Clapham Common
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Clapham Common is a triangular area of grassland of about 200 acres (0.8 km²) in size, situated between Clapham, Battersea and Balham in south London, England. Although most of it lies in the London Borough of Wandsworth it is wholly managed and maintained by the London Borough of Lambeth. However, policing of the common is divided between Wandsworth and Lambeth police boroughs, according to borough boundaries. It has 3 ponds and a paddling pool. The common is surrounded by many fine houses which began to be built in the 1790s and became fashionable dwellings in (what was then) this village south of London, many being home to wealthy business people. Some of these were members of the Clapham Sect of evangelical reformers, including Lord Teignmouth and John Thornton, the banker and abolitionist. As London expanded in the 19th century this became part of a built-up area, and Clapham was eventually absorbed into the capital.
Also on the common in the Clapham bandstand, the oldest bandstand in Europe, which has now been restored after years of fundraising and receiving a national heritage lottery grant.
Holy Trinity Church (1776) is close to the North Side of the common. An Anglican church, it hosts its fete on the common every summer.
Part of Clapham Common has a reputation as a gay meeting place, and was featured in a heterosexual capacity in the Squeeze song Up the Junction. As such it was connected with the infamous Ron Davies "moment of madness" incident in 1998. It has also been the venue for a number of annual Gay Pride festivals. The bushy regions of the common are used by homosexual men for "cottaging" activities.[1] There have recently been attacks on gay people in the wooded area of the common,[1] one of them being the brutal murder of Jody Dobrowski on 14 October 2005.[2]
It was also noted in Are You Being Served? as the site where Mrs Slocombe was thrown flat on her back by the German Air Force.
The common has also been the site of one of the Colourscape Music Festival structures since 1995. In 2005 it hosted several big events, including the Sprite Urban Games, Ben and Jerry's Sundae on the Common and the Metro festival, most of which will return this summer.
The bandstand on the centre of the common has recently been refurbished, funded partly by the Ben and Jerry's festival. While the refurbishment was taking place the compound was guarded by mad dogs, several people reported being attacked and bitten by these dogs. The dogs have now been removed and the bandstand is fully functional.
Clapham Common tube station and Clapham South tube station are on the edge of the park.
Famous actor Jeremy Brett died on 12 September 1995 in Clapham Common, where he had been living for many years.
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Gay man's killing 'tip of the iceberg'", BBC News, 16 June 2006. URL accessed on 16 June 2006.
- ^ "Men jailed for gay barman murder", BBC News, 16 June 2006. URL accessed of 16 June 2006.
