South East London blogzine - things that are happening, things that happened, things that should never have happened. New Cross, Brockley, Deptford and other beauty spots. EMAIL US: transpontineblog at gmail.com Transpontine: 'on the other (i.e. the south) side of the bridges over the Thames; pertaining to or like the lurid melodrama played in theatres there in the 19th century'.
The Festival of Choice is a week of events in London aiming 'to raise awareness of threats to reproductive rights and the plight of those in countries around the world who do not have access to safe and legal abortion. The Festival also wishes to celebrate solidarity and activism and to strengthen and support the pro-choice message, locally and globally'.
On Saturday 26th September, there's an evening of films and discussions at Goldsmiths in New Cross (in the Stuart Hall building from 6 pm). 'Their laws, our lives' will feature 'A quiet Inquisition', which 'follows a doctor in Nicaragua, a country where the draconian abortion does not allow abortion in any circumstance. After the screening, we will have the intervention of one of the directors of this documentary'. This will be followed by 'My Choice, the Freedom Train', a documentary that 'looks at the successful campaign by thousands of activists who stopped the reform that threatened to severely restrict the access to abortion in Spain in 2014'.
Following last month's successful first foray into the world of live experimental performance in Hither Green, Linear Obsessional recordings return to promote another early evening session at the Art Cafe in Manor Park SE13. Music this time from Rabbit (David Aylward and Tom Scott-Kendrick, with guest Richard Sanderson) plus Iris Garrelfs and Oren Marsahll.
Tomorrow night at Catford Constitutional Club (Catford Broadway, SE6): 'Lost London: two film screenings marking the changing face of our city'.
'A Place for Us' is the story of the 'battle to save Catford's pre-fab Excalibur Estate'; 'A House in Bayswater- the last days of a West London Lodging House'. Free Entry, 7:30 pm start.
It was a sad moment this month when the Canterbury Arms in Brixton closed its doors for the last time, due to be demolished to make way for flats. The pub hosted many music nights in its big back room, including the legendary indie-pop/soul club How Does it Feel to be Loved? - where among other things I once shook the hand of Kevin Rowland.
Emotional scenes last month at the last HDIF at Canterbury Arms
A silver lining to this cloud is that HDIF is moving to a new South London location at the Crypt in Camberwell. They say:
'The venue couldn't be more HDIF - a jazz club in the crypt underneath St Giles' church on Camberwell Church Street, it's a beautiful, atmospheric, and ever so slightly eccentric space which feels like it could have featured on the second side of "Tigermilk". It's 150 capacity... with a cool dancefloor, lots of interesting nooks and crannies for chatting in, and a great private garden for the smokers.
The Crypt runs regular jazz nights on Fridays and then the club is mostly unused for the rest of the month, so we're very lucky to have been given the first Saturday of the month. This is a new kind of venture for them and they're understandably wary about hosting a club crowd in such a refined venue, but I've assured them that our regulars are polite, well-behaved, and make frequent trips to the bar - so please come along and do us proud!
We have been given TWO CHANCES to prove ourselves. First is Saturday October 3rd and then Saturday November 7th. After that, they'll see how the nights have gone and whether they'd like to make this a regular event. If you'd like to have HDIF south of the river, please please come along and support us on these two nights. I can't see many other decent options for a HDIF south, so if this doesn't work out, then I reckon that'll be that.
We play:
The Smiths * The Supremes * The Go-Betweens * Dusty Springfield * Belle & Sebastian * Love * Tammi Terrell * Aztec Camera * The Ronettes * Orange Juice * Beach Boys * The Temptations * Velvet Underground * Felt * The Shangri-Las * Primal Scream * Otis Redding * The Field Mice * Dexys Midnight Runners * Camera Obscura * The Four Tops * Melba Moore * The Orchids
Guest DJ for the night is Chris Stride of Offbeat.'
An impressive turn out at the 'Refugees Welcome Here' demonstration in central London yesterday (Park Lane to Downing Street), I would estimate at least 50,000 people - making it possibly the largest pro-migration march ever seen in this country.
Also good to see a 'Lewisham Welcomes Refugees' banner there.
A local contingent met up in New Cross Gate before heading into town to join the demo:
'No human being is illegal' -
members of the local New Cross community on route to the solidarity with refugees march
Last minute call for a free punk gig tonight at the Birds Nest in Deptford Church Street, featuring 1980s anarcho-punk/hardcore stalwarts Anthrax, Liberty and Bug Central. I saw Liberty play a few times back then with Conflict etc, nice guys.
It's the closing weekend of this year's Peckham and Nunhead Free Film Festival, with some great events still to come including the Welcome to Busseywood African film festival tomorrow (Saturday).
Tonight at the Montague Arms (Queens Road SE15) there's a Rolling Stones night, with a showing of the definitive Stones documentary Crossfire Hurricane followed by a live gig with cover band Not the Rolling Stones. There's also an alternative take on the band's history with an exhibition of 'Astonishing band facts and unearthed artifacts from the Nunhead & District Municipal Museum and Art Gallery's archives'. 7 pm start, free entry, no ticket required.
As mentioned here before, Bill Wyman and other members of the Stones did actually drink in the Montague Arms in the 1970s.
Tomorrow (Sunday) sees the return of three-sided football to Fordham Park in New Cross with a new season under the auspices of Deptford Three Sided Football Club.
'In keeping with the anti-authoritarian spirit that gave birth to the sport, the rules of 3sf are few, and considered more as guiding principles than steadfast laws. In general, the game should involve a ball, three teams and a hexagonal pitch – anything beyond this is subject to spontaneous revision. Unlike conventional football, a team doesn't win by scoring the most goals, but rather victory is predicated on how few goals a team concedes to its opponents'.
(the article actually credits me with a small role in relaunching the sport - as well as describing me somewhat dubiously as an artist - but the credit must go to Mark Dyson and the other players who have made Deptford/New Cross the global centre of the game!)
A special Midsummer Game was held at the setting of the sun over the Hilly Fields Stone Circle on 21st June.
If you want to check out the game, and maybe even join in, come to Fordham Park tomorrow (by Deptford Green school) at around 1:30 for a 2:00 pm start. As well as Deptford Three Sided Football Club, teams participating include Strategic Optimism FC, Philosophy Football FC and New Cross Irregulars.
Coming up on Friday 4th September in Deptford, a night of improvisational music and performance featuring Lia Mazzari and Jonas Gustafsson, Bridget Scott (Butoh and traditional Japanese dance), and Rabbit ((David Aylward and Tom Scott-Kendrick). All happening at Vinyl (record shop/cafe/gallery, 4 Tanners Hill, SE8, 7:30 to 9:30 (£5/£3 concessions).
Where were the South East London mod clubs? A friend (Mick H.) has told me that he used to go El Partido club in Lewisham (8-10 Lee High...
Editorial policy
- No personal attacks;
- No party politics;
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- Mentioning something here doesn't imply an endorsement.
If you don't like it leave a comment or start your own blog. Comments are subject to approval mainly to prevent spam, critical ones are welcome, but personal attacks or racist nonsense won't get approved.
Jack London and the 1902 Cavilla family murders
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Located amidst the bosky acreage of Brockley cemetery in an unmarked grave
lies the last resting place of five members of the Cavilla family, whose
lives...
Il bicentenario della morte di John Keats
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Il 23 febbraio si celebra il duecentesimo anniversario della morte del
poeta romantico John Keats. Keats era malato di tubercolosi e aveva passato
gli ulti...
The India Club, hidden treasure
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[image: Individual black letters on pale gold backgrounds are stuck onto a
cream wall. They say INDIA CLUB RESTAURANT and to their right is stuck a
gold ar...
Our Shop part 2
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Here's a story involving our shop which might interest you, and might even
jog some memories
I must have been about 9 or 10 years old when this happened...
First Things First
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When remodeling your home, the yard is oftentimes left for last. Usually,
major room renovations like kitchens and bathrooms get addressed first,
while the...
Spa juice on Lewisham Way
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It has lain dormant for years, enduring fire, false starts residential
development and a number of Potemkin visages, but now the pub formerly
known as Albe...
Coral in New Cross Gate - place your bets...
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Coral have applied to open a new betting shop in the former Barclay's bank
building on the corner of New Cross Road (number 197), opposite the White
Hart.
...
380t robot vacuum for pet
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380 robot vacuum cleaner wiping Braava cum mop mapping highlight keen: The
most exceedingly terrible thing when utilizing a robot cleaning machine is
har...
The Lewisham 77 walk on film
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Paolo Cardullo, who edited the film of our 2007 Lewisham 77 walk, has
embedded the video on his website here. The film features Red Saunders,
Hari Kunzru, ...
Railway Bridge across Deptford Creek - 1913
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View image | gettyimages.com The railway bridge over Deptford Creek had to
be lifted to allow masted vessels to pass. Any failure on the part of the
railwa...
Mulberry postscript
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Just a postscript, really, to the previous post. Since writing that, I’ve
found a couple more pieces of information about mulberries at Sayes Court.
Firstl...
Creekside Interviews #1
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With the big move from Deptford to Bermondsey over, our open studios at the
end of June fast approaching and all the artists settled into their new
spaces ...
Looking Up in New X – crowdfunding opportunity
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The Guardian described New Cross as “only for the intrepid”. Well we’re up
for that. See here for our latest venture Over the last 10 years
Artmongers ha...
HouseParty
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HouseParty is now just 4 days away! Check out this superb Deep Tech mix
from Vinyl Richy.
http://www.mixcloud.com/The_Vinyl_Richy/vinyl-richy-the-deep-days...
Pickleweed
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“To stand at the edge of the sea, to sense the ebb and flow of the tides,
to feel the breath of a mist moving over a great salt marsh, to watch the
flight ...
Matt rides east along the Thames Path
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Not far from the compound is a route designed specifically for cyclist.
This route runs for the length of this country passing through some of its
wildes...
Colourless: coastal photography exhibition
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Thanks to a flyer from Greenwich tourist information, I spent some of my
Sunday afternoon discovering the very small Linear House Gallery and its
latest ex...
Dickens (Jnr) on Deptford
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http://shipwrightspalace.blogspot.com/2010/10/bed-time-reading-from-mrdickens-jnrs.html
Follow the link to a wonderful write up on Deptford, including an ac...
British Broadcasting for Cyclists
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Curious. On Monday the London SE News that tags onto the end of the 6
o'clock news did a feature on cycling outnumbering other vehicles on
Cheapside, in t...
The Ride of the Long Shadows
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27th February, 2021 The balmy early spring temperature out in the Estuary
Wilds had already started to drop as I rolled out shortly after 3pm. This
was a B...
Spivak – citizen as agent
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If you joined the Handbrick of Marxism book-launch with Gayatri Chakravorty
Spivak last evening you will have seen her talk on citizens as agents,
global M...
Leybridge Court – ‘Tudor House’ to Social Housing
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Leybridge Court is an attractive social housing estate centring around
three 11-storey blocks a few metres away from the boundary of Lewisham with
Greenwic...
Leybridge Court – ‘Tudor House’ to Social Housing
-
Leybridge Court is an attractive social housing estate centring around
three 11-storey blocks a few metres away from the boundary of Lewisham with
Greenwic...
SNTB Bulletin 23rd Dec 2020
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Conservative councillors have complained that our Solstice video was too
political. We thought that was a bit rich given their recent political
opportunism...
GIHS lectures on YouTube
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Greenwich Industrial History Society have now set up their own YouTube
channel,
https://tinyurl.com/GIHSvideo
there you can find Alan Burkitt-Gray's 1...
Getting our Breath Back
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Very pleased to have my piece 'Getting our breath back' published in Like
the Wind magazine #24, accompanied by a fine illustration by Atul Vinayak
and J...
Eaglesfield Park pond clearing next Sunday
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The Friends of Eaglesfield Park will be holding their first, (much-needed)
annual pond clearing session next Sunday, 1st November and would welcome
help. T...
London street signs
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Imagine London without its street signs? They are the sort of thing we take
completely for granted but which, at some point in the past, required
somebody ...
Welcome to the family kid!
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My Corner Weedz print is available to buy [along with the tee version].
Each Corner Weed member, represents four different species of 'weeds' that
grow in t...
Eltham's General Election 2019 Hustings
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Brexit and the NHS dominated the debate at the election hustings which took
place last night with all five candidates for the Eltham constituency in
the 12...
Unexpected turns in my Dostoevsky studies
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My most recent publication is an article on Dostoevsky’s early works,
‘Hesitation, projection and desire: the fictionalizing ‘as if…’ in
Dostoevskii’s earl...
12 Months of Rafe
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Ooh look, its a blog about a baby, quelle surprise! Anyway… I had a baby
and he’s great. He’s lovely, squishy, cuddly, and he smells of beauty –
apart from...
Episode 163: Playlist VIII
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*► LISTEN *
*↓ DOWNLOAD ♫ iTUNES*
Stephen Graham joins us for the eighth volume of out South London Playlist.
1. Bridget St John - Ask Me No Questions
2...
Archives advice
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To find archives material
Our records are spread over two catalogues, both of which should be
searched.
1. National Archives’ Discovery catalogue:
http://...
Loampit Vale mural launch, Fri 5 Oct 2018
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*Cough* Is this thing on? *tap* If someone sending me a press release about
something I like centred right in the heart of Lewisham isn’t a reason to
dust ...
Blog closure
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New room, new view Just a quick note to say that I moved house this year,
and am now based in mid-west Wales on the coast. I have had a lot of fun
writing...
Catford's first million pound house
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I have been speculating for a while that this was coming, but I think this
is the first... And how. Catford now has million pound homes, with this one sel...
Zero hours contract
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I have a zero hours contract with the local council. It's not ideal, as,
along with a team of other workers, we are offered very little work.
However, it h...
A Blue Plaque for Sir George Grove
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English Heritage recently agreed to install a blue plaque on 14 Westwood
Hill, Sydenham, where Sir George Grove lived between 1852 and 1860.
George Grove...
6 Hacks for Taking Care of Your Leather Bags
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Supplying the best quality vintage leather bags. Beautiful designs and the
best leather. Each one as individual as you are. You’ve invested in a
stylish ...
Looked at a book.
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On my way to the office out back. Thought, we've had that a while, I'm
surprised we haven't sold it. It won a prize. It is highly thought of.
Fussed around...
Principles of association
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Below we set out the principles for which we, as South London Anti-Fascists
operate under. It is important that before working with SLAF (e.g.
attending ...
Here we go again…
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Sorry folks – looks as though I have to go away for six weeks. Bang to
rights – ignoring readers. If I get time off for good behaviour, I’ll be
back, promise…
SELZF2014 is GO!
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Saturday 1st of November 2014! SOUTH EAST LONDON ZINE FEST! Apply now for a
table. £5 a spot. Deadline for applications is 15th of October. To apply
visit ...
Kidbrooke Village to become a 'mini Canary Wharf'
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One Canada Square: A vision of the future?Kidbrooke Village will rise to a
whopping 30 stories high under new proposals that could turn the area into
a mi...
Our New Site
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For all future screenings announcements go to >>>>
http://fullunemploymentcinema.wordpress.com/
http://fullunemploymentcinema.wordpress.com/
http://fullune...
Yes, this does count.
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Brixton Market, Brixton Not our normal fare, I’ll grant you, but all the
same it meets the criteria and deserves a spot on the blog. Wishbone.. what
are we...
March to save Lewisham Hospital!
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OK this isn’t a political blog. Well, I suppose it is, because its about
cities and peopel living in cities and what could be more political than
that? But...
A new chapter in the transpontine struggle
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Comrades, how long has it been that you have suckled from my mutated teat?
And how lost were you when I disappeared to Brazil in hot pursuit of my
AWOL acc...
Castells on Alternative Economic Cultures
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ANALYSIS: Alternative Economic Cultures RADIO 4 Monday 8.30pm Paul Mason
interviews renowned sociologist Prof Manuel Castells about the rise of
alternative...
Stave Hill
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Stave Hill is a wonderful hidden secret of Rotherhithe, a 10 m high
artificial mound alongside Russia Dock Woodland, lifting visitors just high
enough to s...
British Broadcasting for Cyclists
-
Curious. On Monday the London SE News that tags onto the end of the 6
o'clock news did a feature on cycling outnumbering other vehicles on
Cheapside, in t...
Music Questionnaire No 25 - Liam Stefani
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I can't quite remember the circumstances in which I met Liam Stefani, I
think it started with a phone call some 13 or so years ago (before we used
email an...
Hackney history online events
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Online talks relating to the radical history of Hackney I have enjoyed
recently – and hope to enjoy soon… (If I’ve missed any feel free to add a
comment be...
Resource: John Howard’s The State of the Prisons
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The first comprehensive account of the prison system in England and Wales
was John Howard’s “The State of the Prisons”, published in 1777. It went
through ...
Harrow on the Hill
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Church Hill
Old schools. In 1572 John Lyon, a local farmer established the school, on
his death management passed to a Board of Governors. Their first duty...
My New Book – High Buildings, Low Morals
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“I don’t know what London’s coming to — the higher the buildings the lower
the morals.” ― Noël Coward, Collected Sketches and Lyrics It’s been two
years si...