IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Copley Park, LONDON, SW16 3DE

Looking west with a line of mature plane trees on the south side of Streatham Common. At the last gasp a day largely blanketed by cloud was relieved by a vivid sunset.

After a day largely blanketed by cloud, the sun put on a bit of a show before retiring (from us) for the day. Three of a line of mature plane trees can be seen here in front of houses on Streatham Common South. Streatham Common comprises a large expanse of open grassland sloping up from Streatham High Road in the west, to woodland and the Rookery in the east. The latter opened in 1913 and is a more formal garden originally in the grounds of the eponymous house. It includes the site of Streatham Spa which made Streatham fashionable for a time in the early-mid C18th. The early history of the common is murky, but it stretches back to the Norman Conquest, and the Domesday Book recorded a Lime Common which stretched from Norbury to Tulse Hill. Following 500 years of church ownership its status as a public space was ensured by an Act of Parliament when it was taken over by the Metropolitan Board of Works in 1883. After several further transferrals, ownership passed to Lambeth Council in 1971. Information from Lambeth Council (http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/NR/exeres/CE4B5CE1-0387-40ED-B5A9-273A5160C34A.htm ).

At the time of Domesday, Lime Common as it was then known stretched from Norwood to Tulse Hill. The original Streatham Spa was founded when springs of medicinal value were discovered on the common in 1660. By the start of the 19th century, the boundaries of Streatham Common were virtually the same as they are today. The battles upholding commoners' rights against enclosure, which took place over so many commons, do not seem to have occurred here. The common was managed by a committee of local inhabitants until 1883 when it was placed under the control of the Metropolitan Board of Works. The church in the distance is Immanuel and St Andrew on Streatham High Road.

Looking along the path that runs parallel with Streatham Common South in the open area of the common.

Some of the planes lining the path appear to have been cut back in the last year or so. Streatham Common comprises a large expanse of open grassland sloping up from Streatham High Road in the west, to woodland and the Rookery in the east. The latter opened in 1913 and is a more formal garden originally in the grounds of the eponymous house. It includes the site of Streatham Spa which made Streatham fashionable for a time in the early-mid C18th. The early history of the common is murky, but it stretches back to the Norman Conquest, and the Domesday Book recorded a Lime Common which stretched from Norbury to Tulse Hill. Following 500 years of church ownership its status as a public space was ensured by an Act of Parliament when it was taken over by the Metropolitan Board of Works in 1883. After several further transferrals, ownership passed to Lambeth Council in 1971. Information from Lambeth Council.

After a day largely blanketed by cloud, the sun put on a bit of a show. On the left is a line of mature plane trees. The common unfurls down the slope until it meets Streatham High Road, on which can be seen the tower of Immanuel church (Image). Streatham Common comprises a large expanse of open grassland sloping up from Streatham High Road in the west, to woodland and the Rookery in the east. The latter opened in 1913 and is a more formal garden originally in the grounds of the eponymous house. It includes the site of Streatham Spa which made Streatham fashionable for a time in the early-mid C18th. The early history of the common is murky, but it stretches back to the Norman Conquest, and the Domesday Book recorded a Lime Common which stretched from Norbury to Tulse Hill. Following 500 years of church ownership its status as a public space was ensured by an Act of Parliament when it was taken over by the Metropolitan Board of Works in 1883. After several further transferrals, ownership passed to Lambeth Council in 1971. Information from Lambeth Council (http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/NR/exeres/CE4B5CE1-0387-40ED-B5A9-273A5160C34A.htm ).

Looking down the slope towards Streatham itself.

The path at the very top of the common, lined with mature plane trees. Streatham Common comprises a large expanse of open grassland sloping up from Streatham High Road in the west, to woodland and the Rookery in the east. The latter opened in 1913 and is a more formal garden originally in the grounds of the eponymous house. It includes the site of Streatham Spa which made Streatham fashionable for a time in the early-mid C18th. The early history of the common is murky, but it stretches back to the Norman Conquest, and the Domesday Book recorded a Lime Common which stretched from Norbury to Tulse Hill. Following 500 years of church ownership its status as a public space was ensured by an Act of Parliament when it was taken over by the Metropolitan Board of Works in 1883. After several further transferrals, ownership passed to Lambeth Council in 1971. Information from Lambeth Council (http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/NR/exeres/CE4B5CE1-0387-40ED-B5A9-273A5160C34A.htm ). This is a reverse of this view: Image