CAMBERWELL QUARTERLY

The magazine of the Society No 189 Summer 2016 £1.50 (free to members)

www.camberwellsociety.org.uk

Hope springs for a new station in Camberwell – p4

Murder most foul, murder most local– p8 Change and transformation with Camberwell Arts – p15 Contents Gazette

Report from the Chair ...... 3 LOCAL SOCIETIES, VENUES AND EVENTS A new Camberwell Station? ...... 4 We recommend checking details

Library: somethng for everyone ...... 6 Brunswick Park Neighbourhood Cemetery Memories are made of this ...... 7 Tenants and Residents Association Linden Grove, SE15. Friends of Murder most foul...... 8 Patricia Ladly Nunhead Cemetery (FONC) 020 7703 7491 020 8693 6191 Antidote to stressful commuting ....10 www.fonc.org.uk , Friends of Shared plates, punchy flavours ...... 11 www.friendsofburgesspark.org.uk Society [email protected] Peter Frost 020 8613 6757 Mary Boast History Prize ...... 12 Sunday 14 August, 2pm, Peckham Mystery woman of Sceaux Estate..13 Butterfly Tennis Club Walk. Meet at Station www.butterflytennis.com www.peckhamsociety.org.uk A painter we don’t see enough of ..14 Camberwell Arts Ruskin Park, Friends of Camberwell Arts Week begins ...... 15 Promoting the arts in Camberwell, Doug Gillies 020 7703 5018 and Camberwell in the Arts Open Gardens Day ...... 16 [email protected] SE5 Forum Planning Comments ...... 18 www.camberwellarts.org.uk SE5Forum.org.uk [email protected] Directory ...... 19 Camberwell Gardens Guild Membership enquiries to: South Gallery Pat Farrugia, 17 Kirkwood Road, 65 Peckham Road SE5. Open: SE15 3XT Tuesday to Sunday – 12pm-6pm, THE CAMBERWELL closed on Monday SOCIETY Concerts in St Giles’Church www.southlondongallery.org MEMBERSHIP & EVENTS Camberwell Church Street [email protected] Friends of the Earth Membership is open to anyone who Stephanie & Jim Lodge lives, works or is interested in Cuming Museum 020 7701 3331. Emails: Camberwell. Old Town Hall, 151 [email protected] Walworth Road, SE17 1RY [email protected] The Executive Committee is elected 020 7525 2332 annually at the Society’s AGM. www.southwark.gov.uk/Discover- Wells Way Triangle Residents Meetings of the Executive Southwark/Museums Association Committee are usually held on the first Thursday of the month – please Andrew Osborne contact the Secretary for details. Picture Gallery [email protected] Members are welcome to attend as College Road, SE21 7AD observers with prior notice to the 020 8693 5254. Secretary, Robert Wainwright (see www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk inside back cover for contact details). Society Sub-Committes on planning, the Jeffrey Doorn 020 7274 7008 public realm, traffic and Membership: Herne Hill Society transport, publications and local history form an important part of PO Box 27845, SE24 9XA the Society’s work and all members www.hernehillsociety.org.uk are welcome to involve themselves in areas which interest them. Lambethans’ Society See Brixton Society website Forthcoming Events www.brixtonsociety.org.uk Historic Walk – 25 September 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 Cover: Camberwell Arts Trustee Camberwell Society is a registered Minet Conservation Association Helena Copsey displays her wares at charity (No 264751). 020 7737 8210 Made in Camberwell (see p15) www.minet.fsnet.co.uk Photo: Tom Leighton

189.2 Report from the Chair We need members from all walks of Camberwell life

Jeremy, for all you have done for us. magazine. The Quarterly now has 20 What I am now going to do is set pages – a real tribute to our editor, out the key points of my Report to Margaret Powley-Baker and her the membership from the AGM. team, not least Marie Staunton. Liz Cook has also been active in Station drumming up business members and I have written on many occasions business advertising. about Denmark Hill Station. Anyone All our officers and committee who, like me, is a rush-hour user of members are volunteers, we raise the station will know that the money for our nominated charity or problem of overcrowding is getting charities each year, and as such our Nick Holt worse. The station is a victim of its operating costs are low. However in own success, as the Overground now recent years, operating costs (which write this in the middle of what is attracts passengers from Herne Hill are largely the costs of producing and the busy “social season” for the and Dulwich. The presence of King’s distributing the Quarterly) have ICamberwell Society, with our College Hospital and the Maudsley gradually crept up, particularly the AGM just gone and Open Gardens also means that Denmark Hill is costs of posting the Quarterly. We Day just around the corner, although unique in that during the rush hour have made significant savings in when you read this edition of the almost as many passengers are prior years by buying stamps in Quarterly the pictures of some of the leaving the station as are entering it. advance of any price rise, but that lovely gardens will be included. One ticket machine, two barriers stock of stamps will soon disappear. I’d first like to thank those each way and a narrow bridge and Our costs therefore exceed the fees members who attended the AGM stairs are just not enough. charged, particularly to single and also encourage those of you who As well as the station facilities, I members and concessions. haven’t attended an AGM to try and realise that there are related problems do so in future years. After all, it is further down the line, so that any Electronic Quarterly your Society and it is a chance to delay in one train quickly knocks on We also want to make it easier appoint the Executive Committee, to delays in others, and the inevitable for new members to join the Society hear more about what has been platform alteration. Denmark Hill online, as well as being able to going on, and perhaps have your say station can be a potentially dangerous provide an electronic version of the about what you would like to see place when a Victoria train is moved Quarterly for those members who are done in Camberwell. You might also at short notice on to a Thameslink happy to receive it in this form. feel like getting involved, which, I platform. I believe that the basic principle can tell you, would be great. As I of a society such as ours is that have said on many occasions, the Joined Forces annual membership fees should Society relies on the time and We have therefore joined forces cover our operating costs, and that goodwill of a relatively small bunch with representatives of the Herne Hill we should make sure that we are not of people, and I am perfectly happy and Dulwich societies to tackle the constantly reviewing the fees. I have to admit that we do not have a problem, to push for fundamental therefore asked a small sub- monopoly on good ideas, quite the design improvements to the station – committee of exec members to contrary. If there is something on an extra exit on Windsor Walk, more review our membership charges with your mind, then let me know, or ticket machines – as well as see if a view to implementing any increases better still suggest what needs to be some minor changes – for example to with effect from January 2017. done and how you can help! where the trains stop on the platforms – can’t be made with some resulting Spread the word Jeremy Benett improvements. Thank you so much for your On that front I would just like to Govia Thameslink Railways, the continued support of the Society. Do acknowledge the tremendous help station operator, has now met with please spread the word to newcomers and influence of Jeremy Bennett, us, and it would appear also shares to Camberwell – membership hovers who has stepped down this year as our views, so I am hopeful that we around the 600 level and it would be our President. The title of President will have something concrete to great if we could lift this to nearer sounds rather grand, but Jeremy has report in the near future. 1,000. To do that we need to attract been anything but grand, getting new members from all walks of involved in so many things such as Membership Fees Camberwell life and anything you the Station Masters house at Annual membership charges for can do to help with this would be Denmark Hill Station, the Mary the Camberwell Society were last greatly appreciated. Datchelor redevelopment (which increased in 2000, 16 years ago. really has stood the test of time) and Since than we have increased both Nick Holt Mary Boast Walk. So thank you, the size and the frequency of this [email protected]

189.3 Transport Hope springs for a new station in Camberwell

his year started badly for defunct station on Walworth Road, station closed “temporarily” on 3 campaigners hoping to extend which was named Camberwell Gate. April 1916, but never reopened. Yet Tthe Tube to Camberwell. Camberwell was renamed the track to Transport for London announced that Camberwell New Road after seven remains in use and the station could if the Bakerloo Line is extended at months, but in 1908 its name reverted be revived on the route from all, it would take the alternativ to Camberwell. It was part of the Denmark Hill to the Elephant or route – down the Old Kent Road LCDR Metropolitan extensions (see from Loughborough Junction south towards Lewisham. But the gloom http://www.disusedstations.org.uk/c/ to Sutton. started to lift when we were told that camberwell_new_road/). At first it Opposite the station are two well re-opening the old Camberwell was very busy, but business was attended churches, Destiny railway station on Camberwell badly hit by the introduction of International Christian Assembly Station Road was a possibility. electric trams, which took away and the lively Kingdom Church. The One cold Saturday in April a passengers and briefly caught the latter was fined in March after group of locals met outside The Bear public’s imagination (inspiration neighbours complained about its 3am pub on Camberwell New Road to comes on the “wind swept platform healing service. On appeal the fine discuss the prospect. Barbara of an electric tram,” wrote Virginia was quashed through what its Bishop Pattinson of SE5 Forum gave the Woolf). Income from fares from called “the Hand of God”. reasons for reopening the Victorian Camberwell station plummeted from On one side of the churches is a station which closed in 1916: £3,000 in 1905 to just £900 in 1912 new development with ground floor G North Camberwell residents are and £700 in 1914. One by one trains shops, well placed for travellers’ poorly served by public transport; ceased to call at Camberwell, and the needs; on the other lies the bus G Denmark Hill Station is overcrowded – passenger journeys increased by almost two million over three years (from 3.7 million in 2011 /12 to 5.6 million in2014/15); G Reopening would be relatively cheap because the track is still in place, as is the street level building. Could the station be back in service by December 2017 when new train timetables start? When Jeremy of Southwark Living Streets, the local branch of the Pedestrians Association, suggested a walk down Camberwell Station Road and out of the wind, the shivering group agreed with alacrity. Local A truncated Camberwell Station (above) was originally built in the same style estate agent Bob, Liz from the as Elephant and Castle Station (below) Camberwell Society and Myatts Fields residents Sophie and Andrew followed Barbara and Jeremy past the motor repair businesses under the railway arches. Each is fronted by a phalanx of cars, many lacking number plates, glass and tyres as they await repair, propping up a group of mechanics taking a leisurely smoke break. The station stood right at the end. Its yellow London brick is now painted white but is well maintained. The arches are blocked up, but it is in noticeably the same style as the back entrance of Elephant and Castle Station, which was built at the same time (see picture, right). Camberwell station opened in 1862, just six months before the now

189.4 Transport

A goods train is seen on the crossover at the north end of Camberwell's island platform in February 1957. The top of the stairwell is on the right. Photo: RC Riley

Part of the remaining north end of the island platform in February 2014. Photo: Nick Catford station. A safe pedestrian passage started getting imaginative – how across the western end of the bus could this jumble of cars and yard could provide access for the buddleia-sprouting railway arches increasing number of patients and be transformed? Station Road is staff to King’s College Hospital and signalled as a key potential the Maudsley. According to King’s regeneration area in Southwark latest plan, capacity increased by 68 Council’s plans. Its handsome per cent during 2013/14 and it is terraces, well-designed new-builds experiencing a surge of cases – and interesting mix of businesses, art particularly in elderly and acutely workshops and churches has the unwell patients who need extended potential to become a green and lengths of stay. New medical services pleasant enclave. Perhaps there could Such dreams can be created in a pub such as the world-class foetal health be a green link from Myatt’s Fields with good beer. centre are attracting even more to , a safe Southwark Living Streets will patients. Reopening Camberwell pedestrian route to King’s, and now write up a proposal, and the station would increase access and widened pavements for pupils Camberwell Society is already relieve pressure on Denmark Hill. walking to Sacred Heart, one of our lobbying politicians, TfL and train By this time April winds had sent most successful schools, around the companies. Perhaps Camberwell will one member hurrying home for a corner in Camberwell New Road. prove to be better off with its winter coat and the group decided to More trees, shops, a bakery, better consolation prize than with the shelter in The Bear. It serves some 30 lighting would all help; after all, if distant promise of a Tube stop that craft beers in large rooms which still Queens Road, Peckham Rye and would not have opened for decades. have the scale of the old gin palace it Herne Hill station approaches can be once was. In the warmth the group transformed, why not Camberwell? Marie Staunton

189.5 Local Amenity Accessible library offers something for everyone

was excited to visit the new busy schedule of classes, schools and Camberwell Library, having community groups using the building. Ibeen unable to get to the In a time when there seems to be children’s section of the old library little money for anything not deemed with my son, Sam, who is six, essential, this is a timely reminder physically disabled and uses a that investing in libraries (and the wheelchair. Sam loves books and staff to support them) is valuable. getting out the house, and can’t When I visited on a sunny day in always access or enjoy activities that A happy customer in the children’s early May, the large windows that other six-year-olds would, so the section of Camberwell Library surround the building made it feel library seemed like a potentially fun almost permeable, with lots of light thing for Sam to do. at a time so the best stories can and people reading in the window And what an easy, accompany us home. seats. As I waited in the main space, straightforward thing to do! We can The building is entirely petals were falling from the trees walk to the library from our house wheelchair accessible, and care has between the library and the (as long as we are feeling energetic been taken to include wheelchair Magistrates’ Court and it was a for the walk back up the hill), though users in the mural around the surprisingly romantic scene! if we want to drive there are disabled children’s area. Not only is the library an parking spaces right next to the What is particularly lovely about excellent addition to Camberwell in building. The ground floor is totally the new building for us is the range its own right, both culturally and in flat with wide doorways and plenty of appeal. We have three kids and it’s terms of community, it has also of places to sit. The children’s section difficult to find activities that both managed to improve its surroundings. is a little tricky to navigate with his Sam and Eli (age four) will enjoy at What had been a windswept open wheelchair if it is busy, particularly the same time that Stella (baby) can space in front of the court is now when we visited during a Baby and also tag along to. The library is it – smaller but more sheltered, with trees Toddler session with lots of buggies there’s something for all of them, and and benches, and is all the better for it. parked next to the shelves, but there’s all of them are welcome. Indeed, I The new library is doing what all space in the rest of the library if this see at least one novel each time we buildings and services like it should – happens. visit that I would really like to have it is an excellent, fun resource for all Southwark Council has bought the time to read. children, which includes children like new books for the library so there This is brilliant, not only for our Sam. It is a place to be pleased about is a brilliant range. Sam still likes family but for the community as a and proud of. picture books, but will also happily whole. The building is busy with listen to a novel with no illustrations, people reading, working and using Jessica Moxham Lynch and there are plenty of both. computers, representing all of the Children can borrow up to 15 books residents of Southwark. There is a (See: www.storieswithsam.com)

189.6 Loving Camberwell Memories are made of this

embers attending the AGM with three stern-faced officers inside. Tom and I got married in St. Giles’ were welcomed and asked Four gay guys standing outside the Church, and a month later his mum Mfor their memories of pub took one look at them and discovered his grandmother’s Camberwell by “The Camberwell suddenly burst into song, a rendition wedding certificate. She’d been Beauty”, aka Joanna McCormick, of a Frank Sinatra song, “You’re just married in the same church, and we’d who dressed up as the beautiful too good to be true, can’t take my had no idea! Also, I was told that my butterfly for the occasion. Here are eyes off you, you’d be like heaven to great grandmother was a seamstress some of them. touch, I wanna hold you so much. At who lived in Camberwell. long last love has arrived, and I thank God I’m alive, you’re just to Green Space We lived for 21 years Safe Streets Cruson’s, said that good to be true, can’t take my eyes on Ruskin Park. Waking up in central when they first opened the shop they off you. Pardon the way that I stare, London and looking out on an oasis never had to lock their door. there’s nothing else to compare ... I of green calm was wonderful. There LOVE YOU BABY, AND IF IT’S are so many of those lovely green, Perseverence The Georgian QUITE ALRIGHT I NEED YOU tranquil spaces around here and we redevelopment at the bottom of BABY, TO WARM A LONELY should protect them. Grove Lane, thanks to Nicholas NIGHT...” The tension was broken, Roskill who worked tirelessly for and everyone was all smiles. That’s Good Work I work at the Maudsley 45 years to get permission to when I realised that Camberwell was and I’m really glad to be part of an rejuvinate it. He also removes grafitti my hood. organisation that supports mental in Camberwell. He once said that if health. he removes it three times it doesn’t Good Read Buying the Camberwell come back. Quarterly, years and years ago! Heartwarming History I love that Grace’s Road and Dagmar and Coincidence My first memory of Changes Happy memories of Wilson Roads were named after Camberwell is when I stepped off the Camberwell ... someone sent me the children. Those roads were all spec bus and realised that I was outside map of the old Walworth station and built, not architect designed – the Psychology Department, a place I its environs. None of those streets someone bought the land and got a might have ended up working in. It is remain the same today. builder to come and build on it – and slap bang opposite the place where I the roads were named after the actually do work. Happiness I love Camberwell, and children of the builders. I’m very glad we moved here. Crazy Characters One evening one Rich Cultural Mix When the of my children said to me, “Mummy, Interesting fact On a walking tour Windrush came in the 1950s, we why is that man hitting a tennis ball of Camberwell I learnt that officials from the British against the wall with a violin?” I Napolean’s brother and his wife lived Government were sent out to the looked out of the window and saw on Camberwell Grove. I had no idea! West Indies to persuade the young him. He was wearing a balaclava, men to come and work and to fill the jodphurs, braces and no shirt. Two People There are two people I posts of young workers in England – love to see in Camberwell. One’s a bus drivers and so on. Fun Times Getting in the man on a bike and his entire bike Angels & Gypsies with a friend who helmet is covered with red lights, all Spiderman and Parkour I is no longer with us; doing a course over; it’s a work of art! He cycles on remember seeing a man like at Pesh Flowers with my daughter; the pavement. The other is a tall, Spiderman, who climbed up the wall and working in Seymour Brothers, willowy, older gentleman who and was hanging off, just like chopping vegetables. always wears a Superman outfit, hat, Spiderman! And sometimes he T-shirt and belt. juggled balls off the walls in My Manor During the London riots, Camberwell. The freerunners come on a beautiful summer evening, I was Love Love brought me to to Camberwell sometimes to practice having a beer in The Hermit’s Cave. Camberwell. I didn’t know their art of Parkour, usually in the A police car pulled up at the lights, Camberwell existed until I met Tom. middle of the night.

189.7 History Murder most foul, murder most local

n February 1837, a labourer working on the Coldharbour ILane made a gruesome discovery: in a ditch he found a sack, and in that sack were two human legs. This was the final clue in a grisly treasure hunt that had begun in December 1836 when a bricklayer found a woman’s torso under a paving slab on the Edgware Road. The head had been retrieved from a canal at Stepney, pronounced a match with the torso, and placed in spirits to preserve it. In March, the head was at long last identified as belonging to Hannah Brown, a washerwoman. The “Edgeware Road Murder”, The defendants James Greenacre, a cabinet maker from Camberwell, and his as it became known, took place at the lover Sarah Gale went on trial for the murder of Hannah Brown dawn of detective policing, but officers of the Metropolitan Police her son, George. elephants, rhinoceroses, leopards followed several pieces of evidence Several years after I first read and the first giraffes ever seen in that led a clear path to James about it, Sarah Gale’s story has England. Sarah meets James at Greenacre, a cabinet-maker from become a novel – The Unseeing. The Camberwell Fair, an annual Camberwell. Hannah Brown had book begins with Sarah’s conviction celebration in August on Camberwell been due to marry Greenacre on and with the appointment of the Green featuring acrobats, musicians, Christmas Day, but had disappeared lawyer who will investigate her puppet shows and freak shows. on Christmas Eve. petition for mercy. Much of the novel The key celebration never took When officers arrived to arrest is set in Newgate, where Sarah Gale place, however. Greenacre and Greenacre, they found a woman was imprisoned, but key scenes take Hannah Brown were to have married sitting up in his bed: his lover, Sarah place in Camberwell, and it was on Christmas Day at St Giles’ Church Gale. They noticed that she was fascinating to research the history of on Camberwell Church Street. (This trying to hide some jewelry – two the area in which I live. was not the church that stands today, gold rings and a pair of earrings – so In the early 19th century, but the old church which was burnt she too was arrested and taken to the Camberwell was a small village down in 1841). They were then to police cells with her four-year-old surrounded by fields. It was have had their wedding breakfast at son. populated mainly by upper middle Amid great public excitement class families who considered the and wildly inaccurate reporting, the area healthier and more pleasant than case proceeded to trial. Although the City, and who commuted to both maintained their innocence, London by horse and carriage when both were found guilty: Greenacre of necessary. However, there were also Hannah Brown’s murder, Gale of poorer areas, notably the slums off aiding and abetting him. During the Bowyer Lane in Walworth. James hearings in the magistrates’ court and Greenacre lived nearby with Sarah at the Old Bailey, Sarah Gale Gale, on Windmill Street (now remained silent and motionless. She Wyndham Road). It was here that gave only a short statement, read by Hannah Brown was killed. After the her barrister, saying that she had not murder, the landlord gave guided been in Camberwell at the time of the tours of the house, which proved so murder, and that she knew nothing of popular that the police had to be it afterwards. brought in to stop visitors removing That was what really interested relics of the crime – tables, chairs, me when I first read into the case: even the door. why, when faced with the death Other, less bloody, entertainments sentence and accused of helping to feature in The Unseeing. Sarah conceal the most heinous crime, did mentions that James takes little Sarah Gale fail to fully defend George to Walworth Zoo, which was herself? She had, after all, not only a 15-acre park at Surrey Gardens There was great public excitement her own life to consider, but that of (now Pasley Park), housing and wildly inaccuratre reporting

189.8 History Hard times for the feckless poor

Bob Reeves has sent in this update council got on with pulling down following Carole Mason’s article on Tiger Yard, condemned in 1921 as Thomas Kingsbury, the chimney “unfit for human habitation”. sweep of Tiger Yard (CQ 188). Many such poor communities in Camberwell, and across London were rather written off by the turn of himney sweep Thomas the century Booth surveys as Kingsbury and family could hopeless. Tiger Yard’s dark blue Cindeed be described as coding in Booth’s system indicated “plutocrats of the yard”; each of the more than just “chronic want”; he censuses of 1881, 1891 and 1901 suggested that these people were report Kingsburys living in Tiger “incapable of better work”. Dark blue Yard and all (the men) were chimney was as much a moral category as sweeps. Even in 1911, 53 year-old economic. The dominant thinking Joseph Kingsbury was still living saw them as weak, feckless, authors nearby in Allendale Rd, pursuing the of their fate. old family profession. Perhaps But what the evidence from the leaving Tiger Yard meant he had census actually tells us is that the gone up in the world. denizens of Tiger Yard were the The significance of this is that no working poor of Edwardian London: Inside Newgate Prison other family name appears in more unskilled and semi-skilled building than one of these censuses. Families workers, painters and decorators, van The Angel public house on moved in and out of these poor two drivers; women cleaning and washing. Coldharbour Lane. room flats but the Kingsburys were a Teenagers contributed to the As it was, Hannah Brown died fixture. family budget with girls going off the night before her wedding. She The picture (below) was taken each day to skivvy in one of the never got the chance to wear the in 1933 as part of a campaign to better off homes in Camberwell for wedding dress she had bought for the show that there were still people in three shillings a week plus dinner occasion, nor to walk down the aisle London without water in their homes. while boys were employed as “van of St Giles. She had come closer, Although found in the archives of the boys” for a few shillings. These however, than Sarah Gale. For Sarah Daily Herald, it doesn’t seem to have families were actually very had lived with Greenacre in that been published at the time. One year resourceful at getting by in a harsh house in Windmill Street as his wife later the newly elected Labour economic environment. – cooking and cleaning for him, sharing his bed – but without any marriage ceremony. Then, in the middle of December, when ice was on the ground, Greenacre had told her and her son to leave to make way for Hannah Brown. That must, surely, have riled her: it might, some said, have given her a motive for murder.

Anna Mazzola

The Unseeing, by Anna Mazzola and published by Tinder Press (Headline) is available from local bookshops and can be purchased on Amazon.

Contribute to the Quarterly!

Contact details on page 19 A resident collects water in Tiger Yard in 1933, when there were still people in London without water in their homes Photo courtesy Daily Herald archives

189.9 Food Ideal antidote to stressful commuting Blue Turtle Oasis 210 Coldharbour Lane Loughborough Junction, SW9 8SA

rustrated that your train from Loughborough Junction has Fbeen cancelled? Pop downstairs, turn right under the railway bridge and there, at 210 Coldharbour Lane, is your antidote to stressful commuting – the Blue Turtle. The turtle-shaped window in the copper front door signals this is going to be out of the ordinary. Step across another blue turtle on the threshold to a long thin room painted as a trompe d’oeil railway arch, coffee brewing, Leonard Cohen playing softly in the background. Chill. By the door a pair of dogs wag tails in welcome, a French bulldog and schnauzer complete with owners. On the high stools four mums from The turtle-shaped window in the copper front door signals that this is going to St Saviour’s school discuss reading be out of the ordinary ages of girls v boys, while two blonde toddlers colour in with quiet the neighbouring metal workshop Brenton and Mark will sell you an concentration. Behind them is a had to forge special hinges. He is expertly reconditioned bicycle. Good hipster, large beanie bent over his also particular about the coffee he as new, better value and more apple mac computer. And at the back, sells – sourced from Dulwich roasters reliable than Thameslink. owner Adrian froths a carton of Volcano because “those guys are on hazelnut milk into a cappuccino for point”. Marie Staunton the female dog walker. “Tastes like The morning commuter trade has Nuttella,“ she nods approvingly. been boosted by Network Rail’s Opening Hours Since leaving school two years decision to turn Loughborough Monday: 07:30-20:00 ago Adrian has turned his love of cof- Station coffee shop into a ticket Tueesday: 07:30-16:00 fee shops into a living, and his office. In the afternoon the Wednesday: 07:30-20:00 living into a vocation to create an self-employed bring their computers Thursday: 07:30-20:00 oasis of calm. He spent a year to work in a relaxed and friendly Friday: 07:30-21:00 creating the front door, sourcing the place. Saturday: 08:30-21:00 copper from boilers found in local Adrian is following a tradition of Sunday: 08:30-20:00 scrap dealers, the walnut from local small independent and idiosyncratic Whitten Timber and the handle is the businesses on this small site. You leg of a vintage stool. By the time he might remember GMB food (“a taste and local carpenter Grzegorz of Africa”), but probably not JW finished, the door was so heavy that Clarke, the superior fried fish restaurant (“speciality stewed eels “) which occupied the space in 1908. So forget the trains and tuck into one of the home-made sandwiches or voluptuous lemon drizzle cake, the “baddest brownie” or the calibrated apple cake. And think about your transport options. Ten doors down, back under the bridge, is Harbour Cycles (200 Coldharbour Lane). When not delivering blankets and Under the bridge is Harbour Cycles bikes to refugees in Calais, owners selling reconditioned bicycles

189.10 Food Shared plates and punchy flavours Queen’s 45 Camberwell Church Street, London, SE5 8TR email: [email protected]

ichael Richardson has turned Queen’s from a nail Mbar to a new type of Camberwell restaurant, serving sharing plates with unusual punchy flavours. As he juggled mending a leak in the new kitchen, hiring staff for extended opening hours and running a market stall, his Mum and head waitress Amanda filled in the back story. Michael was a chef at Moro’s, the Exmouth Market restaurant popular for unusual Spanish/North African dishes. He left to open a market stall selling foraged flatbread wraps: “He would arrive at Brockley market in Lewisham College car park looking like Russell Brand in a beanie, balancing the whole stall on a tricycle,” says Toby,who runs Brockley wholefood market out of Lewisham car park. With his friend Ollie, Michael ran supper clubs and a catering company, until Ollie upped sticks for Australia. But Mike spotted the potential of Queen’s Nail Bar, next door to the ever popular Caravaggio’s, and opened Queen’s restaurant. Sadly “new” is off-putting for some Camberwellians. The website mentioned sharing dishes between tables, the Scot shuddered – that filling. A simple carrot salad is the plates are kept. On the other side would mean talking to strangers, no rainbow coloured, spiced with cumin under a wall painting of a man way. The Student refused to walk and soft cheese. And don’t miss the carrying a yacht are simple wooden past Theo’s reliable pizzeria. The charcoal grilled lamb with charred tables and chairs, packed closely fools, they missed a treat. aubergine. together (avoid the table by the door The plates, which are shared The setting is somewhat if you are averse to draughts). with your companion, not the next Shoreditch. A long narrow room as And service is delightful. We get table, are different – and delicious. befits a nail bar. What at first looks a warm welcome from Amanda – Manti, Turkish dumplings, are small, like a teenager’s hi-sleeper is a booth parent labour is free she tells us – and silky, with a surprising pumpkin for six diners under shelves where close attention from Paul the waiter. He is one of a troupe of resting actors and artists who staff Camberwell’s Grand re-opening of the Green restaurant row. Try Queen’s – a right royal treat. Camberwell Green is reopening on Saturday, 16 July from 12pm to 5pm Marie Staunton after extensive refurbishment. We do not have all the details at the time of going to press, but festivities Opening Hours are expected to include live acts, a DJ, a bar and plenty of side activities as Lunch: Wed-Friday 12-.00- 15.00 well as stalls. Evenings: 18.00-22.30 [email protected]

189.11 Local History Prize It’s not too late!

There is still time to submit an entry for the Mary Boast Local History Prize: the closing date is 31 August. The winners will be announced on 25 September at a reception at the Garden Flat, 97 Camberwell Grove, following the Local History Walk.

Mary Boast Mary Boast was a historian and author of The Story of Camberwell and companion volumes on Dulwich, Borough and . Her contribution and understanding of the history and heritage of Southwark was immense, perhaps starting with her work developing an exhibition on the Clink. She went on to write the series of books on the history of former villages that make up today’s Southwark. An amusng anecdote from her obituary in the Quarterly recalled her meeting “a wildly idealistic American named Sam Wannamaker who had a mad plan for rebuilding Shakspeare’s Globe Theatre in Bankside.” Mary was the Local History Librarian at Newington library for many years and was awarded the Freedom of the Borough in 1994.

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189.12 Mystery Statue The mystery woman of Sceaux Estate

Although there was a plaque the It turns out that the Sceaux Estate inscription was unreadable. It seemed statue is one of five figures made odd that the statue should be placed from Portland stone (sculptor in this position, facing a brick wall, unknown) and erected between 1872 not even looking out onto the estate. and 1874. The mystery woman Deborah was intrigued. represents Justice and it crowned the Her research revealed that it was pediment on the clock storey of the an early 19th century statue of a Camberwell Vestry Hall (later the woman with her right hand resting on Town Hall). The other statues a sword. Apparently it had been put depicted Law, Prudence, Science and in its present position when the Industry. housing estate was built in the 1960s. The figures remained there until Deborah thought it had come 1934 when the Town Hall underwent originally from the Camberwell major rebuilding works. Justice was House Asylum. repositioned on the estate sometime Historian Stephen Humphreys between 1957-1959. was asked if he could shed more light Stephen thought that the statue, on the mystery. He produced some and perhaps its sisters, must have photographs of Camberwell House been kept in a store between 1934 gardens which showed similar and the late 1950s. “There was,” he sculptures. said, “no mention of any statues in But the brick plinth of the the Camberwell Council minutes of Sceaux Gardens statue did not match the late 1950s, though it may be that those in the Camberwell House details were given in committee gardens; it looked as if it had been minutes. Unfortunately, they have made in the 1950s. So some more been inaccessible since the closure of The mystery woman of Sceaux Estate digging was necessary. Newington Library, following the fire According to a conversation in next door in the Walworth Town n an enclosed courtyard of the 2001, Mrs Eveleigh, an octogenarian Hall.” Sceaux Estate, Deborah Elliott, a resident of the estate, had recalled But why is Justice facing a brick Imember of the Peckham Society, that when she moved in she had wall, unseen and uncared for? And came across a beautiful stone statue recognised the statue as one she had what happened to the other four? of an almost life sized, draped seen on Camberwell Town Hall when woman whose hands were missing. she was a young girl. STAINED GLASS WINDOWS

Traditional and Modern Designs

Repairs and Restoration

For a Free Consultation Call 07791 620011

[email protected] www.angidriver.co.uk The four sisters were placed on the front of the Old Town Hall

189.13 Art A London painter we don’t see enough of

oward Rogers is one of those the school and while he did not do artists you have probably much work there, he absorbed the Hnever heard of unless you art and culture of the city and happen to be one of the many rediscovered the baroque, students he has taught over the years particularly the sculpture of Bernini, at art schools around the country, or on whom he had written his you own one of the paintings or undergraduate thesis. Afterwards his drawings that he has shown all too painting became figurative and rarely during his professional career. deeply personal, and for years he did He has lived in Camberwell for 30 not exhibit his work. After what he years and drives every day to his describes as a “disastrous” show in studio in Deptford, a long, high space Dordrecht, Holland, he realised that with skylights and no heating or his work had become inaccessible to running water – so not a space for the others; as a result he began to paint faint-hearted. (The Turkish café “straight” again – meaning perhaps across the road allows him the use of that he recovered his equilibrium and their facilities for the price of a cup found a more objective means of of coffee.) White Nights: a 100 x 75 cm, oil on expressing himself. Currently his Although there is no biography canvas studio is full of paintings of flowers – or CV on Rogers’ website – dead or dying against vividly remarkable in itself – under coloured backgrounds – and still “Exhibitions” there is a list of places lives of piles of books – “objects (but without exhibition titles or with memory” – and floppy beanie dates) from which one can deduce a babies – “little human substitutes.” few details, such as that, aged 27, he Later we meet up with two of had his first show at the Museum of Rogers’ friends, both former Modern Art Oxford just after a young colleagues of his who now occupy Nicholas Serota had taken over as senior positions in London art director, and that he studied at the schools. We go to White Cube British School in Rome on a to see “Tightrope Walk: four-month Abbey Scholarship. In Painted Images after Abstraction”, conversation however, he talks curated by the American critic Barry fluently and openly about his Schwabsky. The three men wander background. around together, and I overhear them Rogers was born in Stepney to intently discussing each work. I Russian and Polish Jewish parents recalled what Rogers had said earlier who emigrated to England in 1917. in his studio: “I like paintings that “I got the culture but not the Missing your kissing: a 100 x 75 cm, make me feel something.” And we all religion,” he says of his upbringing. oil on canvas agreed that this show did just that. His parents were not artistic but they . were supportive of their son’s artistic photographs, which he would use as Angela Weight ambitions. He attended Walthamstow a reference and then discard before Art School for his foundation year making a painting. At one point he and then went to Manchester School made sculpture and installations, and We are sorry to to announce the of Art to do a DipAD (Diploma in even watercolours “on the quiet”, but death of Mary Rose Seldon on Art & Design). A Londoner to his he returned to oil painting at the end 14 February. She was for many core, he was unhappy in the northern of the 1980s. He says that he does years Head of Music at Mary city and returned to London to do a not deny the value of consistency, it’s Datchelor Girls’ School. A Higher DipAD at Chelsea School of merely that he doesn’t aim for it. “As Service of Thanksgiving was Art in 1969, where the late John you get older,” he says, “it is ‘bred in held in Oxford on 11 March and Hoyland was in his last year as Head the bone’ and has many ways of a second Service took place in of Painting. showing itself”, not least, I would London on 18 June at the Church In the 1980s Rogers had a studio suggest, in the expressionism that of St Olave in the City. When in Wapping, a huge 3,000 square foot runs through all his work, with its Mary Rose retired she became space where he began to make very themes of sexuality and morbidity. involved with the Society large drawings. His method has An Abbey Scholarship at the through her friend and long-term almost always been to work from British School at Rome in 1998 gave companion, Islay Charman, who memory, drawing on visual him the opportunity to rethink his became Secretary of Camberwell experiences and sometimes practice. He had a live/work space at Society and later Chairman.

189.14 Camberwell Arts Festival Change and transformation with Camberwell Arts

he 22nd Camberwell Arts festival kicked off on the 11 TJune with the hugely successful (if slightly soggy) “Made in Camberwell” arts market on Datchelor Place. The theme of this year’s festival was Metamorphosis, reflecting the changes that Camberwell is currently experiencing and has experienced for many years. Around 24 artists and designers took part in the market, and before the rain came around lunchtime, were doing a roaring trade with buyers snapping up tea towels, cards, art works and photographic prints from local artists. Musical entertainment came from the children of the Camberwell Choir School, and hats Wheeling the trolley is Mya from Mya & Joe. On the left is Joanna off to the local band Pangea, who McCormick dressed as the Camberwell Beauty Photo: Tom Leighton kept the stallholders entertained when the rain came down. All around Camberwell shop fronts were transformed by artists, with commissions from Camberwell Arts and funding from Southwark Council’s Highstreet Challenge. My favourites were Benji Jeffery’s beer taps at Stormbird and Caroline Clarke’s “Camberwell Memory Exchange” at Hunter’s Estate Agents. The highlight of the festival was undoubtedly the opening night. Once again St Giles Church was transformed into Camberwell’s hottest music venue with ORGANOKE! A world first, karaoke St Giles’ Church, Camberwell’s hottest music venue Photo: Tom Leighton with a church organ and live band! Organised (sorry!) by Ashley round of applause went to Destiny, individual artists in their homes. Valentine (St Giles’ Church organist) aged 10 and a member of the Church More and more people are visiting and Jordana Leighton (the producer Choir, who stood up alone to belt out the studios and this can only be good of Camberwell Arts). an amazing version of “Happy”, for the creative industries and artists The evening was hosted by originally by Pharrell Williams. in Camberwell. phenomenally funny Kit Green as his A special mention to Ashley for Apart from the amazing art and alter-ego Ida Barr, a faded Edwardian literally pulling out all the stops on effort that artists put in, much of the music hall star, with a penchant for the organ. For the first time ever, it credit for Open Studios, and mashing up music hall classics with was almost impossible to hear the Camberwell Arts in general has to go hip-hop. organ because of all the singing. to Jordana Leighton. Because of her Imagine if you will 200 people, ORGANOKE will return! Look hard work and dedication to dancing in the aisles, standing on the out for the Christmas concert. Camberwell especially, the festival pews and singing their hearts out to As we go to press, over 100 has gone from something that was on “YMCA”, Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5” artists are frantically getting ready its last legs, to a well-regarded local and “Bohemian Rhapsody”, aided by for the final weekend of the festival festival, with ever increasing the presence of a bar in the church with Open Studios. Since Open attendance and recognition. selling locally produced Orbit Beers. Studios started nearly two years ago, And I am not just saying that Even the local councillors got it has gone from strength to strength because she’s my wife! involved with a rendition of “Rockin’ and there are now nine studio All Over The World” but the biggest buildings taking part as well as more Tom Leighton

189.15 Open Gardens Day Scenes from gardens displayed this year

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189.16 Open Gardens Day

Photos: Elaine Clarke

189.17 Planning The Society comments on recent planning applications

he Society looks at all building with apparently four existing proposal with suggested amendment. planning applications within studio flats, each with an area of Tthe SE5 area and occasionally approximately half the minimum area White Lodge, 67 Grove Lane, SE5 at other applications which are for studio flats. No consideration has Removal of walls at ground floor, significant to our area of interest. We been given to the domestic lives of installation of side door at ground advise the relevant planning authority the occupants, or the prospect of floor level, installation of two that we object, support or have no them being able to escape safely en-suite bathrooms, alteration to objection to an application where we from the building in case of fire. partition walls at first floor and have decided to comment. The Society strongly objects to ground floor level, re-wiring, You can also see our comments this application. re-plumbing, re-roofing and on the Society’s website at associated refurbishment works. www.camberwellsociety.org.uk Kingdom Hall Rear, 197 This is a thoughtful remodelling, Note: The Society objects on all Coldharbour Lane, SE5 making use of the existing walls and counts to the proposal to use UPVC Conversion of part of an existing in places lining out within the windows and doors. place of worship to residential use original fabric to leave the original (C3), Demolition of remainder and protected while forming bathrooms. 17 Ada Road, SE5 construction of new place of worship There are extensive design and Erection of rear ground floor to the R/O Coldharbour Lane. heritage reports by the agent, Form extension; rear first floor extension; There is a fairly grim asbestos Architects and Engineers, with installation of replacement rear sash shed-like hall at the back and the rest photographs of every part of the window at first floor level; and of the site area is gravelled for property. windows in front elevation. parking accessed off Padfield Road. It is proposed to remove the The installation and repairs to the The new building fills much more of existing ground floor cloakroom to sash windows is fine as is the the site and there is no parking. It is a this family property: it seems strange remodelling of the plan. These simple single storey building with not to retain a ground floor facility. houses are small and there are just shallow pitched roof to a central This is a well thought through two bedrooms at first floor; the ridge not much higher to ridge than proposal to improve the bathroom is on the ground floor as the present building and the same accommodation layout. there is not room to re-divide the first eaves height. The building will be floor rooms. The trouble is that the closer to the backs of houses 2a-10 17 Southwell Road, London, SE5 proposed two-storey rear Cambria Road built in recent years Demolition of front and rear existing extension (the upstairs being the with a 1.8 timber rear fence. The extensions at basement and ground proposed bathroom), is on the north additional impact would be minimal levels and the excavation of a side of the property and will prevent and possibly an improved aspect basement rear extension with two any chance of sunlight from the west compared to the present building and rooflights and a basement level rear getting to the adjoining property’s cars parked. patio including external staircase rear bedroom window. While these involving the relocation of front are traditional properties the proposed Plot corner of Cutcombe Road and entrance at basement level, together extension is timber clad and we think Bavent Road and Adjacent to 55-56 with a ground floor rear extension it will look particularly alien to the Bavent Road, SE5 with Juliet balcony and a property. The side return to/on the Erection of a two-storey dwelling fenestration and alteration of a neighbouring properties either side house. window on the rear inner elevation will be timber clad. We believe that This would fit in well on the corner and at the front elevation basement there is a building regulation fire site. The house is designed to match level. safety implication with that. the façade of the rest of the terrace This sounds a lot but the reality The Society objects to but planned well internally to make a is lowering the existing full basement overshadowing and appearance. sensible three-bedroom house using to gain some height and excavating the roof space. The site is on about a out down the garden to make further 79A Camberwell Road, SE5 70 degree angle with Cutcombe accommodation and sunken patios. It Erection of a mansard roof extension Road, so tapers to the back. The would be lost behind fences from the with front and rear dormer windows corner is the bins and bike store with neighbours’ aspect, although they to provide one additional studio flat, sharp corner angle. This would be a would have to suffer the works, party incorporating two new side windows much better feature on the corner if it wall matters etc. The present ground on the first and second floors. were rounded or a number of angles. floor becomes bedrooms with the This proposal is for a third floor It would not affect the usable space existing first floor and the living studio flat which is two square metres and would enable the wall to rooms move to this lower floor. smaller than the minimum proposed Cutcombe Road to better follow the An expensive excavation project by the Southwark Residential Design boundary. to achieve a four- or five-bedroom Guidelines for studio flats in a The Society supports the house with a variety of living spaces.

189.18 Directory

Chartered Accountants services and property. CAMBERWELL SOCIETY K A Jeffries & Company p19 www.southlondonguide.co.uk OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE

020 8693 4145 OFFICERS Newsagent R K News p7 President: Roy Brooks p6 & p17 Jeremy Bennett 020 7703 9971 020 8299 3021 020 7703 2784 30 Grove Lane SE5 8ST Packaging Materials Chairman: Garden Centre Nick Holt 020 7501 9941 J Hunnex & Sons Ltd p12 Dulwich Pot & Plant 204 Camberwell Grove SE5 8RJ 020 7703 3439 Garden p12 Vice-Chair: 020 7733 3697 Alex Blacknell 020 7277 4041 Pilates 48 Grove Lane SE5 8ST Artichoke Pilates Studio p16 Home Refurbishment & Secretary: 020 7358 5454 Robert Wainwright 07775 858765 Renovaton 55 Grove Lane SE5 8SP Joshua Thelwell p12 Stained Glass Assistant Secretary: 020 7450 0919 Stained Glass Windows p13 Paola Totaro 07789 606062 07791 620011 55 Grove Lane SE5 8SP Local Information Treasurer: South London Guide. Website Upholstery Kim Blackwell 020 7703 9170 on all aspects of South A V Fowlds p10 78 Camberwell Grove SE5 8RF London, including shops, 020 7703 2686 Assistant Treasurer: Liz Allen 020 7703 9170 78 Camberwell Grove SE5 8RF

COMMITTEE

Liz Cook 07973 760529 CONTRIBUTE TO THE Membership Ricardo Folgado 07768 291694 QUARTERLY! Traffic Tim Gaymer 7737 1059 Articles, letters, photographs and other Planning contributions are always welcome. Nick Mair 07557 868159 Barbara Pattinson 020 7274 8045 SE5 Forum & Community Liaison

Contact the Editor, Margaret Powley-Baker, Margaret Powley-Baker 020 7701 4417 on 020 7701 4417 Editor - Camberwell Quarterly or via email to Nicholas Roskill 020 7703 4736 Licensing [email protected] OTHER CONTACTS

LOCAL HISTORY: email: [email protected]

MEMBERSHIP: K.A. Jeffries & Company Annual membership costs £15 (household) Chartered Accountants £8 (individual) or £3 (concessionary) Membership form available online: *" "$" % $ $# www.camberwellsociety.org.uk !"$   #$ %'"  #'$ "*  $$"# # )%# ### PLANNING:  "&   (!$  #( "$ (    email: [email protected] %$)$ #$$%$ "$" % $ $#     # ""   &#$ $%# ##$&$# The Camberwell Society is the recognised amenity society for those living, working or 18 Melbourne Grove, SE22 8RA Tel: 020 8693 4145 Fax: 020 8299 0326 Email: saj@kajeffries.co.uk interested in Camberwell.

189.19