Kennington Common

Kennington Common
Part of Kennington Common that is now Kennington Park.
Type	Common land
Location	London Borough of Lambeth
Coordinates	51°28′59″N 0°06′25″W / 51.483°N 0.107°W / 51.483; -0.107Coordinates: 51°28′59″N 0°06′25″W / 51.483°N 0.107°W / 51.483; -0.107

Kennington Common was a large area of common land mainly within the London Borough of Lambeth. The area was notable for being one of the earliest venues for cricket within London and top-class matches were played there from 1724 to 1785. The common was also used for public executions, fairs and public gatherings.

In 1600, the common was bounded on the south west by Vauxhall Creek. It extended over marshy land to the south west of the Roman road called Stane Street, now Kennington Park Road. There is a 1660 record of a common keeper being paid for grazing. In 1661, the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens were laid out nearby (its location is noted as the Vauxhall End at The Oval). The large open space was often used for a variety of purposes by people living on the southbank of the River Thames.

Cricket has been played at Kennington since the late 17th century although there are no definite records. In 1725 players were known to use the Horns tavern as their clubhouse. This was recorded a year after the first known cricket match had taken place. Other sports to have been periodically played on the common included quoits and bowls.

People would gather at the common to listen to public speakers. In 1739, the Methodists John Wesley and George Whitefield preached to an audience of 30,000.

On 10 April 1848, Irish Chartist leader, Feargus O'Connor addressed up to 50,000 people at Kennington over a petition in support of the Land Plan.

The "Surrey gallows" were located on the common. These were the south London equivalent of Tyburn when the entire area was still part of the County of Surrey (prior to the formation of the London County Council in 1889). The gallows stood on the site of St. Mark's Church not far from Oval tube station. Records show public executions were conducted frequently throughout the period that the common was also hosting cricket matches. In total 129 men and 12 women were executed at Kennington but there may well have been others. The first person was Sarah Elston who was burned at the stake for the killing her husband on 24 April 1678. The last person executed was a forger on 5 August 1799.