General Brixton history - photos, stories etc
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Puddy_Tat
naturally fluffy
where?
first thought is that large S could (in the 1939 war) mean (air raid) Shelter, and BL could possibly be (metropolitan) borough of lambeth, but that's complete guesswork on my part and probably cobblers.
More standard air raid shelter signs were akin to
(was in Deptford - since 'restored' a bit too enthusiastically)
to some extent, this sort of sign could be designed to mean something to people who know what it means...
editor
hiraethified
It was low down on the wall outside a house, so it would be an odd place for a shelter sign but you could be right.where?
first thought is that large S could (in the 1939 war) mean (air raid) Shelter, and BL could possibly be (metropolitan) borough of lambeth, but that's complete guesswork on my part and probably cobblers.
More standard air raid shelter signs were akin to
(was in Deptford - since 'restored' a bit too enthusiastically)
to some extent, this sort of sign could be designed to mean something to people who know what it means...
on tweeter today
(collage page / larger image here - says it's 1907)
1904 / 1911 London Suburbs directories have this as 16 Hinton Road, just north of the junction of Milkwood Road.
Bit hard to place, as the street numbering had changed before the 1950 OS map
I think it's the building shown as 'ruin' on that map, which would make it about where Kingsley Point is now.
Advert in the window is for an event at the Surrey Masonic Hall, which was at 295 Camberwell New Road - more here
There is another version of this photo which has the street sign - Hardess Street. But it doesn't tie up with the OS map for Hinton Road.
The building shape suggests the other end of Hardess St on Herne Hill Road. Which leads to the idea that the De Gerdons had two shops.
Puddy_Tat
naturally fluffy
I am sure you are right about the location - that would explain why I couldn't quite place the building.
Can't offer any thoughts on Mr De Gerdon's business. No trace in 1896 directory, and at 16 Hinton Road in 1904 and 1911 directories. All three don't give anything at the right location on Herne Hill Road or Hardess Street (with places on a corner, you can never be quite sure which street the post office decided they were in)
Collage is not infallible (I did drop them a note about something listed as Deptford which was really Dartford - I blame transcription of a cursive r) - photo is almost certainly late 1907 / early 1908 as the advert is for a concert in April 1908.
happyshopper
Well-Known Member
Don’t really know but bomb shelter looks plausible. Here’s another one, in worse condition, at the end of Shakespeare Road.
RoyReed
Must fly!
What street was this on?
RoyReed
Must fly!
I can't think what else they could be, but most of the air-raid shelter signs I've seen are significantly larger and more prominent.
Westminster
Shelter by Roy Reed, on Flickr
Lewisham
Shelter by Roy Reed, on Flickr
Forest Hill
Air Raid Shelter by Roy Reed, on Flickr
Borough
D2 Shelter by Roy Reed, on Flickr
editor
hiraethified
Norwood Road, not far from Brockwell Park.
happyshopper
Well-Known Member
~1538 was on the north side of Shakespeare Road just where it joins Dulwich Road - here 3 Shakespeare Rd
Puddy_Tat
naturally fluffy
yes. the more i think about it, the less convinced i am by the idea
hmm. looks as though there might have been a painted sign next to it at one time (or was it graffiti?)
GarveyLives
Well-Known Member
Harry Jacobs' son reminds us that Brixton continued to exist in the period after the disintegration of Britain's emprire and before the post-1980s rioting wave of gentrification:
"Gerald Jacobs' new book is set in 1960s Brixton where he grew up ..."
Back when Brixton had Jews
"Gerald Jacobs' new book is set in 1960s Brixton where he grew up ..."
Back when Brixton had Jews
billythefish
toad licker
Not exactly sure, but suspect it may be a Parish Boundary marker. I've tried googling and came up with this Pinterest page, which shows many examples.
170 Parish boundary markers ideas in 2023 | parish, markers, london sign
Apr 22, 2023 - Explore David Bellamy's board "Parish boundary markers" on Pinterest. See more ideas about parish, markers, london sign.
www.pinterest.co.uk
Puddy_Tat
naturally fluffy
RoyReed
Must fly!
Possible I suppose, but none of the signs there have anything like the same style as these.Not exactly sure, but suspect it may be a Parish Boundary marker. I've tried googling and came up with this Pinterest page, which shows many examples.
170 Parish boundary markers ideas in 2023 | parish, markers, london sign
Apr 22, 2023 - Explore David Bellamy's board "Parish boundary markers" on Pinterest. See more ideas about parish, markers, london sign.
I've asked a friend who's into the history of signage to ask around to see if he can shed some light. (I've shared both 'S' sign photos with him - I hope that's OK).
RoyReed
Must fly!
There's another 'S' sign on South Lambeth Road between Hagos Butcher & Grocery and The Launderette.
tradescant.blogspot.com
www.google.co.uk
The riddle of the mysterious sign - can you help?
Local resident Emily writes in to wonder aloud what the significance is of the old red metal sign on the wall between the launderette and A&...
tradescant.blogspot.com
Google Maps
Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.
happyshopper
Well-Known Member
Well spottedThere's another 'S' sign on South Lambeth Road between Hagos Butcher & Grocery and The Launderette.
The riddle of the mysterious sign - can you help?
Local resident Emily writes in to wonder aloud what the significance is of the old red metal sign on the wall between the launderette and A&...
Google Maps
Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.
Puddy_Tat
naturally fluffy
another
can't find anything on old OS maps that shows any particular feature at the three locations we've found so far.
The fact we haven't traced any outside the (old Metropolitan) Borough of Lambeth does mean I'm still thinking that's what the BL is
Boroughs had responsibility for storm drains / sewers (not sure about 'foul sewers' connected to buildings)
But there must be / have been so many of them I wouldn't have thought it worth marking like that.
Agree with those who say it looks too recent to be a parish marker, and too recent / too low down to be a fire insurance sign
Puddy_Tat
naturally fluffy
Another
source here
got posted by someone on tweeter Friday.
Info says it's at 4-6 Vassall Road (see lettering above first floor windows) c. 1905
But it's got (what can really only be) 202 above the door, and seems unlikely to have its full address painted on the front - more likely to be "also at 4 -6..."
Window poster appears to be advertising a pantomime at New Princes Theatre - only London theatre by that name I can trace is now the Shaftesbury (on Shaftesbury Avenue) which opened 1911.
Shop next door appears to be "... & OUTFI" (must be ... & outfitters")
Can find Pittmans at 4 - 6 Vassall Road in 1911 London Suburbs directory (the place was shown as dining rooms in directories either side of that, but not Pittmans), but no other places in that name, so they can't have been in business long. Can find one or two other dining rooms at an address that's 202 but nothing that fits.
Doesn't even have to be in / around Lambeth - possibly slightly unusual to advertise a west end theatre out in the suburbs (although there could have been a personal connection somewhere)
source here
got posted by someone on tweeter Friday.
Info says it's at 4-6 Vassall Road (see lettering above first floor windows) c. 1905
But it's got (what can really only be) 202 above the door, and seems unlikely to have its full address painted on the front - more likely to be "also at 4 -6..."
Window poster appears to be advertising a pantomime at New Princes Theatre - only London theatre by that name I can trace is now the Shaftesbury (on Shaftesbury Avenue) which opened 1911.
Shop next door appears to be "... & OUTFI" (must be ... & outfitters")
Can find Pittmans at 4 - 6 Vassall Road in 1911 London Suburbs directory (the place was shown as dining rooms in directories either side of that, but not Pittmans), but no other places in that name, so they can't have been in business long. Can find one or two other dining rooms at an address that's 202 but nothing that fits.
Doesn't even have to be in / around Lambeth - possibly slightly unusual to advertise a west end theatre out in the suburbs (although there could have been a personal connection somewhere)
Puddy_Tat
naturally fluffy
RoyReed
Must fly!
Good point.
CH1
"Red Guard"(NLYL)
I wondered about 202 Camberwell New Road - but that looks impossible from Google street-view. Its residential, Victorian - and is on the corner of Lothian Road, not Vasall Road.
Regarding the Loughborough Junction site - 202 Coldhabour Lane, this had a thread of its own once upon a time, and did not have that style of shop on it. The redevelopment of Loughborough House, Loughborough Junction
Regarding the Loughborough Junction site - 202 Coldhabour Lane, this had a thread of its own once upon a time, and did not have that style of shop on it. The redevelopment of Loughborough House, Loughborough Junction
editor
hiraethified
Finally posted Puddy_Tat 's excellent piece!
www.brixtonbuzz.com
Brixton history: London County Council tram 1551 at the Coldharbour Lane change pit, 1920s
Here’s an interesting archive photo of a London County Council tram at the Camberwell end of Coldharbour Lane change, photographed in the mid/late 1920s.
www.brixtonbuzz.com
RoyReed
Must fly!
Looks like it's a marker for the Effra Sewer - following quite a bit of discussion on Twitter.
editor
hiraethified
Great piece here:
loughboroughroadsw9histories.wordpress.com
Loughborough Hotel and Tavern
Loughborough Hotel December 2019. Flats, San Mei Gallery and Annapurna Cafe. This majestic building, the Loughborough Hotel at the junction of Loughborough Road and Evandale Road SW9, has a 120 yea…
loughboroughroadsw9histories.wordpress.com
