Brixton. Rough Guide.

Brixton

• Brixton was mostly wasteland until the 19th Century
• Opening of the Vauxhall bridge in 1816 improved the access into central London
• The area in front of the Tate library in Brixton was renamed ‘Windrush Square’ to mark the 50th anniversary of their arrival and community.
• Brixton was bombed in WW2, which caused a huge housing crisis which led to urban decay, which followed slum clearances and council housing.
• Electric Avenue was one of the first streets to be lit by electricity
• Brixton was once the shopping capital of south London, with 3 department stores.
• Brixton bombing in 1999 David Copeland planted a nail bomb in electric avenue, going off on a market day, targeted on the ‘Black’ community. Copeland also bombed Brick Lane and Admiral pub in Soho London.
• Brixton pound. Local currency, launched this year to boost the local economy and build a mutual support system amongst independent businesses by trying locally produced services.
• Brixton was a meeting place for the old ‘Brixton hundred of Surrey’
• Brixton means 'Beorthsige's stone', from an old english personal name and stan stone. It was recorded as Brixiestan in 1086 in the Domesday Book
• Still remains one of the most dangerous places in the UK, with Coldharbour Lane having the statistics of 3 shootings a week.
• ‘Electric Avenue’- Eddy Grant’s song. Killer on a Rampage album, referring to shopping in the UK to have electric st lighting. The song evokes poverty, violence, misery and celebration of the area’s atmosphere.
• Brixton riots, sparked by the death of a black man being held in police custody which occurred in unforeseen circumstances.

• Middle class families & City commuters love the attraction of multicultural foods
• There’s a lot of working class people, a lot of community within
• Brixton market reflects the african Caribbean community.
• The ‘Windrush generation’ was the first migration that formed the British African Caribbean community in London. They were housed in Clapham South, but the job association office was in Brixton, which was when they spread forming there own multicultural society.
• Brixton is home to 6 big housing estates

• Last surviving windmill in London
• Morleys was one the 1st independent department stores which still stands today
• The Ritzy, Coldharbor Lane is a formally independent cinema now owned by picture house cinema’s. The refurbishment was designed as the electric pavilion by E.C Homer & Lucas. One of England’s 1st purpose-built cinemas.
• Brixton O2 Academy
• Brixton also home to purpose built skatepark, named Stockwell skatepark.
• The Brixton Mosque is one of the oldest in south London with a strong community.