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| Tooting: Centre of the Universe |
| 2008-07-16 02:42:01 |
Forget Balham: Gateway to the South? It's Tooting: Centre of the Universe from now on.From the Sun:A south London planet expert has named a crater he discovered on Mars after the area he was born in. Pete Mouginis-Mark, 53, named the 17.4 mile wide feature on the red planet Tooting, hoping the title would be adopted by the US Geological Survey.He said that the meteorite crater, which sits at latitude 23.1N, 152.4W, is close to a small river valley and reminded him of Tooting Bec. Mr Mouginis-Mark, who lived in south London until 1970, discovered the feature in September and applied to the International Astronomical Union to register the name.He said: "I named the crater Tooting because I thought my mum and brother would get a kick out of having their hom...
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| Wandsworth estate agents: On the rise or decline? |
| 2008-07-16 02:27:01 |
So are we really to blame ex-England manager Steve McClaren for the current gripes in London's property gloom?Estate Agents in ClaphamWandsworth property and estate agentsEngland at Euro 2008 would no doubt have put sport on the front pages and property safely inside (credit crunch aside), but the fact remains: there is still uncertain air amid the average house buyer and those that want to sell. When is the right time? Will prices freeze? Is the property boom at an end?Wandsworth has a plethora of estate agents, too. None more so than Northcote Road and Lavender Hill, which has around 26 estate agents. One source who works on the Hill told the Companion (and it didn't this blog to say so) that agents are sweating as to how long they have to survive before...
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| Wandsworth's cultural side. . . |
| 2008-07-15 06:05:01 |
Following the news of a possible Banksy in SW, here are two cultural videos to take you on your way. By no means promoting graffiti in the borough, check out this video of an artist at work near Wandsworth Bridge. (The Companion will also be highlighting some of Wandsworth's fantastic murals by Brian Barnes in the coming weeks).Parkour (Free running) has taken off in recent years. This one was recorded in Wandsworth a few years ago....
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| Is it a Banksy in Tooting? |
| 2008-07-14 17:42:31 |
Has iconic street artist Banksy made it south of the River into Companion territory? Word is, his latest work is currently adorning Stella Road in Tooting, SW17.Banksy homepage Is it a Banksy?Banksy went to public schoolStella Road, SW17According to reports, the work was found by a local DJ, while the lead singer of 80s band Then Jericho is believed to have spotted two men holding up a placard pronouncing "Gordon Banks, original guerilla". The music connection is more Soho than Tooting. All the same, if it is a Banksy, it could fetch thousands at auction.From Flickr....
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| Openly gay US bishop heckled in Putney |
| 2008-07-14 11:25:19 |
The quiet environs of St Mary's Church, Putney were interrupted at the weekend when Gene Robinson, the openly gay US bishop, was heckled by cries of "repent" and "go back to your own church".Thinking Anglicans: Media round-up from PutneyBBC report on gay bishopThe Putney incident (by no way inflamed by the Putney Debates from the Civil War) was perhaps fuelled by developments in the US, where evangelicals recently launched a new global church because they were disillusioned at what they described as "militant secularism and pluralism" which led to Robinson becoming bishop in New Hampshire.So is it a surprise that Robinson was going to receive some rough treatment? Should Robinson be given a chance for people to listen to him? Should it be up to Robinson's colleagues to take centre stage an...
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| Blog exclusive: Angler catches UK biggest's fish |
| 2008-07-14 04:20:44 |
Okay, so it's not an entirely-related Wandsworth post, but Kingston is near enough...An angler has caught what is believed to be the biggest ever river-caught fish in the UK.Brett Ridley, a 28-year-old labourer, landed a Wels catfish at Surbiton Angling Centre on the River Thames.Like many anglers on the stretch, Mr Ridley was specifically targeting carp and barbel before he hooked into the fish near Kingston. It took him 45 minutes to land before borrowing a set of scales that only went up to 50lbs. When the fish was weighed it "bottomed them straight out", suggesting that the fish could be more in the region of 60-65lbs.Mr Ridley, of Thames Ditton, told the Companion: "I'd left a mate to get me some bait but when I got home from work he hadn't done it, and...
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| Clapham's Flat Iron building; beats New York's version |
| 2008-07-10 03:03:01 |
The iconic version in New York must have been inspired by Clapham's flat iron creation, as seen in Rectory Grove in Clapham.. . . and then there is New York's flat iron recreation, with its view up Broadway. More Clapham signs photos....
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| Matrimony Place - original Lovers' Lane |
| 2008-07-08 02:59:52 |
In the Thirties, there was a pathway(still exisiting) in Clapham that seemed to weave a magic spell for a long and happy marriage.Matrimony Place, SW4Six houses used to lie 29 steps up from Matrimony Place, off the Wandsworth Road, near the parish of St Pauls, Rectory Grove in SW4.The residents of the six houses used to tell of courting couples who 'made their trysts in the Place' while they also made sure they were never disturbed.They believed that the Place brought luck to lovers, while even the local vicar saw the 29 steps as a sign of happiness for scores of married couples.It seemed like Clapham's own aphrodisiac and, not surprisingly, owners had handsome offers turned down for the six properties.As one resident put it back then: “Like our neighbou...
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| Battersea Power Station. . . more plans |
| 2008-07-08 02:31:03 |
Battersea Power Station proposals seem to get better by the year. After the last couple of duff plans for the Power Station, here's a new development - include better public transport within the proposal and there might just be a feasible answer to the years of decline at one of London's iconic landmarks. More at Going Underground's blog. . ....
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| ... and the River Wandle's future |
| 2008-07-07 06:02:24 |
... linking the four boroughs - Croydon, Sutton, Merton, Wandsworth - with its Trout in the Classroom project....
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| Wandsworth dog owners required to chip |
| 2008-07-07 06:01:40 |
Dog owners in Wandsworth are now required to microchip their pet as part of tough new regulations for estates in the borough.Wandsworth's rott-en loveThe rules will be phased in over 12 months and the council has warned that tenants who fail to comply could lose their homes.It follows two serious attacks in the borough and reports of youths training fighting dogs on the Doddington Estate.Residents in properties owned by Wandsworth council will need to get their dog micro-chipped under new plans announced by the council last week and backed by the RSPCA.Wandsworth, backed by the RSPCA, says it is bringing in the new rules in an effort to tackle problems caused by strays and prevent dogs causing a nuisance to other tenants.The RSPCA said that Wandsworth "will...
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| Webb's Road's upholstery urinator |
| 2008-06-30 10:30:00 |
The Companion isn't sure whether he had issues with a mended curtain, but the owner of a Clapham upholstery shop has had to turn to YouTube in a bid to catch a man who has urinated on his shop on several occasions.James Harris, owner of the Upholstery Workshop on Webb's Road for 18 years, planted webcams in and outside his shop and managed to record the serial urinator in action. In the video, above, he is clearly making sure he gets his target, at one point even trying to aim through the keyhole.The owner of the shop, off Battersea Rise and near the fashionable Northcote Road, believes the culprit, who has been at it for three months, is local. He is convinced that he is also married and once caught will need to have an amazing explanation to his wife as to...
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| Clapham - The first Twenty20 game ever? |
| 2008-06-30 10:20:00 |
Although the first recorded cricket match in England had taken place around three years earlier, a series of matches were announced in April, 1700 on Clapham Common, the first such reported matches in London at any rate.The periodical The Post Boy stated that the matches would consist of ten Gentleman per side while they would be played on the Common with prizes of £10 a head per game 'and £20 the odd one'.This implies that the matches were single innings only and were all to be played in one day.300 years on and the shorter Twenty20 game is thriving, but could Clapham lay claim to beating the ECB's marketing deparment and being the first ever?*Picture taken by Reuters, May 2008 in Battersea Park....
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| Tony Blair in Wandsworth |
| 2008-06-27 05:09:38 |
A few historical posts today. Keep writing in with those suggestions for the book. Some research this week revealed Tony Blair on Wandsworth's/Battersea South's electoral role for 1980.
With Blair trying to make a name for himself as a high-flying legal eagle, he spent a few years in the Tonsleys where he was living with Charles Falconer, soon to be a Lord and later to be among the band of Tony's Cronies....
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| Duels in London... notably Battersea |
| 2008-06-27 05:05:29 |
Battersea Fields and Putney Heath have been well documented as being the most popular places to settle a dispute over the years.
Winchelsea v Wellington: A dreadful Duel!But the perhaps the most high-profile of these was between the Duke of Wellington and the Earl of Winchelsea in 1829 at Battersea. The slight absurdity of the event left many to predict that duelling was on its last legs, as noted in the Morning Herald's account on March 23. .
. . . The city was thrown into ferment this morning by a report which seemed so utterly improbable that at first few believed it. We were among the incredulous, thinking it a story fit only to amuse male and female old ladies – those gossipers in and out of petticoats. But every third person we met told us seriously how His Grace the Duke of Wellington had taken offence at his lordship's, the Earl of Winchelsea's, letter about the King's College; how the aforesaid noble Duke had challenged the Earl; how the said belligerents had agreed to meet...
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| Bombs dropped in London in WW2 |
| 2008-06-27 04:59:28 |
Every so often the Companion will detail some World War Two facts on Wandsworth...
Here are some in Putney from 1940 onwards...
9 Keswick Road... 55, 57, 59, 61 West Hill... 26 Lebanon Gardens... 11 Valonia GardensWandsworth – Bank of River Wandle at Mapleton Road... 13 Kimber Road... Junction of Twilley St and Kimber Road... Veritas Works, Garratt Lane...
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| Gordon Ramsay and the F word |
| 2008-06-24 00:44:21 |
It wouldn't be the same without the swear words, but Wandsworth chef Gordon Ramsay has caught the attention of Australia's lawmakers.
Liberal Opposition Senator Cory Bernardi claimed he heard "the f-word" 80 times in one 40-minute episode of Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares when it was shown on Aussie TV.From the Guardian... "And I'm not referring to fondue," he told a Senate committee hearing.Sen Bernardi said there was "no excuse for gratuitous bad language to be broadcast repeatedly" when it could be "beeped out".Some commentators say there is an irony in this controversy given Australians' reputation for swearing.Australia's tourist board was rapped by the UK advertising watchdog last year for running ads with the strapline: "So where the bloody hell are you?" in Britain....
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| Wimbledon 2008: Local residents parking |
| 2008-06-24 00:36:17 |
So residents living near the All England Club have been caught trying to sell parking permits to Wimbledon fans.
Is that a surprise? Wandsworth Council issued homes near the tennis venue with special passes to allow friends and relatives to park in restricted areas during the tournament.
The council was then forced to issue new permits after it emerged some residents tried to sell the passes online and even forge the passes in some cases. Ebay comes in handy for most things, but some people just can't help themselves.
Just ask the Eavis family when Glastonbury comes round. They offer locals day passes as noise and disruption compensation, but then you get the odd few who put them up on the internet without realising the tickets have been logged....
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| Peter Sellers - Balham, Gateway to the South |
| 2008-06-24 00:28:12 |
You may have heard Balham being referred to as 'Bal Ham - Gateway to the South' thanks to Peter Sellers, but have you actually heard the famous 1958 sketch? Here it is in full - Sellers at his best in this satirical American travelogue.
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| Battersea Power Station - another project looms... |
| 2008-06-23 08:06:40 |
The capital's skyline is due to be transformed once again with ambitious plans for the redevelopment of Battersea Power Station.
A 300m (984ft) tower would be built on the 38-acre site. The proposed huge glass structure would be higher than landmarks such as the Gherkin and Canary Wharf across the Thames. The £4 billion project was designed by Rafael Vinoly.The power station's listed building would be converted into apartments, a hotel and shopping mall, and surrounded by flats and offices. There would be 3,200 homes on the site. The developers, Treasury Holdings UK, said that the tower would feature "innovative use of natural ventilation."If approved, construction will begin in 2012 and be completed by 2020.The Companion says...
Five years until construction begins is a long time when it comes to the Power Station. The cynical side says that this is just another wasted press release after the attempts from previous owners. I.e. Announce plans, wait for the price of the site to rise ...
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| Balham history in photo |
| 2008-06-20 01:12:02 |
A Balham photo from 1961. Taken from Flickr.Is this really Balham? It has a seaside/coastal town feel to it. Well, then again, Balham is the Gateway to the South. Taken in 1981....
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| Northcote history and the River Falcon brook |
| 2008-06-17 03:32:22 |
With the modern comes Companion's forte.. and that is the history. Of course, the book wouldn't be the same without some Northcote Road action and the following is a quick potted history of the Market and the underground stream running below it.The long-established market has recently seen local retailers priced out as rents have escalated. An action group has been set up to rightfully keep independent and local trade on Northcote Road. Shopkeepers' anger has long since lingered in the borough and stretches back to the 1890s. During this time there were costermongers in Falcon Road, Northcote Road, St John's Road sand Lavender Hill, much to the annoyance of other shopkeepers. The Ratepayers' and Tradesmen's Association lo...
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| Tony's - Northcote Road cafe |
| 2008-06-17 03:23:15 |
Great post from Eggbaconchipsandbeans from a while back. A former dispatch rider, he has seen his fair share of London's cafs and that includes Tony's - the retro one on Northcote Road.Northcote Road Action GroupAnd Tony's is a classic example of a Wandsworth institution being gunned down by the big boys. His landlord is putting the rent up 120 percent.There is a Northcote Road Action Group petition, as well as the Council's survey you can fill in online from the below post....
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| Northcote Road - Wandsworth bastion at risk from rising rent |
| 2008-06-17 03:19:07 |
The future of one of south London's best independent markets is seemingly a murky one.Timeout: Northcote Road marketShops on Northcote RoadWith rising rent forcing traders off their pitches as the big retailers stake a claim in one of the borough's now affluent areas, these are difficult times for the average market stall.Northcote Road's market is close to losing its identity, but at least the Council is on a fact-finding mission to rid concerns. Even if the council's parking costs are a complete rip-off.A survey in Battersea's Northcote Road area is asking residents and businesses their views on the future shape of the popular shopping street. The proposals have been drawn up by urban design specialists URBED and include suggestions for varying shop opening hours and introducing a broade...
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| Battersea Park celebrates 150 years |
| 2008-06-16 16:14:06 |
The Royal park will be celebrating its 150th birthday on June 14.Battersea Park in picsThe 200 acre park will feature a Victorian theme fancy dress parade, a vintage funfair, guided heritage walks and a Victorian cycle procession, complete with penny farthings and an array of historic bicycles throughout the ages.There will also be screenings of top films on giant screens, a fashion show and the annual colourful celebration that marks the presence in Battersea Park of the London Peace Pagoda. The 36 foot tall pagoda is dedicated to the realisation of universal peace. Boasting four large figures of the Buddha, it was built in 1985 as a gift to the people of London from the Japanese Buddhist Order of Nipponzan Myohoji and is cared for by a resident monk.This p...
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| Wandsworth history book ready to go... |
| 2008-06-10 02:11:23 |
A blogger should never apologise for the lack of posts. It's frustrating for the reader. But the Companion does have a genuine excuse, even though it is publishing a few times a week if that.You see, it has been down in sunny Cornwall putting the finishing touches to the Wandsworth Companion book while other helpers have also been on holiday. So lucky then that there has been minimal news around the borough.In terms of the book, there are still a few pages to go and thanks for the emails I have received since launch asking about it and offering some content ideas. So if you have any ideas or know of any cracking history nuggets that would be worthy of a mention then please email using the one on the left.To give you an idea...
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| Wandsworth's life expectancy down |
| 2008-06-10 01:57:02 |
Wandsworth's male life expectancy is lower than in England as a whole, according to a new report.The borough's men live on average to 76.3 years, compared with England's average life expectancy of 76.9. Women in Wandsworth can expect to live to 80.8, compared to 81.1 years nationally, says Wandsworth Primary Care Trust.The population of Wandsworth is getting younger, with more than half of residents aged between 20 and 44, compared with just 35.1 per cent in that age bracket nationally.The top cause of death in 2005 was circulatory diseases, which killed 680 people.The Companion says...Compare these morbid figures to that of Wandsworth's death figures of 1887....Measles... 147, Scarlet Fever... 60, Typhus Fever... 1, Diphtheria... 43, Whooping Cough... 153, Diarrhoea & Cholera... 245, ...
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| Paul Gascoigne on Northcote Road |
| 2008-05-22 07:59:35 |
Been meaning to post this one for a while now. The Companion was a wee nipper when England's midfield maestro came down Northcote Road (far end at the bottom of Kelmscott Road) for a few days filming in 1990.Gazza, who made headlines around the world that year for his tears at Italia '90, was paid by Faberge to advertise Brut, the company's aftershave brand.A youthful and cheeky-looking Gazza in the vid is a distant memory to the one we see so sadly-portrayed in pictures today....
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| Wandsworth pot-holes |
| 2008-05-22 07:55:14 |
Come across a pot-hole on a road and you could be forgiven if you were driving a thousand miles away from the stresses and strains of London life.Not so. It seems south London residents are suffering daily from the rigours of pot-holes.More from the Londonist....
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| Wandsworth's new Mayor - John Farebrother |
| 2008-05-19 04:43:38 |
Cllr John Farebrother has been appointed the borough's new Mayor.In a break from the usual convention, Farebrother received the nod from a Conservative-led council as Farebrother is a Labour Mayor.A retired civil servant, he was involved in the audit of public sector bodies for virtually all of his working life. He was first elected to the council in May 1998. He represents Furzedown Ward as a Labour Party member and over the years he has served on a number of committees including leisure and amenities, housing, health, standards, adult care services and licensing.He also been involved in the audit of a wide variety of Government Departments and bodies including various commonwealth bodies, Ministry of Defence, Scottish Education Department, Department of E...
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| Wandsworth's Heathrow fight |
| 2008-05-19 04:27:14 |
Wandsworth council goes to the High Court tomorrow in a bid to win a reduction in the number of aircraft allowed to arrive at Heathrow before 6am.Wandsworth Council Heathrow initiativeAlong with Richmond and Windsor and Maidenhead councils, Wandsworth challenged the Government's night flight arrangements three year ago it was discovered that planes flying at dawn had been placed in the wrong noise category.BA Flight 26 is the first plane to touch down at Heathrow in the morning. It departs Hong Kong 13 hours earlier and is a 50+ decibel wakener; the World Health Organisation says more than 30 decibels of sleep disturbance has a "critical health effect".On average there are around 16 early morning arrivals each day between 4.30am and 6am....
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| Holly Willoughby - latest Wandsworth celeb |
| 2008-05-19 04:17:26 |
Wandsworth is clearly the place to live - or for developers to move in and cash in.Holly Willoughby, the presenter who caused viewers to stop blinking when she wore a highly-revealing dress on Dancing on Ice, has purchased in the borough. She has bought a Victorian house in Wandsworth for a nice £1.6million.It's time for the Wandsworth famous residents and celebrities list. Hot on the heels of Kevin Pietersen and Willoughby, who will be next and can you add to the list?Alun Armstrong - Actor, Marcus Brigstocke— comedian, Jack Dee — comedian/actor Sophie Dahl— model, Daniel Defoe— author, George Eliot — author, Jason Flemyng— actor, Mark Owen— singer, Ainsley Harriott— TV chef, Kiera Knightley — actress, Gordon Ramsay— chef, Prunella Scales— actor, Dana Internationalâ...
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| Wandsworth parking fines - the new bank charge story? |
| 2008-05-19 03:55:05 |
News reaches the Companion of a possible loophole in local parking ticket fines.Parking wardens and tickets, both who seemingly bare health warnings and paranoia to the average motorist over whether their wheels are touching the white lines, could be placing thousands of redundant tickets on vehicles.This is according to one reader who wrote into the Daily Mirror:"I Got a CCTV parking ticket that referred to the 1991 Road Traffic Act. It should have referred to the 2004 Traffic Management Act which replaced the 1991 Act. When I pointed this out to Wandsworth Council in London they cancelled the ticket. I asked if they'd refund everyone else similarly affected. They said no prejudice had been suffered by anyone so they wouldn't. Nor would they stop enforci...
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| Wandsworth website searches |
| 2008-05-04 08:24:35 |
In line with the Back Boris vote on Wandsworth's loves in the below post, the Companion lists the most searched terms by users drawn to this site.stranglers battersea parkwandle trailcandahar road batterseadu cane court balhamwhitney houston, battersea parksw11 historywandsworth councilbaby names wandsworth...
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| Boris and Wandsworth |
| 2008-05-04 08:20:41 |
The Back Boris website had a few pages devoted to each borough. Not least a section on what people loved most about Wandsworth.Here are the final results before Johnson made mayor.Battersea Park (78 votes) Battersea Power Station (65 votes) Northcote Road (64 votes) The country's lowest council tax (42 votes) Lots of green space, wandsworth and tooting commons. (29 votes) The undeveloped green space on Tooting Common Triangle (16 votes) Albert Bridge and the Thames (12 votes) Shops and restaurants on Bellevue Rd (11 votes) Wandsoworth Common pond (8 votes) Tooting Common (8 votes) Battersea Arts Centre (8 votes) The River Wandle (7 votes) Wandsworth Common (6 votes) albert bridge (6 votes) It's friendly village feel (5 votes) Our Commons (3 votes) Parks (2 votes) Putney Common (2 votes) So...
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| Boris Johnson - tackling crime as the new mayor |
| 2008-05-04 08:16:48 |
So Boris Johnson is the new mayor of London. If anything, it is a refreshing change to the years of power Ken Livingstone enjoyed. Or not enjoyed. The Evening Standard went to town in the run-up to the elections, with Andrew Gilligan leading the way on a number of damaging exposes on the mayor. Now it is up to Johnson to get rid of any remaining cobwebs that may remain and settle down in an important term as London Mayor. The Olympics is around the corner, crime has yet to be tackled in any shape or form and those bendy buses look a distant memory....
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| The English Democats in SW London |
| 2008-05-04 08:05:29 |
Spotted on You Tube: one of the Mayoral candidate parties doing their stuff on the Garrat Lane in Wandsworth during their campaign....
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| Wandsworth local elections - results |
| 2008-05-04 08:02:18 |
So Boris Johnson is the new London Mayor. Good thing or disaster for the Capital? Let us know your comments below.But over 1m people can't be wrong in their choice. The Companion takes the impartial route when it comes to news on this site, but it can't help thinking that the Conservative candidates were more of a thorn in commuters' side (a good thing) when it came to making their voice heard. They were present at train and bus stations throughout the borough and the Conservative candidate Richard Tracey even came knocking on the door of the Companion.Anyway, here are the results as far as Wandsworth and the neighbouring boroughs are concerned.:The Blues regained three constituency seats on the London Assembly. Tony Arbour held his seat covering Richmond, Kingston and Hounslow.In Croydon ...
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| Sold down the Broadway |
| 2008-04-22 01:42:13 |
Where does your luggage go after Heathrow Terminal 5 staff forget to put it on the right carousel? Answer: Tooting.Greasby's auctioneersThat's right. Once a bag can't be traced to its rightful owner, it goes to Greasby's auction house in Tooting. Bidders have the element of surprise as they don;t know what they're bidding for in the suitcase, but they obviously manage to sell items.Here for more....
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| The race for London Mayor 1 |
| 2008-04-22 01:33:48 |
Here goes with the runners and riders for the Capital's next mayor in the May elections. First up is Ken Livingstone and his policies for the future and how it might shape Wandsworth.Transport yarnsTube modernisation costing £1 billion a year. Ken's bike hire scheme with 6,000 bicycles around the capital where each one would be free for the first 30 minutes. Ken Livingstone websiteEnvironment policyIntroduce a £25-a-day charge for 4x4s. To retain the area of the congestion-charge zone. Oppose airport expansion and maintain a target of 50 per cent of new homes to be affordable.Corruption policyIn the wake of the grants scandal that has seen one of his advisers, Lee Jasper, resign amid allegations of corruption, Livingstone admits that there needs to be gre...
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