Streatham has had a few famous people living within its borders, one of which paid a surprise visit to St. Leonard's recently - Samuel Johnson.
While Samuel Johnson, the author of the Dictionary of the English Language, didn’t have his own residency in Streatham he was a frequent visitor at Henry and Hester Thrale’s country house Streatham Park. Being their cherished friend he had his own apartment at his disposal and was part of the Thrale’s intellectual circle.
As a devout Anglican Samuel Johnson regularly attended church at St Leonard’s during his Streatham years between 1765 and 1781, and legend has it that after his last visit he kissed the fountain to say good bye to his beloved Streatham. To commemorate Johnson's tercentanary and his long-standing relationship with St. Leonard's church there was a re-enactment of this last visit to the church, which I had the pleasure to document.
Have a look at Samuel Johnson below!
