Route stops

Brixton Recreation Centre
Pop Brixton
The Department Store
Trinity Square
Lambeth Town Hall
Ritzy Cinema
Brixton Tate Library
Black Cultural Archives
St Matthews Church

Itinerary created by Open House Volunteer, David Taylor

Start: Brixton Underground Station
Turn right out of station, under railway bridge and turn right into Brixton station Road, 5 minutes to Brixton Recreation Centre, Brixton Station Road

Brixton Recreation Centre

This imposing 6 story red brick sports centre, adjacent to Brixton station, was listed grade 2 in 2016. It was designed by Lambeth council architect George Finch and although construction started in 1974, completion was delayed until 1984 because of design problems and cost overruns. It has been described as comprising monolithic brick masses with sculptural concrete forms. It was innovative at the time, one of the earliest multi-purpose activity centres and has good natural light and interior detailing. It was visited by Nelson Mandela in 1996 as representing a symbol of black British culture.

Directions
Continue along Brixton Station Road, 3 minutes to Pop Brixton, Brixton Station Road

Pop Brixton

It is a community initiative founded by Make Shift , a team of socially minded creators, makers, entrepreneurs and doers who champion collaboration, drive progress and see it as their duty to bring prosperity to local communities through enterprise. Make Shift transformed a disused plot of land into a pioneering space that showcases the most exciting independent businesses from Brixton and Lambeth, providing a new destination that supports them to set up shop and share space, skills and ideas. As well as providing the space local businesses need to thrive, we work with our members to make a positive difference in the community. We all invest our time and skills into charitable projects, we provide free space for community events of every kind, and we host regular open workshops ranging from kid's art classes to horticulture training in our community garden. This is a temporary project, delivered in partnership between Make Shift and Lambeth Council, and is currently planned to remain in place until 2022. Carl Turner Architects are the designers of Pop Brixton.

Directions
Turn back along Brixton Station Road, cross main road into Ferndale Road, 7 minutes to The Department Store Ferndale Road

The Department Store

The Department Store is an award winning refurbishment of a dilapidated Edwardian building in Brixton, completed by Squire and Partners in 2017. The design was informed by the layers of history and existing fabric of the heritage building.

Directions
Go back along Ferndale Road, turn right onto main road, and continue for 200 m then turn right into Brighton Terrace, continue into Trinity Square, 7 minutes Trinity Square

Trinity Square

This charming mid Victorian square, just a short distance from the busy Brixton Road, was bult in 1850, adjacent to the earlier Trinity alms-houses which still have elderly woman residents. The central garden square used to be an allotment used by the tenant of the local pub but it was bought by Lambeth council in 1931 for £750. One side of the square was destroyed by WW2 bombing but the square is now a conservation area and protected under the London Squares Preservation Act.

Directions
Turn left out of square, cross road to Lambeth Town Hall, 2 minutes to Lambeth Town Hall

Lambeth Town Hall

Landmark Edwardian Baroque style town hall in red brick and Portland stone . Striking new atrium, reception and courtyard space along with grand marble lined staircase and ornate council chamber. Grade II listed.

Directions
Cross major junction towards complex of buildings around Windrush Square, 2 minutes to Ritzy cinema

Ritzy Cinema

A much loved local cinema, the original building dates from 1911 and was constructed next to the entrance to Brixton theatre which was destroyed during the war. It is now grade 2 listed and was at first called the Electric Pavilion with a capacity of 750. It was revamped by George Cole, the well known cinema architect in 1954 and was renamed the Pullman. It was subsequently operated by the London Cinema Collective and although now owned by the Picturehouse group, is still known as the Ritzy. It expanded in the late 1990s onto the site of the former theatre and now contains 5 screens as well as a bar and café.

Directions
Immediately to the right of cinema, looking from Windrush Square, I minute to Brixton Tate library

Brixton Tate Library

Built in the early 1890s, and listed grade 2, this imposing free Renaissance style library was funded by Henry Tate the sugar magnate, and designed by Sydney Smith who also designed the Tate Gallery, now Tate Britain. It was opened by the then Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII, and is now at the heart of a redesigned Windrush Square. The site of the original gardens in front of the library was bought by Tate’s widow in 1904 to provide a public open space.

Directions
Adjacent to the library, I minute to Black Cultural Archives

Black Cultural Archives

This building incorporates part of the former Raleigh Hall, extensively restored with a new extension by Pringle Richards Sharratt, completed in 2014 and designed to function as a heritage centre for the British Afro Caribbean community. Raleigh Hall originally comprised two houses bult in 1824, later in use as furniture workshop, and the site was later acquired by the Black Cultural Archives. Its aim is to collect, preserve and celebrate the life and times of Afro-Caribbean residents and carries out a range of activities, including exhibitions, educational events and public engagement. It is located in the heart of Brixton town centre facing onto the recently, and appropriately, renamed Windrush Square.

Directions
Cross Windrush Square and main road, 2 minutes to St Matthews Church

St Matthews Church

Listed grade 2*in 1951, this church dates from 1822 following the Church Building Act 1818 which allowed new churches to be built in areas with a growing population. The architect was C F Porden and the building has an imposing Greek revival portico with Doric columns and a tower at the eastern end. Constructed mainly of pale-yellow brick with stone dressings, it was the first English church to have electric lighting. There were many internal changes in the 1970s when part of the church was converted for community use, provoking concern from English Heritage and the church was declared redundant in 1991. However, part of the church is still used for worship and the building as a whole is much used by the local community for a wide range of activities.

Directions
Cross back over the road, turn left and 5 minutes to Brixton station