Many years ago we decided we needed a garden. After months of hunting we found a house in Herne Hill in South London. Being off the tube grid it was cheaper than the equivalent house in Clapham even though the trains to Victoria and Blackfriars took 15 minutes.
The centre of this little bit of London is around the station. Back in 1985 after the second Brixton riot it was grubby and neglected. Brixton is half a mile away – a stone’s throw we used to joke.
Today what used to be the traffic and bus clogged road by the station is shut to through traffic. And closed for an excellent market on Sunday. The cafes, bakeries and delis are testament to new affluence.
It’s a mix of people, different styles and accents but in gaining it has also lost some. The wood yard for instance and the old fashioned pub. And the fishmonger.
It’s like the seasons these changes. Not better just different.
The flats are full. People ply their trades. Work is created. And the trains still send teeming hordes into the centre.
You’d be hard pressed to pinpoint when any major changes occured. The first decent restaurant came in the early 80s. Charity shops in the 90s now reducing in number. Building societies and banks going, estate agents coming.
There was a flood in 2011 and some businesses never survived. The post office became flats and a sports shop. The garage a Tesco.
The local school is good. The church seems popular. And the Lido buzzes once again as it must have done in the 30s and in ways it certainly didn’t in the 80s.
My favourite part is the park. Brockwell. A bit like parks of old. Mostly grass and trees. I can watch the seasons from here. The leaves colouring and dropping. Frost and mud. Spring showers and seering summer sun. It changes but you have to pause to notice.
Much like life.
The pictures were taken in Brockwell Park and Herne Hill market today.
Makes me feel very homesick for London.
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There’s a walk here you can enjoy when you visit!
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I’ll look forward to it. 🙂
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Thanks for this, Geoff. It must be 30 years since I was last there
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Hope you’re feeling better. Sounds like you were leaving as I was coming!
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. Thanks, Geoff. I am. I went up to Newark in ’87
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We’ve got friends in Herne Hill – brilliant little place. The views of all the cityscapes have escaped me though – must be because we only ever seem to be there when it’s dark.. Great photos!
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It’s getting bette and better, in truth. The boy is just about to move into a flat near the station, keeping up family tradition.
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Autumn in London looks as beautiful as spring was.
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They are both great seasons. Jan and Feb are the worst, often, because the skies can be a uniform grey, the air damp and the cold in the bones numbing. But I’ll take that to avoid the minus 10 and the plus 35 any day.
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Thank you Geof
So glad Sam and Rachael are moving to such a lovely place
Great pictures
And the sun shines!
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Looks like a lovely place to live. The city skyscrapers above the trees look ghostly, surreal, quite sci fi in fact… they don’t seem to fit with the rest of the picture. As you say, much like life.
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You’re right it is a contrast isn’t it.
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Seems like a wonderful place for views and peple watching.
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…and people!
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True!
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Great pictures Geoff. I love the views of the autumn colours in the park and that the City life seems so far away. The place must buzz on a Sunday with a market. I remember the feeling back in the early 70’s when I lived in Hackney and used to visit Petticoat Lane and especially visiting the Jewish bakers for fresh doughnuts. It was vibrant.
Hugs.
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Ah ha indeed. You’d know the Baegel shop in Brick Lane then! Hackney has changed in many ways and in others is just the same
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I think the bagel shop may well be where we got the doughnuts.We’re talking the early 70’s here. I first worked for The Royal Free on Grays Inn Road then for Woolworths on Mare Street in Hackney which was handy as just a walk from home.
I imagine the changes between then and now must be fantastic.
Hugs
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The Baegel shop is ancient even by our standards Dave so almost certainly! And yes mostly good but some I’d do without.
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Love the photos and the thoughts, and information!!
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Can’t you just beam be down some of those market stall goodies?!!! You made me hungry and I also fell in love with those stunning golden Autumn leaves. A lovely tour. Thanks very much xx Ro
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Any time Ro!
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If only. Could you imagine how fat we’d all get if we could get food delivered straight from the computer screen? I’d be one of those people they’d have to lift out of the house with a crane. That said, my stomach usually packs it in before I eat too much.
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I hadn’t realised you live in this area – I used to live in Tulse Hill, so knew the area well – I’m talking way back in the 80s, before 85 even. I also loved Brockwell Park and used to walk through it to go down to Brixton to see my then boyfriend or to get the tube into town. I remember the wonderful array of colourful flowers in summer.
Just as often I got the bus, which took me through Herne Hill, and of course it was about half way for meeting the then-boyfriend. I seem to think there was a little Indian restaurant we sometimes went to.
One of the novels that’s currently “resting” on my computer is partly set in London in the 80s, and the MC lives in Tulse Hill and goes jogging in Brockwell Park. (Something I never did! 🙂 )
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There’s a curry house called Chutney that’s been by the bridge for ever. And I’m happy following the dog these days rather than jogging. You’d be surprised how classy it is becoming.
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Fabulous post – so heart warming. And I am making the last two sentences my mantra of the day
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