Brixton Road
Encyclopedia
Brixton Road is a road in the London Borough of Lambeth
(south London
, England
), leading from the Oval
at Kennington
to Brixton
, where it forms the high street
and then forks into Effra Road and Brixton Hill
at St Mathews church at the crossroads with Acre Lane and Coldharbour Lane
. Brixton Market
is located in Electric Avenue
near Brixton Underground station and in a network of covered arcades adjacent to the two railway viaducts. The market arcades were declared listed buildings in 2009 following controversial proposals by London Borough of Lambeth
to demolish them for a large US-style mall. The Brixton Oval is at the southern end with Lambeth Town Hall, the Ritzy Cinema
, the Brixton Tate Library (with a statue of Henry Tate
outside) and Mass club, in the crypt of St Matthew's church. The Brixton Oval was re-named Windrush Square in 2010, removing confusion with the Kennington Oval near the North end of Brixton Road.
Brixton Road dates back to the Roman era when it was part of the London to Brighton Way
. The River Effra
used to be visible near Lambeth Town Hall, but is now underground, serving as a storm drain. Fronting Brixton Road at the north end is the neo-byzantine
style Christ Church
, opened in 1902. For much of its length Brixton Road remains lined by Regency
period terraces of houses that once made a virtually continuous frontage from Kennington Oval to Brixton Oval. These had become semi-derelict by the 1970s when some were replaced, but many were refurbished by the Greater London Council
, mostly as social housing.
Brixton Road is part of the A23
.
London Borough of Lambeth
The London Borough of Lambeth is a London borough in south London, England and forms part of Inner London. The local authority is Lambeth London Borough Council.-Origins:...
(south London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
), leading from the Oval
Oval tube station
Oval tube station in Kennington is a station on the Northern line of the London Underground between Stockwell and Kennington stations. It is the only station on the Morden branch of the Northern line whose name begins with a vowel and is one of only two stations on the London Underground with only...
at Kennington
Kennington
Kennington is a district of South London, England, mainly within the London Borough of Lambeth, although part of the area is within the London Borough of Southwark....
to Brixton
Brixton
Brixton is a district in the London Borough of Lambeth in south London, England. It is south south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London....
, where it forms the high street
High Street
High Street, or the High Street, is a metonym for the generic name of the primary business street of towns or cities, especially in the United Kingdom. It is usually a focal point for shops and retailers in city centres, and is most often used in reference to retailing...
and then forks into Effra Road and Brixton Hill
Brixton Hill
Brixton Hill is the name given to a 1 km section of road between Brixton and Streatham Hill in south London, England. It slopes downhill towards central London.Brixton Hill and Streatham Hill form part of the traditional main London to Brighton road...
at St Mathews church at the crossroads with Acre Lane and Coldharbour Lane
Coldharbour Lane
Coldharbour Lane is a road in South London that leads south-westwards from Camberwell to Brixton. In total the road is over 1 mile long with a mixture of residential, business and retail buildings - the stretch of Coldharbour Lane near Brixton Market contains shops, bars and restaurants...
. Brixton Market
Brixton Market
Brixton Market comprises a street market in the centre of Brixton, south London, England, and the adjacent covered market areas in nearby arcades Reliance Arcade, Market Row and Granville Arcade ....
is located in Electric Avenue
Electric Avenue
Electric Avenue is a street in Brixton, London. Built in the 1880s, it was the first market street to be lit by electricity. Today, the street contains several butchers and fish mongers and hosts a part of Brixton Market, which specializes in selling a mix of African, Caribbean, and Portuguese...
near Brixton Underground station and in a network of covered arcades adjacent to the two railway viaducts. The market arcades were declared listed buildings in 2009 following controversial proposals by London Borough of Lambeth
London Borough of Lambeth
The London Borough of Lambeth is a London borough in south London, England and forms part of Inner London. The local authority is Lambeth London Borough Council.-Origins:...
to demolish them for a large US-style mall. The Brixton Oval is at the southern end with Lambeth Town Hall, the Ritzy Cinema
Ritzy Cinema
The Ritzy is a cinema in Brixton, South London, United Kingdom.The cinema opened on 11 March 1911 as 'the Electric Pavilion'. It was built by E. C. Homer and Lucas for Israel Davis, one of a noted family of cinema developers, and was one of England's earliest purpose built cinemas seating over 750...
, the Brixton Tate Library (with a statue of Henry Tate
Henry Tate
Sir Henry Tate, 1st Baronet was an English sugar merchant and philanthropist, noted for establishing the Tate Gallery, London.-Life and career:...
outside) and Mass club, in the crypt of St Matthew's church. The Brixton Oval was re-named Windrush Square in 2010, removing confusion with the Kennington Oval near the North end of Brixton Road.
Brixton Road dates back to the Roman era when it was part of the London to Brighton Way
London to Brighton Way (Roman road)
The London to Brighton Way, sometimes called the London to Portslade Way is a Roman road between Stane Street at Kennington Park and Brighton in Sussex. The road passes through Streatham and Croydon, then through the Caterham Valley gap in the North Downs...
. The River Effra
River Effra
The River Effra is a river in south London, England. It is now mainly underground. The name cannot be traced back much earlier than 1840 , so speculation that it came from a Celtic word for torrent is unwarranted...
used to be visible near Lambeth Town Hall, but is now underground, serving as a storm drain. Fronting Brixton Road at the north end is the neo-byzantine
Byzantine
Byzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...
style Christ Church
Christ Church Brixton Road
Christ Church on Brixton Road in Lambeth SW9 is an Art Nouveau and Byzantine-style Grade II* listed building built in 1902 by Beresford Pite.-External links:*...
, opened in 1902. For much of its length Brixton Road remains lined by Regency
Regency architecture
The Regency style of architecture refers primarily to buildings built in Britain during the period in the early 19th century when George IV was Prince Regent, and also to later buildings following the same style...
period terraces of houses that once made a virtually continuous frontage from Kennington Oval to Brixton Oval. These had become semi-derelict by the 1970s when some were replaced, but many were refurbished by the Greater London Council
Greater London Council
The Greater London Council was the top-tier local government administrative body for Greater London from 1965 to 1986. It replaced the earlier London County Council which had covered a much smaller area...
, mostly as social housing.
Brixton Road is part of the A23
A23 road
The A23 road is a major road in the United Kingdom between London and Brighton, East Sussex. It became an arterial route following the construction of Westminster Bridge in 1750 and the consequent improvement of roads leading to the bridge south of the river by the Turnpike Trusts...
.