The Man on the Clapham Omnibus May Have a Flat for Let

The historic lands of London and her suburbs have seen changes through time. Archeological digs have revealed evidence of settlements from the Romans and even the Neolithic times, through wealth and poverty. With each war and movement, the tides turn and a new season descends on the area, perhaps suddenly becoming a land for the wealthy or losing that status to more working class residents. Reputation matters to some but most of us just want a home of our own, somewhere we can feel like we belong.

Clapham entered the history books when Jonus, son of the Duke of Lorraine, first accepted the grant in 965 AD from King Edgar of England. In 1066, Norman invasion took the land from the de Clapham family, as they were known, and they fled to the North. The merchant class of London reclaimed the area in the 17th century, creating villas to display their success. By the late 18th century, a group of wealthy citizens banded together in Clapham and became known as the Clapham select, fighting for causes that were very progressive for their time. The railroad saw an end to the wealthy residents' exclusivity as the working class filtered in during the 1900s.

Located in the Borough of Lambeth, Clapham is a district in south west London. Since commuting is very common, the rails have been made available to take workers to the city and home again every day. A mid-sized town, the combined census of Stockwell and Clapham in 2001 registered 65,000 residents. There are areas in the Old Town that still boast the large mansions built in the 18th and early 19th century in the district's days of financial success but many of the ostentatious estates that dotted the landscape were torn down in ruins  years ago. The few historical homes are from the Queen Anne, Georgian or Regency eras, but most were built between 1930 and 1960 in a grid and Victorian housing in Abbeville. 

A green belt and park make up the Clapham Commons, a timeless area that has been a draw for residents throughout history.  Three beautiful ponds and a Gregorian church, the Holy Trinity Clapham, sit on the 220 acres. The mansions along the edge are part of the park's ambiance for most but they certainly must enjoy a glorious view. Click to visit Hamptons here.

All walks of life are welcome in Clapham, which is home to many middle class families. "The Man on the Clapham omnibus" has become a legal term to designate any non-specific reasonable person given Clapham's current reputation as an "everyman" district. Letting agents in Clapham are available to anyone wishing to come calling--perhaps they feel at home as "The Man on the Clapham omnibus."