Brixton is a district of some 64,000 people in the London Borough of Lambeth. South of the River Thames, it is still within four miles of the centre of London with good transport links. Although known originally as Brixiges Stan, it is referred to in the Domesday Book as Brixiestan. As stan is the old English word for stone, it is reasonable to assume that it relates to some sort of marker.
The old hundred was a large, wooded area in the north east of Surrey, whose northern boundary was the River Thames. There was little of interest in the area until 1720, when a gallows was built to deal with the highwaymen that plagued the road between London and Croydon. By the end of that century though, farmland was beginning to replace woodland and the village of Brixton came into existence.
The population of the area saw a considerable increase in the early 1800s as the new bridges were raised over the Thames. For the first time, the idea that you could work in London but live in the country became feasible. The building of Vauxhall Bridge in particular, in 1816, resulted in a spate of new and comfortably proportioned houses appearing along Acre Lane.
Brixton thrived during the latter years of the Industrial Revolution. There was another building boom in the 1850s, which saw the development of Angell Town to the east of Brixton Road. This desirable estate of Italianate villas and sweeping crescents changed the face of the area, as did the bridges and viaducts that supported the recently installed railway and tram lines.
Brixton also gained fame as one of the best shopping areas in South London. Bon March'e, the UK's first department store, was opened in 1877, and in 1888 Electric Avenue became the first shopping street to have electric lighting. Brixton's street market was also establishing itself, and the haphazard rapidity of its growth meant that it soon required a permanent home. The three elegant arcades that resulted now enjoy protected status.
Nevertheless, the early twentieth century saw many families moving out of London to leafier suburbs, where they could afford to buy larger houses. The ever improving transport system meant that they could still get to work relatively easily from the Home Counties. Furthermore, the 99 year leaseholds on many properties were coming up for renewal, making tenure a risky proposition.
The properties that were left empty in areas such as Brixton were usually either converted into small flats or simply abandoned. The bombing raids of World War II did nothing to improve conditions and the area was cleared after the war to make room for council houses.
In 1948, the Empire Windrush brought the first wave of immigrants over from Jamaica. They were temporarily housed in the deep-level air raid shelter beneath Clapham Common tube station, but soon discovered that nearby Brixton offered both accommodation and a labour exchange. The Mayor of Brixton extended to them the warmest of welcomes, and many remained in the area to form the basis of a vibrant new community.
The old hundred was a large, wooded area in the north east of Surrey, whose northern boundary was the River Thames. There was little of interest in the area until 1720, when a gallows was built to deal with the highwaymen that plagued the road between London and Croydon. By the end of that century though, farmland was beginning to replace woodland and the village of Brixton came into existence.
The population of the area saw a considerable increase in the early 1800s as the new bridges were raised over the Thames. For the first time, the idea that you could work in London but live in the country became feasible. The building of Vauxhall Bridge in particular, in 1816, resulted in a spate of new and comfortably proportioned houses appearing along Acre Lane.
Brixton thrived during the latter years of the Industrial Revolution. There was another building boom in the 1850s, which saw the development of Angell Town to the east of Brixton Road. This desirable estate of Italianate villas and sweeping crescents changed the face of the area, as did the bridges and viaducts that supported the recently installed railway and tram lines.
Brixton also gained fame as one of the best shopping areas in South London. Bon March'e, the UK's first department store, was opened in 1877, and in 1888 Electric Avenue became the first shopping street to have electric lighting. Brixton's street market was also establishing itself, and the haphazard rapidity of its growth meant that it soon required a permanent home. The three elegant arcades that resulted now enjoy protected status.
Nevertheless, the early twentieth century saw many families moving out of London to leafier suburbs, where they could afford to buy larger houses. The ever improving transport system meant that they could still get to work relatively easily from the Home Counties. Furthermore, the 99 year leaseholds on many properties were coming up for renewal, making tenure a risky proposition.
The properties that were left empty in areas such as Brixton were usually either converted into small flats or simply abandoned. The bombing raids of World War II did nothing to improve conditions and the area was cleared after the war to make room for council houses.
In 1948, the Empire Windrush brought the first wave of immigrants over from Jamaica. They were temporarily housed in the deep-level air raid shelter beneath Clapham Common tube station, but soon discovered that nearby Brixton offered both accommodation and a labour exchange. The Mayor of Brixton extended to them the warmest of welcomes, and many remained in the area to form the basis of a vibrant new community.
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