Throwback to Clapham’s highland gathering – a touch of Scotland on the Common

Picture this—on 13th May 1961, Clapham Common was filled with the sound of bagpipes, the swish of kilts, and the cheers of Londoners trying their hand (or maybe just watching!) at classic Highland games. This was no small event; as a newsreel from the time suggests, it was actually the largest Highland Gathering ever staged outside of Scotland.

Organised by the London County Council (LCC) and Scottish Societies, the festival became a much-anticipated event every May. The 1964 festival was particularly memorable and captured beautifully in a photograph by Ronald Chapman, who often documented events around London’s parks. In this shot, you can see a competitor in full action during the ‘sheaf throw’ – using a pitchfork to hurl a bundle of straw over a high bar. It’s an event that demands strength, precision, and a fair bit of skill (and honestly, probably isn’t for the faint-hearted!).

The Highland Gathering kept Clapham feeling a little bit Scottish each year until 1965, when the Greater London Council (GLC) took over management of the Common. Today, it’s a fascinating slice of local history – a reminder of the time Clapham welcomed the Highlands with open arms and gave Londoners a taste of true Scottish tradition, right in the heart of the city.