And so how do you measure gentrification? Why would you want to measure it anyway? Aren’t we all part of the Civilising Process, Comrades?
I never did feel entirely comfortable with the University of Leicester sociological school of thought during a skewed year studying in the City of Death.
But gentrification in South London is back on the agenda.
Truth is, it never really went away.
We use to joke about the Clap’ham-isation of Sunny Stockwell some fifteen years ago. They’ll be designing poncey public realms and lining them with crappy coffee shops next.
Wait.
The Chelsea Effect (nothing to do with football) was pushed down to Battersea - but only the postcode desirable parts around the edges of Battersea Park.
This geographical gentrification could be measured by the sudden appearance of ‘reclaimed architectural salvage yards’ around the start of 2000.
They saw you coming, etc.
We didn’t see the chain reaction coming around the corner in Clap’ham. The main drag along Clap’ham High Street was once charity shop central. It was ACE.
But the Bright Young Things of Clap’ham circa 2001 appeared to be more interested in bars. The likes of La Rueda were always worth a punt for a post-closing time piss up. But you probably wouldn’t have chosen to spend an entire evening there.
The nighttime economy [URGH] took over, and Clap’ham became a clubbing tourist destination. Rugby shirts, overpriced cocktails and queues for bars became the norm.
Meanwhile, back down the other end of the Clap’ham Road in Sunny Stockwell and the Sunday night quiz at The Priory Arms was the epicentre of the SW8 social scene.
The Clap’ham-isation of Sunny Stockwell was about as likely as Brixton becoming the next London foodie hotspot.
What has been fascinating to observe over the past six months since being back along South Lambeth Road has been how a place as humble as Stockwell seemingly can’t resist the pace of change.
But how do you measure gentrification in an area that defies geographical definition, let alone lacks some of the obvious defining cultural characteristics that Brixton can boast?
My personal Stockwell starts halfway down Stockwell Road and runs all the way up to Estrela at the top end of South Lambeth Road. To the west and the edges of Larkhall Park show you where you will fall off the SW8 map. Over to the east and the Stockwell conservation area must also be included by default
That’s a pretty inclusive geographical, cultural and economic area. It takes in Little Porto, poverty and Joanna Lumley.
I once attempted to photo-map this patch with the lovely Stockwell Partnership people. The landscape changed at every turn. This is an exercise that I should probably repeat to measure gentrification, rather than bash out a half-arsed theory that wouldn’t look out of place in the sociology department at the University of Leicester.
What identity has historically defined Stockwell?
How as this changed in the past decade or so?
Is it really important to define an area that is mainly a place to pass through for most people?
A good starting point would be the brilliant Stockwell War Memorial. Beautifully painted by Brian Barnes - and recently restored - the deep level shelter shaft tells the story of Stockwell up until around 2007.
Van Gough, Violette Szabo, Roger Moore - they’re all there. And thankfully so is Jean Charles de Menezes, originally airbrushed out of the Memorial by Lambeth Council, but now once again reminding the community about the recent past.
This is a monument to social history, and not the current economic boom in the area. But Stockwell and South Lambeth Road are changing.
I offer no empirical evidence. Blame the Leicester sociologists for this. I remain convinced that the best qualitative research is carried out whilst doing a spot of Sunday morning gardening.
It is here where you can observe and interact with all that goes by. The Bright Young Things of Clap’ham are probably still in bed, but Stockwell life passes by the front garden patch.
Ten years of crap had to be cleared out first. This in itself could serve as architectural evidence about the topological changes in Stockwell.
Deep, deep down below and I dug up rusted cans of Tennents. Discarded gin bottles formed the next layer, with recently chucked cans of Red Bull forming the top layer of the architectural dig.
Stockwell started the past decade drinking like a wino, before settling on a can of over-priced fizzy water that makes your eyes pop out. I know which one I prefer.
What has remained the same from a similar exercise a decade ago are the conversations. Don’t be fooled by the out of town misnomer that no one talks to you. The garden overhaul took two weeks longer than planned. Half of my time was spent talking to people passing by.
Ahh, but what type of people?
You would be a pretty poor part-time amateur sociologist to define passing people purely by appearances. What does a person from a particular social class look like?
Impossible to tell.
But you can’t get around the observation that South Lambeth Road appears whiter than it did a decade ago. There’s a whole ethnic socio-economic argument to be had here.
The Porto community remains strong. Stockwell is all the better for this. Little Porto is no longer located purely along the northern stretch of South Lambeth Road. Lansdowne Way now has a run of Porto cafes, with the red and green flags even stretching out towards the Oval.
I can’t wait for the World Cup. South London summers are THE BEST.
Politically and Stockwell will remain firm Labour territory when three locals Councillors are elected in May. But don’t read too much into the political if you want to understand the economic - not with this lot, anyway.
You can soul search and look around you endlessly to try and measure gentrification. Plus as posed at the top of this blog post: why would you want to anyway?
Eight years away from South Lambeth Road and Stockwell remains a fine place in which to live. It offers superb transport options for Brixton, the West End and the City, should you want to leave SW8.
Stay within the Stockwell / Vauxhall / Oval Triangle of Intrigue and you pretty much have all that you need to get buy; Larkhall Park, Little Porto, Di Lieto Transpontine olive bread.
I’m all too aware [OH YES] of the ridiculous property price hikes. Down the road and the BONKERS VNEB development is only going to add to this over the next six months.
We use to joke about the Clap’ham-isation of Sunny Stockwell, some fifteen years ago. If it gets as far as SW8 then Vauxhall will surely resist, was the rallying call.
I’d call that an SW8 Gentrification Sandwich, Comrades.
Postscript:
I haven’t even mentioned the Freeman’s development, Stockwell Green or the arrival of Lidl, the SAVIOUR of Sunny Stockwell.
Strange SW8 days.