Editing Streatham (section)

==History==
[[File:Wandsworth Met. B Ward Map 1916.svg|thumb|A map showing the Streatham ward of Wandsworth Metropolitan Borough as it appeared in 1916]]
Streatham means "the hamlet on the street". The street in question, the [[London to Brighton Way]], was the [[Roman road]] from the capital [[Londinium]] to the south coast near [[Portslade]], today within [[Brighton and Hove]]. It is likely that the destination was a Roman port now lost to [[coastal erosion]], which has been tentatively identified with 'Novus Portus' mentioned in [[Ptolemy]]'s [[Geographia (Ptolemy)|Geographia]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.roman-britain.co.uk/places/brighton/|title=Novus Portus (Brighton)?|website=Roman Britain}}</ref>  The road is confusingly referred to as [[Stane Street (Chichester)|Stane Street]] (Stone Street) in some sources and diverges from the main London-Chichester road at [[Kennington]].

Streatham's first parish church, St Leonard's, was founded in [[Anglo-Saxons|Saxon]] times but an early Tudor tower is the only remaining structure pre-dating 1831 when the body of the church was rebuilt. The medieval parish covered a wider area including [[Balham]] and [[Tooting Bec]].<ref name=vh>{{cite web |url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=43037 |title=Parishes: Streatham |editor=H.E. Malden  |publisher=Institute of Historical Research |date=1912 |work=A History of the County of Surrey: Volume 4 |access-date=4 November 2014 }}</ref> The southern portion of what is now Streatham formed part of Tooting Graveney ancient parish.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vision of Britain, Tooting Graveney parish boundary |url=https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10059161/boundary}}</ref>

A charter states that in the late seventh century, land in Streatham and Tooting Graveney was granted by [[Earconwald|Erkenwald]] and [[Frithwald]] to [[Chertsey Abbey]], a grant which was later confirmed in the time of Athelstan in 933.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Parishes: Tooting Graveney {{!}} British History Online |url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/surrey/vol4/pp102-107 |access-date=2023-02-19 |website=www.british-history.ac.uk}}</ref>
[[File:Chertsey Breviary - St. Erkenwald.jpg|alt=manuscript image of a Saxon saint|thumb|St Erkenwald is recorded as granting land in the area to Chertsey Abbey.]]

Streatham appears in [[Domesday Book]] of 1086 as ''Estreham''. It was held by [[Bec Abbey|Bec-Hellouin Abbey]] (in [[Normandy]]) from [[Richard de Tonebridge|Richard de Tonbrige]]. Its domesday assets were: 2 [[hide (unit)|hide]]s, 1 [[virgate]] and 6½ [[ploughland]]s of cultivated land and {{convert|4|acre}} of [[meadow]] and herbage (mixed grass and bracken).  Annually it was assessed to render £4 5s 0d to its [[feudal system|overlords]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gwp.enta.net/surrnames.htm |title=Surrey Domesday Book |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071030192829/http://www.gwp.enta.net/surrnames.htm |archive-date=30 October 2007 }}</ref>

After the departure of the Romans, the main road through Streatham remained an important trackway. From the 17th century it was adopted as the main coach road to [[Croydon]] and [[East Grinstead]], and then on to [[Newhaven, East Sussex|Newhaven]] and [[Lewes]]. In 1780 it then became the route of the [[turnpike trust|turnpike]] road from London to [[Brighton]], and subsequently became the basis for the modern [[A23 road|A23]]. This road (and its traffic) have shaped Streatham's development.

===Streatham Village and Streatham Wells===
[[File:Streatham Green - geograph.org.uk - 2121932.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Streatham Green with the spire of the Catholic English Martyrs Church beyond]]
The village remained largely unchanged until the 18th century, when its natural springs, known as Streatham Wells, were first celebrated for their health-giving properties. The reputation of the spa, and improved [[turnpike trust|turnpike]] roads, attracted wealthy [[City of London]] merchants and others to build their country residences in Streatham.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/kinggeorge/a/003ktop00000041u02400002.html|title=A View on the Hill near the Five-Mile Stone on the Road to Streatham|first=Colin|last=Wright|website=www.bl.uk}}</ref>

In spite of London's expansion, a limited number of developments took place in the village in the second half of the nineteenth century, Streatham Vale sprung up to the South later still and the small [[parade of shops]] by Streatham Common Station has become known colloquially as Streatham Village.

Wellfield Road, which had previously been known as Leigham Lane, was renamed to reflect its role as the main route from the centre of Streatham to one of the well locations.  Another mineral well was located on the south side of Streatham Common, in an area that now forms part of The Rookery, where it can still be seen and visited within the formal gardens.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ideal-homes.org.uk/case-studies/streatham/5|title=The Suburbanisation of Streatham - Case Studies - Ideal Homes|access-date=21 April 2013|archive-date=19 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131119152515/http://www.ideal-homes.org.uk/case-studies/streatham/5|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Streatham Park or Streatham Place===
{{Main|Streatham Park}}
In the 1730s, [[Streatham Park]], a Georgian country mansion, was built by the brewer Ralph Thrale on land he bought from the [[Lord of the Manor]] – the [[John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford|fourth Duke of Bedford]]. Streatham Park later passed to Ralph's son [[Henry Thrale]], who with his wife [[Hester Thrale]] entertained many of the leading literary and artistic characters of the day, most notably the lexicographer [[Samuel Johnson]]. The dining room contained 12 portraits of [[Henry Thrale|Henry's]] guests painted by his friend [[Joshua Reynolds]]. These pictures were wittily labelled by [[Fanny Burney]] as the [[Streatham Worthies]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thrale.com/streatham_park|title=Streatham Park|website=www.thrale.com}}</ref>

Streatham Park was later leased to [[William Petty, 2nd Earl of Shelburne|Prime Minister Lord Shelburne]], and was the venue for early negotiations with [[France]] that led to the [[Peace of Paris (1783)|Peace Treaty of 1783]]. Streatham Park was demolished in 1863.

===Park Hill===
One large house that survives is Park Hill, on the north side of [[Streatham Common]], rebuilt in the early 19th century for the Leaf family. It was latterly the home of [[Sir Henry Tate]], sugar refiner, benefactor of local libraries across south London, including [[Streatham Library]], and founder of the [[Tate Gallery]] at [[Millbank]].

===Urbanisation===
Development accelerated after the opening of [[Streatham Hill railway station]] on the [[West End of London and Crystal Palace Railway]] in 1856. The other two railway stations followed within fifteen years.
Some estates, such as ''Telford Park'' to the west of Streatham Hill, were spaciously planned with facilities like [[tennis]] clubs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.telfordpark.plus.com/pages/telfordpark.html|title=Telford Park Estate|first=Vanessa|last=Stopford}}</ref> Despite the local connections to the Dukes of Bedford, there is no link to the contemporary [[Bedford Park, London|Bedford Park]] in west London. Another generously sized development was Roupell Park, the area near Christchurch Road promoted by the [[Roupell case|Roupell]] family. Other streets adopted more conventional suburban layouts.
Three more parish churches were built to serve the growing area, including Immanuel and St Andrew's (1854), St Peter's (1870) and St Margaret the Queen's (1889).

==== Frederick Wheeler's Terraces ====
At the end of the 19th Century the heart of the old heart of the village of Streatham was sweepingly remodelled to the architectural designs of the young local architect [[Frederick Wheeler|Frederick Wheeler FRIBA]], creating the streetscape which remains to this day.
[[File:Wheeler Dip.jpg|thumb|Frederick Wheeler's terraces, Streatham High Road, 1910]]
[[File:Wheeler dip 2.jpg|thumb|'The Dip' flanked by Wheeler's terraces, 1930s.]]
Between 1884 and 1891 a comprehensive scheme of four-storey, [[Queen Anne Revival architecture in the United Kingdom|Queen Anne Revival]] style [[Shophouse|shop houses]] was designed by Wheeler and built by the local firm Hill Brothers. Running down from the High Road as it diverges south from Mitcham Lane and past Streatham Green the parade continues, almost unbroken, to the entrance of [[Streatham railway station|Streatham Station]]. The scheme meets, visually, at the bottom of the steep hill and cross-roads known locally as 'The Dip' in a pair of matched developments named ''The Broadway'' and ''The Triangle'' on what is now Gleneagle Road. South of this junction the development continues with Wheeler's Queens Parade terrace of 1885 rising up towards the railway bridge and [[Streatham railway station|Streatham Station]].
[[File:Wheeler queens parade.jpg|thumb|The Queens Parade by Frederick Wheeler, 1920.]]
This long run of matching red-brick parades, topped with high red-brick [[Dutch gable|'Dutch gables']] and decorative chimney stacks all enlivened by decorative plasterwork, banded brickwork and multiform timber sash and tripartite [[dormer windows]], was noted by [[Pevsner Architectural Guides|Pevsner]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Streatham High Road and Streatham Hill conservation area statement |url=https://www.lambeth.gov.uk/sites/default/files/pl_CA54_streatham_high_road_streatham_hill_CAStatement.pdf |publisher=Lambeth Planning |access-date=13 February 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Pevsner |first=Nikolaus |title=London 2 : South. Buildings of England. |publisher=Yale |year=1983 |isbn=9780300096514}}</ref> Wheeler's comprehensive development also included ''Streatham Hall'', which served for some time as the local [[town hall]] in the early 1900s, standing at 344 Streatham High Road between 1888 and its demolition in 1980.<ref>{{Cite web |last=lambeth2017 |date=2018-02-01 |title=GLENEAGLE ROAD, STREATHAM |url=https://boroughphotos.org/lambeth/gleneagle-road-streatham-2/ |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=Landmark |language=en}}</ref>
A surviving parade of shops fronting Streatham Green on Mitcham Lane has also been ascribed to Wheeler, who contributed a large number of other buildings to the local area including the (listed) Methodist church on Riggindale Road, Sussex House on the corner of Tooting Bec Gardens and the large houses built on the Manor Park (Wheeler lived at No. 7 Rydal Road)<ref>https://www.streathamsociety.org.uk/uploads/2/2/8/6/22863074/_streatham_heritage_trail_streatham_park_cropped.pdf</ref> and Woodlands estates as well and the discreet [[electricity substation]] in a "15th century Gothic style" beside the English Martyrs Church on Mitcham Lane.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Brown |first1=John W. |title=Streatham Heritage Trail |date=2003 |publisher=The Streatham Society |isbn=1873520476 |url=https://www.streathamsociety.org.uk/uploads/2/2/8/6/22863074/_streatham_heritage_trail_streatham_village.pdf}}</ref>

Wheeler later went on to find fame with his [[Arts and Crafts movement|Arts & Crafts]] influenced St Pauls Studios residences for bachelor artists, on [[Talgarth Road]], Hammersmith.

There is now a mixture of buildings from all architectural eras of the past 200 years in the Streatham conservation area.

===The inter-war period===
[[File:Telford Parade Mansions, Streatham Hill - geograph.org.uk - 1840144.jpg|thumb|Telford Parade Mansions, Streatham Hill ]]
After the [[World War I|First World War]] Streatham developed as a location for entertainment, with the [[Streatham Hill Theatre]], three cinemas, the Locarno ballroom and Streatham Ice Rink all adding to its reputation as "the West End of South London". With the advent of electric tram services, it also grew as a shopping centre serving a wide area to the south. In the 1930s large numbers of [[Block of flats|blocks of flats]] were constructed along the High Road. These speculative developments were not initially successful. They were only filled when émigré communities began to arrive in London after leaving countries under the domination of [[Nazi Germany|Hitler's Germany]]. In 1932 the parish church of the Holy Redeemer was built in Streatham Vale to commemorate the work of [[William Wilberforce]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.holyredeemer.org.uk/about-us/history|title=Holy Redeemer Streatham - History|website=www.holyredeemer.org.uk|access-date=5 January 2024}}</ref>

===Retail decline and recovery===
[[File:Pratts department store, Streatham in 1978.jpg|thumb|Pratt's department store in summer 1978. The store closed down in 1990 and the building was demolished in 1996.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://landmark.lambeth.gov.uk/display_page.asp?section=landmark&id=3416|title=Pratt's, Streatham High Road, Streatham Central|access-date=12 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304190234/http://landmark.lambeth.gov.uk/display_page.asp?section=landmark&id=3416|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>]]
In the 1950s Streatham had the longest and busiest shopping street in south London. Streatham became the site of the UK's first [[supermarket]], when [[Express Dairies]] [[Premier Supermarkets]] opened its first {{convert|2500|ft2|m2}} store in 1951;<ref name=BNet50>{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb5245/is_7528_224/ai_n28873842/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708193934/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb5245/is_7528_224/ai_n28873842/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 July 2012 |title=It's a super anniversary: it's 50 years since the first full size self-service supermarket was unveiled in the UK |author=Helen Gregory |publisher=The Grocer |date=3 November 2001 |access-date=30 June 2010 }}</ref> [[Waitrose]] subsequently opened its first supermarket in Streatham in 1955, but it closed down in 1963.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.waitrosememorystore.org.uk/category_id__466.aspx|title=Streatham - closed branch|work=waitrosememorystore.org.uk}}</ref>

However, a combination of factors led to a gradual decline through the 1970s and a more rapid decline in the 1980s. These included long term population movements out to [[Croydon]], [[Kingston upon Thames|Kingston]] and [[Sutton, London|Sutton]]; the growth of heavy traffic on the [[A23 road|A23]] (main road from central London to [[Gatwick Airport]] and [[Brighton]]); and a lack of redevelopment sites in the town centre. This culminated in 1990 when the closure of [[Pratts of Streatham|Pratts]], which had grown from a Victorian draper's shop to a [[department store]] operated since the 1940s by the [[John Lewis Partnership]], coincided with the opening of a large [[J Sainsbury plc|Sainsbury's]] supermarket half a mile south of the town centre, replacing an existing, smaller Sainbury's store opposite [[Streatham Hill railway station]].

Several recent additions, such as [[Argos (retailer)|Argos]], [[Lidl]] and [[Peacocks (clothing)|Peacocks]], are located in new retail spaces on the site of Pratt's but, in common with other high streets, retail recovery has been slow, and a substantial proportion of vacant space has been taken by a growing number of restaurants, bars and coffee shops.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-09-04|title=Focus On Streatham: Where house price growth is nearly 9 per cent year-on-year, twice the London average|url=https://www.cityam.com/focus-streatham-house-price-growth-nearly-9-per-cent-year/|access-date=2020-09-20|website=CityAM|language=en-GB}}</ref>
[[File:Streatham Library, Streatham High Road - geograph.org.uk - 1412128.jpg|thumb|[[Streatham Library|Tate Free Library, Streatham]]]]
In August 2011, Streatham was selected as one of the areas to benefit from Round 1 of the Mayor of London's ''Outer London Fund'', gaining £300,000. Later, Streatham was awarded a further £1.6 million, matched by another £1 million by Lambeth.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.streathamguardian.co.uk/news/9175267.Town_centres_to_receive_cash_boost/|title=Town centres to receive cash boost|work=Streatham Guardian|access-date=11 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160320141353/http://www.streathamguardian.co.uk/news/9175267.town_centres_to_receive_cash_boost/|archive-date=20 March 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The money from this fund was spent on improving streets and public spaces in Streatham. This includes the smartening up of shop fronts through painting and cleaning, replacing shutters and signage as well as helping to reveal facilities behind the high street such as The Stables Community Centre.<ref name="london.gov.uk">{{cite web |url=http://www.london.gov.uk/priorities/regeneration/high-streets/projects/streatham |title=Streatham &#124; Greater London Authority |access-date=2014-03-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140417072132/http://www.london.gov.uk/priorities/regeneration/high-streets/projects/streatham |archive-date=17 April 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Streatham Library has also undergone a £1.2 million refurbishment. The Tudor Hall behind the library was brought back into public use as ''The Mark Bennett Centre'' providing a meeting and performance space. Streatham Skyline introduced new lighting to highlight some of Streatham's more attractive buildings and monuments with the aim of improving safety and the overall attractiveness of the area.<ref name="london.gov.uk"/>

=== Contemporary Streatham ===
{{More citations needed section|date=November 2014}}
[[File:Autumn on Streatham Common - geograph.org.uk - 736026.jpg|thumb|right|200px| Streatham Common. Avenue of autumn trees looking down Streatham Common towards Streatham High Road]]
In September 2002, [[Streatham High Road]] was voted the "Worst Street in Britain"<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2270840.stm|title=Britons name 'best and worst streets'|work=BBC News| date=20 September 2002}}</ref> in a poll organised by the [[BBC]] [[Today programme|''Today'' programme]] and [[Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment|CABE]]. This largely reflected the dominance of through traffic along High Road.

Plans for investment and regeneration had begun before the poll, with local amenity group the Streatham Society leading a successful partnership bid for funding from central government for environmental improvements. Work started in winter 2003–04 with the refurbishment of Streatham Green and repaving and relighting of the High Road between St Leonard's Church and the Odeon Cinema. In 2005 Streatham Green won the [[Metropolitan Public Gardens Association]] 'London Spade' award for best public open space scheme in the capital.

The poll was a catalyst for [[Lambeth London Borough Council]] and [[Transport for London]]'s Street Management to co-operate on a joint funding arrangement for further streetscape improvements, which benefited the section of the High Road between St Leonard's and Streatham station, and the stretch north of the Odeon as far as Woodbourne Avenue. The section between Woodbourne Avenue and Streatham Hill station was not completed until 2015.

Streatham Festival was established in 2002. It has grown to a festival with over 50 events held in an array of locations, from bars to churches and parks to youth centres, attracting over 3,000 people.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://streathamfestival.com/|title=Home|website=STREATHAM FESTIVAL}}</ref>
[[File:Streatham ice and leisure centre (13817947373).jpg|thumb|[[Streatham Ice and Leisure Centre|Streatham ice and leisure centre]]]]
After several years of delay and controversy over phasing, construction started in the autumn of 2011 on the ''Streatham Hub'' – a major redevelopment next to [[Streatham station|Streatham railway station]]. The project was a joint development by Lambeth Council and [[Tesco]]. The project involved the demolition of [[Streatham Ice Arena]], Streatham Leisure Centre and the former Streatham Bus Garage, and their replacement with a new leisure centre and a Tesco store with 250 flats above it. Streatham Leisure Centre closed in November 2009 due to health and safety concerns when part of the pool hall ceiling collapsed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.streathamguardian.co.uk/news/4744099.Council_closes_Streatham_swimming_pool/|title=Council closes Streatham swimming pool|access-date=31 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319220421/http://www.streathamguardian.co.uk/news/4744099.council_closes_streatham_swimming_pool/|archive-date=19 March 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Streatham Ice Arena closed on 18 December 2011, having celebrated eighty years of operation in February 2011. For two years a temporary ice rink was provided at Popes Road, Brixton.

In November 2013, the new Streatham Ice and Leisure Centre opened to the public.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-24984921|title=Streatham ice rink and sports centre opens|work=BBC News |date=18 November 2013}}</ref> The leisure centre houses a 60 m x 30 m indoor ice rink with 1,000 rink-side seats on the upper floors,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://beta.lambeth.gov.uk/leisure-centres/streatham-ice-leisure-centre|title=Streatham Ice and Leisure Centre &#124; Lambeth Council|website=beta.lambeth.gov.uk}}</ref> a six-lane 25 m swimming pool, 13 m teaching pool, four-court sports hall and a gym with 100 stations.

The jazz venue [[Hideaway (jazz club)|Hideaway]] continues Streatham's long entertainment tradition. It features live performances of jazz, funk, swing and [[soul music]] as well as [[stand-up comedy]] nights. It won the Jazz Venue/Promoter of the Year category in the 2011 [[Parliamentary Jazz Awards]].<ref name="PPL">{{cite web | url=http://www.ppluk.com/en/About-Us/News/PPL-Annual-Performer-Meeting-2011-is-announced-1117/ | title=Winners announced at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards | publisher=[[Phonographic Performance Limited|PPL]] | work=News and events | date=18 May 2011 | access-date=13 November 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170212165904/http://www.ppluk.com/en/About-Us/News/PPL-Annual-Performer-Meeting-2011-is-announced-1117/ | archive-date=12 February 2017 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

On 2 February 2020 at around 14:00 GMT, [[2020 Streatham stabbing|Sudesh Mamoor Faraz Amman]] attacked and injured two people using a machete on Streatham High Street in what police  declared a terrorist incident.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-51349664|title=Streatham attacker had been released from jail|date=2020-02-02|work=BBC News|access-date=2020-02-03|language=en-GB}}</ref> Alongside the machete, Amman was also wearing a vest with components made to look like [[improvised explosive device]]s.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/feb/02/streatham-terror-incident-man-shot-by-police-in-south-london|title=Police shoot man dead after terror-related stabbing attack in Streatham|last1=Davies|first1=Caroline|date=2020-02-02|work=The Guardian|access-date=2020-02-03|last2=Dodd|first2=Vikram|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> He was pursued by armed police and was shot dead outside a [[Boots (company)|Boots]] pharmacy.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/feb/02/streatham-attacker-was-released-terror-offender-sudesh-amman|title=Streatham attacker freed from jail days ago after terror conviction|last1=Dodd|first1=Vikram|date=2020-02-02|work=The Guardian|access-date=2020-02-03|last2=Sabbagh|first2=Dan|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|last3=Syal|first3=Rajeev}}</ref>

Streatham High Road also was host to Cat's Whiskers which later became Caesar's nightclub<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/8351879.caesars-nightclub-memorabilia-for-sale-as-londons-first-purpose-built-ballroom-prepares-for-demolition/|title=Do you want to buy a Roman chariot?|website=Your Local Guardian|date=26 August 2010 }}</ref> in the early 1990s through to 2005, which closed to become the site of the newly developed block of flats with a [[Marks & Spencer]] store and a [[Starbucks]] outlet.