Camberwell Quarterly Articles

retrofitting a loft
1 August 2026

Retrofitting can cut energy costs

Hanna Tweg of the community energy group SELCE reports on a Society session exploring how...

Diksha Prasanna. Portrait by Jane Moxham
24 July 2026

Meet the poet

About Diksha Diksha Prasanna was born in Bangalore, India. She moved to the UK for...

Jim Tanner
15 July 2026

Jim Tanner: campaigner and chronicler

Jim Tanner, architect, artist, writer and Camberwell resident for more than 65 years, died in...

Julia Roskill opens the walkway
1 July 2026

Walkway tribute for Nicholas Roskill

The late president of the Camberwell Society Nicholas Roskill was honoured last month when the...

chapel plans in camberwell
25 June 2026

Ceiling collapse halts chapel revival

A bolt out of the blue has threatened restoration of a cherished chapel, but there...

Shauna at the Public Engagement March 2026
19 June 2026

Mural to celebrate our healing waters

Celebrating the healing waters of Camberwell begins with a wall you can stand beneath and...

Volunteers tackle Burgess Park
15 June 2026

Unearthing Camberwell’s green heart

Sophy Tayler of Camberwell Trees & Green Spaces outlines the summer programme Thanks to a...

Camberwell's Hokusai Wave
13 June 2026

Insider's guide to arts

Our neighbourhood is a living, breathing canvas, constantly evolving with creativity. Camberwell Arts trustee Kelly...

Havill Street Hall programme cover
12 June 2026

The man who made Camberwell sparkle

Jane Common spends a day at Southwark Archives researching the work of Bob Fox, a...

Jonathan Shaw and Janet Taiwo
10 June 2026

Blind fate, bold vision: the story behind Vanguard’s creative hub

Vanguard Court Studios is at the heart of Camberwell’s creative life. Robert Wainwright reveals the...

Dario illustration
8 June 2026

Glitz and grit: our carnival kings

Maxy Chartey brings the glitz and glam, Dario Blake the business and logistics – together...

DJ Maxy at Camberwell carnival
5 June 2026

All the fun of the fair – for 700 years

Our seven centuries of festival history is rich – and sometimes wild, finds Jane Common...

local camberwell garden blossoms at Chelsea
23 May 2026

Local gardener blossoms at Chelsea

Camberwell gardener Charlie Chase’s YoungMinds Garden won a prestigious silver-gilt medal at the Chelsea Flower...

The Kerfield Arms camberwell
22 May 2026

New star rises in SE5 dining galaxy

Poppy Pearce meets the head chef behind Camberwell’s first Michelin star, and rounds up the...

Parent action group in Camberwell
21 May 2026

Parent action

Demand for under-threes sessions is soaring as funding is uncertain – and one local mum...

Bethwin playground in Camberwell
21 May 2026

Beloved playground faces funding fears

A popular children’s play space marks a milestone anniversary while looking at an uncertain future,...

Camberwell sign
1 April 2026

What's on in April

Times and dates change. Please check before starting out Art in the Park has Saturday...

camberwell at dusk
30 March 2026

Care home plan to face third review

Council officers are sending the Love Walk care home development plans back to a planning...

discover camberwell
1 March 2026

March 2026 Newsletter 

March blows in like a lion. Duck the squalls in Camberwell’s increasingly celebrated eateries and...

evergreen sculpture
1 December 2025

Saved sculptures find their station

The Society has helped save two important sculptures from the scrapyard. Tony Coleman reports on...

clock workings
1 December 2025

Clocking history

Tony Coleman reports on St Giles’ tribute to Edward Dent, master clockmaker In the same...

Pearl illustration by Jane Moxham
1 December 2025

The Camberwell connection

The sound of summer on Camberwell Green has a twin heartbeat – two decks and...

Mary's Cafe Camberwell
1 December 2025

Winter arrives with a crispy crunch

As leaves flutter from the trees and chill settles in the air, our food writer...

1 December 2025

Digital hopes to brighten business

A well-attended meeting of Camberwell business owners revealed some exciting innovations and challenges ahead, writes...

Nandine Camberwell
1 December 2025

Camberwell on a plate

Poppy Pearce launches this new regular page with a journey through Camberwell’s kitchens – where...

Justine Webb, President
1 December 2025

Nothing fancy but let’s smarten up

The Camberwell Society’s new president, Grove Lane resident and BBC presenter Justin Webb, reminisces about his...

1 October 2025

Care home controversy

Elizabeth Borowiecka of the Camberwell Society’s Planning Committee reports on the much contested application for...

mending clothing photo
1 September 2025

Mending what he missed

What the state withheld in his youth, Deshaun now stitches into his workshops: patience, empathy,...

Reasons to be happy
1 July 2025

Let’s celebrate with our green team

For most people, the letters AGM rarely bring about a raised heart rate, but how...

chaahat thakker
1 June 2025

A chemistry of nutrition

Chaahat Thakker and John Guest couldn’t come from more diverse backgrounds but a joint desire...

Elaine and her coach Alex illustration by Jane Moxham
1 March 2025

Her spirit inspires her coach

Powerlifting champion Elaine Jackson, 55, and her coach Alex James Jackson, 25, talk to Marie...

Camberwell mural
1 February 2025

February after dark 

Camberwell shrugs off the winter blues this month. Longfield Hall gives you plenty of reasons...

1 December 2024

The Beat goes on

Marie Staunton finds out from Russell Occomore and Chris OC why the music scene is...

Mission Care architectural visualisation
1 December 2024

Mission Care, is there any progress?

Ann Kenrick reports on developers “in discussions” with planners after new expert objections The repeat...

6 November 2024

14-km circular route with cake stops

Jeb Clulow (in-line skater and cakehound) and Tony Coleman (navigator) invite you to get some exercise and sample the pastries that can be found on Camberwell’s borders

15 August 2024

Festival Fun on the Green - Saturday 31st August

Get down to the Green 12-9pm for some lively times!!!!

illustration by Jane Moxham
1 June 2024

Get fit to feel good

Nurses leader Catherine and fitness coach Jermaine have teamed up for Camberwell’s Feel Good Festival....

illustration of dentists in Camberwell
1 March 2024

Dentists who treat the whole person

Jay and Rupa Patel and their daughter Vidhi talk to Marie Staunton about practising in...

10 love walk redevelopment
23 January 2024

OPINION - Mission Care development

Richard Donnell, Chair of the Grove Lane Residents Association on planning irregularities emerging from the...

4 January 2024

How to turn passion into a career

Around 1,000 new students begin their studies at the Camberwell branch of University of the...

15 December 2023

Meet two adorable Camberwellians

Paola Totaro got to know them while walking her dog Camberwell’s parks and gardens are...

13 December 2023

Let your hair down at Christmas theatre

  Christmas is fast approaching and local theatres are preparing for the season of goodwill...

1 December 2023

Be of good cheer in Church Street

Wine experts Patrycja Lorek and Donald Edwards talk to Marie Staunton about Dolly Parton chardonnay,...

4 August 2023

Land for the people

  Dr Miatta Fahnbulleh, chair of the Southwark Land Commission   Southwark Land Commission puts...

south london gallery
2 August 2023

Fire Station “always ready” for new curators

    In September 2023 it will be five years since the South London Gallery’s...

31 July 2023

Developer gets go ahead to turn Butterfly Walk into Camberwell Lanes

    Now that planning permission has been confirmed by the GLA and Southwark Peter...

30 July 2023

Redeveloping Love Walk care home

  Richard Donnell, Chair of Grove Lane Area Residents Association urges locals to give their...

29 July 2023

Doing the Lambeth walks

  Want to immerse yourself in local history? Alison Rae suggests becoming a Lambeth tour...

27 July 2023

Covert Camberwell

  A discreet entrance in a quiet residential street in Camberwell leads to a world...

24 July 2023

Investigating the origin of the Grosvenor Estate

  Chris McGachy is finding out who built and who lived where he does It...

15 July 2023

A pleasant amble round Camberwell’s hill

Richard Barton guides us through three parks and a stunning view of London (Sketches by Jame Moxham)

8 July 2023

May the Force be with you

Stephen Bourne urges us to fight to save our Safer Neighbourhood Teams When Baroness Casey’s...

Camberwell mural
3 July 2023

New openings

FROM THE CAMBERWELL QUARTERLY Tony Coleman on Camberwell Station Road’s facelift and our thriving night...

2 July 2023

Café Mortel comes to Camberwell

    Ann Kenrick invited her neighbours to her home to talk about death (Cartoons...

26 June 2023

Arts are at the heart of Camberwell

    Jade van Zuydam discusses this year’s festival, Marie Staunton interviews director Peter Benedict...

2 June 2023

Shrouded in advertising

  Elizabeth Borowiecka investigates the massive advertisements which have recently covered prominent buildings An application...

4 May 2023

Stroll along to the old hospital and the Victorian baths

      Richard Barton picks out objects and buildings of interest east of the...

ulez expansion
1 May 2023

ULEZ expands all over us

Tony Coleman rounds up news on transport that affects Camberwell The Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) will...

14 April 2023

Many shades of green

Robert Wainwright hears the stories of some of the people who live near the Green,...

12 April 2023

Vinyl is the real deal

    Cornelia Falknas visits local record shop Dash The Henge “After having had a...

8 April 2023

How safe is our Camberwell?

PC Kate and PC Phillip who are part of the Camberwell Green Safer Neighbourhoods Team,...

4 April 2023

Art is budding in Camberwell

    Tony Coleman rounds up the arts news In 2014, the sculpture installation All...

1 December 2022

The Beautification of Camberwell Station Road

    Community consultation   The Camberwell Station Road improvements and station beautification is set...

8 November 2022

A gentle stroll around Myatt’s Fields

    Richard Barton picks out some interesting features to look at in this pleasant...

31 October 2022

Flats and studios replace magistrates court

    Elizabeth Borowiecka looks at the plans to develop the magistrates court Proposals to...

23 March 2022

Camberwell’s dark mistress of sin

    Her name suggested an innocence and beauty but Matilda “Tilly” Twiss was no...

16 February 2022

Fun, fun, funicular

    A new wonder on our station plinth driven by water and Tony Coleman...