Yearly Archives: 2018

Heritage Hack. Goldsmiths, ‘Being Human’ Festival, 10am Sat 17th – 5pm Sun 18th November

Brockley Society is one of four local Heritage Partners who have been invited to partner with Goldsmiths’ Hacksmiths in Heritage Hack – a ‘Hackathon’ as part of the ‘Being Human’ Humanities festival. The event will take place this weekend, between 10am Saturday 17th and 5pm Sunday 18th November 2018, at Goldsmiths in New Cross. “Join Hacksmiths for a two-day invention marathon to create novel, impactful tech solutions that breathe new life into Lewisham’s past. People of all abilities are invited to collaborate and build awesome projects addressing the tech and digital challenges of four London heritage organisations. Framed by the research of Goldsmiths historian Dr John Price and anthropologist Dr Charlotte Joy, help shape how the public engage with the Horniman Museum’s new World Gallery, the Lewisham Local History Society Museum Collection, the work of the Brockley Society, and a public artwork commemorating the 1977 Battle of Lewisham.” ‘Hacksmiths’ is […]

AGM and Book Reading. Wednesday 14th November, 7.30pm. St Peter’s Church, Wickham Road, SE4 1LT

Join us for one of regular open meetings, which will conclude with our AGM business. However, for the first hour, we are delighted to be hosting Beverly Ramsay who will read extracts from her memoir ‘A Jamaican Childhood’, her lively book about a childhood in Jamaica and migration to England… Brockley Society’s Annual General Meeting will follow at 8.45pm. There will be brief reports from some of our groups, followed by the election of officers (Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurer) and committee members. Email chair@brockleysociety. org.uk if you wish to stand for a position or help on a sub-committee: Planning (see p6); Hilly Fields Fayre; Brockley Voices reminiscence project, MidWinter Warmer; Communications & Admin; Street Trees for Living; Breakspears Mews Community Garden or new projects. ‘A Jamaican Childhood’ by Beverly Ramsay Beverly and many others were part of the ‘Windrush generation’ who were invited to the UK between 1948 and […]

Pantomine Outing: Robinson Crusoe, Greenwich Theatre, Sunday 6th January

Yes, a January Panto this time, to end the school holidays with a bang! Limited performance dates and very early block bookings meant we couldn’t get enough tickets to satisfy Brockley’s demands before Christmas. Brockley Society books a block of 150 tickets, which reduces adult prices to £18 while children pay £14, plus £2 postage. They are sold on a first-come-first-served basis until they run out. Pay with PayPal or credit card. Your tickets will be posted to you. Please book before 15 December to be sure you receive your tickets in time. Click here to buy tickets in our shop! “Set sail to Greenwich Theatre this Christmas for our swashbuckling panto – Robinson Crusoe!  Starring panto favourite Andrew Pollard, this year’s offering is a action-packed adventure awash with pirates, romance, exotic creatures and songs-a-plenty! Hit the high seas with Robinson as he battles the wicked Pirate Queen to find the […]

Survey about Ashby Mews

There was anguish during the summer amongst some local residents, over recently-installed gates and tarmac at the northern end of Ashby Mews. Brockley Society convened a public meeting in July to discuss the issues involved; see report of the meeting and photos of the Mews on a separate page here. In order to further gauge local opinion on this matter, we have now created a survey about Ashby Mews and the other mews in Brockley Conservation Area. Please follow the link below to be taken to the survey webpage. Your personal details are not required to complete the survey. Your responses will help us determine how to proceed, and we very much appreciate you taking the time to submit your views on this matter. Click here to be taken to the survey webpage.

Brockley & Ladywell Front Garden Sale 2018

11am – 4pm, Saturday 8th & Sunday 9th September This is the 6th year of this hugely popular event… *  THE LIST OF 70+ ADDRESSES IS NOW AVAILABLE  * View and download as a PDF here Also view in GoogleMaps, as separate layers for each day. Great to use on a smartphone. 3 methods: click here  or copy & paste this link: https://tinyurl.com/y9uxjb5y or scan this QR code:   GOOD LUCK – and please remember the ‘small print’: –  Brockley and Ladywell Societies take no responsibility for items on sale –  Goods are sold as seen: returns are at the discretion of the vendor. Caveat emptor etc! –  In the event of bad weather, each participant can decide whether or not to go ahead   Why not end the summer with a big clear-out? Last year, dozens of people in Brockley and Ladywell took part, and many more grabbed a bargain. Delve into your cupboards and […]

Ashby Mews Gate and Tarmac: Report on Meeting

A civilised but lively meeting of about 60 people took place on Thursday 19 July at Myatt Garden School A summary of proceedings can be read and downloaded below. Detailed minutes of the meeting can be viewed and downloaded here, and the Powerpoint presentation here. After gates appeared at the northern end of Ashby Mews in April 2018, followed by tarmac in June, Brockley Society received a large number of email, phone and face-to-face complaints expressing considerable anger. At each stage we spoke to the mews owners, or “frontagers”, who had taken these measures, explaining Brockley Society’s opposition to them, and stating that closing off a right of way and creating a gated community was totally at odds with Brockley’s vibrant and open community, developed over many decades. We published our view on Brockley Society’s website and other social media that: retrospective planning application was needed for the gates all mews frontagers […]

Ashby Mews – Gates and Resurfacing. Public Meeting. Thursday 19 July 7.30pm,

Ashby Mews – Gates and Resurfacing Locked gates recently installed at the Ashby Road end of Ashby Mews, SE4, followed by resurfacing a stretch of the mews in tarmac have caused a significant number of residents to contact Brockley Society to complain. We are holding a meeting to gauge local opinion, explain the legal and planning ramifications and consider the next steps. Brockley Society Public Meeting Thursday 19 July 7.30pm, Myatt Garden School, Rokeby Road, SE4 1DF Everyone is welcome, whether you oppose or support the changes, simply walk through the mews, or are just interested in the Brockley Conservation Area. Those responsible for the gates and tarmac and those whose properties are affected are also welcome. Brockley Society’s position is as follows: 1. Resurfacing the Mews in tarmac Brockley’s mews are an integral part of the character of the Conservation Area. We view black tarmac as inappropriate and believe […]

Ashby Mews: erection of gate, tarmac resurfacing and Conservation Area status

9 June 2018 Brockley Society is aware of the installation of gates at the northern end of Ashby Mews and has advised initiating mews residents (frontagers) that: retrospective planning application is needed otherwise LB Lewisham will start enforcement action as the gate is too high even though the Mews is privately owned, all mews frontagers along the whole length should have been consulted a management strategy should have been agreed to ensure free access is maintained for pedestrians as well as delivery and emergency vehicles Despite this advice being given to the organising mews residents it seems to have fallen on deaf ears, as earlier this week the northern end of the mews access lane was resurfaced with black tarmacadam. As this destroys the rural character that is such a unique characteristic of the Conservation Area (CA), the Society has escalated its concern via Ward Councillors so as to extend the […]

Breakspears Mews Community Garden – Senior Gardening Club 2018

FREE Senior Gardening Club starts on Thursday 12th April 2018. It runs for 8 weeks every Thursday, from 10am to 12.30pm Attend one session or all! Everyone is welcome, no gardening experience required and no need to book. The garden team will provide gardening tools, seeds, tea, coffee and biscuits. TIP: Please wear appropriate footwear, as it might be muddy and slippery. Take gardening gloves too. NOTE: in case of heavy rain the session will be cancelled Access: Breakspears Mews, Ashby Road, SE4 1UW or rear of St Peter’s Court, 29-31 Wickham Road, SE4 1NE For more info contact us at:      

BMCG leeks ready to be planted