13 Comments

Lambeth is such a fascinating part of London. We’re lucky enough to live close by in Kennington, but have never heard of this street until now

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It's one of those streets that, once you discover it, you'll return to again and again. (Especially if you like classic pubs.)

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Feb 22Liked by Matt Brown

I used to work around the corner in the 1990s and walked along the street from and to Waterloo Station. I just loved it. It brought back happy memories, so thank you. One of my favourite London patisseries/bakeries is there too: Konditor & Cook. It's not historical, but definitely worth a mention!

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Just looked it up and that was Konditor's first branch... set up in 1993... so that's getting on for a third of century ago. Verging on the historical ;-)

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Feb 21Liked by Matt Brown

Another interesting piece, thankyou. But why Roupell st. Who/what was this as it is such an unusual name.....inquiring minds wish to know x

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Thanks Anne. It's implied in the text -- the land owner was called John Roupell. He named it after himself. The surname is apparently of Dutch origin. One source says his ancestors came over during the 'Glorious Revolution' of William of Orange.

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A nice piece about one of my favourite streets. Gets a mention in Slow Horses, though I didn't recognise it, so i doubt it was filmed there. The Kings Arms on Roupell is a classic street corner boozer too, at least until the suits get out of work.

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Thanks Vincent. Yes... I forgot it was in Slow Horses. I think it was shot on location - certainly looked the part as I recall. Will have to go back and take a look. I love how location-specific that show is. And, yes, I have many happy memories in the Kings Arms.

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Likewise. The shelf on the outside of the pub provides one of the best pub leans in London.

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I don't know this street but it's interesting to learn more about its history. Twenty people in one house gets the imagination going!

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This is the Lambeth that Somerset Maugham wrote about in "Liza of Lambeth", isn't it?

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Very close by. His fictional Vere Street was just off Westminster Bridge Road... a 5-10 minute walk away. But the description sounds like it was partly inspired by Roupell Street. "a short, straight street leading out of the Westminster Bridge Road; it has forty houses on one side and forty houses on the other, and these eighty houses are very much more like one another than ever peas are like peas, or young ladies like young ladies."

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MI6 pay is famously poor...

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