London - Sydenham: 12 Charleville Circus, SE

No 12 Charleville Circus, Sydenham, located between the A212 (Westwood Hill) and A214, was home to Jack, Kathleen, Arthur and George Sladden from March 1910.  Arthur was there for only a few months until going to Libya later in 1910; he returned for a few months in 1912.  George was there until 1914 when he went off to war.  Cyril joined the household in 1913 until going off to war in 1914.  Juliet, the youngest in the family, who was at boarding school in Highgate, would sometimes go and stay for a weekend.

Jack and Kathleen remained at 12 Charleville Circus until 30th July 1917 when they moved to their new home at 13 Bath Road, Bedford Park.  The move was possibly because Juliet, who was starting at Bedford College in September, was joining them.

Charleville Circus was about half a mile from St Bartholomew’s Church on Westwood Hill where the Sladdens worshipped.  The house, built in 1888, is one of five pairs of semi-detached houses that form the inner circle of the Circus.

Sydenham is a district of south-east London, shared between the London boroughs of Lewisham, Bromley and Southwark.  Prior to the creation of the County of London in 1889, Sydenham was located in Kent.

With thanks to Steve Serowka who has conducted a one-place study of Charleville Circus and who provided the images.