Things from the past

Local artist and friend Brian McKenzie was recently responsible for a display involving ancestors of mine as part of the 2019 Nunhead Art Trail. McKenzie curated a collection of artefacts relating to the long forgotten story of 'the Beast of Brockley'. This beast was in fact a great great uncle of mine and the tale is one of woe. His peaceful existence in the wooded vales in and around Hatcham (now Brockley and Nunhead) was brought to a sudden end in 1872 by an enraged and vicious crowd after a supposed attack on a young woman out walking near One Tree Hill. I'm showing here some images of the wonderful and remarkably still intact victorian diorama that was made to mark the event. This along with a delicate drawing by John Ruskin formed the key elements of the display at Aquarius Golf course clubhouse. Do check Biran's blog for more on this.