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COMMONPLACE - WALK ONE
In May 2024, I did a 5ish-mile walk snaking from Bostall Heath in far south-east London through Winn's Common and into Plumstead Common, near where I live, photographing the changing landscape as I went, particularly where the built environment of Victorian terraces and late-20th century tower blocks butt up against the ancient woodland, to try and describe the area's environmental character. The idea was to evoke the feelings of history and endless change that are integral to the commons, the patchwork nature of the landscape, and the political and sociological significance of these spaces that have been communally owned by us all for centuries, despite the best efforts of landowners, property developers and scoundrel politicians. The images appeared in the first volume of Commonplace - A South London Landscape History, available now on Mundania Press here.

Black and white photograph of a shaded London pond with reeds in the foreground and trees all

COMMONPLACE - WALK TWO
In January 2025, I did another 5ish-mile walk, this time across Woolwich Common, Eltham Common and the suburban streets that connect and spring out from them. I was again photographing the changing landscape as I went, picking out the hotchpotch of styles that defines South London Vernacular architecture alongside the characters of these pieces of land that have been available to the public for as long as the UK has been inhabited. The images appeared in the second volume of Commonplace - A South London Landscape History, available now on Mundania Press from here.

Line of bare trees and suburban houses across a grassy park in South East London, captured in monochrome.

COMMONPLACE - WALK THREE
In October 2025, I walked another 5 miles or so, this time across from Honor Oak train station, up over One Tree Hill and down the other side onto Peckham Rye Common, exploring the ancient woodland, the invasive terraced housing, and following the 18th-century drovers routes that had a big hand in defining the modern-day road infrastructure of the area. I was again photographing the changing landscape as I went, looking for viewpoints that spoke to something about the history, geography or social politics of the walk. The images appeared in the third volume of Commonplace - A South London Landscape History, available to purchase from Mundania Press here.

B&W oak tree with iron guard and sprawling branches over a leaf-covered woodland path.

COMMONPLACE - WALK FOUR
In April 2026, I walked further 5 miles or so, this time taking in Streatham Common and the twin Tooting Commons, and then cutting in from Tooting down the old Roman road that leads directly to London Bridge, through Brixton and then Kennington. This is an area of London defined by Victorian train lines bisecting ancient common land, terraced housing rubbing up against post-war modernish, and once again the 18th-century drovers routes that had a big hand in defining the modern-day road infrastructure of the area. Once again I was photographing what I stumbled upon, looking for viewpoints that told the viewer something about the history, geography or social politics of the walk. The images appeared in the fourth volume of Commonplace - A South London Landscape History, available to purchase from Mundania Press here.

Park bench overlooking gardens and residential buildings in London.

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