Clapham Common

Clapham Common

Clapham Common is a triangular area of grassland of about 200 acres (0.8 km²) in size, situated between Clapham, Battersea and Balham in south London, England. Although most of it lies in the London Borough of Wandsworth it is wholly managed and maintained by the London Borough of Lambeth. However, policing of the common is divided between Wandsworth and Lambeth police boroughs, according to borough boundaries. It has 3 ponds and a paddling pool.The common is surrounded by many fine houses which began to be built in the 1790s and became fashionable dwellings in (what was then) this village south of London, many being home to wealthy business people. Some of these were members of the Clapham Sect of evangelical reformers, including Lord Teignmouth and John Thornton, the banker and abolitionist. As London expanded in the 19th century this became part of a built-up area, and Clapham was eventually absorbed into the capital.

Also on the common in the Clapham bandstand which is the oldest bandstand in Europe which is currently being restored after years of fundraising and a national heritage lottery grant.

Holy Trinity Church (1776) is close to the North Side of the common. An Anglican church, it hosts its fete on the common every summer.

Part of Clapham Common has a reputation as a gay meeting place, and was featured in a heterosexual capacity in the Squeeze song Up the Junction, and was also connected with the famous Ron Davies "moment of madness" incident in 1998. It has also been the venue for a number of annual Gay Pride festivals. The bushy regions of the common are used by homosexual men for "cottaging" activities.^[1] There have recently been attacks on gay people in the wooded area of the common,^[1] one of them being the brutal murder of Jody Dobrowski on 14 October, 2005.^[2]

It was also noted in Are You Being Served? as the site where Mrs Slocombe was thrown flat on her back, and the German Air Force was responsible. (All the other times she was flat on her back, it was the American Air Force that was responsible!)

The common has also been the site of one of the Colourscape Music Festival structures since 1995. In 2005 it hosted several big events, including the Sprite Urban Games, Ben and Jerry's Sundae on the Common and the Metro festival, most of which will return this summer.

Clapham Common tube station and Clapham South tube station are on the edge of the park.

Famous actor Jeremy Brett died on 12 September 1995 in Clapham Common, where has been living many years.

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