The theme of this year’s Festival is Gardens, Rivers and Marshes, a celebration of Waterloo and North Lambeth’s life as a large marsh in the heart of London before 1824. Unlike Vauxhall to the South and Blackfriars to the East, our now very urban neighbourhood took until the early 19th century to start being transformed into a dense neighbourhood. Prior to that, it was host to fields, marshes and wharves. It was well known for its pleasure gardens, including Cuper’s Gardens, Belvedere, Apollo, and Astley’s Circus, the first modern circus.
The theme of the Festival will not only put a spotlight on Waterloo’s pre-19th-century past but also highlights our area’s current role as a pivotal urban centre. We will celebrate our green spaces and have a chance to further reflect on our environmental challenges.
The history focus of the theme will set the stage for the autumn when we will celebrate the 200th anniversary of St John’s Waterloo, as well as the gradual development of Roupell Street, marking the development of a residential community in our area.