Oval, London

Oval
Oval  Oval shown within Greater London
OS grid reference	TQ305775
London borough	Lambeth
Ceremonial county	Greater London
Region	London
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	LONDON
Postcode district	SW8/SE11
Dialling code	020
Police	Metropolitan
Fire	London
Ambulance	London
EU Parliament	London
UK Parliament	Vauxhall
London Assembly	Lambeth and Southwark
List of places: UK • England • London

Oval is a geographically small area of Kennington, South London, in the London Borough of Lambeth. It is situated 2.1 miles (3.38 km) to the south-east of Charing Cross. Oval straddles the border of south-west London and south-east London, and is where the postcode SE11 converges with the postcode SW8. Oval is best known for The Oval cricket ground, the home-ground of Surrey County Cricket Club.

Oval is within the borough constituency of Vauxhall. The Member of Parliament for the area is Kate Hoey of the Labour Party.

The area is known for its cricket ground and gasholders.

History

The land here was, from the seventeenth century, used for a market garden. The name "Oval" emerged from a street layout which was originated in 1790 but never completely built. The Montpelier Cricket Club leased ten acres of land from the Duchy of Cornwall in 1844, and Surrey County Cricket Club was formed soon thereafter at a meeting at the Horns Tavern (since demolished) on Kennington Park Road.

Demography

Oval ward is a constituent ward of Lambeth LBC. In 2001, the National Census recorded a population of 11,983 for Oval.

Transport

The nearest tube stations are Oval and Vauxhall station.

See also

• Oval (ward)