A-Infos (en) UK, AFED, Organise - REMEMBERING THE STRUGGLE: CLAREMONT ROAD (ca, de, it, pt, tr)[machine translation]

93 year old Dolly Watson loved number 92 Claremont road, she was born 
there and had lived their all her life. One day the government decided 
it wanted to build a link road to the London Orbital, it took 20 years 
for them to get to work but when they did her entire community was soon 
torn apart, given mandatory purchase orders and eviction. Soon, she was 
the only one to remain on the street. --- She was soon joined by 
hundreds more, an autonomy was declared, and moments of beautiful 
freedom flooded out. Starting with the struggle to defend an ancient 
tree In 1993.

The state had declared its intention to cut down a 250-year-old chestnut 
tree in George Green in Wanstead. The community was outraged and 
following a local Lollipop Lady Jean Gosling efforts to rally local 
school children to stage interventions to raise awareness of the tree's 
impending destruction. There was public outcry and many actions by 
protesters and conservation groups to save it took place.

The Battle of Claremont Road in 1994 formed part of a wider wave of 
anti-road protests in the UK during the late 20th century. These 
protests emerged in response to an expanding road-building programme, 
particularly schemes such as the M11 link road in East London. While 
often framed as environmental campaigns, they also involved broader 
conflicts over land use, urban space, and state authority.

Claremont Road, Leyton, became a focal point of resistance. The street 
had been designated for demolition to make way for the road. Residents 
were gradually displaced through compulsory purchase orders, after which 
activists, squatters, and campaigners occupied the remaining houses. 
Over time, the occupation developed beyond a defensive effort to prevent 
eviction and demolition.

Bunkers, Treehouses, Barricades, walkways in the sky, lock ons and of 
course "Dolly's Tower" which was built high above,

Participants altered the physical layout and use of the street. Houses 
were interconnected, structures were built on rooftops, and obstacles 
were placed along the road.

According to accounts archived on libcom, the street was effectively 
transformed into a continuous occupied space, challenging the intended 
function of the road as a transport route. The boundary between private 
and public space became less distinct, as both houses and the street 
itself were used collectively.

Tactics employed during the occupation included treehouses, scaffolding 
towers, tunnels, and lock-on devices designed to delay eviction. These 
methods were intended to increase the time and cost required for 
removal. The occupation was not centrally organised; rather, it 
consisted of a loose network of individuals and groups, including 
environmental activists, anarchists, travellers, and some former residents.

Within these movements, there were internal tensions. Accounts on libcom 
note differences between participants regarding commitment, 
organisation, and lifestyle. Some emphasised sustained resistance and 
political objectives, while others were more transient or focused on the 
social aspects of the occupation. These differences affected the 
cohesion and effectiveness of the campaigns.

On 27 November 1994, They held a massive party, knowing what would soon 
fall upon them.

On 28 November 1994, the eviction of Claremont Road began.

Hundreds of cops and bailiffs rolled in. Dance anthems filling the air 
from a sound system in the tower. While the defenders were almost 
entirely committed passive resistors, the police held no such principle. 
As the hours ticked on, and the frustration kicked in, so did their 
penchant for violence.

You can find the details elsewhere, and it's well worth reading up on 
the stories from those who were there, from the hilarious to the horrifying.

Dolly had fallen ill before the gestapo made their final pushes and 
cleared out the street, leaving her to rot in a old people flat, dying 
in February 2001, a few months shy of 100. She is forever remembered at 
the "Queen of the Street" by those who knew her.

The anti-road protests of this period were not limited to Claremont 
Road. Similar actions took place at sites such as Twyford Down and 
Newbury. For many the active resistance continued on through into June 
1995 at "Munstonia" on Fillebrook Road and then ultimately the birth of 
the Reclaim The Streets movement, which took to occupying streets, 
holding raves, before disappearing into the night.

Remember these moments, read more about them, learn the lessons, and 
make more happen, no one else is going to rescue you, get to causing 
trouble.

Casper

Many thanks to Gideon Mendel for sharing these wonderful photographs 
with us. You can find these and many more on their website: 
gideonmendel.com.

https://organisemagazine.org.uk/2026/07/08/remembering-the-struggle-claremont-road/
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