COLDHARBOUR LANE
Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2020 12:29 am
Coldharbour Lane was formerly known as Camberwell Lane. Former British Prime Minister John Major lived in a flat in Coldharbour Lane when a child in the mid-1950s. The lane close by Brixton Market became very derelict by the mid 60's, when many drug houses flourished dealing mainly in cannabis.
In 1981 the Brixton riots occurred in roads near Coldharbour Lane and some windows were broken on the street itself. With the support of community leaders and shop owners, there were plans to set up a mini-police station on Coldharbour Lane in the former premises of a drug dealer. Origins of the name were a possible derivation of Cool Arbour Lane, dating from the time Camberwell was in the country. This is cited in 'The Streets' by Anthony Quinn (2012) as the place the Camberwell Beauty Butterfly of Samuel Jones fame was first sighted.
A "cold harbour" was an uninhabited shelter for travelers, often along a well-known route, somewhat similar to a modern bothy (basic shelter). Unlike an inn, there were no staff, food or drink to be had. There would be a roof, door and possibly a simple hearth, although it was the traveler's responsibility to gather fuel. They were generally little more than open-faced barns or animal shelters.
In 1981 the Brixton riots occurred in roads near Coldharbour Lane and some windows were broken on the street itself. With the support of community leaders and shop owners, there were plans to set up a mini-police station on Coldharbour Lane in the former premises of a drug dealer. Origins of the name were a possible derivation of Cool Arbour Lane, dating from the time Camberwell was in the country. This is cited in 'The Streets' by Anthony Quinn (2012) as the place the Camberwell Beauty Butterfly of Samuel Jones fame was first sighted.
A "cold harbour" was an uninhabited shelter for travelers, often along a well-known route, somewhat similar to a modern bothy (basic shelter). Unlike an inn, there were no staff, food or drink to be had. There would be a roof, door and possibly a simple hearth, although it was the traveler's responsibility to gather fuel. They were generally little more than open-faced barns or animal shelters.