This part of Wandsworth is a homogeneous suburban neighbourhood in between Clapham and Battersea. The area to the north begins just after the bulk of the high street stores on Northcote Road, and ends to the south just before Clapham South Underground station. The neighbourhood is hemmed in to the east and west by Clapham and Wandsworth Commons, respectively. The area mostly consists of Victorian terraced housing, similar to much of suburban London and south London in particular. Despite being predominantly residential, there are some stores, as well as pubs, cafes and restaurants, towards the centre of the locality, particularly around Broomwood Road. In addition, there are many stores on Northcote Road, though less than further up north. The few exceptions to the area’s architectural norm is a particularly large mansion by Clapham Common, Northcote Lodge School by Wandsworth Common, and Thomas’s London Day School.

This area, like many others in London at the time, was facing rapid suburbanisation in the 1860s, with the advent of the railways. The 4th Earl Spencer took to selling off parts of the neighbourhood’s green space, leading to public protest against their loss of common land. This led to the Wandsworth Common Act of 1871, which bought land to protect some of the open space in the city, creating today’s Wandsworth Common. Even then, the area was not green like it is today, but instead a rubbish-filled area. It was not until the creation of the London County Council when the area fell under proper governance. Within Wandsworth Common is the Royal Victoria Patriotic Building, which was used as a hospital during the First and Second World Wars, as well as an internment camp and interrogation centre for refugees from Europe.

Clapham Common was created much the same way as Wandsworth Common, when it was acquired from the Lords of the Manors by the Metropolitan Board of Works. Historically, the area was part of the Manor of Clapham, being first mentioned in the Domesday Book. Interestingly, the area would’ve looked far different before the First World War, when the area was heavily bombed, destroying not only the local wildlife there, but also levelling the area, making it the flat expanse it seems today.

The area is indeed very green and quiet, due to the relative lack of through traffic (due to it being hemmed in by two green spaces). However, these same features make it relatively isolated for this part of London, with walking times to nearby stores being further than you would get north or south of the location. Clapham South and Clapham Junction stations are both, however, just 15 minutes away.

Most of the area is fairly stagnant with regards to development, being almost fully built-up. Changes to the area, therefore, are restricted to upgrading the area’s public facilities, such as Northcote Library. With the enhancement works well underway, the upgraded Northcote Library, which was originally built in 1969, is expect to deliver, in addition to its primary function, a community centre offering a wider range of services, a dedicated and improved children’s section, enlarged study accommodation, self-serve kiosks for book loans, upgraded computer and digital learning areas, an events space and restroom facilities. It will also provide a new business suite and include adaptable work spaces and state of the art communications technologies.