Who Built Brixton's Electric Avenue?

Electric Avenue in Brixton, south-west London was the very first street in the capital to be entirely lit by electricity.

In this video we'll be looking into who built and why- along with a number of other interesting connections including Electric Avenue's cousin, 'Electric Lane', David Bowie, the Forth Railway Bridge, and of course Eddie Grant!

Chapters

00:00 Intro
00:41 Early Electric Milestones
01:59 John and Alexander Fyfe
04:12 Back Lane (now Electric Lane)
06:04 Electric Avenue Opens For Business
07:41 Early Notable Shops on Electric Avenue
08:43 Christmas on Electric Avenue
09:42 Honouring John Fyfe
10:21 Where to See Alexander Fyfe's Grave
10:43 Electric Avenue in the Early 20th Century
11:08 Electric Avenue in WWII
11:28 Electric Avenue and the Windrush Generation
11:55 Did Electric Avenue Inspire David Bowie?
12:35 Eddy Grant and 1983's 'Electric Avenue' record
13:18 Outro

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Credits

Footage and other images:

Historic images of Electric Avenue: Brixton Buzz

Tower Bridge: Bisha Sideedaad (Creative Commons)

Blackfriars Bridge: Ben Sutherland (Creative Commons)

Southwark Bridge: Tony Hisgett (Creative Commons)

Vauxhall Bridge: Paul Farmer (Creative Commons)

Putney Bridge: Magnus D (Creative Commons)

Kew Bridge: Jim (Creative Commons)

Forth Railway Bridge: MrMasterkeyboard (Creative Commons)

David Bowie: Boris Yaro (Creative Commmons)

Electric Avenue Light Switch on, Lambeth Council YouTube Channel:

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Movie Projector: JorgenJak

Electric Transformer: Garuda1982

Fairground: Kyles

Electric Guitar Riff: piccadillyke

Glass Toast: sjnewton

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Music:

Lullaby (JVNA)

AnalogueCabin (Noir et Blanc Vie)

Tuesday Dub (Silent Partner)

Getting There (Silent Partner)

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[travisr]

“Hello, and thanks for stopping by.” has to be one of the best introductions on YouTube. It is very warm and inviting ❤.

[dad_jokes_ever]

As a quizzical young gentleman I once rocked down to Electric Avenue from whence I proceeded to take it higher

[Mydigitalepitaph]

My Dad was a fairly prominent DJ in London in the 70s/early 80s. He used to source his records from all over London, and there were some right character in the game back then. The underworld used to be involved in running of pubs/clubs back then. I knew bent coppers who'd siphoned off enough money to buy pubs and also "local business men" who got their money through the black market.
Anyway, one of the people my Dad spent time with in this era of his life was none other than Eddie Grant. He used to help supply my dad with Rocksteady/etc vinyls.
My Dad formed a good relationship with Eddie, to the point he used to visit us in Barnsbury/Islington to come over for food/drinks. Believed he lived in Stamford Hill at the time.
My first piece of vinyl was a present from Eddie to me, which was his 7" single "I don't wanna dance".
It's always nice to hear Eddie Grants name, as it takes me back to an interesting period in my formative years.

[Jay-qlgp]

Yes, Eddie Grant's song _did_ play in my head the second I saw it! Thank you so much!

[elliwoollard]

My son played a tiny role in the history of Electric Avenue - when Eddy Grant turned on the new sign in 2016, local primary school children were invited to perform beforehand, and my son played in his school's steel band. If there's a more joyous combination than steel pans (played, in this case, extremely well) and children, then I don't know what it is. It was tipping it down with rain, but the music was as bright and cheerful as Fyfe's lights all those decades ago.

[johnnzboy]

I lived down Atlantic Road for a while 20 years ago and would cut through Electric Avenue to get to the Tube - lovely to be reminded of those days (though not of the strong smell emanating from the butcher stores early in the morning, not pleasant to encounter when rushing past hung-over to work) ;) and great to learn the history of the famous name. Great work again, Rob.

[michaelj]

Thank you for mentioning my home Town of Newcastle, I know it's not your thing, but Willaim Armstrong did so much for the UK. Mosley Street was just the beginning, Cragside in Northumberland, for example, was the first building in the world to be lit by hydro-electricity, and the first to be lit by Joseph Swan's newly invented incandescent light bulbs. At this time, it also had hot and cold running water, central heating, telephones, fire alarms, a hydraulic passenger lift and a Turkish bath suite.
Great vid.

[MrRob]

Eddy Grants Electric Avenue memories memories Thanks Rob

[mattheweagles]

I was humming the Eddy Grant tune the whole time

[davehustwayte]

Hi Rob, Hope you are keeping well, Many thanks for another top top video, Great work Sir, Thank you

[thewrecker]

Great video with first class content from a top London historian.

[PaulMcCaffreyfmac]

Not an area I know well at all but in the '90s, travelling daily from Victoria to East Croydon (working for Aiwa in Allders) I always found the disappearing curve of Electric Avenue completely fascinating, almost feeling that there might be a Narnia-like place just beyond view round the bend. When you're working in Croydon you have to get your romance where you can 😊
Thanks yet again for a fascinating, educational and entertaining video.

[dennisb]

Thanks for taking us to yet another wonderful location in London and revealing its history. I enjoyed it so much!

[alinalinhftfryer]

Can't help it but whenever I hear/read something about Brixton, I always start humming "The guns of Brixton" by The Clash.

[paulwilson]

A very informative and watchable video.

[JohnNewtoneu]

Rob, one more of your detailed entertaining videos, as a teen I spend many days hanging around what is now called Brixton village to listen to reggae records and buy some dub plates, those were the days when we could hang around all day just listening to great music . Sadly long gone . All the best

[elizabethclarke]

I so look forward to all your videos. The London Stone video was something I’ve never heard of, as well as Electric Ave. Amazing informative and interesting videos. Thank you so much. Regards Liz Clarke

[butchknapman]

Hello Rob, scanning Youtube I saw Electric Avenue. yes i thought better look at that as a long part of my working life was in Clapham and a lesser part Brixton. then i caught it was you.Ihave been wondering where your visit to South London would take us . Another superb video. You mentioned West Norwood cemetary. As you are well ino research, I will let you look for yourself, there are several very famous names buried there, which when you look them up you will be surprised. The cemetary wa opened in 1837 checkout what was added in 1915 and its link to the Magnificent Seven (Google and Wikipedia ) have i think most of the answers. Looking forward to the next video

[bryan]

Simply Brilliant work, yet again, Rob.
Looking forward to that pint with you One Day..!
🙃

[annereidy]

Such a fascinating and remarkable history and what a sight it must have been in its time. You've done it again Rob, almost like I was there myself, brilliantly illuminating I could say, thank you!