Category Archives: Curiosities

A fall from grace: Is there a future for Clapham’s little-known Georgian orangery?

Clapham’s little known historic orangery gets in to serious trouble Continue reading

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The Greatest Attraction in London: Battersea’s fleeting & forgotten People’s Palace

The 1880s were quite a big moment for Battersea. The railway had arrived, bringing with them an explosion of development – with houses, streets, entire neighbourhoods being built. There was a lot of money around, and everything and anything seemed … Continue reading

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A rather unique historic house on Clapham Common is for sale (and maybe demolition)

Hidden away between the big Victorian houses along the north side of Clapham Common is something a bit different. 64 Clapham Common Northside is much smaller, much plainer. It’s tucked back between two large neighbours, to the extent you barely … Continue reading

Posted in Clapham Common, Curiosities, Housing, Local history, Planning | 4 Comments

The surprising history of a smelly alley behind some bins near Battersea Park

It’s not the most obvious spot for a landmark in the history of flight! Hidden behind a load of bins next to a Battersea petrol station, along an alleyway whose smell reveals its other role as a surreptitious urinal, is … Continue reading

Posted in Curiosities, Local history | 2 Comments

After decades of service, Hill Launderette fades in to history

Hill Launderette is one of the longest established businesses on Lavender Hill – we don’t know when it started but it has spanned many decades. It stayed surprisigly well used, even as washing machines & tumble dryers became more widespread … Continue reading

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The enduring mystery of Sisters Avenue’s giant blue shed

It’s rare to see a street in Battersea without a construction site somewhere along it. Scaffolding, a slightly muddy pavement, maybe a front garden full of rubble and old timber awaiting collection. More ambitious projects might see the front garden … Continue reading

Posted in Curiosities, Environment, Planning, Street by street | 3 Comments

Battersea’s Rush Hill Road: History of a south London street

Rush Hill Road is a small street leading off Lavender Hill. We’ve dug in to its past, in the latest of our local history posts. No-one knows who first named the area Rush Hill: at some point a field on … Continue reading

Posted in Curiosities, Local history, Planning, Street by street | 7 Comments

Take a moment to appreciate the architecture of Battersea’s Reference Library

It’s a bit hidden away on a side street, and now that the main access is through an unglamorous corridor from the main lending library few people even notice it. But if you venture down Altenburg Gardens to the old … Continue reading

Posted in Curiosities, Local history, Street by street | 2 Comments

London photographer Ricky Leaver has a pop-up gallery, on Lavender Hill until 16th October

For the next two weeks there’s a pop up gallery on Lavender Hill showing a selection of Ricky Leaver’s work. Ricky – who’s almost local, living in Putney – is an artist whose work you have almost certainly already seen … Continue reading

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The ‘Commercial Buildings’ ghost sign on Lavender Hill is back

We always like finding a ghost sign – those big faded advertisements in the ends of buildings that date back to before the era of poster boards and LED displays, advertising local businesses and products. There’s one at the junction … Continue reading

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