Category Archives: Local history

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

Posted in Clapham Common, Curiosities, Local history | Leave a comment

Queenstown Road’s most special tree gains protected status

Battersea has the UK’s only grapefruit tree growing in the street – and it’s just been recognised with protected tree status Continue reading

Posted in Environment, Local history, Street by street | 1 Comment

In pictures: Arding & Hobbs is ready for another century

A major project to redevelop Clapham Junction’s famous departure store is complete – we take a tour of how it’s turned out Continue reading

Posted in Arding & Hobbs, Business, Local history, Photo stories, Retail | Leave a comment

Are Battersea Power Station’s historic cranes being quietly scrapped?

The Thames was once lined with a forest of cranes, which were central to London’s status as a city trading with the world. Battersea was no exception, with factories, warehouses, and docks lining most of the river from Vauxhall to … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Environment, Local history, Planning | 6 Comments

A house with more history than most: Double blue plaque unveiling on Lavender Sweep this Saturday

84 Lavender Sweep doesn’t exactly stand out from the crowd. A terrace like the others, just off Battersea Rise, the only thing that’s a little different at first glance is the rather elegant arched window above the inner front door, … Continue reading

Posted in Local history, Street by street | 2 Comments

A happy ending for Clapham Common Northside’s oldest house?

It’s been quite the journey for 64 Clapham Common Northside, one of the oldest houses still standing, that seems to go back to some point in the 1780s, when it was a country cottage in the fields. We first reported … Continue reading

Posted in Clapham Common, Housing, Local history, Planning | 3 Comments

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

Posted in Curiosities, Local history, Street by street | Leave a comment

Like a cat: Clapham Common’s most historic house escapes demolition yet again!

A few months ago we wrote about a rather unique house, hidden away between the big Victorian houses along the north side of Clapham Common. 64 Clapham Common Northside is much smaller and simpler building than its neighbours. It also … Continue reading

Posted in Clapham Common, Housing, Local history, Planning | 2 Comments

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

Factory developers, social reformers, fearless pilots, celebrated artists, tenacious campaigners and ‘dangerous subversives’: the pioneering women of Battersea’s early days.

London’s blue plaques link people of the past with the still-standing buildings they lived or worked in. It was started back in 1866 when a plaque was put up on the former house of Lord Byron – and it’s led … Continue reading

Posted in Local history | 6 Comments