I woke up to sunshine on my face this morning so my thoughts turned to gardening. I had an idea to pop down to Phoebe’s for a few bits. ‘Bits’ roughly translates to “I have no idea what I need or if I actually need anything but I’ll see when I get there”. A trip like that usually results in me sitting in the garden wondering where I’m going to home all the plants that I … [Read more...]
Moments in time: Lewisham Hospital
Back in 2012, plans were proposed to downgrade Lewisham Hospital by closing its Accident and Emergency services and Maternity unit. The people of Lewisham and elsewhere, came together to protest the decision by signing petitions, marching and challenging the decision in court. In 2013 the High Court quashed Secretary of State for Health Jeremy Hunt’s decision to downgrade … [Read more...]
Moments in time: Broadway Theatre, Catford
In January 2016, Lewisham Council launched a consultation into the future of the Broadway Theatre in Catford. The consultation focused on how people feel about the theatre as it is and what they most want from it in the future. Whilst we wait for the outcome of the consultation here’s a brief history of the theatre that has had so many names. The theatre started out as a … [Read more...]
Moments in time: Lewisham Town Hall and the Council
The building we now call the Old Town Hall isn’t that old and wasn’t the first Town Hall to be built along the strip of Road now know as Catford Road. The first Town Hall was built in 1875 to house the Lewisham Board of Works, a precursor to Lewisham Council which is just as young as the building it used to occupy. According to the National Archives, The Metropolis … [Read more...]
Moments in time: Elmwood, Catford Constitutional Club
The Catford Constitutional Club occupies the oldest building in Catford at Elmwood, Broadway Catford. Elmwood, the farmhouse was built in 1736 by Nelgarde Doggett who gave his name to Nelgarde and Doggett roads in Catford. At that time there were very few houses in Catford and it was still mainly rural farmland. According to a mention on Edith’s Streets, the farmhouse was … [Read more...]
Moments in time: Catford Greyhound Stadium
Catford Greyhound Stadium opened in 1932 and was a large source of revenue in Lewisham at that time according to Harry Williams South London. Its founders were Charles Benstead and Frank Sutton. Built on Southern Railway land between Catford and Catford Bridge stations the track could also be accessed from the two bridges going across the railway lines. To use the bridges to … [Read more...]
Moments in time: Catford’s dangerous past
Is Catford a safe place to live? The amount of times I’ve been asked that question I’m at the point where I’m inclined to say no just to make people feel better about not wanting to live here in the first place. I mean the shopping centre is filled to overflowing with beggers, drug addicts and drunks for criminy’s sake. Run for the hills and think of the children. If the … [Read more...]
Anybody remember Southern Music Agency in Rushey Green?
Greetings Catfordites. I received an enquiry from Michael B who asks: Can anyone fill in detail about a music shop that was on the east side of Rushey Green, near Rosenthal Road (in the 1960s!) ? I think it was something like Southern Music Agency, owner's name Don? Grateful for any help for my memory. Thanks. This one is beyond me as I was just a babe in arms back then … [Read more...]
Spotted: The old Catford Greyhound Stadium sign
The old Catford Greyhound Stadium sign has been spotted on an industrial estate looking all lonely and abandoned. 'sup gangstas, this is at Sydenham industrial estate @catfordcentral @BrockleyCentral pic.twitter.com/eAt0bhPHnp — mixmaster doom! (@the_max_doom) December 22, 2015 Highlight of bike ride in pouring rain though was the sight of the old Catford Stadium … [Read more...]
Lewisham is 50 – let’s celebrate!
Did you know that Lewisham is only 50 years old? That’s right up until 50 years ago the borough, as we know it today didn’t exist. Between 1900 and 1965 Lewisham formed part of the Metropolitan Borough of Lewisham. On 1 April 1965, it was joined with the Metropolitan Borough of Deptford to form the London Borough of Lewisham. To celebrate this golden anniversary residents … [Read more...]