General Brixton history - photos, stories etc

[editor]

Another history feature:

Brixton history: Tram tracks and Brixton Police Station, Brixton Road, 1907

Following our recent article on Brixton’s tram history, we thought we’d share this striking archive photo from the London Metropolitan Archives showing work on the tram tracks in Brixto…

www.brixtonbuzz.com

 

[Puddy_Tat]

on teh tweeter today

 

[editor]

At the Empress!

 

[Rocky Sullivan]

What a night that must have been - and all hosted by Keith Fordyce! If you've never heard of him he was one of those "chaps" the BBC employed post-war (think Pete Murray, David Jacobs etc.). I recall that Keith would usually sport a smart tweed jacket.

 

[editor]

I can;t work out where this is in Effra Road:

 

[BCBlues]

on flickr today



there were not that many places in london where there was room for a 'loading island' like this - usually passengers had to wait on the kerb then for other traffic between the tram and the kerb to stop for them

I like this one. What's the shop named that is now Macd's?

 

[Puddy_Tat]

I like this one. What's the shop named that is now Macd's?

the times furnishing company.

as in this picture

don't think they had a direct connection with the newspaper...

 

[Puddy_Tat]

I can;t work out where this is in Effra Road:

isn't it outside the 'george canning'?

the statue and fire alarm point are visible (albeit from a different angle) on this here brixton historical resource

1896 OS map with fire alarm marked

 

[editor]

isn't it outside the 'george canning'?

the statue and fire alarm point are visible (albeit from a different angle) on this here brixton historical resource

1896 OS map with fire alarm marked

Yeah, you're absolutely right of course!

 

[Puddy_Tat]

is it recorded what happened to the statue of dodgy-knees?

 

[editor]

is it recorded what happened to the statue of dodgy-knees?

There's a history challenge right there!

 

[editor]

More history:

Brixton history: Chocolate, wine and beer on Railton Road, SE24 in 1956

This 64-year old photograph taken on the corner of Milton Road and Railton Road on the Brixton/Herne Hill borders offers an interesting glimpse into the past, with four large billboard posters adve…

www.brixtonbuzz.com

 

[Favelado]

View attachment 214902

At the Empress!

Granada and Brixton together! My heart sings!

 

[Favelado]

Well, as someone who genuinely wants independence for the Granada TV region (Granada were going to issue Northern passports to their staff in the early days - true story) but also loves Brixton - it's a thrill to see the two things on one poster.

 

[Rocky Sullivan]

Well, as someone who genuinely wants independence for the Granada TV region (Granada were going to issue Northern passports to their staff in the early days - true story) but also loves Brixton - it's a thrill to see the two things on one poster.

Always referred to as "Granadaland" back in the day.

 

[editor]

A cracking day out!

In photos: Jayday 2002, a pro-cannabis free festival in Brockwell Park, south London, 4th May 2002

 

[Rocky Sullivan]

More history:

Brixton history: Chocolate, wine and beer on Railton Road, SE24 in 1956

This 64-year old photograph taken on the corner of Milton Road and Railton Road on the Brixton/Herne Hill borders offers an interesting glimpse into the past, with four large billboard posters adve…

www.brixtonbuzz.com

Although we think of advertising permeating all aspects of our 21st century lives it seemed no different in the last century. As well as the Railton Road image look at this one from the 1930s, corner of Shakespeare and Mayall Road: https://boroughphotos.org/lambeth/mayall-road-herne-hill-2/ I wouldn't be happy with all of that on the end of my house.

 

[Favelado]

Always referred to as "Granadaland" back in the day.

I'd just like to wish a very fond farewell to all of our viewers out there in Granadaland, and we'll be back tomorrow.

The best night-time sign off of any station.

 

[editor]

1951:

 

[editor]

Love this pic outside the old George IV. I was going to write a piece for Buzz but thought I'd better give Puddy_Tat first dibs on writing the text!

 

[Puddy_Tat]

Love this pic outside the old George IV. I was going to write a piece for Buzz but thought I'd better give @Puddy_Tat first dibs on writing the text!

i'll see what i can do.

 

[happyshopper]

View attachment 215440

Love this pic outside the old George IV. I was going to write a piece for Buzz but thought I'd better give Puddy_Tat first dibs on writing the text!

“Streatham Village”

 

[Puddy_Tat]

“Streatham Village”

bloody hipsters

 

[madolesance]

View attachment 215440

Love this pic outside the old George IV. I was going to write a piece for Buzz but thought I'd better give Puddy_Tat first dibs on writing the text!

Would be interesting to know who the passengers are. Looks very much like a promo shot.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

today's tram action on Flickr - corner of Poplar (Walk) Road / Lowden Road - some time late 40s / early 50s.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

Would be interesting to know who the passengers are. Looks very much like a promo shot.

possibly. haven't done much digging yet.

clearly the tram has stopped for the photographer.

don't think there was a hard and fast rule, but possibly slightly unusual for more respectable ladies / gentlemen with top hat to be riding on the top deck of a tram in that era.

did you get any other info with the photo, editor ? must be later in the life of the cable tramway, as it's carrying LCC (London County Council) lettering not London Tramways Company.

Pure speculation on my part, but possibly a final jaunt before the line closed for electrification?

 

[editor]

possibly. haven't done much digging yet.

clearly the tram has stopped for the photographer.

don't think there was a hard and fast rule, but possibly slightly unusual for more respectable ladies / gentlemen with top hat to be riding on the top deck of a tram in that era.

did you get any other info with the photo, editor ? must be later in the life of the cable tramway, as it's carrying LCC (London County Council) lettering not London Tramways Company.

Pure speculation on my part, but possibly a final jaunt before the line closed for electrification?

All I've got is "Photocard of Cable Tram outside the George IV Public House, Brixton Hill, 1905, "

 

[Puddy_Tat]

All I've got is "Photocard of Cable Tram outside the George IV Public House, Brixton Hill, 1905, "

it's on record that the cable trams finished operating in 1904 - maybe the postcard was posted in 1905?

pity that both the posters on the board headed ...MAY aren't readable. likewise under the 'EMPRESS BRIXTON', there's "XXXX, Manager" which might help pin the date down.

 

[happyshopper]

But it’s not a cable tram. Is it?

 

[Puddy_Tat]

But it’s not a cable tram. Is it?

yes

in the early years, the brixton cable trams had a tractor / dummy / gripper car that pulled the passenger car (it took over from horses or vice versa at kennington) like so

but after a few years they realised they didn't need a separate bit of kit that would take up depot space, and attached cable-gripping kit to the trailers. i haven't quite got a grip (if you'll pardon the expression) of the technical angle of this yet though