1

The Battersea Society

Newsletter Winter 2008

Regist ered Charity no:1103560

Wandsworth Council‟s

initial public consultation

period for the planning

applications relating to the

redevelopment of Clapham

Junction ended in late

November. More detail

can be found on Council‟s

Planning register under

application 2008/4488, but

the scheme essentially

consists of various

improvements to the

station, creating new

station buildings on St

John‟s Hill and Grant

Road, and a new

shopping, residential and

business centre, including

two 42 storey tower

blocks, with 556

residential units.

These two towers have

caused the most

controversy, and are the subject of

most of the very large numbers of

objections on the council‟s website. In

May this year, the Battersea Society

expressed concern about these two

towers in a submission to the council

following the initial publication of the plans, and have repeated that concern does not adequately address the

in their official objection to the

planning application: “Not only are

they much higher than any existing building in the borough, they are made with the likely extension of the East

even more dominant by their overall

bulk.” Because of their size they

would have an unwelcome visual

impact on the Clapham Junction Conservation Area, and on many other station as a major interchange

parts of Battersea.

It should be possible to provide a

similar level of accommodation in a

different less visually intrusive way,

and it is any case completely

unacceptable that both council and

London-wide policies are being

ignored by the developers‟ failure to

include any affordable housing in the

scheme.

While there is some support on the

council‟s site from those beleaguered

commuters who are desperate to see

any improvement to the station, in the

Battersea Society‟s view this plan

serious difficulties of poor access and

often severely congested platforms.

These problems can only get worse

London Line to Clapham Junction, and before any decision is taken on the

receive no attention from these

proposals. And the plan almost

entirely disregards the vital role of the

between train and bus, offering no

improvements to the army of bus users who arrive at and leave Clapham at the Battersea Arts Centre. Further

Junction every day.

The present shopping centre at the

junction of St Johns Road, Lavender

Hill and St John‟s Hill is – after

Battersea Square – the oldest space

in Battersea, appearing in its present

shape on maps as far back as 1745.

It could not fail to be badly affected by

Storm Gathers Over Clapham Junction

„Twin Towers‟ development.

this development, which in effect turns

its back on St John‟s Hill, cutting

through existing street patterns, and

taking business away.

Local residents believe that the

consultation process has been unduly

rushed. The Battersea Society takes

the view that Wandsworth Council

should meet those, and many other,

concerns by holding a public meeting

various planning applications involved

and has written to council leader

Edward Lister suggesting this. Failing

this, the Society plans to organize

such a meeting, and if necessary this

will be held on Friday 9 January 2006

publicity and information will be

available nearer the date.

In the meantime anyone wishing to

comment on these proposals can go

to our new website messageboard at

www.batterseasociety.org.uk/viewpoint

Mike Roden

Architects visualisation of the new Clapham Junction development

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Editorial

A LOOK AT LIFE The Man On The Battersea Omnibus.

Jenny Sheridan

newsletter@batterseasociety.org.uk

020 7350 2749

So – we‟re all doomed, according to

the papers, as the jaws of the

recession start to bite. Well, as I

observed last time, we‟ve all been here

before, and our own civilisation is no

less vulnerable than any that have

come before. A highlight of our recent

holiday in Egypt was a hot air balloon

flight over the Valley of the Kings as the me.

sun rose over the Nile. Any concerns

about my own mortality were forgotten

as I considered the ephemeral nature of volunteers (Batsoc Academicals, no

glory. Far below our fragile craft I could

see the shattered statue - two vast and

trunkless legs of stone - which inspired Shelley to write Ozymandias: “Look on

my works, ye mighty, and despair…”

Perhaps Gordon Brown should have

that chiselled on his office door.

I share the view of our esteemed

chairman that a day in which nothing

new is learned has probably been

wasted. In that spirit I always accept a copy of the London Lite free

newspaper. Now it is even thrust into

your hand outside Debenhams! What is members of our party, or those who

a curse to many is a boon to me as I

settle down on the 170 bus and turn to

the pages chronicling the antics of our

younger celebrities, stumbling in and

out of taxis and night clubs in various

states of undress and inebriation. I

don‟t know who these people are, or

whether they even really exist outside

the fevered imagination of PR

companies, but I know their names –

Lilo and Peaches and Trixi Fou Fou –

and one day that will be of some use to

Such collected crumbs of

information enabled our band of brave

less) to come sixth in the recent SW11

Literary Festival Quiz, in a large and

competitive field, and of course

explains why one of our number

showed such a disturbing familiarity

with the works of Jackie Collins.

Enjoyed a fascinating Society visit to

the Royal College of Music‟s Museum

of Instruments the other day, where the

assistant curator played some of the

antique harpsichords and pianos for us.

We were all rather cramped in a small

space, and some of the shorter

were hard of hearing found it hard to get

close enough to enjoy the experience

to the full. Next time you‟re in such a

gathering look round to see whether

you may be blocking the view of one of

your fellow members, and try to follow

the Golden Rule.*

See you next time.

Mike Roden

*If you have forgotten what the

Golden Rule is, you‟ll find the answer

in Luke 6:31. May come in useful for

your next pub quiz!

I can ignore it no longer. Now, in

early December, what my friend the

vicar‟s wife calls “the C-word” is upon

us. The Christmas lights have been lit

in Clapham Junction and Northcote

Road, the mince pies are weighing

down the shelves in bakeries and

supermarkets, queues lengthen in our

remaining post offices. If you are

looking for an unusual Christmas

present for a Battersea friend, take a

look at page 14. A brand new booklet

from the Wandsworth Historical

Society gives the origins of local

street names, from Abercrombie

Street to Zulu Crescent.

Just along the tracks from Clapham not rely on the credit crunch to

Junction is another source (or should

that be sauce?) of gifts. Behind the

Royal Festival Hall a Slow Food

market will be held from Saturday 20th

to Tuesday 23rd December. Having

been to these events before, I know

that the market will be full of

passionate and knowledgeable food

producers and sellers. Last time I

bought caramel fudge and Arab

smoked aubergine salad, sipped chilli

hot chocolate and was tempted by a

hog roast. In the next issue of the

newsletter I hope to cover nearby

farmers‟ markets.

In this issue you can read about a

number of developments that will, if

they go ahead, have a profound

impact on our neighbourhood. Some

will be welcome, others less so. It is

perhaps a positive side of the

recession that most of them will not

be built. But if we feel strongly about a am sure you will agree is an

development (such as the monstrous

Clapham Junction scheme) we must

intervene. If such schemes get

planning permission, they could go

ahead when/if the economy improves.

We have a new departure, too:

fiction, in the shape of an atmospheric

short story from Mike Roden (page

13).

On page 15 I have kick-started

what I hope will be a series on

Battersea‟s

pubs. We are

fortunate in

having several

very enjoyable

pubs. I hope

you will write in

about your

favourite local.

This issue is the last that will be

designed by Mike Marchant. Mike has

toiled behind the scenes for at least

seven years and has produced what I

extremely attractive and readable

newsletter. It has been a pleasure for

me to work with him, and on your

behalves I would like to thank him very

sincerely for all he has achieved.

3

Planning Matters Monica Tross gives an update on the work of the Society‟s

planning committee.

Clapham Junction Development

The Society‟s views on these

plans, including an objection to the

two over-dominant towers, were set

out at the time of the general

consultation. We repeated them in a

formal letter of objection to the

planning application.

We have called on the Council to

convene a public meeting to hear the

concerns of very many residents

about these plans. If this is not done,

we will be holding our own meeting in

January. Check for latest news via

www.batterseasociety.org.uk

Beechmore Road Job Centre

This site (on the corner with

Battersea Park Road) is rather

smaller than Clapham Junction but

still very important to our streetscape.

The planning application was strongly

objected to by the Society and by

many Battersea residents.

We told the Council that the plans:

would lead to the loss of a

graceful building, a significant

part of the setting of Battersea

Park*

were an overdevelopment of the

site

would result in an over-

dominant and unneighbourly

building which would relate

poorly to its immediate

surroundings

did not offer a worthwhile mix of

accommodation.

* we have previously recommended

that the building should be included in the Power Station site at the end of the conservation area centred on the

Park.

As we go to press the application

has been withdrawn. We will be

watching out for new plans.

Royal College of Art (RCA)

The Society welcomes this

development in Battersea Bridge Road, now agreed by the Council. We architect. The Society has set out its

had written to express concern at the

sombre façade planned but were not

successful in getting the architects,

Haworth Tompkins, to re-think this.

19 Bus Route

The RCA development will mean

that the bus station in Hester Road

will close. We have written to tell Transport for London that it is vital that or phone him on 020 7622 8017.

the 19 bus route continues to the

south side of Battersea Bridge, ideally

continuing through to Clapham

Junction. TfL have made no decisions

as yet. We will keep checking on this.

Battersea Power Station

Treasury Holdings hosted a

meeting of the Battersea Society at

September. The planning director of

Treasury Holdings gave a presentation

and answered questions, following

which the Society discussed the

plans (see page 5).

Views of the proposals, in particular

the 300 metre tower, were mixed

although members welcomed plans to

develop the site and the green

aspirations expressed by the

overall views on the site in a paper on

Nine Elms as a whole (see our

website).

Please tell us about any planning

or transport issues which concern

you. Email David Lewis, chair of our

planning committee at

planning@batterseasociety.org.uk,

The US embassy may be moving to the least. So having action on my

Nine Elms. It is thought that security

concerns lie behind the decision to

move from central London. Since the

twin towers attacks in 2001, the

current embassy building in Grosvenor bonus. The transport here is wonderful local

Square has had armed roadblocks

stationed outside and part of the

square has been made inaccessible

by car or bus. The plan will only go

ahead if approved by the US Congress this neck of the woods will be eating

and by Wandsworth Council. Council

leader Edward Lister has already

expressed his pleasure at the

proposed move, saying it will breathe

new life into this area of Battersea.

What do local people feel about the increase in security manned by armed

idea of having the United States

among us? Annabel Stein, who lives in as being outside UK law. It will provide competition to design the building.

Nine Elms, says, “I am absolutely

delighted that the US Embassy is

moving here. They will be welcome

neighbours. Currently Nine Elms Lane they will have little need to support

is a no man‟s land and drab to say

Nine Elms to Host US.

doorstep will liven up the area in a

nice way.

“When Battersea Power Station

shows signs of life, that too, will be a

– thanks to Vauxhall Cross - and with

the underground station at Battersea

Power Station now being built, those

who thought I was nuts to move to

their words!”

On the other hand Richard (who did health centre or even allotments.

not want to give his full name) said, “It

will lead to an increased risk from

terrorism. There will be a huge

Americans, who may see themselves

work for a number of people, but these

could well be existing staff. As there

will be facilities within the building

local shops. It will lead to increased

road and

helicopter

traffic. I cannot

see it

benefiting the

community or

economy at

all. What we

need in the

area is

increased social housing, shops, a

“Given that the good people of

Grosvenor Square clearly want rid of

it, why should we want it?”

If the move is approved, there will

be an international architectural

Jenny Sheridan.

4

A Signage Slum Council notices add to visual blight, says Suzanne Perkins.

Most right-minded people and their

council representatives take a dim

view of anti-social uglification of the

urban environment: litter, fly-tipping,

chewing-gum and graffiti, especially

the obsessive „tagging‟ of every

available surface with spray paint. It is one way to control

the general consensus that these

habits must be addressed vigorously

and kept under control, or the urban

scene will slide into squalor.

(Personally though, I do hope no-one

ever gets fined for pinning up a notice

about a lost cat, or for letting us know

there‟s a funfair nearby.)

However, even well-meaning local

authorities don‟t seem to realise their

own culpability in adding an officially

authorised layer of visual misery.

Anyone who enjoys architecture, the

street scene, or the parks and

commons becomes sadder and

sadder, knowing that for this blight,

there is no council cure. There‟s only

more to come.

The need for an instruction to the

public, (whether it be real need, or

motivated by aversion to risk , control

freakery or just plain habit) evokes a

knee-jerk reaction: someone is sent

out into the borough with a notice (i.e.

words on a board). This will be firmly

attached to the nearest vertical

surface in the most convenient way for result is a signage slum. Everyone is

the operative consigned to the task:

job done. Repeat the process a few

times and it becomes a tatty collage

of dos and don‟ts.

There seems to

be no overview of

the general effect

and still less any

realisation that

there is more than

the public‟s

behaviour.

An obvious

example is the

Three Island Pond

on Wandsworth

Common (now

renovated and

called The Stock

Pond). This is a

charming and easily accessible

beauty spot, with plenty of interest

from flora, fauna and the aesthetic

beauty of reflections of the sky in the

water. The eastern edge has long

been guarded by a gently curving

stretch of Victorian railing, which from

the approach on Bolingbroke Grove,

makes a pleasant and practical

transition from the street scene to the

pastoral scene. Over the last few

years, various council departments

have used this railing as if it were a

billboard, and mounted name boards,

instructions, warnings – all in different

styles and at different levels. The

affected by this blight, if only at a

subconscious level.

Please could someone from the

council with a design background

design or commission an attractive

and integrated information board, to

be placed nearby, but not necessarily

clamped onto the view itself? This

could be an updatable source of

information for children and adults

about the plants and wildfowl to be

enjoyed. Or why not contact The

Battersea Society for wittier and

bolder ideas? An elegant column of

steel with interactive animations of the

migration patterns of the birds? A

quaint Victorian penny machine

dispensing healthy food to throw to

the ducks, instead of soggy white

bread? When the pond is frozen, a

cautionary message flickering as a

lightshow on the ice, in eerie blues?

And don‟t get me started on the

litterbins…

The horse chestnut is one of

London‟s most popular trees. With its

pink or white candle flowers in late

spring, its fine spreading shade and its

autumn conkers it embellishes our

streets, squares and parks. But for

several years now all has not been well

with the horse chestnut. This summer

it was noticeable that leaves were

turning brown and then falling, as

though autumn had come early. Were

trees dying?

According to Trees for Cities, a specialist charity, the most likely cause bacterial disease which affects the bark As there‟s no lasting damage, it‟s not

is the leaf-mining moth. This tiny

creature lays its eggs on the leaves

and after hatching, the caterpillars

burrow into the leaf to gorge

themselves, leaving the characteristic

Canker Conquers Conkers.

brown marks. The moth was first

discovered in the UK on Wimbledon

Common in 2002 and has since spread

widely.

The good news is that although

the trees look ugly there is no long-

term damage and no need to fell the

trees. Those trees on the edge of

Wimbledon Common that were

originally affected now look hale and

hearty.

A more dangerous threat to horse

chestnuts is bleeding canker, a

and can cause trees to die or to lose

branches, thus becoming dangerous.

Patrick Langley, Wandsworth Council‟s arboricultural manager, is very take action with that.”

aware of the problems but says, “We

have hundreds of horse chestnuts on

Wandsworth Common and probably

thousands on Tooting Common. We

are monitoring the situation but we re

not doing anything about the leaf miner.

necessary and it‟s not recommended.

The canker is a big problem, which has

been around for some time, and we do

Jenny Sheridan.

5

One Chimney To Dwarf Four? The Society debates the power station proposals.

Could Battersea‟s biggest, grandest

building be dwarfed by a huge eco-

chimney three times its size? Can we

trust the latest in a series of developers

that have bought the vast site and its

iconic power station? If part of a

building is replaced by a replica, is that

a pragmatic response or does it

become a Disneyfied fake?

These were some of the questions

that the Battersea Society confronted

at its members-only meeting at the

Power Station on 30 September 2008.

Jeremy Castle, planning director for

Treasury Holdings, the current owners,

assured us that Treasury were in it for

the long term. They have spent

£4million to date on shoring up the

Grade 2* listed building and “after 25

years of failure we want to make sure

development happens”, he said. He

also pointed out that repairing the

power station after years of neglect

would be costly and any developer

would need to make a financial return.

Mr Castle outlined the planned

scheme, consisting of residential,

commercial and retail buildings and

open space. Describing Nine Elms as

the biggest opportunity area in London,

he said that the offices would be on a similar scale to More London (the office function anyway. What matters is not

development between City Hall and

Tower Bridge).

The aim was to

provide 20,000 jobs and to house building would dwarf the old. demolition is un-

7,000 residents.

An extension to the tube line from

Kennington would improve transport.

The scheme is claimed to be highly

energy-efficient. In response to

questions, Mr Castle said that the

technology involved in the eco-chimney

had been used before – but only in

deserts. He also acknowledged that, at

300 metres high to the Power Station‟s

chimneys‟ 100, the new building would

dwarf the old. However, he said that as

part of it is glass it would not block

views.

Iconic chimneys

Parkview, the building‟s previous

owner (which is thought to have made a opportunity to meet and for his

profit of around £250million on the sale

to Treasury) had received permission to left, Society members discussed the

demolish the chimneys and replace

them with replicas. This remains

Treasury‟s aim. This prompted a

debate between Society members as

to whether it is the iconic silhouette

that should be preserved or the

structures themselves. “We‟ve trusted

developers for years and look what‟s

happened. How can we trust the

present ones to keep this as a real building not a Disney version?” was one just want to see it used.” On the other

view. Another member replied, “The

chimneys have lost their original

the detail but the view from all over

London.” The

Twentieth Century Society believes that seen in recent Wandsworth

necessary and

supports repair, according to Keith

Garner of the Battersea Power Station

Community Group.

Following Mr Castle‟s presentation,

Society members viewed the model of

the proposed development. Some

members were impressed by the

“elegant design – it‟s not just a lot of

slabs and towers.” Others noted the

absence of the school and the six-acre riverside park that had been mentioned. concern about the impact on road

New businesses

David Lewis, chair of the Battersea

Society‟s planning committee, thanked

Jeremy Castle warmly for the

willingness to listen. After Mr Castle

issues between themselves. David

Lewis noted that while Treasury‟s

figures on employment seem over-

optimistic and need probing, the

Society is keen to attract design and

new media businesses to Battersea.

Members held a variety of views on

the proposals. There was a feeling that

“we can‟t be negative about everything.

The site has been empty for so long, I

hand, “the model flatters it. It would

make the Power Station look like a

doll‟s house.” Members wanted the

scheme to include affordable family

housing for long-term occupation, to

offset the preponderance of small flats

developments.

A minority of members felt strongly

that the 19th century pumping station

on the site should be retained. Treasury

plans to demolish it.

Members approved of the scheme‟s

green credentials but felt that they

needed detailed examination. The tube

extension was broadly welcomed but

people pointed out that only linking the

tube to Clapham Junction would make

a real difference. There was also

traffic.

The aim of the meeting was to help

the Society to reach a view of the

project, informed by its members.

“Redevelopment of the power station

and the surrounding site is clearly an

issue of great concern to Battersea

residents, “says David Lewis. “We will

be keeping in close touch as plans

evolve and will keep our members fully

informed.” Jenny Sheridan

At 300 metres high the new

6

“Yes, we can” Plagiarism is the sincerest form of

flattery, some say. So I shall draw on

the leitmotif of the President Elect of

the USA as the theme of this piece. In quality of life of people in Battersea. In

1945 I was too young to understand

VE day, but I am sure that, when the

outcome of the American election

became clear on 5 November, the

sense of relief must have been similar. maximise profits made here. A classic as people realised what was afoot.

A poisonous sore had been lanced

and a kind of nightmare had ended.

The global sense of rejoicing was

almost deafening.

Why should this be?

My view is that it was not just a

signal of the end of the Cheney/Bush

neo-con cynicism that has blighted

the international scene for nearly a

decade. Nor was it just because

Obama is black, or young, or an

intellectual liberal who can string

words and thoughts together. No, I

think most folk around the world

responded to his sense of „can do‟,

his optimism that, with application

and effort and time, things can be

made better, society can become

fairer. It was the triumph of “Yes” over

“No”.

So how does this apply to

Battersea?

Even in this curious period of „credit conclusion. But I suspect that we can

crunch‟ and the implosion of

capitalism, there are threats to the

the market place of planning in

Wandsworth there is a battle going on can”. Because we can succeed in

between those who live and work here

and those who seek merely to

example is the Battersea Power

Station site, where greed and

mammon have held sway for decades

to the continuing shame of Battersea.

Another is the current twin tower

proposal for Clapham Junction.

A similar proposal in Putney,

opposite East Putney station, with

towers of 21 and 25 stories, has just

been refused planning permission on

the grounds that it would “loom large

over the more domestic scale of the

surrounding area”, and it was

“overbearing and out of character with

the surrounding area”. The council‟s

planning committee could see no

justification for a scheme of such

overwhelming size and scale.

If this is its view of a development of

21 and 25 stories, what must be the

committee‟s response to the Clapham

Junction monstrosity of two 42 story

towers? “No! ” should be a foregone

take nothing for granted. It will have to

be argued and fought over.

Which brings me back to Barack

Obama and his theme of “Yes, we

defeating this threat. I have been

delighted to see the opposition grow

The campaigning of local residents

and the activities of Cyril Richert,

Harvey Heath and others in spreading

the word shows that civic sensibility is

alive and well. I hope that Wandsworth

Council will accept the Battersea

Society‟s call for a public meeting

(see the news section of our web site

www.batterseasociety.org.uk)

Whether they do or don‟t, I sense

that the ground swell of opposition will

reach Jericho proportions. Because, Yes, we can…….

Tony Tuck

With the continuing uncertainty

over the future of the Bolingbroke

Hospital, members may be interested

to know that one of the community‟s

surviving WWI memorials (one of

many put up locally in the years

following 1918), was an integral part of a poppy leaf embellishment near to

architect Alner W Hall‟s scheme for

the 1930‟s extension to the hospital.

The memorial was dedicated and

unveiled as part of the formal opening

ceremony of the new hospital building

by the Duchess of Gloucester in

December 1936.

The memorial can be found just

inside, to the right of the main

porticoed Wakehurst Road entrance

Memorial To Battersea‟s War Dead. of the hospital. Set in a black marble

alcove of the green marble panelled

entrance hall, the memorial consists

of an internally lit alabaster urn with a

surface decoration of poppy flower

heads towards the top of the urn and

the base. Below the memorial urn on

the flat surface of the alcove is

inscribed in gold lettering the

dedication:

TO THE MEMORY

OF THE MEN OF

BATTERSEA

WHO FELL IN THE

GREAT WAR

1914-1918

The family of John Benjamin

George Elliott, a postman at South

Kensington who lived with his family in memorial placed in the church by the

Spencer Street (now under the

Ethelburga Estate) placed a memorial

to him in St Mary-le-Park church in

1918. His name also appeared on the

Church War Memorials - where are they now?

with the dates 1939-1945 added

following WWII.

Funds were raised by the Battersea

War Memorial Committee and

presented to the Bolingbroke Hospital

in November 1935 as a contribution

towards the re-building fund. It was

seen as being a lasting and tangible

memorial to Battersea‟s war dead.

Nicola Hale

parishioners‟ war memorial in the

church, erected in 1921, and on the

Tunbridge Wells Equitable Friendly

Society.

Is there anyone out there who

might know where the memorials went

after the church was demolished in

the late 1960s?

Any leads please to Nicola Hale,

23 Joubert Street, SW11 5AE

Chair, Battersea Society

7

The Museum Phoenix

is rising from the ashes. Many Battersea Society members

were involved in the fight to keep

Wandsworth Museum open. Some

joined the Friends of the Wandsworth

Museum (FOWM), set up to support

the museum. FOWM‟s first AGM was

held on 23 October 2008 and

members left it in good heart after

listening to an enthusiastic Andrew

Leitch, director of the new museum, present his plans and ideas. After the

and interactive displays; the human

epic struggle to prevent the closure of

the Court House and to ensure a

museum continues to exist in

Wandsworth, it was good to look to

the future and to see the exciting

ideas that are taking shape.

In the short time that he has been

in post, Andrew has set up a team

and office to plan the development of

the new museum. The question of a

permanent site still remains open; the

options being considered include both

West Hill and the Young‟s site, which

would not be available until 2013 at

the earliest. So the prospect of a

temporary home in Southside Shopping Centre, which could open in

community will feel part of the living

2009, is most encouraging. Such a

space will keep alive the vision of a museum in central Wandsworth whilst

ideas and knowledge, participating in

negotiations are in progress for a

permanent base, reminding everyone

of the vital part museums play in a

community‟s cultural life, and, most

importantly, bringing the museum

directly in contact with local people.

Unique story

The aim of the new museum, said

Andrew, is to tell the unique story of

this part of London through galleries

focusing on the natural history of the

Wandle and its wider area; people‟s

stories through their voices, artefacts

landscape – transport, industry and

commerce, buildings and towns; and

oral history.

But this is not to be an insular

museum, nor one that turns its back

on the 21st century. Andrew hopes that fundraising or the oral history project

national museums will lend relevant

artefacts; that schools will not only

use the education packs but will be

actively involved in developing them.

He sees schools taking advantage of

both the education and resource area

within the museum and, before there

is a building to inhabit, using the

website/wiki currently being set up.

The idea is that everyone in the

history aspect of the museum by

using modern technology to contribute permanent site may still be some way

the oral history project, and taking

advantage of the gallery to be set

aside for community events.

Funding inevitably remains an issue

despite the wonderfully generous

donation from the Hintze‟s. This

donation is being managed so

expertly that all the work to date is

only using the interest on the

£2million.

Andrew‟s energy and enthusiasm

for the project left the Friends in no

doubt that, over the next three years,

he will raise the £2-£3 million he

believes will be necessary to maintain

and develop the museum. Few will be

able to withstand his determination to

make Wandsworth Museum a vital,

innovative institution. His desire for

everyone to be involved – in

or the website - made the Friends feel that it is to be their museum and that

of everyone living in the Borough. This

sense of involvement was reinforced

by Andrew‟s announcement at the

AGM that Sheila Allen, Chair of

FOWM, has been invited to become a

trustee and to add the Friends‟ voice

to those of the existing board

members.

The Court House may be closed

and being turned into a library; a

off, but there will be a museum in

Wandsworth.

Andrew Leitch is willing to talk to

all interested groups.

Christina Dawson, Friends of

Wandsworth Museum.

News that Wandsworth Council has minibus linking to

approved plans for a new campus for

the Royal College of Art on Battersea

Bridge Road has been greeted with

joy in Kensington Gore (the RCA‟s

home). Sir Christopher Frayling, rector include 30

of the Royal College, said “The

expansion will give the school room to incubators‟, which

breathe.” He praised Wandsworth

Council, which he said had been very

welcoming. (See page 3 for the

Battersea Society‟s view).

The RCA‟s sculpture school has

been based on the Battersea site for

some years, but the £33 million new

building will house the schools of fine

art and applied art. Eventually there

will be space for photography,

printmaking, ceramics, glass, gold

and silverworking.

Around 250 students and staff will

move to Battersea. The site will be

car-free, with 58 bicycle spaces and a

Room For Art To Breathe.

the main building in

Kensington.

Excitingly, the

campus will also

„designers‟

will provide facilities

for recent design

graduates.

Professor Frayling

hopes that the area

will develop as a

design hub,

attracting creative

industries and thus encouraging local

industry and employment.

The building (pictured) is designed

by architects Haworth Tomkins, who

designed the redevelopment of the

Royal Court Theatre and the re-

building of the Young Vic. They are

also involved with developments at

BAC.

The first phase of the development

is aimed for completion in 2011, the

second phase in 2013.

Jenny Sheridan.

8

Wandsworth Primary Care Trust

has plans to provide modern, fit-for-

purpose healthcare facilities that will

improve people‟s health and tackle

health inequalities, particularly for

those living in the borough‟s most

deprived areas. This article is based

on the PCT‟s press release, issued in

June 2008, after a local consultation

exercise.

Grant Road

The PCT plans to develop a new

primary care centre on Grant Road

near the back entrance to Clapham

Junction station over the next four

years. The new centre will include

space for GP practices, a walk-in

centre, outpatient and diagnostic

services like x-ray and ultrasound and

sexual health services. However the

site is owned by Wandsworth Council

and at present it is unclear whether

the Council has declared the site

surplus to requirements and therefore

available for the PCT to purchase.

Development work will hopefully begin

in 2010 , aiming to open in 2012.

Bridge Lane

Bridge Lane Health Centre will be

refurbished. Some patients of Bridge

Lane were worried that the NHS was

planning to move or close their

surgery. This was never the case.

Doddington

The third part of the plan is to

redevelop Doddington Health Clinic

and Battersea Fields Practice. This

would be a significant development to

meet the health needs of people living

in Queenstown and St Mary‟s Park

wards, two of the six most deprived

wards in Wandsworth.

Bolingbroke Hospital

The majority of individual responses are being set up across the country to

to the PCT‟s consultation wished to

see a new primary care centre

developed at the Bolingbroke

Hospital. The building is owned by St

George‟s Healthcare NHS Trust. If

they decide that they no longer need

it, Wandsworth PCT will declare an

interest in securing space on the site

for healthcare. The PCT would like to

see the following delivered from the

Health Matters Sue Marshall updates us on the latest health service plans.

new development: GP services,

maternity and child health

services and services for older

people.

Geriatric outpatients, the

elderly day hospital, podiatry

and physiotherapy will remain

at St John‟s Therapy Centre for

the long term. Once it is open,

the new primary care centre on

Grant Road should house most

of the Bolingbroke‟s outpatient

and diagnostic services,

including x-ray, ultrasound and blood

tests and the Harmoni GP out-of-

hours services. These are moving

temporarily to St John‟s Therapy

Centre in early December.

The Council‟s response

Wandsworth Council‟s Health

Overview and Scrutiny Committee has

the responsibility to review and

scrutinise plans for the provision and

operation of health services in the

borough and to make comments

following resident consultation on

substantial changes to existing or

new services. In addition it has the

right to refer its decisions to the

Secretary of State for Health for

consideration.

It reviewed all the above proposals

in September 2008. In summary the committee welcomed the development

www.wandsworthlink.org.uk at Grant Road subject to a feasibility

study in relation to space, planning

and accessibility. However it

expressed serious concern at the

perceived low priority of the

Bolingbroke and stated that the ten

year timetable for re-development was

unacceptable. The PCT was charged

to come forward with a more urgent

timetable.

Patient Consultation

Local Involvement Networks, LINks,

give communities a stronger voice in

their health and social care services.

Independent networks of local people

and groups, LINks will find out what

people want, investigate issues and

use their powers to hold services to

account.

Up to now, one of the ways that the session at the PCT on Friday 17

NHS has talked to patients has been

through Patient and Public

Involvement Forums (PPIFs), which

succeeded Community Health

Councils. The Wandsworth LINk will

build on the work of the PPIFs and will

be open to anyone to join. It will cover

all publicly funded health and social

care services (except children‟s social

services) no matter who provides

them. The LINk will make it easier for

people who commission and manage

these services to talk to communities

and find out what they want. LINks are

part of the local accountability and

scrutiny arrangements and will have

powers requiring health and social

care managers to respond to them.

They will also be able to refer matters

to Overview and Scrutiny Committees

in the Council.

For more information, see

New Clapham Junction Clinic

The PCT have advertised for

“expressions of interest” in

establishing new GP-led services in or

around Clapham Junction. This is

separate from the planned Grant Road

centre. The bidders would be

expected to provide the location. This

is an open competition and could lead

to a private company winning the

tender.

The latest news is that the

Battersea GPs have decided to

collaborate in a joint venture as a

social enterprise company and submit

a tender. This would mean that those

involved would have a share in the

company. There was an information

October. The contract will be awarded

by mid January.

9

It is a remarkable fact that few

British people have heard of Benedict

Arnold, one of the most famous (or

infamous) men buried in Battersea

Parish Church. And it is ironical that if

Arnold had died in New York state in

1777 of the wounds he sustained

fighting against the British in the War of reprimand Arnold for some matters.

Independence, instead of in London in

1801, he would have been an American

hero rather than a despised traitor. This

article explains these paradoxes, and

why he is buried in Battersea.

Benedict Arnold was born in

Norwich, Connecticut, in 1741. After a

troubled childhood, Arnold built up a

flourishing apothecary‟s and trading

business in New Haven. Like many

New England merchants, he agitated

against British attempts to control and

tax their trade. In 1775, when trouble

flared with the British military, Arnold

threw himself into the fight, and for two

years fought the British with reckless

courage and superb leadership of men.

He also made many enemies on his

own side.

In 1775, after seizing a British

fortress, he was appointed by George

Washington to lead an audacious

attempt to capture Quebec, where he

was badly wounded. In 1776 he built

and commanded a flotilla on Lake

Champlain which fought a larger British

flotilla and frustrated a British attempt

to retake the colonies from Canada.

Gentleman Johnny

In 1777 when the British tried again

under General „Gentleman Johnny‟

Burgoyne, Arnold was sent to help. He

defeated one British force in the

Mohawk Valley, and was field

commander under General Horatio

Gates in two battles near Saratoga.

Before the second he had quarrelled

with Gates and resigned his command,

but joined in the fighting all the same.

In both battles he showed inspired

leadership and courage, and was

terribly wounded (amputation of his left

leg was counselled but he refused it)

and partially crippled. Burgoyne was

defeated and surrendered to Gates at

Saratoga. Gates took all the credit, but

the British thought that Arnold had won

the battles.

When he had recovered somewhat,

Arnold was appointed military governor

of Philadelphia by Washington, partly

Spy, Traitor And Duellist. Sven Tester outlines the life of Benedict Arnold,

buried in St Mary‟s Church.

as a reward for his bravery. It proved a

disastrous appointment. Arnold got

embroiled in quarrels and accusations

from local politicians, ending up with a

Court Martial, which he demanded to

clear his name. This it more or less did,

but it called for Washington to

Washington did this in fairly mild terms,

but Arnold found it humiliating.

Arnold felt betrayed by the

politicians he had fought for, and his

business was more or less lost through

his absence on war service. He

decided to go over to the British. In

1780 he asked Washington to put him

in command of the fortress of West

Point, on the Hudson river fifty miles

from New York, secretly intending to

hand it to the British with its garrison,

for a monetary reward and military rank the Fitchs and the Middletons. The in the British army. The plan went

wrong, and Major Andre, acting as go-

between for Arnold and the British

commander, was caught and hanged

as a spy. Arnold escaped - just - and

joined the British. Ever since then,

Arnold has been known in the USA as

„the great traitor‟.

Arnold fought for the British in

America for about year. In 1781, when

the Americans had won the war, he had identifying plates, apart from a few to leave with his family and go to

London. For most of the next twenty

years, the Arnolds lived in London in

various houses in the West End, lastly

at 62 Gloucester Place, where a plaque

commemorates him. He spent four

years in Canada, where he tried to re-

start his business, and had an

adventurous trip trading in the West

Indies. In 1792 he fought a duel (no-one

was hurt) but mostly he spent his time

trying without success to get

commands in the British army. He died

in 1801, at which time his finances

were at a low ebb.

St Mary‟s burial

At this time, many people in the

centre of London sought burial outside

the immediate city, where the

graveyards were overcrowded. The Arnolds were friendly with three families memorial events in Battersea, and Mr

with American connections who had

buried relatives at St Mary‟s Battersea,

which was newly built (1777) and had a

large crypt used for burials. They all

have monuments there - the Vassals,

Arnolds decided on Battersea too.

Benedict was placed in a lead-lined

coffin in the crypt. The coffin had an

identifying plate, and was not buried

but simply put in the crypt with many

others. The coffins of his wife and a

daughter were also later placed in the

crypt. Then in the 1870s the many and

apparently gruesome coffins were all

buried under the crypt floor with their

plates which were kept and are

displayed in the crypt. Fortunately,

someone made a list of all the coffin

plates before they were buried.

In the 1920s, the historian of St

Mary‟s, FH Taylor, investigated. He

found the Arnold entries in the St

Mary‟s registers, he found the Arnold

names in the list of coffin plates, and

he was able to trace the Arnold

connection with the Vassal, Fitch and

Middleton families.

A simple plaster memorial was put in

the crypt on the 150th anniversary of

Benedict‟s death in 1951. In 1976 a

handsome memorial window in the

church was made by the stained glass

artist John Hayward, paid for by a Mr

Vincent Lindner of Scotch Plains, New

Jersey. On the 200th anniversary of

Benedict‟s death, there were special

Bill Stanley of Norwich, Connecticut,

Benedict‟s birthplace, presented a fine

stone plaque to replace the somewhat

faded 1951 memorial in the crypt.

10

St Mary‟s Church

Fair on a fine

September day was a

great success, with

stalls, games, BBQ,

bouncy castle and

home made teas.

There was a wonderful

view of the Thames as

almost 300 boats from

all over the world took

part in the Great River

Race.

The Events

Committee organized a

stand (see picture).

Virginia Hiller and her team diligently

collected, sorted and priced bric-a-

brac, jewellery and gifts. Sara Milne

spent hours making jams, chutneys

and cordials for the home produce

stall and Maureen Larkin, with other

members of the Events Committee

were on hand to answer questions

about the Society. A record sum of

What makes a street a social

street? From the late ‟60s, Donald

Appleyard, an Englishman working in

San Francisco, published research

showing that traffic levels directly

affect the friendliness of streets. His

work has been used by campaigners,

such as myself, who are keen to

persuade our own authorities to make

our streets usable by everyone;

however, this American study has had

limited influence on UK town planners. passing vehicles; moving to the back

Now, Josh Hart, a Bristol-based San

Franciscan, has replicated

Appleyard‟s classic study, eloquently

demonstrating how heavy motor traffic

erodes communities. Josh has shown

that the average resident on a busy

street has fewer than one quarter of

the number of local friends of those

living on a similar street with little

traffic.

Quotes from this report convey the

flavour of the Bristol findings. For

instance, from the „light traffic‟ street: “People stay for a while and put down

roots”

“There is really a sense of community

- we look after each other”

From the „medium traffic‟ street: “It‟s not so friendly - you barely see

anyone”

“We tend to only know people who live local communities, and (last but not

near us, because it‟s busy” and from

the „heavy traffic‟ street:

Is Yours A Social Street? “The traffic‟s like a mountain range,

cutting you off from the other side of

the road”

“People don‟t communicate unless

they have to”.

What‟s also striking is the extent to developments; promoting events such

which people adapt their living

arrangements to high volumes of

motorised traffic in their street -

keeping their front windows closed

against air and noise pollution from

of the house to get away from traffic

fumes; forbidding children from playing of car clubs and car sharing - which

in the street. Sound familiar to you?

All these types of streets exist in

Battersea; for people on the busiest

streets, as Josh Hart says: “These

impacts exact a particularly heavy toll

on children and the elderly, who are

more vulnerable to the impacts of

traffic in their neighbourhood.” But for

everyone, this is a key public health

and quality of life issue, both

nationally and locally, and this work

provides more evidence - as if it were

needed - that our current transport

policy is simply unsustainable.

By taking practical steps to

address the effects of motorised

transport, we can improve people‟s

health and quality of life, strengthen

least) tackle climate change. Josh

Hart identifies a number of policy

solutions, for example, adopting a

20mph speed limit on all residential

streets; designing streets primarily as

a social space; supporting „car-lite‟ or

„car-free‟ new residential

as street parties; and „localising‟

communities (“improving the

availability of local goods and services

while reducing the need to travel”). In

Battersea we‟ve made some progress;

for all its imperfections, public

transport is relatively good, and levels

this report recommends as a way of

facilitating lower car ownership - are

rapidly growing across our borough.

But we can, and must, do more, if we

care about our streets and wish to

make them fit places for everyone to

use.

Susie Morrow

(Trustee, Living Streets / member of

Battersea Society)

(Footnotes) 1 „Driven To Excess: Impacts Of Motor

Vehicle Traffic On Residential Quality Of

Life In Bristol, UK‟. Summary of

research undertaken as part of a Master‟s

Dissertation in Transport Planning at the

University of the West of England.

Joshua Hart, 2008.

Full study at:

http://tinyurl.com/67k72c

St Mary‟s Fair. Local History

Illuminates Our Past.

“Clapham Junction swallows a

street” is the arresting title of an

article in the Autumn 2008 issue of

the Wandsworth Historian, detailing

the rise and fall of a Victorian working-

class street as the railways ate into

Battersea – particularly interesting in

light of the current proposals for the

area.

There is also an article about

women workers in a wartime projectile

factory in Thessaly Road. Just beyond

our boundaries, there is a riveting, if

harrowing, first-person account of the

bombing of a dance hall in Putney

sixty five years ago.

The Wandsworth Historian can be

obtained from the editor, Neil Robson, at ngrobson@tiscali.co.uk The

journal costs £3 plus 70p post and

£560 was raised for the Society, but

the main aim in taking part was

to raise our profile. In 2009 we shall

be on the look out for help from our

members in providing goods and

helping out on this enjoyable

occasion.

Cynthia Newman packing.

11

Starbucks, Greggs, Gap, Next,

Tesco Express: you could be

anywhere. So many high streets now

look and feel identical, with all their

soul ironed out by the blandness of

chain stores and cafes. Battersea,

fortunately, is not one of these

identikit areas and we must try to

make sure it retains its individuality.

Clone Town is a phrase coined by

the New Economics Foundation (Nef)

to describe the identical high streets

developing all over Britain. In these

towns, chains outnumber independent exclusively for children,

shops and most of the retail activity

goes on outside the centre, leaving a

dead heart. The worst, Exeter, has

only one independent shop in the city

centre.

Northcote Road

The Northcote Road Action Group

(NRAG) has been campaigning for over two years to retain the diversity of

with real local, individual shops or a

the road and to promote it as a centre

of food culture. Recently (October

2008) it carried out a survey of the

road to assess whether, in Nef ‟s

terms, it is a „home town‟ or a „clone

town‟. (While the group used Nef‟s

survey, it did not carry it out in the

prescribed way). Out of a total of 118 shops, 75 were

makes.

independents and 43 were chains.

Twenty five were restaurants or cafes

and four were pubs or bars – nearly a

quarter of the total. It is no wonder

that residents object when planning

applications appear for yet another

café masquerading as a coffee „shop‟.

Almost another 25% of the road

consisted of clothes shops, most of

them chains. Eight hairdressers and

No To The Clones! beauty shops add to the

impression that Northcote

Road caters very largely for the

young and wealthy. This area

„between the commons‟ in

estate agents‟ jargon, is indeed

largely well off. But it includes

estates and a walk around the

streets suggests that many

houses are lived in by people

who do not have money to

burn.

Six shops catered

confirming the area‟s „Nappy Valley‟

reputation. There were eight estate

agents. Seven shops stood empty.

Only nine shops were primarily food

retailers – though the road does of

course have its much-loved street

market on Fridays and Saturdays.

So is Northcote Road a home town, forcing down prices to producers,

clone town like so many others?

Using Nef‟s calculations, NRAG

discovered that it would be classified

as a border town, between the two,

though happily hovering near home

town status. It will be interesting to

repeat the survey in a year‟s time, to

explore the difference the recession

What‟s wrong?

What‟s wrong with clone towns,

some may ask. Supermarkets, for

example, offer the convenience of

buying a large range of goods under

one roof. But Nef has shown that as

well as decreasing the sense of

community that people need, chain

stores damage the local economy by

draining profits out to distant

headquarters and shareholders. Small

local businesses on the other hand

tend to keep money circulating locally

Loss of diversity ultimately leads to

less choice for the consumer, as well

as, frequently, higher prices.

Supermarkets are well known too for

leading to farmers and other artisans

going out of business.

The Federation of Small

Businesses has launched a campaign

to “Keep Trade Local”, supported by

several Northcote Road shops which

carry an FSB petition. According to

the organization, Britain‟s high streets

face extinction, with the potential loss

of 50, 000 small businesses over the

next seven years.

NRAG urges everyone in Battersea

to support their local shops by

shopping locally. Otherwise we may

realize too late that our „home town‟

has turned insidiously into yet another

clone town. Jenny Sheridan.

www.neweconomics.org

www.fsb.org.uk

From Jane Austen to Thomas the

Tank Engine and from Barbara

Cartland to Henryk Ibsen, the SW11

Literary Festival pub quiz stretched

Battersea bookworms‟ brain cells.

Eighteen teams competed in the

feverish atmosphere of the Latchmere

pub on Monday 29 September.

Sample questions included:

What children‟s book did Ian

Fleming write?

Which Booker Prize-nominated

novelist played Ken Barlow‟s girlfriend

in Coronation Street?

What body part is the first - and

second and third – word in Tom

Stoppard‟s play Rozencrantz and

Guildenstern are Dead?

(answers on back page )

The quizmaster, James Walton of

Radio 4‟s book quiz programme the

Write Stuff, devised cunning rounds

where all the answers were linked. In

one, all ten answers were alliterative

(Gunther Grass, Ruth Rendell ….); in

another they contained a colour, such

as The Color Purple or Violet

Elizabeth Bott.

The Battersea Society‟s team

came a respectable sixth, with 69

points. The winners were a team of

authors, including the historian Tom

Holland, with an Olympic gold medal

score of 92 points out of a possible

96. Teams from Wandsworth libraries

and Waterstones also did well.

The quiz is an annual highlight of

the literary festival and is growing in

popularity and hilarity. As well as the

Battsoc Academicals, several other

Society members distinguished

themselves (or otherwise!) in various

teams. Next year, perhaps the

Society will be able to put forward a

bigger team, or even two teams. Your

newsletter will remind you in due

course and will exhort you to uphold

local literary pride.

Congratulations to Lorinda Freint,

the Clapham Junction Town Centre

Partnership and Waterstones, who

organize the SW11 Literary festival.

Jenny Sheridan.

So what WAS Mr Darcy‟s first name?

12

The Katherine Low Settlement is

based in a large, untidy part-Georgian

house on Battersea High Street. It

houses or manages an eclectic

collection of groups and activities.

Sarah Rackham, the community

development worker, has worked there time, and we can‟t take any

for 15 years.

JS: Why Katherine Low? Who was

she?

SR: She was an American

suffragette who was an active member schools and provides homework

of the parish of St Mary‟s. When she

died in 1923 the settlement was set

up in her memory for the benefit of

local women and children. Originally

the workers – all volunteers – lived

here, like missionaries in the slums of

Battersea. There are several of these

settlements in poorer areas – we‟re

part of a proud tradition of radical

community activists.

Before the war there was one of the amazing time and looked stunning in

early Marie Stopes family planning

clinics here. People were very poor.

Barefoot children were given shoes

and a cobbler came in to teach the

kids how to mend their shoes.

JS: What do you do for children

nowadays?

SR: There‟s lots of things going on!

There‟s a very lively youth club. Their

drama group wrote and performed a

play in Putney Arts Theatre. The girls‟

group completed a City and Guilds

car maintenance course. Dione, a

youth worker, always says that

despite all the bad publicity, knife

crime and gang culture, young people

are great.

We are very proud of our young

carers‟ project. This supports children

and young people who live with a

parent who have a physical disability

or mental health problems. We have

four different age group clubs ranging

from five up to 18. We offer support

and advice and can accompany

parents to hospital, school or court

visits. And it‟s important that the kids

have a chance to take a break from

their caring role. Last year a group of

11-13 year-olds went to the Brecon

Beacons and had a great time rock

climbing, kayaking and trekking. This

year an older group went to the Isle of

Man. The project as a whole is funded the parents of a person with a severe

by the Council, but they did not

increase their grant this year so the

kids wouldn‟t have been able to go

away on trips if a charity hadn‟t kindly

“A proud tradition of community activists” Sarah Rackham tells Jenny Sheridan about the Katherine Low Settlement.

stepped in. This project helps

families to stay together, and we

would really like to be able to

increase it. We have 92 children

on our books and a waiting list.

There is a tiny staff, mostly part-

more clients at the moment. We

badly need funding for more staff.

Our refugee home-school

support project works with

clubs for these children, who

have to struggle with a new

school system as well as a new

language. And we provide arts

opportunities, such as African

dance and drumming. Some of

the children were chosen to join

a dance group in Trafalgar

Square for the Olympic torch

procession. They had an

their bright costumes. There‟s also a

befriending scheme where volunteers

visit families at home.

JS: What about adults?

SR: We have a nice mix of people

who have lived in Battersea all their

long lives and new arrivals. The

pensioners‟ drama club has a superb

tutor and is really flourishing. They

started doing readings but now they

find plays themselves or write their

own. There‟s terrific enthusiasm. One

of the ladies is 90 and in a wheelchair.

They love it.

Earlier this year the Peabody lunch

club had to close. We invited its

members to join us so our cook is

now providing meals for 25-30 people

two days a week. Some are quite frail

and would otherwise be housebound.

There‟s also a line dancing club for

pensioners and Tai Chi for over-50s..

The English as a Second Language We want to buy railway sleepers to

class is very popular. A tutor comes in create safe, level flower beds, but

from South Thames College to teach

17 students from 14 nationalities.

Eighty per cent of new arrivals in

the borough are Somali. We run a

Somali Women‟s Group, who meet to

talk about life back home and the

issues they face here.

The mental health carers‟ group

meets here once a month. This gives

mental health problem the opportunity

to hear speakers and to support each

other.

JS: There‟s a lot going on. How is

all this funded?

It‟s a struggle! We decided for

various reasons not to go for renewal

of a contract with Sure Start. We rely

mainly on grants and donations. The

refugee project has a Big Lottery grant

and the Council supports the young

carers‟ project. We have grants from

the Sir Walter St John Educational

Trust and the Wates Foundation. And

we charge rent for the hire of our

rooms. But repair and maintenance on

a building like this is expensive. We

always need more funding.

JS: Any future projects?

SR: Well, we want to make a

community garden. The probation

service has cleared some land for us

between the crèche and the railway

embankment and will offer us ongoing

help. If any Battersea Society

members would be interested in this

project, either practically or with fund-

raising, we‟d love to hear from them.

unfortunately they‟re very expensive.

JS: You‟re obviously very busy.

What keeps you motivated?

SR: It‟s a great place to work.

We‟re autonomous and independent,

people here are idealistic and

enthusiastic. And our members and

people who attend groups here come

by choice, because they enjoy it and

get something out of it.

To contact Sarah, phone 020 7223

2845 or email

sarah@klsettlement.org.uk

A young refugee enjoys a trip to Kew Gardens.

13

In winter the Thames riverside can

be a disturbing place, especially as

darkness begins to fall. On Old Swan

Wharf next to St Mary‟s Church the

past never seems very far away. On a

late winter Sunday afternoon there are developers like to call it).

few people around, and with a chill

east wind stopping the Heathrow

bound planes heading over the river,

the silence can sometimes be

unsettling. On my way back from the

shop in Battersea Square, I stopped,

as I often do, to look out across the

river. There were lights here and there, “Used to be a pub you know.”

but many buildings were as dark and

shapeless as the industrial buildings

they must have replaced.

The silence was suddenly broken,

“You thinking philosophical thoughts

again?”

I turned sharply and saw an old

man grinning at me from under a

woolly hat. “Maurice? What are you

doing out in this weather?” He gave a

rasping cough , “And that chest of

yours doesn‟t sound too good.”

He was small and wiry, wrapped in

an overlong, shabby overcoat.

“Nothing that a few tots of whisky

wouldn‟t cure…”

He was a familiar face along this

part of the river, always in search of an later on, and then I knew it. See

audience, and the possibility of a free

drink. He had moved from this part of

Battersea about forty years ago, but

now lived somewhere off Northcote

Road with his daughter. He was fond

of announcing that he was eighty-nine

years old.

“Does Moira know you‟re up here?”

His daughter was probably already on

her way looking for him. She‟d stormed into The Castle one

lunchtime just as Maurice was

beginning to down the pint I‟d bought

him.

“Dad, you‟ve got a doctor‟s

appointment.” But I took the full force

of the blame, as if I‟d been leading a

teenager into bad habits. “You should

know better than encourage him to

drink at lunchtime!” She would not be

pleased that he was here in this

weather

“She knows I‟ve always liked to

take a stroll round here, this time of

year. Just before Christmas. Quiet,

like it was back then – when they

closed the works for a couple of

days.”

Afterwards A Battersea Riverside Tale.

Maurice knew every inch of this

riverbank. He could still identify

what had been where – from

Morgan Crucible up to Gargoyle

Wharf (or Battersea Reach as the

Sometimes I wasn‟t sure he could

even see the shiny new blocks of

flats, but was looking instead at the

shadows of what been there before.

He was clearly thinking about that

now, as he glanced back at the

white-painted building behind us.

“Yes, I know – the Swan.”

“Buildings have ghosts too.

Burned down, that did. Twice. If

ever a building‟d haunt itself that

one would.” His throaty chuckle

turned into another hacking cough.

“Don‟t start on about your

supernatural experiences,

Maurice…”

I had heard all this before.

Among other assorted

manifestations Maurice claimed to

have seen JMW Turner embarking

from a rowing boat to go and sit in

his chair in the church. “Course, I

didn‟t realise it at the time,” he‟d

told me, “But I saw a picture of him

that‟s what they say about ghosts.

They reckon you never know at the

time. Only afterwards.”

“It‟s too cold for Turner, today, Maurice,” I said. “And for you. It‟s time

bus stop.

you were going home.”

Maurice was a great one for not

listening to what he didn‟t want to

hear. “They say that Mr Turner never

painted a picture of St Mary‟s – for all

the time he spent over this side of the

river.”

“Next time you see him getting off

his boat, you can ask him. Look, you

don‟t want Moira coming up here

looking for you.

“Not today she won‟t”, he said

emphatically. “No, she won‟t be up

here today.”

“I‟m glad you‟re so sure”, I said,

“But you need to get out of this wind.

I‟ll walk you to the bus stop.”

Maurice laughed, “Worse than she

is, you are. I‟ll get myself back where

I belong , don‟t you worry.”

“I‟ll get back and phone Moira, tell

her you‟re on your way.”

“No need to do that. She won‟t be

worried about me.” He gave me a

friendly nod, “You have a good

Christmas, eh?” Then he was gone, a

spry enough figure, hands plunged

deep in his pockets. I hoped he

wouldn‟t have to wait too long at the

……………..

She answered the phone straight

away. “Hello?”

“Is that Moira – Maurice‟s

daughter? You probably won‟t

remember me, but I live near the river

and Maurice…”

She interrupted me, “Oh, it‟s very

kind of you to phone. Dad seemed to

know everyone in Battersea. The

funeral‟s next Wednesday – if you‟d

like to come you‟d be very welcome.”

I let it sink in. “Funeral?”

“Oh I‟m so sorry. Didn‟t you know?

It was two days ago. He‟d not been

well, a chest infection. It was very

quick…”

I stared at the phone for a moment,

recalling words I‟d heard only a few

minutes before: “See that‟s what they

say about ghosts. They reckon you

never know at the time. Only

afterwards.”

Mike Roden

14

It is now a year since the SW11tch

Back to Battersea Campaign was re-

launched and much has been

achieved in that time. The aim is to

defend the identity of, and the integrity

of the geography of, Battersea and to

save the area around Clapham

Junction from confusion with

Clapham.

We have been tackling businesses

one by one and have gained increased

community support.

The campaign re-launch

immediately gained profile in the

Borough News with articles on: Are

you proud to be from Battersea, Name

Confusion Up the Junction. A number

of letters were sent in by residents

backing the campaign

Estate agents, often seen as

amongst the spreaders of the

confusion, have given full support,

particularly Douglas & Gordon and

Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward.

Shops have changed their stores‟

designation, for example Jigsaw and

Cath Kidston on Northcote Road and

now the forthcoming Waitrose in St

John‟s Road.

Magazines, newspapers and online

media have published their support

and featured the campaign:

Wandsworth Borough News, the local

Guardian, Edge Magazine, Rise

Magazine, Brightside Magazine,

Essential Local/insidebattersea.com,

LavenderHill.com.

Campaigners went out onto the

streets and into the bars on

Valentine‟s Day to invite people to

declare their Love for Battersea.

SW11TCH Back To Battersea

A collection of wonderful

photographs of Battersea has begun

to be published on the campaign website, http://

lovebattersea.googlepages.com

A new Facebook group has been

created called “Love Battersea”.

Wandsworth Council has

reconfirmed its unanimous support at

a full Council meeting for a new

Motion on Restoring Pride in the

Name of Battersea, submitted by co-

chairmen of the campaign, Councillor

Tony Belton (Labour) and Councillor

Philip Beddows (Conservative).

Battersea Technology College has

re-branded as Battersea Park School

and has adopted as its emblem the

shield from the old Battersea coat of

arms.

A major milestone is about to be

achieved with the formal “re-opening”

of ASDA in Battersea. The store has

been known as ASDA Clapham for

years, but the company has

responded very generously to the

campaign‟s approach. It is so keen to

associate itself with the community it

serves that local general manager

Andrew Holmes has organized a

ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the

new “ASDA Clapham Junction,

Battersea”. Waitrose also plans to re-

brand its store the same way.

To top it all, the American

Government has announced initial

plans to relocate its embassy to

wonderful Battersea.

But Marks & Spencer (amongst

others) have still failed to budge or

even come back to us yet……they

may do so when they see how much

Waitrose and ASDA have done.

We need the help of all members of

the Battersea Society in maintaining

the pressure and keeping a watchful

eye on those who have fallen into the

Clapham-trap. We would be very

grateful if you could alert us of any

mentions of Clapham in respect of

places within Battersea. There is still

a long way to go but we are definitely

heading in the right direction.

Tony Belton and Philip Beddows

Co-Chairmen of the SW11tch Back

to Battersea Campaign

Email: lovebattersea@gmail.com

As you walk thorough the streets of

Battersea, do you sometimes wonder

why they got their names? Why so

many St Johns? Who or what inspired Streets of Battersea: Their Names and

Kambala Road? What about all those

names in „Little India‟? Why did

Hester Road get its name in 1879?

Wonder no more. The Wandsworth

Historical Society has produced

another fascinating booklet, The

Origins. The author is Dr Keith Bailey,

who has been researching the history

of Battersea and Wandsworth for over

30 years. It is a work of immense

scholarship, giving not only the origins

of street names but also the dates

they were approved.

Copies are available from Hilary

Sims, 112 Putney Bridge Road,

London SW18 1NJ. Cost £3 plus 70p

for post and packing. Or email ngrobson@tiscali.co.uk

What‟s in a name?

15

Twenty years ago, when I moved to

the area, the Eagle was a pretty rough

pub. There was illegal gambling run by that forces them to buy beer a tough-looking man known as The

Animal. Some landlords lasted no

more than six months. Then David

Law arrived in 1996, and the pub was

transformed into “a traditional, old-

fashioned British pub,” as Dave says.

“It‟s cosy, there‟s a real coal fire, and

we get a fantastic eclectic mix of

people. Lots are locals and we have a

lot of regulars, but there are also

those who only come in once in a

while, but we recognise them and say

hello.”

Its real ale is one of the Eagle‟s

pulling points. There are always three

or four regular bitters, plus several

guest beers. All are well kept. There

are occasional real ale festivals with

unusual beers from all over the

country served from the barrel by

people who know and love their beer.

“Our ale festival in August was even

busier than a rugby weekend,” says

Dave proudly. “It‟s wonderful to see so

many young people drinking real ale.

Fifty five per cent of our draught sales

is real ale, whereas nationally

Enterprise (the company which owns

the pub) sells just seven per cent.”

The next festival will probably be in

March 2009.

Fair Pint Campaign

Dave is passionate about traditional sway but other dogs are welcome, pubs, their role in the community and

about his pub in particular. He and his

co-landlord, Simon Clarke, are

involved in the Fair Pint campaign.

They are trying to persuade the

The Eagle Ale House, Chatham Road Jenny Sheridan raises a glass to her local pub.

government to release pubs owned

by large companies from the „tie‟

through the company. This inflates

the price to the landlord and thus

to the consumer. “Beer is four

times the price here as it is in the

supermarket. Pubs can‟t compete.

I‟d argue that people drink more

responsibly in a well-run pub than

at home. We‟re asking for a

chance to compete in an open

market, like every other business.”

Simon, who lives locally, was a

surveyor and a pub regular until he

joined Dave in 2005. It is rare to

walk into the Eagle without at least

one of them being behind the bar

or in the pub, talking to people or

drawing up plans for the Sunday

night quiz. The other regular

weekly feature is the Wednesday

curry, cooked by one of them, and a

good warming plate for £7.50.

Rugby on the big screen in the

garden marquee draws a large and

lively crowd. Living nearby, I can

always tell how well England is doing.

The marquee is also the home of

christening parties, wedding

celebrations, parties and wakes.

Alfie

Indoors, there are pleasantly scruffy Austell‟s Brewery‟s Tribute bitter.”

tables, chairs and leather sofas. Alfie,

Dave‟s avuncular black labrador, holds

especially Rosie, a collie described

as Alfie‟s girlfriend. There‟s a small

library of books, which are read. There the bottle. And I‟ve known Alfie since

are board games and shove ha‟penny.

Shelves lined with empty champagne

bottles testify to past celebrations.

Rosie‟s owner, Kev, says he comes

here because “it‟s kept the sort of

community values that I like. People

help each other. If you need any sort

of trade – an electrician or someone

to fix your roof – someone here will

know somebody. There‟s never any

trouble and if there was Dave and

Simon would sort it out straight away.

And I like the bitter; especially St

And me, why do I like it? Because

it feels like a proper local, it‟s friendly

and welcoming. The beer‟s great and

if I feel like wine there are eight very

decent wines by the glass and 37 by

he was a puppy!

The Battersea Society Chair: Tony Tuck

tony@tonytuck.eu

020 7622 0485

Secretary: Harvey Heath

Membership secretary: Maureen Larkin

membership@batterseasociety.org.uk

020 7228 4873

Community

Chair: Harvey Heath

community@batterseasociety.org.uk

020 7585 3788

Planning

Chair: David Lewis

planning@batterseasociety.org.uk

020 7622 8017

Open Spaces

openspaces@batterseasociety.org.uk

Marketing

Chair: Sara Milne

marketing@batterseasociety.org.uk

Events

Chair: Wendy Deakins events@batterseasociety.org.uk

Displays and exhibitions

Chair: Brian Newman displays@batterseasociety.org.uk

16

For all Battersea Society

Events -

please go to the website

www.batterseasociety.org.uk

There must have been a few pats

on the back in 1891 when the open

competition to build Battersea Town

Hall was won by a local man, Edward

Mountford. His distinctive red Suffolk

brick and Monks Park stone façade is

justly celebrated (and listed): the

interior is no less striking. Many of

the ornate finishing touches, such as

the much-loved bee mosaic flooring,

were also commissioned from

Battersea firms.

Since 1981, this remarkable

building on Lavender Hill has been

home to Battersea Arts Centre and in

April 2008 BAC took on a long-term

lease, having worked very closely with access around the

the landlords, Wandsworth Council, to building, make the

agree the terms. It was the

culmination of a year in which the Old

Town Hall was transformed from top to 1950‟s wiring with a

bottom. The foyer was filled with

trees, the basement turned into a

catacomb, and if you ventured through will help our

the right door you‟d usually find a

black cat curled up in front of an open

fire. All this was in service of our co- production with Punchdrunk, The

Masque of the Red Death - the

biggest event at BAC for many years.

BAC believes its extraordinary

space inspires creativity. Many local people will be aware that Jerry

Springer, the Opera started its life at

BAC, but did you know that

thousands of local school children

work with BAC artists every year, and

youth theatre members have gone on

to perform their own shows at the

Edinburgh Fringe to four-star reviews?

In November 2008, four BAC-

supported companies flew to Beijing

for a British Council showcase of the

best of current UK theatre. And

Literary Quiz Answers

In Pride and Prejudice, Mr Darcy‟s

first name is Fitzwilliam.

Ian Fleming wrote Chitty Chitty

Bang Bang.

Beryl Bainbridge played Ken

Barlow‟s girlfriend.

Heads (they were tossing a coin).

If you got those right, do sign up

next year!

alongside all this,

every week, local

groups meet here

for community and

creative activities. The Masque of

the Red Death was

just the start of a

process that we‟ll

be exploring over

the next few years

with award-winning

architects Haworth

Tompkins and

various BAC artists.

We‟ll improve

café more attractive

and replace our

21st century

infrastructure that

technicians realise

whatever theatre-

makers can dream

up. Alongside this,

the building needs

to be refurbished and there are other

practical issues. In the Town Hall‟s

115 year life offices and toilets, built

into corridors, have made circulation

more difficult and the foyer darker.

We‟d like to undo some of this. We

want to improve the Grand Hall as a

venue for large scale theatre

performances, as well as the

community and private events it

houses so well. That means creating

access for large pieces of set, and

we‟d like to go back to something

nearer the elegant original balcony

than its 1930‟s replacement, which

cuts across two window arches.

So where do the artists come in?

We‟ll be asking various artists over

the next few years to re-imagine the

building and create adventures for

audiences and local people that will

take them around the whole of the

“playground” of the Old Town Hall. Do

watch this space: you never know

when you‟ll find a tree growing in the

foyer.

Adventures For Audiences. Rosie Hunter, BAC‟s executive director, outlines its exciting future.