Clapham Common

File:View on Clapham Common by Turner.jpg (1800–1805)]]

Originally common land for the parishes of Battersea and Clapham, William Hewer was among the early Londoners to build adjacent to it. Samuel Pepys, the diarist, died at Hewer's house in 1703. The land had been used for cricket in 1700Waghorn HT (1906) The Dawn of Cricket, p.4. Electric Press. and was drained in the 1760s, and from the 1790s onwards fine houses were built around the common as fashionable dwellings for wealthy business people in what was then a village detached from metropolitan London. Some later residents were members of the Clapham Sect of evangelical reformers and slavery abolitionists, including William Wilberforce, Lord Teignmouth and Henry Thornton.Gathro, John [http://www.cslewisinstitute.org/webfm_send/471 "William Wilberforce and His Circle of Friends"], CS Lewis Institute. Retrieved 31 August 2016

In the early 1770s, during his stay in London representing America in affairs of the state, Benjamin Franklin had written a paper explaining how he used the ponds for science experiments, and in developing a "magic" trick. While traveling on a ship, Franklin had observed that the wake of a ship was diminished when the cooks scuttled their greasy water. He studied the effects at Clapham Common on a large pond there. "I fetched out a cruet of oil and dropt a little of it on the water ... though not more than a teaspoon full, produced an instant calm over a space of several yards square." He later used the trick to "calm the waters" by carrying "a little oil in the hollow joint of my cane."W. Gratzer, Eurekas and Euphorias, pp. 80, 81{{cite journal |last1=Mertens |first1=Joost |title=Oil on troubled waters: Benjamin Franklin and the honor of Dutch Seamen |url=https://physicstoday.scitation.org/doi/10.1063/1.2180175 |journal=Physics Today |pages=36–41 |language=en |doi=10.1063/1.2180175 |date=12 January 2007|volume=59 |url-access=subscription }}{{cite web |title=Franklin's teaspoon of oil |url=https://edu.rsc.org/download?ac=11854 |publisher=The Royal Society of Chemistry}}

J. M. W. Turner painted "View on Clapham Common" between 1800 and 1805, showing that even though the common had been drained, it still remained "quite a wild place".{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MynSOYoMVzkC&pg=PA121|title=Common Land in English Painting, 1700–1850|page=121|author=Ian Waites|publisher=Boydell Press|date= 2012|isbn=9781843837619}}

The common was converted to parkland under the terms of the Metropolitan Commons Act in 1878.[https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1878/71/pdfs/ukpga_18780071_en.pdf Metropolitan Commons Act 1878] As London expanded in the 19th century, Clapham was absorbed into the capital, with most of the remaining palatial or agricultural estates replaced with terraced housing by the early 1900s.{{cite web |last=Green |first=Michael |title=From Farmyard to Factory Floor: a brief history of the QAS site at Clapham Common |url=https://claphamsociety.com/articles/farmfactory-qas-claphamcommon/ |website=The Clapham Society |date=1 December 2009}}

In 1911, Scottish evangelist and teacher Oswald Chambers founded and was principal of the Bible Training College in Clapham Common, an "embarrassingly elegant" property situated at 45 North Side that had been purchased by the Pentecostal League of Prayer.McCasland, David (1993). Oswald Chambers: Abandoned To God : the life story of the author of My Utmost for His Highest. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Discovery House Publishers. {{ISBN|1-57293-050-0}}

During World War II, a heavy anti-aircraft artillery site had been set up on the common. Storage bunkers were built on the Battersea Rise side; two mounds remain.{{cite web |title=Clapham Common: World War II |url=https://boroughphotos.org/lambeth/clapham-common-clapham-world-war-ii/ |website=Borough Photos |publisher=Lambeth Landmark |language=en |date=31 January 2018}}{{cite news |title=On the battlefields of Clapham |url=https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/6446222.on-the-battlefields-of-clapham/ |work=News Shopper |date=2 November 2000 |language=en}}

Half of the common is within the London Borough of Wandsworth and half within the London Borough of Lambeth. It is wholly managed and maintained by Lambeth Council.{{cite web |title=Clapham Common |url=https://www.lambeth.gov.uk/parks/clapham-common |website=lambeth.gov.uk |publisher=Lambeth Council |language=en}} Policing of the open space is divided between the Wandsworth and Lambeth borough "commands" of the Metropolitan Police, which follow the local government boundaries.[https://www.met.police.uk/area/your-area/met/lambeth/ Metropolitan Police - Lambeth][https://www.met.police.uk/area/your-area/met/wandsworth/ Metropolitan Police - Wandsworth] The roads surrounding the common fall within the SW4, SW11 and SW12 postcodes.{{cite web |title=Postcode Map - Greater London Authority |url=https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/gla_postcode_map_a3_map1.pdf}}File:Clapham Common War Memorial (West Face - 02).jpg

Electoral wards for Lambeth are within the eastern half of the common; mainly in the Clapham Common and Abbeville ward with smaller parts divided between the Clapham Town ward and Clapham East ward.{{cite web |title=Ward maps - Lambeth Council |url=https://www.lambeth.gov.uk/about-council/ward-maps |website=lambeth.gov.uk |language=en}} In Wandsworth, most of the western half of the common is in the Northcote ward and a small part of the south-western corner is in the Balham ward.[https://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/media/10094/northcote_ward_2022.png Wandsworth Council Electoral Services - Northcote ward][https://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/media/10087/balham_ward_2022.png Wandsworth Council Electoral Services - Balham ward]

Clapham Common has a range of sporting facilities, including tennis and netball courts, a running track, bowling green, cricket, football, rugby and Australian rules football pitches, and a skateboard venue. In 2021, Foot Locker, in partnership with the NBA, completed the refurbishment of the Clapham Common Basketball Court.{{Cite web|last=Reporter|first=Sports|date=2021-11-08|title=Foot Locker and NBA refurbish Clapham Common Court|url=https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/foot-locker-and-nba-refurbish-clapham-common-court/|access-date=2022-01-29|website=South London News|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|date=2021-11-05|title=Clapham Common basketball court renovation complete|url=https://www.hoopsfix.com/2021/11/clapham-common-basketball-court-renovation/|access-date=2022-01-29|website=Hoopsfix.com|language=en-US}}

The park contains three ponds, two of which are historical features, and a more modern paddling pool known as Cock Pond. Eagle Pond and Mount Pond are used for angling and contain a variety of species including carp to 20 lb, roach, tench and bream. Eagle Pond was extensively refurbished in 2005 when it was completely drained, landscaped and replanted to provide a better habitat for the fish it contained. Long Pond has a century-old tradition of use for model boating.{{cite web |title=Fishing and Fishing Permits |url=https://www.lambeth.gov.uk/parks-sports-leisure/fishing-fishing-permits |website=lambeth.gov.uk |publisher=Lambeth Council |language=en}}{{cite web |title=Clapham Common Pond, London |url=https://www.fisheryguide.co.uk/clapham-common-pond/ |website=Fishery Guide |date=16 September 2021}}{{cite web |title=Clapham Common Management Plan 2017-2027|url=https://claphamcommon.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/2017-2027-CC-Management-Plan.pdf}}

Holy Trinity Church (1776) is close to the north side of the park. An Anglican church, it hosts its fete in the park every summer.{{cite web |title=Holy Trinity Clapham |url=https://www.holytrinityclapham.org/ |website=holytrinityclapham.org}}

Clapham Common and Clapham South Underground stations are on the edge of the common at its easternmost and southernmost points respectively. Both stations are served by the Northern line.{{cite web |title=Clapham Common Underground Station |url=https://tfl.gov.uk/tube/stop/940GZZLUCPC/clapham-common-underground-station |website=Transport for London}}{{cite web |title=Clapham South Underground Station |url=https://tfl.gov.uk/tube/stop/940GZZLUCPS/clapham-south-underground-station?lineId=northern |website=Transport for London}}

{{wide image|Clapham Common 360 Panorama - July 2007.jpg|800px|align-cap=center|A 270-degree panoramic view of Clapham Common}}

In the centre of the park is a bandstand constructed in 1890. It is the largest bandstand in London and a Grade II listed building. For many years it was also erroneously thought to be one of the bandstands first erected in 1861 in the Royal Horticultural Society's gardens in South Kensington, which would have made it the oldest surviving cast iron bandstand in Europe. However, further research has shown that these bandstands went to Southwark Park and Peckham Rye, and it appears that the Clapham bandstand was fabricated to a very similar design almost thirty years later.{{cite journal | url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/1587372 | jstor=1587372 | title=The Royal Horticultural Society Bandstand Mystery: Or, What Happened to the First Cast-Iron Bandstands? | last1=Conway | first1=Hazel | journal=Garden History | date=2001 | volume=29 | issue=2 | pages=214–216 | doi=10.2307/1587372 | url-access=subscription }}{{cite web |title=Bandstands: Pavilions for music, entertainment and leisure |url=https://artsandculture.google.com/story/pAVh_mguwrE_Kg |website=Google Arts & Culture |language=en}}{{cite web |title=Bandstand - Southwark Park |url=https://www.londonremembers.com/memorials/bandstand-southwark-park |website=London Remembers |language=en}}

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The bandstand's maintenance had been neglected by Lambeth Council for thirty years, and by 2001 it was thought to be in danger of collapse and had to be shored up with scaffolding for five years. In 2005–2006, a full restoration of the bandstand and surrounding landscape took place, partly funded by an £895,000 lottery grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund matched by £300,000 from Lambeth Council and a further £100,000 from local fundraising efforts and the proceeds of the Ben and Jerry's Summer Sundae event held on the common.{{cite web |title=Ben & Jerry's Sundae 2005 - eFestivals |url=https://www.efestivals.co.uk/festivals/benandjerry/2005 |website=www.efestivals.co.uk}} The drainage bund around the bandstand was restored with granite setts during the summer of 2011 at a cost of £12,000 to resolve design faults in the earlier works.[http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/83390CD7-8196-4264-BD5E-B3493BF95881/0/Ward_Purse_Committed_Projects_201011.pdf LB Lambeth Ward Purse committed projects] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130015315/http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/83390CD7-8196-4264-BD5E-B3493BF95881/0/Ward_Purse_Committed_Projects_201011.pdf |date=30 January 2012 }}

The park has hosted various musical festivals, including Colourscape Music Festival since 1989,;{{cite web|url=http://www.mondoarc.com/built_with_light/316039/no21_colourscape.html|title=No.21: Colourscape|author=Sharon Stammers|publisher=mondoarc.com|date=Aug 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703121853/http://www.mondoarc.com/built_with_light/316039/no21_colourscape.html|archive-date=3 July 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://blog.soundandmusic.org/2014/02/04/simon-desorgher-on-25-years-of-the-colourscape-music-festival/|title=Simon Desorgher on 25 years of the Colourscape Music Festival|author=Simon Desorgher|publisher=soundandmusic.org|date=4 February 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328151349/http://blog.soundandmusic.org/2014/02/04/simon-desorgher-on-25-years-of-the-colourscape-music-festival/|archive-date=28 March 2014}} Get Loaded in the Park, from 2004 to 2011 when Razorlight were the headline act;{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/jun/13/get-loaded-in-the-park-review|work=The Guardian|title=Get Loaded in the Park – review|author=Caroline Sullivan|date=13 June 2011}} South West Four Eurodance music festival annually in August since 2004;{{cite web|url=http://www.southwestfour.com/history|title=History|publisher=southwestfour.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140625061805/http://southwestfour.com/history|archive-date=25 June 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.timeout.com/london/music-festivals/south-west-four|publisher=Time Out|title=South West Four|date=25 February 2014}} and other music events, such as Subway Picnic Rocks in 2008, organised by Action Against Hunger{{cite web|url=https://www.efestivals.co.uk/festivals/others2008/subwaypicnic|publisher=efestivals.co.uk|title=Subway Picnic Rocks 2008|date=24 June 2008}} In 2014 the Calling Festival, which had previously been held in Hyde Park under the name Hard Rock Calling Festival, moved to Clapham Common; artists included Aerosmith and Stevie Wonder.{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/music/stevie-wonder-to-perform-in-clapham-common-as-calling-festival-headliner-9245703.html|title=Stevie Wonder to perform in Clapham Common as Calling Festival headliner|work=standard|author=Alistair Foster|date=8 April 2014}}

Sporting events held in Clapham Common and sports teams based in the park include the Latin American football League, which has played organised football on the red car pitches located on the south side of the park since the 1980s;{{cite web|url=http://www.migrantvoice.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=106%3Alatin-american-rhythms&catid=34%3Aarchive&Itemid=4|title=Latin American Rhythms|publisher=migrantvoice.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031075909/http://www.migrantvoice.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=106%3Alatin-american-rhythms&catid=34%3Aarchive&Itemid=4 |archive-date=31 October 2014 }} the British Australian Rules Football League Grand Final, for which the park is the traditional venue; South West London Chargers rugby club formed in 2013 have their home in the park;{{cite web|url=http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/southwestlondonchargers/a/about-the-club-31431.html|title=South West London Chargers|publisher=pitchero.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031082729/http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/southwestlondonchargers/a/about-the-club-31431.html|archive-date=31 October 2014}} Sunday league football{{cite web |title=Clapham Common - 11 A Side Football |url=https://www.11aside.org/venues/1208/Clapham-Common |website=11aside.org}} is regularly played with London Titans{{cite web|url=http://www.londontitans.com/locations/clapham-common/|title=London Titans Football Club Clapham Common|publisher=londontitans.com|access-date=28 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108045121/http://www.londontitans.com/locations/clapham-common/|archive-date=8 January 2014|url-status=dead}} and Clapham Alexandra football clubs using the park;{{cite web|url=http://www.teamstats.net/claphamalexandra/|title=Clapham Alexandra football club|publisher=teamstats.net}} various teams from other sports are also active on the park, including softball and korfball.{{cite web|url=http://www.loveclapham.com/clapham-sport-clubs/|title=Clapham Sports Clubs|publisher=loveclapham.com|author=Jack Wallington|date=16 June 2009|access-date=28 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917094040/http://www.loveclapham.com/clapham-sport-clubs/|archive-date=17 September 2016|url-status=dead}}

A Lesbian & Gay Pride event, to be termed Pride House, was planned to take place on the park during the 2012 Summer Olympics, but ran into opposition from the Friends of Clapham Common{{cite web|url= http://www.wandsworthguardian.co.uk/news/9503164.Author_brands_Clapham_Common_group_bigoted_and_outdated/|work=Wandsworth Guardian|title=Author brands Clapham Common group bigoted and outdated|date= 1 February 2012|author= Alexandra Rucki}} and was eventually cancelled for lack of funding.{{cite web|url=http://www.eventmagazine.co.uk/Olympic_Houses/article/1128973/Pride-House-Clapham-Common-axed/|work=eventmagazine.co.uk|title=Pride House on Clapham Common axed|author=Louise Ridley|date= 26 April 2012}} Every Easter and February half-term George Irvin's Funfair visits the park.{{cite web|url=http://www.irvinleisure.co.uk/funfairs/clapham-common-easter-fair-2014/|title=Clapham Common Easter Fair|work=irvinleisure.co.uk|access-date=28 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140622061532/http://www.irvinleisure.co.uk/funfairs/clapham-common-easter-fair-2014/|archive-date=22 June 2014|url-status=dead}}

On 13 March 2021, a vigil was held on the common following the death of Sarah Everard, who was kidnapped nearby.{{cite news |last1=Campbell |first1=Lucy |title=Met police criticised for 'deeply disturbing' handling of Clapham Common vigil - as it happened |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2021/mar/13/reclaim-these-streets-vigils-womens-safety-uk-latest-updates |access-date=14 March 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=13 March 2021}}

{{See also|Gay cruising in England and Wales}}

Clapham Common has a reputation as a place for men seeking anonymous sex with other men in public places.{{cite web|url= https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/focus-whos-looking-for-what-on-clapham-common-1182122.html|title=Who's looking for what on Clapham Common|author=Catherine Pepinster|author-link=Catherine Pepinster|work=The Independent|date=1 November 1998}} When Welsh politician Ron Davies was robbed at knifepoint in 1998 after he gave a lift to strangers he had met in the park, there was speculation that the incident involved "cruising"; Davies resigned his position in the UK government, denying the incident had anything to do with drugs or sex.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2003/mar/10/uk.wales|title= Ron Davies ends political career|author=Patrick Wintour|work=The Guardian|date= 10 March 2003}}{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/the-davies-affair-how-much-did-downing-street-know-about-that-night-on-clapham-common-1183011.html|title=THE DAVIES AFFAIR: How much did Downing Street know about that night|author=Colin Brown|work=The Independent|date= 6 November 1998}}{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/204691.stm|title= My moment of madness|work= BBC News|date= 31 October 1998}} There have been several attacks on men in the vicinity of the park, including one in 2005 on a young man, Jody Dobrowski, thought by his attackers to be gay, during which he was badly beaten and later died.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5080164.stm|title=Gay man's killing 'tip of the iceberg'|author= Martha Buckley |publisher=news.bbc.co.uk|date=16 June 2006}} The incident was the impetus for the making of the 2007 Channel 4 film Clapham Junction.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2009/film/reviews/clapham-junction-1200475404/|title=Review: 'Clapham Junction'|publisher=variety.com|author=Dennis Harvey|date=8 July 2009}}

• Writer and journalist Graham Greene, who lived at Clapham Common North Side, set his 1951 novel The End of the Affair in and around the area.{{cite web |title=Graham Greene {{!}} Writer {{!}} Blue Plaques |url=https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/blue-plaques/GrahamGreene/ |website=English Heritage}} The location is also referenced in the 1999 film adaptation of the book.{{cite news |last=French |first=Philip |title=The End of the Affair review – bitter and twisting |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2000/feb/13/philipfrench |work=The Guardian |date=13 February 2000}}

• The common is mentioned in the 1963 novel Up the Junction by Nell Dunn.{{cite book| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ISBN9781582430669| title=Up the Junction | author=Nell Dunn| publisher=Basic Books| year=1963| page=52 | isbn=978-1-58243-066-9}}

• The "... windy common" appears in the lyrics of the 1979 song also titled "Up the Junction" by Squeeze. The title was inspired by the 1965 BBC TV adaptation of Nell Dunn's book and directed by Ken Loach.{{cite news |last=Boyd |first=Brian |title=Squeeze Side Story |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/squeeze-side-story-1.127347 |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=23 January 1998 |language=en}}{{cite news |last=Simpson |first=Dave |title=Squeeze: how we made Up the Junction |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/may/05/how-we-made-up-the-junction-squeeze |work=The Guardian |date=5 May 2015}}{{cite web |title=Squeeze – Up the Junction |url=https://genius.com/Squeeze-up-the-junction-lyrics |website=genius.com}}

• The area is a backdrop in the 1985 film The Good Father starring Anthony Hopkins.{{cite web |title=The Good Father (1985) |url=https://www.volta.ie/#!/browse/film/2107/the-good-father |website=Volta |language=en}}

• Clapham Common is featured in a 1989 episode of Agatha Christie's Poirot TV series titled The Adventure of the Clapham Cook, adapted from an Agatha Christie short story.{{cite web |title=The Adventure of the Clapham Cook by Agatha Christie |url=https://www.agathachristie.com/en/stories/the-adventure-of-the-clapham-cook |website=agathachristie.com}}https://www.itv.com/watch/agatha-christies-poirot/L0830/L0830a0001 Agatha Christie's Poirot - Series 1: Episode 1 - ITV.com

{{Reflist}}

• [http://claphamcommon.org/ Friends of Clapham Common] – Voluntary organisation formed in 1998

{{Parks and open spaces in London}}

{{London landmarks}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Clapham

Category:Common land in London

Category:Cricket in Surrey

Category:English cricket in the 14th to 17th centuries

Category:Parks and open spaces in the London Borough of Lambeth

Category:History of the London Borough of Lambeth

Category:Parks and open spaces in the London Borough of Wandsworth