Drawing on voices from the archives, the walk highlights less well-known aspects of the area’s rich history and celebrates the local community’s resilience.
As we explored the area’s side streets, I shared accounts of the battle to save a children’s farm on a site now swallowed up by new buildings; stories of a former boozer where locals rubbed shoulders with rock stars; vivid first-hand accounts of heavy bombing during World War Two; and a sit-in by Asian women workers at a TV factory in the 1970s.

about my walks

I’ve lived in Battersea more than half my life and I love walking around the area, noticing what’s changed and discovering new points of interest. As the redevelopment of the Battersea Power Station site took off in 2012, I became interested in finding out more about the history of the area: who trod these streets decades ago, what was life like for people living here in previous centuries? I joined the Battersea Society and am now a member of the Society’s Heritage Committee.

In 2017 I led tours of the Battersea Power Station construction site for the local community, which I loved! There was always at least one person on the tour who had a personal connection to or story about the Power Station.

In 2022 I led a series of ‘walks and talks’ around the Nine Elms area, part of a programme of free activities for local people funded by Wandsworth Council. I reprised the walks earlier this year. I also delivered a longer walk for the London Festival of Architecture in June, focussed on the open spaces and new linear park in Nine Elms. Since then I’ve delivered my Open Spaces in Nine Elms walk on several occasions. If you are interested in a tour for a small group, please contact me: hilairemcl@yahoo.co.uk

Feedback from previous walks

‘I’ve been on other walks in the area before, but this took me to some different places and talked about different things’

‘I have lived in the area for over 40 years and the walk took me to places that I had never walked and Hilaire told stories that I had never known about‘

‘The guide was knowledgeable, clear, and talked us through a fast-developing area’

‘An excellent walk around Battersea’

‘I loved the guide’s enthusiasm & knowledge’ 

‘Worth every penny’

‘I very much enjoyed the walk. It’s exciting to discover new places, and the history of places one knows’

‘Very informative and enjoyable walk’