The Commonplace series of zines details how the commons provide the key to the South London landscape. A bestseller for bookshops across London, including the South London Gallery, Books Peckham, Chener Books – and yes, us! — over 3000 copies have sold. Volume 2 is in its second edition, volume 3 in its third.

Written by landscape historian John Gray, this fourth volume in the series mixes history, ecology, psychogeography, architecture, poetry and memoir to unpack the history of three ancient commons. Featuring luminous photos by Sam Walton and a stunning wraparound lino-cut cover by Palak Garg, the whole edition was Risograph-printed by Lewisham’s legendary Page Masters. Give it a try if you like: Zakia Sewell, Weird Walk, Robert Macfarlane, Savage Messiah or Iain Sinclair.

CONTENTS: Why is London like Budapest? — the Roman roads of South London — the lost commons of Lambeth — the vast antiquity of common rights — how Kennington Common was gentrified — Chartists, cattle drovers and squatters — “A Chapel was built in the midst / Where I used to play on the green” — tracing the Roman road through Brixton to Rush Common — simple archival pleasures — over the hill to Streatham Common — the Effra, “black and powerful river coursing without light” — at the Bull — Zodiac Court — the Anglo-Saxon trackways of Crystal Palace — the longue durée of the Vicar’s Oak — GLADNESS CREATED THIS BARBERS — the Rookery and Royal Streatham — ONE SLIP: DEAD — why are there two Tooting Commons? — “absolutely spoilt by the discordant noise of the jazz band” — how the commons were carved up — “six men, dressed in black, and crapes over their faces, got out of the carriage…” — “The glory of Tooting Common consists in its trees” — field of dreams and passion — William Morris + Le Corbusier — the South London vernacular — Because it is two cities divided by a river…

Bag your copy (£10) here. Vols. 2 & 3 are also still available in our Bandcamp shop.