-The city over the water-
Stories from south London
Common Stories : More Tales from the South London
Enjoy more larks in South London parks.
OUT MARCH 2027
Common Stories is a second collection of short stories set in, about or around a selection of South London open spaces.
18 love letters to south London open spaces including a vengeful goose, dancing snakes, a racing fix and a right carry on in Norwood. There’s magic in the gardens, fairies in the woods and something altogether more disturbing in the ponds of Mitcham Common.
Together they are a celebration of nature, the outdoors as an antidote to screentime and an imaginative exploration of the wonders we need to treasure that are public parks. Settle back on a bench and enjoy this mix of myths, family memories, folk horror, childhood friendship, folklore and fakelore available in the commons and parks south of the river.
Common Stories Summarised (with apologies to Carter)
24 minutes from Tulse Hill the Parkie’s dressed in black. There’s danger in the waters and a goose on the attack,
There’s snakes, rogue tech, a racing fix and a park that plays with time and really is that shaman committing any crime?
A beast that runs beside you, a bloke at his first rave, a rich man wants some contact and are there golfers from beyond the grave?
A broken teenage romance, a balcony with a view, watch out for the fairies in Bedlam and the statue wrecking crew.
An open space in Stockwell is melting in the dark and you've to look out for political shenanigans in the Archbishop’s park.
24 minutes from Tulse Hill the Parkie’s dressed in black. Recollections of a free festival that brings some sad things back.
18 tales of magic, joy, revelation and fear exploring the folklore, rituals and coming of age tales in south London parks.
Parks and commons featured in this collection of London fiction and South London short stories include. Archbishop’s Park, Beckenham Place Park, Bedlam Grounds, Cannizaro Park, Croydon Road Recreation Ground, Grangewood Park, Hilly Fields, Larkhall Park, Milkwood Community Gardens, Mitcham Common, Norbury Park, Old Paradise Gardens, South Norwood Country Park, Southwark Park, Sunray Gardens, Sutcliffe Park, Upper Norwood Recreation Grounds, Wandsworth Park.