A Song for Nine Elms

Moving image / HD Video / Performance / 2015–2016 & 2019
24 minutes and 18 seconds / contact for full video

Commissioned by UP Projects 
Funded by Wandsworth Council, London, UK

Commissioned by UP projects London, A Song for Nine Elms was a year-long socially engaged project that responded to issues of regeneration in the diverse area of Nine Elms, London. Named after the nine elm trees which originally marked its border, the area can claim to have developed the mysterious ‘Cellini’ apple, as well as once having been home to Queen Victoria’s private railway station!

Drawing on the area’s horticultural heritage Lucy’s commission explored local radical histories and personal stories through workshops with individuals and community organisations.

Lyrics for a series of songs were developed with and in response to members of the community and formed the structure for a film. The lyrics were set to music by folk harper and composer, Fraya Thomsen and sung by community members. At the request of the community, the film also re-told the history of Charlotte Despard – a nineteenth century radical who tackled the area’s unscrupulous landlords and set up a community organisation to help women and children. The film was screened at Doddington and Rollo Community Rooftop Garden (a stones’ throw from Despard Avenue) and was also installed in StudioRCA Nine Elms.

A talk during architecture week in 2016 explored parts of the process.

In 2019 ‘Not Oak, But Elm’ was sung to celebrate the re-planting of the area’s final two Elm trees.

A Song for Nine Elms 2019, poster for public billboards: