The Vale residents were treated to a fascinating talk on their surroundings by Emma Fleming from The Streatham Society. Emma, who is an accredited member of the Lambeth Tour Guides Association and a Hidden London tour guide for the London Transport Museum, has a wealth of information on the history, fame and even, infamy of the area.
She began by informing her audience about Streatham’s rise from a small village to a bustling part of London over a relatively short period of time. So much so that Lower Norwood railway station was renamed West Norwood, to appeal to a ‘better class’ of resident!
Given Emma’s particular interest in transport, she was able to introduce us to John Tredwell, a railway pioneer and contractor, who lived at Leigham Court. Another resident, mentioned briefly but known of by all, judging by the laughter when her name was mentioned, was Cynthia Payne. She certainly put Streatham on the map, although not necessarily for the right reasons, and was the focus of a couple of highly rated films.
The talk passed so quickly and the subject matter was so interesting that The Valees are looking forward to the next lecture. Streatham has such a rich history and scintillating set of celebrities and characters, the planned follow-up can’t come soon enough. What the audience didn’t have to wait for, however, was the delicious two-course lunch that followed the talk and included complimentary strawberries and meringues.
The Streatham Society is a community amenity that exists to raise awareness and appreciation of the local area for those who live or work in Streatham. Membership is some 300-strong and affords access to a regular newsletter, talks, events and an insight into the area’s rich and fascinating heritage. Further information is available at: https://www.streathamsociety.org.uk
