Ferrs11

The former Shepherds and McColls units are being worked on to improve servicing access at the rear and provide separate access to the residential flats over them. Current info from the Dulwich Society says that the units are being marketed and should be available for letting later this year. Gails has been refurbished and re-opened a few days ago.

As those who attended the Dulwich Society meeting last year will know, there are less than 8 years left on the lease, and any prospective purchaser would need to secure a lease extension to make his/her investment worthwhile. Based on its previous comments the Dulwich Estate is not likely to agree to this so a Turkish, Lebanese, or any restaurant, is unlikely. The yellow gates are probably for additional security but there have been strong rumours that the car park will be used as a coach park when the new foundation school routes come into operation later in the year.

There is a poster up in Dulwich Village saying that there will be a public meeting on Saturday 4th November, 2pm at the pavilion of the Streatham & Marlborough Cricket Club by the junction of Lordship Lane and Dulwich Common (opposite the Grove Tavern) to talk about its future - it is facilitated by the Dulwich Society who are keen to find out what neighbours would like to see on the site - given that neither the Dulwich Estate (the freeholder)nor the Council can agree on what should happen. If you have a view it might be worth attending.

Leaving aside the pub's current reviews, at least its open, and if you want to know about the history of it have a look at the book 'The Pubs of Dulwich and Herne Hill' published last year and available in the Village Stationers in Dulwich Village. Unfortunately it does not cover East Dulwich, but it is very informative on all the ones in Herne Hill and Dulwich Village.

Martin Fentum (1825-1891) lived at Norville, No 1 Alleyn Park, probably from the mid/late 1860s, he was there for the 1871 census. The house was pulled down after WW2 and is now the site of the Paxton Green Surgery. Ianr is right about the other newspaper reports - and he had three shops in Central London, one at 85 Bond Street, and others at 8 Hemmings Row, Charing Cross, and later on, he also had one at 7 Burlington Arcade. For information on history in the local area you should try the Dulwich Society local history group - www.dulwichsociety.com - its remit covers the whole of the area and they would be interested in any other info you might have.