Lambeth North

Lambeth North is the area surrounding the Imperial War Museum.

Since the 19th century North Lambeth has been one of the names to describe the area around Waterloo station and the shopping district around Lower Marsh market, which was the heart of the original Lambeth village. This area contains many business premises and nationally important locations such as St Thomas’ Hospital, the London Eye, the Royal National Theatre, the Royal Festival Hall, County Hall, Lambeth Palace, and the Imperial War Museum.

Lambeth North tube station serves the area. Designed by Leslie Green, the station was opened by the Baker Street & Waterloo Railway on 10 March 1906, with the name Kennington Road. It served as the temporary southern terminus of the line until 5 August 1906, when Elephant & Castle station was opened. The station’s name was changed to Westminster Bridge Road in July 1906 and it was again renamed, to Lambeth North, in April 1917.

At 4am on 16 January 1941, a German Satan 1800 kg general-purpose bomb hit a hostel at nearby 92 Westminster Bridge Road. The shock-wave severely damaged the southbound platform tunnel injuring 28 people sheltering there, one of whom died in hospital 15 days later. Thirty-seven rings of the damaged tunnel had to be completely replaced, 15 partially replaced, and 86 feet of platform rebuilt. Traffic through the station resumed after 95 days.

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CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LOCALITY

Bruce McTavish Lambeth North Added: 11 Mar 2021 11:37 GMT	Kennington Road Lambeth North station was opened as Kennington Road and then Westminster Bridge Road before settling on its final name. It has a wonderful Leslie Green design. Reply
The Underground Map Whitehall, SW1A Added: 8 Dec 2020 00:24 GMT	Othello takes a bow On 1 November 1604, William Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello was presented for the first time, at The Palace of Whitehall. The palace was the main residence of the English monarchs in London from 1530 until 1698. Seven years to the day, Shakespeare’s romantic comedy The Tempest was also presented for the first time, and also at the Palace of Whitehall. Reply
Linda Webb Hungerford Stairs Added: 27 Sep 2021 05:51 GMT	Hungerford Stairs In 1794 my ancestor, George Webb, Clay Pipe Maker, lived in Hungerford Stairs, Strand. Source: Wakefields Merchant & Tradesmens General Directory London Westminster 1794 Source: Hungerford Stairs Reply
Roy Batham Covent Garden Added: 7 Jan 2022 07:17 GMT	Smithy in Longacre John Burris 1802-1848 Listed 1841 census as Burroughs was a blacksmith, address just given as Longacre. Source: Batham/Wiseman - Family Tree Reply
Scott Hatton Blackmoor Street, WC2B Added: 11 Sep 2020 19:47 GMT	Millions Of Rats In Busy London The Daily Mail on 14 April 1903 reported "MILLIONS OF RATS IN BUSY LONDON" A rat plague, unprecedented in the annals of London, has broken out on the north side of the Strand. The streets principally infested are Catherine street, Drury lane, Blackmore street, Clare Market and Russell street. Something akin to a reign of terror prevails among the inhabitants after nightfall. Women refuse to pass along Blackmore street and the lower parts of Stanhope street after dusk, for droves of rats perambulate the roadways and pavements, and may be seen running along the window ledges of the empty houses awaiting demolition by the County Council in the Strand to Holborn improvement scheme. The rats, indeed, have appeared in almost-incredible numbers. "There are millions of them," said one shopkeeper, and his statement was supported by other residents. The unwelcome visitors have been evicted from their old haunts by the County Council housebreakers, and are now busily in search of new homes. The Gaiety Restaurant has been the greatest sufferer. Rats have invaded the premises in such force that the managers have had to close the large dining room on the first floor and the grill rooms on the ground floor and in the basement. Those three spacious halls which have witnessed many as semblages of theatre-goers are now qui:e deserted. Behind the wainscot of the bandstand in the grillroom is a large mound of linen shreds. This represents 1728 serviettes carried theee by the rats. In the bar the removal of a panel disclosed the astonishing fact that the rats have dragged for a distance of seven or eight yards some thirty or forty beer and wine bottles and stacked them in such a fashion as to make comfortable sleeping places. Mr Williams. the manager of the restaurant, estimates that the rats have destroyed L200 worth of linen. Formerly the Gaiety Restaurant dined 2000 persons daily; no business whatever is now done in this direction. Reply
Richard Lake De Laune Street, SE17 Added: 28 Sep 2022 09:37 GMT	Trade Union Official John William Lake snr moved with his family to 22 De Laune Street in 1936. He was the London Branch Secretary for the Street Masons, Paviours and Road Makers Union. He had previously lived in Orange St now Copperfield St Southwark but had been forced to move because the landlord didn’t like him working from home and said it broke his lease. John William snr died in 1940. His son John William Lake jnr also became a stone mason and at the end of World War two he was responsible for the engraving of the dates of WW2 onto the Cenotaph in Whitehall. Reply
MCNALLY Blackfriars Added: 17 May 2021 09:42 GMT	Blackfriars (1959 - 1965) I lived in Upper Ground from 1959 to 1964 I was 6 years old my parents Vince and Kitty run the Pub The Angel on the corner of Upper Ground and Bodies Bridge. I remember the ceiling of the cellar was very low and almost stretched the length of Bodies Bridge. The underground trains run directly underneath the pub. If you were down in the cellar when a train was coming it was quite frightening Reply
Johna216 Fielding Street, SE17 Added: 9 Aug 2017 16:26 GMT	Thanks! I have recently started a web site, the info you provide on this site has helped me greatly. Thank you for all of your time & work. There can be no real freedom without the freedom to fail. by Erich Fromm. eeggefeceefb Reply
Johnshort Hurley Road, SE11 Added: 7 Oct 2017 21:07 GMT	Hurley Road, SE11 There were stables in the road mid way - also Danny reading had a coal delivery lorry. Reply
Robert smitherman Saunders Street, SE11 Added: 23 Aug 2017 11:01 GMT	Saunders Street, SE11 I was born in a prefab on Saunders street SE11 in the 60’s, when I lived there, the road consisted of a few prefab houses, the road originally ran from Lollard street all the way thru to Fitzalan street. I went back there to have a look back in the early 90’s but all that is left of the road is about 20m of road and the road sign. Reply
Tom Blackfriars Added: 21 May 2021 23:07 GMT	Blackfriars What is, or was, Bodies Bridge? Reply
Richard Roques Hungerford Stairs Added: 21 Jan 2021 16:53 GMT	Buckingham Street residents Here in Buckingham Street lived Samuel Pepys the diarist, Charles Dickens and Rudyard Kipling Reply
Jude Allen Orange Street, WC2H Added: 29 Jul 2021 07:53 GMT	Bra top I jave a jewelled item of clothong worn by a revie girl. It is red with diamante straps. Inside it jas a label Bermans Revue 16 Orange Street but I cannot find any info online about the revue only that 16 Orange Street used to be a theatre. Does any one know about the revue. I would be intesrested to imagine the wearer of the article and her London life. Reply
sam Burdett Street, SE1 Added: 31 Dec 2021 00:54 GMT	Burdett Street, SE1 I was on 2nd July 1952, in Burdett chambers (which is also known as Burdett buildings)on Burdett street Reply
Linda WEBB Craven Street, WC2N Added: 8 Jun 2023 23:16 GMT	Craven Street, WC2N James webb lived in Craven Street Westminster. He died in 1758 and his states he was of Craven Street. FROM England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858 for James Webb PROB 11: Will Registers 1773-1776 Piece 1004: Alexander, Quire Numbers 1-45 (1775) Reply
John Dean’s Court, EC4M Added: 29 Mar 2023 17:31 GMT	Auction of the paper stock of Janssen and Roberts A broadside advertisement reads: "By auction, to be sold on Thursday next being the 16th of this present July, the remainder of the stock in partnership between Janssen and Roberts, at their late dwelling-house in Dean’s Court, the south side of St. Pauls, consisting of Genoa papers according to the particulars underneath." The date in the ESTC record is purely speculative; July 16th was a Thursday in many years during the 18th century; 1750 is only one possibility. Extensive searching has found no other record of the partners or the auction. Source: ESTC - Search Results Reply

LATEST LONDON-WIDE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PROJECT

Sue Meyrick Road, SW11 Added: 24 Sep 2023 19:09 GMT	Meyrick Rd My family - Roe - lived in poverty at 158 Meyrick Rd in the 1920s, moving to 18 Lavender Terrace in 1935. They also lived in York Rd at one point. Alf, Nell (Ellen), plus children John, Ellen (Did), Gladys, Joyce & various lodgers. Alf worked for the railway (LMS). Reply
Michael Tyrrell Avenue, DA16 Added: 20 Sep 2023 21:10 GMT	Momentous Birth! I was born in the upstairs front room of 28 Tyrrell Avenue in August 1938. I was a breach birth and quite heavy ( poor Mum!). My parents moved to that end of terrace house from another rental in St Mary Cray where my three year older brother had been born in 1935. The estate was quite new in 1938 and all the properties were rented. My Father was a Postman. I grew up at no 28 all through WWII and later went to Little Dansington School Reply
Mike Levy Arbour Square, E1 Added: 19 Sep 2023 18:10 GMT	Bombing of Arbour Square in the Blitz On the night of September 7, 1940. Hyman Lubosky (age 35), his wife Fay (or Fanny)(age 32) and their son Martin (age 17 months) died at 11 Arbour Square. They are buried together in Rainham Jewish Cemetery. Their grave stones read: "Killed by enemy action" Reply
Lady Townshend Bridge House Added: 8 Sep 2023 16:02 GMT	Tenant at Westbourne (1807 - 1811) I think that the 3rd Marquess Townshend - at that time Lord Chartley - was a tenant living either at Westbourne Manor or at Bridge House. He undertook considerable building work there as well as creating gardens. I am trying to trace which house it was. Any ideas gratefully received Reply
Alex Britton Roding Valley Added: 30 Aug 2023 10:43 GMT	Late opening The tracks through Roding Valley were opened on 1 May 1903 by the Great Eastern Railway (GER) on its Woodford to Ilford line (the Fairlop Loop). But the station was not opened until 3 February 1936 by the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER, successor to the GER). Source: Roding Valley tube station - Wikipedia Reply
Kevin Pont Roding Valley Added: 30 Aug 2023 09:52 GMT	Shhh.... Roding Valley is the quietest tube station, each year transporting the same number of passengers as Waterloo does in one day. Reply
Kevin Pont Dollis Hill Added: 30 Aug 2023 09:47 GMT	The connection with Bletchley Park The code-breaking computer used at Bletchley Park was built in Dollis Hill. Reply
Kevin Pont Hampstead Added: 29 Aug 2023 15:25 GMT	The deepest station At 58m below ground, Hampstead is as deep as Nelson’s Column is tall. Source: Hampstead tube station - Wikipedia Reply

NEARBY LOCATIONS OF NOTE

Canterbury Music Hall The Canterbury Music Hall was established in 1852 by Charles Morton on the site of a former skittle alley adjacent to the Canterbury Tavern at 143 Westminster Bridge Road.

Canterbury Music Hall

Christ Church, Lambeth Christ Church was founded by the Rev Dr Christopher Newman Hall in 1876 as a Congregational chapel on Westminster Bridge Road.

Christ Church, Lambeth

Florence Nightingale Museum The Florence Nightingale Museum is located at St Thomas’ Hospital, which faces the Palace of Westminster across the River Thames.

Florence Nightingale Museum

Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park is a public park in Kennington.

Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park

Lambeth North Lambeth North is the area surrounding the Imperial War Museum.

Lambeth North

Lower Marsh Market Lower Marsh Market is in the Waterloo area of London.

Lower Marsh Market

Morley College Morley College is an adult education college in south London.

Morley College

Necropolis Station The London Necropolis Railway was opened in 1854 as a reaction to severe overcrowding in London’s existing graveyards and cemeteries.

Necropolis Station

St George’s Cathedral The Metropolitan Cathedral Church of St George, usually known as St George’s Cathedral, Southwark is the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Southwark.

St George’s Cathedral

The Angel The Angel was a public house in Webber Street.

The Angel

THE STREETS OF LAMBETH NORTH

Barbel Street, SE1 Barbel Street is a road in the SE1 postcode area

Barbel Street, SE1

Barkham Terrace, SE1 A street within the SE1 postcode

Barkham Terrace, SE1

Blenheim Business Centre, SE1 A street within the SE1 postcode

Blenheim Business Centre, SE1

Burdett Street, SE1 Burdett Street is a road in the SE1 postcode area

Burdett Street, SE1

Centaur Street, SE1 Centaur Street is a road in the SE1 postcode area

Centaur Street, SE1

Cosser Street, SE1 Cosser Street is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area.

Cosser Street, SE1

Cottesloe Mews, SE1 A street within the SE1 postcode

Cottesloe Mews, SE1

Dibdin Row, SE1 A street within the SE1 postcode

Dibdin Row, SE1

Greenham Close, SE1 Greenham Close is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area.

Greenham Close, SE1

Hercules Road, SE1 Hercules Road runs north from Lambeth Road near Lambeth Palace, on the site of Penlington Place.

Hercules Road, SE1

Kennington Road, SE1 A small section of Kennington Road lies in the SE1 postal area.

Kennington Road, SE1

King Edward Walk, SE1 King Edward Walk is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area.

King Edward Walk, SE1

Lambeth Road, SE1 Lambeth Road is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area.

Lambeth Road, SE1

McAuley Close, SE1 McAuley Close runs north from Cosser Street.

McAuley Close, SE1

Mead Row, SE1 A street within the SE1 postcode

Mead Row, SE1

Newnham Terrace, SE1 Newnham Terrace is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area.

Newnham Terrace, SE1

Oakey Lane, SE1 This is a street in the SE1 postcode area

Oakey Lane, SE1

Pearman Street, SE1 Pearman Street is one of the centres of London.

Pearman Street, SE1

Perspective Building, SE1 Perspective Building is a block on Westminster Bridge Road.

Perspective Building, SE1

Railway Arch 213, SE1 A street within the SE1 postcode

Railway Arch 213, SE1

St. Georges Mews, SE1 St George’s Mews lies off of Westminster Bridge Road.

St. Georges Mews, SE1

The Chandlery, SE1 The Chandlery is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area.

The Chandlery, SE1

Virgil Street, SE1 Virgil Street is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area.

Virgil Street, SE1

Westminster Bridge House, SE1 Westminster Bridge House is a block on Westminster Bridge Road.

Westminster Bridge House, SE1

Westminster Bridge Road, SE1 Westminster Bridge Road runs on an east-west axis and passes through the boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark.

Westminster Bridge Road, SE1

Whitehorse Mews, SE1 Whitehorse Mews is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area.

Whitehorse Mews, SE1

Yew Cottages, SE1 A street within the SE1 postcode

Yew Cottages, SE1

THE PUBS OF LAMBETH NORTH

The Pineapple

The Steam Engine

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LOCAL PHOTOS

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William Shakespeare TUM image id: 1509551019 Licence: CC BY 2.0	The Hole In The Wall, Waterloo. A noted venue for many a traveller awaiting their train or ending their evening. Credit: Virtual Tourist TUM image id: 1605093975 Licence:	Overflow of the Thames at Lambeth Stairs on Tuesday 29 January 1850. Lambeth Stairs was near to Lambeth Palace. Poor river wall maintenance meant that the area was flooded whenever there was an unusually high tide. Credit: Illustrated London News TUM image id: 1623706174 Licence:	1893 programme cover - Canterbury Theatre Credit: London Borough of Lambeth TUM image id: 1513437589 Licence: CC BY 2.0	Hopton’s Almshouses, Hopton Street, Bankside (1957) TUM image id: 1470953421 Licence:
The Sea Life London Aquarium is located on the ground floor of County Hall on the South Bank of the River Thames, near the London Eye. It opened in March 1997 as the London Aquarium and hosts about one million visitors each year. TUM image id: 1557161405 Licence:	The original, Brunel-built Hungerford Bridge. TUM image id: 1544479084 Licence: CC BY 2.0	Shop on the corner of Brook Drive and Hayles Street (2013) This unobtrusive corner shop near Elephant and Castle was the filming location for ’Come On Eileen’ by Dexys Midnight Runners. It’s no longer a shop and - to my horror - my walk from Elephant & Castle to Lambeth North passes it at 7:24 and doesn’t note it as I found out only afterwards. Grrr https://youtu.be/R-e GEXb4M4 Credit: Wiki Commons TUM image id: 1689771844 Licence:	Collingwood Street, near Blackfriars Road c1900 The street was renamed Colombo Street in 1937 by the London County Council. The weatherboarded cottages suffered severe bomb damage during the Blitz and were demolished in 1948 TUM image id: 1681811062 Licence:	Gladstone Street showing Albert Terrace in the background (1977) Credit: Ideal Homes TUM image id: 1513443941 Licence:
Hopton’s Almshouses TUM image id: 1513445642 Licence: CC BY 2.0	Deep beneath the former Eurostar terminal at Waterloo Station, Leake Street, once a dismal, tunnel for vehicular traffic now enjoys a new lease of life as an ever changing, unofficial art gallery. Credit: Instagram/@njcoxx TUM image id: 1630932184 Licence:	Children among the rubble of a bombsite playground at Lollard Street, Lambeth (1957) Children’s rights campaigner Lady Allen of Hurtwood formed a movement for the building of playgrounds. Originally known as ‘junk’ playgrounds, they were renamed adventure playgrounds in 1953 and the movement grew. Credit: London Borough of Lambeth TUM image id: 1625154491 Licence:	Princes Street, now Princess Street near Elephant and Castle (1864) There were a few pottery firms in this street at this time. Credit: Lambeth Archives TUM image id: 1562929776 Licence:	Vauxhall Mansion and Vauxhall Walk in Lambeth about to be redeveloped, September 1953. Credit: Mirrorpix TUM image id: 1691059432 Licence: CC BY 2.0

In the neighbourhood...

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The Hole In The Wall, Waterloo. A noted venue for many a traveller awaiting their train or ending their evening.
Credit: Virtual Tourist
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1893 programme cover - Canterbury Theatre
Credit: London Borough of Lambeth
Licence: CC BY 2.0

Shop on the corner of Brook Drive and Hayles Street (2013) This unobtrusive corner shop near Elephant and Castle was the filming location for ’Come On Eileen’ by Dexys Midnight Runners. It’s no longer a shop and - to my horror - my walk from Elephant & Castle to Lambeth North passes it at 7:24 and doesn’t note it as I found out only afterwards. Grrr https://youtu.be/R-e GEXb4M4
Credit: Wiki Commons
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Collingwood Street, near Blackfriars Road c1900 The street was renamed Colombo Street in 1937 by the London County Council. The weatherboarded cottages suffered severe bomb damage during the Blitz and were demolished in 1948
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Gladstone Street showing Albert Terrace in the background (1977)
Credit: Ideal Homes
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Deep beneath the former Eurostar terminal at Waterloo Station, Leake Street, once a dismal, tunnel for vehicular traffic now enjoys a new lease of life as an ever changing, unofficial art gallery.
Credit: Instagram/@njcoxx
Licence:

Children among the rubble of a bombsite playground at Lollard Street, Lambeth (1957) Children’s rights campaigner Lady Allen of Hurtwood formed a movement for the building of playgrounds. Originally known as ‘junk’ playgrounds, they were renamed adventure playgrounds in 1953 and the movement grew.
Credit: London Borough of Lambeth
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Lambeth Telegraph Tower in 1810. At a short distance west of the Fishmongers’ Almshouses, near to West Square, on the south side of St George’s Road, formerly stood this tall boarded structure. It served for some time the purposes of a semaphore telegraph tower
Credit: Wiki Commons
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York Road, South Bank (2013) York Road started its life in 1824. Part of the land was sold to the London and South Western Railway in 1848 when the line was extended from Nine Elms. Waterloo Station, which was raised above the marshy ground on a series of arches, was designed by Sir William Tite and opened on 11 July 1848.
Credit: Wiki Commons/Mikey
Licence: CC BY 2.0

"The old man, seen Lambeth Walking at the top of one of the side-streets is a Lambeth institution. He is popular in the Walk, and there are usually a few to give him pennies." Taken from ’Life in the Lambeth Walk’, Picture Post, 31 December 1938
Credit: Picture Post
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