Electric Avenue
Encyclopedia
Electric Avenue is a street in Brixton
, London
. Built in the 1880s, it was the first market street to be lit by electricity. Today, the street contains several butchers and fish mongers and hosts a part of Brixton Market
, which specializes in selling a mix of African, Caribbean, and Portuguese products. It is located just round the corner from Brixton tube station
(1972). The elegant Victorian canopies over the pavements survived until the 1980s.
's 1982 single "Electric Avenue
", which reached #2 on both the UK and U.S. singles charts.
planted a nail bomb outside a supermarket in Electric Avenue (junction with Brixton Road) with the intention of igniting a race war across Britain. The bomb went off, injuring 39 people. Copeland planted two more bombs before he was caught: on 24 April in Brick Lane
in the East End of London
, which has a large South Asian community; and on 30 April in the Admiral Duncan pub
in Soho
's Old Compton Street
, the heart of London's gay community. The bomb killed three. He was later caught and sentenced to serve six life terms.
Brixton
Brixton is a district in the London Borough of Lambeth in south London, England. It is south south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London....
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Built in the 1880s, it was the first market street to be lit by electricity. Today, the street contains several butchers and fish mongers and hosts a part of Brixton Market
Brixton Market
Brixton Market comprises a street market in the centre of Brixton, south London, England, and the adjacent covered market areas in nearby arcades Reliance Arcade, Market Row and Granville Arcade ....
, which specializes in selling a mix of African, Caribbean, and Portuguese products. It is located just round the corner from Brixton tube station
Brixton tube station
Brixton tube station, a station on the London Underground opened on July 23, 1971, is the southern terminus of the Victoria line.It is located in Brixton Road, and is about 100m from Brixton railway station . From the ticket hall, three escalators take passengers to and from the platforms...
(1972). The elegant Victorian canopies over the pavements survived until the 1980s.
In popular culture
The road gave its name to Eddy GrantEddy Grant
Edmond Montague "Eddy" Grant is a musician, born in Plaisance, Guyana.- Life and career :When he was still a young boy, his parents emigrated to London, UK, where he settled. He lived in Kentish Town and went to school at the Acland Burghley Secondary Modern at Tufnell Park...
's 1982 single "Electric Avenue
Electric Avenue (song)
"Electric Avenue" is a song by Eddy Grant, from his 1982 album Killer on the Rampage. It was released as a single in 1982, and went on to be very popular, reaching #2 on both United States and United Kingdom singles charts...
", which reached #2 on both the UK and U.S. singles charts.
Bombing
On 17 April 1999 the neo-nazi bomber David CopelandDavid Copeland
David John Copeland is a former member of the British National Party and the National Socialist Movement, who became known as the "London Nail Bomber" after a 13-day bombing campaign in April 1999 aimed at London's black, Bangladeshi and gay communities.Over three successive weekends between 17...
planted a nail bomb outside a supermarket in Electric Avenue (junction with Brixton Road) with the intention of igniting a race war across Britain. The bomb went off, injuring 39 people. Copeland planted two more bombs before he was caught: on 24 April in Brick Lane
Brick Lane
Brick Lane is a street in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, in the East End of London. It runs from Swanfield Street in the northern part of Bethnal Green, crosses Bethnal Green Road, passes through Spitalfields and is linked to Whitechapel High Street to the south by the short stretch of...
in the East End of London
East End of London
The East End of London, also known simply as the East End, is the area of London, England, United Kingdom, east of the medieval walled City of London and north of the River Thames. Although not defined by universally accepted formal boundaries, the River Lea can be considered another boundary...
, which has a large South Asian community; and on 30 April in the Admiral Duncan pub
Admiral Duncan pub
The Admiral Duncan is a pub in Old Compton Street, Soho in the heart of London's gay district. It is named after Admiral Adam Duncan, who defeated the Dutch fleet at the Battle of Camperdown in 1797.- Bombing :...
in Soho
Soho
Soho is an area of the City of Westminster and part of the West End of London. Long established as an entertainment district, for much of the 20th century Soho had a reputation for sex shops as well as night life and film industry. Since the early 1980s, the area has undergone considerable...
's Old Compton Street
Old Compton Street
Old Compton Street runs east-west through Soho, London, England.- History :The street was named after Henry Compton. who raised funds for a local parish church, eventually dedicated as St Anne's Church in 1686...
, the heart of London's gay community. The bomb killed three. He was later caught and sentenced to serve six life terms.