Comment on Brixton history: the long-lost Brockwell Park bandstand in archive postcards by Charlie H
Theres a slow inexorable force that is seeing the disappearance of bandstands - not through positive action, but more of neglect and decay (like the one in Eastbourne as at 2026, for example.) When Brockwell Park was opened on 6 June 1892 by the MP Thomas Bristowe, he died during his opening ceremony from a heart attack. He had fought tirelessly to save the grounds of the old Brockwell House from the housing developers, and never got to enjoy the results of his civic triumph for his constituents. The bandstand was erected a year later, by J Sexby, the London County Council’s Chief Officer of Parks, who added several new features, including lakes, and an Old English Garden. Bristowe would have been horrified at the loss of the bandstand (if he had known about it!) - as many of us are when a bandstand disappears. (For a full list of current - and missing - bandstands and an authority on everything connected with Bandstands, consult the books by Paul Rabbitts. It's a sad read for those missing, but an effective 'audit' for those surviving.) The bandstand was even used as an open-air classroom for frail school children - besides wartime tea-dances, attended mostly by women who danced with each other because their men were at the front. It had a memorable 'serpent' weather vane mounted on its beautiful tiled roof. Bristowe's head was found!..... in a country garden of one of his decendants. It had topped a memorial fountain, erected in 1893, at the entrance to his Brockwell Park and was dug out of the undergrowth of the country garden - and was restored to a meeting room in the council offices in 2010. It may be a challenge in these cost-of-living times to set up a fund to erect a new one - the site in Brockwell Park is a perfect setting with the necessary 'breathing space' for artistic activities - and there are plenty of bands in the surrounds to fill the park with the Summer sounds of live music (I know because I play in one!). (There is a playing space in Brockwell park but its a sad open space and nothing like a proper bandstand.) We should try and restore its original grand location. Southwark Park has a magnificent new bandstand which is a copy of Clapham Common's famous one (Dire Straits and the Rolling Stones played there) and the famous neglected 'David Bowie' bandstand in Beckenham Park has been restored. Even the 'Bandstand' in Crystal Palace Park with its lake (called the 'Laptop' - because it doesn't follow the traditional form) is being restored (it was where Bob Marley first performed his 'Redemption Song' - before he died less than a year later, being his penultimate concert.) So instead of 'gentryfying' Brixton, let's restore a corner of Victorian Brixton - and honour Thomas's magnificent contribution by 'Building, Baby, Build Back Better, Big Brixton Bandstand' or B8 for short!
Black News 
Theres a slow inexorable force that is seeing the disappearance of bandstands – not through positive action, but more of neglect and decay (like the one in Eastbourne as at 2026, for example.)
When Brockwell Park was opened on 6 June 1892 by the MP Thomas Bristowe, he died during his opening ceremony from a heart attack. He had fought tirelessly to save the grounds of the old Brockwell House from the housing developers, and never got to enjoy the results of his civic triumph for his constituents. The bandstand was erected a year later, by J Sexby, the London County Council’s Chief Officer of Parks, who added several new features, including lakes, and an Old English Garden.
Bristowe would have been horrified at the loss of the bandstand (if he had known about it!) – as many of us are when a bandstand disappears. (For a full list of current – and missing – bandstands and an authority on everything connected with Bandstands, consult the books by Paul Rabbitts. It’s a sad read for those missing, but an effective ‘audit’ for those surviving.) The bandstand was even used as an open-air classroom for frail school children – besides wartime tea-dances, attended mostly by women who danced with each other because their men were at the front. It had a memorable ‘serpent’ weather vane mounted on its beautiful tiled roof.
Bristowe’s head was found!….. in a country garden of one of his decendants. It had topped a memorial fountain, erected in 1893, at the entrance to his Brockwell Park and was dug out of the undergrowth of the country garden – and was restored to a meeting room in the council offices in 2010.
It may be a challenge in these cost-of-living times to set up a fund to erect a new one – the site in Brockwell Park is a perfect setting with the necessary ‘breathing space’ for artistic activities – and there are plenty of bands in the surrounds to fill the park with the Summer sounds of live music (I know because I play in one!). (There is a playing space in Brockwell park but its a sad open space and nothing like a proper bandstand.) We should try and restore its original grand location. Southwark Park has a magnificent new bandstand which is a copy of Clapham Common’s famous one (Dire Straits and the Rolling Stones played there) and the famous neglected ‘David Bowie’ bandstand in Beckenham Park has been restored. Even the ‘Bandstand’ in Crystal Palace Park with its lake (called the ‘Laptop’ – because it doesn’t follow the traditional form) is being restored (it was where Bob Marley first performed his ‘Redemption Song’ – before he died less than a year later, being his penultimate concert.)
So instead of ‘gentryfying’ Brixton, let’s restore a corner of Victorian Brixton – and honour Thomas’s magnificent contribution by ‘Building, Baby, Build Back Better, Big Brixton Bandstand’ or B8 for short!
