An audience was transported to a time when the news was spread through song at a musical performance last month.
Organised by The Walworth Society and performed at St Peter’s Church, ‘Walworth’s History through Song’ event treated audiences to local songs last performed hundreds of years ago.
As well as hearing ballads, people would often buy the the large sheets of cheap paper on which the lyrics were printed, and pin them up in their homes or pubs.
On Friday, July 29, the same ballads that were once sung to Walworth’s Victorian residents were performed to a contemporary crowd.
One 1848 ballad told the story of a young woman who died after undergoing a back-street abortion. Singer Rawlene Evelyn drew parallels with the stricter abortion laws being passed in parts of the United States.
Evelyn said: “There’s one which is very apt for now about the back street abortion. The first time I saw the words… it was almost like an out of body experience because I knew it was her own words.
“It feels really quite touching because it must have been horrendous what she had to go through.”
Matthew Meynell sang an 1860 ballad about a grizzly quadruple murder, and another about the traders on the Walworth Road.
Matthew said: “You get a feeling what the Walworth Road would have been like so that’s really fun. You can feel a link – I certainly feel walking around this area that there’s a ridiculous amount of history here.”
The event was part of the Urban Elephant Festival, a three day celebration of arts, culture and diversity in Elephant and Castle, held from July 29 to 31.
John Whelan, festival organiser and founder of theatre group People’s Company also performed at the event.
John said: “The Urban Elephant is all about connecting across the community all the way from the Aylesbury Estate to the Elephant Arcade. It’s about bringing the community together and celebrating our diversity.”
The festival saw 40 different performances across eight different pitches and is set to become a yearly event.
The News has run three historical features written by Walworth historian Neil Crossfield on events that were performed at St Peter’s Church.
You can find them here:
Read all about it: One of the darkest crimes in Walworth history