I am a proud south London resident and more specifically a citizen of Wandsworth. Those who reside north or east may sneer at leafy SW London but I love it. Perhaps because I came to it after living in various bits of Zone 1 - NW1, W2, E1 (all of which I also loved). I think you know you are a true Wandsworthian when you look on the Wandsworth roundabout with fondness. A confluence of roads just south of Wandsworth bridge, the roundabout is a classic late 60s concrete wasteland that has been softened over the intervening decades by the growth of trees and scrub in the centre space. There are underpasses on all sides - which are famous for being the location of the scene in Clockwork Orange where Alex and his droogs beat up a rough-sleeper. If you're walking through it on a dark Winter's night, it can still feel pretty bleak and depressing, but on a Summer's day in the blazing sunshine it is a haven for bird-life. The thing I really love though is the massive atom-like sculpture on top. It's a pity that they had to put advertising billboards on it, but it must be a really lucrative site as you get all the eyeballs from Trinity Road coming south, York Road coming west and the traffic coming over Wandsworth Bridge from Fulham. I think it's a really cool sculpture and much more handsome than the Old Street roundabout version. So - let's hear it for the weird modernist, dystopian Wandsworth roundabout!
Wandsworth roundabout was completed in 1972 ,Tinity underpass was started in 1968,and i used to play in the roundabout and surrounding waste lands that is now Swandon way,Homebase & B&Q just added a few piks from that ere to panaramio all the best bud and I went to Wandsworth School.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment - I am fascinated by the transformation of that area. We used to live in Eltringham St just next to the roundabout - did you go to the school on that street? Apparently Eltringham St used to go all the way to Wandsworth Town so all those cottages were pulled down to make way for Trinity Rd and the roundabout.
ReplyDeleteI lived in Putney and had family living and still live in Battersea,in the 70's our so called playground extended from Barns Bridge in the west to Vauxhall bridge in the east all along the south side of the river,wandsworth and nine elms lane and all the wasteland that was used in some of the TV series like the Sweeney,Professionals,Saint,Minder and many more was a great place to play as a 10 yr old back then.as for school when i was 11 I went to Wandsworthuntil I was 15.
ReplyDeleteI lived in Putney and had family living and still live in Battersea,in the 70's our so called playground extended from Barns Bridge in the west to Vauxhall bridge in the east all along the south side of the river,wandsworth and nine elms lane and all the wasteland that was used in some of the TV series like the Sweeney,Professionals,Saint,Minder and many more was a great place to play as a 10 yr old back then.as for school when i was 11 I went to Wandsworthuntil I was 15.
ReplyDeleteI would love to have seen what the area looked like then. Thanks so much for your comment - I love hearing about stories of Wandsworth/Battersea "of old".
ReplyDeleteJust wondered if there is any more info on the sculpture? I always wondered if it had any significance? It fascinates me every time I see it.
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