British History Online gives: Lambeth (Wesleyan Methodist) Chapel ... at the south-west corner of Lambeth Road and Kennington Road, was built in 1808 .."

In 1928 J, Arthur Rank, a devout Methodist, partially funded its adaptation for use as a mission hall and cinema. It opened as the Ideal Cinema on 5 October 1928, was run by Rev. Tiplady and showed family-friendly films. Destroyed by WW2 bombs in the winter of 1941. Rebuilt in 1950, architect Alec Gavin, as the Lambeth Mission, opening 1 September 1951. Lambeth have a photo of the stone-laying ceremony.

In his  autobiography he recalls walking in Lambeth Walk

See the open air PULPIT?. So as preachers could address to the Sunday market goers

Each building has the name of a British China manufacturing town

A former market and shopping precinct…

Run by ROOTS & SHOOTS, an independent, award-winning educational and environmental charity based in Kennington, South London. From a derelict site in 1982, it has grown to become a well-established and respected vocational training organisation with biodiverse wildlife gardens, offering a safe haven for both people and nature to flourish.

IAN DURY AND THE BLOCKHEADS rock band 1979 THIS IS WHAT WE FIND song

CHARLES CHAPLIN uncle was the landlord. 

Ragged Schools were schools for the poor

On the map, LAMBETH PALACE

Lambeth was dominated by CHINA manufacturing, amongst other industrial venues

Redevelopment  has been stalled for years… it appears that the NEW LFB museum will open here some time in the future.

A watch house for the drunk and disorderly and particularly body-snatchers raiding graves.

Watchmen wearing white overcoats and carrying lanterns were meant to be seen and heard, they called the time and weather. Watchmen wearing blue were 'silent' and checked dark corners of the local area.

Bodysnatching was common in this area as surgeons at the local Guy's hospital required fresh corpses and body parts for medical research. This practice was common around London and 'Resurrection Men' would take bodies from graves and disguise them as merchandise.

Legally, only bodies of convicted criminals could be taken.  In 1832, The Anatomy Act was passed, making it an offence to rob a grave. It was only legal to dissect the unclaimed bodies of people who had died in hospitals or poor houses

15th c. Bell tower

The “jolly gardeners” are buried here

Lovely restaurant

Astley's Amphitheatre was a performance venue in London opened by Philip Astley in 1773, considered the first modern circus ring.It was burned and rebuilt several times, and went through many owners and managers. Despite no trace of the theatre remaining today, a memorial plaque was unveiled in 1951 at its site at 225 Westminster Bridge Road. Erected in 1769 on the site of what is now St Thomas's Hospital on the south side of Westminster Bridge Road. The showman Philip Astley, (from British History) "took a large piece of ground, of a timber-merchant, … and, inclosing it circularly with boarding, erected seats for an audience, with a pent-house roof, covered with canvas". The building was subsequently enhanced many times, changed names repeatedly and burnt down thrice. Finally demolished in 1893. Our picture shows the frontage in about 1850. Mentioned by Dickens in 'Bleak House'. And in Jane Austen's 'Emma' Harriet Smith’s visit to Astley’s with the Knightly family results in her engagement to Robert Martin (finally). The V&A have some wonderful pictures of the circus in earlier times.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) is a national law enforcement agency in the United Kingdom. It is the UK's lead agency against organised crime; human, weapon and drug trafficking; cybercrime; and economic crime that goes across regional and international borders, but it can be tasked to investigate any crime.

An artwork by PETER PERI. “Following the Leader”  is a poignant piece intended by the artist, Peter Peri, as a memorial to the children killed in the Blitz.

The area was extensively bombed, and most of the houses that survived were taken down when peace broke out by a council determined to create a new Jerusalem. Darley House was built in the late 1940s and this piece dates from between 1949 and 1952.

The Marmite Food Extract Company was formed in 1902 and was based at Burton upon Trent where it had ready access to its main ingredient – a by-product of the brewing process – courtesy of the Bass Brewery. It is still manufactured in the Staffordshire town today.

According to Edith’s Streets the Vauxhall building was originally the site of the New London Brewery Co. which went into liquidation in 1925 and the factory was taken over by Marmite in 1927.

The picture above (Courtesy Lambeth Landmark) of the proudly lit factory was taken in 1951. It closed in 1967. The homeless charity St Mungo’s took on the building for use as one of its first hostels in the 1970s.

Originally called the NEW SPRING GARDENS, (PEPYS had already mentioned them in 1662),  the VAUXHALL PLEASURE GARDENS were, in the 18th c., the most famous place of public entertainment in London.

Acres of trees and shrubs, with walks and alleys, and plenty of attractions: live music, performances, fireworks tightrope walkers, hot air balloon ascents…. First, access was free. In 1785, an admission fee was introduced. Crowds, arriving by boat, patronised the place,  but some isolated paths were noted for their romantic associations.

A Turkish tent, buildings with Chinoiserie style… A STATUE of HANDEL (whose music was performed during the ROYAL FIREWORKS, in 1749. 
FREDERICK, PofW, had his own pavilion, HOGARTH’s ST.MARTIN’S ACADEMY attended performances, DICKENS came here, as well.

In 1817 1.000 soldiers performed a re-enactment of WATERLOO.

During its best years, JONATHAN TYERS was the man running the affairs. Property developer, impresario, patron of the arts… This was the 18th c. BROADWAY or WEST END, a complex, profitable business, catering for thousands… with amazing buildings, a spectacular lighting , music, paintings…and  all duly advertised to attract patrons.

If you like the idea of enjoying a Portuguese snack… wait and see, during this tour 

The riverside road here was Fore Street which was effectively destroyed by the building of the Albert Embankment. The embankment was built out of the original shoreline in 1866-9 under BAZALGETTE  to take the southern low-level SEWER  from Putney. Bazalgette's Assistant Engineer, John Grant, was supervisor, the contractor was William Webster and it was opened in 1868. It was named after Prince Consort. The embankment itself is a grey granite wall – apart from a short concrete section. 

Designed by TP Bennett in the late 1950's and built in 1960. It is owned by the Duchy of Cornwall and was occupied by the Metropolitan Police as their computer centre until 2011 but has since been converted into flats. 
Originally home to the the famous ‘Flying Squad’, the Police’s elite group of police detectives tasked with tackling violent crime.

The operation that netted the KRAY TWINS was run from here, away from SCOTLAND YARD HQ, as it was feared that corrupt officers would tip off the famous gangsters.

In 1972 it was bombed by the ANGRY BRIGADE

Believed to contain a MI6 safe house. Now luxury apartments: TOMMY STEELE, JEFFRIE ARCHER…

There are 28 cast iron  LAMP STANDARDS  with entwined pairs of DOLPHINS  around a fluted, wreathed column with globular lamp holder and crown. The bases of the columns have the arms and monogram of the Metropolitan Board plus 1870' and "Vie Reg” as well as the foundry - Masfield & Co - and the architect, C Vulliamy.

Facing the river are bronze LION HEADS with rings in their mouths. The walkway was opened in 1868 has four public BENCHES  with cast iron centre and end supports with arms fashioned in the shape of SWANS 

Not a ski slope!.The bus station was designed by Arup Group. It incorporates two cantilevered arms that contain 167 solar panels, which provide a third of the bus station's electricity. It is the second busiest bus station in the city. 

In 2013, Lambeth Council and Transport for London announced plans to demolish the bus station to build a new High Street, as part of Vauxhall's regeneration plans.^[4] The Vauxhall Society campaigned against the demolition and set up a petition to pressure the government to reconsider. An attempt to get the bus station Listed building status failed in 2014.^[5]

By 2019 the plans were to build two residential tower blocks on the site, at heights of 53 and 42 floors, with a new bus station on the ground floor. A four-day public inquiry into the future of the project began in December 2019.^[6] In April 2020, Robert Jenrick upheld the development decisions and demolition was approved.^[7]

In 1892, a new type of hostel for down-and-out or low-paid working men appeared in London — the first of the Rowton Houses created by philanthropist Lord Rowton. His aim was to provide a cheap accommodation that was better and cleaner than anything else available at the time. He put up the then enormous sum of £30,000 of his own money to finance the scheme. An overview of Rowton's scheme is given on a separate page.

The first Rowton House, at Vauxhall, was the prototype for what eventually became a chain of six such establishments in the capital. It opened on 31st December 1892 at Bond Street (now Bondway) in Vauxhall. The location is shown on the 1916 map below.

18 blocks. 1 m. Sq.ft of mixed use, b. 2001-2010. The TOWER is 594 ft, 50 storeys. 5 apartments for each one. Semi-external Sky garden. 

SUSTAINABILITY!. The wind turbine powers common lights. Water is drawn from the LONDON AQUIFER.  HEAT PUMP technology removes warmth from water in order to heat apartments. Triple glaze. Low e-glazing. Ventilated blinds between glazing to minimise at gain. 1 third of energy savings, max.2 two thirds of typical carbon dioxide produced 

Reminding us of the 18th/19th c VPG 

B. 1862 on SW corner of VPG, maybe reusing leftover bricks of the closed down entertainment place.

And the area association with the gay community dates back when on the most secluded areas of the VPG romantic encounters took place. Masquerades, on the other hand, offered opportunities for cross-dressing…PRINCESS SERAPHINA was a frequent visitor: he  is JOHN COOPER, called SERAPHINA by the locals even when he/she turned up as a man…

By the time of WW2 the gay reputation of the RVT was well established. Drag shows were hosted here, and this was a meeting place for returning servicemen and local gay men.

In the 70s: Drag artists dancing along the bar in their stilettos, CARLA, BARBRA STREISAND impersonator, “GREAT LEE PARIS” Saturday Night… The 80s saw DIANA DORS and LILY SAVAGE.

According to CLEO ROCOS, PRINCESS DIANA was “smuggled” in, dressed as a man, escorted by FREDDY MERCURY, KENNY EVERETT and ROCOS himself,  but nobody recognised her. 

As property developers bought the venue, a community group campaign was set up to save it, helping to be recognised and listed as an iconic gay venue. BORIS JOHNSON and IAN MCKELLEN gave their support

if there is a FORD, there must must be a RIVER or a stream somewhere… However, Harleyford Road was named after local leaseholders the Claytons, whose country house was Harleyford Manor, Buckinghamshire.

in fact, the road ma4ks 5he boundary between the manors of KENNINGTON (Royal, since Saxon times, then granted to the BL.PR., by father ED III)  and VAUXHALL, and it follows the course of the North arm of the  RIVER  EFFRA, named here VAUXHALL CREEK.

The memorable oval shape of the ground dates back to c1790 when an oval road was first laid around what was originally a cabbage garden and then a market garden. An 1818 map shows it as 'Poplar Grove' but it had become 'The Oval' by 1830. After a number of proposed building projects had failed, the Oval was opened as a cricket ground in 1846 following the expulsion of the MONTPELIER from their ground in nearby WALWORTH.  Turfs were brought down from TOOTING COMMON.

Cricket matches, and other games requiring a reasonably level turf, could not take place until lawnmowers had been invented.  The first lawnmower was patented in 1830 and other companies entered the market after 1855 when the patent expired.

In 1880 the Oval hosted the first 'TEST MATCH' to be held in England since the series began in Melbourne in 1877.  WG GRACE, scored the first ever CENTURY for the home side. He was also joined in the team by his two brothers, Fred and EM, the first and last time three brothers have represented England. 

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The first Test match not to involve England and Australia took place in 1888 when SOUTH AFRICA played England.

In 1597 (Old Style – 1598 New Style) a court case in England concerning an ownership dispute over a plot of common land in Guildford, Surrey, mentions the game of creckett. A 59-year-old coroner, John Derrick, testified that he and his school friends had played creckett on the site fifty years earlier when they attended the Free School. Derrick's account proves beyond reasonable doubt that the game was being played in Surrey circa 1550, and is the earliest universally accepted reference to the game.^[5][6]

The first reference to cricket being played as an adult sport was in 1611, when two men in Sussex were prosecuted for playing cricket on Sunday instead of going to church.^[7] In the same year, a dictionary defined cricket as a boys' game, and this suggests that adult participation was a recent development.^[5] In an account of a case brought before the King's Bench in 1640, it is recorded that a cricket match "between the Weald & Upland" took place "about 30 yeares [sic]" previously.^[8]

do you like cricket and want to know more and to see the ashes?. or you do not care about cricket…Visit st.john’s wood!

The most iconic cricket ground in London

Beefeater Gin is a brand of ginowned by Pernod Ricard and bottled and distributed in the United Kingdom. Beefeater remained in the control of its founding Burrough family until 1987. The Beefeater distillery is one of 24 in London.^[1]

The name refers to the Yeomen of the Guard who are a bodyguard of the British Monarch. They reside in the TOWER OF LONDON

Enjoy the street food stalls during the week and the farmers’market on Saturdays 

ASHMOLE ESTATE. Social Housing

Of course, you have heard about OXFORD, a lovely town… What about its UNIVERSITY and its museums?. The ASHMOLEAN, for instance.

The Ashmolean came into existence in 1682, when the wealthy antiquary ELIAS ASHMOLE gifted his collection to the university, who opened it as BRITAIN’S FIRST PUBLIC MUSEUM, and the WORLD’S FIRST UNIVERSITY MUSEUM, in 1683.

The Little Sisters of the Poor came to England in 1851. In 1863 they moved from “Paragon”, a crescent on the Old Kent Road, to the current site in Meadow Road. When the former Home was demolished in 1984, a new modern purpose built Residential Home, St Peter’s Residence, was built on the same site.

Today a community of Little Sisters are happy to continue the work of St Jeanne Jugan where the Congregation has served the elderly for over 150 years. The Little Sisters are aided by members of staff, comprising nurses, care assistants, housekeepers, maintenance and administration personnel.  Together with the Chaplain, the Association Jeanne Jugan, members of the Residents’ families and volunteers, they work to ensure that Quality of Life is assured for each Resident.

The 1981 Brixton riot, or Brixton uprising,^[1] was a series of clashes between mainly black youths and the Metropolitan Police in Brixton, London, between 10 and 12 April 1981.^[2] It resulted from racist discrimination against the black community by the mainly white police, especially the police's increased use of stop-and-search in the area, and ongoing tensions resulting from the deaths of 13 black teenagers and young adults in the suspicious New Cross house fire that January.

The Thatcher government commissioned an inquiry, which resulted in the Scarman Report.

Enjoy a fantastic experience, when in a London, yes, but we are now in STOCKWELL…This is not NOTTING HILL. Do not get confused!.

And your tour continues

An associate and mentor of MARCUS GARVEY

In case you are interested in space exploration 

The plaque, on the wall of 46 Wilkinson Street, was erected to mark the opening of the South Lambeth, Stockwell and North Brixton Dispensary on 12 July 1866. The plaque has recently been restored by the current residents of the house, with the support of ASSA, with the work carried out by  renowned stonecutter Philip Surey.

Between August 1873 and September 1974, a young Vincent van Gogh took lodgings at 87 Hackford Road. It was here in London that Van Gogh became deeply inspired by British literature and art.

At the age of 20, Vincent van Gogh was transferred from the Dutch branch of art dealers Goupil and Cie. in the Hague to its English location in Covent Garden. This was Van Gogh’s first time living and working in a new country, and his first foray into a foreign culture.

After living in several houses in and around London, Van Gogh finally settled into a room at 87 Hackford Road, an 1820s Georgian terrace in Stockwell. He shared the residence with his widowed landlady Mrs. Ursula Loyer, her daughter Eugenie Loyer, and Samuel Plowman. It is rumoured that Van Gogh fell in love with Eugenie, yet his affections were not returned.

And, now, his name is all over the place… as he made many other donations, often anonymously, and always discreetly. They included £42,500 for Liverpool University, £3500 for Bedford College for Women, and £5000 for building a free library in Streatham; additional provisions were made for libraries in Balham, Lambeth, and Brixton. There was £10,000 for the library of Manchester College, Oxford, and, also to Manchester College, £5000 to promote the 'theory and art of preaching'. In addition he gave £20,000 to the (homoeopathic) Hahnemann Hospital in Liverpool in 1885, £8000 to the Liverpool Royal Infirmary, and £5000 to the Queen Victoria Jubilee Institute, which became the Queen's Institute for District Nurses. In 1887 he gave £5000 to the Tate Institute in Silvertown, to serve as a non-sectarian, and apolitical meeting-place for working people. It had a large hall and several meeting rooms, a reading room, billiard room, and nine bathrooms.

If you want to divert, follow westwards Wandsworth road and you will find…

An area in the process of regeneration… but what you see first is not that gleaming riverside!. Wait and see…

And Keep enjoying this guide