NEWSLETTER New Year issue 2007 No.184, Quarterly, distributed free to members Registered with the Civic Trust and the London Forum of Amenity Societies; Registered Charity No.1058103 Website: www.brixtonsociety.org.uk Our Winter Social - A special project for 2007 200 years ago the first step was taken in the Thursday 18 January abolition of slavery, when in 1807 an Act of From 7 pm at the Vida Walsh Centre, Parliament forbade the trade in slaves 2b Saltoun Road, SW2 (Effra Road between Africa and the British colonies. The end, facing Windrush Square). bicentenary has a lot of local connections, both from the early campaigners and from the Admission free to members, but to help many Brixton residents, past and present, our planning, please confirm as soon as whose ancestors include slaves carried off to possible if you are coming, to Bill Linskey the Caribbean and elsewhere. on (020) 7274 3835 or by e-mail to: [email protected] There will be a number of related events in Lambeth this year, including one in Tate How to contact us… Library Gardens/ Windrush Square on Sunday 25 March (details still to be Editorial & Event Notices: confirmed). Material for the next issue should be sent by 1st March to the Secretary, Alan Piper, However, we wanted to create a lasting record at 82 Mayall Road, SE24 0PJ, or e-mail to of Black experience in Brixton with all its [email protected] or phone or fax to different connections, so we are compiling a (020) 7207 0347. book of reminiscences on this theme. We would like to capture memories of coming to Publications & Membership: Britain while there are still people around who Publications orders, membership renewals arrived on the Windrush – or earlier. Even and updates to the mailing list should all from later generations, we want to hear about be sent to Diana Linskey, Membership growing up or finding work in a changing Secretary, at 32 Stockwell Green, SW9 society. We particularly want to hear about 9HZ, or e-mail to [email protected] local organisations and social life. Planning issues: It’s too early to say when the book will appear If you are concerned about a local because this depends how quickly stories can planning application, contact David be collected and edited – so just start writing, Warner at [email protected] or or remind other people who you think have (020) 7924 0618, or write to him at 290 something to say! Coldharbour Lane, SW9 8SE. A couple of volunteers have been lined up to Local History: transcribe the stories from anyone who needs We cannot undertake detailed research, help in getting the words down on the page. though we will try to point you in the right Our Treasurer, Norma Williamson, has offered direction – contact the Secretary as above. to co-ordinate this. Please send your contributions to her at 40 Hubert Grove, SW9 We welcome news and comment from all 9PD or by e-mail to: interested in the Brixton area, so opinions [email protected] expressed in these pages are not necessarily those of the Brixton Society. More 2007 dates overleaf! 1 Adv\ BS\ N\Jan 07front.doc Diary of Events, New Year 2007 Brixton Society Southwark & Lambeth Links with Archaeological Society. meeting dates other groups The Executive Committee We suggest checking Wednesday 14 Feb. usually meets on the with organisers in case of second Thursday of the – My life in Show changes since these Business (so far): month to plan activities details reached us. Some and agree our responses Anecdotes of stage, events may be charged screen and Santa’s grotto to local developments. for, and most groups All meetings 7-30 pm at by the irrepressible welcome donations. Robert Holden. the Vida Walsh Centre 2b Saltoun Road, SW2. Wednesday 17 Jan. 7-45 pm at Herne Hill Contact the Secretary to URC Hall, c/o Redpost confirm details. – Windmills on my Hill and Herne Hill, SE24. • 8 February mind: Herne Hill Society. • 8 March Illustrated talk by • 12 April Clapham resident Peter Thursday 15 Feb. – Cobley, recently retired • 10 May Crystal Palace: as conservation architect • 14 June (AGM) Michael Gilbert of Crystal at Kent County Council, 12 July Palace Foundation • where his responsibilities • 13 September describes the themed included 8 windmills. courts of exotic styles of • 11 October 7-30 for 8 pm at Clapham • 8 November. architecture included at Manor Primary School, the Sydenham site. Belmont Road, SW4. Friends of Tate 8 pm at the Phoenix Clapham Society. Centre, Westow Street, Library & Gardens SE19. Norwood Society Meetings are normally 24 January to 15 (local history group). held at 6-30 pm on the April – Canaletto in same dates as our England: Saturday 17 Feb. – committee meetings Exhibition of 50 paintings Lambeth Orchestra: (listed above), again at & 30 drawings produced Concert including Lalo’s Cello the Vida Walsh Centre. during Canaletto’s stay in Concerto, Dvorak’s Seventh England in 1746-55. Special Events Symphony and two popular Entry to gallery & special overtures. 7-30 pm at All We are also likely to be exhibition £7 (£6 seniors, Saints’ Church, Rosendale involved in... children free). Road, SE21. Slave Trade Abolition Dulwich Picture Gallery. The Lambeth Orchestra. Commemoration – Sunday 25 March, Thursday 8 Feb. – Sunday 11 March – Open Garden Squares Great Tarts in Art: Weekend – 9/10 June, Local History: High Culture and the Crystal Palace Victorian A selection of short talks and Oldest Profession, a talk w/e - 30 June/ 1st July, recent research, introduced by by Linda Smith, 8 pm at Lambeth Country Show Alan Piper. James Allen Girls School – 21/22 July, th 2-30 pm at the Vida Walsh (6 form lecture theatre). Brixton Splash – Centre, 2b Saltoun Road, SW2 Dulwich Decorative & Sunday 5 August, Lambethans’ Society. Fine Arts Society. London Open House w/e – 15/16 September, Tuesday 13 Feb. – Monday 19 March – Lambeth Archives the Clapham Sect: Open Day – Saturday Recent Research: A round-up of recent Peter Jefferson-Smith on 29 September. the group which led the archaeology in South London, from various fight against the slave Brixton Area Forum trade, 8 pm at Woodlawns For meeting dates of the speakers. 7 pm for 7-30 start at the Streatham Darby & Joan Forum and its working Club, 16 Leigham Court groups, contact the Town Housing Co-op Hall, 106 The Cut, SE1 (almost Road, SW16. Centre office on (020) Streatham Society. 7926 1077. opposite The Old Vic). Adv\ BS\ N\ Jan 07 Diary.doc 2 Local History Focus This photo of Electric Avenue by night was taken by Baron Corvo at Christmas 1895 (picture kindly supplied by Bill Linskey). This street was built in 1888 as the first shopping street to be lit by electricity. Until the First World War, it was usually enhanced by ambitious decorations for the Christmas shoppers. Over the centuries South London has seen literally thousands of murders, but those included in the pages of this book are those which have most shocked or fascinated the public or contemporary commentators. Some were milestones in crime detection Still fighting Slavery techniques such as fingerprinting or DNA The 1807 Act against the Slave Trade was testing. Some continue to generate interest, largely due to the efforts of a well- such as the Charles Bravo case in Balham connected group of Clapham over a century ago, while some are long businessmen, inspired by their local vicar, forgotten, like the murder of St.Alfege in the Rev.John Venn. The Abolitionist Greenwich nearly a thousand years ago. movement spread and eventually achieved the end of slavery in the British Empire in Of particular interest to Brixtonians is the 1833, but it took another 30 years for heartbreaking story of little John Walter emancipation to reach the USA, and yet 20 Cowen. His murder in 1870 near more for Brazil. By this time, Africa was Loughborough Junction brought to public experiencing a new form of exploitation as attention the wanton abuse that the baby European powers carved out colonies, farmers of the time inflicted on their charges displacing the local rulers whose forbears and their patrons, usually single mothers had profited from selling their unwanted who desperately wanted to keep their people literally down the river. children alive but would not have been able to get jobs if they had to look after them. Sadly, slavery is one of those ideas that This case marked the end of the practice of has never quite gone away, and there is baby farming, previously unchecked, as the increasing concern at the trafficking of Government felt compelled to bring in young people from Eastern Europe and legislation against it. Asia for prostitution and domestic service. The successors to the Abolitionists, now Peter de Loriol has based his latest book on Anti-Slavery International, continue the trial and inquest transcripts, personal stories struggle from a local base, Thomas and contemporary newspaper reports, as Clarkson House, The Stableyard, well as visits to the crime scenes today Broomgrove Road (off Stockwell Road) (though nothing in Gordon Grove survives SW9 9TL. from John Cowen’s time). Website: www.antislavery.org/2007 Adv\ BSN Jan 07 History.doc 3 Environment Matters Every action counts A new initiative through the Civic Trust… Flying into Trouble? Reflections on the seasonal crop of Every Action Counts (EAC) is a new travel advertisements campaign to encourage groups of people to make our future more Only 10 years after the Wright sustainable by working together. You Brothers first flight, the world’s first may already know that the Civic Trust four-engined passenger aircraft made is the national body promoting better its maiden flight near St.Petersburg.