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General Brixton history - photos, stories etc

Another transport related building that I think I've mentioned on Urban before, but not sure I have posted a picture

10808044316_d7b4a4cbbf.jpg


Former London General / London Transport private hire coach garage in Waterworks Road, Brixton.

The premises were built for Cambrian Landray Ltd c. 1922, they were taken over in 1926 by the London General Omnibus Company.

The garage was subsequently used mainly for General / Green Line private hire coaches. In 1937, after the formation of London Transport, the London based private hire fleet was transferred to Old Kent Road garage and this site was sold.

1936 view (from here)

i0000j5y.jpg
 
Winot said:
I think it might have been later as that was the year I moved to Brixton and I remember using it as a cut through to get to the tube. But my gf moved the year before so perhaps I've got my timeline wrong.
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You could be right, but I reckon the arcade was closed and Index forced to move by the end of 1996 at the very latest.
 
Puddy_Tat said:
:)

the interwebs is like that - i found that site yesterday while I was trying to find a picture of the change pit in Streatham. Of course I couldn't find it a couple of years back when I was trying to research the building in the photo on the site :mad:
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My friend did his apprenticeship in the old depot opposite Morrish road,it was either Toyota or Jaguar cars this would have been 1982/3 ish.I used to go and see him there on a saturday and i remember seeing the old markings from where the tramline was.
 
TRIGWELL & Co

This was situated next to Jebb avenue along from the former George the fourth pub.




The V-CC book Veteran Cycles states: ‘Founded by J. R. Trigwell, maker of the Regent high wheeler of 1880, from Merlin Works, Brixton Rise, London, and also a rational of c1889. An unusual tandem tricycle was produced which took the form of a ‘Kangaroo’ front driver connected to a ‘Cripper’ rear. In 1886 the firm introduced an anti-vibration handlebar and ball-bearing head which were included in the ‘Regent Humber Roadster’ among others. This machine cost £23 5/- and had 44″ and 18″ wheels.’

 
SarfLondoner said:
More stuff here,http://edithsstreets.blogspot.co.uk/2010/06/thames-tributary-effra-brixton.html
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This bit caught my eye:

"7 Gresham Road - now Karibu Education Centre was the Abeng Centre. This originally opened in 1862 as the Angell Town Literary & Scientific Institute for Working Men"

When I was checking Kellys directories at the Minet the other week 7 Gresham Road repeatedly came up as Brixton Telephone Exhange. Any ideas or information on that? This is confirmed in the Brixton conservation area statement para 2.57.

Maybe there might be an old postcard or photo floating around somewhere?
 
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CH1 said:
This bit caught my eye:

"7 Gresham Road - now Karibu Education Centre was the Abeng Centre. This originally opened in 1862 as the Angell Town Literary & Scientific Institute for Working Men"

When I was checking Kellys directories at the Minet the other week 7 Gresham Road repeatedly came up as Brixton Telephone Exhange. Any ideas or information on that? This is confirmed in the Brixton conservation area statement para 2.57.

Maybe there might be an old postcard or photo floating around somewhere?
Click to expand...
Ah, I've always wondered about that building. There is a telephone exchange further along Gresham Road.
 
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CH1 said:
This bit caught my eye:

"7 Gresham Road - now Karibu Education Centre was the Abeng Centre. This originally opened in 1862 as the Angell Town Literary & Scientific Institute for Working Men"

When I was checking Kellys directories at the Minet the other week 7 Gresham Road repeatedly came up as Brixton Telephone Exhange. Any ideas or information on that? This is confirmed in the Brixton conservation area statement para 2.57.

Maybe there might be an old postcard or photo floating around somewhere?
Click to expand...

Here you go,,http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2633587
 
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CH1 said:
This bit caught my eye:

"7 Gresham Road - now Karibu Education Centre was the Abeng Centre. This originally opened in 1862 as the Angell Town Literary & Scientific Institute for Working Men"

When I was checking Kellys directories at the Minet the other week 7 Gresham Road repeatedly came up as Brixton Telephone Exhange. Any ideas or information on that? This is confirmed in the Brixton conservation area statement para 2.57.

Maybe there might be an old postcard or photo floating around somewhere?
Click to expand...

The website did state that there are lots of mistakes and people are welcome to add comments and corrections. So you are probably correct.
 
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Just a thought, but if anyone has a particular interest in researching any of the stories further, I'd be delighted to post them up on B Buzz (where history stories have proved very popular).
 
timescale is 'when i get round to it' - i'm aware i have promised some research on brixton railway station and the possible cause of the barrington road railway bridge that isn't...

the sudden onset of work and commute has made time and energy a bit scarce
 
SarfLondoner said:
The website did state that there are lots of mistakes and people are welcome to add comments and corrections. So you are probably correct.
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No you were right - your photo was the current Brixton telephone exchange.

The Karibu centre seems to have gone from being an educational institute to the telephone exchange when phone were first put in in Brixton - maybe around 1900? Evidently when capacity increased and the exchange was automated it was moved to the present site. No idea when.

The Geograph people have a photo of this first building (below). They say it was chapel, but although it looks like one, I don't think it ever was. Maybe the Minet might have some info about when it was used as a telephone exchange next time I go there. Or someone at the Brixton Society.

There is absolutely nothing on the net that I can see about a telephone exchange at 7 Gresham Road.
Karibu.jpg
 
CH1 said:
No you were right - your photo was the current Brixton telephone exchange.

The Karibu centre seems to have gone from being an educational institute to the telephone exchange when phone were first put in in Brixton - maybe around 1900? Evidently when capacity increased and the exchange was automated it was moved to the present site. No idea when.

The Geograph people have a photo of this first building (below). They say it was chapel, but although it looks like one, I don't think it ever was. Maybe the Minet might have some info about when it was used as a telephone exchange next time I go there. Or someone at the Brixton Society.

There is absolutely nothing on the net that I can see about a telephone exchange at 7 Gresham Road.
View attachment 55127
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I found this from lambeth archives,,

Canterbury Crescent, Gresham Road, St John’s Crescent & Wiltshire Road
2.56 Canterbury Crescent is a curving street that links Brixton Road to the south end of
Wiltshire Road. It has an eclectic character due to the variety building styles which
reflect Brixton’s changing character in the mid 19th Century. The St. John’s Buildings
(former St John’s School) on the north side has a low, semi-rural form, is an unusual
find in such an urban location. On the south side, is the fine five storey Queen
Anne style block ‘Dover Mansions’ which has been well restored. A blue-plaque
here commemorates Henry Havelock Ellis.
2.57 Only a small section on the north side of Gresham Road is within the conservation
area - a number of attractive two and three storey houses from the early 19th Century
are now an education centre, a place or worship and a school. One of these
buildings, the Karibu Centre was the Angell Town Institution in 1877 and later served
as Brixton’s first telephone exchange. There is generally a spacious and green
character; to which a number of street trees contribute. There has been a police station
on the corner with Brixton Road since the 1850s; the current post-war building
was designed by J Innes Elliot and is carefully detailed in Portland stone.
 
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leanderman said:
Have used that image a few times for street stuff.

Sad that people care much less now about the outside of their homes.

Hedges and railings largely gone, for various reasons. No ivy.

Some of the houses on the right have been lost, the space now forming the route to Brockwell Park.
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One or two more cars now, perhaps?
 
leanderman said:
Have used that image a few times for street stuff.

Sad that people care much less now about the outside of their homes.
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The worst is shops. Where once the shop owners took a price in their appearance, I've seen tidier squats tan some of the shop fronts near me. Cheap'n'nasty plastic signage doesn't help either,
 
editor said:
The worst is shops. Where once the shop owners took a price in their appearance, I've seen tidier squats tan some of the shop fronts near me. Cheap'n'nasty plastic signage doesn't help either,
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Yep. But it's not just the old knackered shops. Lots of the new ones don't think about how their signage is going to fit in with the architecture of the building.
Whatever folk might think about estate agents, Wooster & Stock up Acre Lane have done a fantastic job of doing up their shop front. It is really quite beautiful.

branch_photo_53898_0000.jpg
 
Rushy said:
Yep. But it's not just the old knackered shops. Lots of the new ones don't think about how their signage is going to fit in with the architecture of the building.
Whatever folk might think about estate agents, Wooster & Stock up Acre Lane have done a fantastic job of doing up their shop front. It is really quite beautiful.

branch_photo_53898_0000.jpg
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Yes, I like that. In their quest to stand out, some shops seem to have lost sight of the fact that simple is often more eye catching.

I like the new sign that the Gresham Cafe has put up. It stands out far more than some of the others in the area, but then the owner spoils it by putting that shitty flapping yellow flag thing outside.

del.jpg

In other news, there's been work going on in the old solicitor's office, but nothing I can see in My Father's Place.
And boy do I wish we could have our Post Office back.
 
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