Archive News

Creating Trust in Planning. Join the discussion on Tuesday 12th March 2024 at 6:30pm at the Church of the English Martyrs, Church Hall, 2 Mitcham Lane.

Member's - only Christmas Party including a talk on a Festive Christmas by Andy Thomas

Tours of the grounds of Park Hill Sunday 24th September 2023. Booking essential £5

The Streatham and Brixton Chess Club book, Movers and Takers- A Chess History of the Streatham and Brixton Chess Club 1871-2021, has sold out but is now available as a free download from the club's web site (Click on the Image) You can also see a recording of a talk at the Streatham Society by Martin Smith, author of the book, on our YouTube channel (Click on the YouTube icon at the top of this page)

Wandsworth Heritage Festival 2023 programme We have dropped-off a stock of these at the Tate Library in Streatham if anyone is local and wants a paper copy Click the image to download a copy

MONDAY, 22 MAY 2023 AT 13:30 Tour of St Leonard’s Church, Churchyard and CryptExplore the “dead-centre” of Streatham with resident, local historian and writer, John Brown. Booking essential https://tinyurl.com/streathamSocEventbite A Wandsworth Heritage Festival Event

SUNDAY, 28 MAY 2023 AT 14:00 and 15:00 Park Hill- Henry Tate Gardens, Streatham Common A guided walk in the grounds of the mansion by Robert Doyle of the Streatham Society Booking Essential https://tinyurl.com/streathamSocEventbite Park Hill was built in c.1830 by William Leaf a banker and silk merchant. Henry Tate, the sugar magnate (Tate and Lyle), lived here from 1885. A philanthropist and art collector, he opened his gallery here to the public once a year and later donated most of his collection to the Tate Gallery, which he established in London. St Michael's Convent later occupied the site which is now a private residential site

Due to a family bereavement, our speaker is unable to make the meeting this evening and we therefore will need to postpone the talk on Hester Piozzi It is unlikely we will be able to get another talk arranged at short notice but please look out for further notifications in case we are able to arrange one Apologies for any inconvenience

A leaflet covering the year 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023 has been produced. You can find the leaflet at Lambeth and Wandsworth Libraries and at our monthly meetings at St Leonard's Church on the first Tuesday of each month

We are deeply saddened by the news that Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth II has died. We offer our sincere condolences to His Majesty The King and The Queen Consort and The Royal Family

LAMBETH HERITAGE FESTIVAL throughout September from Waterloo to Norwood with something for everyone interested in their local heritage Click image for brochure

Tuesday 6th September 2022 at 7:30pm

Talk at St Leonard's Church, Streatham

The Society were approached by Peter Jordaan author of A Secret Between Gentleman about Lord Battersea, Cyril Flowers who lived at Furzedown House. Peter has kindly shared a few photos from the Flowers' family album (with their permission) His book is shortly to be launched but is available now on Amazon (despite the message that the book is out of stock) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0648801942/

Tuesday 5th July 2022 7:30pm

"Movers and Takers, a chess history of Streatham and Brixton 1871-2021". £12.50 + £2.50 p&p. Order from S&BCC via email [email protected]

A guided walk in the grounds of the mansion by Robert Doyle (2pm) and John Brown (3pm) of the Streatham Society. Register Eventbrite

Robert Doyle leads this walk though Tooting Common charting the common’s sporting history from swimming to football & everything in between 11th June 2022 at 2pm. Register on Eventbrite

Explore the “dead-centre” of Streatham with resident, local historian and writer, John Brown. 6th June 2022. Register on Eventbrite

Wandsworth Heritage Festival (Click on image to download a programme in pdf format)

Local historian John W Brown will be talking about the History of Mitcham Lane at The Furzedown Project 91-93 Moyser Rd on 25th May at 2pm

Join us for tea, cake and heritage! Local residents are invited to share their views and knowledge about Streatham’s heritage, get involved in shaping a new research project about the history of the area. Come along to learn more about how to map features in your own back garden or local park, and record these as part of the heritage landscape. We also want to hear about your memories of Streatham: what stories do you know about your local area and the people who lived here in the past? What does the history of your area mean to you? What would you like to know more about?
Dr Katherine Fennelly (University of Sheffield) and Dr Cassie Ulph (University of Manchester) will be hosting a drop-in event at Streatham Bowls Club on Friday, 10 June, from 2pm-7pm. We’ll be talking about the site of the former Streatham Park house, its residents and history, and compiling a map of local knowledge for their new project ‘Heritage without a House: Remembering Hester Piozzi’s Streatham’.

This is a Wandsworth Heritage Event: Streatham Ice Rink, The Early Years (1931-1946) by Saki Hajnal

Edward Arthur Phipson, known as Evacustes, was one of the most prolific British topographical watercolourists in the 1890s and throughout the opening decades of the twentieth century. During this period he produced over 1400 paintings, most being views within England.

The next #Lambethhistoryunlocked talk will be on Thu 21st April at 7pm. Naomi Clifford will be talking about the Stockwell War Memorial as it approaches its centenary. For login details register with Eventbrite at the link below. https://eventbrite.com/e/272058242527

The next Guided tour of West Norwood Cemetery 5th December at 11am. Booking essential

Julie Chandler will be giving an in-person talk on "The Commonwealth War Graves Commission" at St Leonard's Church on 5th April 2022 at 7:30pm The event if free and there is no need to book. We will have a bookstall and refreshments will be available

Paul Shaw will give an illustrative talk on Tuesday 1st March 2022 at St Leonard's Church The work of the Sisters (Poor Servants of the Mother of God) in the parish of English Martyrs Streatham (1888-2006), and subsequently at Park Hill Streatham (1923-1999) and to the present day.

Tuesday 1st February 2022 7:30pm

How First World War Stretcher Bearers changed medicine for ever (so far).by Dr Emily Mayhew Tuesday 1st February 2022 at 7:30pm. at St. Leonard’s Church, Tooting Bec Gardens, Streatham, London SW16 1HS The event is free (donations always welcome) and no need to register

Tuesday 4th January 2022 7:30pm

David Jacobs and his Streatham connections An Illustrated talk by Mike Morfey on Streatham-born David Jacobs. David Jacobs in a career spanning 65 years is best known as presenter of the BBC Television 1960s peak-time show Juke Box Jury, and as chairman of the long-running BBC Radio 4 topical forum Any Questions?

Monday 29th November 2021 by Zoom

A history of the Manor of Norbury Zoom talk by Michael Gilbert Tickets at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/.../manor-of-norbury-tickets...

Tuesday 2nd November 2021

Martin Smith of the Streatham and Brixton Chess Club will give an illustrated talk and launch his book marking the 150th anniversary of the Club St Leonard's Church Tuesday 2nd November 2021 at 7:30pm. Booking not required and refreshments available

Monday 25th October 2021 by Zoom

We are delighted to announce that Professor Lester Hillman will be giving a Zoom presentation on The Regent's Canal. Tickets now available This was scheduled for 2020 as an in-person talk in the year of the bicentenary of the opening but had to be cancelled due to Covid. Booking via the Streatham Society Eventbrite page: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/streatham-society-31488784265

Tuesday 5th October 2021

John W Brown will give his annual lecture "Bygone Streatham" at 7:30pm at St Leonard's Church. Booking not required and refreshments available John W Brown is a local resident, local historian, Streatham Society and St Leonard's Church Archivist.

SAVE THIS DATE IN YOUR DIARY- "A Stroll through Furzedown looking at houses and their famous or infamous former residents" Guided walk Sunday 6th June 2021 at 2:30pm subject to government restrictions in place. The tour may be ticketed and further information will be provided nearer the time. If we are unable to hold this event a Zoom presentation will be given by Streatham Society member and Furzedown resident Helen Long.

We are delighted to announce Dr Emily Mayhew will be giving a talk How First World War Stretcher Bearers changed medicine for ever (so far). Tuesday 1st February 2022 at 7:30pm. at St. Leonard’s Church, Tooting Bec Gardens, Streatham, London SW16 1HS The event is free (donations always welcome) and no need to register

We have a huge range of titles (50 plus) covering the rich and fascinating history of the Historic Parish of Streatham With Christmas next month these would make an ideal Christmas presen

If you missed Martin Smith's excellent talk "Movers and Takers" on the 150th anniversary of the Streatham and Brixton Chess Club, fear not as it is being repeated as a Zoom talk (16th December 2021 at 7pm) , part of the Lambeth Unlocked series hosted by Lambeth Archives To register for the talk you need to ask for the link from [email protected] - see also https://www.lambethlocalhistoryforum.org.uk/

The next West Norwood Cemetery Tour 7th November 2021 at 11am Book via Eventbrite

October is Black History Month 2021. Here is the programme of events in Wandsworth Libraries.

Lambeth Black History Month 2021

Event listing 8 -17 Oct 2021

John W Brown will give his annual lecture "Bygone Streatham" at 7:30pm 5th October 2021 at St Leonard's Church. Booking not required and refreshments available John W Brown is a local resident, local historian, Streatham Society and St Leonard's Church Archivist.

The "dead centre" of Streatham at St Leonard's, the magnificent grounds of Sir Henry Tate's house to the final resting place of many former residents of Streatham at West Norwood Cemetery We will be releasing our ticketed Lambeth Heritage events at 9am 12th Augustfor these guided tours. Details are on our Eventbrite page

The Lambeth Heritage Festival 2021 brochure is now out. A fantastic range of events in September

PARK HILL STREATHAM. Former home of Sir Henry Tate and the first Tate Gallery is available £5 plus £1.80 UK PP

We are delighted to announce our in-person talks will be resuming in September at our new location of St Leonard's Church starting with a Lambeth Heritage event Brookwood Necropolis Railway- John Clarke. Tuesday 7th September 7:30pm (60 minute talk- refreshments available) St Leonard’s Church Streatham High Road, SW16 1HS Event Free and booking not required. Open to members and non-members "Most people travelling by train expect to return to their original station, but the majority of travellers on the Necropolis Train never came back. John Clarke presents an account of how railway funerals were conducted by the London Necropolis Company. This company, latterly based at 121 Westminster Bridge Road, (literally) sold one-way tickets for the deceased."

Recent events have shed a spotlight on the precious nature of our local open space - this talk explains how these assets were hard one and not to be neglected. London ' Rus in Urbe' - bringing the Countryside to the City The metropolitan story of Open Space, exploring parks and gardens in London, concluding with local examples of Streatham Common with the Rookery and Tooting Common. Ex chair Friends of Streatham Common and now qualified Westminster City Guide looks at why London is special, how the parks were set up, the role of the Victorians and some of the funding issues today. **Booking Details to follow of talk on 19 July at 7:30pm**

The History of the Order of the Knights Templar Talk on 21 June 2021 at 7:30 Book via Eventbrite

Zoom talk by John Phillips on The Wandle in the Industrial Revolution on 24th May 2021 at 7:30pm.

Remembering Hester Thrale Piozzi, 200 years on by Cassie Ulph

The Suffrage Photographs of Christina Broom, 1908-1913 Zoom talk by Beverley Cook Monday 29 March 2021 at 7:30pm

Rohan McWilliam is Professor of Modern British History at Anglia Ruskin University and a former President of the British Association for Victorian Studies. he is the author of London's West End: Creating the Pleasure District, 1800-1914 (Oxford University Press, to be published August 2020) ***THIS EVENT HAS SOLD OUT AND A WAITING LIST IS OPEN***

“The Telford Park Estate – Then and Now” Zoom talk by Chris Sluman Monday 15th February 2021 at 7:30pm. Please click image for tickets. ***This event is sold-out and a waiting list open ***

Streatham Literary Walk
South Walk:

Covering Streatham and Norbury (SW16), see where Joyce Lankaster-Brisley, of Milly Molly Mandy, and Leila Berg of the Nipper series lived. Discover the house where Josephine Tey stayed with her sister, and the home of the prolific Beryl Kingston. See the house of “the wickedest man in the world”, the infamous Aleister Crowley. The longer route takes in where Sir Kingsley Amis was brought up and a Winnie the Pooh connection!

Streatham Literary Walk
North Walk:

See the flat where VS Naipaul wrote the novel that won him the Nobel Prize for Literature.
Find out where Raymond Chandler lived with his mother. Discover the many literary secrets of St Leonard’s Church, including connections with Goldilocks and the Three Bears and Jane Austen. Find Angela Carter’s old school and why Joshua Reynolds painted a group of portraits called The Streatham Worthies.

In 1894 the Streatham Pumping station was built by the Southwark and Vauxhall Water Company, to serve the rapidly expanding suburb of Streatham. More information about the open house festival can be found : www.open-city.org.uk/open-house Please ensure that all tickets are booked with full names of attendees - access to tour will only be granted on display of named ticket and photo id. Over 18s only, anyone under this age will not be admitted. TICKETS AVAILABLE 11 AUGUST 2021 at NOON FROM https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/.../streatham-pumping..

Ever fancied being a tour guide in Lambeth. Click image for more details

If you can't get to the Winning Post cafe on Saturday, we will shortly have the book available from the Society

Join the Norwood Society’s short walk, Vicar’s Oak to Dulwich Upper Wood, on a choice of 3 dates: 28 & 30 July & 1 August details and booking (essential): https://eventbrite.co.uk/e/norwood-society-short-walk-vicars-oak-to-dulwich-upper-wood-tickets-162263593777… Future walks: http://lambethlocalhistoryforum.org.uk/walks

Join a guided walk around the area where John Ashby built Brixton Windmill in 1816 - Sunday 11 July - the Friends of Windmill Gardens details and booking (essential): https://brixtonwindmill.org/visit/guided-walks… Future walks: https://lambethlocalhistoryforum.org.uk/walks/

The History of the Order of the Knights Templar Talk on 21 June 2021 at 7:30 Book via Eventbrite

Our very grateful thanks to Dr Cassie Ulph for a most interesting talk yesterday The recording of the talk is now available on our You Tube channel https://youtu.be/dWg0BXYN4Z8

Enjoy a walk through Loughborough Park & Wyck Gardens on Sunday 20 June with a Brixton Society guide. details and booking (essential): [email protected] Future walks: https://lambethlocalhistoryforum.org.uk/walks/

SAVE THIS DATE IN YOUR DIARY- "A Stroll through Furzedown looking at houses and their famous or infamous former residents" Guided walk Sunday 6th June 2021 at 2:30pm subject to government restrictions in place. The tour will be ticketed and further information will be provided nearer the time. If we are unable to hold this event a Zoom presentation will be given by Streatham Society member and Furzedown resident Helen Long.

SAVE THIS DATE IN YOUR DIARY- TOURS OF HENRY TATE GROUNDS We are hoping this hugely popular event will return in 2021 Guided walks Sunday 30th May 2021 at 2pm and 3pm subject to government restrictions in place. The tour will be ticketed and further information will be provided nearer the time

Wandsworth Heritage Festival events have been announced. 29th May- 13th June 2021 To attend the two Streatham Society hosted events please follow us on Eventbrite to be the first to know when the tickets are available https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/streatham-society-31488784265

1st Streatham Common - Formed in 1908 and still going strong. Calling all Unit members that have an association with the 1st Streatham Common. Can you help provide information that will help build a brief history on the Group? Photos are also welcome.

Send all contributions to [email protected]

Loiuse Michel, believed to be living in Dahomy Street, Streatham in 1903

Recording of talk now available https://instagram.com/tv/CMhdE4pneZC/

The second part of a tour of Pimlico neighbourhood to explore what it is like to live there, how the area has changed and how the local authority and housing associations have responded to the resulting housing need. Whilst the first part of the tour concentrated on the physical building of the neighbourhood by the famous early 19th century spec builder Thomas Cubitt, this tour looks at what has happened to the area as less well-off people started to move in from the late 19th Century up to the present day.

RECORDING AVAILABLE https://www.instagram.com/lambetharchives/

**An additional date has been announced 13 March 2021 and the 6th March event is fully booked** A Zoom talk by Streatham Society member and City of Westminster qualified guide Barbara Wright on 6th March at 11am. An insightful tour of the Pimlico neighbourhood to explore how it has been shaped by some of the important and influential planning, housing and design ideas of the 18th to the 21st century. Event free and optional donation to Crisis https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/virtual-tour-the-making-of-pimlico-tickets-138398488605

**Recording on YouTube** The Suffrage Photographs of Christina Broom, 1908-1913 Zoom talk by Beverley Cook Monday 29 March 2021 at 7:30pm

Available now at £7.80 including UK pp Use Book Request form

The Telford Park Estate – Then and Now” Zoom talk by Chris Sluman Monday 15th February 2021 at 7:30pm. Please click image for tickets THIS TALK HAS SOLD OUT

A talk on former Streatham resident ("Redroofs", Streatham Common) and renowned architect, Sir Ernest George. 10th February 7pm Hosted by the Victorian Society (IanVisits)

Zoom talk by John Phillips on The Wandle in the Industrial Revolution on 24th May 2021 at 7:30pm.

Available to purchase from the Society or John Brown 316 Green Lane SW16 3AS. £7.80 including UK postage and Packing. Use Book Request form

" Great Exhibition and Great Expectations: the everyday and the unexpected at the Crystal Palace- 1851 to present day Time": Jan 18, 2021 07:30pm

This is going to be one of the BEST EVER lockdown walks with input from Streatham Society You are most cordially invited to SW16 to take a Walk alongside Streatham’s #SaintsAndSinners

On our YouTube Channel. John Brown's illustrated talk on the 41 "doodle bugs" that fell on Streatham in 1944. (Click on the image or the button at the bottom of the page)

Zoom tribute to the hugely talented Streatham-born Jo Ann Kelly here it is on YouTube The event was the Streatham Blues Festival in association with the Streatham Festival 2020 Jo Anne Kelly was a talented Blues singer and guitarist who sadly died on 21 October 1990

*On YouTube Join Tour Guide, Amateur Historian and Blog Writer Ray Coggin for a talk on Zoom 14th December 2020 7:30pm about Dr. Page’s War Episode 2 Northern Russia 1918-1919 The Continuing Story of Captain Douglas Page M.C., R.A.M.C. His Journey through The Great War and The North Russian Intervention Based on the war diary of Captain Douglas Page M.C. a doctor in the Royal Army Medical Corps during WW1

Available on our YouTube channel

*New YouTube recording of a Streatham Society talk on 16th November 2020 "History of the Matchgirls Strike and my Great Grandmother's role in it" Sam Johnson is the Great Grand daughter of Sarah Chapman, The remarkable "hidden" history of the Matchgirl Strike Leader. The Image is Coutesy of TUC Collections at London Metropolitan University

If you missed Roger Wates' interview on the Robert Elms' show on Radio London last month- it is available here on our YouTube channel https://youtu.be/rgTuR5W8UXI

'Great Escapes' are informative and entertaining local history walks in the SW16/SW17/SW18 area. Ideal for getting all the family out and finding out more about where you live! You can print out a self-guided map or do it on your phone. There are now 25 Walks available to download here https://summerstown182.wordpress.com

Available on our YouTube channel

**updated due to Covid restrictions A Tale of Two Cities Soho and Belgravia Guided walks by Streatham Society member and City of Westminster qualified guide, Barbara Wright. Walk 13th December 2020 at 10:30. Ticketing via Eventbrite (click on the image)

**updated due to Covid restrictions A Tale of Two Cities Soho and Belgravia Guided walks by Streatham Society member and City of Westminster qualified guide, Barbara Wright/ BELGRAVIA walk 5th December 2020 at 10:30. Ticketing via Eventbrite (click on the image)

Streatham Society member and City of Westminster Guide, Barbara Wright has 2 guided walks in October/November. A tale of two cities- Soho and Belgravia Please contact Barbara at the email address below if you wish to attend [email protected]

On page 16 Information on Geoff Simmons' Great Escapes virtual walks in Streatham (and yes most of Furzedown is Streatham) and Page 19 the Lambeth Heritage Festival Programme

Barbara Wright- Westminster Tour Guide.
Streatham Society member Barbara is giving another talk "The Story of Westminster in Portraits" which is a two-part talk on 25th and 27th August at 8pm and repeated 2rd and 3rd September at 8pm. (Part 1 and part 2 can be chosen from either alternative)

Registration via Eventbrite

25th August 2020 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-story-of-westminster-in-portraits-part-1-first-date-choice-tickets-115927324749

27th August 2020 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-story-of-westminster-in-portraits-part-2-first-date-choice-tickets-115929856321

September 2nd 2020 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-story-of-westminster-in-portraits-part-1-second-date-choice-tickets-115929599553

September 3rd 2020 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-story-of-westminster-in-portraits-part-2-second-date-choice-tickets-115930038867

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