Clapton Pond

The Clapton Pond area forms something of a green oasis in the Lower Clapton Road and contains the oldest buildings in Clapton, notably the Bishop Wood's Almshouses from 1690, which give the official name to the bus stand at the Pond. The pond itself was originally natural, but these days suffers from a lack of upkeep.

For many years the terminus of routes 208 and 208^A (later 178), in more recent times the Pond was the setting for the last rites for Routemasters on the 38, London's second-last Routemaster route, on 28 October 2005.

Also apparently lost from last October is Don's Café, a classic just south of the pond, which had provided the basics each lunch time with a cheerful whistle-while-you-work.

Clapton Pond in July 2005, three months before the Routemasters' demise