railton road... the frontline etc

[editor]

121 is still much missed. I went to many a varied function there over the years, met many friends that are still close to me, but the most memorable day of all for me there was the wonderful street party held in April 1999, shortly before Lambeth mad finally managed the eviction...
]

Ace photos! Can I add them to the 121 article on the site (with full credit, natch!)

It looks like a different world now, doesn't it.

 

[aurora green]

Ace photos! Can I add them to the 121 article on the site (with full credit, natch!)

Yes, that'd be cool.

It looks like a different world now, doesn't it.

Brixton is a very different place now sadly.




eta: I still love it tho'...

 

[aurora green]

Resist the eviction!

Just found these two as well...

These were taken a couple of months before the street party on the previous page,
early morning of the 7th Feb 1999!

I'm not sure exactly how many times the eviction was resisted,
but on this day for sure, Lambeth was sent away with their tail between their legs.

 

[bluestreak]

bloody hellfire.... that's, like, outside my gaff... when those were taken i was trying and failing to ignite the flames of anarchy in north london but didn't even know what was going on a few miles south!

 

[aurora green]

...when those were taken i was trying and failing to ignite the flames of anarchy in north london but didn't even know what was going on a few miles south!

Ahhh..happy days!
I'm getting all nostalgic now....

 

[Crispy]

bloody hellfire.... that's, like, outside my gaff... when those were taken i was trying and failing to ignite the flames of anarchy in north london but didn't even know what was going on a few miles south!

It's probably going on again somewhere else that you're not, now.

 

[clandestino]

I am behind the camera.

Once again, amazing photos!

It does seem like a different world, doesn't it? Makes me think about all the places that are either no longer with us - the Queen - or transformed beyond recognition - the Landor, the DoE. For all of our arguments, there's proof that gentrification has affected Brixton.

 

[clandestino]

I used to know someone who helped torch the Dogstar in a mini riot in the early 90s. He said it was down to resentment that it'd been transformed from an old black geezer's pub into a fashionable white kids' hangout

If I remember correctly, there seemed to be a specific targeting of chains. So Macdonalds and KFC (or was it something different then...a Pizza Hut perhaps?) were done over, but the Ritzy was left untouched. As for the Dogstar, wasn't a pinball table put through the window..?

 

[bluestreak]

It's probably going on again somewhere else that you're not, now.

yeah, that's always the case innit.

*world's worst anarchist insurrectionist*

 

[Kameron]

*world's worst anarchist insurrectionist*

Permanently ten years late but still manages to get his front door in the photos.

 

[TopCat]

Just found these two as well...


These were taken a couple of months before the street party on the previous page,
early morning of the 7th Feb 1999!

I'm not sure exactly how many times the eviction was resisted,
but on this day for sure, Lambeth was sent away with their tail between their legs.

I was there for that eviction scare, right bloody early in the morning it was too. I remember the chief copper turning up and promising people that no eviction was happening that day. I believed him and went home. Friends sat on their arses in the freezing road for a bit then went and invaded the town hall to make a point.

The 121 Centre used to be a strange place. Some of the parties there in the 80's were bonkers. Not least trying to get out and home without being stabbed or robbed. I recollect some vicious fights outside as people rushed out to help their mates from being robbed and that.

Just after the 85 riot you could not sell fags or drink for hardly any cash at all. Had to go to Liverpool to flog it all.

 

[aurora green]

Once again, amazing photos!

It does seem like a different world, doesn't it? Makes me think about all the places that are either no longer with us - the Queen - or transformed beyond recognition - the Landor, the DoE. For all of our arguments, there's proof that gentrification has affected Brixton.

Thanks ianw.
It's so true though, when you think of all the loved and lost places of Brixton, it is quite a list. Bradys comes to mind. What a waste of a fantastic venue that is?
...I wonder how that ABC group are getting along with their proposal?

 

[Crispy]

Thanks ianw.
It's so true though, when you think of all the loved and lost places of Brixton, it is quite a list. Bradys comes to mind. What a waste of a fantastic venue that is?
...I wonder how that ABC group are getting along with their proposal?

Last I knew, the ex-owner of The Fridge had a much more 'commercially viable' bid.

 

[aurora green]

Last I knew, the ex-owner of The Fridge had a much more 'commercially viable' bid.

...I bet he did.

 

[goldengraham]

Just found these two as well...

These were taken a couple of months before the street party on the previous page,
early morning of the 7th Feb 1999!

I'm not sure exactly how many times the eviction was resisted,
but on this day for sure, Lambeth was sent away with their tail between their legs.

What has happened to the bus stop outside the 121 in the first picture? In the first pic it has a bike leaning against it but in the second one it seems to have disappeared altogether! I think we should be told!

 

[editor]

The 121 Centre used to be a strange place.

I'm still waiting for my promised payment on the copies of Bluebird Jones they sold there!

 

[Ian Townson]

121 Centre

Another historical note. Prior to 1981, when the 121 Centre was squatted, there was an anarchist run 'People's News Service' next door at 119 Railton Road. It provided all the news that no-one else dared to print that was relevant to local people. Upstairs in a back room was 'Icebreakers' a radical gay liberation inspired counselling group. Across the road from 119 and slightly further down towards Leeson Road was the Gay Community Centre at 78 Railton. This was knocke down in the late 70s?? to make way for paving stones and lovely trees to bighten up the entrance to St George's Terraces.

Ian Townson

 

[Gramsci]

last night in a frenzied bout of insomnia i immersed myself a little in some of the history of my adopted town, and elarnt all sorts of things about brixton that i didn't really know about. what i'm especially interested in knowing more about is railton road. it's reputation as "the frontline" back in the late 70s and early 80s, pre and post riots... the stuff on here mentions lots of squats divided between afro-caribbean-centric squats and white anarchist squats... what was the reality in terms of actual buildings? was it really a no go area for police and outsiders? how integrated was it? a few reports i have read give them impression that it was a rough and almost lawless community, yet during the riots the pub that is now harmonies was burnt out, along with shops on atlantic road... why shit on their own doorstep? or were the shop owners not considered part of the community? was anyone here about then? any good books or websites about it?

also what happened later. there are fliers on urban for the 121 centre, which appears to have been a traditional anarchist teapot kind of place... what's the story with that? what went on tehre, what was the timescale etc?

anyone else able to tell stories from this little bit of town or recommend some reading to help me learn more about where i am these days?

I was in Brixton six months before the first riots.

Then Railton Road and Mayall road had not been demolished. It was emptied of people for the planned "regeneration" of Brixton. Much housing in the Atlantic end of Railton road was squatted. The "Frontline" was the stretch from the "Frontline" off licence to St Georges residences. There was dealing from the houses nearer the St Georges end.

Squatters were mainly white. There was no animousity between the different communities but I wouldnt say it was integrated.Though I am not sure what you mean by that.

The Pub that was burned down had a reputation of being whites only. The Atlantic (now Dogstar) was never touched during the riots.

I would not say the area was lawless in the way u mean. It was not run by gangsters. People did there own thing and didnt trad on each others toes if u see what i mean. In fact i would say the Squatters helped to keep the place alive and not descending into a lawlwss area.

However the Police had a poor reputation. Operation Swamp meant that a lot of people were getting stopped and there was a heavy police presence. I got stopped. Black or White if you lived in Brixton you were obviously deviant. This was the start of the Thatcher period (enemy within and all that).

The actual riot was directed at the Police and was not a "Race Riot"as I heard it referred to recently.

 

[Stoat Boy]

I used to frequent a 'club' either on or just off Railton road that was in a railway arch. We used to call it the Garage club but I have a feeling that was not its actual name.

It used to have a strange mixture of old school R&B bands or sort of punky stuff. The 'bar' used to be a plank with an old fridge full of special Brew and that was it.

Would be empty until gone 11 and then suddenly get busy and there was always an odd duet of a very tall skinny white guy and an older much smaller West Indian bloke would would come in pissed and whatever out of their skulls and just dance no matter what the music.

This was back in 1983/1984 and I guess it was as rough as could be but for our little group of white lads of 16 to 18 we never got any hassle beyond the odd offer of drugs and the like but I can remember thinking, as we walked from East Dulwich, that it was like entering a different world.

 

[shakespearegirl]

Thanks ianw.
It's so true though, when you think of all the loved and lost places of Brixton, it is quite a list. Bradys comes to mind. What a waste of a fantastic venue that is?
...I wonder how that ABC group are getting along with their proposal?

Funnily enough this arrived in my inbox today.. Its on this weekend

Dear Friends,

Further to our last email, we've had requests for discussions of specific topics.

So we've decided on the following (rather informal) timetable:

Friday

Drop in all day. People will be on hand to answer your questions and record your opinions.

Saturday

Drop in plus:

11.00am Forum to discuss potential uses and users

1.00pm Rebuild the back? A design workshop.

3.00pm Forum: How will the project affect Central Brixton residents and traders?

If the shop gets too full we can split off into groups and take advantage of the wonderful cafes in the market.


Shop address: 6 First Avenue, Granville Arcade (Coldharbour Lane Entrance)

 

[pesh]

top thread...

great to see the 121 again, i'd love to see some shots from the Valencia Place partys back in the mid 90s, they were always a good laugh.
i wish i was carrying a camera around with me back then.

 

[Jonti]

I used to frequent a 'club' either on or just off Railton road that was in a railway arch. We used to call it the Garage club but I have a feeling that was not its actual name.

It used to have a strange mixture of old school R&B bands or sort of punky stuff. The 'bar' used to be a plank with an old fridge full of special Brew and that was it.

Would be empty until gone 11 and then suddenly get busy and there was always an odd duet of a very tall skinny white guy and an older much smaller West Indian bloke would would come in pissed and whatever out of their skulls and just dance no matter what the music.

This was back in 1983/1984 and I guess it was as rough as could be but for our little group of white lads of 16 to 18 we never got any hassle beyond the odd offer of drugs and the like but I can remember thinking, as we walked from East Dulwich, that it was like entering a different world.

You are talking here about the Frontline Theatre, as featured in some of Sam the Wheel's videos (recently shown at the 198 Gallery).

Back in the day, I was barman, bookkeeper and doorman for that establishment. We probably met!

 

[Pie 1]

I can remember thinking, as we walked from East Dulwich, that it was like entering a different world.

That's a very vivid line. I can really imagine.

I've done that walk many times over the years. Has changed enormously just since I first came to the area in 1994 & lived in ED for a year or so before moving to Brixton.
ED, pre gentrification was not exactly a very lively place

 

[Stoat Boy]

You are talking here about the Frontline Theatre, as featured in some of Sam the Wheel's videos (recently shown at the 198 Gallery).

Back in the day, I was barman, bookkeeper and doorman for that establishment. We probably met!

It might be.

Not sure why we would have called it 'The Garage'.

Have I got the bit about the bar right ? It always stuck in my head because I hate Special Brew and that was all it ever seemed to serve.

 

[Stoat Boy]

That's a very vivid line. I can really imagine.

I've done that walk many times over the years. Has changed enormously just since I first came to the area in 1994 & lived in ED for a year or so before moving to Brixton.
ED, pre gentrification was not exactly a very lively place

I think that what as so strange was that we would walk from East Dulwich, which was then really just the quiet bit of Peckham, through Dulwich Village with all the 'posh' houses and then, in a space of a 100 metres or so, be in a place with derlict houses and an atmoshphere that was so so different.

I guess thats the beauty of London.

 

[Pie 1]

I guess thats the beauty of London.

I have to add that one of the main reasons for the walk over the years being the spectacuarly random nature of the No.37.
In fact, I walked it just 2 weeks ago. I was in London staying at friends in ED & had been in Brixton & I walked from the Chaucer Rd stop until just before Lordship Lane when the 1st 37 came by - my friends comment was that it was comforting to know that some things never changed

Anyway - derail - carry on

 

[Mrs Magpie]

'twas ever thus, Stoat Boy.
http://booth.lse.ac.uk/cgi-bin/do.pl?sub=view_booth_and_barth&args=531000,180400,6,large,5

 

[Jonti]

It might be.

Not sure why we would have called it 'The Garage'.

Have I got the bit about the bar right ? It always stuck in my head because I hate Special Brew and that was all it ever seemed to serve.

Quite a few "Garage Bands" played in the Frontline Theatre (also known as "The Arch"), usually on a Thursday night, as I recall.

Your description of the bar was spot on! We used to take a handtruck to the supermarket and come back laden with cans of beer to sell for £1 a can. Almost thirty years ago now, that gave a reasonable profit; combined with the £1 to get in, we were even able to pay the bands a little at the end of the night.

It wasn't always Special Brew -- I hate the stuff myself -- but our clientele were interested in intoxication at least as much as music and the customer is always right. When they're paying, anyway

The Frontline Theatre was open and providing unlicensed refreshments to the folks on the streets all through the '81 riots. We kept going for years afterwards as well, until the two main guys had a serious falling out ("blood on the walls, teeth on the floor" style falling out) and the arch was recovered by its legal owners.

Yes, it was a squat, an illegal drinking club and venue! The toilets were appalling, health and safety unheard of, and licensing laws were for other people. On the other hand, unlike the local boozers, we never had fights, never needed "help" from the cops, never needed to call an ambulance. Even the fights were non-injurious, even when utterly terrifying.

It's true! One occasion some geezer tried to get heavy and threatening, and make himself topdog with a display of weaponry. Not a smart move. He left the club with the expensive full-length leather coat he was wearing at the time shredded to ribbons, and flapping uselessly on the wind. But without a scratch on his person.

All the same, I suspect his psyche was permanently altered by the ordeal of being on the centre of a circle of knife wielding villains, even if they were just playfully demonstrating to him that he had no chance of playing the hardman in their club. At any rate, when he came back, he behaved himself just like any other regular.

It is often said, to live outside the law one must be honest. My time with the Frontline Theatre convinced me of the truth of that particular aphorism!

 

[Stoat Boy]

I am pleased it was as sleazy as I remember and I was slightly worried that perhaps my memory of exagerating it but its all flooding back now.

Many a good night spent in there and not a single memory of any hassle or trouble either inside or out.

I hate to think how long such an establishment would last these days.

 

[TopCat]

121 oh yes you are now gone...