Is Clapham Junction in Battersea or Clapham?
The debate has been raging for a month with various local councillors and newspapers trying to convince people that, despite its name, Clapham Junction is still in Battersea. Dozens of businesses in Clapham Junction claim to be in Clapham and visitors are constantly confused about where they are when they arrive at the station
So, why the station is called Clapham Junction when it is so obviously in Battersea?
The answer lies in the nineteenth century. The first railway through the area was the London and Southampton Railway, opened in 1838. In 1846 another railway line was built , from Nine Elms to Richmond. By 1860 there were four lines which served Victoria, Waterloo, Earl's Court, Croydon, Guildford and Brighton.
The lines went so many places that an interchange station was needed. The crossroads between Lavender Hill and St.John's Hill was chosen as the site and the station opened in 1863.
At this time, Battersea was associated with poor, working class people. The railway companies did not want to associate their new station with such an image, so they decided to name the station after Clapham, a popular and well-heeled village a mile away, to attract middle and upper class clientele.
Now Wandsworth Council is pressing Network Rail to change the name of the station to 'Clapham Junction, Battersea' or better still, 'Battersea Junction'. It also wants businesses and services in the area to correctly state they are in Battersea, not Clapham. One particular bugbear has been the marketing of Northcode Road's French market as the "Clapham French market".
Some businesses are already beginning to take on board pressure from the local community and admit they are based in Battersea. Angus MacLennan, the manager of Ottakar's in St.John's Road, has instructed his staff to answer the telephone by saying "Ottakar's SW11".
One problem for businesses wanting to change their address is the cost of altering website listings, headed paper and business cards.
Perhaps the Clapham Junction Town Centre Partnership has the best answer. It describes the main business area as "Clapham Junction- the Heart of Battersea"
The debate has been raging for a month with various local councillors and newspapers trying to convince people that, despite its name, Clapham Junction is still in Battersea. Dozens of businesses in Clapham Junction claim to be in Clapham and visitors are constantly confused about where they are when they arrive at the station
So, why the station is called Clapham Junction when it is so obviously in Battersea?
The answer lies in the nineteenth century. The first railway through the area was the London and Southampton Railway, opened in 1838. In 1846 another railway line was built , from Nine Elms to Richmond. By 1860 there were four lines which served Victoria, Waterloo, Earl's Court, Croydon, Guildford and Brighton.
The lines went so many places that an interchange station was needed. The crossroads between Lavender Hill and St.John's Hill was chosen as the site and the station opened in 1863.
At this time, Battersea was associated with poor, working class people. The railway companies did not want to associate their new station with such an image, so they decided to name the station after Clapham, a popular and well-heeled village a mile away, to attract middle and upper class clientele.
Now Wandsworth Council is pressing Network Rail to change the name of the station to 'Clapham Junction, Battersea' or better still, 'Battersea Junction'. It also wants businesses and services in the area to correctly state they are in Battersea, not Clapham. One particular bugbear has been the marketing of Northcode Road's French market as the "Clapham French market".
Some businesses are already beginning to take on board pressure from the local community and admit they are based in Battersea. Angus MacLennan, the manager of Ottakar's in St.John's Road, has instructed his staff to answer the telephone by saying "Ottakar's SW11".
One problem for businesses wanting to change their address is the cost of altering website listings, headed paper and business cards.
Perhaps the Clapham Junction Town Centre Partnership has the best answer. It describes the main business area as "Clapham Junction- the Heart of Battersea"