This mainly residential suburb of Lewisham occupies the desirable area between Nunhead and Hither Green. Its predominantly Victorian properties have been popular with an artistic community for a long while, but it has only more recently become a hub for young professionals and creatives, with a high concentration of young singles living in subdivided houses. There are twice as many 20-29-year olds and half as many pensioners as the national averages. For an area of typically industrial South East London, this neighbourhood is surprisingly leafy, with wide tree-lined roads and an abundance of village-like green spaces to its south, such as Ladywell Fields, Blythe Hill Fields, and Honor Oak Park Sports Ground. The locale is conveniently served by the Overground, Southeastern, Southern, and Thameslink train lines, which makes it an ideal location for those who wish to commute. The high street of Brockley Road forms the area’s western border, and is inhabited not only by modern blocks of flats but by a number of local businesses and boutiques, pubs, restaurants, and convenient chains.

The neighbourhood is also home to the famous Rivoli Ballroom, which was built in 1913 and renovated in the late 50s, and which remains as the only intact 1950s ballroom in London.

The once rural area was inhabited only by Brockley Farm, the Brockley Jack public house, and Brockley Hall, a large private residence owned by the Noakes family of brewers. Well supplied by the Noakes’, the Brockley Jack was the focal point for the village that evolved in its vicinity during the late 18th century. By the 1840s large terraced houses were being built for the upper middle classes in Upper Brockley, and major urbanisation began alongside the opening of Brockley station in 1871, followed by Crofton Park station in 1892. The Brockley Jack was rebuilt in 1898 and its stables converted into a theatre, which remains today.

The church of St Hilda was opened in Crofton Park in 1908, and was regarded as ‘strange’ and ‘irresponsible’ for its variation on the Arts and Crafts style. A variety of housing styles were built over the course of the 20th century, many responding to the damage the area received in the Second World War.

The celebrated British artist, Evelyn Dunbar (1906-1960), created the famous Brockley murals between 1933-36. They were originally a commission for the Brockley County Secondary School, and consisted of five arched panels, each of which reach 12’ x 7’, and are topped off with a pediment height panoramic frieze. They depict allegorical and pastoral scenes, the source of most being the fables of Aesop. They are still on display in their original site, which has now become the upper site of Prendergast School.

Some local residents cite the lack of tube accessibility to be one of the area’s biggest frustrations. Furthermore, many have said that they would prefer a town centre, rather than the knot of roads and railways that currently exist in its place.

Concerns have been raised over whether Brockley’s current rail infrastructure will be able to handle the area’s growth. The Lewisham Council has proposed the creation of an interchange at Brockley between the two local lines. This ‘Metroisation’ would create more regular services, and combined with the Bakerloo line extension to Lewisham, would draw a huge amount of investment to the postcode. Within the postcode private development remains small scale for now, with the Rivoli Court development providing six apartments in a new block at 196 Brockley Road.