Lambeth Local History Fair

Lambeth’s local history fair is a treat for anyone interested in the history of the area.

It brings together dozens of local societies and local history organisations. The day includes illustrated talks, tours and walks of the building and locality, local publishers’ bookstalls, exhibitions and
refreshments.

Programme through the day

10.45 West Norwood Cemetery’s Clapham Connections. A speaker from Friends of West Norwood Cemetery on the history of the cemetery, which in the 19th Century was the
burial place of choice for much of South London.

11.45 Derrick Johnson leads a walk around Clapham Old Town and talks about its development history.

12.30 Rink Mania in Edwardian Lambeth. Sean Creighton tells of the short-lived fashion for rinking (roller skating) when hundreds of rinks opened across Britain.

1.30 Clapham Library to Omnibus Theatre. Peter Jefferson Smith and Marie McCarthy on the history of Clapham’s first public library, which opened in 1889 and is now an arts centre.

2.15 Alyson Wilson leads a walk along Clapham Common North Side, looking at the fine Georgian and Victorian architecture of its buildings.

3.15 Kennington 1848-2018. Marietta Crichton Stuart and Richard Galpin set out the story of the Chartists’ “monster” rally on Kennington Common in 1848.