Looking back through my photo archives, I came across these old photos taken of the old ‘Frontline’ in Atlantic Road, Brixton back in 2001 when large chunks of the road were semi-derelict.
Atlantic Road gained notoriety when it provided the spark for the 1981 Brixton riots, sending the area into a slow decline, with many of the shops remaining boarded up for decades and the road suffering a decidedly unsavoury reputation.
Here’s some views from July, 2001. It’s barely recognisable from how it looks today.
The long-abandoned Howes Confectionary Wholesale Store in Atlantic Road.
December 2001 views
Corner of Vining Street and Atlantic Road.
The posters are advertising the Fun Lovin’ Criminals at the Brixton Academy, 16th-17th Dec, 2001. There’s also some ‘Return to the Source’ posters along the top, with the biggest being one for Michael Jackson ‘s ‘Cry.’
Atlantic Road ‘Then and Now’ photos:
» Atlantic Road/Brixton Rd
» Atlantic Road, 1960s
» Atlantic Rd/Pope’s Road
» Atlantic/Pope’s Road
» Atlantic Rd North
» Atlantic Rd South
» 66/68 Atlantic Road
» ‘Alfie’, Atlantic Road
Related posts:
A murder of crows on Atlantic Road, Brixton
Little fire engine keeps an eye on Atlantic Road, Brixton
Mayday 2001 protests, London: archive photos
Brixton Station Road/Pope’s Road car park – flattened!
Buy grass from Brixton, Atlantic Road SW9
Brixton landmarks: the Brady’s clock tower, Atlantic Road. Brixton, London SW9
Archive Brixton scenes from Reggae Britannia
Works starts on Brixton’s new ice rink on Pope’s Road/Brixton Station Road
You say the area’s almost unrecognisable 10 years on – have you got photos of how it looks now? Guess I should just Google Street View it, but it’d be nice to see pictures from the same places / angles for direct comparison.
@Jay – if you click on some of the “Atlantic Road ‘Then and Now’” links above you can see some comparisons from the past and a modern comparison here.