42-502: 51°25′20″N 0°7′28″W / 51.42222°N 0.12444°W / 51.42222; -0.12444 Streatham Common is a large open space on the southern edge of Streatham in the London Borough of Lambeth . The shallow sloping lower (western) half of the common is mostly mowed grass, and the upper (eastern) half is mostly woodland with some small areas of gorse scrub and acid grassland. The eastern half has been designated
84-559: A Local Nature Reserve . Streatham Common is one of two former areas of common land in the former parish of Streatham. The other is now known as Tooting Bec Common . After enclosure , the Common was purchased in 1883 for use as a public open space under the powers conferred under the Metropolitan Commons Act 1878 . It was at this time that most of the trees lining the edges of the lower common were planted. The Common
126-478: A Victorian draper's shop to a department store operated since the 1940s by the John Lewis Partnership , coincided with the opening of a large Sainsbury's supermarket half a mile south of the town centre, replacing an existing, smaller Sainbury's store opposite Streatham Hill railway station . Several recent additions, such as Argos , Lidl and Peacocks , are located in new retail spaces on
168-482: A combination of factors led to a gradual decline through the 1970s and a more rapid decline in the 1980s. These included long term population movements out to Croydon , Kingston and Sutton ; the growth of heavy traffic on the A23 (main road from central London to Gatwick Airport and Brighton ); and a lack of redevelopment sites in the town centre. This culminated in 1990 when the closure of Pratts , which had grown from
210-572: A council plant nursery, but had been abandoned for twenty years, are now managed by Streatham Common Community Garden for community food growing, and are open to the public on most Sundays. The Rookery and the adjacent Hilly Four Acres field was purchased by public subscription in 1911 to save the site from residential development, presented to the London County Council , and opened as a public park in 1913. The south east end of Streatham Common and The Rookery abut Norwood Grove within
252-472: A limited number of developments took place in the village in the second half of the nineteenth century, Streatham Vale sprung up to the South later still and the small parade of shops by Streatham Common Station has become known colloquially as Streatham Village. Wellfield Road, which had previously been known as Leigham Lane, was renamed to reflect its role as the main route from the centre of Streatham to one of
294-843: A location for entertainment, with the Streatham Hill Theatre , three cinemas, the Locarno ballroom and Streatham Ice Rink all adding to its reputation as "the West End of South London". With the advent of electric tram services, it also grew as a shopping centre serving a wide area to the south. In the 1930s large numbers of blocks of flats were constructed along the High Road. These speculative developments were not initially successful. They were only filled when émigré communities began to arrive in London after leaving countries under
336-435: A machete on Streatham High Street in what police declared a terrorist incident. Alongside the machete, Amman was also wearing a vest with components made to look like improvised explosive devices . He was pursued by armed police and was fatally shot outside a Boots pharmacy. Streatham High Road also was host to Cat's Whiskers which later became Caesar's nightclub in the early 1990s through to 2005, which closed to become
378-615: A meeting and performance space. Streatham Skyline introduced new lighting to highlight some of Streatham's more attractive buildings and monuments with the aim of improving safety and the overall attractiveness of the area. In September 2002, Streatham High Road was voted the "Worst Street in Britain" in a poll organised by the BBC Today programme and CABE . This largely reflected the dominance of through traffic along High Road. Plans for investment and regeneration had begun before
420-611: A six-lane 25 m swimming pool, 13 m teaching pool, four-court sports hall and a gym with 100 stations. The jazz venue Hideaway continues Streatham's long entertainment tradition. It features live performances of jazz, funk, swing and soul music as well as stand-up comedy nights. It won the Jazz Venue/Promoter of the Year category in the 2011 Parliamentary Jazz Awards . On 2 February 2020 at around 14:00 GMT, Sudesh Mamoor Faraz Amman attacked and injured two people using
462-531: Is one of 46 members of the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (known as The Wildlife Trusts), each of which is a local nature charity for its area. The Trust manages 36 nature reserves in Greater London and provides education services for schools, events for nature enthusiasts, and information on how to help London's wildlife. The Trust pioneered the systematic recording of data on wildlife and
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#1732794535543504-440: Is well known for its old cedar trees in the main garden. There is also a rock garden - with a cascade and lower water garden dominated by giant Gunnera . A series of walled gardens were created in part of the former kitchen gardens, including an Old English Garden and a White Garden - which predates the more famous garden in the same style at Sissinghurst Castle . The remaining parts of the kitchen gardens, which had been used as
546-591: The Labour Party . In the 2011 census , Streatham, comprising the wards of Streatham Hill , Streatham South and Streatham Wells , was White or White British (55.3%), Black or Black British (24.1%), Asian or Asian British (10%), Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (7.5%), and Other ethnic group (2.2%). The largest single ethnicity is White British (35.5%). Among the people who were born, lived or worked in Streatham, or are otherwise associated with
588-413: The London Borough of Croydon . The appeal committee that had bought The Rookery was reformed in 1923 to save Norwood Grove from development, and there is now an almost continuous series of green spaces along the ridge line from Streatham to Crystal Palace . The gently sloping lawns of The Rookery are used as an open-air theatre in the summer. A Management Advisory Committee (MAC) was set up in 1996 for
630-637: The London Borough of Lambeth , with some parts extending into the neighbouring London Borough of Wandsworth . Streatham was in Surrey before becoming part of the County of London in 1889, and then Greater London in 1965. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London. Streatham means "the hamlet on the street". The street in question, the London to Brighton Way ,
672-603: The Peace Treaty of 1783 . Streatham Park was demolished in 1863. One large house that survives is Park Hill, on the north side of Streatham Common , rebuilt in the early 19th century for the Leaf family. It was latterly the home of Sir Henry Tate , sugar refiner, benefactor of local libraries across south London, including Streatham Library , and founder of the Tate Gallery at Millbank . Development accelerated after
714-546: The area are: Streatham has three railway stations: Streatham , Streatham Common , and Streatham Hill . There are also stations at nearby Balham and Norbury . The nearest tube stations are at Brixton , on the Victoria line , and Tooting Bec , on the Northern line . London Wildlife Trust London Wildlife Trust ( LWT ) is an English wildlife charity based in London. Founded in 1981, London Wildlife Trust
756-490: The associated fund-raising. During 2017, SCCoop has also taken on conservation work in the nature reserve areas of the Common. Following the 2016 "in-sourcing" of Lambeth's parks maintenance from Veolia to a new Lambeth Landscapes DSO, plans for a further transfer of maintenance functions have been deferred. The London Wildlife Trust is currently working with Lambeth Council and the Friends of Streatham Common to improve
798-600: The autumn of 2011 on the Streatham Hub - a major redevelopment next to Streatham railway station . The project was a joint development by Lambeth Council and Tesco . The project involved the demolition of Streatham Ice Arena , Streatham Leisure Centre and the former Streatham Bus Garage, and their replacement with a new leisure centre and a Tesco store with 250 flats above it. Streatham Leisure Centre closed in November 2009 due to health and safety concerns when part of
840-475: The capital. The poll was a catalyst for Lambeth London Borough Council and Transport for London 's Street Management to co-operate on a joint funding arrangement for further streetscape improvements, which benefited the section of the High Road between St Leonard's and Streatham station, and the stretch north of the Odeon as far as Woodbourne Avenue. The section between Woodbourne Avenue and Streatham Hill station
882-469: The conservation of Streatham Common and The Rookery, resulting in the designation of the nature reserve and subsequent detailed habitat management plans. A separate Friends of Streatham Common group promotes events on the Common and in The Rookery, including an annual kite festival. The MAC's functions have been carried out by the Friends group since 2011. The Streatham Common Co-operative (SCCoop)
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#1732794535543924-710: The domination of Hitler's Germany . In 1932 the parish church of the Holy Redeemer was built in Streatham Vale to commemorate the work of William Wilberforce . In the 1950s Streatham had the longest and busiest shopping street in south London. Streatham became the site of the UK's first supermarket , when Express Dairies Premier Supermarkets opened its first 2,500 square feet (230 m ) store in 1951; Waitrose subsequently opened its first supermarket in Streatham in 1955, but it closed down in 1963. However,
966-468: The environment in the capital. Its "Biological Recording Project" became the semi-independent "Greenspace Information for Greater London", known as GIGL. The Trust has more than 50 members of staff and 700 volunteers, and is supported by over 12,000 members. It's reserves receive over 1 million visits per year. In its 2024 strategy document the Trust sets out its vision and mission, as well as plans for
1008-456: The famous architect built and lived at 10 Streatham Common South, now known as Ripley House. Henry Tate , founder of the Tate Gallery and the Tate & Lyle sugar company lived at Park Hill by the Common. Adjacent to the historic common, there is a formal garden, The Rookery , formerly the grounds of a large house that housed visitors to one of Streatham's historic mineral wells. The Rookery
1050-686: The late seventh century, land in Streatham and Tooting Graveney was granted by Erkenwald and Frithwald to Chertsey Abbey , a grant which was later confirmed in the time of Athelstan in 933. Streatham appears in Domesday Book of 1086 as Estreham . It was held by Bec-Hellouin Abbey (in Normandy ) from Richard de Tonbrige . Its domesday assets were: 2 hides , 1 virgate and 6½ ploughlands of cultivated land and 4 acres (1.6 ha) of meadow and herbage (mixed grass and bracken). Annually it
1092-495: The leading literary and artistic characters of the day, most notably the lexicographer Samuel Johnson . The dining room contained 12 portraits of Henry's guests painted by his friend Joshua Reynolds . These pictures were wittily labelled by Fanny Burney as the Streatham Worthies . Streatham Park was later leased to Prime Minister Lord Shelburne , and was the venue for early negotiations with France that led to
1134-561: The main London-Chichester road at Kennington . Streatham's first parish church, St Leonard's, was founded in Saxon times but an early Tudor tower is the only remaining structure pre-dating 1831 when the body of the church was rebuilt. The medieval parish covered a wider area including Balham and Tooting Bec . The southern portion of what is now Streatham formed part of Tooting Graveney ancient parish. A charter states that in
1176-454: The modern A23 . This road (and its traffic) have shaped Streatham's development. The village remained largely unchanged until the 18th century, when its natural springs, known as Streatham Wells, were first celebrated for their health-giving properties. The reputation of the spa, and improved turnpike roads, attracted wealthy City of London merchants and others to build their country residences in Streatham. In spite of London's expansion,
1218-570: The opening of Streatham Hill railway station on the West End of London and Crystal Palace Railway in 1856. The other two railway stations followed within fifteen years. Some estates, such as Telford Park to the west of Streatham Hill, were spaciously planned with facilities like tennis clubs. Despite the local connections to the Dukes of Bedford, there is no link to the contemporary Bedford Park in west London. Another generously sized development
1260-686: The poll, with local amenity group the Streatham Society leading a successful partnership bid for funding from central government for environmental improvements. Work started in winter 2003–04 with the refurbishment of Streatham Green and repaving and relighting of the High Road between St Leonard's Church and the Odeon Cinema. In 2005 Streatham Green won the Metropolitan Public Gardens Association 'London Spade' award for best public open space scheme in
1302-460: The pool hall ceiling collapsed. Streatham Ice Arena closed on 18 December 2011, having celebrated eighty years of operation in February 2011. For two years a temporary ice rink was provided at Popes Road, Brixton. In November 2013, the new Streatham Ice and Leisure Centre opened to the public. The leisure centre houses a 60 m x 30 m indoor ice rink with 1,000 rink-side seats on the upper floors,
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1344-503: The site for wildlife, as a part of The Great North Wood Project . In 2010, Streatham Common was saved from the threat of a "temporary" ice rink being built on it while Tesco redeveloped the former Streatham ice rink by a vigorous local campaign under the umbrella group 'Hands Off Our Common'. Streatham Streatham ( / ˈ s t r ɛ t . əm / STRET -əm ) is a district in south London , England. Centred 5 miles (8 km) south of Charing Cross , it lies mostly within
1386-532: The site of Pratt's but, in common with other high streets, retail recovery has been slow, and a substantial proportion of vacant space has been taken by a growing number of restaurants, bars and coffee shops. In August 2011, Streatham was selected as one of the areas to benefit from Round 1 of the Mayor of London's Outer London Fund , gaining £300,000. Later, Streatham was awarded a further £1.6 million, matched by another £1 million by Lambeth. The money from this fund
1428-412: The site of the newly developed block of flats with a Marks and Spencer supermarket and Starbucks. Streatham is covered by Lambeth London Borough Council . Until 2024, it was part of the parliamentary constituency of Streatham . However, since the 2024 general election , it has been part of the constituency of Streatham and Croydon North , currently represented by environment secretary Steve Reed of
1470-599: The well locations. Another mineral well was located on the south side of Streatham Common, in an area that now forms part of The Rookery, where it can still be seen and visited within the formal gardens. In the 1730s, Streatham Park , a Georgian country mansion, was built by the brewer Ralph Thrale on land he bought from the Lord of the Manor - the fourth Duke of Bedford . Streatham Park later passed to Ralph's son Henry Thrale , who with his wife Hester Thrale entertained many of
1512-627: Was Roupell Park, the area near Christchurch Road promoted by the Roupell family. Other streets adopted more conventional suburban layouts. Three more parish churches were built to serve the growing area, including Immanuel and St Andrew's (1854), St Peter's (1870) and St Margaret the Queen's (1889). There is now a mixture of buildings from all architectural eras of the past 200 years. After the First World War Streatham developed as
1554-461: Was assessed to render £4 5s 0d to its overlords . After the departure of the Romans, the main road through Streatham remained an important trackway. From the 17th century it was adopted as the main coach road to Croydon and East Grinstead , and then on to Newhaven and Lewes . In 1780 it then became the route of the turnpike road from London to Brighton , and subsequently became the basis for
1596-572: Was conveyed to the Metropolitan Board of Works and was subsequently administered by the London County Council and Greater London Council before maintenance responsibility passed to the London Borough of Lambeth in 1971. The Common had a long tradition of cricket playing from the 18th century, and the right to play cricket is enshrined in the Supplementary Act that brought the common into public ownership. Thomas Ripley
1638-423: Was not completed until 2015. Any further improvements north of Streatham Hill have been halted because of TfL's budgetary shortfall. Streatham Festival was established in 2002. It has grown to a festival with over 50 events held in an array of locations, from bars to churches and parks to youth centres, attracting over 3,000 people. After several years of delay and controversy over phasing, construction started in
1680-409: Was set up by members of the Friends to provide local management of the Common that would provide greater local accountability than the borough-wide parks maintenance contracts. After several years preparation, management of The Rookery transferred to SCCoop in 2015. After Lambeth budget cuts threatened closure of the paddling pool, SCCoop accepted responsibility for managing the pool from Summer 2016 and
1722-446: Was spent on improving streets and public spaces in Streatham. This includes the smartening up of shop fronts through painting and cleaning, replacing shutters and signage as well as helping to reveal facilities behind the high street such as The Stables Community Centre. Streatham Library has also undergone a £1.2 million refurbishment. The Tudor Hall behind the library was brought back into public use as The Mark Bennett Centre providing
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1764-564: Was the Roman road from the capital Londinium to the south coast near Portslade , today within Brighton and Hove . It is likely that the destination was a Roman port now lost to coastal erosion , which has been tentatively identified with 'Novus Portus' mentioned in Ptolemy 's Geographia . The road is confusingly referred to as Stane Street (Stone Street) in some sources and diverges from
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