Love Clapham website is the local guide for residents and visitors of the Clapham area, London. This includes Clapham Common, Clapham North, Clapham South, Clapham Old Town, Clapham Junction and the surrounding areas of Battersea, Balham, Stockwell, Vauxhall and more.
10 Clapham facts you didn’t know
Clapham isn’t just a great place to live, when you’re sitting on Clapham Common you sit on ground steeped in history. We’ve listed ten of the most interesting facts about Clapham that we’ve come across. If you live in Clapham you may have heard of some of these facts, but hopefully it’s still an interesting look into the area’s past. Help Love Clapham take this list up to a mighty fifteen by adding them at the foot of the page.
1. Sainsbury’s on Clapham High Street is a time capsule
Not only is Sainsbury’s one of Clapham’s biggest supermarkets, it has a fascinating history. In fact, even since its launch in 1996 you can see how it has changed from its original multi-coloured look with a tree in the entrance and a twenty panel picture display. Now of course the colours have gone, the tree removed and the screens have become a huge window. Before the site became a Sainsbury’s it saw many different uses. It began life in 1885 as a horse tram depot before being converted for electric trams in 1904. In 1910 Clapham’s first cinema, called the Globe with 130 seats, was opened on the site but that closed just five years later. In the Second World War the site was largely destroyed but rebuilt for busses in 1950, then used by the Museum of British Transport. In 1979 it was yet again used for busses before closing in 1987 to be used as an indoor go-kart track. While Love Clapham would have loved to play around on go-karts, Sainsbury’s does seem to be its most successful use yet.
2. Clapham Junction isn’t Clapham
Shock horror! Our precious claim to fame “Britain’s busiest railway station” isn’t actually part of Clapham, it’s Battersea. There had been a Battersea station on the site for many years, but in 1863 a junction was added to cope with the growing number of lines and it was named after the perceived more popular village of Clapham a mile away. There’s a petition to change the name back to Battersea, but here at Love Clapham we disagree. If it looks like a duck, sounds like a duck, has been a duck for over a hundred years and is called a duck, it’s a duck. More seriously, Clapham Junction is situated around Clapham Common and there’s a definite connect between communities around this park.
3. Clapham air raid shelters
You will no doubt have spotted the above buildings on your travels around Clapham. They are the entrances to deep level air raid shelters, a lasting reminder of the Second World War’s impact on Clapham and London. There are actually eight of these shelters across London with three of them found at Clapham North, Clapham Common and Clapham South. Neighbouring Stockwell has one too. Each shelter is vast and as deep as the tube network. They came equipped with huge tunnels for sleeping bunks and then side tunnels for toilets, medical posts and tubes for pumping air in and out. Sadly, these sites are now all used for private storage or development plans so there is absolutely no way of accessing them. At least they are being used. Visit the Underground History site at the foot of this page to see a photo tour of the Clapham North shelter before it was taken over by a private company.
4. Slave trade abolished thanks to Clapham Sect
A group of Evangelical Christians who worshipped at Clapham Common’s Holy Trinity Church were instrumental in the abolition of the slave trade. They led a campaign that resulted in the Slave Trade Act 1807 and the abolition of slavery itself in 1833.
5. Clapham was devastated by bombs
During World War Two Clapham, like many places, was hit by numerous bombs (some locations of which can be seen in the portion of map above). Clapham Junction and Battersea was particularly hard hit resulting in a lot of reshaping of the area after the war.
6. Celebrity residents
Clapham has been home to many celebrities in its time, with some of the best known residents including Vivienne Westwood, Ainsley Harriott, Piers Morgan, Heather Mills, JK Rowling, Dennis Waterman, Vanessa Redgrave and Sarah Fergussen (formerly HRH The Duchess of York). Not to mention Love Clapham of course! It is also home to Brian Dowling of ex-Big Brother 15 minutes of fame (miaow!)
7. Clapham = Clopp Ham / Clopeham?
Clapham was once a much wilder place than it is now. Indeed the first Clapham settlement in the 9th or 10th century housed as few as 100 people surrounded by farmland. According to the Domesday book, Clapham began its existence as a Saxon village called Clopeham. Named as such after Cloppham which meant the village ‘ham’ by the hill ‘clopp’. Clapham really became popular after the plague and the great fire of London drove people out of the city and into Clapham’s waiting arms. The Holy Trinity Church became the parish church when it was built in 1776. By the end of the 18th Century, Clapham had not only grown to a substantial village, it began to attract wealthy Londonites who built the magnificent homes around Clapham Common that we see today.
8. Clapham Common Bandstand is a community symbol
It’s a nice structure but you could be mistaken for thinking the Clapham Common Bandstand receives more attention than it really deserves. It was first built in 1889 after local residents petitioned the London County Council for a replica of the bandstands found in South Kensington. At the time it proved popular for weekly concerts up until the Second World War when it fell out of use. It fell into total disrepair, only used by pigeons and as a dangerous climbing frame for children. In recent years it faced removal, but local residents and groups petitioned Lambeth Council for its renovation. Thanks to local resident funding and a substantial National Lottery grant, Clapham Common Bandstand had a near £2million refurbishment. It seems like an astronomical cost considering the stand is still so rarely used, but actually it is the focal point of Clapham society and a welcome landmark in the heart of this busy town.
9. Clapham loves cinemas
Clapham High Street has been home to not one, not two, not three but four different cinemas. Competition and changes in popularity caused them all to close down but Clapham Picture House remains one of the most popular entertainment venues in the area today. Interestingly this cinema was going to be at least three times the size with the entrance being the corner shop at the end of the street. Other previous cinema locations include Infernos, the night club, and part of the Sainsbury’s site.
10. There really was a windmill on Clapham Common
OK, so that isn’t 100% accurate. There genuinely were windmills in Clapham back in the days when the area was used for farming, but their exact location is unknown so they may not have sat exactly on the common that exists today. They would have been in the same area however and the Windmill on the Common pub was named after one of the two windmills of the day. The Windmill pub was built in 1665.
Sources
24 Responses to 10 Clapham facts you didn’t know
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| 1. | Le Petit Boulangerie, Abbeville Road | 1. | Lack of waffles on sale in cafes |
| 2. | Gastro, Venn Street | 2. | Too many Sainsbury's |
| 3. | Clapham's new Leisure Centre | 3. | Rainy weekends :o( |
| 4. | Venn Street Sat market | 4. | Rubbish shops on the High Street |
| 5. | Costa in Clapham Junction station | 5. |
interesting about the clapham name origin. I have a family tree at home which has a feller surname clapham in it. He was apparently given land in london by the king (during the civil war i think) which he named clapham after himself. Although I think his name originates from a clapham in Yorkshire. Will dig out the tree again and have another look.
The bandstand was still in use in the 1960s. I watched performances by armed services bands and (I think) the Salvation Army and Boy’s Brigade.
I grew up in Clapham in late 1960s. Does anyone have a memory of a whale being exhibited on Clapham Common? I can’t find any reference to it.
reply to Deb Nov 16th 2009.
My dad remembers the Whale. It was called Jonah and was advertised as weighing 75 Tonnes and was 50 ft long. It had false eyes and the real eyes were in a pickle jar. There was a walkway down one side so you could view it. My dad remembers that it was a bit smelly and that it was part wrapped to try and refrigerate it. It was housed in a canvas tent and the entrance to the exhibition was near to a tube station. The year was summer of 1952/53 and the cost to see it was 2/6
Found this website wilst looking for long lost family members. I have evidence of family living in the Clapham area from around 1880 to 1900 + The Junction was mentioned in a letter writen around 1900. (Railway i presumed)Kyrle Rd was the last address of the family.The family being (Love) all were connected in the paino making field as well as the railway.What a interesting world we live in to have my origins start of at Clapham and end up accross the world at Australia.
With this website post you might have aid me to locate the facts which I need to get much more information. Thank you for that!
I can usually find a way to dispose of my rubbish sensibly but it is sometimes demotivating when I check out what many countries are doing to this wonderful planet!
You mention 4 Cinemas in Clapham the Picture House still extant, Infernos which was the Majestic (Sign can still be seen at the top of the building), during the 50s and 60s run by Gaumont, it has a sliding roof which was opened on Summer evenings before the 2nd World War and had a very fine Compton Organ played during the Intervals in films. You mention the cinema on part of the Sainsbury’s site but not the Pavilion (the flea pit) which was on the corner of Clapham High Street and Aristotle Road down by the railway bridge. When demolished in the early 50s the original Silent Plaster screen was still on the back wall behind the more modern sound screen.
Other deep shelters located in Clapham are between to the Maharani Indian Restaurant and Carpenter’s Place and beside the one that can be seen at Clapham North on the West Side of Clapham Road there is also an entrance in the yard behind Clapham North Tube Station.
There is a roadway down opposite the Fire Station, in the Old Town, named Scout Lane, this is where the first Scout Troop (the 1st Clapham) had its meeting place and strangely enough, even though the 1st ceased to exist many years ago there is still a tenuous Scouting connection in that there is a company named Southside with its offices in Scout Lane and the name of the current Scout District formed from the merger of Clapham with Balham and Tooting 25 years ago?? is Southside District.
I hope this helps?
I was interested in finding out how the common was named Clapham anybody know?
Hello all,
Due to a job contract, I am planning to work and live at London for 12 months. My office will be at the center, however the rent is too high for me there. So I am searching for a nice place near to live in. Is Clapham a good idea? In my country, I am used in living in safe areas with smiling people who respect each other. I presume that you love your hometown anyway, but do you thing that Clapham would accept easily a foreiner? Is it a safe town? Are there particular neighborhoods that would be better?
Thank you for your ideas
Constantine
does anyone know how many people visit clapham common on an annual basis and on any given sunny day in the summer? doing some research for a dissertation on recreation tourism! sources/references of databases essential, thanks!
I too went to the scouts in scout lane as a young man. I also went to the Flea Pit called the Pavillion Clapham. I went to Clapham Manor School as my first primary school.
My mum was a cook at the bulls head public house in Clapham Old Town and served as a cook for the Fire Station in the Old Town.
Grafton Square had an old Air Raid shelter that we used to play in and the rest of the square was allotments , Clapham suffered from Bombing so we played in the Bombed buildings , we had to make our own amusement then.
Ray.
You’ve got a good blog here! would you like to produce some invite posts on my blog?
I lived in the Clapham area during the 1940′s and up to the 1960′s,as a lad I was a boy scout along with my brother and several other lads that lived in the same road.The scout group was the 5th Clapham which was based in Scout Lane ,Old Town Clapham,we worn light blue neckerchiefs and green jumpers.I see mentioned on here that the scout group in Scout Lane was called the 1st Clapham this is new to me,maybe at a later stage it became the 1st Clapham,but certainly in the late 1940′s and 1950′s it was the 5th Clapham.One of our scout masters was a fireman from across the road at the Clapham Fire Station,his name was ‘Biff’ Baily if my memory serves me correct.We would march on the first Sunday of each month from Scout Lane to the Trinity Church,its all a long time ago now but happy memories.
I would like to make a correction to my comment of 21.6.2012.The fireman that was a scout leader was incorrectly named as Baily after a nights sleep and possibly improved clarity the correct name is Mr ‘Biff’ Baker,sorry for that mistake and any annoyance that might have been caused,yes it was around 60 years ago but it was silly error,my apologies.
re clapham common whale. this was late sixties or early seventies and it was near clapham common tube end. the whale was on a big transporter and was continually washed down but still stank
Came across yr site by chance.live in NZ.Born in Clapham back in 1943.Was in 5th Clapham rembering playing British Bulldog,believe it was later baned,also playing football on cinders on the Common,and falling in the pond looking for tadpoles.Married at Holy Trinity,visited a few years ago,a lot more upmarket than in my day.Remember the Watermans living around the corner,Denis brother was a British boxing champion.London did a wonderful Olympics.Cheers from a Kiwi
Clapham is going to loose its fire station within the next two years.
Yes the other Mick is correct Clapham will lose its fire station in the Old Town.
Does any body know any of the history of the Fire Station in clapham.
The old station is an old building opposite the pub that used to be the Frog. The new station was built in 1964.
It would be good to have some more history or stories of the fire station.
dave cotty mentions dennis watermans brother a boxing champion….he was indeed, his name is peter waterman,a very nice bloke,he used to make me cups of tea when i was working as a lift engineer in the west end in the 60′s….i hope he is well.
i remember eagle pond..we used to skate onit in the winter when it was frozen over…i once pulled a girl out after she went through the ice….scary….i wonder where she is now ??
I remember Clapham South {Lessar Avenue) from the forties. I lived at 56 and my aunt lived at 8. I remember the pond and the band shell. I also remember hearing great brass band music. I know a bomb landed up the street and as youngsters, we used to play in the bombed out buildings. I can’t remember any cars on Lessar Avenue back then, but I returned in 2000 and the cars were bumper to bumper. I remember the bomb shelter just outside the front door. The Odeon, just up past the Clapham South tube station, was our Saturday morning matinee destination.
I lived at one time or another (between the years 1940-1967) at 73 Rectory Grove, 15 Turret Grove, 187; 144 & 138 Stonhouse Street.
I attended Clapham Parochial School, which because Macaulay Road Site was requisitioned to provide an extension to the Ross Optical Company, and the old (original) premises at the junction of North Street and Rectory Grove was taken over by the ARP. The school was temporarily re-located at Heath Road (just off Silverthorne Road). I too remember the 5th Clapham Scout Group in Scout Lane Old Town. I remember the bombs that demolished Downers Lane (opposite the very original Fire Station at the Polygon). I started work at H & C Davis Engineering Company on that site in 1949.
I sang in the Choir at Holy Trinity until my voice broke 1941/43.
I was married at Holy Trinity in 1955. I moved from Clapham in 1967 to South Norwood and from there to where I now reside in South Wales. I attended Clapham Central/Secondary School at Aristotle Road. Peter Waterman was a friend of mine & we both were members of the Caius ABC. (Which reminds me that Don Cockell was a Blacksmith at H & C Davis). I have many, many, memories of what life was like in Clapham. And if anyone might be interested I could add some more to this blog as and when I recall some more memories.
Looking up things about Clapham Common and came across this. Very interesting. My interest is that my grgrgrandfather, Fredeirck Richards, was born there in 1814. His parents married in Holy Trinity Church. Am planning to visit there in Sept 2013 to see where they lived, walked etc. Some of his descendants now live here in New Zealand.