Interesting Loughborough Junction Postcard … Reed & Son, 221 Coldharbour Lane

Posted on March 12, 2026 by John

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.

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What’s with all the coffee shops in Loughborough Junction in 2026

Posted on January 15, 2026 by John

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.

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Alley Cat by Alan Harris

Posted on December 31, 2024 by John

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.

The second , I think is titled Alley Cat

You can check out Alan’s work on his website

https://alansartgallery.co.uk/

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Keith Coventry, Thorland Estate, 1992

Posted on November 19, 2024 by John

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.

http://keithcoventry.com/

Posted in Paintings & Drawings, Streets & Roads | 1 Comment

Denmark Place Baptist Church by Margaret J Cheffins

Posted on August 29, 2023 by John

This Oil Painting by Margaret J Cheffins (signed M Cheffins) is undated, but probably circa 1960s/1970s is a new addition to my local art collection.

Posted in Camberwell, Churches, Coldharbour Lane, Denmark Hill, Paintings & Drawings | 1 Comment

More Street Poetry on Loughborough Road

Posted on May 31, 2023 by John

Two more photos featuring street poetry outside Loughborough Farm on Loughborough Road. Also featured a fantastic Bug Hotel.

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Street Art in Loughborough Junction

Posted on April 28, 2023 by John

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.

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Notes To Strangers: Good Advice

Posted on April 7, 2023 by John

Poster seen on a Utility Box on Loughborough Road. March 2023.

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Camberwell Green by AE Smith

Posted on March 13, 2023 by John

Published in the South London Observer 12th November 1926

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A Postcard View of Loughborough Junction looking east

Posted on February 20, 2023 by John

A postcard view titled Coldharbour Lane Loughborough Junction, Published by Charles Martin, 39 Aldermanbury, London E.C. card number 1536. It is undated but was post franked 20th November 1906.

It look like, and it was a relatively prosperous area with many shops and services available for local shopping. To the immediate left is Loughborough Road and on the right Hinton Road.

On the left you have at number 224 the chemist shop owned by Henry Isaac Stephens, operating from at least 1880 to 1906. It was a chemist both before with Frederick Matthews in 1876 and after Mr Stephens right up to David Andrew Rees. Unfortunately destroyed during WW11, it is rather apt that in the new build of shops and apartments a relocated Junction Pharmacy now inhabits the same ground.

Behind Stephens the chemists we had at 222 Wybrow & Son, undertakers and at 220 Home and Colonial Stores, at 218 James Clark ran a fishmongers and Ranstead & Cornwell were butchers at number 216. Station Avenue was off to the left just after the butchers, also with many shops and a cafe.

After Station Avenue you can see the sign for Frederick Robert Ohlson who ran a pawnbrokers in what older locals may remember as the dentists (that’s another story) and what is now the launderette at number 214. And at number 210 James Clark ran a fried fish bar.

Plum centre of our postcard is , of course the platform of Loughborough Junction railway station. On the far side of the Railway bridge on the right hand side you can just make out the tower of the Loughborough Park Congregational Church.

On our way back from the railway bridge we have at number 209 The Imperial Stores run by Robert Harrison, then George Lambert a confectioner at number 211.

Then at 213 Ernest Gibbs & Co who were Estate Agents, the Miss Mary Jane Clegg who ran the Oil Shop succeeding her mother Mrs E Clegg who in turn ran the business after the death of her husband Samuel, who opened the shop in 1872. At 217 Benjamin Hockaday ran an Ironmongers with as you can see in the postcard a very prominent shop sign. Miss Elizabeth Hubbard had a fancy stores shop at 219 and the Reed Brothers ran a butchers shop at 221. And finally on the corner of Coldharbour Lane and Hinton Road at number 223 was AW Davies The Bakers, Andrew Davies had another shop in Herne Hill.

Here is a postcard showing the Herne Hill shop, just at the right hand edge of the card with am impressive hand cart parked outside.

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