Famous writers in South East London

[GrumpyGranny]

Am starting a new project collecting info & visiting famous authors / writers in times past who lived in South East London. Cannot find any info anywhere (but learnt a lot more about Camberwell in the process)- any suggestions most welcome.

[Mattsoper]

Charles Dickens reportedly rented a house on Linden Grove for a time, as mentioned on the Southwark Council website.

http://www.southwark.gov.uk/info/200159/history_of_southwark/1020/dickens_southwark/1

"Dickens is also known to have rented a house, under the pseudonym Charles Tringham, for himself and his mistress Ellen Ternan in Linden Grove, Nunhead between 1868 and his death in 1870."

[indiepanda]

Might not be very literary but I expect most of us read Enid Blyton at school - she was born on Lordship Lane and lived there for 30 years.

http://www.heathersblytonpages.com/photoalbum_homes.html

[steveo]

C S Forester lived in Underhill Road, Enid Blyton at the Plough, and Steve Overbury might be in the Plough

[GrumpyGranny]

Great! I'll go and have a look at all these tomorrow! Wonder if there any houses I can visit? (have looked on National Trust website but zilch - shame)

PS Robert Browning was born in Camberwell in 1812 but can't see where....

[ianr]

John Ruskin lived a lot of his childhood in Herne Hill. See an early chapter of his Praeterita for details.

[Mattsoper]

Muriel Spark - author of The Ballad of Peckham Rye - once lived in Camberwell.

[bornagain]

Vera Brittain (Shirley William's mum) lived in Camberwell during part of First World War and worked at King's College Hospital - see Testament of Youth.

[JulieP]

I have a book called "who was who in Peckham" by JD Beasley, published by Chener books (1985). There is a section on writers. It might be worth popping in to (Chener)see if they have any copies left - or if not you can come and look at mine.

[Townleygreen]

Edward Upward lived in Dulwich 1932-62 whilst he taught at Alleyn's (latterly was head of English). His most famous novel, "In the Thirties" reflects some of his experiences there.

Here's an obituary from the Dulwich Society when he died at 105 in 2009.

http://www.dulwichsociety.com/newsletters/62-summer-2009/432-edward-upward

[Townleygreen]

Forrester lived at 58 Underhill, where there's a blue plaque. His real name was Cecil LT Smith.

[Townleygreen]

PG Wodehouse was at Dulwich College but I don't know where he lived when we began writing.

Sir Victor Pritchett lived at 200 Clive Road for a couple of years whilst he attended Alleyn's.

[Jah Lush]

Lord Byron went to a school where the Grove Tavern now stands on the corner on Lordship Lane and Dulwich Common.

[Jah Lush]

Raymond Chandler also went to Dulwich College.

[dbboy]

Dickens lived in the blue cottage in Dulwich Village

[Jessie]

William Blake claimed to see visions on Peckham Rye

[steveo]

dbboy Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Dickens lived in the blue cottage in Dulwich

> Village

Oh no he didn't

[Jah Lush]

Indeed. Steveo is correct. It's where Mr Pickwick retires to. Now called Pickwick Cottage. I grew up in Pickwick Road dontcha know.

[reggie]

JK Rowling is often on the prowl round Dulwich Friday nights. But not so much lately.