Brixton and Herne Hill in 50 Buildings
After decades of pounding the streets, pointing out interesting structures, four London Guides have turned their attention to writing about fifty buildings in Brixton and Herne Hill - two adjoining neighbourhoods in South London.
Although Brixton and Herne Hill are next to each other, their character is quite different. Brixton is socially and culturally diverse with a buzz of informality and a vibrant nightlife, while Herne Hill has an ambience of bohemian gentility, with independent shops and desirable owner-occupied homes. They are, however, tied together by road, rail and the River Effra, which now runs underground.
In Roman times Brixton was a route to somewhere else, providing a path running alongside the River Effra, while Herne Hill was farmland and woods until the late eighteenth century. The construction of new bridges over the Thames in the 1700s and the arrival of the railways in 1862 changed the built environment of this corner of South London forever.
Today Brixton and Herne Hill can boast an eclectic mix of buildings spanning a period of 200 years, including a windmill, a prison, a lido and an art deco laundry. All have a distinct story reflecting the social, economic and cultural history of this segment of South London.
Brixton and Herne Hill in 50 Buildings is arranged as a chronological journey, examining the history, the use and design of a selection of the residential, ecclesiastical, municipal, cultural and commercial buildings found in this part of London.
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