect“ is often a problem, street drinkers, has long been a Samuel Lewis Trust, in Warner Road, particularly among youths who problem around Camberwell Green. were linked to a crack house on the cluster around MacDonald’s on The workhouse in Havil Street estate. Neighbours reported regular Denmark Hill. Some young people moved to Gordon Road in the late disturbances, people coming to the carry weapons nowadays because the 19th century and by the time of its flat at all hours, drug users outside fear of gang violence is greater than closure in 1985, the “Camberwell the front door, petrol put through the their fear of the police. Criminal Spike”, officially Camberwell letterbox. Southwark’s anti-social behaviour is exacerbated by shops Reception Centre, housed some behaviour officer found that the selling cheap alcohol and drug dealers 1,100 homeless men. There are still tenant was a vulnerable woman who operating in concealed places. There several hostels in the area. Until two was being abused by dealers. A have been welcome changes over the years ago the police response was to closure order was obtained that years. Burglary is much reduced, regularly seize the drinkers and tell enables a crack house to be closed thanks to “cocooning”. Like the rest them not to do it again. In 2016, in and the Housing Association to of the team, Danny welcomes the response to regular complaints from obtain possession of the property. new “body worn cameras” introduced local schools, businesses and The tenant moved out to a place of across the Met in 2017. “It’s like residents, about some 15 loud street safety and a dozen police raided the having a professional witness on the drinkers blocking pavements and flat, breaking the door down and spot,” he says. using colourful language around arresting the dealers. It was PC Mark The most drastic change has Milkwell Yard (next to Paddy McKay’s first raid. He remembers been the reduction in police numbers. Power), the police team started being very nervous, hands struggling There was one sergeant, three PCs removing their alcohol and issued a and four PCSOs when Danny started, community protection order written Continued on next page
5 A Day in the Life of Camberwell
A morning with the Police Continued from previous page to do up the zip of his fleece as the seems to be working on and sprints From this Camberwell morning police approached the property. away, and the garage owner denies it is clear that the police workload is But the raid was successful and all knowledge of the vehicle. By impacted by societal issues – a lack complaints ceased. Since then he has noon five cars have been towed of thoughtful planning, social dealt with another crack house and away. This is a job that Southwark problems of addiction, lack of obtained a criminal behaviour order parking enforcement people say they support and facilities for young to restrain dealers exploiting would not feel safe doing without a people in the area. At an autumn vulnerable tenants in supported police presence. The impact on the local community council meeting housing. community is clear. In the residents’ on policing and youth, this tension Today, the Camberwell Green survey in June, only 38 per cent said became clear as youth spoke out team is carrying out proactive they felt very safe; by October this about the lack of facilities in the area, policing in Camberwell Station had increased to 91 per cent. In June and said they often did not feel safe. Road. Here owners of a new block of only 60 per cent felt that the police But a cash-pressed local Council flats have been complaining about did a good job to keep them could not promise more facilities to the activities of local garages which informed; by October this had keep young people off the street. spill out from under the railway increased to 100 per cent. The Youth gave stop and search tactics as arches onto the road. The flat-owners number of residents who believed one of the reasons that most of them set up their own Facebook group and that the police understood the issues would not join the police force. Yet tweeted regularly – “illegal car of the that they were facing also increased with knife crime increasing and stop day seen driving on our road”, from 60 to 100 per cent. Over 91 per and search Operation Winter Night sending pictures to their local MP, cent of residents were pleased that across London resulting in the councillor and Camberwell Green the police were dealing with the seizure of 300 knives, the Mayor of police of “one of the many untaxed vehicles. London has predicted that stop and and uninsured cars on our road”. The Impressive as this data is, search will be used more. police team walked around the area perhaps the conflict between Yet Danny draws on his dozen with Harriet Harman, MP for businesses and residents could have years working the Camberwell Green Camberwell and Peckham, did a been foreseen before planners gave patch to strike a note of optimism. survey of local residents and decided the go-ahead for new flats in a road “We have succeeded because to support the Southwark parking dominated by garages. One Camberwell is a friendly place, we enforcement team to take action consequence of the reduction in get a lot of community support from against uninsured and untaxed cars police staff is that local officers no people who have been on ward safer left in the road. Over the past six longer get involved in advising on neighbourhood panels for some years months 100 cars have been towed planning applications. Their local and have a good relationship with away. Today, when the Southwark knowledge is not used; a more Southwark’s Community wardens.” team and the police arrive, one man standard check is carried out jumps out of an uninsured car he centrally. Marie Staunton
6 COs in World War One Reasons of conscience he First World War, as Cathy service clerk aged 24 in 1916, who then sentenced to hard labour. Brooks-Baker showed in CQ was also secretary of Camberwell In June 1916, after four months No 195, impacted on Trades and Labour Council. He lived of conscription, the government TCamberwell in many ways. For men in Keston Road, Peckham. sought to clear the prisons by having of fighting age there were two As reported in the brief press these men’s cases reviewed. Those particular interfaces with the military coverage the motivation of objectors judged genuine were given the machine. The first was the army was mostly expressed in religious or chance of transferring to work at recruiting office, located in the public ethical terms. For example, MW various civilian labour camps. The baths in Artichoke Place. Field, a civil servant of Camberwell great majority accepted. The second was the Military Grove, said he believed that all A minority of a 1,000 to 1,500 Service Tribunal, which met in human life was sacred and that the “absolutists” refused the offer, Camberwell town hall. This body taking of human life was contrary to determined to demonstrate maximum adjudicated on claims for exemption. opposition to the war. It consisted predominantly of Jones was one of the 1,000 to magistrates and council members but “Men were never intended 1,500 “absolutists” who, to included two splendidly named to stick bayonets into one demonstrate maximum opposition to military men, Major-General Sir A the war, refused the offer. Arrested Montgomery Moore and Colonel Sir another’s stomachs.” in September 1916, he faced four Wodehouse B Richardson. Alongside courts martial in all, each followed and acting as an advocate for Christian duty. Only very few cited a by hard labour, and stepped free only enlistment was a uniformed junior political objection. AD Chipperfield, in April 1919. He went on to become officer, the Military Representative. a french polisher living in Carlton colonial secretary in the Attlee He joined in the questioning. He Grove, was one. He told the tribunal government. could, and often did, appeal against that as an International Socialist he If one discards the 20 incomplete the tribunal’s decision. was “doing his duty to the State and records in Cyril Pearce’s register, one Tribunals are best known for to humanity” by refusing to serve. is left with a fair overview of the their treatment of men who objected Tribunals acquired a bad to bearing arms for reasons of reputation for the way they dealt with “They ought to be shot, or conscience. These comprised only a men like these. small fraction of cases however. Bertrand Russell, active in the ought to be hanged” Much more common were NCF at national level, called it “a applications on grounds of ill-health, madness of persecution.” At degrees of resistance shown by of being the sole support for an aged Camberwell tribunal there were Camberwell men. Of the remaining relative, of running a small business, outbursts of hostility. What’s 122 objectors, 27 served with the of doing work that was essential to interesting is that these outbursts Non-Combatant Corps. Five served the community or important for the were then criticised and countered by with the Friends’ Ambulance Unit. other tribunal members. Mr S Sayer Fifty-five laboured in the camps or At Camberwell tribunal declared on one occasion that performed other work of national members were biased, were importance. there were outbursts of continually muttering such remarks Finally, 35 or one quarter of the hostility as “They ought to be shot, or ought total, were absolutists who outfaced to be hanged” and did not exhibit the the military with maximum defiance. war effort. Employers often submitted judicial attitude required of them. He was not a soldier and never would applications en bloc for groups of One suspects the military men here, be, declared Ernest Southern, a shop workers. Camberwell tribunal, though the paper is discreet on the assistant, of Grosvenor Terrace. covering the old borough – which subject. “Men were never intended to stick included Peckham, Nunhead and The tribunal could grant absolute bayonets into one another’s Dulwich – was kept extremely busy. exemption but it was usually stomachs.” Historian Cyril Pearce’s national conditional or temporary. If judged register of conscientious objectors, or genuine the condition in the case of John Taylor COs – accessible via the Imperial COs was that they undertake War Museum website – shows that non-combatant service. Many declined To read more: a PDF of John 142 men from the borough refused to this option because they held it Taylor’s - Against the Tide: serve on those grounds. Many were contributed to the war effort. They, War-resisters in south London members of the No-Conscription and those who were not offered the 1914-16 – is available on the Fellowship, or NCF, which had an choice, were then arrested when they University of Hertfordshire’s active branch in East Dulwich, one of failed to report and handed over to a Everyday Lives in War website: 31 in London. The driving force here military escort; then court-martialled https://everydaylivesinwar.herts.ac.uk was Arthur Creech Jones, a civil when they refused to obey orders;
7 History of Brunswick Park Declared “one of the prettiest open spaces in south London” he first known reference to the area we know as Brunswick Park can be found in the DomesdayT survey of 1087. At that time it was part of the 63 acres of meadowlands held by St Giles’ Church known as the Glebe, which provided an income for the vicar. From the evidence of historical maps and records it seems to have remained larg ely unaltered until the middle of the 19th century, nearly 800 years later. A map dated 1842 shows that the area was still open fields. When change did come however, as a consequence of the Industrial Revolution, it was fast and dramatic in nature. At the beginning of the 19th The view in Brunswick Park, looking north century Camberwell was a village in the County of Surrey, known for its The growth of industry in 19th his father. The marriage was rural tranquility and healing springs. century London led to a massive notoriously unhappy, and the couple Wealthy people had country estates increase in population, creating soon separated, following the birth of here, and their names, such as considerable pressure to extend its their only child. Caroline was very Bowyer, de Crespigny and Lettsom boundaries. The arrival in popular with the general public, in are still familiar through local street Camberwell of trains in 1862 and part because her husband was widely names. The area was described as double decker trams in 1871 made disliked and was considered to have being very attractive, and Londoners commuting quick and affordable, treated her badly, but also because would visit to escape the pollution enabling workers to live further away she became associated with the and overcrowding of the conurbation. from their place of employment. reform movement. The breakdown This in turn triggered the rapid of the marriage was played out in the development of housing for the public arena, culminating in Queen middle and working classes. Caroline being refused entry to Consequently the population of the Westminster Abbey on the occasion parish of Camberwell (which of the King’s coronation in 1821. comprised Camberwell, Peckham Caroline died three weeks later, and Dulwich) grew from 7,059 in claiming to have been poisoned. 1801 to 71,488 in 1861, and a Although Mr Hudson lost staggering 235,344 in 1891. ownership of the land in 1863 at a In 1847 a Mr WJ Hudson hearing in the Chancery Court, acquired part of the Glebe with a subsequent developers and view to residential development. leaseholders broadly adhered to his His plan for the site included a large original plans. In addition to housing, private garden in the centre the Presbyterian chapel, in what is surrounded by large houses, no doubt now Benhill Road, was built in 1868, inspired by the garden squares and the former St Giles Hospital currently fashionable in north buildings which flank the eastern side London. The area was named of the park were built between 1899- Brunswick Square, apparently to 1903. The site continued to be known commemorate the daughter of the as Brunswick Square, and the central Duke of Brunswick, Princess area survived as a private Caroline. Although I've not been able garden for the residents of some of to discover the source of this claim, the houses built around its perimeter. or why Mr Hudson might have As the local population increased chosen to name the area in her dramatically, the dearth of open honour, it's certainly an interesting space for leisure activities and story. The Prince of Wales, the future exercise, especially in the poorer King George IV, married Caroline in northern parts of the borough, became 1795, apparently at the insistence of a matter of increasing concern. In
8 History of Brunswick Park
1889 Camberwell was transferred administratively from the County of Surrey to the London County Council, in recognition of its transition from a village to a suburb of the metropolis. Then in 1900 Camberwell Parish, which had been run by the Vestry, was renamed the Metropolitan Borough of Camberwell. In 1893, the Vestry decided to pave the roads in Brunswick Square, and at the same time made an offer to purchase the private gardens in order to create a park open to the public. Some residents were in agreement but others were not. In 1901, following legislative changes, the recently created Borough Council bought Brunswick Park via a compulsory purchase order for the sum of £6,100. A further sum of £2,599 was subsequently spent on Ordnance Survey maps show how the area used to be. The above map is dated the provision of facilities and 1871, and the one below 1894 improvements to the layout. The park had previously been bisected by a road, and this was removed in order to create one larger space of approximately four acres. Brunswick Park was officially opened to great fanfare on July 15 1907 by the Mayor of Camberwell, Councillor Lane Mitchell. A report in the South London Press, dated July 20, provided extensive coverage of the event. Ticket holders were invited to the opening ceremony, which took place on a special dais. The chairman, Councillor Markillie, donated a drinking fountain, and in his speech described the park as “one of the prettiest open spaces in south London.” The weather was said to be magnificent, and thousands of people turned up to celebrate the occasion. The Camborough Military Band Exploring Southwark website, there whereas areas such as Camberwell played a varied programme of music, was even a boxing match held there had to fund them out of the local and afterwards the Mayor received a between the local MP and a local rates. He was also indignant that the large number of guests at the Town vicar which, after three rounds, was London County Council (LCC) had Hall, where refreshments were declared a draw. contributed so little to the creation of served. The delays and difficulties Brunswick Park. The total cost of The newly created park proved encountered in creating the park had, land purchase, the provision of to be extremely popular, providing however, caused considerable acilities and improvements to the much needed open space for the local resentment. Mr JR Tomkins, a former layout came to £8,699, a not population. Numerous events were Mayor of Camberwell, compared the inconsiderable sum at that time. The held there, including flower shows, treatment of poorer south London contribution by the London County donkey parades, and a fund raising districts to those in the West End. Council is unclear. According to the and call for volunteers event in the The latter had hundreds of acres of First World War. According to the parks maintained at public expense, Continued on next page
9 History of Brunswick Park “One of the prettiest open spaces in south London” Continued from previous page
South London Press, this had amounted to only £818, whereas according to the London Parks and Gardens Trust website, the LCC had contributed £1,241 towards the cost of purchase. It may well be that both are correct, though I could find no evidence of the larger sum, but this would still only come to a total of £2,059, far short of the total cost. Mr Tomkins’ point that a heavy burden was borne by the local rates for both the creation and ongoing maintenance of the park would seem to have some justification. Further work on the park was carried out in the 1930s, including The drinking fountain donated by Councillor Markillie in 1907 the provision of a playground, two hard tennis courts and a gravel pitch, presumably for ball games. According to the press report, the public convenience was also enlarged, and given a red-tiled roof. The park was officially reopened by the Mayor, Councillor Clark, on 9 October, 1937. In addition, a new drinking fountain was donated by the Metropolitan Drinking Fountain Association. Between 1997 and 1999 the London Borough of Southwark undertook a renovation programme at a cost of £230,000. This was very comprehensive and included new lighting, planting, restructured pathways and edgings, new disabled access and refurbishment of the children's playground and the tennis courts. Coming right up to date, there has recently been a further expansion and upgrading of the children's play area, and plans are afoot to convert one of the redundant buildings into an arts space/cafe. More than a century since it was opened, Brunswick Park remains as popular as ever with local residents. Notwithstanding the massive social and economic changes which have taken place, people in densely populated urban areas clearly still value the access to open space and the opportunity to get closer to nature which parks provide.
Alison Kirby The Mayor, Councillor Clark, officially opens the park on 9 October, 1937
10 Obituary
The remarkable Gavin Stamp – 15 March 1948-30 December 2017 avin Stamp was and didn’t want them replaced by a described in the newspaper more modern design, but, as so often obituaries as “elegant and in these cases, it needed people with opinionated”,G a great defender of our energy to prevent the uncaring, architectural heritage, a true scholar, thoughtless and unnecessary man of conviction, an intellectual destruction. tour de force, a real gent, an After having read the obituaries inspirational campaigner: the tributes in the national press and the splendid could fill the whole of this CQ. eulogy written for Gavin’s funeral by Gavin was a relatively new Jonathan Meades, we may be cheered Camberwell resident. He married that there are more people than we Rosemary Hill, the Pugin biogropher think who care about the destruction and fellow historian, in 2014, so his of our architectural heritage. But last years were spent almost in the without Gavin Stamp’s determination shadow of our St Giles’, George and drive it behoves all of us to do Gilbert Scott’s marvellous Gothic what we can to prevent bad decisions Revival church. The Scotts were a from being made, to write letters, to particular interest to Gavin – he encourage friends. wrote his PhD on George Gilbert Young architects today do not Scott junior, whose son, also Gilbert often draw, the ubiquitous computer George, designed the telephone boxes. A drawing of Gavin by Rosemary Hill makes that skill seem unnecessary, so In the early 1980s he had lived it is harder to produce work which with his first wife and their family that never ceases” (2017 for Liverpool shows individuality, even if it were to very near to St Pancras station, the Council) and the Emperor Nero be encouraged. Gavin Stamp could most famous of GG Scott’s creations. award “for fiddling while Rome draw, as his heroes did, which He wrote for the Spectator and it has burns” (for the House of Commons), probably was one reason for his been said that the age of denim never though they have now agreed to developed “eye”. He was not against touched him; he favoured tweed move out while works are done, the new if it was honest, original and jackets, scarves and polished shoes. having at last understood that the had quality (he was chair of the 20th Born in Bromley, he won a magnificance of the Parliament build- Century Society). scholarship to Dulwich College, then ing is the only thing that still gives went on to Cambridge, where he took “dignity and status to this Lack of education a degree in history, which included collection of mediocrities”. Virginia Among the many reasons for the architectural history. Woolf merely commented that she heedless desecration is the lack of could not visualize the often education. It is hard for a young Private Eye’s Piloti red-faced MPs rendered in the person to develop an aesthetic sense After Cambridge he returned to dignity of marble. which is not linked to fashion. The south London, often writing for the In 1990 he moved to Glasgow new will be seen to be “better”, and Architectural Press, which had with his family, to a house built and interest in past glories both elitist and offices conveniently over a pub in once lived in by Alexander “Greek” possibly pro-colonialist (neither to be Queensgate, where he met other Thomson in the mid 19th century. He encouraged!). contributors including Osbert lectured at the art school and was It was hard to get the 1926 Lancaster, John Betjeman and promoted to professor status. He William Curtis Green building in Nikolaus Pevsner. He became close championed Thomson and founded a Grove Lane saved from the to Betjeman, who suggested that he society in his name with the remit of developers. Only the rule that it had take over his Private Eye column protecting Thomas’s architectural to be proved that a replacement “Nooks and Corners of the New legacy. Unfortunately, the restoration would be better designed saved it, Barbarism”. So Gavin Stamp took of the Glasgow house became and there were enough local residents the pseudonym of Piloti and unaffordable, his marriage had failed, willing to protest that it was a well relentlessly attacked the cupidity of so he returned to London in 2003 to designed and rather beautiful developers, unthinking planning work as a writer, lecturer and building. authorities and third-rate architects campaigner through his writing for If reading the above has sparked who have done so much to damage the appreciation of architects like an interest in the remarkable Gavin our built environment. Scott, Thomson and Lutyens and the Stamp (and why was there no In his last column, published colonial architecture of India. mention in the honours list? Too left only a week before he died, he In a less grand, but still leaning, perhaps?) Google his name, suggested that Britain needed some worthwhile campaign, he was read about him or, better still, his new architectural prizes such as the instrumental in saving many telephone books. Attila the Hun award “for vandalism boxes. The public was fond of them, GW
11 Local Writers Meet a new novellist and an authority on black history amberwell’s long tradition of hosting and inspiring writers A former student of film and continues as novelists, historians, poets, journalists and screen writing, Buckler’s career as a film industry technician did not song writers choose to make their home here. CQ looks satisfy his interest in the creative start Cback at our literary history and John Turpin and Marie of the process – the story. His latent Staunton meet two contemporary Camberwell writers, one urge to be a writer began to flower, established, one new. however, during a two-year break when he taught English as a foreign Camberwell’s literary tradition language in Tokyo. A blue plaque on the corner of He got to know the city in some Southampton Way and Coleman depth, and recalls how he felt it was Road marks the boyhood home of the perfect venue for a thriller story. one of Camberwell’s most famous Places, people and plots stayed in his residents, the poet Robert Browning. mind, along with a key character: a Another literary giant, the critic John newly arrived Englishman. Ruskin, lived in a bucolic seven acres Fast forward (as they might say at 163 Denmark Hill till 1872. He left in the film business) to James and his in disgust when the coming of the wife Isabel’s arrival in Talfourd Road railway spoilt his view. Camberwell – that Peckham/Camberwell has also inspired visiting writers. The hinterland – and an affection for the 17th century diarist John Evelyn area, deepened by a move to writes of walking from Deptford to Camberwell Grove some four visit “Sir Edmund Bowyer at his James Buckler years ago. melancholie seate at Camerwell”. This roughly coincided with Charles Dickens, who lived in in suburban London. In point of James’ decision to take three years Southwark and dined regularly at the respectability, it has claims only to out from full-time work (he and Fox on the Hill, had a sharp eye for be appreciated by the ambitious Isabel both work for the BBC) and the social divisions of Camberwell: middle-class of Camberwell. Each write the book that was now more “...anyone who could lay claim to an house seems to remind its neighbour, clearly emerging. A second important acquaintance with people of rank and with all the complacence expressible decision was to find an agent, and title had a sure passport to the table in buff brick, that in this locality James considers himself fortunate in of the Maldertons who lived at Oak lodgings are not to let.” his choice, being steered skilfully Lodge, Camberwell,” (Great through the process of authorship and Expectations), while poking fun at a Camberwell writers today publishing. group of “aspiring” local residents Camberwell is home to many An aspect of this was to agree to holding a ball in the Assembly established writers – journalists write a second book, the first giving Rooms – now Camberwell Hall in Jeremy Bowen, Zoe Williams and the leverage to the second, and James Grove Lane (in Sketches by Boz). late Peter Preston, Editor of the had reached a point where this George Gissing in his Year of the Guardian, song writer Florence challenge seemed attractive. Thus the Jubilee, published in 1894, chronicled Welch and poets and reviewers from period of working part-time in order the lives of the poor and of the rich in the late Christopher Logue to Adam to write has been extended. Camberwell. He described the Newey of Hill Bakery. Every year James has studied Japanese condition of a penurious tenant: some 60 would-be writers attend literary traditions and tried to “Samuel Barmby lived with his father creative writing courses run by emulate in his first novel the and two sisters in Coldharbour Lane. Camberwell-based Literary Kitchen. bitter-sweet style often encountered. Their house was small, old and Founder Andrea Mason says, “They He also admits to two western crumbling for lack of repair; the are a diverse range – from GPs, to influences, both in the thriller genre. landlord, his ground-lease having but sound artists, to students, to lawyers, One is The Beach by Alex Garland, a year or two to run, looked on with to PR execs, to artists, to Chinese which became a cult film; the other a equanimity whilst the building food importers, to cafe owners. And film, Breathless, by eminent French decayed”; contrasted with the there is a very healthy range in short maker Goddard. prosperous property owners of De story competitions, journals, and live Last Stop Tokyo has been well Crespigny Park: “A thoroughfare events which they can submit to.” received in the book world, with a connecting Grove Lane, Camberwell, particularly gratifying review in The with Denmark Hill, presents a double Newcomer Times by Marcel Berlins. A German row of similar dwellings; its clean John Turpin meets James Buckler translation and a paperback edition breadth, with foliage of trees and whose successful debut novel Last will appear shortly. shrubs in front gardens, makes it Stop Tokyo was published last James, who is 44, is clearly pleasant to the eye that finds pleasure summer. excited about the future as he
12 Local Writers
embarks on a research trip for the impossible to get an agent and to new book – to Greenland (enough convince publishers that there is a said...). market for black British history. For The couple have been enjoying example Mother Country, his book life in the Grove, discovering good about black people living on the food in Church Street and getting to Home Front in Britain during World know people through events like the War II, took eight years of pitching Camberwell Society Christmas Party. before the History Press published it After James’ Japanese-noir in 2010. Its success encouraged them debut, we look forward to what may to publish Stephen’s most popular be a chilling follow-up from the book Black Poppies on WW1 Arctic Circle. servicemen, for which he received the Southwark Arts Forum’s Established Literature prize. Stephen says: “In As they become established, writers my experience, literary agents and find there is a constant need to pitch publishers are white and middle class new work and become their own and they have been difficult to publicists as Stephen Bourne, local convince that there is a market for author of over a dozen books, can black British history books. On more attest. Stephen was born in than one occasion they have declined Camberwell (St Giles Hospital) and my work saying that ‘there is no raised in SE15 and SE5. There was market for your books because black no literary tradition in the Bourne Stephen Bourne people do not buy them’. So, for family: his mother worked in a shoe support, guidance and vetting shop in Rye Lane and his father was London Blitz when Stephen’s great contracts, I joined the Society of a pipe fitter. He grew up in Sceaux grandmother, a white working-class Authors and I have been very good at Gardens, a post-war estate, named matriarch, “adopted” her. Esther told marketing my own work. I do this by after the prosperous Paris suburb. Stephen, “She was like a mother to giving talks about them, developing a Stephen’s memories of growing up me. She was an angel.” website, and using social media, such there in the 1960s are “nothing but Bourne was fascinated by the as Facebook and twitter.” happy. It was one big adventure story of influential local figures such Getting published required playground”. Local children used the as Jamaican-born Dr Harold Moody persistence and Bourne is a disciplined high rise blocks of flats to play of Queens Road, Peckham who writer. He has a routine. In addition games such as Knock Down Ginger. campaigned against race to talks, when he is working on a They would knock on people’s doors discrimination and founded the book, afternoons are set aside for and disappear before they were League of Coloured Peoples in 1931 writing. From 1pm he writes, first caught! For a wonderfully uncritical (see Stephen’s book Dr. Harold outlining every chapter from the 1960s film about new developments Moody, Southwark Council, 2008). beginning, carefully checking such as Sceaux Gardens see The Early in his career, to access Dr sources. At 3pm he breaks off before Changing Face of Camberwell Moody’s newsletters, Bourne braved another intense burst of writing until (https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/wat the British Library, something he 5pm. He can average up to 1,000 ch-changing-face-of-camberwell- described as “terrifying for a words a day, with some revisions and 1963-online) working-class boy” while teaching polishing at about 8pm. The hard Stephen’s older sister instilled a himself how to research and write. work has paid off. In 2017 Bourne love of books in him through trips to Writing did not pay enough to was honoured with an Honorary the children’s section in the basement live on so he worked locally at Fellowship from London South Bank of the library in Camberwell Church various jobs including the DHSS in University for his contribution to Street. But it was through bunking Peckham and Southwark’s library diversity. “Not bad,” he says, “for a off to avoid the bullying culture of St service. But he kept writing, for The lad who left school at 16 with no Michael and All Angels Secondary Voice newspaper and Caribbean qualifications!” Modern in Wyndham Road that Times and took a journalism course at Last Stop Tokyo is Stephen found the stories that the London College of Printing. His published by Doubleday inspired him to become a writer. He first book, Aunt Esther's Story I SBN 0857524976. Stephen Bourne’s next book, visited older relatives in Fulham and (ECOHP, 1991), was a breakthrough War to Windrush: Black listened to their stories. His adopted in black history. It sold out its print Women in Britain 1939-48 Aunt Esther, a black woman born in run and Aunt Esther made the cover will be published by Fulham in 1912, inspired Stephen to of the feminist magazine Spare Rib. Jacaranda Books in June 2018 to coincide with the research black British history. Esther A further 17 books have followed but 70th anniversaries of Windrush and the birth became part of his family during the Stephen says he has found it of the NHS.
13 Camberwell Grove Bridge
After the bridge campaign, what now? he bridge was built in the lane traffic up to 3 tonnes which was highlighted the many shortcomings second half of the 19th all that could be afforded; they of the Consultation. There was no century and in about 2006 it leafleted Camberwell Grove and 20 mention of the two cycle routes Tclosed when an inspection showed other roads – over an area stretching which affect Grove traffic, QW7 and that it was too weak to carry modern from Camberwell Grove to Bellenden the Southwark Spine. No mention heavy traffic; it was designed for Road. This biased sample meant that was made of traffic problems in the horse drawn vehicles. After funding the result had to be to reopen the Grove; the only traffic mentioned problems, it was repaired and bridge. The surprise was that only was in other roads. Traffic flows were reopened to carry alternate one-way 75% were in favour of reopening. presented without any analysis; no traffic of up to 7.5 tonnes. Our campaign had had a data was given for the top of the The bridge was closed again in significant effect. We had great help Grove; the equipment could not 2016 when Network Rail found that from Southwark Living Streets and differentiate between cars and cycles it could not sustain motor traffic. In Southwark Cyclists as well as local so what did the statistics mean? The parallel Southwark Council and TfL people. We leafleted nearly every Council heard that some roads had were promoting Quietway 7 (QW7), road which the Council had leafletted. problems after the bridge closed but a safe and quiet cycle route through Our message was that the whole area made no attempt to manage such the Grove. Camberwell Grove needed a rethink as Council policy traffic. We also argued that the real Traffic Campaign (CGTC), which seemed to be favouring the motorist problem was not the Grove but rat had been pushing the Council to at a time when other policies running traffic in the whole area. The improve the Grove, saw an encouraged walking, cycling and the Council’s options simply moved opportunity to use the situation to use of public transport. traffic from road to road. bring change. The Grove had over We had a street party for As was to be expected given the the years been transformed from a Camberwell Grove and Grovelands bias of the Consultation the majority normal residential road to a major rat Close residents. There was no doubt was for opening the bridge. However, run, adversely affecting residents, that not all Grove residents wanted at the end, Peter John, the leader of pedestrians and cyclists. Traffic the bridge kept closed but for this the Council intervened to say he queuing at traffic lights at the bridge occasion we all enjoyed the understood our lack of confidence in caused significant pollution and get-together, the food and drink, the Council doing anything to control delays provoking road rage. music, children’s play and face rat running. He, Ian Wingfield and We wrote to all our councillors painting. It gave extra impetus to Mark Williams are committed to asking for the permanent closure of our campaign. Many brought food seeking funding from TfL to study the bridge to motor traffic which and drink, the cyclists ran a barbeque the area covered by the consultation would save money, make the road and surveyed opinions. A great to control non-local traffic. cleaner, safer and quieter for all. It occasion showing what Grove folk There are solutions. The local was soon clear that there were other are really like. network of Victorian streets can be views! Some locals found car journeys The final stage of the made healthy and safe once again to Sainsbury’s longer and rat runners “Consultation” was meetings of the with modern traffic management as were inconvenienced; some roads two local Community Councils to schemes in Walthamstow and had increased traffic, others less. receive the officers’ recommendations Hackney have shown. Southwark Cyclists found their route much to Ian Wingfield, who was to take the should make people not cars its improved. All wrote in and the final decision. CGTC made a priority. Council launched a Consultation on presentation to the Camberwell whether to reopen the bridge to single Community Council which Christine and Rowland Sheard
Below: Camberwell residents enjoy a get-together at a street party organised as part of the campaign
14 This and That Whatever became of...? Where are they now? (and died) in Camberwell Grove. anniversary in 2019. at Edmond contacted CQ to ask: “English Heritage shortlisted her “There is an intriguing link “Do you have a contact site for for a blue plaque some time ago. A between the school and Humphrey peopleP looking for friends?” report done back in 1999 found a Bogart! His only Oscar, for The We often get questions like this, ‘Harriot Coade’ connected with African Queen, was written by Old so perhaps now is the time to start Grove Place – now 35 Camberwell Alleynian CS Forester; one of his such a service. Grove – but could not connect best-known roles was Philip Marlowe Pat goes on to say: “I live in the Eleanor definitively with this or any in The Big Sleep, written by beautiful county of Yorkshire. other surviving London address. another OA, Raymond Chandler. To However, I was born and bought up “Is anyone aware of any complete the set, I am looking for a in Warner Road, Camberwell and had subsequent work or a new source that link between Dulwich and many friends around there, including may have emerged since that would Casablanca. in the Prefabs along Myatt’s Park. I connect Eleanor Coade with a “Can anyone confirm that the was 19 when I moved to Yorkshire surviving building in the Grove? If actor Claude Rains was born in and I am now 75. I realise this was a you are it would be great to be able Camberwell? If so, that links him to long time ago, but I would be to reopen this case.” south east London and Forester. grateful for any help.” Were they ever here? If you can answer any of the these Where were they then? Patrick Humphries would like to queries, please contact the editor Howard Spencer writes: “It is fairly know: “I am writing a book about at: [email protected] well established that Eleanor Coade four authors who attended Dulwich Tel 020 7701 4417; or write to (of Coade stone fame) lived latterly College for the school’s 400th 4 Datchelor Place SE5 7AP
PLEASE NOTE Following the AGM refreshments will be served upstairs (there is a lift). ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 15 MAY 2018
The Annual General Meeting of the Camberwell Society will be held at 7.15pm on Tuesday 15 May 2018 at the Camberwell Green United Reformed Church in Love Walk, SE5
Agenda 1. Apologies for absence 2. Previous minutes and matters arising 3. Chair’s Report for the year 2016-2017 4. Treasurer’s Report 5. Election of Officers and Committee All officers of the Society and members of the Executive Committee retire annually in accordance with the Constitution of the Society and are eligible for re-election. Nominations are required for the Officers and Committee. Any paid-up member may, together with a seconder (also a paid-up member), make nominations. These must be sent to the Secretary, Robert Wainwright, 55 Grove Lane, SE5 8SP, to arrive at least 14 days before the Annual General Meeting. 6. Any other business Robert Wainwright, Secretary
15 Local Art All will be well in Camberwell this June he Camberwell Arts Festival This year’s Camberwell libraries and local businesses from is the longest running visual mid-May. Or visit the website arts festival in the UK, having Arts Festival is taking www.camberwellarts.org.uk for the Trun for the past 24 years. In 2018 the place from 16-24 June with online version and most up-to-date Camberwell Arts team is taking the the theme ALL’s WELL information for the Camberwell Arts Camberwell coat of arms motto of Festival. ALL’S WELL as its theme for the We also welcome more festival and putting Camberwell’s and art exhibitions in local cafés, volunteers to help us deliver this year’s origins as a spa centre stage with its pubs and business, and we will see exciting Festival. Please apply to current position as a crucible of the return of the very successful [email protected] scientific and artistic experimentation Alley Gallery. and collaboration. You will find the brochure in Debbie Allen With the ALL’S WELL theme in mind there will be a programme of health and wellbeing workshops in Camberwell Library’s meeting room. With “taster” workshops run by local charities, businesses and individuals, we will offer mindfulness, mothers and babies yoga, pets for health, art therapy and many, many more. Local artists, makers, designers and upcyclers will be showcasing their work in a weekend of Open Studios (16/17 June) and a day for the Made in Camberwell market (Saturday 23 June). Then the icing on the cake (pun intended) will be the “artist-inspired cake competition” alongside several arty activities when anyone can drop in and be creative, even if it’s to “dress up your dog” for a parade. But that’s not all… There will be a full fringe programme of music, dance, poetry Children enjoy the creative workshop held on Camberwell Green last year
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16 Local Art Making art accessible urgess Park is still are a base for various art, Arebyte Camberwell’s Studio undergoing a major environmental and heritage projects Manager, about how she is finding refurbishment with many new enriching the lives of inner-city the new studios, she praises the projectsB taking shape. Among them is Londoners through creativity and balance and artistic well-being a burgeoning creative community. I education. Last year saw the success Burgess Park provides. “We are spoke to two studios – Art in the Park of Zeppelin 1917 – a project marking located in a quiet area which is great and Arebyte – who are working to the centenary of a local catastrophe, for making art, but we are also a nurture and grow this network. when a zeppelin landed on stone’s throw from south London’s Art in the Park was founded in Calmington Road (now in the park creative hub, with galleries, art 1996 when the head of Southwark area), killing ten people and schools, universities and cafés to Parks’ ranger service offered Kate destroying many buildings. In 2018 hang out in and meet people. We feel Miller, an “improved shed and yard” we will see the continuation of more that the community in our studios is next to the new “world garden” in the projects open to everybody, such as benefiting from both of these aspects.” grounds of the listed Chumleigh alms The Green Elephant Drawing Club, Emily Scaife, a recent Animation houses. The park was still in an early Marking Places and The Story of graduate from the Royal College of phase of development and was not Prince Lee Boo, in addition to the Art, says, “I love our studio here in yet family friendly. Kate, a poet, start of a new project – The Burgess Arebyte Camberwell. Having environmental sculptor and arts Park Drawing Club. recently completed an MA in which I educator, embraced the task of Arebyte is a London-based was free to experiment with materials creating this multicultural community organisation supporting the and techniques, I needed a space garden for the 60,000 locals, made up development of emerging which allowed this to continue. Also of play areas, gardens and potential contemporary artists working across being welcomed and supported by for communal activities and projects. art forms, including new media and other artists, both inside our studios “Our aim is to make art an performance art. Through a gallery and Camberwell’s wider creative accessible practice for as many space on White Post Lane in East community, has been so exciting and as possible regardless of ability, age London and affordable studio interesting. I can’t wait to meet more or ethnicity,” says Florence complex, Arebyte creates thriving of our neighbours to fuel more Goodhand-Tait, one of Art in the environments for artists to expand on creative energy.” Park’s current artistic residents. “We their practices, explore collaborative While most of Arebyte’s studios start with our local community and working and meet new audiences. around London are temporary, Inês aim for all our projects to reflect and Last year Arebyte opened up a new hopes that some can become more represent the diverse communities in set of studios in Burgess Business long term. “We hope that the the local area. To quote William Park. These studios are already filled community we are building here will Morris, we ‘do not want art for a few with an exciting mix of emerging bring value to a more permanent any more than education for a few or artists ranging from BA and MA arts Burgess Park creative hub.” freedom for a few’.” graduates from many universities to I look forward to seeing what The Art in the Park studios now people establishing local creative artworks and public projects these house around seven artists, including businesses, such as Folio Atelier, an studios will produce in 2018, and Nam Tran’s CerNAMics studio independent bookbinder and hope Camberwell residents will get which runs weekly ceramics box-maker. involved and support local artists. workshops for all ages. The studios Speaking to Inês Ferreira, Anna Preston
Left: Emily Scarfe discusses her animations with a visitor; Right: Holly Drewett takes a break in her studio
17 Planning The Society comments on recent planning applications he Society looks at all contrary to Southwark Council's presumably to demonstrate planning applications within Kerbside Strategy (2017), the New subservience. the SE5 area and occasionally Southwark Plan (2017) and the draft This approach has not been a atT other applications which are Mayor's Transport Strategy with its success. The Planning Inspector who significant to our area of interest. We Healthy Streets agenda (2017). turned down the appeal on the 2016 advise the relevant planning authority OBJECTON application said: “The existing where we object or support an building appears as a complete application and also, where 123 Grove Park London SE5 composition and the extension would appropriate, when we have decided Change of use from Class D1 with alter it significantly. not to comment or object. an ancillary Class B1 office function “In addition, the design of the Owing to the limited space to Class C3 for residential use, extension has slavishly replicated the available in the Quarterly, we are including conversion and part design of the original building only able to print a selection of these demolition of existing main house to including the gabled element which, applications. enable the creation of five new while smaller, nevertheless competes residential units and the construction with the main gable which is the Note: The Society objects on all of four new residential units in the focal point of the elevation.” counts to the proposal to use UPVC rear garden with nine off-street The SPD does not require the windows and doors. These are parking spaces, associated extension to be in the same style as non-sustainable and will result in communal and private landscaped the original building, but that it crude fenestration.We recommend areas. should “respect the context of the timber or powdercoated aluminium. This is the latest in a series of Conservation Area” and employ applications which grapple with “high quality materials in 118 Coldharbour Lane, SE5 the question of how to reconcile construction”. Removal of existing BT telephone the satisfactory architectural This seems to open the way for kiosk and installation of one InLink development of the site with the an extension which does not impinge kiosk together with the display of an requirements of the Supplementary itself unduly on the original building, externally illuminated two digital Planning Document for its and perhaps is a little separate from screens as integral part of telephone development, issued by Southwark it, built in a modern idiom kiosk. in 2007. compatible with the character of The Society objects to this proposed Some design issues have the Conservation Area. kiosk (and other similar applications apparently been resolved over the In the interests of the existing by the same company, InLinkUK) for years since 2010 when the first building and the potential for the following reasons: application was submitted. These development of the site, we hope that l There are a lot of phone boxes, and are: a satisfactory development along many could be removed, and do not l the appropriate number of these lines can be agreed between the need to be replaced with an dwellings Council and architect/developer. advertising sign/kiosk: these are not l the protection of trees around the needed, given that most people have site boundaries Land to as the rear of No 85 a mobile phone. l the interpretation of the SPD Southampton Way, SE5 (aka 2 l The real purpose of this proposed requirement for the new building in Cottage Green) phone box (and other similar the centre of the site. Conversion of the disused applications by the same company) The SPD describes this as “a “warehouse” outbuilding located to is to display advertisements. Such single building of maximum two the rear of No 85 Southampton Way advertisements distract motorists, storeys (plus attic) not greater in and adjacent to No 2 Cottage Green spoil the look of the street (they scale (floorplan) than 123 Grove to one dwelling house, involving: the certainly do nothing to enhance it), Park itself” which has been construction of a three-storey endanger pedestrians (especially the successfully interpreted as four extension; incorporating an external disabled), and serve little or no three-storey houses grouped terrace space at second floor level; public benefit. There are already together and built into the slope of fenestration alterations to the front boarded up and redundant phone the site. (northwest) and side (southwest) boxes (Mercury) in this location The remaining conundrum is elevations; and allotting some of the cluttering up the pavement. the extension to the existing rear garden of No 85 Southampton l Each proposed kiosk/advertising building which the SPD describes Way to the proposed dwelling/live sign creates lots more clutter on the as “a single or two-storey extension work unit. pavement at exactly the time that attached to the main building”. An imaginative use of geometry to policies are aiming to reduce clutter This application has extended create an eminently livable and to make the pedestrian the house to the east in the style of three-storey house from a tiny environment far better. the original Victorian house, but disused warehouse space. l Creating clutter in this way is smaller and less flamboyantly, SUPPORTED
18 Directory
Chartered Accountants Newsagents CAMBERWELL SOCIETY K A Jeffries & Company p19 R K News p3 8693 4145 7703 2784 OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE
Estate Agents Pilates OFFICERS Roy Brooks p6 and p16 Artichoke Pilates Studio p3 President: 8299 3021 7358 5454 Nicholas Roskill 020 7703 4736 (Licensing) Garden Centres Stained Glass 56 Grove Lane SE5 8ST Dulwich Pot & Plant Garden p3 7733 3697 Stained Glass Windows p8 7791 620011 Chairman: Home Refurbishment & Renovation Nick Holt 020 7501 9941 Joshua Thelwell p15 Upholstery 204 Camberwell Grove SE5 8RJ 7450 0919, 07986 363 A V Fowlds p3 7703 2686 Vice-Chair: Local Information Nick Mair 07557 868 159 South London Guide. Website on all aspects of Quarterly South London, including shops, services and To advertise in the please 156 Camberwell Grove SE5 8RH property. www.southlondonguide.co.uk contact the editor, details opposite Secretary: Robert Wainwright 07775 858 765 55 Grove Lane SE5 8SP
Assistant Secretary:
Paola Totaro 07789 606 062 The “Mary Boast” 55 Grove Lane SE5 8SP
Treasurer: Local History Kim Blackwell 020 7703 9170 78 Camberwell Grove SE5 8RF
Prize Assistant Treasurer: Liz Allen 020 7703 9170 The Camberwell Society is holding a competition for the Mary Boast 78 Camberwell Grove SE5 8RF History Prize. This seeks to encourage those with an interest in the
past to take up the exciting work of “making history’” and by research COMMITTEE to uncover new subjects of local interest or bring new insights to Isabel Begg 07785 221 470 more familiar subjects. The prize commemorates the work of Alex Blacknell 020 7277 4041 Camberwell’s local historian Mary Boast (1921-2010). (Transport)
Tony Coleman 020 7564 0168 Submissions (Traffic) A minimum of 1,000 and a maximum of 3,000 words in length on
a local history subject should be received by 31st August 2018. Liz Cook 07973 760 529 Awards will be presented after the Camberwell Society Local History (Membership)
Walk in September 2018. Tim Gaymer 020 7737 1059 (Planning) The competition is open to those over 17 years of age. Barbara Pattinson 020 7274 8045
(SE5 Forum & Community Liaison)
Prizes First prize £125 + Publication in the Camberwell Quarterly Margaret Powley-Baker 020 7701 4417 Second prize £50 + Publication in the Camberwell Quarterly (Editor – Camberwell Quarterly)
OTHER CONTACTS Terms and Conditions and Entry Forms can be obtained from
[email protected] LOCAL HISTORY: email: [email protected]
MEMBERSHIP: K.A. Jeffries & Company Annual membership costs £20 (household) Chartered Accountants £15 (individual) or £10 (concessionary) Membership form available online: *" "$" % $ $# !"$ #$ % ' " www.camberwellsociety.org.uk #' $ " * $$"# # )%# ### " & (! $ #( PLANNING: " $ ( email: [email protected] % $)$ #$ $%$ "$" % $ $# # "" &#$ $%# ##$ & $ # The Camberwell Society is the recognised 18 Melbourne Grove, East Dulwich SE22 8RA amenity society for those living, working or Tel: 020 8693 4145 Fax: 020 8299 0326 Email: saj@kajeffries.co.uk interested in Camberwell.
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