The Torch of Anarchy: 1890s meetings in Southwark Park

The Torch - sometimes known as The Torch of Anarchy - was an 1890s anarchist communist journal started by Olivia, Arthur and Helen Rossetti,  three young siblings from an artistic family (the artist Dante Gabriel Rossetti was their uncle and the poet Christina Rossetti their aunt)

An issue from 1895 (April 18th) mentions that 'An Anarchist-Communist Group is being formed in Bermondsey' with open air meetings to 'be held in Southwark Park every Sunday morning at 11 am'. The contact give is C. Freestone, 5 Brandon Street, Bermondsey New Road'

A subsequent issue (18 July 1895) lists 'Anarchist Open-Air Propaganda' meetings in Southwark Park, Deptford Broadway and other London paces. The Torch is listed at being available from Devenny, 108 New Kent Road.

'Indoor Lectures' were also advertised at Deptford Workingmen's Educational Club, held at Smith's Cocoa Rooms, Deptford Bridge as well as at Liberty Hall in Wimbledon (Torch, 18 October 1895), 

See also: Bermondsey Socialist Club in the 1890s

 

Music Monday: Kae Tempest 'Sunshine on Catford

Loving the new Kae Tempest album, Self-Titled, from a transpontine perspective the track 'Sunshine on Catford' in particular, which features Neil Tennant of the Pet Shop Boys.

Bermondsey Socialist Club 1890s

The Bermondsey Socialist Club was at 78 Grange Road, SE1. This notice from 1897 lists its Sunday lectures. There's Felix Volkhovsky, a prominent Russian radical exile of the tiime; John Hunter-Watts, socialist and secularist; and future Labour Prime Minister James Ramsay MacDonald.

The club seems to have developed alongside the Bermondsey Industrial Co-operative Society based at the same address. Established in 1881, they also put on regular lectures. This programme from 1886 includes speakers from the Social Democratic Federation (Harry Quelch, Nunhead based socialist) and the Vegetarian Society as well as a Political Economy class taught by the Fabian socialist Sidney Webb.

Number 78 Grange Road is now a vet's opposite Bermondsey Spa Gardens. It's an old building so unless the street numbering  has changed I assume this was the site of the club.

 (these flyers and many other treasures to be found in the Max Nettlau papers at the Institute for Social History online archive)

See also: Bermondsey anarchists in the 1890s

Music Monday: Haim in Deptford

Haim are the quintessential Los Angeles band, so I wasn't expecting to be able to write them into the South London Hall of Fame any time soon. But they are over in Europe on tour and seemingly found time for a trip down to Deptford to film their latest video 'All over me'. If you're familiar with the Master Shipwright's House you will no doubt recognise its distressed decor and garden.

Update 25/6/2025: it seems the Master Shipwright's House is up for sale. A very interesting building dating back to early 1700s, with ten bedrooms and a garden backing directly on to the Thames. Very handy for the Dog and Bell pub too if you have £8 million to spare. 

Cleaners protest at EY at More London SE1

Cleaners facing job cuts were protesting yesterday (12th June 2025) at the HQ of EY (Ernst & Young) at More London SE1.

'As cleaners for Ernst & Young, one of the four largest consulting and accounting firms in the world, we are outsourced to a company called MITIE. MITIE has now announced a wave of redundancies in order for them to be ‘more efficient for the client’. Currently 37% of roles are at risk at redundancy. This is an absurd amount of cuts, and is sure to leave remaining workers burdened by the excessive workload created by such a significant reduction in staff.

Ernst & Young is not beyond exploiting its most precarious workers to maximise its profit - the company declared a revenue of 40 billion GBP in just one year. In 2017, cleaners at E&Y were also facing unjust redundancies. With the support of our union IWGB, we fought back and managed to fully stop all redundancies. But now, EY is once again attempting to make a number of its workers redundant and putting our livelihoods and wellbeing at risk.

We are asking you to rally around us, raise your voices, and demand that Ernst & Young puts a stop to these extreme redundancies'.

(The cleaners are members of the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain. You can donate to IWGB Cleaners & Facilities Branch Fighting Fund)

 

William Wyld

Poet and artist William Wyld is hosting the next Yer Bard poetry night at Dash the Henge in Camberwell on June 18th 2025.

William works out of a studio at Thames-Side studios in Woolwich and I went along to their open studio this weekend. There were poetry readings from William and other poets including Erica Hesketh (also at Yer Bard this month), Jasmine Cooray,  Michaela Coplen and Mark Rodenhurst. William's diverse body of work was on display including portraits, natural landscapes from the Hebrides (including my ancestral homeland of Islay) and shamanic bird and crab masks. William's poetry has been published in 'Queer Life, Queer Love II' and elsewhere and they have been involved in the Southbank Centre New Poets Collective.

MV Royal Iris - derelict Mersey ferry at Woolwich

The MV Royal Iris, which has been laid up on the Thames at Woolwich since 2002,  is looking in an evermore sorry state after a fire in April 2025.

The ship, built on the Clyde, was one of the ferries across the Mersey from 1951 until 1991. In its hey day it included a dancehall where the Beatles, Gerry & the Pacemakers and other Merseybeat bands played. After it retired there were various plans to convert it into a floating nightclub that never materialised and it has been left getting increasingly derelict by the Thames-side Studios (Warspite Road SE18), opposite the Silvertown Tate & Lyle works.

 

RIP Colin Jerwood - SE London punk legend

Colin Jerwood, lead singer with South London anarcho-punk band Conflict, has died.  At their 1980s peak they were very influential in the punk scene and famously once played a huge gig at Brixton Academy in 1987 ('The gathering of the 5000') which ended with 52 arrests and fighting with the police in the streets outside.

I believe that Colin was born in 1962 in Nettleton Road in New Cross, but was living in the Coldharbour Estate in  Eltham in the early days of the band and as an anarchist punk having to deal with violent racist skinheads. The band played out across South London and beyond - I saw them in mid-1980s at Thames Poly and at the Old Kent Road ambulance station squat - and put on a regular punk night in the crypt of St Pauls Church in Deptford. Later in the 1980s Colin was involved with putting on acid house parties at the Harp Club in New Cross, and in 1994 at the same location (now called the Venue) recorded their live album 'Conflict in the Venue'. Through their Mortarhate record label they put out stuff by other punk bands including New Cross favourites Hagar the Womb.

Conflict announce the start of 'The Centre' on Mondays at St Pauls Church SE8 (think this must have been late 1985/early 1986)

1986 gig at the Crypt with Potential Threat, Unknown Colours, Mentacide and Under the Gun

Colin played one of his last gigs with Conflict at the New Cross Inn in November 2024

According to Mark Wallis from Liberty (another SE London anarcho-punk band) "In the early days, Colin was an anarchist living on an estate in Eltham [the estate] with John and Paco, surrounded by NF skinheads

Deptford Owls

'The owls are not what they seem'

 - spotted on former bank in Deptford Broadway

 

'Show genocide the red card!' - Dulwich Hamlet & Clapton women's match abandoned over Palestine banners

A women's football final involving Dulwich Hamlet and Clapton football clubs was abandoned yesterday after officials objected to fans of both teams displaying pro-Palestinian flags and banners. As part of the fifth tier of women's football in England, the London and South East Women's Regional Football League rarely features in the news, but this week's League Trophy Final held at Maidstone United's ground looks set to get international attention.

Clapton CFC Women's First Team were 2-0 up against Dulwich Hamlet Reserves after about 20 minutes. A statement from Clapton explains what happened next:

'Today’s L&SERWFL Trophy final between Clapton CFC Women’s First Team and Dulwich Hamlet Reserves at Maidstone United’s Gallagher Stadium was abandoned with Clapton leading 2-0.

We were told the management at the venue objected to the presence of a Palestine flag among Clapton’s support and an anti-genocide banner among the Dulwich Hamlet support. Both sets of supporters indicated they did not wish to remove the flag/banner and the venue and league and match officials decided the game could not continue. There was an offer to play the game to a conclusion behind closed doors but our players felt that football without fans is nothing. Clapton CFC is a members-owned, members-run football club.

A statement on behalf of the team said: “Today, 32 women were denied the opportunity to play the L&SERWFL Trophy final. About 20 minutes into the match, both Clapton and Dulwich supporters were approached by a representative of Maidstone United, Gallagher Stadium owners. He demanded that our supporters must stop waving the Palestinian flag, and the Dulwich supporters must take down their banner which read 'Show genocide the red card'. After both groups of supporters refused, he called the officials together and communicated that we could not use the ground while both the Palestinian flag and the banner were displayed.

Our given options were to 1) play the game behind closed doors or 2) to abandon the game. Clapton’s players chose to abandon the game. Both sets of fans then came together in solidarity with the Palestinian people, singing more songs and holding up our banners in support of trans women and the Palestine people, respectively. Our players and supporters are united in their support and concern for Palestinians who are being bombed daily. Showing that support with a flag or banner is no reason to abandon a cup final.”

The L&SERWFL have said the cup final is void and will not be replayed or awarded to either finalist. Both clubs will also now face an FA disciplinary process'.

There has also been a statement from Independent Dulwich Hamlet FC Fan Group  'The Pepper Army':

'Today's L&SERWFL Trophy final between Dulwich Hamlet women Reserves and Clapton CFC Women was abandoned with Clapton winning 2-0 after fans from both clubs refused to remove Palestine flags and a banner reading "Show Genocide The Red Card". 

We want to unequivocally state our support for the fans of both clubs who refused to bend to the demands of final hosts Maidstone United FC, and every player who refused  to play if the flags and banners were removed. 

The facts in Gaza are clear and widely accepted: the death toll in Gaza since October 2023 is estimated to be over 54,000; a united Nations Special Committee and Amnesty International have both concluded that the state of Israel is perpetuating a genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza; this week the UK government issued a joint statement with the leaders of France and Canada calling on the Israeli Government to stop its military operations in Gaza. 

Sport has long played an important role in putting pressure on governments perpetrating human rights abuses, from South Africa during the apartheid era to Russia since its invasion of Ukraine. Those who argue that political protest does not belong in sport are either ignorant or are deliberately ignoring that history. 

This is particularly true in the women's game — access to the game has always been political, and even now, women continue to fight for the right to play football.  We don't protest at our games because we think one protest in a regional football competition will change what is happening in Gaza. But we do it knowing that every  protest joins a drumbeat of defiance that is slowly convincing the world it cannot ignore the daily murders perpetuated by the state of Israel.  We are, for the avoidance of any doubt, against genocide, against anti-Semitism, against Islamophobia, and against prejudice in all its forms. 

We are proud of the behaviour of Dulwich Hamlet fans today, and we are equally proud  to join hands with the fans of Clapton CFC, who have already done so much to shine a spotlight on the plight of the Palestinian people. History will judge us. Let us all be able to say we were on the right side.'

It seems likely that there will be some FA disciplinary hearing. While people in Gaza face starvation and daily bombing raids from Israel those who dare to speak up against it, and the British government's complicity, increasingly face official sanctions and in some cases criminalisation.

Fans from both clubs at the match (from Tim Harrison on twitter). The 'Free the Filton 18' banner refers to Palestine Action activists in prison for alleged involvement in an action against an Israeli weapons factory near Bristol.

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photo from Artist Taxi Driver @chunkymark 

Pyrotechnists Arms to re-open?

The Pyrotechnists Arms on Nunhead Green looks set to reopen shortly, having been empty for a few months. At any event its owners, the Stonegate Pub Company, have given it a lick of paint.

The pub dates back to at least 1871 and has one of the most unique pub names in London. It derives from the fact that it once served the workers at the nearby fireworks factory, built in 1868 for C. T. Brock & Co, "Crystal Palace" Fireworks.  As the name suggests Brock's was famous for its elaborate fireworks displays at the Crystal Palace. It also made munitions though, supplying cartridges for the French army during the 1870 Franco-Prussian war.  As the Army was soon being turned against the citizens of Paris it seems likely that some of the weaponry used in the massacre that ended the 1871 Paris Commune was made in Nunhead*. 

The fireworks factory was in a field to the east of Nunhead Green.   It was only there for a few years, as those fields were soon being filled with houses - in this case Barset and Howbury Roads In the early 1870s the factory moved to Tennison Road, South Norwood. 

I believe the fireworks factory is the square area in right of picture, with a path heading down towards the green (late 1860s map)

More on the history of Brock's in Nunhead here

* there was quite an overlap between fireworks and explosives in this period, with gunpowder being the common ingredient. One of my ancestors, my great great grandfather Thomas Cook (1835-1901), seems to have been involved in both. Born in Woolwich, he worked at the Royal Arsenal and later moved to Oare near Faversham. On the 1881 census he is listed as an 'artist in fireworks' but was working at the Cotton Powder Factory which made explosives as well as distress flares.

Richard Cabut at Dash the Henge

Another interesting night coming up the great Dash the Henge shop in Camberwell on Thursday 22 May 2025, Richard Cabut will be reading from his poetry collection 'Disorderly Magic and Other Disturbances', now being launched as an audio book. Accompanied by Magic Soundscapes from the Band of Holy Joy plus Patrick Lyons and film.

 

Hitler hanged and burned: VE Day in South London 1945

The end of war in Europe was celebrated with several days of relieved VE (Victory in Europe) celebrations across Britain in May 1945. In South London as in many other areas this includes bonfires, parties and singing in the streets. On the Old Kent Road there were 'groups of people singing round pianos on the pavements'; on Rye Lane, Peckham sailors rode on the top of double decker buses; hundreds gathered at One Tree Hill.

During the events 'scores of effigies of Hitler were burned' while it was reported that in Artichoke Place, Camberwell 'another Hitler dummy is swinging from a gas lamp with a noose around his neck' (South London Observer, 11 May 1945)

 

May Day 2025: Deptford and Camberwell

'A Salute to May Day' at St Giles Church in Camberwell on Tuesday April 30th was a lovely night promoted by Broadside Hacks and Dash the Henge. It started off with the Belles of London City morris dancing in front of the church, followed by Daisy Rickman, Goblin Band and Tealeaf playing inside. Loved Goblin Band in particular with their set of May themed songs including Birds in the Spring, the First of May, May Morning Dew and a rousing version of the Padstow May Song which had people dancing in the aisles and pews with the Belles and a horse!

Goblin Band in St Giles

On May Day itself there was a big turn out for the annual Fowlers Troop Deptford Jack in the Green procession. It started out at the Dog and Bell in Deptford, heading along to the Salt Quay on the Greenwich river front then around various local drinking places.

A personal highlight for me was seeing my first swifts of the year swooping over SE14. 'You never heard so sweet as the birds in the spring'.

Pleased to see too that Past Tense Publications has reprinted my pamphlet on the history of 'May Day in South London' which you can purchase here.

See previous posts on May Day in South London

Sun Ra, Prince and Shaka in Brockley Road

Some musical legends commemorated at Lorenzo's Records Wanted shop at 260a Brockley Road, the mural painted in 2023 by Butch Attai. Those featured include Jah Shaka, Prince, Ennio Morricone, Sun Ra, Yukihiro Takahashi and Holger Czukay. Some stuff for the real heads there and an indication of the kind of music you can find inside. Just down the road from the Roy Ayers mural too - can any other street in the world boast such a line up?

Someone has defaced Sun Ra (heresy), but found earlier image at Lorenzo's instagram

The  artist has also posted their original sketch for the piece

Jah Shaka from New Cross of course some of the others may have passed briefly through South London. Sun Ra's first London gig was at the South Bank centre (Queen Elizabeth Hall) in 1970 and of course there was Prince's 2007 residency at the 02 in Greenwich.

 

South London Street Signs

 Time for another round up of messages from the streets, lampposts and toilet doors of South London, most of these spotted around New Cross/Brockley/Nunhead in last 6 months.

Unequivocal Safe Space statement in Old Nun's Head.

New Cross, near to Goldsmiths (painted mural)

Robert Smith of The Cure in Dash the Henge record shop in Camberwell
 - 'Charlotte Sometimes, Always Anti-Fascist'

Dash the Henge - 'Millwall Communist Party'

Insurrectionary anarchists busy in Deptford, next to tunnel to Fordham Park SE14 'TFL raise fares... let's raise hell'

'Brockley Anarchist Reading Club' meeting up at Skehans

'Free Luigi Mangione' in Camberwell

Toilet doors in the New Cross Inn always a treasure trove of sticker art:

Only Tears on Old Kent Road

SE15SK8 sticker on Gellatly Road sign, SE14

Palestine still rightly getting attention - these stickers proclaiming 'long live Gaza' and 'Free Palestine'-

'Free like only animals can be' - spottted on a car in Nunhead

Reclaim the Streets/Critical Mass - advertising planned event in May 2025

Lots more posts about this kind of stuff