Ruskin Walk was renamed in 1905 to commemorate the famous art critic, who had died five years previously.  Hitherto it had been called Simpsons Alley.  In 1813 George Simpson built "four large houses" on the land to the south of Ruskin Walk.  In 1842 his widow[1] offered part of the land for the building of a church, and as no assistance could be obtained from the Church Commissioners except on freehold land, the College "cheerfully assented to the granting of a reversionary interest".  The church thus inaugurated - St. Paul's Herne Hill - was destroyed by fire in 1858, but such was the enthusiasm and devotion of its sponsors that it was rebuilt and re-opened within eight months at a cost of £5,200, £3,500 of which was claimed from the Church of England Fire Insurance Office.  The fact that all the windows were presented considerably reduced the cost of rebuilding.  Such zest in the rebuilding of a damaged house of worship was not uncommon in that day and age: in 1841 the ancient Parish Church of St. Giles, Camberwell, was destroyed by fire, but business-as-usual in the robing-room was the order of the day, and a marriage was actually solemnized while the ashes were still smouldering.

[1]It seems more than probable that the benefactress of St. Paul's, Herne Hill, was identical with the Mrs. Simpson who wote the hymn "Pray when the morn is breaking" (No. 473 in the English Hymnal).

(I have no recollection of writing this, which may be because it was written by my father, William Darby.)

[1]It seems more than probable that the benefactress of St. Paul's, Herne Hill, was identical with the Mrs. Simpson who wote the hymn "Pray when the morn is breaking" (No. 473 in the English Hymnal).