|
North
Street SW4 to the Holy Trinity Church
on Clapham Common by John "the
Cabby" Kennedy.
Well
here we are at North Street Clapham
a very busy junction with the Wandsworth
and Silverthorne Road. We shall be walking
straight down North Street, but first
notice the rather trendy looking bar
on the right hand side called the Artesian
Well also opposite in a slightly more
dilapidated building we have a licensed
mini-cab office.
Off we go down
North street and straight away you notice
the terraced houses Victorian I suggest
due to their bay windows and literally
opposite a row of flat fronted rather
twee looking properties. We move on
nearer to the Old Town and we come across
a modern building on the left which
just happens to be a Virgin Active Gym.
This area is very middle class, very
professional but again mixed amongst
or should I say surround by council
estates, like I've stated before a reasonable
balance is achieved between the different
social classes. Now on the right hand
side of the road you will notice a bar
called Traders, serves dim sum and one
of the highlights of this walk must
be the fact that my pal and one of my
mentor's Big George of bbc London 94.9
fm was born here in Clapham ! George
this is proof if ever it was needed
you are a true working class hero, you
can make it in life where ever you come
from, for this like many parts of London
was a harsh but beautiful place to grow
up in.
Now we have reached
a mini-roundabout and we bear right
and keep to the left hand side of the
carriageway, ( building work is taking
place here so be careful ). We are now
in the Old Town and as we walk along
notice the Georgian feel to the properties
on the right, notice the 1970's look
to the fire station on the left, in
fact this part of Clapham as a village
feel to it. Turn left by the fire station
and take a brisk walk around Grafton
Square. I like these squares because
they are so practical, nice green space
in the middle for children to play in.
So we walk back up where we entered
the Square and again turn left and back
into the Old Town notice the building
on the left, Maritime house with ships
upon the brown wooden doors, a bow of
a ship upon it's small tower at the
top of the building flanked by rather
large stone fishes, for this was originally
the Seaman's Union head office. Now
the flag flying above the building is
the Rail Maritime and Transport Union
flag, probably the countries most effective
trade union which just happens to be
led by Bob Crow a very intelligent working
class Londoner. Have to say this is
a nice brick building, now next to Maritime
house is a row of three to four houses,
small front gardens but each of a nice
design, the last as upon it a blue plaque
informing us a chap by the name of John
Francis Bentley lived here. He was a
accomplished architect who in 1894 was
commissioned to build Westminster Cathedral
which is a remarkable place of worship.
Sadly John Francis Bentley died before
his work was completed.
Opposite this
row of houses is a bus stand with stop,
it really is a busy part of the Old
Town and behind I could say hidden is
a fantastic looking public house called
the Rose and Crown now this little odd
shaped piece of land is called the Polygon.
We will continue to walk down onto the
Pavement plenty of very swish looking
shops on the left but we notice the
common appears on the left so when it
is safe to do so cross this road and
walk onto the common you will see the
small pond to your right and amongst
the rather mature but beautiful trees
you notice a rather large Church, the
Holy Trinity Clapham.
This
Church is beautiful it has a nice entrance
and curved path within its border, notice
how mature the trees, if they could
talk they could tell a few tales. Also
right in front of the Church is a large
stone cross to honour those who died
in the great war of 1914-19, a later
inscription is upon it to honour those
who died in the second world war of
1939-45. Now I would like you to do
a about turn (180 degree.), you now
face the front door which for the size
of this Church happens to be very small
! Notice the boot scrapers set into
the walls, plus the lists of those who
paid the ultimate price in the first
world war flanking the front door. But
this Church holds a very interesting
place in the history of this great nation
for William Wilberforce worshipped in
this great building and he also met
and campaigned for the abolition of
the slave trade here with other members
of the Clapham Sect. Wilberforce was
a Member of Parliament who campaigned
on many social issues, in 1807 the slave
was abolished, in 1833 an act of Parliament
was passed which freed all slaves throughout
the British Empire. Look up to the right
hand corner by the front of the Church
and you will see the second blue plaque
on this walk commemorating the fact
that William Wilberforce stood upon
this land and made this country a better
place for all.
Take
your time walking around this beautiful
Church and remember you're walking where
a great man walked to, look up and admire
the clock face and bell tower and the
rather different looking rear to this
building.
Wilberforce
was a force for good in his day, dialogue
and debate changed the world, he made
it a better place. So if you fancy a
little heated debate tune the Big George
show on bbc London 94.9 fm between 2.00-6.00
am Monday to Friday and on Wednesday
morning at 2.15 am you'll get the chance
to hear me "talk the walk"
and maybe I'll get you talking and walking
around the finest planet on the globe,
London !
John Kennedy Talk
The Walk
|
