Princes, Poverty and Protests

Kennington sits at the junction of two Roman roads where Edward III created the Duchy of Cornwall for his son, the Black Prince, who built a palace. Discover how Kennington changed from 17th century fields, meadows and hedgerows with few buildings to 200 years later, an area rife in poverty with Chartist protests for electoral reform. How an art tutor changed expectations within the art world by creating opportunities for women and working-class artists. How a woman had a library designed by Tate Britain’s architect as a gift to the people of Kennington. And how Charlie Chaplin grew up in poverty near the old Vestry (town hall) where decisions were made about the poor.

See the iconic Gas Holder No 1 next to Beefeaters Gin before finding out about Lambeth’s worst World War Two disaster. And hear stories about the Oval Cricket Ground before discovering St Mark’s Church’s connection to princes, paupers and protests.

All photos taken by Gail Golding or in the public domain.