Comments on: The Orangery, Clapham, London

By: Editor

Editor — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 09:58:14 +0000

In reply to Stephen Mulcair. Hello Stephen. What a wonderful backdrop to your games of football and I love the image of a magician putting on shows in front of the Orangery. I too hope that the building can be made safe once more. Thanks for sharing your memories.

By: Stephen Mulcair

Stephen Mulcair — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 15:30:10 +0000

I lived on the Notre Dame Estate from 1959-1980 first in Westbrook House then from 1970 in Mandeville House which overlooks the Orangery. At the back of the estate was a biscuit factory I think was called badgers, and Henry Thorton school now called Clapham College (why they changed the name is beyond me). As kids, in the 1960/70s, about twenty of us use to play football in and around the Orangery most days of the week, not appreciating the importance of the Orangery history and architecture. Lambeth council sometimes organised children’s events in front of the Orangery, I remember a magician asking me to assist with a trick when I was about ten in 1969. Eventually the council put studded paving slabs in front of the Orangery to prevent ball games and erected a fence, something they should have done years earlier.
I was devastated to learn the roof has collapsed. I have fond memories of my childhood on Notre Dame Estate, and hope funds can be raised to repair the Orangery roof.

By: Editor

Editor — Sun, 28 Jul 2024 13:05:50 +0000

In reply to TOM GARDNER. Good afternoon Tom, from sunny England. Yes indeed, fashion is fickle, but having survived for more than two centuries let us hope the Orangery has a happy future ahead of it.

By: TOM GARDNER

TOM GARDNER — Sat, 27 Jul 2024 22:25:56 +0000

AS A RETIRED ANTIQUES DEALER (THE ART NOUVEAU PERIOD), THERE IS A PARAEL AS TO TASTE AND APPRECIATION. FOR YEARS, MY PERIOD WAS IN VERY HIGH DEMAND. BUT, AS WE ALL KNOW, THAT WHICH WAS ONCE CONSIDERED THE ZENITH OF BEAUTY, CAN SADLY BE …’OUT OF FASHION’, ERGO … DISCARDED. BUILDINGS HAVE A 50-50 CHANCE OF SURVIVAL, AS A RESULT OF THE ABOVE.
LET US HOPE THAT A SECOND ‘USAGE’ CAN BE FOUND FOR SUCH A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF BEAUTY.

By: Editor

Editor — Sat, 27 Jul 2024 11:42:20 +0000

In reply to Margie Hoffnung. Hello Margie. It is extraordinary that it survived when the meadows were built on, the lakes filled and the gardens destroyed. It is only moments from Clapham Common so have a look if you are ever in the area.

By: Editor

Editor — Sat, 27 Jul 2024 11:39:04 +0000

Hello Nic. The Orangery seems to be cared about locally, it just needs a purpose. There have been many ideas and much discussion it appears, but no solution.

By: Nic Orchard

Nic Orchard — Sat, 27 Jul 2024 09:24:14 +0000

An orangery without glazing is a sad structure. Preservation without direction, too. This would seem to be a good candidate for resiting to somewhere more hospitable, where it could be appreciated more fully.

By: Margie Hoffnung

Margie Hoffnung — Sat, 27 Jul 2024 08:52:25 +0000

I lived in Clapham northside for several years and never knew that was there. What an extraordinary survival.