‘The exhibition informs, educates and entertains’
This exhibition, led by the artist/researcher Dr Catherine Hahn, reclaims and reimagines South London LGBTQ+ heritage from the 18th century on and puts a surprise in the eyes of the viewer, many of whom, like myself, did not realise the rich history of the LGBTQ+ community in SE London, writes Michael Holland.
Dr Hahn opened Queer Along The River with some background on how she came to be researching the subject and her connection to some of the people included. She also said how not all the artists wanted their names attached to their artwork that accompanies the information boards, which kind of reflects some of the stories of double lives lived by several of the subjects.
James Allen had been born a woman but worked in ‘male professions’ as a carpenter and groom, though spent much of his adult life with his wife Abigail in Bermondsey.
Hermaphrodites in 18th century England had to choose one gender and stick with it. Constantine Boone, however, trained as a needlewoman and then became a sailor. Constantine also married Katherine Jones and lived in Southwark.
Matilda ‘Max’ Hays grew up in Camberwell and wore man’s clothing on the top half of her body and women’s attire on the bottom. Her relationships were with women and in her time as an actress she played the role of Juliet in Shakespeare’s famous play.
Emma Cons was a suffragette who was very much involved with many projects for refugees, women and girls. She founded the South London Dwellings Company that housed over 600 people near Waterloo. And when Emma took over the Old Vic she turned it into a Temperance music hall and lecture theatre for working people, before creating Morley College that was also for the working-class.
Octavia Hill gets a mention for her sterling work on social reform; Clara Evelyn Mordan, the very active Suffragette, funded the Women’s Rally in 1908, the UK’s largest ever march. The stories of these brave people go on and on as you follow the trail around the Deptford Lounge Library, highlighting the diverse, working-class queer histories.
Queer Along The River informs, educates and entertains; it makes you laugh at the ridiculousness of the court trials and feel sad at the homophobia our ancestors had to contend with, and how, although life has changed for the better for the LGBTQ+ community, there is still a long way to go.
Queer Along the River runs at Deptford Lounge, Giffin Street, SE8 throughout February for LGBTQ+ History Month. As a live creative platform, the exhibition ask visitors to add their own stories, thoughts and drawings
The exhibition is free.
