please empty your brain below
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I knew a couple of people who were among the squatters at the Spike Surplus - I visited on occasion - but had no idea of its fascinating background. Great research and, as ever, a story well told. Thank you and merry Christmas.
THC | 24.12.23 - 7:42 a.m. | #
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I offer you Bethlehem Close in Perivale.
It's a private street so maybe it doesn't count.
fred | 24.12.23 - 9:16 a.m. | #
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The dubliners song 'McCalpines Fusileers' has the line "it's at the spike you'll find them". Is it a ref to this workhouse?
dg writes: not specifically.
Ian J | 24.12.23 - 9:48 a.m. | #
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Researching my family, I found a 3x-great-grand-aunt (yeah, hardly recent) in the 'new' Camberwell Workhouse in Gordon Road, in 1881 aged 64. She was still there in 1891, 1901 and until her death at 92 ish in 1909. So thank you for adding more context to another family story for me.
Pamela | Homepage | 24.12.23 - 10:00 a.m. | #
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My map searches missed Bethlehem Close, six houses thrown up in 2016 - thanks Fred!
diamond geezer | Homepage | 24.12.23 - 10:07 a.m. | #
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Presumably no available rooms in Bethlehem House either!
Thanks for the last few days of festive fun, though Christmas in Nazareth Gardens must have been pretty grim in bygone years!
Cornish Cockney | 24.12.23 - 11:53 a.m. | #
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Thanks DG - I love it when your research sends me off down a rabbit hole! It brought back memories of working at the Maudsley Hospital in Camberwell in the 80s and hearing stories of the spike from some of its previous incumbents, now mental health in-patients. The film of its history was an absolute delight - hearing the story from so many points of view was very moving. I'd love to see what it looks like inside now.
Kimburli | 24.12.23 - 12:00 p.m. | #
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Extremely interesting. Thank you very much!
Gunnersaurus | 24.12.23 - 1:32 p.m. | #
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There was a Nazareth House in Isleworth also run by nuns, but not sure which Order they belonged to. Their convent site has now been redeveloped as luxury apartments so nothing like Nazareth Gardens!
Tones | 24.12.23 - 2:02 p.m. | #
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Gordon Road? Oh my goodness. Then perhaps this was the refuge that appeared in the 1965 film Blow-Up, where photographer David Hemmings dressed down to share a night with the down-and-outs.
I'd known for certain the location had been near Consort Road (because there's one shot of Hemmings next to the road sign) but the visual clues were that he'd arrived there from Copeland Rd, not Gordon.
If that *is* the case - that the filming actually took place at The Spike - then there are various clips (eg. on YouTube) from the Antonioni film, showing Hemmings mixing with the inmates and photographing them, inside the building.
Best wishes for a Happy Christmas
dg writes: Blow Up? Yes.
RogerW | 24.12.23 - 2:14 p.m. | #
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As the successor body to the National Assistance Board, the DSS became responsible for what were later known as Resettlement Units. In the flurry of creating executive agencies of government departments in the 1980s, the Resettlement Agency was established to look after them - but it must have been one of the very few government organisations set up with the express purpose of shutting itself down. That's because the closure of Camberwell was part of a wider recognition that it wasn't a great idea for these institutions to exist at all, still less for them to be run directly by central government. So within a few years, the last fifteen, scattered across the country, had either closed or been transferred to other organisations.
Marek | 24.12.23 - 10:46 p.m. | #
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Perhaps we could have pictures of the tabby cat?
Debster | 25.12.23 - 9:22 a.m. | #
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I fear I need to go out again.
diamond geezer | Homepage | 27.12.23 - 12:08 a.m. | #
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I can recommend a visit to The Spike in Guildford which used to be adjacent to the workhouse. The cells and stone breaking contraptions have been conserved and you get quite an insight to what life at the spike was like. It's open Tuesdays and Saturdays and you get a guided tour. Get off at London Road station, Guildford and walk up the hill.
south london lad | 28.12.23 - 12:15 p.m. | #
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Four days later and I've replaced Bethlehem House with Bethlehem Close - thanks Fred.
diamond geezer | Homepage | 28.12.23 - 8:58 p.m. | #
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Laughed out loud at the end of the final paragraph! Very clever.
Cornish Cockney | 29.12.23 - 12:41 a.m. | #
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