The Avenue, Camillle Pissarro 1871

View towards St Bartholomew’s Church, Sydenham 1871

View towards St Bartholomew’s Church, Sydenham 2014

The above view from Lawrie Park Avenue towards the church might appear similar to the 1871 view,  but apart from the church everything that Pissarro painted has now gone.

 Lawrie Park Avenue, Sydenham 2014

Although Lawrie Park Avenue is an attractive street compared with most streets in London, it is very far from the elegant avenue it had been when Pissarro painted it in 1871.

These early 20th century postcards give some indication of its green splendor before the developers got their hands on it.

This 1890s map shows how much open space there was around Laurie Park Avenue.

Gable House is the first house on the left in Pissarro's painting. In 1871 it was occupied by Henry J. Enthoven (1790 -1874) and his family. Enthoven was a lead manufacturer who had originally come from The Hague.  Gable House has gone, but the company H.J.Enthoven started in 1820 is still active in 2016. They have a large factory in Matlock.

The distant white house behind Gable House was Dunedin House. This was the home of Henry Littleton (1823 - 1888), who owned Novello & Co the music publishing house which is also still going in 2016. Novello & Co have been printing music scores since 1811. Dunedin House was demolished in 1888 and replaced by Burnage Court which is still there. Burnage Court is the house on the map between the church and Gable House.

Littleton also lived at Westwood House, a magnificent mansion, which can be seen by the side of Gable House on the above map.

Liszt had stayed at Westwood House in 1886 as the guest of Henry Littleton.  Liszt's visit to England had been marked by great fanfare. Dvorak had been a guest in 1885 and 1884.

 

 Westwood House 

Westwood House was sold to Passmore Edwards. In 1899 Passmore Edwards gave Westwood House to The Benevolent and Orphan Fund of the National Union of Teachers and it was run as an orphanage for 50 years. In the 1950s it was knocked down and replaced by a council estate. The building below is situated exactly where Westwood House had been.