Author: Darryl Chamberlain

Charlton Society talk on school founder Abraham Colfe this Saturday

Darryl Chamberlain

St Luke's with Holy Trinity, Charlton

This Saturday’s Charlton Society talk – held at St Luke’s Church – is from Julian Watson and covers the life of Abraham Colfe, whose eponymous school in Lee is one of the best-known in SE London.

Julian Watson was local history librarian for the borough of Greenwich from 1969 until he retired in 2003. He worked in the Local History Room at the old Blackheath Library in St John’s Park, then at Woodlands in Mycenae Road and finally at the Greenwich Heritage Centre in Woolwich.

In retirement Julian researches and writes about the history of Greenwich and Lewisham and edits the Greenwich Historical Society Journal. He is a trustee and former chair of the Lewisham Almshouse Charity of William Hatcliffe and Abraham Colfe. He has been churchwarden and lay chair of St Mary’s Church, Lewisham – Abraham Colfe’s church. Julian has written a history of St Mary’s and continues to research its fascinating past.

Abraham Colfe’s name is well known as the founder of Colfe’s School – the only grammar school to be founded during Oliver Cromwell’s Protectorate. It was founded in Lewisham but admitted boys from the whole of the Hundred of Blackheath, which included Charlton. The school was just one of his achievements. He also founded an elementary school, a public library and left money for the building of almshouses in Lewisham. An extraordinary achievement was an intense year-long battle against James I to save 500 acres of woodland in Lewisham from destruction. His wife, Margaret, provided free medical services to all in Lewisham, rich and poor.

The talk is at 2.30pm on Saturday – admission is £3 (£2 for Charlton Society members).

Plans for flats at Charlton’s White Swan thrown out as squatters face eviction

Darryl Chamberlain1 Comment
The White Swan
The White Swan closed closed three years ago this week: it still shows Six Nations memorabilia from 2020 in its front windows

Plans to convert the upper floors of the White Swan in Charlton Village into two flats have been thrown out on the third anniversary of the pub’s closure.

Isle of Man-based Mendoza Ltd had insisted the plans would not affect the viability of the pub – but Greenwich Council’s planning officers disagreed on the grounds that it would remove part of the pub’s floorspace.

As well as removing the function rooms upstairs, the plans would have involved taking out part of the downstairs bar to form an entrance to the flats.

Developers did not wait for the council to assess the plans and have already converted the rooms upstairs into residential accommodation, which is currently being squatted – something discovered by council officers when they visited the Swan as part of their investigations.

The Charlton Champion understands that electricity supply to the building was cut off this week.

Charlton and Woolwich Free Film Festival screening of They Shall Not Grow Old at the White Swan
The pub’s function rooms have already gone

The pub poured its last pints on March 9, 2020 after four years of being run as a sister pub to the much-loved Pelton Arms in Greenwich.

In November 2020 Mendoza won planning permission to build a house in part of the beer garden after Stephen Brain, then the chair of planning in Greenwich, broke a tied vote to approve the plans. Work has not yet begun; Mendoza has until November this year to begin or the permission will lapse.

But that application was, in part, Mendoza’s undoing, because it said that the pub was viable because “the first floor of the public house contained a function room, a pool room and a cocktail bar with seating for 26 persons. This is corroborated by several objectors who stated that they had hired a function room at the premises in the past.”

Brendan Meade, the council officer who wrote the report, said that this showed Mendoza’s latest plans “would result in the loss of a significant amount of floorspace associated with the pub which would have an impact on the future viability of the public house to continue as such”.

Mendoza’s attempts to claim the pub was not viable were also criticised – Meade said a marketing report was not dated but appeared to have been written in late 2020, when lockdown had ravaged the market for pubs.

“The proposed development would result in the partial loss of floorspace associated with the existing public house with no justification provided for its loss,” the report concluded.

“Consequently, insufficient evidence has been submitted demonstrating how the existing public house on the site would continue to be economically viable and would not result in the loss of a social community asset to the detriment of the local area.”

The council is now going through the process of placing the Swan on its local heritage list, while this website understands that a repossession hearing will be held next week to take the pub back from the squatters.

There were 147 objections to Mendoza’s plans, including from the Charlton Society and the SE London branch of the Campaign for Real Ale.

Upstairs at the White Swan - furnished room
Upstairs rooms have been converted to residential, despite the council decision, and are being squatted. Electricity supplies are said to have been cut off

Following the money

Mendoza bought the freehold to the Swan from Punch Taverns for £900,000 in April 2015, although Land Registry data reveals that in December that year the building was sold again, to Associate Properties Ltd, also based on the Isle of Man, for £1.2 million.

Both Mendoza and Associate Properties are registered at the same office in Douglas, the Manx capital, and the planning application was made by Mendoza. After its closure, the company insisted that it was committed to reopening the Swan as a pub.

Since January 2021 the property has been mortgaged. That charge is now held by Apex, a financial services company based in Bermuda.

A report to the council from Jenkins Law, which had been marketing the pub, said that it was initially offered at a rent of £50,000/year, later cut to £40,000/year, for the ground floor and basement only. The report described Charlton as “a densely-populated affluent suburb” and wrongly claimed the pub closed in November 2019.

The pub is now being marketed by Davis Coffer Lyons for £80,000/year for the whole building; it describes the first floor as “managers’ accommodation”.

The Charlton Champion understands that the rent on the Swan while it was open was about £65,000/year, although we have not been able to corroborate this figure. When Mendoza won permission to build the pub beer garden, its planning consultant conceded that the rent may have been too high.

Mendoza and Associate Properties also share the HQ in Douglas with another sister company, Hamna Wakaf, which owns the Vanburgh in Greenwich.

Plans for a house at the rear of the Vanbrugh were approved by planning inspectors in 2021 after years of refusals from the council. The housing plans for both the Vanbrugh and the Swan shared an architect, Milan Babic.

The Vanbrugh closed a year ago and is currently on the market for £90,000/year, although it is currently said to be “under offer”.

This website is closing this spring – we thank readers for their support of neighbourhood news for Charlton over the years.

Charlton Conservative Club flats proposal to go to planning inspector

Darryl Chamberlain
Google image of the Charlton Conservative Club
The old Charlton Conservative Club (image: Google)

The drawn-out saga surrounding whether the old Charlton Conservative Club can be turned into seven flats will be decided by a planning inspector after Greenwich Council turned down the latest proposals for the site.

Permission was given in 2015 to demolish the club’s rear hall to provide a two-bedroom flat and a three-bedroom maisonette together with a new block of three two-bedroom flats, along with construction of a terrace of four two-bedroom houses on land at the back of the property. Work began but was never completed after disagreements with the council during construction.

That was followed by a plan to convert the building into 26 bedsits, which was quickly withdrawn.

Developers then proposed seven flats – three of which have already been built as part of the first proposal. The club’s billiard hall would have been retained and turned into housing. But those plans were thrown out in February 2022, with planners citing “inadequate bathroom provision” and a lack of privacy for neighbours and potential occupiers.

A rejigged proposal was submitted – but has been thrown out on the same grounds.

The club closed in 2012 and formed a pair with the Charlton Liberal Club, which finally succumbed six years later. A plan for six flats on the site of that club has also been thrown out.

To make a comment to the inspector, visit the Planning Inspectorate website by March 9.

We’ve reached the end of the road – The Charlton Champion will close this spring

Darryl Chamberlain2 Comments

Bramshot Avenue at twilight

We’ve covered well over a thousand stories, and brought you all kinds of news about Charlton. But this one’s about us. Site editor DARRYL CHAMBERLAIN has an announcement to make.

I’m sad to say that after nearly 13 years, The Charlton Champion will be closing this spring. We’re making this announcement now in case anyone wants to pick up where we have left off, and to give warning to the kind people who have helped fund the site over the past few years.

The main reason for this is that I no longer have enough time to do a community news site for the Charlton area justice. Our sister website, 853.london, has grown over the past few years and demands much more of my time than it used to.

Running two websites on a part-time basis was always a tall order – and eventually something had to give.

I’m enormously grateful to those who have helped with the site over the years – particularly Neil Clasper, who has devoted much of his spare time to keeping things running when I have been away – and to all those who have donated their hard-earned cash to make sure the bills are paid.

But over the past couple of years it has also become harder to convince community groups and other organisations in Charlton that having a locally-run, locally-owned website that can carry their news is a useful thing.

I’ve always been a strong believer that our local media should be run from SE London, not Silicon Valley. But many local groups choose to promote their activities on social media outlets, helping them grow their reach for advertising, rather than letting us know about them so we can do the same.

Ultimately, that makes what we do unsustainable.

Trying to fix this and (re)build the relationships needed would take time that I can no longer put in. We’ve lasted for much, much longer than other comparable websites – but all good things must come to an end. The archives will stay live for the foreseeable future, and Kevin Nolan’s peerless match reports from Charlton games will continue elsewhere – keep your eyes peeled for more details.

Unless, of course, you want to pick up the baton. I’d be very happy to help host and contribute to the site if others are willing to pick it up – there is some money in the pot here at Flyover Media CIC, the community interest company which runs this and 853, to help keep it going.

Talk to me if you’re interested – email charltonchampion.se7[at]gmail.com. But if nobody steps forward, we will be closing in May. Until then, we’ll keep going as normal.

To those who have supported us, thank you.

Thames Barrier car park ravers apply to dance all year round

Darryl Chamberlain1 Comment
Thames Barrier rave website screengrab
Organisers are planning another event on February 18 but now want a permanent licence to host them all year round

Plans have been lodged with Greenwich Council for outdoor raves to be held all year round in a car park close to the Thames Barrier.

A number of events have already been held on the site at Herringham Road, next to the Bunker 51 paintball venue, with residents complaining about noise on at least one occasion. Another event is planned for February 18.

Those events have been held with temporary licences, but now a newly-formed company wants a permanent licence to host 800 people on the site on Fridays and Saturdays, as well as Sundays during bank holiday weekends.

The application comes from Thecarparkldn Ltd, which was registered on January 15 by Andreas Millios at offices in Shoreditch, according to Companies House records.

Last year Millios had an application for an event in Morden refused by Merton Council after police objections, while a New Year’ Eve event in St Albans was also thrown out by the local council.

Millios’s company is applying for live music, recorded music, dancing and alcohol licences at 3 Herringham Road until 4am and to keep the premises open until 4.30am. It says events will not be held on consecutive weekends and restricted to two weekends per month.

The nearest neighbours to the venue are actually across the Thames, in the Barrier Point and Royal Wharf developments in Silvertown, but this website is aware of noise complaints in Charlton from past events.

One objection seen by this website says that people living a kilometre away were kept up until 4am and added: “It sounded like a very loud party at the end of the road, but in fact it was an incredibly noisy party further away.”

An outline of the car park application can be downloaded here, which contains details of how to respond. All responses need to be made by February 27. To contact your local councillors, visit writetothem.com.

3 Herringham Road
The car park is next to the Bunker 51 paintball venue

In 2018, the developer Komoto applied to build up to 500 homes on the car park site, which was home to the Johnsen & Jorgensen glass works until the early 1980s. Revised proposals were submitted in 2021, but little has happened since with the scheme, called Flint Glass Wharf.

Separate proposals for 1,200 homes on land surrounding the rave site were approved in March last year, with the area described as “horrible” by the chair of planning at the time, Stephen Brain, who approved the plans on his casting vote. Construction plans were recently submitted to the council, although a March start date for work on Herringham Quarter looks likely to be missed.

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Plan to knock down former Bowes shoe shop rejected by Greenwich Council

Darryl Chamberlain
Bowes shoe shop
The old Bowes shoe shop closed at Christmas 2015

Plans to demolish one of Charlton Village’s best-loved shops have been halted after an intervention from Greenwich Council’s conservation officer.

No objections were received to the proposal to knock down the old Bowes shoe shop, which closed in December 2015.

A developer wanted to build a new shop on the ground floor with two 2-bedroom flats and two studio flats to match the parade of shops next door. “The property is in a bad condition thus demolition will be more suitable,” planning documents submitted to Greenwich Council said.

But Greenwich’s planning officers threw out the plan, saying the “development would result in the demolition of a building which positively contributes to the character of the Charlton Village Conservation Area”.

The Charlton Society did not lodge a comment on the application, although one individual wrote in to observe that “the view of Docklands enjoyed by 34-44 The Village would be lost”, without making an objection.

33 The Village
Bowes was one of the last remaining traditional shops

The council’s conservation officer said that: “The significance of the building lies in its historic contribution to the understanding of the development of the area; and its architectural/aesthetic contribution to the character and appearance of the Charlton Village Conservation Area.

“The building’s diminutive scale and proportions; its traditional shopfront; and its overall appearance make a positive contribution to the character and appearance of the area, which retains a real village identity. The latter is in danger of being eroded by new development.”

There were also concerns about the effect on neighbouring properties, whether the new flats would have sufficient light, and about car parking.

Since the shop closed it has mostly remained empty, although it did briefly trade as a gift shop in the run-up to Christmas. The council issued its rejection in December, but the decision has only recently come to light.

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We tell the SE7 stories you won’t read elsewhere. And we’ll do the others better than anyone else. But it won’t survive without your help.

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Kevin Nolan’s Valley View: Charlton Athletic 2-0 Barnsley

Darryl Chamberlain

Kevin Nolan's Valley View

Buoyed by their midweek efforts against Manchester United, would the Addicks disappoint against Barnsley in the league? Not a bit, reports KEVIN NOLAN.

Charlton made it three league wins in a row with this victory over Michael Duff’s talented Barnsley side. It was achieved in front of a supportive crowd, which got behind the honest effort and total commitment on display and vocally hauled their exhausted heroes over the line. A period of rest and recovery could well be part of manager Dean Holden’s agenda before the testing trip to Peterborough next Saturday.

Handicapped immediately before kick-off when Steven Sessegnon was injured while warming up, Holden dealt with the setback by moving debutant Todd Kane to left back and summoning the dependability of Sean Clare from the bench.

In first-half added time, he lost Kane to a worrying hamstring complaint, which brought Eoghan O’Connell into the fray earlier than intended.
Both Clare and O’Connell proved solid replacements as the Addicks responded with commendable spirit to disruption. Their resistance to Barnsley’s bordered at times on epic; they rode their luck, particularly when the visitors twice hit the woodwork before the interval and were understandably grateful for the frankly comical finishing which let them off the hook in the second session.

The grip which the Tykes exerted during an awkward opening quarter-hour was ominous. Camped in Charlton’s half, they looked an odds-on bet to open the scoring, particularly when Jordan Williams’ vicious long-range drive forced a hurried, two-handed save from Ashley Maynard-Brewer. There were other narrow squeaks but, with Ryan Inniss and Lucas Ness inspiring their defiant mood, Holden’s men survived.

Better than that, they broke cover to take the lead on 19 minutes, admittedly against the run of play but impressive nonetheless. Preferred to Corey Blackett-Taylor on the left flank, Tyreece Campbell hadn’t seen much of the ball while Charlton struggled to gain a foothold. A couple of neat touches hinted at the teenager’s undoubted talent but the directness of his first meaningful contribution came as a shock, not only to the delighted locals, but to the spread-out travelling fans behind Bradley Collins’ goal.

Already in full flight as combative Jack Payne bustled his way into possession inside his own half, an uninhibited Campbell accepted his chunky teammate’s pass in his stride, showed strength to hold off Liam Kitching and let fly on the run from outside the visitors’ penalty area. Surprised at his near post by the sheer velocity of the strike, Collins was helpless to prevent it from bulging the net behind him.

Youth, it seems, is not entirely wasted on the young – not while Charlton’s vaunted academy continues to produce quality of this calibre.

At 20 years old, Ness is, by comparison with the likes of Campbell, an old stager who stood firm alongside a rock-like Inniss in keeping Barnsley at bay. Neither of them – nor the imperturbable Maynard-Brewer – could do anything to stop the 25-yard screamer from Josh Benson which struck the crossbar before bouncing precariously to safety.

Benson netted a similar effort at Oakwell back in September but mere inches were his enemy this time around. Similarly unlucky was Scottish midfielder Nicky Cadden, whose far post header in first half added time also clipped the bar and fell harmlessly in the Addicks’ favour.

Under steady pressure after the break, Charlton were in sore need of the insurance provided by a second goal. That eventuality looked unlikely until, on the hour, they surprised themselves as much as anyone by coming up with exactly what they required. And both 58th minute substitutes Macauley Bonne and Aaron Henry were heavily involved, proof if it were needed, that Holden’s decisions were sprinkled with stardust.

Henry’s battling header reached Bonne, whose instant shot on the turn struck the base of the right post. Where neither of Barnsley’s rebounded favourably, Bonne’s effort sat up kindly to present Jesurun Rak-Sakyi an unmissable tap-in. It was that kind of afternoon for the frustrated South Yorkshiremen, in whose care the proverbial barn door was safe during a profligate second half.

Fatigue became Charlton’s main adversary as the final whistle neared. Even the normally indefatigable George Dobson wilted but was shored up by the growing influence of Scott Fraser. Every homeboy contributed to their resistance, none more so than Campbell, whose never-say-die attitude was exemplified by the resourceful tackle he conjured from a prone position.

Blocks became commonplace, bodies were put selflessly on the line. This was potentially a season-changing result and might even have been more emphatic had Inniss directed a late point-blank header either side of Collins. This was no occasion for complaint, though, more a chance to celebrate a victory both heroically won and unreservedly savoured. Same again please!

Charlton: Maynard-Brewer, Clare, Inniss, Ness, Kane (O’Connell 45), Dobson, Rak-Sakyi, Payne (Henry 58), Fraser, Campbell (Blackett-Taylor 83), Leaburn (Bonne 58). Not used: Harness, Stockley, Morgan. Booked: Clare, Inniss, Bonne.

Barnsley: Collins, Williams, Kitching, Andersen, Cadden, Kane (Norwood 64), Benson (Larkeche 39), Aitchison (Martin 64), Phillips, Cole (Watters 64), Connell (Wolfe 79). Not used: Walton, Thomas. Booked: Kitching, Kane, Phillips.

Referee: Craig Hicks. Attendance: 13,266 (1,012 visiting).

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