New Cross, New Cross: a cultural history of SE14 (new book, Spring 2026)

New out in Spring 2026:  300+ pages covering music, radical politics, sports, spirituality, pubs and much more. Price £16.99.

The full launch including bookshop and online sales will be in May 2026. For now a small number of early copies are being sold directly at events. If you live locally (SE postcode area) I may be able to send you a payment link and deliver a copy of the book while current stocks last. If you are interested please email me.  Similarly let me know if you want to be added to the mailing list with details of book launch events and when/where you can get a copy,  

email transpontineblog@gmail.com

Enquire within upon…

 Geoffrey Chaucer – Executions at the Foul Oak – Peasant revolts –  James Bond -  Noel Coward – the abandoned Ringway motorway-  New Cross psychogeography –  London Clay- Great North Wood - Romans in New Cross – Robert Browning – is the area named after a pub or vice versa? –  Welsh and Irish workers in market gardens – Octavia Hill and the campaign for Telegraph Hill Park – slavery beneficiaries and anti-slavery campaigners – New Cross in books and films – Joyce Cary – Kae Tempest – Gary Oldman – Intimacy: last Tango in New Cross – Nil by Mouth – Shaun of the Dead – Tales of a Vampire – the first Indian nationalist to stand for parliament – a prisoner in Irish jail is nearly elected as MP – Charles Parnell – the Irish War of Independence comes to New Cross – Canals – Train factories – Chartists – the First International and a New Cross basket makers strike – tram and bus unions – the 1926 General Strike – Stone’s Engineering – Lady Flo’s squat – lost sounds and smells – 19th century vegetarians – the first Indian and Chinese restaurants – Nouvelle Quiche – Uncle Wrinkle -New Cross Hospital – New Cross Fire Station – Libraries – Spiral Tribe -Hatcham Liberal Club – labour, socialist and anarchist clubs – an anarchist bomb in New Cross Road – unemployed protests – Sylvia Pankhurst – Spanish civil war – The Field – Avalon Café – Haberdashers schools – road protests – Suffragettes – the burning of St Catherine’s church – feminism – music hall – Louis Armstrong – Fats Waller – cinema – Spike Milligan – the Harp Club – the Venue – Blur – Placebo – a horse racing course – swimming pools – athletics – first cycling clubs – the roller skating boom – the founding of the Football Association – Gaelic Athletics – Millwall not scabs – wrestling – boxing – speedway – greyhounds – war damage – peace protests – CND – Montague Arms – New Cross Inn – Bonzos - New Cross House/Goldsmiths Tavern – Vic Reeves – Gil Scott Heron - Deptford Urban Free Festival – Skehans – Royal Albert – Kate Bush – Paradise Bar – New Cross Scene – Angular records – No Pain in Pop - Deadly Rhythm – Five Bells – Charles Dickens – Marquis of Granby – the first Great Train Robbery  - Wellards Record Shop – Eddy Grant – Saxon Studio International – Dennis Bovell – Mad Professor – Jah Shaka – Lovers Rock- the Richardsons –  Underhill Studios - Chocolate Factory – Band of Holy Joy – Test Dept – pirate radio – Double Trouble – Rebel MC - Digital Holdings – UK Funky – Drill – Jamz Supernova -  Music Room -Danger Mouse – Ultramarine – Planet Wax – Victor Le Lubez – secularists – New Cross Synagogue – kindertransport -Harry Price, ghosthunter – Conan Doyle and spiritualists –  Chaos Magic – Did a New Cross Golden Dawn member invent peroxide for hair?  - the Anglo-Caribbean Association – New Cross Fascists and Anti-Fascists -Fasimbas -  The Battle of Lewisham 1977 – the New Cross Fire -  Linton Kwesi Johnson - David Rocastle – Ian Wright -  Queer New Cross – Gentrification? – Milton Court Estate-  Squats and Housing Co-ops – Sanford – Nettleton Road – Amy Kay – Paul Gilroy - New Cross Commoners