Green’s Dictionary of Slang

Peckham n.

[pun on peck v.1 (1) + SE ham]

used in phrs. pertaining to food, as below.

In phrases

all holiday at Peckham

1. all over, finished, hopeless.

[UK]Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue ms. additions n.p.: All Holiday It is all Holiday at Peckham if the Child’s name is Punch or, it is all Holiday with him. A Saying Signifying ever [sic] thing is over with the person spoken of or alluded to.
[UK]Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue (2nd, 3rd edn) n.p.: All Holiday. It is all holiday at Peckham, or it is all holiday with him; a saying signifying that it is all over with the business or person spoken of or alluded to.
[UK]Lex. Balatronicum.
[UK]Egan Grose’s Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue.
Dublin Wkly Reg. 22 Dec. 5/3: An acquaintance happening to use the proverbial phrase, ‘Oh! that is all holiday at Peckham,’ Goldsmith reddened, and asked if he meant to affront him.
[UK]Essex Standard 24 Dec. 3/3: It now appeared all holiday at Peckham with the Nimrods, but after a trifling check the hunt again rallied.
[UK]Chelmsford Chron. 31 Jan. 4/7: It was now all holiday at Peckham with many who were thrown out.
[UK]Shoreditch Obs. 23 Mar. 3/1: When i was amkng beggars in St Mary-axe, he [...] took immediate umbrage if anyone used the phrase [...] ‘All a holiday in Peckham’.
[UK]Western Dly Press 26 Jan. 9/6: Sleight-of-hand men are removed to Surrey, it being all holiday at Peckham.

2. a lack of food.

[UK]‘Jon Bee’ Dict. of the Turf, the Ring, the Chase, etc.
[UK]Hotten Sl. Dict. 198: ‘all holiday at Peckham,’ i.e., nothing to eat.
take a holiday at Peckham (v.)

to have nothing to eat.

[UK]Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 864/1: C.19.