Battersea in South London is best known for its namesake park, the home for cats and dogs, the restored art deco Battersea Power Station, with its 4 towering chimneys, and New Covent Garden, the wholesale market that sells flowers and produce. In the 1980s, before the US embassy moved there from Grosvenor Square in Mayfair, north of the river, and the high-rise towers went up in Nine Elms to attracted wealthy foreign buyers, Battersea was a place of wasteland, sheds, factories, gasholders and warehouses. Peter Marshall was there, walking around and taking photographs.
![Studio 39, Cabul Rd, Battersea, 1987](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Studio-39-Cabul-Rd-Battersea-Wandsworth-1987-1200x802.jpeg)
Studio 39, Cabul Rd, Battersea, 1987
![](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Rank-Hovis-Ltd-Battersea-Church-Rd-Battersea-Wandsworth-1989-1200x804.jpeg)
Rank Hovis Ltd, Battersea Church Rd, Battersea, 1989
![Battersea 1982](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Goal-Nine-Elms-Lane-Nine-Elms-1982-1200x806.jpeg)
Goal, Nine Elms Lane, Nine Elms 1982
![Battersea 1980s](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Tool-shop-Northcote-Rd-Battersea-Wandsworth-1988-1200x804.jpeg)
Tool shop, Northcote Rd, Battersea, 1988
![Battersea 1980s](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Falcon-Rd-Battersea-Wandsworth-1988-1200x788.jpeg)
Falcon Rd, Battersea, 1988
![Battersea 1980s](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Silver-Belle-Flour-St-Marys-Old-Swan-Wharf-Battersea-Wandsworth-1980-1200x805.jpeg)
Silver Belle Flour, St Mary’s, Old Swan Wharf, Battersea, 1980
![Battersea 1980s](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Battersea-Power-Station-Battersea-Wandsworth.-1984-inside-1200x840.jpeg)
Battersea Power Station, Battersea, 1984
![Battersea 1980s](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Tattoist-Tattoo-Parlour-Webbs-Rd-Battersea-Wandsworth-1988-1200x818.jpeg)
Tattoo Parlour, Webbs Rd, Battersea, 1988
![Freedom With Anarchy, Aristotle Rd, Clapham, Lambeth. 1980](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Freedom-With-Anarchy-Aristotle-Rd-Clapham-Lambeth.-1980-1200x804.jpeg)
Freedom With Anarchy, Aristotle Rd, Clapham, Lambeth. 1980
![](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Battersea-Power-Station-Battersea-Wandsworth.-1984-c-1200x804.jpeg)
Battersea Power Station, Battersea, Wandsworth. 198
![Battersea 1980s](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Battersea-Riverside-from-the-Thames-Wandsworth.-1983-1200x804.jpeg)
Battersea Riverside from the Thames, 1983
![Battersea 1980s](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Interior-Battersea-Power-Station-Nine-Elms-Wandsworth-1984-1200x810.jpeg)
Battersea Power Station, Nine Elms, 1984
![Battersea 1980s](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Belleville-Rd-Northcote-Rd-Battersea-Wandsworth-1988-1200x792.jpeg)
Belleville Rd, Northcote Rd, Battersea, 1988
![](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Kitty-Ast-Falcon-Rd-Battersea-Wandsworth-1990-1200x799.jpeg)
Kitty Ast, Falcon Rd, Battersea, 1990
![Nine Elms](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Cafe-Nine-Elms-Lane-Nine-Elms-Wandsworth.-1982-1200x806.jpeg)
Cafe, Nine Elms Lane, Nine Elms, 1982
![Marco Polo House, The Observer, Queenstown Rd, Battersea, 1989](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Marco-Polo-House-The-Observer-Queenstown-Rd-Battersea-Wandsworth-1989-1200x794.jpeg)
Marco Polo House, The Observer, Queenstown Rd, Battersea, 1989
![Battersea High St, Battersea, 1980](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Battersea-High-St-Battersea-Wandsworth-1980-1200x805.jpeg)
Battersea High St, Battersea, 1980
![](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Good-Eater-Cafe-Wandsworth-Rd-Clapham-Lambeth-1989-1200x815.jpeg)
Good Eater Cafe, 1989
![Battersea Power Station, Battersea, 1984](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Battersea-Power-Station-Battersea-Wandsworth.-1984-2-1200x806.jpeg)
Battersea Power Station, Battersea, 1984
![St John's Hill, Battersea, Wandsworth, 1988](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/St-Johns-Hill-Battersea-Wandsworth-1988-1-1200x794.jpeg)
St John’s Hill, Battersea, 1988
![School, Wix's Lane, Battersea, Wandsworth, 1989](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/School-Wixs-Lane-Battersea-Wandsworth-1989-1200x800.jpeg)
School, Wix’s Lane, Battersea, 1989
![](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Tapestry-of-Life-Mural-Christine-Thomas-Elspeth-RdLavender-Hill-Battersea-Wandsworth-1988-1200x1759.jpeg)
Tapestry of Life, Mural, Christine Thomas, Elspeth Rd, Lavender Hill, Battersea, 1988
![Milton Congregational Hall, 21, Cabul Rd, Battersea, Wandsworth, 1989](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Milton-Congregational-Hall-21-Cabul-Rd-Battersea-Wandsworth-1989-1200x797.jpeg)
Milton Congregational Hall, 21, Cabul Rd, Battersea, 1989
![Hairdresser, Northcote Rd, Battersea, Wandsworth, 1988](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Hairdresser-Northcote-Rd-Battersea-Wandsworth-1988-1200x1756.jpeg)
Hairdresser, Northcote Rd, Battersea, 1988
![Lavender Hill, Battersea, Wandsworth, 1988](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Lavender-Hill-Battersea-Wandsworth-1988-1200x789.jpeg)
Lavender Hill, Battersea, 1988
![Service Centre, Northcote Rd, Battersea, Wandsworth, 1988](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Service-Centre-Northcote-Rd-Battersea-Wandsworth-1988-1200x792.jpeg)
Service Centre, Northcote Rd, Battersea, 1988
![Demolition in Nine Elms Lane, Battersea, 1983](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Demolition-Nine-Elms-Lane-Battersea-Wandsworth.-1983-1200x805.jpeg)
Demolition in Nine Elms Lane, Battersea, 1983
![](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Scrap-Metal-Merchants-Lavender-Hill-Battersea-Wandsworth-1989-1200x796.jpeg)
Scrap Metal Merchants, Lavender Hill, Battersea, 1989
![Battersea 1980s](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Broughton-St-Battersea-Wandsworth.-1980-1200x801.jpeg)
Broughton St, Battersea, 1980
![Billiard Hall, Snooker Club, Battersea Rise, Battersea, Wandsworth, 1988](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Billiard-Hall-Snooker-Club-Battersea-Rise-Battersea-Wandsworth-1988-1200x817.jpeg)
Billiard Hall, Snooker Club, Battersea Rise, Battersea, 1988
![](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Public-Convenience-Lavender-Hill-Battersea-Wandsworth-1989-1200x899.jpeg)
Public Convenience, Lavender Hill, Battersea, 1989
![](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Playground-Battersea.-1980-1200x803.jpeg)
Playground, Battersea. 1980
![](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Brian-J-Reed-Silverline-Press-St-Johns-Hill-Battersea-Wandsworth-1990-1200x796.jpeg)
Brian J Reed, Silverline Press, St John’s Hill, Battersea, 1990
![](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/The-Battersea-Barge-River-Thames-Nine-Elms-Lane-Nine-Elms-Wandsworth-1989-1200x817.jpeg)
The Battersea Barge, River Thames, Nine Elms Lane, Nine Elms, 1989,
![](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Battersea-Power-Station-Battersea-Wandsworth.-1984-1200x805.jpeg)
Battersea Power Station, Battersea, 1984
![](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Shop-St-Peter-St-Paul-Church-Flats-Holgate-Ave-Plough-Rd-Battersea-Wandsworth-1989-1200x799.jpeg)
Shop, St Peter & St Paul, Church, Flats, Holgate Ave, Plough Rd, Battersea, 1989
![](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Cafe-Battersea-Park-Rd-Battersea-Wandsworth-1990-1200x866.jpeg)
Cafe, Battersea Park Rd, Battersea, 1990
![](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Ashbury-Rd-Shaftesbury-Estate-Battersea-Wandsworth-1989-1200x800.jpeg)
Ashbury Rd, Shaftesbury Estate, Battersea, 1989
![Battersea Dogs Home, Battersea Park Rd, Battersea, 1989](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Battersea-Dogs-Home-Battersea-Park-Rd-Battersea-Wandsworth-1989-1200x1801.jpeg)
Battersea Dogs Home, Battersea Park Rd, Battersea, 1989
![](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Notarianni-Sons-Battersea-High-St-Battersea-Wandsworth-1989-1200x867.jpeg)
Notarianni Sons, Battersea High St, Battersea, 1989
![](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/South-Lambeth-Goods-Yard-and-Gas-holders-Battersea-Wandsworth.-1983-1200x805.jpeg)
South Lambeth Goods Yard and Gas holders, Battersea, 1983
![](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Albion-Quay-River-Thames-Battersea-Wandsworth.-1983-1200x805.jpeg)
Albion Quay, River Thames, Battersea, 1983
![](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Death-to-Fascism-Bus-Shelter-Battersea-Wandsworth.-1980-1200x812.jpeg)
Death to Fascism, Bus Shelter, Battersea, 1980
![](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Venice-Hairdressers-Northcote-Rd-Battersea-Wandsworth-1988-1200x802.jpeg)
Venice, Hairdressers, Northcote Rd, Battersea, 1988
All Photos courtesy of Peter Marshall.
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