We Are the Lambeth Boys

You could probably spend a day few days, or in our case years, exploring the BFI Film Archive of old films about London. We recently discovered this treasure called ‘We Are the Lambeth Boys’ and it gives a fascinating insight into Kennington circa 1959.

The film depicts the lives of the girls and boys of Alford House youth club, which still flourishes in Aveline Street, pictured below. To 2019 eyes the 49 minute film appears slightly condescending, but it was in fact intended to dispel conceptions of ‘Teddy Boys’ (hence the conversation about apparel early in the film) and the culture of youth clubs in general.

Examining the (nerd alert!) outside shots of the estates, we think they were filmed around Newburn Street. If you are a fellow fan of ‘ohh, I know where that is’ viewing, scroll to (nerd alert 2!) 33:30 for a distinct view of 50’s Kennington Cross (shown below). If you’re still on board scroll back to (nerd alert 3!) to 26:10 for a glimpse of Cleaver Street toward Cleaver Sq. If you have any further nerd revelations please drop them in the comments box….

I need some nicer clothes…..

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Ground Control to Major Plane Trees

Next time you’re walking up the west side of Kennington Road take a look up at the plane trees just beyond Tesco Metro and up to the IWM. If you look closely you’ll notice the names of all 12 Apollo astronauts who walked on the moon on metal plaques (Buzz Aldrin is hangin’ on for dear life in front of Texaco) plus 3 other Apollo astronauts. No one appears to know how the plaques turned up there, but the very handy Londonist website speculated in 2017, and the dearly departed Smoke magazine had a go a few years prior. If you dig deeper into the web you’ll also find some pretty cray cray theories, including one claiming that seeds for the (100+ year old) trees were actually on the Apollo missions. Hey ho..

The plaques appear to have been there for at least 25 years, so their creator might have moved on or indeed joined the heavens. If you have any theories please leave a comment. Best of luck looking, and may god’s love be with you………..

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old photos of Central Kennington

Last photos for now from the soon-to-be relaunched Lambeth Archives website

Kennington Cross, 1960

Kennington Cross, 1960. That lady looks like she’s moving at a leisurely pace. No way she’s going to make it all the way across in one journey.

from Kennington Cross towards Imperial Court, 1930

from Kennington Cross towards Imperial Court, 1930

the Elephant end of Kennington Lane, 1970

the Elephant end of Kennington Lane, 1970

pretty much the other side of the top of Kennington Lane, 1905

pretty much the other side of the top of Kennington Lane, 1905

The Windmill Fish Bar, 1972 - they should have kept that wonderful frontage

The Windmill Fish Bar, 1972 – they should have kept that wonderful frontage

Kennington Theatre, later a cinema, now a block of flats, Kennington Park Road, 1930

Kennington Theatre, later a cinema, now a block of flats, Kennington Park Road, 1930

The Salvation Army Citadel, 93 Kennington Lane, 1966

The Salvation Army Citadel, 93 Kennington Lane, 1966

what is now Pelican Nursery at Kennington Cross, 1972

what is now Pelican Nursery at Kennington Cross, 1972

more shops at Kennington Cross, 1972

more shops at Kennington Cross, 1972

amazing mural depicting a mediaeval village scene in Durning Library, 1952

amazing mural depicting a mediaeval village scene in Durning Library, 1952

Granada Bingo, Kennington Road, 1960, now Tesco Express

Granada Bingo, Kennington Road, 1960, now Tesco Express

wonderful old photos of Kennington pubs

from the soon-to-be relaunched Lambeth Archives website

The Roebuck, 1972, now The Dog House

The Roebuck, 1972, now The Dog House

The King's Arms, 1972

The King’s Arms, 1972

The White Hart, 1972, now the Tommyfield

The White Hart, 1972, now the Tommyfield

The Cricketers, Kennington Park Road, 1945

The Cricketers, Kennington Park Road, 1945

the derelict Lamb & Hare public house, 41 Kennington Lane, 1950

the derelict Lamb & Hare public house, 41 Kennington Lane, 1950

The Black Prince, 1974

The Black Prince, 1974

The Tankard, 1880

The Tankard, 1880

The Horns Tavern, which stood on the corner of Kennington Road and Kennington Park Road until 1965

The Horns Tavern, which stood on the corner of Kennington Road and Kennington Park Road until 1965

amazing old photos of Kennington

from the soon-to-be relaunched Lambeth Archives website

The Old Red Lion in the late 1930s

The Old Red Lion in the late 1930s

Kilner House protest squat, Clayton Street

Kilner House protest squat, Clayton Street – more info here – plus ca change

Methley Street, 1975 - nothing has changed except the cars

Methley Street, 1975 – nothing has changed except the cars

Kennington Road, 1950

Kennington Road, 1950

Cleaver Street, 1975 - bit of a different vibe from today

Cleaver Street, 1975 – bit of a different vibe from today

'Reclining Figure' by James Butler A.R.A. - bring this back to Cleaver Square please!

‘Reclining Figure’ by James Butler A.R.A. – bring this back to Cleaver Square please!

Brook Drive, 1985

Brook Drive, 1985 – looks tranquil right?

Bonnington Square, 1981 - the year the squatters moved in

Bonnington Square, 1981 – the year the squatters moved in

More soon.

 

The White Bear

Like the Elephant & Castle, the White Bear is a Kennington pub with a very long history, which has recently relaunched in impressive style.

The White Bear Theatre Pub new exterior - kenningtonrunoff.com

Thomas Ellis owned the Horns Tavern pub on Kennington Common, where Guy Fawkes stored his gunpowder in the cellar. Mary Cleaver leased White Bear Field to Ellis in 1780, and he laid out Cleaver Square, the earliest London square south of the Thames, and built the White Bear (read more Kennington history on their blackboard).

The White Bear Theatre Pub fire and local history - kenningtonrunoff.com

We first knew The White Bear as a rather edgy, although rarely busy, Irish sports pub, with the White Bear Theatre feeling very incongruous in the back. It was bought by Young’s around 2012, after which there was a short-lived relaunch (bye Irish sports fans, hello not many other people), then it closed for a long time for a much more thorough overhaul.

The White Bear Theatre Pub middle dining room - kenningtonrunoff.com

The White Bear Theatre Pub back dining room - kenningtonrunoff.com

Now it’s huge – Kennington’s biggest pub  – with two dining areas where the theatre used to be, plus a garden stretching the width of two properties.

The White Bear Theatre Pub garden - kenningtonrunoff.com

The White Bear beer garden - kenningtonrunoff.com

The theatre (which we’ve not visited since the relaunch) has relocated to the first floor – the bear will show you the way.

The White Bear Theatre Pub bear - kenningtonrunoff.com

The new White Bear has the feel of a country pub, and we can’t think of another like it in central London. Perfect for Kennington Village!

The White Bear Theatre Pub bric a brac - kenningtonrunoff.com

They serve food which is good if pricey. Mains at launch ranged from toad in the hole for £11 to black Angus sirloin, mushrooms and tomatoes, chips, Bearnaise sauce for £21. Being mostly vegetarian we haven’t tried either of their specialities yet, which are beef Wellington, black cabbage and chestnuts (£21) and steak and kidney suet pudding, calcannon (£20). But we have tried rainbow chard, pine nut and blue cheese quiche (£13):

Rainbow chard, pine nut and blue cheese quiche at the White Bear - kenningtonrunoff.com

And the roasted pumpkin cobbler, purple sprouting broccoli, not entirely successful but relatively cheap at £12:

Roasted pumpkin cobbler, purple sprouting broccoli at the White Bear- kenningtonrunoff.com

The Queenie and monkfish scampi, chips, peas cost £16.50:

Queenie and monkfish scampi, chips, peas at the White Bear - kenningtonrunoff.com

And the ale battered cod, chips, mushy peas, tartare sauce are £13, which is £2 more expensive and not quite as good as the Duchy Arms’ equivalent:

Ale battered cod, chips, mushy peas, tartare sauce at the White Bear - kenningtonrunoff.com

Nonetheless, we keep going back there to eat and find the service exceptionally friendly and helpful. They have a good selection of ales on tap, and it’s always busy in the bar area – great to see after years of emptiness. Well done The White Bear and Young’s brewery.

where have we gone?

We’ve been blogging less recently but we will be back, and meanwhile we remain active on Twitter and Instagram.

Do subscribe by email on the right hand side so you don’t have to check back for new content.

Also check this out for some great photos of Kennington in bygone eras. This is 317 Kennington Road (where Barnard Marcus is now, and not 317 Kennington Lane as the archive says) in 1966. What was Barron & Shepherd? A Google search suggests it might have been a timber yard.

Malborough House, 317 Kennington Road from the London Photo Archive

The Beehive

Once upon a time, we lived in East Kennington, and The Beehive was our local. We recently went back for the first time in years and it was every bit as special as we remembered it.

The Beehive exterior - kenningtonrunoff.com

Why so long in between visits? It’s the kind of place you have to seek out, being tucked away down a side street, but plenty of people do seek it out, and let’s be honest, there isn’t too much competition in terms of decent pubs in in East or North Kennington.

The atmosphere is calm but not sedate – it’s the perfect pub for a Saturday afternoon pint.

The Beehive bar - kenningtonrunoff.com.JPG

They have a wide selection of single malt whiskies, but they could do better on the real ale front, especially as the Orbit Brewery is just yards away. They also serve a huge selection of burgers and some other pub classics, although we can’t comment on the quality of the food right now as we last tried it around the turn of the millennium. Food served Wed/Thu/Fri 17:30-22:00, Sat 13:00-21:00 and Sun 12:00-20:00.

The interior is tastefully decorated, including this image of the now-demolished Heygate Estate, or is it Aylesbury? How quickly we forget!

The Beehive local art - kenningtonrunoff.com.JPG

There’s a beer garden in a classic East Kennington setting:

The Beehive beer garden - kenningtonrunoff.com.JPG

Like a lot of East Kennington, The Beehive has a rich history – read more about it on their website. Last year the Walworth Society were involved in a successful bid to have it declared an asset of community value, and rightly so.

Address: 60 Carter St, London SE17 3EW (not to be confused with the Beehive at the junction of Durham Street and Harleyford Road).

G Baldwin & Co. (AKA Baldwin’s)

G Baldwin & Co. – better known as Baldwin’s – is London’s oldest herbalist store and one of the city’s most interesting and welcoming shops.

G Baldwin & Co shopfront - kenningtonrunoff.com

The Baldwin’s website says “We have come a long way since George Baldwin first opened his doors on 77 Walworth Road, South East London in 1844”, but that’s not true in the geographical sense – they’ve just moved a few yards down the road to 171-173 Walworth Road, as well as building a successful mail order business and website. The current owners are the Dagnell family, who took over in the early 1900s!

The old Baldwin's

The old Baldwin’s

To step into the right side of the store – the apothecary and herbalist – is to step back in time.

G Baldwin & Co Tonic & Nerve Mixture sign - kenningtonrunoff.com G Baldwin & Co apothecary glass shelves - kenningtonrunoff.comG Baldwin & Co apothecary jars - kenningtonrunoff.com

It’s always busy, with all kinds of people coming into to discuss their ailments.

G Baldwin & Co apothecary counter - kenningtonrunoff.com

The left side of the store is a standard health food shop, albeit well stocked and with very well informed staff:

G Baldwin & Co health foods shelving - kenningtonrunoff.com

They also offer all kinds of demonstrations and work shops, from occasional free hand massages to soap making, and they always have a recipe up on their blackboard. But even if you’re not into any of that, it’s still fun to visit Baldwin’s.

Shalimar (formerly Soma Books)

Long before Vanilla Black and Finishing Touch, and decades before even Kennington Bookshop (RIP), Kennington already had a bookshop – Shalimar, formerly Soma Books:

Shalimar shop front - kenningtonrunoff.com

They’ve been at 38 Kennington Lane, SE11 4LS for around 30 years, and the proprietor appears to have been growing his beard for that long. He remembers the days when Jamyang Buddhist Centre was a courthouse, and Shalimar was part of a cluster of shops including a greengrocer – but apart from that, he says the area hasn’t changed that much.

mobile, cushions and books at Shalimar - kenningtonrunoff.com

They started out selling children’s books, which they still do, but they have diversified into African, South Asian and Caribbean books on a variety of subjects including spirituality, many of which you won’t find anywhere else in the UK.

Nowadays their core business is distributing Indian books to UK shops, which probably explains why Shalimar isn’t open on weekends (on weekdays, you have to ring a bell then wait some time to gain entrance).

pots and books at Shalimar - kenningtonrunoff.com

They also sell folk craft and art from India and beyond, and a selection of greetings cards.

toys at Shalimar - kenningtonrunoff.com

It’s a real gem packed with intriguing items, and not quite like any other shop we’ve been to. Let’s hope it stays open for another few decades.

coasters and books at Shalimar - kenningtonrunoff.com