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The Stockwell Park Conservation Area was created in 1973 and was the third conservation area to be created in Lambeth. In the same year the residents' association was formed.
Until the early 1800s it was a few houses around a village green (now Stockwell Green). In the 1830's Stockwell Park, a suburban development laid out its own roads, became an exclusive early Victorian neighbourhood with many imposing villas. With the coming of the railways, and the opening of Stockwell Underground station in 1890, more working people were attracted and smaller terraced houses and mansion blocks sprang up. Stockwell Gardens Estate was built in the 1930s, and further large council estates - notably the 1950s Studley Estate - following the Blitz. Stockwell now contains a diverse townscape which includes several conservation areas and fine listed buildings such as the St Michael's Church (Stockwell Park Road - 1840) and Stockwell Bus Garage (Lansdowne Way - 1954).
The area boasts the most significant typographic collection in the world at the National Museum of Type and Communication, 100 Hackford Road. This living museum was founded in 1991 and houses examples of the art and craft of typography from the last 500 years.
Stockwell has a variety of cafes, bars and other businesses owned by Portuguese members of the community, over time resulting in the locally known area of 'Little Portugal'. This is quite unique in London.
Stockwell Festival - The first Stockwell Festival was held in 2001.
Do you live in the Stockwell Park area? If so, please tell about the history of your home.
- 2004-05-28
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wrote:
"During the early 50's I lived in Lorn Ave as a young girl. I remember the "Rag & Bone" man coming down this road - we would rush out and he would swap old clothes for gold fish in a bag (they always died).
I remember being told by my parents to rush out and scrape up the horse dung left by the coalman or the milk man's horse for our garden - I was so embarrassed!
I remember playing in a bomb site at the end of Lorn Road, opposite St. Michaels Church on the right hand side - we used to call it the woods because it had one tree !!
I remember Quarts of milk, roller skating in the street, the prefabs and Job's Dairy on the corner of Lorn Road - Due to Victorian Laws (so I was told) they were not allowed to sell sugar on Sundays, so they would wrap it up in brown paper!! We got all the shopping there - it was great.
I remember young friends - everybody knew everyone - now I'm 57 years, live in Australia and wonder, and remember."
- The Stockwell Park web site was first set up in May 2002.