Constitutional Club – Elmwood Farm

Constitutional Club – Elmwood Farm

Despite many changes, Catford has always had a buzzing community. Its historic origins as a major meeting point for routes in and out of London meant that it has long been a diverse and busy place. Catford’s many pubs, which have always served as meeting points for social activity, are perhaps evidence of this. Whilst Catford has undergone many changes and faces further changes ahead, its community remains strong.

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- Photo by Kevin Ireland
- Photo courtesy of Lewisham Archive
- Photo courtesy of Lewisham Archive
- Photo courtesy of Lewisham Archive
Now the Catford Constitutional Club, Elmwood Farmhouse was built in 1736, when Catford was rolling countryside. Originally a two storey farm house,the building was extended during the 19th century, in keeping with the contemporary Georgian style. Where the car park is today was once the gardens of what was then a quite substantial Manor House. The building was home to the Catford Conservative Club for most of the twentieth century and the last tenants moved out in the 1980s, after which point the building lay empty for over 10 years.

1735 Elmwood Farmhouse
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- Photo courtesy of Lewisham Archive
- Photo courtesy of Lewisham Archive
- Photo courtesy of Lewisham Archive
- Photo courtesy of Lewisham Archive
- Photo courtesy of Lewisham Archive
- Photo courtesy of Lewisham Archive
- Photo courtesy of Lewisham Archive
- Photo courtesy of Lewisham Archive
- Photo courtesy of Lewisham Archive
The Black and Horse and Harrow is Catford’s oldest pub, first appearing in public records in 1700. It is still there today, thanks to a recent revamp, as are some of Catford’s other old favourite watering holes, such as The Plough and Harrow. Sadly, not all of Catford’s historic pubs remain and recent years have seen the demolition of The George Inn and The Rising Sun.

A Night Out in Catford

Oral history of Tessa Pearce and Juliet Wyse
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- Photo by Kevin Ireland
- Photo by Kevin Ireland
- Photo courtesy of Catford Constitutional Club
The Public House Group Antic restored the derelict Elmwood Farm House, and reopened as the Catford Constitutional Club in 2013. Antic took on the site after being moved out of The Catford Tavern, formerly The Copperfield, due to intentions for the site to be redeveloped. The Catford Constitutional Club hosts several societies and community events, and was home to the public art exhibition as part of Catford Tales as well as part of the performance itself.

2013 Catford Constitutional Club
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- Photo courtesy of Evening Standard
- Photo courtesy of Lewisham Youth Theatre
- Photo courtesy of Lewisham Youth Theatre
Built in 1915 as The Railway Tavern, reopened as The Copperfield Tavern, and then The Catford Tavern in 2013, this infamous and historic building sadly burnt down in March 2015. The pub is due to reopen in 2016.

2015 Catford Bridge Tavern Fire
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- Photo by Kevin Ireland
- Photo by Kevin Ireland
- Photo by Kevin Ireland
- Photo by Kevin Ireland
- Photo by Kevin Ireland
- Photo by Kevin Ireland
The Catford Constitutional Club housed the Community Actors’ Group who performed their own personal memories of growing up and living in Catford. Woven together, the accounts told in this scene demonstrated the rich tapestry that is the Catford Community. The stories explored included one woman’s love of Bingo, memories of a great-uncle who saved Captain Scott on his voyage to the South Pole and memories of shopping in Catford. The scene used food, poetry, performance and projection to create an intimate and heart warming scene.

2015 Catford Tales
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Catford is undergoing a regeneration project which means the community is again facing new changes. Projects such as Catford Tales brought a wide range of people and groups together to appreciate Catford’s rich past and think about what the community want for their future. Watch this space…..

Hopes for the Future

Oral history of Peggy Fitzsimmons, Reverend Canon Charles Pickstone and Louise Balhatchet

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