Explore the rich history of the South London districts of Battersea and Clapham in this guided tour through their most fascinating historic and modern buildings.
Clapham and Battersea, both mediaeval villages to the south-west of London, enjoy rich and fascinating histories. In time Clapham became home to wealthy City merchants who built grand mansion houses around Clapham Common and Battersea’s fortunes changed for the better with the building of a bridge across the Thames in the 1770s, ending its prior isolation. Both areas were to benefit greatly from the coming of the railway in the mid-1800s and then the tube towards the end of the century which established their suburbanization and rapid development. Almost overnight row upon row of Victorian terraced housing was built, as well as shops, pubs and entertainment venues. The construction of Clapham Junction station in Battersea resulted in the development of a thriving shopping area, including Arding & Hobbs department store. Towards the end of the century Battersea built its new Town Hall, its Polytechnic and the now famous Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. Clapham’s Public Library appeared around the same period as did many new churches catering for the greatly enlarged residential population of both neighborhoods.
Today, the two suburbs are wonderfully vibrant areas with a superb variety of architecture – domestic, civic, religious and industrial, the latter best seen in the newly converted Battersea Power Station. Battersea and Clapham in 50 Buildings explores the history of these fascinating areas of South London through a selection of their most interesting buildings and structures, showing the changes that have taken place over the years. The book will appeal to all those who live in Battersea or Clapham or who have an interest in the area.
