Hundreds of local residents, community groups and dignitaries gathered in Elephant & Castle last Saturday for the official unveiling of Dr. Belfield Clarke Square. This new public space, which will form the heart of the reimagined Elephant & Castle town centre, celebrates one of the area’s most influential – yet long-overlooked – historical figures.
Dr. Clarke practised from his surgery on the site now occupied by the Elephant & Castle Library for more than 45 years, serving generations of local residents. His formula for calculating safe medication dosages for children, Clark’s Rule, is still used by medical professionals worldwide today. Dr. Clarke was also one of the first Black doctors to sit on the British Medical Association’s Council and was a co-founder of the League of Coloured Peoples, one of the UK’s earliest and most influential civil rights organisations.
The naming of the square represents the first major public commemoration of Dr. Clarke’s life. The event formed a highlight of the fifth annual Urban Elephant Festival, a vibrant celebration of the area’s diversity, creativity and community, and included a mini play paying tribute to Dr. Clarke by performers from the People’s Company at Southwark Playhouse.
The decision to honour Dr. Clarke follows a collaborative consultation with Elephant & Castle residents, community groups, local business and cultural stakeholders to find a name for the new town centre that reflects the area’s unique history and identity. The square will sit at the heart of The Elephant, a vibrant new destination within Elephant & Castle that opens later this year, bringing with it new homes, shops, dining and leisure experiences as well as a brand-new, purpose-built campus for the London College of Communication (LCC).
Diana Barranco, Partnerships Director, Get Living, said:
“The unveiling of Dr Belfield Clarke Square is about ensuring the legacy that shaped this area is properly recognised. The square will become a focal point of life in The Elephant – a destination shaped by the community, for the community. Elevating the stories of the people who built this area before us is something we are inspired to do as Elephant & Castle continues to evolve.”
John Wheelan, Artistic Director, Urban Elephant Festival, said:
“Dr. Clarke was not only a local doctor but also a trailblazer. It was wonderful to bring his life and connection to the area to the stage through our play, which helped animate his story for the community. Seeing so many people come together to honour him as part of the Urban Elephant Festival was a powerful moment. The festival has always aimed to celebrate the stories that define Elephant & Castle and its cultural diversity, and the unveiling of the square has become one of its most meaningful milestones.”
Cllr Helen Dennis, Cabinet Member for New Homes and Sustainable Development, Southwark Council, said:
“The transformation of Elephant & Castle is a significant undertaking and there is so much to be proud of. The Castle Leisure Centre, Elephant Park, the Walworth Town Hall restoration, a new home for UAL, and much more.
“This wonderful square, right at the heart of the new town centre will be a fantastic space for the whole community and I look forward to it coming to life as shops, workspace and other facilities start to open. All of this will be supported by the transport upgrades that the council is working to push forward.
“We’re committed to ensuring the contributions made by Southwark residents past and present get the recognition they deserve. As an important figure from Elephant and Castle’s diverse Black and LGBTQ history I’m proud that this new square will keep the name of Cecil Belfield Clarke alive for generations to come.”
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