Brixton

Brixton is an area of South London, part of the London Borough of Lambeth.

History

First recorded as Brixistane in 1067 (which means 'at the stone of Brihtsige'), Brixton remained mostly waste land until the beginning of the 19th century, the main settlements being near Stockwell, Brixton Hill and Coldharbour Lane. With the opening of Vauxhall Bridge in 1816, improved access to Central London led to a process of suburban development. The largest single development, and one of the last in suburban character, was Angell Town, laid out in the 1850s on the east side of Brixton Road, and so named after a family which owned land in Lambeth from the late 17th century until well into the 20th.

Brixton today

Brixton is a vibrant inner London suburb 3.3 miles (5.3 km) south of Charing Cross and is the unofficial "capital" of the Jamaican and Caribbean community of London. Windrush Square between Lambeth Town Hall and the Tate Library was created to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the arrival of the modern Afro-Caribbean community on the Empire Windrush.

Modern day Brixton is home to four big housing estates: Myatts Field off Vassall Road, Angell Town off Brixton Road on the boundary with Camberwell, Loughborough in the centre of Brixton and Moorlands Estate, situated off Coldharbour Lane. It is in these four estates that a significant proportion of Brixton's population lives.

There has been an influx of trendy middle-class people into Brixton over the last 20 years. Sushi and noodle bars abound now. In the Brixtonian, one of the wine bars, they sell a very pleasant strong cocktail called 'The Brixton Riot' (!)

Entertainment

Home to the infamous bareknuckle boxer Cate "The Killer" Wharfe There is a significant clubbing and live music scene. Large venues include the Carling Academy (changed from Brixton Academy in 2004), The Fridge and Mass. A range of smaller venues such as the Windmill, Jamm, The Telegraph, Plan B, the 414 and the Effra Tavern amongst others are a crucial part of London's live music scene, drawing performers with international reputations.

Brixton riots

Brixton was the scene of race riots in April 1981 and September 1985. In both cases the riots saw young black men (who were joined by white youths) reacting to concerns over discriminatory and heavy-handed police "stop-and-search" policies under the notorious 'sus law'. Following the 1981 riots, the Government appointed Lord Scarman to report. Although the Brixton area subsequently saw pioneering community policing initiatives, the continued death of young black men in police custody (and in one case the death of a man holding a gun-shaped cigarrette lighter) coupled with general distrust of the police led to smaller scale protests through the 1990s.

See Brixton riot (1981), Brixton riot (1985) and Brixton riot (1995)

Brixton in song

The 1979 song "The Guns of Brixton" by The Clash deals with law enforcement violence in Brixton. It was written by Paul Simonon who grew up in Brixton, had a reggae influence and showed the reggae roots of both Brixton and Paul Simonon's musical background.

Before a 'Jamm' gig, The Misfits, a well known punk band were involved in a fight where they were thrown into Brixton Prison which led them on to write their famous song 'London Dungeon'.

Ian Hunter's 1981 album 'Short Back 'n' Sides' contains a track called 'Theatre of the Absurd' which references the Brixton law enforcement problem. "Play me some, play me some, play me Brixton power," is the chorus line, and the issue of race is opened with the first lines, "My tea turned seven shades darker as I sit and write these words. And London's gettin' paler, in my Theatre of the Absurd." The heavy-handed production of the record was overseen by Mick Jones of the Clash.

The song "Waiting For The Worms" from Pink Floyd's "The Wall" has a rally leader, possibly Pink - the protagonist of the concept album - speaking into a megaphone to a racist rally mob, which acts as some of the lyrics to separate verses of the song. The very first lyrics heard from the megaphone are, "We have been ordered to convene outside Brixton town hall..." This is ironic, as the album was realeased in 1979, two years before the start of the anti-racist riots of 1981.

Brixton in film

Director Richard Parry shot a film here (released in 2001) called South West Nine (SW9), referring to the postcode covering much of central Brixton. Confusingly, this postcode is officially that of Stockwell - although the northern part of Brixton falls within the boundary - whereas SW2 (the Brixton Hill sorting office) also covers much of Streatham Hill and Tulse Hill.

'Reg Llama of Brixton' was mentioned in the (farcical) opening credits of the seminal 1975 comedy film Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

Mandela

Brixton's symbolic role as the "soul of Black Britain" led to a 1996 visit by Nelson Mandela. This included a brief visit to Mandela Street, part of a modern housing development constructed in the mid 80's and named after the former South African president.

Brixton bombing

In 1999 neo-nazi bomber David Copeland planted a bomb outside the Iceland shop on Brixton High Street which exploded injuring 39 people.

Brixton market

The heart of Brixton is the Market, open every day selling produce from all over the world. The song "Electric Avenue", written and sung by Eddie Grant in 1983, refers to part of the market (come out of the tube, turn left then left again), so named because it was the first street in Britain to be lit with electric lamps, in 1888 (Brixton itself is mentioned in the lyrics at the very end of the song). The market sells a huge range of Afro-Caribbean products as well as reflecting the many other communities in the local area with Indian and Vietnamese supermarkets and South American butchers amongst the shops and stalls.

Brixton is also home to a 1970s purpose built skatepark, named Stockwell Skatepark. Brixton also has a windmill built in 1816, and surrounded by houses built soon after, as London expanded. The Windmill pub (see above) is named after it.

Famous people from Brixton

Current London Mayor Ken Livingstone grew up and lived for many years in Brixton
Former British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan was born in Brixton.
Former British Prime Minister John Major spent part of his childhood in a two-room flat off Coldharbour Lane, and started his political career as a Lambeth Councillor while still living in the area.
Freddie Davies the comedian and actor was born in Brixton in 1937.
David Bowie was born in Stansfield Road, Brixton.
Paul Simonon the bass player for The Clash is from Brixton.
Mick Jones the guitar player for The Clash is from Brixton.
Drum and bass producer Dillinja is from Brixton.
The band The Alabama Three (A3 in the USA) who recorded the theme tune to the Sopranos were formed in Brixton and hang out here.
Linton Kwesi Johnson is a long time Brixton resident
House music duo Basement Jaxx formed in Brixton.
Fruitbat of power-pop punk band Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine is a life-long Brixton resident.
Sharon Osbourne, wife of Ozzy Osbourne, was born in Brixton.
Vincent Van Gogh lived in a Boarding House in Hackford Road, Brixton, London

External links

Brixton Society - local history and environment group
Urban75 Brixton - independent site with history, bar and club guide, photographs and tourist information
Friends of Windmill Gardens - a site giving more information on the Brixton Windmill mentioned above.
Brixton Windmill - Website of legendary Brixton live music venue The Windmill. Includes the pub's history and gig listings.
Voice Online - Online version of The Voice newspaper based in Brixton.
Brixton Doubles - London photography blog with features from Brixton.

Districts of London | Lambeth

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