Since I added the Merlin Bird ID app to my phone on January 19th 2026, I have once a week being recording Birdsong for 5 Minutes at both the Pond and the Wild Garden. To date I have recorded 27 different birds. The Most often recorded were
Less often recorded
White Wagtail
And for one day only on February 24th 2026, arrived on it’s own and left later that day.
The first occupant of 221 CL, at that time known as 2 Lothian Terrace & renumbered 221 Coldharbour Lane in the general street renumbering on 7th August 1874. In 1856 Lothian Terrace was finished and Ashley Cooper Key, who was a chemist, moved in, he was there for 35 years. This of course follows the completion of Loughborough Junction Train Station in October 1864, and the beginnings of massive development in Loughborough Junction. He was followed by Charles Boatwright who was a florist for 8 years until 1903.
The butchers opened as Reed Bros in 1904 though the fascia in the photo says Reed & Son. They lasted until 1936 when the butchers was aquired by Alfred William Brooker for three years until 1938 and then for one year by Henry William Lohr.
Here is another street view postcard franked in November 1906
Here is an advertisment for Reed & Son placed in the Empire Picture Theatre programme March 1916. The Empire was the renamed Theatre Metropole on the corner of Coldharbour Lane and Denmark Hill where Nandos is now. It tells us the Reed & Son had a second business in Waterloo Road, Camberwell.
Business on this terrace located at 219, 221 & 223 Coldharbour Lane were severely damaged by WW11 bomb attack in 1942, the damage classed as damaged beyond repair. The first two buildings 215 & 217 CL just after the Railway arches survived, now used as private residences.
A low rise building was erected and in the 1970s this building was used by Nelson’s Homeopathic Pharmacy as their manufacturing plant before moving on to Wimbledon in 1986. The plant went all the way back up Hinton Road. They have their own Pharmacy in Duke Street London W1 and also supply own label to Boots and Tesco & Duchy Originals. Before them it was home to Balfour & Darwins Ltd, alloy manufacturers
The current Occupant of 219 & 221 & 223 is Floor Fashion & before them at least since 2008 Furnitiure Warehouse.
Photo from 2020, unknown. If this is your photo please get in touch and I will credit.
In 2020 GLPC, Gabriella Property Consultants, proposed a development of this site which included a new building on the corner and new retail units going back up Hinton Road. In the end only the Hinton Road retail units were built and the Apartment block with 8 apartments on 4 stories was not. Here is the GLPC development visualisation.
For almost all my near 50 years living in Loughborough Junction, we had to survive without coffee shops. You could have takeaway coffee if you used Johnnies, Sem Cafe or Joel’s Barney Cafe but they were mostly for all day eating. Johnnies & Sem still survive but Barney’s has long gone.
Tawakal Internet cafe, at 204 Coldharbour Lane was our 1st arrival, between Flaxman Road and the Train station, probably around 2007, my memory might be faulty on this and closed in 2023. I never used it so have little detail. Older folks might remember it as the location for Standivan Radio & TV shop, later called Milkwood Radio & TV.
In 2013, Blue Turtle cafe arrived at 210 Coldharbour Lane, Google AI calls it a quirky, well-loved independent, photo by Kake, Sept 2017. It is now home to Visualise it First, Art cafe and events and studio space.
Four Boroughs opened their second cafe in Coldharbour Works, corner of Coldharbour Lane and Shakespeare Road in February 2021. Photo by John, January 2026.
Next to arrive in 2023 is The Travel Caffe at 228 Coldharbour Lane, next to the Loughborough Road railway bridge, previous home to Fikal Fabrics and Superdry Cleaners. Photo taken from their instagram page.
In April, 2024, saw the arrival of Viv’s Coffee at 198 Coldharbour Lane. My regular coffee visit with great coffee and great people. Photo, unknown.
Also in 2024, Frsssh juice bar opened up also serving coffee and cake in the corner of 184 Coldharbour Lane, next to Pomfret Road. Photo by John.
Two new arrivals in 2026.
Firstly in one of the new units on Hinton Road opposite the Green Man, Stoop Coffee, opened in January2026. Serving coffee and sandwichs. they are part of the Arcade Coffee group which has other shops in Herne Hill Station and Brockley Station. Photo by John.
And currently under fitting out is LJ Grind at 204 Coldharbour Lane taking on a space which has long been empty. Photo by John.
You can also grab a coffee at Perks and White on the platform at Loughborough Junction Station, it’s not always open. They also have outlets at Herne Hill Station both in the Station and on the platform and in Tulse Hill. Photo by John, apologies for the closed photo. March 2026, a notice appeared on the shutter announcing the permanent closure of this branch.
Two other places to mention are the brand new Carnegie Cafe and Community Lounge in the Carnegie Library on Herne Hill Road and The Platform Cafe on Loughborough Road, a community kitchen and event space. Part of the Loughborough Junction Action Group. Lovely vegetarian food and I am a regular visitor.
Finally to mention Old Spike Roastery in LJ Works, on Loughborough Road, a social enterprise, they roast coffee here to supply their seven cafes across London.
Also NISA have a coffee machine in their store for those that want.
I forgot to include Bad Brew Inc at 86 Coldharbour Lane. Photo from their instagram.
And last but by no means least, The Ruskin Park Cafe which opened in 2012, which is located between the children’s paddling pool and the play area at the Northway Road entrance to the park.. It’s mostly opened through the warmer months and during the winter at weekends. Photo from the Friends of Ruskin Park website.
Two paintings by Alan Harris, both have the same subject. The first is called The Cat Alley, and features the walkway between Barrington Road and Ridgeway Road. Sometimes known as Orphan Alley, as it was next to The Brixton Orphanage for Fatherless Girls which closed in 1936.
Keith Coventry is a well established artist , who graduated from the Chelsea School of Art in 1982. Amongst his many works, is this painting of the Thorland Estate sign, part of a series of Southwark based Estate signs. Later repeated in 1996 with an East London series.
The Thorland Estate runs down one side of Denmark Road, along Carew Street and part of Lilford Road, south of the railway line.
Two pieces of Art pasted to Street furniture in Loughborough Junction. The first on Loughborough Road shows the Railway line and station and the second on Wellfit Road portrays five persons descending from the railway line. Not signed as far as I could see. But clearly from the same hand.
Possibly a reference to the taggers who lost their lives in 2019.
Loughborough Junction 