Peckham

Peckham is a place in the London Borough of Southwark about a mile (1.6 km) east of Camberwell and a mile (1.6 km) west of New Cross. It has never been an administrative district, or a single ecclesiastical parish in its own right, but it developed a strong sense of identity in the nineteenth century when Rye Lane was one of the most important shopping streets in south London. It was the setting for the popular sitcom "Only Fools and Horses" throughout the eighties and early nineties, and has not yet shaken off its reputation as the run-down, dangerous area that was depicted in the TV series. Most media coverage of Peckham is in relation to its high crime rate - recent famous cases include the murder of Damilola Taylor in November 2000 and the machine-gunning of eight or nine (contemporary reports vary) people queueing outside Chicago's nightclub in the summer of 2000.

Related Topics:
London Borough of Southwark - Sitcom - Only Fools and Horses - Damilola Taylor - November 2000

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Peckham is an area of great diversity: gang-related shootings, muggings and burglary characterise one picture whilst another emphasises the high population of artists and professionals. The Bellenden area in the south west is busy with cafés, wine bars, niche shops and artists' studios. There is also clear cultural diversity: the offspring of generations of Londoners mix with members of communities from China, the Caribbean, India, Ireland, Nigeria and Turkey. The European Union has invested heavily in the regeneration of the area; building the futuristic, award-winning Peckham Library, a new town square and swathes of new housing to replace the North Peckham Estate. Throughout the area state funding is being provided to improve the housing stock and renovate the streets. This includes funding for public arts projects like the Tom Phillips mosaics on the wall of the Peckham Experiment restaurant.

Related Topics:
China - Caribbean - India - Ireland - Nigeria - Turkey - European Union - Peckham Library - Tom Phillips

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The main shopping street is Rye Lane, and the large Peckham Rye Park is nearby.

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The oldest surviving building in Peckham is 2 Woods Road, built in 1690.

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