London Photo Gallery - Clapham Common

Clapham Common is a large park in London's southern outskirts. It is believed this was already a public area before the Norman conquest where people came for fuel and food, as well as to graze their animals and dry laundry. Regular maintenance and landscaping arrived in 1772 which changed the wild nature of the park. The Northern Line passes through with 2 stations - Clapham Common at the northeast corner and Clapham South on the southeast. The bandstand is the oldest and largest surviving in the city whose history dates back to 1890 and restored in 2006 thanks to a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. There were only a few trees showing their autumn colours by late October (2024). Overall, the Common didn't have heaps of thick forests but a lot of open fields. The Holy Trinity Clapham opened in 1776 right on the Common. It is the design of Kenton Couse from the Office of Works, who provided a simple rectangular brick building with a stubbby tower. It was here that the Clapham Sect worshipped during their campaign to end the slave trade. These people lived around the area and were devout Christians. By the early 19th century, wealthy businessmen moved to this area, but their large mansions have since been redeveloped into terraces with increased density towards the end of the 19th century. This walking tour covers the residential streets on the north side of the Common.