More on East Dulwich

By Nic Price on 2 April 2005 — 1 min read

East Dulwich came about when four local land owners sold up their estates to building prospectors in the final years of Queen Victoria’s reign. The largest of the four was the Friern Manor Farm estate.

On the East Dulwich section of the curiously named Ideal homes: suburbia in focus (complete with garden gnomes in the logo), there are a couple of great Ordnance Survey maps from the mid to late 19th century, and some sepia photos of Goose Green and Barry Road.

Transport played an important role with the coming of railways to Herne Hill in 1862, West Dulwich and Sydenham Hill in 1863 and East Dulwich and North Dulwich in 1868. Cheaper fares of the 1880s further stimulated demand and the arrival of the tram along Lordship Lane, Dog Kennel Hill and Peckham Rye in the early 20th century sealed the area’s success.

The houses were aimed at socially mobile members of the lower middle classes – typically London clerks – and the new population was largely one of young families.

So… not much change there then

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  • My grandmother lived at 69 Crystal palace rd around 1895 as a child, I have about 100 family photographs of the area then including a cricket team and the “primitive methodist church” I would like to learn more of them and the area. Any thoughts?

  • Robert, my neighbour John recently recommended Southwark’s Local Studies Library as a rich source of local info. But if you’re not in the area, I’m planning to gather more info on this site.

    It would be great to see your photos. Are they available to see/link to?

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