What's the Oldest thing in Brixton?

[miss minnie]

I saw that one last night but dismissed it as coincidence.

I did read somewhere, ages ago and I've forgotten the source, that it is a road marker that was found 'nearby'.

 

[lang rabbie]

Mr W W unmasked?

If anyone is in Brixton Library, the answer to who put the stone there will probably be found in the Reference Section in the Survey of London, Volume 26 St Mary, Lambeth (Southern Area) published by the London County Council in 1956. My guess would be the builder of the original row of houses on the sites cleared to form Max Roach Park

Despite being p*ssed as a newt, I've managed to find my second-hand copy and scan in the following text

Nos 285, 287AND 299—313 (odd) BRIXTON ROAD

Nos 285 and 287, formerly Effra Lodge and Westbourne Cottage
Nos 309-313 formerly Not 1—3 (consec.) Brixton Ville

In 1631 three acres of land, lying on the east side of Brixton Road and called Water Leys or Burdin Bushes, were purchased by Edmond Dent. The land passed into the hands of John Scaldwell in 1675 and after his death became part of the Angell estate. William Westcombe who had a lease of Stiles Farm which adjoined it on the north, east and south, apparently purchased Water Leys from the Angell family. Unfortunately no records relating to the building of the houses on this estate have survived.

 

[TeeJay]

It's pushing it a bit but as Brixton Road is an old Roman road does that count as the oldest thing?

The Museum of London has a map that shows a Bronze Age (pre-Roman) settlement somewhere in the vicinity of Tulse Hill. If you were really lucky you might be able to excavate something?

 

[Donna Ferentes]

Good exhibition, that.

 

[ats]

There's some stuff on Brixton Hill that might qualify. I think the White Horse pub used to be a coaching inn. (Or one stood on the site - Does that count?)

And then there's the windmill, of course, though actually I think that's early nineteenth century, and so not as old as the stone.

I think you'd find Rush Common on some pretty old maps.

And in threads about the pubs at Loughborough junction, my young protege, the arriviste Mrs Magpie, has pointed out that there has been an inn on the site of the Green Man since about the twelfth century.

 

[lang rabbie]

There's some stuff on Brixton Hill that might qualify. I think the White Horse pub used to be a coaching inn. (Or one stood on the site - Does that count?).

Now I get confused - wasn't the Old White Horse (now Bar Lorca) on Brixton Road the former coaching inn

Brixton Hill was a notoriously desolate spot, the haunt of highwaymen...

View on a hill near the five mile stone on the road to Streatham. In the foreground figures can be seen gathered round a fire while a horse and rider gallop past on the road.

© Corporation of London

 

[Shippou-Sensei]

yep ... but it used to be the white horse ... but because of the other white horse it became the old white horse

i remember the name change

 

[lang rabbie]

yep ... but it used to be the white horse ... but because of the other white horse it became the old white horse

i remember the name change

You're either having us on, or you're the oldest poster on the boards...

http://www.urban75.org/brixton/history/whitehorse.html has a 1910 picture of Ye Olde White Horse

The "Old White Horse" is also mentioned in EA Sprawson's Practical Billiards, published in 1904 and referring to a match in 1894 - probably about the time that the pub was rebuilt?

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

You're either having us on, or you're the oldest poster on the boards...

http://www.urban75.org/brixton/history/whitehorse.html has a 1910 picture of Ye Olde White Horse

The "Old White Horse" is also mentioned in EA Sprawson's Practical Billiards, published in 1904 and referring to a match in 1894 - probably about the time that the pub was rebuilt?

Maybe he's thinking of The Windmill and Ye Olde Windmill?

 

[ats]

Now I get confused - wasn't the Old White Horse (now Bar Lorca) on Brixton Road the former coaching inn


Just checked out the Brixton Hill one elsewhere on this site. Apparently:

'Standing on an historic pub site dating from the early 18th Century, the White Horse used to provide accommodation and stabling for travellers on the Brighton road.'

I'm not sure if that makes it a coaching inn or not.

 

[Donna Ferentes]

Isn't that what a coaching inn is? (Or rather, was?)

 

[Mrs Magpie]

'... stabling for travellers on the Brighton road.'

I misread this as 'stabbing for travellers on the Brixton Road' and thought "plus ça change"

 

[lang rabbie]

Just checked out the Brixton Hill one elsewhere on this site. Apparently:

'Standing on an historic pub site dating from the early 18th Century, the White Horse used to provide accommodation and stabling for travellers on the Brighton road.'

I'm not sure if that makes it a coaching inn or not.

But Mike's picture caption doesn't appear to tally with the information on the Lambeth Archives site that was the source of the picture - was he getting his White Horses confused as well?

Surely, you would rest horses (or even change to a fresh set for your carriage if you were running late for a night's gambling, drinking and whoring with the Prince Regent at Brighthelmstone ) at one of the Streatham inns at the top of the hill - not halfway up Brixton Causeway (as Brixton Hill was then known)

 

[editor]

This is making my head hurt!

According to A History Of Brixton (Alan Piper), both White Horses appear as "wayside inns" in a 1790 route map. I assume a 'wayside inn' would serve as a place to rest horses, but I welcome any corrections!

 

[lang rabbie]

This is making my head hurt!

According to A History Of Brixton (Alan Piper), both White Horses appear as "wayside inns" in a 1790 route map. I assume a 'wayside inn' would serve as a place to rest horses, but I welcome any corrections!

I stand corrected, so they do!

The Road from London towards East Grinstead, 1790

Map from 'Cary's Survey of the High Roads from London' printed for J. Cary, Engraver & Map seller, July 1st 1790

A Map showing the London to East Grinstead road. This map runs from south to north.

The road followed the Roman route south to Brighton from the Thames at Southwark through Kennington and Brixton to Streatham Wells to its south.

Tollgates and landmarks are listed and numbered.

Streatham Wells and the Well House are prominently marked to help visitors travelling there for the mineral waters, this being an important coach route out of London.

http://www.ideal-homes.org.uk/lambeth/maps/london-to-east-grinstead-1790.htm

 

[editor]

I stand corrected, so they do!

Pah! Lambeth Archives, Shlambeth Schlarchives!


PS I'm always happy to receive interesting, new articles for the Brixton section! (large hint)

 

[sufilala]

that map is beautiful LR thanks!

 

[Stobart Stopper]

so, is that the oldest thing in brixton?
can you find something older???

Mrs Magpie, perhaps?

*runs away fast*

 

[Wee Beastie]

Ach, the oldest thing in Brixton I know of is the old tree on josephine Ave. Apparently queen lizzy the 1st used to tie her boat to it. Tis a protected tree you know.
Must be pretty old, ay.