Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Vol 6 No 4 Winter 2016-17 incorporating Islington History Journal
Calling time on puppet experts How developers misuse professional expertise to get what they want
Islington People’s Plaques winners named l Islington Museum acquires Halliwell cat collage l Victorian post box lost l The return of the Local History Centre archives l Boxing Day tragedy l Fugitive slaves in Britain l Unlikely warriors in the fight against fascisml Books l Events and exhibitions l Letters and your questions About the society
Our committee What we do: talks, walks and more Contribute to this
and contacts he Islington journal: stories and President Archaeology & History pictures sought Alec Forshaw TSociety is here to Vice president investigate, learn and celebrate We welcome articles on local Mary Cosh the heritage that is left to us. history, as well as your Chair We organise lectures, walks research, memories and old Andrew Gardner, and other events, and photographs. [email protected] publish this quarterly A one-page article needs Secretary journal. We hold 10 about 500 words, and the Morgan Barber-Rogers meetings a year, usually at maximum length is 1,000 secretary@islingtonhistory. Islington Town Hall. words (please do not submit org.uk The society was set up in articles published elsewhere). Membership, publications 1975 and is run entirely by We like pictures – please check and events volunteers. If you’d like to we can use them without Catherine Brighty, get involved, please contact infringing anyone’s copyright. 8 Wynyatt Street, EC1V 7HU, our chairman Andrew The journal is published in 020 7833 1541, catherine. Gardner (details left). www.facebook.com/ print and online in pdf form. [email protected] 8 www.islingtonhistory.org.uk groups/islingtonhistory.org.uk Deadline for the winter Treasurer issue is 1 November. Philip Anderson, phlpandrsn6 @btopenworld. Journal back issues and extra copies Ever wondered…? com Do you have any queries about Academic adviser Journal distribution is Islington’s history, streets or Lester Hillman, former overseen by Catherine buildings? Send them in for visiting professor, London Brighty (details left). our tireless researcher Michael Metropolitan University Contact her for more Reading and other readers to Journal editor copies, back issues, if you answer. Please note we do not Christy Lawrance move house and about keep an archive or carry out Committee members membership. Back issues family research. Michael Harper can also be downloaded l See Letters, page 6 Derek Seeley via our website at www. Samir Singh islingtonhistory.org.uk Copyright Copyright of everything in $ (photocopies acceptable) this journal lies with the Join the Islington Archaeology & History Society creator unless otherwise stated. While it can be difficult Membership per year is: £12 single; £15 joint at same address; concessions single £8/joint £10; to trace copyright ownership corporate £25; overseas £20; life: £125 (renewal forms sent out when due) of archive materials, we make every effort to do so. I/We would like single/joint/concession/joint concession/corporate membership and enclose a cheque payable to “Islington Archaeology & History Society” for ...... Editor Christy Lawrance, christy@ Name(s) ...... islingtonhistory.org.uk, c/o 6 Northview, Tufnell Park Address ...... Road, London N7 0QB
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2 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2016-17 Vol 6 No 4 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society
Incorporating Islington History Journal
Vol 6 No 4 Winter 2016-17
Experts should be experts, not puppets
robably like many people, I became active in heritage through a Pcampaign to stop a historic asset Contents from being redeveloped – in this case, my own estate. What struck me during this time was News 4 the ammunition used by the planning Victorian postbox lost after being handed over for “safe keeping”, the return of applicant in the form of experts’ reports. the archives to the Local History Centre, Islington Museum acquires Halliwell Drawings were misleading or collage, and winners of Islington’s People’s Plaques named inaccurate. Information was omitted. Conclusions appeared biased, drawn Your letters and questions 6 from evidence that was sketchy or The funeral station at King’s Cross, an old piano factory, industrial plaques, an nonexistent. And they were accepted by unidentified parade ground and Highbury’s wooden railway station council planners. Our article on page 10 shows this is by Paying the piper 10 no means unusual. Developers pay “huge As council planning departments have been cut, so has their ability to assess and sums to supposedly reputable consultants question reports prepared by experts in the pay of applicants to say what suits them” and council departments, seriously cut back, are Tragedy on Boxing Day 12 unable to pay close attention to A V2 bomb devastated Mackenzie Road in 1944 and the 70 people killed applications. deserve a memorial Many experts have to abide by professional standards; the Royal Fugitive slaves in Britain 14 Institution of Chartered Surveyors, for Many former slaves fled from America to Britain in the 19th century to avoid capture example, is explicit that its members and re-enslavement. What happened to them? must not allow the influence of others to override their professional judgment. Unlikely warriors 16 Perhaps the professional organisations Why thousands of British people volunteered to fight a war in a country they had should make a new year resolution to get never seen members to clean up their act. Surely they must realise that their credibility is Publications 18 seriously at stake here? Books to curl up with on chilly evenings, including art nouveau, government secrecy, the geography of politics and the start of Mass Observation Not such an elite pursuit Some time ago, I was told that the National Reviews 22 Lottery shifted money from the poor to We visit Heath Robinson’s new museum, watch some Victorian entertainment the better off – the former bought lottery and go back to the Swinging Sixties tickets while the latter visited castles. So it is good to see that heritage is Events and exhibitions 24 becoming less of a white and middle class Days and evenings out interest (news, page 3), with more people are taking part in heritage than before. Directory 28 After all, who doesn’t like a good castle? Societies, museums and resources
Christy Lawrance Islington Archaeology & History Society events 31 Editor Start the year with a new year’s day walk, plus forthcoming events
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2016-17 Vol 6 No 4 3 news In brief Victorian postbox missing after being History centre: archive handed over for ‘safe keeping’ return and closure The bulk of Islington’s Local The Victorian postbox that History Centre archives – was set into the brick wall at 80,000 items – are set to be Upper Holloway station has returned to from 9 January gone missing – after being onwards. The centre will be handed over to a caller to the closed for three weeks to site for “safe keeping”. receive and organise the An operative from material in the new storage Hochtief UK, which is facility from Monday 9 carrying out works to the road January; it will reopen on over the rail bridge in Monday 30 January. Holloway Road, contacted the IAHS, saying he was trying to Church steeple back track down the item. to former glory He said someone he believed a member of the The restoration of Christ IAHS or similar organisation Church has been completed. had visited the site in spring Work on the Victorian steeple, or summer, and asked about built in 1848, took nearly two the postbox. The postbox where it used to be outside Upper Holloway station years and required highly She was shown the postbox, skilled stonemasons to carry which had been removed to after this. bridge between Christmas out intricate carving. The the firm’s nearby compound. The operative did have a and the new year. project, which cost £300,000, She subsequently called and phone number for this person The journal offered to print was supported by the Heritage asked if she could collect it for but had lost it. a letter so people could Lottery Fund. safe keeping. It was removed The company now wishes to contact the operative but this from the compound not long install the postbox in the new offer was declined. Plaque honours men who died at Somme Caledonian Park visitor centre to Artistic plan for A plaque to commemorate nearly 800 Islington soldiers go ahead after funding agreed Methodist hall who died at the Somme in the First World War has been The controversial visitor favour of the proposals were The Methodist Hall in unveiled at the war memorial centre in Caledonian Park is made. Archway could be turned into at Royal Northern Gardens. to go ahead after the Heritage Cllr Claudia Webbe, the an arts centre with a theatre The plaque was unveiled by Lottery Fund confirmed a council’s executive member for seating around 400 people, descendants of Thomas John grant award of £1,873,300 in environment and transport, and studios for dance, music Holding, who died four days December. said: “I am delighted that the and drama performances. before the battle ended, who The park’s grade II listed Heritage Lottery Fund Adrian Betham, an architect travelled from Aberdeen for clock tower will be recognises the strengths of and member of the Better the event. refurbished. Members of the this project and the invaluable Archway Forum, has drawn up public will be able to take part opportunities it offers to plans showing show a three- Heritage really is in free guided tours of it, and celebrate and preserve our storey building with the main for everyone look across London from its history for future generations. theatre and studios for dance, 40-metre high balcony. “This clock tower is a jewel music and drama Participation in heritage is The visitor centre will be in Islington’s crown, and the performances and rehearsals. rising fastest among people built at the north gate despite new heritage centre and There could also be a cafe. from lower socioeconomic opposition from residents refurbished clock tower will The hall was built in 1934 and black and minority ethnic over its location. The centre pay a fitting tribute to the with funds from Methodist groups, according the Heritage will include information on iconic status of the tower and and British film legend J Counts 2016 report, published the area’s history and include the former market. Arthur Rank, who was said to by Historic England. Three toilets, a cafe and volunteers’ Design work will begin in have influenced the building’s quarters of the adult room. January 2017 and the council cinema-like appearance. population took part in a Nearly 900 objections and expects work to start in late The works would require
Christy Lawrance; Ewan Munro; Islington Museum Ewan Christy Lawrance; heritage activity last year. just over 350 messages in summer to early autumn. about £4 million.
4 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2016-17 Vol 6 No 4 Museum acquires Halliwell cat collage
but needs some repair. “malicious damage” to Islington Not named by Halliwell, the library books by defacing collage has been called World their covers with complex or of Cats by museum staff, as a comedic collage and narrative. collage piece bears these Islington Local History words and it features dozens Centre and Museum hold a of images of cats. collection of these covers as A mock-up of the collage well as another 1966 collage screen appears in the 1987 by Halliwell acquired, again at film adaption of John Lahr’s auction, in 2013. biography of Joe Orton’s Prick It is now accepted that up your Ears. Halliwell was the main Soon after its completion in creative force behind the more 1966, the screen was acquired sophisticated and complex by Peggy Ramsay, literary library book collages, as well agent to Halliwell’s partner, as the collages that covered British playwright Joe Orton. the walls of the couple’s flat. In 1999, eight years after Halliwell murdered Orton Mewseum piece? The collage features dozens of cat pictures Ms Ramsay’s death, her estate in 1967 then took his own life donated the screen to a charity with a barbiturate overdose. A rare Kenneth Halliwell collage Described as “an important auction at the Royal Court The screen will go on display screen has been bought at part of 1960s cultural history, Theatre, where it was bought at Islington Museum for the auction for Islington Museum. as well as an engaging piece of by a private collector. Islington’s Pride – Collecting With funds raised from an art work”, it measures 167.5cm Halliwell and Orton shared a for the Future exhibition then Art Fund grant and private high and each panel is 39cm flat in Noel Road in Islington in July in an exhibition to donation, the four-panel wide. The fabric based screen from 1959 until their deaths mark the 50th anniversaries of screen, by former Islington with paper collage overlays, in 1967. While there, they Orton and Halliwell’s deaths resident Halliwell, was sold in cut from newspapers and were both sentenced to six and the passing of the Sexual September for £8,000. magazines, is in good condition months’ imprisonment for Offences Act.
Green plaque Questions over Clerkenwell fire Canonbury cobbles winners named station sale after charity rejection
The winners of Islington’s Barnet-based charity Water proposals or give access to the People’s Plaques were Incorporated has said it has building. It also said its announced just as the journal run up against a “brick wall” in request to submit a public was going to press. its attempts to buy the question to the next LFEPA It was a record-breaking Clerkenwell Fire Station meeting had been rejected as year, with almost 12,000 votes building from its owners, the “frivolous”. cast. London Fire and Emergency The charity said it would The winners are: Planning Authority. meet all Islington Council’s l Derek Jarman (1942-1994), The charity said: planning criteria, open a artist, film director and LGBT “Apparently the property is for museum about firefighting, activist, who lived in sale but will not be offered to make the fire station yard a Liverpool Road a charity such as ourselves.” public area and build These cobbles in Compton l Finsbury Park Empire It wanted the former fire affordable homes. Avenue were exposed before (1910-1960), a music hall and station as it required “an According to a report in the resurfacing works in October, variety theatre in St Thomas’s instantly recognisable Islington Gazette, the LFEPA is the older surface remaining Road building in a prominent considering how best to dispose intact just inches below the l PC Alfred Smith (1880- location which in itself is the of the former fire station and new. 1917), for his heroic actions in hub of a bustling community”. other sites “in line with the Many thanks to Kevin a First World War bomb raid WI said the owners had mayor’s commitment to MacGarrow for sending in in Central Street. refused to discuss its delivering … affordable homes”. the picture.
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2016-17 Vol 6 No 4 5 Letters and your questions We draw on the expertise of our researcher Michael Reading and our Facebook group members, so get in touch if you have a query or can respond to anything here
The funeral station at In July this year my King’s Cross youngest son and I visited Those of you interested in the Chapel Place when making a London Necropolis, discussed “walking in the footsteps of in Dave Twistelton-Ward’s our ancestors” trip to London and Michael Reading’s letters (I live in Cheltenham). The in the autumn 2016 edition, houses are gone and now it may be interested in learning seems Chapel Place is where more about the funeral station the large bins for Chapel at King’s Cross. Market are kept. In 1855, the Great Northern I would like to know when London Cemetery Company the houses were demolished as (GNLCC) purchased 150 it would put another piece in acres of land adjacent to the the family jigsaw. Many thanks. Great Northern Railway Glyn Evans (GNR) main line some three [email protected] quarters of a mile north of Colney Hatch & Southgate The King’s Cross funeral station in 1954 You are correct in stating that Station in order to build a many houses were packed into cemetery similar to the 2,000 initially ran daily, leaving at that loomed over the line but the area bordered by Chapel acre one at Brookwood. 11am and returning at 3pm, sadly I then had no idea what Street, White Conduit Street, Agreement was reached and the journey took about it had once been. I can recall it Sermon Lane and Liverpool between the GNLC and GNR 15 minutes. being demolished in 1962 to be Road, with the entrance at for the building of a funeral While the service from replaced by a concrete works. Chapel Place. station on the embankment at Waterloo Station to David Berguer The ordnance maps for the north end of Gasworks Brookwood flourished until Chair, Friern Barnet & District 1871, 1894 and 1914 show Tunnel, on the up side of the 1941, a lack of support for the Local History Society only minimal changes; main line into King’s Cross. GNLCC operation meant that however, in 1923-24, about The funeral station, which the service was later reduced Where was Chapel Place? two thirds of this area was was almost opposite the Belle to three times a week. It My great grandfather, William demolished and Mandeville Isle signal box, opened in eventually ceased operation Richard Chase, was born on Houses were built, which 1860 and was a two-storey altogether in 1863. 5 November 1838 in Chapel contained flats. An extension building 150 feet long by 25 Much more information Place, Islington. was opened in 1934. The feet wide, the upper storey can be found in The End of the I understand that the dozen architect was ECP Monson being at street level. Waiting Line by Martin C Dawes, or so houses in Chapel Place FRIBA, who built many rooms for mourners were which was published in 2003 were built between 1792 and estates for Islington Council as provided and there were and contains photographs of 1794. I think his parents, well as the town hall in 1926. separate entrances for the funeral station. Francis (a cordwainer) and Mandeville Houses were mourners and coffins. A On a personal note, I must Ann Chase née Odell, moved demolished in 1980 and the mortuary was provided at have passed the funeral there in the 1820s, possibly Angel Shopping Centre now platform level and coffins building hundreds of times on after their wedding in 1826. stands on part of the site. were lowered by lift. my daily journeys into King’s As well as William, five Michael Reading The train service from Cross and I remember that it Chase children were born King’s Cross to New Southgate was a large, imposing building there and, sadly, two died The old piano factory off there while infants. So Chapel Tollington Park Write to us Place played a significant and Does anyone know anything important role in my family about the history of the old l Contact the editor on [email protected] or history. piano factory in Leeds Place, via 6 Northview, Tufnell Park Road, N7 0QB The Chase family moved to off Tollington Park? It’s an l Post on www.facebook.com/groups/islingtonhistory; Adam and Eve Lane between attractive building. letters printed here will give Facebook usernames December 1838 and March Rosemary Seton
Islington Local History Centre 1841. Via Facebook
6 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2016-17 Vol 6 No 4 International trade: plaques at Goswell Road building
The 1935 London street map at the end of the 19th century, These used to be five farming. The two images of for Leeds Place shows four when pianos were in their separate properties. They were ships, one by sail and the businesses, grouped at the end heyday, with probably every occupied for various periods other by steam, signify the on the narrow roadway. home having one. over this time by a variety of export of tobacco around the l Menno Compressed Air Michael Reading business and trades, except for world over many years and, l Grease-cup Co Ltd no 346 which was occupied finally, the image of a steam l Readle & Langbein Ltd Industry plaques of Goswell for the whole period as the train the delivery of finished Pianoforte Mfg Road Brethren Meeting House. tobacco products. l J Humphrey & Co Ltd Piano The building at 338-346 From around 1930 to 1933, Peter Jackson was a tobacco Makers Goswell Road has plaques of there were no entries for these company that started business l North London Press. ships, a train and a black slave addresses in the directories. in London around 1900. It’s The 1870 ordnance map picking what may be cotton. The 1933 directory shows that most famous brand was Du shows Leeds Place (not Do you know what this nos 338-346 were occupied by Maurier, named after famous named), which is really only a building was? There’s nothing the International Tobacco British actor Sir Gerald Du pathway, running between a in Streets with a Story: the Company Ltd and Peter Maurier. Peter Jackson’s pair of semidetached houses on Book of Islington. Jackson (Tobacco British operation was absorbed the right (they are still there) It’s at the Angel end of the Manufacturers) Ltd. The 1935 into the International Tobacco and a large house on the left, road, opposite the college, and directory has the same entry, Company Ltd in 1934, which where a school now stands. now occupied by Islington but 1939 shows that these was subsequently bought by The houses have long gardens. Clinical Commissioning premises were now occupied Gallaher. At the end are other buildings, Group. The receptionist told by Post Office Stores Dept Michael Reading which may be the beginnings me she’d heard a tobacco (Goswell Road Dept). of a small industrial complex company had been based there. I have no information of the Highbury’s wooden railway that gradually expanded. Samir Singh subsequent occupants, but the station The building is quite [email protected] London Street Directories are We’re researching an article substantial and may have been available at the London on the original stations at specially designed for piano Starting with 1899, I have Metropolitan Archives and Caledonian Road, Highbury manufacture, as pianos are checked the London Street cover up to the late 1990s. and Islington, Newington rather bulky. Directory for various years up I would venture the black Road and Kingsland, all I would venture it was built to 1930. worker signifies tobacco demolished totally in 1870,
The old piano factory in Leeds Place may have been purpose built Samir Singh; Rosemary Seton
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2016-17 Vol 6 No 4 7 Help wanted fpr parade collection. The staff would love ground photograph to know whether the pictures I hope that readers are able to were taken in Islington and identify the location, the any other information people organisation and the occasion may have about them. when these images were My father was born in taken, which was probably March 1895 above a corn during the First World War. merchant’s shop where his Both images show the same father, Robert Stokes, worked men but they are wearing for Groom & Wright by different uniforms and cap Tufnell Park tube. badges and are in a large yard Robert Stokes became the being used as a parade ground. manager then owner of In the picture of them Groom & Wright in Holloway seated, the man in the front man next to him. My father, some others were wearing Red Road, where the family moved row on the second left is Frederick Robert Stokes, is Cross badges on their arms; and were living there during wearing an airman’s uniform. fourth from the left in the there are rolled-up stretchers the First World War. It was I do not know whether it is of back row. at their feet. one of the four shops that the Royal Flying Corps or My father was called up for During the Second World eventually came into the Royal Air Force but it could military service but rejected War, he served in the ARP ownership of James Selby in help in dating the images. on medical grounds. I believe where he specialised in first Holloway Road. The senior officer is seated he served voluntarily locally. aid and stretchered a survivor As he neared retirement, centre with a newly decorated The images show he and from the bombed Arsenal James Selby pressed him for Stand, which was used as an some years to sell and air-raid shelter and his ARP acquired the neighbouring post. He used to take me shops. Groom & Wright can round the ground and up to be seen sandwiched among the manager’s box three James Selby shops in an occasionally as we lived close image held by Islington and by in Lucerne Road. published in the Britain in old I believe the picture was Photographs: Islington by most probably taken in David Withey and Vada Hart. Islington as this is where my Malcolm Stokes father was born and grew up. 1 Southwood Park, Highgate, I am intending to donate N6 5SG these images to the Islington malcolmstokes@blueyonder. Local History Centre co.uk except for the last which we original one of which a photo stations on the North London of Highbury came in December think survived, disused, until has come to light, was brick). Railway line (the society does 1840. A Miss Elizabeth Hole 1886. The replacement Cock not maintain an archive). wrote from Highbury Terrace Not surprisingly, we have Tavern built by the railway in Photography was in its to her friend Miss Nichols not found any photographs of 1849 would certainly not have infancy around the time of the (daughter of Islington historian them. However, I wondered if been timber built. If the building of the North London John Nichols) who lived in you knew of any, inner London contiguous station entrance Railway so it is unlikely that Hornsey, telling her about a not being one of the worst building had been built of many people had cameras. scheme of a North London areas for finding 1860s photos. timber, the two would have I have written several Railway line and a sketch she I have found references in been separate rather than a booklets on Islington, one had seen. The proposed line online local history comment single architectural being a history of Highbury would cut right through Well’s (possibly not reliable) to the composition fronting the Place, which is opposite Row and the garden of a Mr I original Highbury street level main road, there being no Highbury & Islington station. on it way to Hackney. building being timber built. forecourt area before 1871. What I wrote was similar to “When the railway was This would not surprise me as Peter Kay your comments and refers to built, part of the gardens of the stations were supposed to Editor, The London Railway an old wooden station: “And nos 1 to 4 Highbury Place be “economical” when built in Record so the rural scene, with sheep were lost. 1849-50. However, we have By email and cattle, was rapidly coming “Miss Hole’s information found no specific proof in the to an end and would had indeed been correct for, North London Railway The Islington Local History disappear for ever. in 1846, after parliamentary records that they were timber Centre may have some “The first indication of the authority had been given, the (and Hackney, the only photographs of the early threat to the rural tranquillity East & West India Docks and
8 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2016-17 Vol 6 No 4 Birmingham Junction Railway Company built a goods line from Camden to Blackwall via Islington, Canonbury and Kingsland. “The movement of goods was at first considered the more important function of this new invention. However a wooden station was erected at Highbury Corner in 1849 and the first passenger train on the new link to Broad Street station in the City ran from this station in September 1850. “Three years later, the line was renamed the North London Railway and extended to Camden Town through the western suburbs of Kew. By 1854, over eight million passengers a year were using The magnificent Duchess of Sutherland crosses Holloway Road on its way to Lincoln on the morning this line, mainly weekend of 1 December. Thanks to IAHS committee member Samir Singh for sending in this photograph excursions to Kew. “The North London Railway Victorian building in on the 1939 street directory. Eric Willats, in Streets with bought up several properties Hornsey Road I would suggest that the a Story: the Book of Islington, at Highbury corner, including I wondered if anyone could building was built around the refers to the Montem School the Cock tavern at 27 Wells enlighten me about the history 1880s by the London School opposite but not this one. Row (a row of properties of the building in Hornsey Board; it appears on the 1894 Michael Reading almost opposite the entrance Road opposite Montem ordnance map. It being a to Highbury Place) with the School, which obviously had single-storey building would I have found two files at the intention of rebuilding the an educational purpose. It suggest that it started life with National Archives relating to original station on a much seems the school was known the same use – the Victorians the “Upper Hornsey Road larger scale to cope with the as Upper Hornsey Road were usually very practical. Mentally Defective Council increasing traffic. School. Does anyone know The architecture is in School” built by the London “With such profitability, the why the letters M T-C appear keeping with the London School Board 1900-01 and to company was able to build a over one of the entrances? School Board style, which was a manual training centre that magnificent new station, with Rosemary Seton more elaborate than that of its opened in 1902. Later on, it turrets, pinnacles and a Via Facebook successor the London County seems to have become an steeply pitched roof, with Council. adult education centre. It is gables, chimneys and finials. The 1935 street map shows Separate entrances in school described as this when it was “At a later stage a forecourt the premises as the London walls were a regular feature of locally listed in 1980. was added. A new re-sited County Council Schools, the London School Board Rosemary Seton Cock Tavern formed one of Manual Training Centre and establishments. Here, there the wings of the new building the Special School for are entrances for “Boys” and What happened to the new and the whole edifice was very Mentally Defective Children “Girls” but not “Infants” but Collins theatre? reminiscent of St Pancras (they wouldn’t describe it like what looks likes “T&G” – I Does anyone know the latest on Station.” that today!). It appears again have no ideas about that. the theatre that was being built near the old Collins Theatre site on the corner of Islington Green and Essex Road? I see the Collins Theatre Trust was dissolved in 2015. Does that mean that the plans have been abandoned? Philip Nelkon Via Facebook
l Could any of our readers involved with the council
An educational building but not a mainstream school in Hornsey Road update us? Thanks. Rosemary Seton
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2016-17 Vol 6 No 4 9 Corporation have been hoodwinked. The wind impact Paying the piper analysis submitted by the developer of 20 Fenchurch Street (the Walkie Talkie) claimed that As council planning departments have been cut, so has their street level conditions would be ability to assess and question reports prepared by experts in “normal”. Following completion of this exceptionally ugly building, it the pay of applicants. Alec Forshaw sets out an alternative has sometimes proved hard to stand up on the surrounding pavements on windy days, and mitigating measures are now t is almost nine years since I discussed below. required. left Islington Council’s The flaw in the system is that Perhaps the most invidious issue planning department, where these statements are commissioned has been that of viability I had worked as urban design and paid for by the applicant. statements submitted by and conservation officer for There is no guarantee whatsoever developers accompanying schemes I32 years. of impartiality. which include, or were supposed to Since my departure, Islington My own experience after include, affordable housing. The Council, like all local authorities, Islington of working on various has been subject to severe controversial schemes, such as Developers are government spending cuts, and the Smithfield Market, on behalf of capacity of its planning SAVE Britain’s Heritage and the prepared to pay huge departments, like others across the Victorian Society, has been both sums to supposedly country, has been put under revealing and depressing. It has increasing pressure. The burden shown that developers are reputable consultants to placed on local planning prepared to pay huge sums to say what suits them departments to fulfil their statutory supposedly reputable consultants duties has increased while to say what suits them. resources to do the job have In the heritage world, one of the widespread suspicion that the reduced. consequences of cuts in the public figures were often cooked to justify The sad fact is that many local sector is that many people who or excuse low levels of affordable authority planning departments once worked in local government provision has, thankfully, now now have little time to do any more or English Heritage now work in attracted the attention of London than development control. the private sector where, of course, mayor Sadiq Khan and his deputy Old-fashioned “planning”, they have to make a living. It is responsible for housing, James particularly the preparation of axiomatic that he who pays the Murray. I wish them the best masterplans for large, complicated piper calls the tune. of luck. sites, is now often done by firms of As local authority planning consultants. departments have been watered Expertise, not box ticking This was the case, for example, down, so has their ability and It would be a far better and fairer on the King’s Cross Railway Lands capacity to judge the veracity of system if the developer or site across the border in Camden. applicants’ documents. applicant was required to pay an Here, the masterplan was produced Even places such as the City adequate fee to the local planning by architectural firm Allies and authority so that it could make its Morrison and, more significantly, own assessment, either by was commissioned and paid for by employing in-house experts or the developer, Argent. commissioning its own external The involvement of external advice. After all, it is the local consultants is ever widespread in planning authority that needs to the planning process. Planning evaluate and ultimately judge the applications for all but the smallest planning application, not the site now have to be accompanied applicant. by a wealth of documents and Without the necessary resources statements, covering design, of time and expertise within heritage, sustainability, planning departments, the process environmental impact, daylight of dealing with applications can and sunlight, travel plans and, in become little more than a box- the case of housing, viability, which Masterplans for large, complex sites are often done by ticking exercise. covers how much affordable consultants and paid for by private developers, as was At present, the fees required to housing is provided and is the case for the land behind King’s Cross station make an application are tiny
10 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2016-17 Vol 6 No 4 compared to the costs incurred by the council in dealing with them, and something urgently needs to be done about this. Moreover, this needs to be done without strings attached. The idea that developers might pay more for priority treatment does not sit well in a system that should be fair for all. While there is now a murmur of challenge within the government against the previously prevailing policies of austerity, there is little sign of this actually being reversed within local government planning departments. The latest information from the Institute of Historic Building Conservation is that, across England, there are 38% fewer conservation officers working in local authorities now than in 2008. One of the consequences of Smithfield Market: there are 38% fewer conservation officers working in local authorities now financial uncertainty has been the than in 2008, which means historic buildings can be put at risk tendency in local government planning departments to hire most of their career in one was also cut. temporary staff (often from borough have largely gone. Those Meanwhile, among the national Australia, New Zealand and South few who still do so should be media and some government Africa) or to offer only short-term applauded and rewarded for their politicians, planners still carry the contracts. This results in a high commitment and dedication. can for causing delays, raising rate of turnover in personnel, Cutbacks in resources mean that “unnecessary barriers” to which does not help the process. planning departments have had to development and to stultifying Developers can be understandably give priority to their statutory economic growth. They have been frustrated when applications are duties, such as dealing with completely unfairly blamed for the dealt with by a succession of case planning applications and housing crisis in London and the officers. It is inefficient and prone producing the statutory local plan south east, when in reality there to error. and supplementary guidance. are numerous schemes with “Knowing your patch” was planning permission – potentially always one of the most important Conservation consequences creating hundreds of thousands of aspects of working in a local Active work is a luxury that can no homes – that developers are simply planning department. When I first longer be afforded. For example, sitting on. Those are often the very started at Islington in 1975, I learnt until 2008, Islington had a same developers who are pressing a huge amount from more senior dedicated buildings at risk officer the government to relax planning colleagues and, in turn, I attempted within the conservation team controls even further. to pass this on to others when I whose job was to take action Ever since the Town and had junior staff to nurture. against negligent owners and Country Planning Act was The value of such accumulated secure solutions for problematic introduced, there has been an knowledge cannot be historic buildings. overwhelming case for a strong overestimated. Sadly, the days There was also a large grants and fair planning system. when many people would spend programme, operated by two The case is even stronger today, full-time officers, which helped but it has to be a system that is owners and tenants in several democratically led and Without the resources of time and commercial conservation areas to accountable, and properly funded. improve shopfronts and building Reduction of controls and expertise in planning departments, facades, and also enhanced the privatisation of the system is not dealing with applications can public realm. The results of this the answer. n become little more than a good work can still be enjoyed in Chapel Market, Caledonian Road, Alec Forshaw is president of the box-ticking exercise Whitecross Street, Junction Road Islington Archaeology & History
and Holloway Road. That scheme Society Commons; Christy Lawrance stevekeiretsu/Flickr/Creative
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2016-17 Vol 6 No 4 11 protected them from the debris when both it and they fell into the cellar. The cellar was being used as an overflow bar, and was crowded with drinkers. Those who had chosen to drink in the cellar bar were all killed. Many children had
She could only identify her dad by his keys: he had been burnt as the gas main had caught fire
been on the step outside the pub with biscuits and soft drinks when the bomb struck. Some were never found and, as their parents were inside, were probably never Tragedy on Boxing Day accounted for. The extent of damage to property was extensive. Fifteen houses in Mackenzie Road were completely A V2 bomb hit Mackenzie Road on 26 December 1944, demolished and 22 others were killing more than 70 people and injuring many more. partially demolished in Mackenzie Road, Chalfont Road and They deserve a memorial, writes Bill Patey Hollingsworth Street. Many others were very seriously damaged. James Dewen recalls: “The he picture of Islington water and basements of nearby Prince of Wales was my dad’s local. above was taken in houses were flooded. Escaping gas He was 39 at the time and had April 1945. It is an caught fire in numerous places. lived locally all his life. He lost a aerial view from the The night was very cold and lot of friends that night and he north west of the extremely foggy. The thick smoke never liked talking about it. My Tdamage resulting from the V2 from several fires made visibility dad was in the gents in the back rocket missile that exploded in more difficult. The rescue efforts yard when it hit and escaped Mackenzie Road on the evening of were particularly hazardous: the 26 December 1944. At least 73 first fire rescue vehicle on the scene people were killed, 86 severely stopped only a few feet before injured and 182 slightly injured. the crater. More than 20 buildings were There had been a pub on the site completely wrecked, including the at 144 Mackenzie Road since at Prince of Wales public house, least 1856. On Christmas Day in where many of the casualties 1944, the pub – then called the occurred. Prince of Wales – was closed but The V2 bomb, launched in had reopened on Boxing Day. The Belgium, took less than 20 minutes numbers had swelled because to reach its destination. Without other pubs nearby had run out of warning, it exploded at 9.26pm in beer and there was a celebration Mackenzie Road at the junction of taking place for a young woman – two roads (see the centre of the Emily Neighbour – who had just picture) causing a crater 30 feet got engaged. wide by 15 feet deep. The proprietors, George and Water and gas mains were cut Agatha Streeter, survived the and the sewer broken. As a result, explosion. The bomb blast forced Where the bomb landed on Mackenzie Road; the large the crater quickly filled up with them under the counter and this road on the right is Liverpool Road
12 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2016-17 Vol 6 No 4 over the back wall into Egger’s Dairy yard. The back of our house Many children had been in Crossley Street was badly on the step outside the damaged, despite being about 200 yards away.” pub with biscuits and The impact of the tragedy was soft drinks when the sorely felt by numerous survivors, and by their families and friends. bomb struck. Some The Hopwoods of 33 Rhodes Street were never found lost five members of their family that night. In 123 Mackenzie Road, directly opposite the pub, seven where his wife worked behind the children from the Jarvis family bar. She had a piece of glass taken died – their ages ranged from 14 out of her cheek in 1954, 10 years months to 17 years. after the event. My dad, Leonard Patey, who Their daughter lived with them lived in Lough Road, off in Chillingworth Road; she ran to Mackenzie Road, recalls: “They the scene and saw that people had were sitting upright, seemingly been blown out of the windows asleep, with a placard pinned to and were on the street outside. She their chests which said ‘blast’. There could only identify her dad by his were no outward signs of injury keys; he had been burnt as the gas but each of them was dead.” main had caught fire. My dad also recounted that a It seems incredible that there is Polish serviceman in uniform was no memorial to commemorate this running around “like a madman” traumatic event that so affected the after the bomb went off: he had lives of so many Islington families been walking arm in arm with his Emily Neighbour was on leave from the Land Army and friends. girlfriend moments before. His celebrating her engagement at the Prince of Wales A plaque or memorial with the uniform had its shoulder when the bomb hit names of the fatalities could easily epaulettes burnt off. His girlfriend be located on the spot in Paradise was never found. siblings, and this tragic event took Park where the Prince of Wales Many individual stories show its toll on all of them. pub once stood. I hope this tragedy that the V2 bomb deeply affected Emy was buried with 16 others can be commemorated with a huge numbers of survivors. Fate in a communal grave at Islington suitable memorial. n dealt a lucky hand to some but a cemetery in East Finchley. In her cruel one to many others. grave was a young man called Sue Cooke, an aunt of Emily Alfred Syrett. Sue Cooke says: “He (Emy) Neighbour, kindly provided always had a thing for Emy and the photo of her. Emy was nearly used to say, ‘I am going to end up 19 years old when she was killed. with you,’ and he did.” She was on leave from the Land Some people were very Army and was celebrating her fortunate. One person in engagement to Frank Hopwood, a Mackenzie Road described how marine. He, his parents, twin the V2 blast blew in the windows brother and sister, plus several while he was in the bedroom. A friends, were also killed. large shard of glass embedded itself Emy’s granddad was on voluntary in the settee where his father warden duty that night assisting escaped death or serious injury the emergency services and he was only because he was leaning given the task of recovering the forward to play with a Dinky toy. remains of bodies and putting Three members of the Betts them in bags. When he found out family were killed in the pub: a that his own daughter was among fourth survived only because he the dead, the shock was so great had gone to use the outside toilet. that he could not speak for days. He was badly injured and spent Sue Cooke’s mum and her eldest three months in hospital. sister Mary had the sad task of Albert Bussey was also killed in identifying her by the shoes that the pub. He had been to another she was wearing that night. Emy, pub but it had sold out of beer so from Bemerton Street, had 13 he went to the Prince of Wales Sue Cooke Trust; of Scotland; National Brewery Heritage IWM (CH 15115) National Library
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2016-17 Vol 6 No 4 13 Fugitive slaves in Britain
Many former slaves fled to Britain from America in the 19th century to avoid being captured and enslaved. Kathleen Chater tracks their journeys
ritain became the first Britain had become home to former major world power to slaves from the Americas. They abolish its slave trade quietly faded into the population in 1807. It was with little fuss or, it seems, came to England after his anticipated that the difficulty, and most are known only autobiography, Narrative of the Life Btrade would then wither away but to local and family historians. of Frederick Douglass, an American that view provided overoptimistic. The first know ex-slave to have Slave, had been published in In 1823, the Anti-Slavery Society gone on a lecture tour in Britain America in 1845. The publicity it was founded and, after a massive was Moses Roper. Born in 1815 in generated worried his friends, and parliamentary struggle, the Slavery North Carolina, he arrived in he went on a lecture tour in Britain Abolition Act 1833 banned slavery Liverpool in November 1835. His to avoid recapture. He spoke at the in most of the British Empire. Narrative of the Adventures and annual meeting of the Anti-Slavery Back in 1808, America had made Escape of Moses Roper from Society in Lincoln’s Inn in 1846 the import and export of slaves American Slavery was published in and at Finsbury Chapel. Donations illegal and, as new territories were 1837. He went on a book tour and by the British public raised enough added to the US, slavery was married in Bristol in 1839. His to purchase his freedom. forbidden in them. career as a lecturer in Britain However, the southern states had continued, apart from a brief stay Law targets escaped slaves no intention of ending slavery in Canada in the 1840s, until 1861. Fears of enslavement rose with the because their economy depended on Also in 1839, the Anti-Slavery passing of the American Fugitive the production of cotton, tobacco Society was succeeded by the Slave Act 1850, which required and other goods that needed a British and Foreign Anti-Slavery escaped slaves to be returned to large, cheap agricultural workforce. Society, reflecting its aim of global their masters. In addition, it gave By the mid 19th century, many abolition; it continues today as law enforcement officials a duty to slaves had fled from the southern Anti-Slavery International. arrest suspected runaway slaves states to the north, mainly to New The new society held its first and allowed payments to be made England, where slavery had been World Anti-Slavery convention in for recapture. This law brought the gradually abolished. They wrote Exeter Hall, in the Strand in next wave of what today would be autobiographies, lectured and London, in June 1840. The only called asylum seekers. campaigned for abolition. Some black man to speak was Charles Even those who had gone to went to Canada, which was under Lenox Remond (1810-73). He was Canada did not feel safe because British rule and where slavery had born free but crossed the Atlantic they were afraid of being never existed. for fear of being enslaved. kidnapped by bounty hunters. Long before the 19th century, Frederick Douglass (c1818-95) Islington publicity Many fugitives, In 1853, the Anti-Slavery Society such as Moses started to publish a journal, the Roper (left) and Anti-Slavery Advocate. The address Frederick for subscriptions and donations Douglass (far left) was 144 St John Street, Islington. wrote However, the society’s treasurer, autobiographies the Reverend Thomas Michael and lectured; McDonnell, did not live there. In Douglass 1861, a warehouseman named addressed a meeting at the James Grey and his wife were at Highbury Barn this address; they were probably tavern, despite sympathetic to the cause, providing supporting the equivalent of a box number. temperance Undoubtedly, there were many
14 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2016-17 Vol 6 No 4 supporters in the area. The Ellen and Clerkenwell News, which was William Craft published from 1856 to 1871, escaped with mentioned slavery almost every Ellen disguised as a young week – often referring to the white man and conditions of the British working William as her class, and covered slavery in Africa servant/slave; and India as well as America. they later fled to Britain Talks and tours in Britain William Wells Brown (c1814-84) is one of the best known fugitive slaves. He knew Frederick Douglass from American abolitionist circles and wrote to him from his tour of Britain and mainland Europe between 1849 and 1854. His lecture schedule was very busy. As well as speaking on abolition, he promoted temperance. At the Anti-State Church and was for many years one of the Conference in June 1850, he was wealthiest and most influential one of the speakers calling for the dissenting chapels in London. Anglican Church to be separate In 1860, William Craft heard two from the government. The black missionaries from Canada conference was held at the speak at Spa Fields to raise money The American the venue for events organised to Highbury Barn tavern (despite his to build a chapel and schoolhouse Fugitive Slave raise £1,000 to purchase the Act 1850 stance on temperance); this seems to educate some of the 41,000 freedom of four children of a black encouraged to be the only occasion in which he American escapees then in bounty hunters, man named Lewes Smith. appeared in Islington. Canada; later in the year, Ellen keen to earn The ingenious and daring escape Craft attended a major anti-slavery from capturing Return to America of William and Ellen Craft, who meeting there. former slaves The American Civil War broke out often appeared on the same The 1 August anniversary of the in 1861 and lasted until 1865. In platform as William Wells Brown, end of slavery in the British West 1863, the Emancipation captured the public’s imagination. Indies was always a big event. The Proclamation freed slaves in Ellen, who could “pass” as white, 27th anniversary was celebrated at American and, in 1866, a Civil disguised herself as a young man Spa Fields Chapel in 1861, at which Rights Act defined all persons born and, with William acting as her fugitive slave John Anderson told in the US as national citizens. servant/slave, they travelled openly his tale, which was “already so Almost all fugitive slaves in from Georgia to Philadelphia. The familiar”. Two years later, his Britain returned to the US as soon Fugitive Slave Act then impelled autobiography was published but as they could after 1865. Lecturing them to move to England. by then he was in Liberia. Nothing here had given former slaves Once in Britain, they settled in is known about his life there. contacts and status that enabled Hammersmith and, in 1860, As well as public meetings, there them to take part in reconstructing published their story, Running a were appearances in chapels – the American society. Some, however, Thousand Miles for Freedom. Anglican churches seem not to had settled down with families in Ellen was active in reform have been involved – by people Britain; less is known about them organisations such as the London who did not have an autobiography and their stories remain to be Emancipation Committee, the to sell but needed money to live. pieced together. n Women’s Suffrage Organisation, Thomas A Jackson and his wife, and the British and Foreign fugitive slaves from Carolina, spoke Dr Kathleen Chater is a scholar and Freedmen’s Society, which raised in the schoolroom of Islington author of Untold Histories: Black money for emancipated slaves. Chapel in November 1859. Their People in England and Wales during mission was to buy the freedom of the British Slave Trade c1660-1807 Activism in chapels his father and the children of his (Manchester University Press, 2009) The Crafts appeared at meetings in murdered sister. In October 1860, Further reading Spa Fields Chapel on several a meeting at the Baptist chapel in The stories of fugitive slaves who came to Britain in the occasions. The pastor, Reverend Cross Street was held and, in 19th century can be found on Jeffrey Green’s website at Thomas Thoresby, was active in following January 1861, the www.jeffreygreen.co.uk. Their autobiographies can be social improvement. The building schoolroom of the Wesleyan Chapel found on Google Books (https://books.google.com) and could hold more than 2,000 people in St John’s Square, Clerkenwell, was American university websites Commons/public domain Wikipedia/Wikimedia
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2016-17 Vol 6 No 4 15 Unlikely warriors
Determined to stop the spread of fascism, thousands of British people volunteered to fight a war in a country they had never seen. Richard Baxell explains why
ighty years before Right: the British time, it was often a simple, December 2016, a young Battalion of the straightforward decision. man from Islington – an International The issue was put starkly by engineer by trade – took Brigade at English poet Stephen Spender, for the momentous decision Benicassim in whom the war in Spain was “an 1937; below: to leave his home and family to absolute choice between good E new fight in a war in a country he had International and evil”. never seen. He gave his name as Brigade “The 1930s,” wrote a volunteer sweeping across Europe. John Stevens, though this was volunteers from Wembley, were “a time of The birth of Mussolini’s fascist actually a nom de guerre; his real practise hope, when a man with a rifle had state in 1922 had been followed by name was Moses Myer. marching and some power to divert the tide of the establishment of other European Like many other British weapon human affairs” (Toynbee, 1976). dictatorships, most significantly volunteers in the Spanish Civil handling, The reasons that lay behind the Hitler’s ascent to the German War, Myer used a pseudonym, December decision of some 2,500 men and chancellorship in 1933. By the mid 1936-January perhaps to disguise his Jewish 1937 women from Britain and Ireland to 1930s, essentially constitutional background or, more likely, to go to Spain had more to do with states such as France were evade a ban on volunteering for events outside the country than themselves seemingly under threat. the Spanish Civil War put in place within. While the vast majority of by the British government. the volunteers from Britain knew Fascism at home and abroad To a contemporary audience, the little of Spanish culture or politics, And fascism was not just a decision to volunteer for a war in a they certainly did have personal continental phenomenon. In faraway country can seem experience of the powerful forces Britain, Sir Oswald Mosley’s British astonishing. However, for those engulfing Europe in the 1930s, Union of Fascists (known as the who volunteered to fight at the which had encouraged many to Blackshirts), founded in October shift politically to the left. 1932, appeared to present a similar First had come the Great threat to democracy. Depression, the catastrophic When a military uprising economic crisis that followed the erupted in Spain on 18 July 1936, it stock market crash of 1929 and put appeared to be the latest country more than two million Britons out about to succumb. of work by 1930. Desperate pleas for assistance Alongside the economic turmoil from the Spanish Republican came a political storm, one that government had made little had been growing since the end of impression on Stanley Baldwin’s the First World War and was now government in Britain. To prevent a wider European conflagration, and maintaining Islington volunteers killed in Spain that appeasement of Germany and Surname Address When killed Where Italy was the best means of doing William Beckett 18 Almond Road March 1938 Aragon this, a non-intervention agreement was initiated, to which Britain, George Hollanby 47 Andover Road March 1938 Aragon France, Germany, Italy, Portugal Joseph Pitman 52 Russell Road April 1937 Chimorra and the USSR all signed up (Edwards, 1979). Frank Quinlan 33 Baron Street June 1937 Mondejar It quickly became apparent that Alec Stalker 83 Highbury New Park February 1937 Jarama the agreement strongly favoured John Stevens 16 Highbury Hill February 1937 Jarama the rebels, who continued to receive covert assistance from James Wheeler 11 Queen’s Cottages, Popham Street February 1937 Jarama Germany and Italy; 100,000
16 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2016-17 Vol 6 No 4 soldiers and masses of military Right: the Major Attlee Company, materiél were supplied to Franco’s British Battalion, forces over the course of the war. 15th International For many supporters of the Brigade, on the Spanish government, this non- Ebro front in 1938; below: the intervention pact was the real first casualty, artist villain of the story: George Orwell Felicia Brown; a later argued that the fate of the gas mask republic “was settled in London, demonstration Paris, Rome, Berlin – at any rate not in Spain” (Orwell, 1953).
Volunteer fighters In response, and seeing Spain as their opportunity to stem the spread of authoritarian right wing regimes across Europe, anti-fascists – the majority of them Communist Party members – began to arrive in However, as the war dragged on worth sacrificing to maintain peace Spain. The first Briton to die in over nearly two years of bitter elsewhere in Europe. Spain, Slade artist Felicia Brown, fighting, the influence of the Three days later, the battered was killed while serving as a International Brigades gradually remnants of the International militiawoman in Aragon during waned. Brigades were finally pulled out of August 1936. Consistently thrown into the heart the front line. Volunteers served in medical of the fire, the extranjeros were, in On 28 October 1938, their units, in the navy or as pilots and the words of one senior Scottish contribution was commemorated aircraft technicians. Orwell served volunteer, “cut to pieces” (Kerrigan, at a huge farewell parade in with the Catalan POUM militia 1938). Around one fifth of the total Barcelona, renowned for the (Orwell, 1938). number of 35,000 international impassioned speech of thanks by However, the majority of foreign volunteers were killed and almost the famous Communist orator La volunteers fought in International all were wounded at some stage. Pasionaria (Dolores Ibárruri), in Brigades, recruited and organised Volunteers were outnumbered which she assured the departing by the Comintern, the Communist and outgunned; their raw courage Internationals that: “You can go International. The brigades were and belief in the essential rightness with pride. You are history. You are divided into units based principally of their cause “could not overcome legend.” She promised them that on language and nationality; most inexperience, poor coordination their sacrifices would never be English-speaking volunteers were and superior military force” forgotten and that, one day, they placed in the 15th International (Carroll, 1994). could return be welcomed back to Brigade. On 21 September 1938, with the a free, democratic Spain. The internationals played a key government on the brink of defeat To the despair of the veterans of role in the successful defence of and the International Brigades all the International Brigades, it was Madrid in the winter of 1936-37. but annihilated, Spanish premier to be nearly 40 years before La Sprinkled among the Spanish Juan Negrín announced to the Pasionaria’s promise could be defenders at the rate of one to four, League of Nations the republic’s fulfilled. n they helped train the latter in the intention to repatriate all foreign use of weapons such as machine volunteers from Spain. Richard Baxell is chair of the guns, while providing an He was hoping to shame the International Brigade Memorial important psychological boost to western democracies into pressing Trust, a historian and author, and the Republican forces. Franco for a similar action, but research fellow of the Cañada they had other priorities, clearly Blanch Centre at the London School considering the Spanish republic of Economics and Political Science
References Carroll P (1994) The Odyssey of the Orwell G (1938) Homage to Catalonia. Abraham Lincoln Brigade. Stanford Secker & Warburg, London Press, California: 162 Orwell G (1953) Looking back on the Edwards J (1979) The British Government Spanish Civil War. In: England Your and the Spanish Civil War. Macmillan, England and Other Essays. Secker and London Warburg, London: 151-76 Kerring P (1938) Letter to Harry Pollitt, Toynbee P, ed (1976) Interview with 27 September 1938, Box C, File 25/5. John H. Bassett. In: The Distant Drum: International Brigade Archive, Marx Reflections on the Spanish Civil War. Memorial Library, London Sidgwick & Jackson, London: 140 Imperial War Museum: HU 33015; HU 71615; HU 34709; HU 71553; Elkan Vera; Alec Wainman; Wikimedia Commons Wikimedia Wainman; Alec Vera; Museum: HU 33015; 71615; 34709; 71553; Elkan War Imperial
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2016-17 Vol 6 No 4 17 Publications and bookshop
What’s better on a cold evening than curling up with a book? Publications here cover topics running from Cold War bunkers to glorious art nouveau, government secrecy and the geography of politics
Brussels Art Nouveau: closely at buildings that were Architecture and Design designed and decorated by Alec Forshaw, photography by some of the greatest names in Alan Ainsworth the movement, including £25, Unicorn Publishing Victor Horta, Paul Hankar, Group, 2016. Available from and Henry Van de Velde. the IAHS Descriptive accounts of The book, written by IAHS each building are matched president Alec Forshaw, offers with biographical information a detailed look at the city that about their creators, while could claim to have been the more than 150 colour capital of art nouveau – photographs highlight key Brussels. Today, the city features. remains deeply marked by it, and make a lasting mark for And, if you feel inspired and a living reminder of a itself. fancy seeing the buildings for powerful artistic flourishing. Its creative use of sinuous yourself, the book contains a The art nouveau movement natural forms and patterns dozen new maps to help you Civil Defence: from the arose in response to the remains highly influential and plan your trip. First World War to the Cold stifling, heavy weight of powerful today. Also by the same author War Victorian art and conformity. The first comprehensive and photographer is New City: Free to download, Historic However, it quickly proved to guide to the art nouveau Contemporary Architecture in England, be beautiful and innovative experience in Brussels, this the City of London, which is http://tinyurl.com/zh65wgt enough to move beyond this book allows readers to look available from the IAHS. The study of civil defence structures is in its infancy, but there is a growing interest and Prefab Homes Angus McBean in Islington appreciation that these Elisabeth Blanchet Edited by Mary Cosh, foreword buildings play an important £7.95 + £1.50 p&p, Shire, by Angus McBean role in our modern national 2014. Available from the IAHS IAHS, £4.50 + £1.20 p&p heritage. They represent a At the end of the Second A lovely book of 1960s physical manifestation of a World War, Winston photographs by renowned civilian service. Churchill promised to theatrical photographer This publication, from manufacture half a million Angus Bean, showing Historic England’s prefabricated bungalows to cinemas, music halls, Introductions to Heritage ease the housing shortage; in churches, squares, terraces Assets series, examines civil the end, more than 156,000 and more from the 1960s. defence buildings and their temporary prefabs were historical context, using delivered. photographs and diagrams. Nicknamed “palaces for the While many are utilitarian people”, and with kitchens, in design and materials they bathrooms and heating story of these popular homes are, none the less, historically systems, they proved popular and their gardens, and shows and technologically and, instead of being the various designs that were significant. demolished as intended, they produced. Structures discussed include were defended by residents Through the memories of air raid shelters (domestic and who campaigned to keep their residents, she also describes public), siren equipment, homes and communities. the communities who were water supplies, air raid and Nearly 70 years after the pleased to live in these homes. fire watcher posts, gas first prefabs were built, The IAHS hosted the launch cleansing centres and Cold Elisabeth Blanchet tells the of this book in December 2014. War bunkers.
18 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2016-17 Vol 6 No 4 What the Victorians Threw household chores or foreign Away imports, and a glass bottle Tom Licence what people were drinking. We £4.50, 108pp, Oxbow Books, can find out about the soaps, 2015. Available from the IAHS face creams and perfumes that This entertaining illustrated were used from packaging. books shows just how much Containers for foods and detail on people’s lives can be drinks show when a famous uncovered by going through brand emerged or whether a their rubbish. new product was successful. Tom Licence, who has spent a lot of time going around the country digging up rubbish Detail of 1871 map of Pentonville and the Angel dumps, shows how discarded household items contribute to Historical maps and Finsbury Square and Circus, the story of how our not too postcards Finsbury Park and Stroud distant ancestors built a Alan Godfrey Green, and Hornsey. throwaway society on the twin £2.50 each + 50p p&p Call 020 7833 1541 to check foundations of packaging and Wonder what your manor what we have in stock. mass consumption. His looked like 100 years ago or in research also illustrates how the middle of the 19th our own throwaway habits century? Check it’s in stock were formed. The society stocks historical The book has three main and old Ordnance Survey Some of our books are case studies – a labourer’s maps of Islington and other proving very popular so, cottage in Kent, a post office areas of London, including before you place an order, Rubbish tips act as archives in Shropshire and a rectory Camden, Hackney, the City check we haven’t sold out of everyday life, showing how in Norfolk. and the East End. – call Catherine Brighty people stocked their kitchen, l Tom Licence’s database of The maps cover areas on 020 7833 1541 or medicine and bathroom found objects is at www. including Clerkenwell, King’s email: catherine. cupboards. An old tin can tell whatthevictoriansthrewaway. Cross, the Angel, Highbury & [email protected] us about advertising, com Islington, Upper Holloway,
The Jewish Communities of The Planning System in Caledonian Park and its Islington, 1730s-1880s England and the Protection Surroundings Petra Laidlaw of Historic Parks and Sylvia Tunstall, Patsy Ainger £9.99 + £2.80 p&p, Islington Gardens and Robyn Lyons Archaeology & History Society The Gardens Trust £5.00 + 75p p&p, Islington Islington was home to a Free leaflet. Download from Society. Available from the IAHS significant Jewish population www.gardenhistorysociety.org/ 200 years ago, and remained conservation; printed copies are so until the middle of the 20th available from conservation@ century. As London expanded thegardenstrust.org and earlier inhabitants drifted This explains the place of outwards, the Jewish presence historic designed landscapes in these parts was forgotten. in the planning system and This volume relies on how historic parks and extensive research using and a few rogues. gardens are heritage assets for original sources and This volume traces a cross planning purposes. contemporary commentators section of characters, their It looks at the importance of to bring back to life the religious life, their occupations assessing significance, statutory several communities that lived and their contact with the rest consultation This area reflects Victorian here between the 1730s and of the community. obligations energy and ambition and is full the eve of mass immigration Two appendices set out and the of architectural, historical and in the 1880s. some of the factual role of the social interest. This booklet Former residents include background and statistics Gardens takes you on a mile-long walk many of the great and the underlying the narrative. Fully Trust and within the boundaries of the good of Jewish society, a large sourced and indexed, with 37 other huge cattle market that once number of ordinary people prints and photographs, most interested occupied the site, centred whose lives are more obscure, in colour. bodies. around the clock tower.
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2016-17 Vol 6 No 4 19 The History Thieves: Secrets, Secrets Act was passed, which and 1970s; hidden links with Lies and the Shaping of a limited and monitored what terrorist cells during the Modern Nation the public could and should Troubles; the sometimes Ian Cobain be told. Since then a culture of opaque workings of the £20, 368pp, hardback, secrecy has flourished. criminal justice system; Portobello Books, 2016 For example, the records of peacetime surveillance; and The book looks at how imperial rule were burnt as convenient loopholes in the successive British governments the British Empire came to an Freedom of Information Act. have been selective about what end. Government secrecy Drawing on previously they share with the public, since the end of the Second unseen material and rigorous which has left us with a World War included: research, this books shows how distorted and incomplete measures to conceal the a complex bureaucratic understanding of the workings existence of Bletchley Park machine has grown up, of the state and of the nation’s and its successor, GCHQ. for allowing governments to evade culture and its past. three decades; unreported accountability and their secrets In 1889, the first Official wars fought during the 1960s to be buried.
Prisoners of Geography: have the full picture. The Joy of Quiz Ten Maps That Tell You If you’ve ever wondered why Alan Connor Everything You Need To Putin is so obsessed with £14.99, 320pp, hardback, Know About Global Politics Crimea, why the US was Particular/Penguin, 2016 Tim Marshall destined to become a global In 1938 Britain started to quiz. £9.99, 320pp, paperback, superpower or why China’s Quizzes have since provided Elliott & Thompson, 2016 power base continues to entertainment in pubs and on All leaders expand, the answers are here. TV, seen criminal activity and are In 10 chapters – covering created folk heroes. This book constrained Russia, China, the US, Latin looks at the history of quizzes by geography. America, the Middle East, and people who work and Their choices Africa, India and Pakistan, take part in them. It also asks are limited by Europe, Japan and Korea, and questions mountains, the Arctic – using maps, such as rivers, seas essays and occasionally the “What is a and concrete. author’s personal experiences, fact?” and To follow Prisoners of Geography looks “Whatever Worktown: the Astonishing world events you need to at the past, present and future happened to Story of the Project that understand people, ideas and to offer an essential insight a prizes like Launched Mass Observation movements – if you don’t major factor that determines sandwich David Hall know geography, you’ll never world history. toasters?” £9.99, 320pp hardback, Orion $ In the late 1930s, the Lancashire town of Bolton Order form for books from the IAHS (photocopies acceptable) saw a groundbreaking social experiment. Over three years, Name ...... 90 observers detailed the everyday lives of ordinary Address ...... people at work and play – in the pub, dance hall, factory and on ...... holiday, with the aim of creating Tel no/email (in case we need to contact you about your order) ...... an “anthropology of ourselves”. This grew into the Mass Title(s)of publication Cost Observation movement, which turned the idle pleasure of ...... ...... people-watching into a science...... ...... Reports, photographs and first-hand sources are used to ...... ...... tell the stories of this short- lived but hugely influential Total cost ...... project and those involved in Please make cheques payable to “Islington Archaeology & History Society”; send this form it. This book provides a (photocopies acceptable) to IAHS, 8 Wynyatt Street, London EC1V 7HU chapter of social history and life in an industrial town.
20 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2016-17 Vol 6 No 4 Buy from the society store Bag a bargain
The society stocks books, postcards, maps of Islington and beyond and more – some are listed here. Call Catherine Brighty on 020 7833 Two IAHS books are on sale. 1541 if you wish to order several items or collect them in person. 53 Cross Street. Biography of a House Book title Author Price p&p Total Mary Cosh and Martin King, (£) (£) (£) with photographs by Pauline Lord. Hardback. An Architect in Islington Harley Sherlock 14.99 2.80 17.79 £9.95 (was £20) + £2.10 p&p Angus McBean in Islington Mary Cosh, ed 4.00 1.20 5.20 This book is a The Building That Lived Twice Alec Forshaw 20.00 2.80 22.80 must for anyone Brussels Art Nouveau: Architecture & Design Alec Forshaw, author, interested in and Alan Ainsworth, the history of photographs home decor. Caledonian Park and its Surroundings Sylvia Tunstall, Patsy 5.00 0.75 5.75 With Ainger, Robyn Lyons glorious Church Design for Congregations James Cubitt 11.00 1.50 12.50 colour photographs It describes how The Contexting of a Chapel Architect: James Clyde Binfield 18.00 1.90 19.90 one house changed since Cubitt 1836-1912 1785. Criminal Islington Keith Sugden, ed 5.00 1.40 6.40 53 Cross Street. Biography of a House Mary Cosh and 9.95 1.90 11.85 Only Bricks and ON SALE Martin King Mortar Harry Walters David Kirkaldy and his Testing and Christopher Rule 5.00 1.50 6.50 £5 (was £7.99) Experimenting Works + £1.50 p&p Discover De Beauvoir Town and Environs Mike Gray and 1.50 0.75 2.25 A tale of Isobel Watson growing up and Discover Stoke Newington. A Walk Through David Mander and 4.95 1.20 6.15 working class History Isobel Watson life from the 1930s through the Second Dissent & the Gothic Revival Bridget Cherry, ed 15.00 1.65 16.65 World War to the 1970s in An Historical Walk Along the New River Mary Cosh 4.00 1.65 5.65 notorious council tenements An Historical Walk Through Barnsbury Mary Cosh 4.00 1.65 5.65 in Popham Road, where Cathy Come Home was filmed. Islington’s Cinemas & Film Studios Chris Draper 5.00 1.65 6.65 Islington: Britain in Old Photographs Gavin Smith 12.99 1.65 14.64 The Jewish Communities of Islington, Petra Laidlaw 9.99 2.80 11.79 Buy from the IAHS 1730s-1880s London’s Mummies James Dowsing 4.00 0.75 4.75 Our books are on sale at Only Bricks and Mortar ON SALE Harry Walters 5.00 1.50 6.50 IAHS events and local fairs as well as by post. New City: Contemporary Architecture in the Alec Forshaw 19.95 2.80 22.75 City of London Bulk orders and 1970s London Alec Forshaw 12.99 1.65 14.64 collecting in person Prefab Homes Elisabeth Blanchet 7.95 1.50 If you would to make a The Squares of Islington Part II. Islington Mary Cosh 7.50 1.50 9.00 trade or bulk order, Parish collect books in person Smithfield: Past, Present and Future Alec Forshaw 18.95 2.80 21.75 or have any queries, contact Catherine 20th Century Buildings in Islington Alec Forshaw 14.99 2.80 17.79 Brighty on 020 7833 What the Victorians Threw Away Tom Licence 9.99 1.50 10.49 1541, email catherine. Other items [email protected]. uk or 8 Wynyatt Street, Old Ordnance Survey maps 2.50 0.75 3.25 EC1V 7HU Mugs: Union Chapel and Caledonian Park 6.00 2.80 8.80
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2016-17 Vol 6 No 4 21 Reviews A celebration of contraptions he Heath Robinson and the bulk of the museum is Museum, one of devoted to his depictions, for TLondon’s newest tourist example, of bizarre devices for attractions, is attached to a subterranean attacks on park cafe in Pinner. This German trenches in the First unconventional venue World War and contraptions perhaps matches the that might – or perhaps might unconventional art on display. not – have eased domestic William Heath Robinson tasks. may not be widely known Robinson was clearly not nowadays but, from the end of only a talented artist with a the Victorian era until his rare sense of humour but also death in 1944, he became one a man with a considerable of the UK’s most popular inventive imagination. artists for his humorous There is plenty of drawings of fantastical amusement to be found in his machines and gadgets. pictures of both peace and He had wanted to be a war which, roughly, get a landscape artist, and a little of room each. this work is represented. A third room is used for But he turned to humorous temporary displays, which illustration to make a living comprised on our visit a Heath Robinson- style machine for working a paper Above: Doubling Gloucester Cheeses by the Gruyere Method; guillotine, below and left: making the most of space in interwar homes made by local school pupils. Park. The park is a few Sadly, visitors minutes walk from Pinner were tube station. Between the two, forbidden to Pinner’s several surviving play with it. medieval buildings are worth The a look too. n museum, l The Heath Robinson Museum created with is open, for now, on Fridays, £1.3m of Saturdays and Sundays, lottery 11am-4pm. The Heath funding, is Robinson at War exhibition is adjacent to on until Sunday 8 January. the cafe in Pinner Mark Smulian Memorial www.marksmulian.co.uk
An artist who lived and learned in Islington
illiam Heath Robinson grew Holloway, returning to Finsbury Park American publications. The term “Heath up in Islington and attended two years later. Robinson” to describe an eccentric Wart school in the borough. Heath Robinson attended Islington contraption appeared in dictionaries He was born in 1872 at 25 Ennis Road Probationary School in 1884. In 1887, around 1912. He died in 1944. in Finsbury Park. In 1874, the family he attended Islington School of Art The William Heath Robinson Trust moved to 33 Bryantwood Road near in Barnsbury Street, entering the was set up in 1992 to assemble and Drayton Park, then in 1878 to nearby Royal Academy Schools five years later preserve his work. Its collection started 51 Benwell Road, where his in 1892. with pictures, books, letters and other grandparents were living. In 1886, the He became a household name after his items that had belonged to his daughter, family moved to 313 Camden Road in cartoons appeared in English and Joan Brinsmead. William Heath Robinson Trust Heath Robinson William
22 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2016-17 Vol 6 No 4 Magic, mystery, mesmerism and menageries
and Menagerie in the World”; A poster it was Sanger who brought from Buffalo Bill’s show to England. Islington’s John Nevil Maskelyne, own Royal manager of the Egyptian Hall Agricultural – “England’s Home of Hall features Mystery” – prided himself on a family exposing fraudulent séances. enjoying His shows specialised in magic William acts and illusions. I loved his Sanger’s “levitating lady” posters. waxworks Dan Leno, “the Funniest and Bostock his exhibition illustrates Man on Earth”, created the and Victorian popular pantomime dame, and visitors Wombwell’s Tentertainment through can hear sound recordings of menagerie. They are obviously sideshows with an elephant, the careers of five stars of the his most famous songs. thrilled by a man standing illusionists and what look like late 19th century, through Equally popular in her day, astride two galloping horses, lions jumping through hoops. vividly coloured posters, although Oh, to travel through time! playbills and various artefacts, almost The exhibition is such as “royal conjuror” Mr forgotten, was accompanied by events, Evanion’s magic “hat without Annie De including free performances. n end” with the objects he Montford and l Victorian Entertainments: pulled out of it. her “Mysteries There Will Be Fun is on at the “Lord” George Sanger is of Mesmerism”; British Library until Sunday there with his famous Toby, on display is 12 March. “the learned pig”. His shows the phrenology were advertised as “the head from Elizabeth Hawksley
Greatest Circus, Hippodrome her act. www.elizabethhawksley.com British Library
Revolutionary times with a lasting influence with the Beatles – including original lyrics – clips of hawn Levy’s book about important swinging London films, “swinging London”, happened snatches of pirate Radio SReady, Steady Go, that is still London, clothes, political tracts finishes with the words “You influential. and even a room full of bean hadda be there. You are.” Indeed, bags on which one can recline This exhibition takes a after a to watch videos of Woodstock. similar approach, with some morning The only thing missing is justice. It does not simply spent looking television, which moved from present historical artefacts but at pictures of oddity to household object in makes a case that 1966-70 was people in this era. Surely the styles of, a time of rapid social and The Beatles illustrated lyrics, Revolution, 1968, 1960s gear, I say, The Avengers, were also cultural change that exerts a by Alan Aldridge; the Souper Dress noticed some important to 1960s design? powerful influence even now. in the street Scattered throughout the Headphones provide visitors the era did kick away postwar outside would not have looked exhibition are album sleeves with a soundtrack of the Britain. It saw moves into the much out of place 50 years ago. from John Peel’s collection. Beatles, Rolling Stones, Kinks, mainstream for feminism, gay The exhibition asks: “How Who would have thought Grateful Dead, Jefferson rights, relaxed sexual morals, have the finished and this arbiter of hip taste Airplane and many others. environmental activism, unfinished owned a record by This era is remembered multiculturalism, personal revolutions of the Herman’s Hermits? n mainly for its music (still computing and an anti- late 1960s changed l You Say You Want a pervasive and with many of its conformist attitude of “do the way we live Revolution? Records performers, even minor ones, your own thing” that is still today and think and Rebels 1966-1970 still active), fashions and, to a with us. about the future?” is on at the V&A until lesser extent, films. The exhibition seeks links It answers Sunday 26 February. Some late 1960s concerns between then and now and it’s through a lot of can now seem pretentious, but easy to agree that something artefacts associated Mark Smulian Auctions Taylor Aldridge/Kerry Alan V&A/ Iconic Images,
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2016-17 Vol 6 No 4 23 What’s on
Events, exhibitions, courses, walks and more. Contact details of organisers are in the directory on page 28 – events may change or need advance booking. Islington Archaeology & History Society events are listed on the inside back page
Thursday 5 January, 7.30pm Thursday 19 January, 1pm Wednesday 25 January, 6pm Wednesday 1 February 2pm Coventry: its Canals and Roman Singing and its London’s Baking! Exhibition Discovering Discovery: Canal Society Influence Across Europe Tour with the Curator Using the National London Canal Museum, £4 St Sepulchre Without London Metropolitan Archives’ Website and Newgate, Gresham College Archives, free Catalogue Tuesday, 10 January, 8pm event, free Society of Genealogists, free, My Uncle, the Battle of Thursday 26 January, 1.15pm booking essential Britain VC Thursday 19 January, 1.15pm Down to Detail: a Hendon & District Chinese Money 19th-Century French Wednesday 1 February, 6pm Archaeological Society, £2 British Museum, free Gold Snuffbox Recent Research on British Museum, free Sailortown and the London Wednesday 11 January, Thursday 19 January, 2pm Docks 8pm Images of War Thursday 26 January, 5pm Docklands History Group, £2 Hornsey in World War 1 Exploration of the online Textiles in the Archives Hornsey Historical Society, £2 image database. Group Thursday 2 February, 1.15pm London Metropolitan Archives, London Metropolitan Collecting the East Thursday 12 January, 4pm free, booking essential Archives, free British Museum, free Olga Tufnell: life of a ‘Petrie Pup’ Thursday 19 January, 7.30pm Friday 27 January, 1.15pm Thursday 2 February, 1.30pm British Museum, free, booking Twenty Extraordinary Coinage in Roman Britain The Mildenhall Treasure: essential Building Projects on British Museum, free Fine Dining in Roman Primrose Hill Britain Friday 13 January, 1.15pm Camden History Society, £2 Friday 27 January, 2pm British Library, free, booking Face to Face with the Norman London essential Jericho Skull Saturday 21 January, 10am- London Metropolitan British Museum, free 4.30pm Archives, free, booking Thursday 2 February, 2pm A Fun Introduction to essential Making Sense of the Census Saturday 14 January, Garden History in 10 Objects Society of Genealogists, 1.15pm Study day. Garden History Saturday 28 January, 1.15pm £8.00/£6.40 Ming or Qing? The Grapevine, £29.79 including Silk Road Commodities: Porcelains of Two Chinese refreshments. https:// Tobacco and the Hookah Thursday 2 February, 7.30pm Imperial Dynasties gardenhistoryin10objects. British Museum, free The River Nene and British Museum, free eventbrite.co.uk Fenland Waterways Saturday 28 January London Canal Museum, £4 Tuesday 17 January, 1pm Tuesday 24 January, 1.15pm Medieval and Post Medieval Did Sir Walter Scott Invent The Jericho Skull: from Building Materials Friday 3 February, 1.15pm Scotland? Person to Ancestor and Workshop led by Ian Betts of Exploring Central America: Museum of London, Gresham Back Again the Museum of London Maudslay and the Future College event, free British Museum, free Archaeology. British Museum, free Bexley Archaeological Group, Tuesday 17 January, 6pm Wednesday 25 January, 1.15pm £25, booking essential Saturday 4 February, 1.15pm King George V Death Masks: Cromwell Greek Gods Museum of London, Gresham and Napoleon Tuesday 31 January, 1.15pm British Museum, free College event, free British Museum, free Voices of Iran British Museum, free Tuesday 7 February, 2pm Wednesday 18 January, Wednesday 25 January, 2pm Anarchy and Anarchists in 1.15pm Collecting Food History Wednesday 1 February, 1.15pm the Archive Rediscovering Cypriot London Metropolitan Material Matters: Soil, London Metropolitan Salamis Archives, free, booking Stone and Skeletons Archives, free, booking British Museum, free essential British Museum, free essential
24 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2016 Vol 6 No 4 Wednesday 8 February, 1.15pm Friday 24 February, 12pm Defacing the Past: Talk About a Military Photo Damnation and You Have Brought With You Desecration in Imperial Camden Local Studies and Rome Archives Centre, Holborn British Museum, free Library, London Westminster & Middlesex Family History Wednesday 8 February, 8pm Society event Hornsey Church Tower: Past, Present and Future Friday 24 February, 1.15pm Hornsey Historical Society, £2 The Parthenon Sculptures British Museum, free Thursday 9 February, 1.15pm The Library of Ashurbanipal, Saturday 25 February, 1.15pm King of the World Nubian Pharaohs and Kings British Museum, free of Assyria British Museum, free Thursday 9 February 2pm London Administrative From London’s Baking! at the London Metropolitan Archives. Saturday 25 February, 2pm-5pm Boundaries for Family Details of exhibition overleaf Coffers, Cauldrons, Historians Comfrey and Coifs: the Society of Genealogists, Tuesday, 14 February, 8pm Sunday 19 February, Lives of our Seventeenth £8.00/£6.40 London Ceramics at the 11am-4pm Century Ancestors Time of the Great Fire Exploring LGBTQ Histories Society of Genealogists, Saturday 11 February, 11am Hendon & District at the British Museum £20.00/£16.00 Speak Out Special Archaeological Society British Museum, free special LGBT history month event: event Tuesday 28 February, 1.15pm see www.facebook.com/ Wednesday 15 February 2pm A Cabinet of Curiosities in lgbthistory. London Street Names and Wednesday 22 February, 12pm Context: the Waddesdon London Metropolitan Numbering Newspapers for Family Bequest Archives, free, booking Society of Genealogists, Historians British Museum, free essential £8.00/£6.40 Society of Genealogists, £8.00/£6.40 Tuesday 28 February, 2pm Saturday 11 February, 1.15pm Thursday 16 February, 7.30pm Borough Market Enlightenment Collectors Played in Camden – Wednesday 22 February, 1.15pm London Metropolitan Archives, and the British Museum Charting the Sporting and Metalworking in the free, booking essential British Museum, free Recreational Heritage of a Classical World Borough at Play British Museum, free Wednesday 1 March, 6pm Monday 13 February, 2pm Camden History Society, £2 London’s Lea Valley – Sleeping … Thursday 23 February, 1.15pm Britain’s Best Kept Secret Talk on bedrooms, Friday 17 February, 1.15pm Rediscovery of Limoges Docklands History Group, £2 dormitories and boudoirs Greek Vase Paintings as Enamels in the 19th from the 17th to the 20th Reflections of Greek Century Thursday 2 March, 7.30pm century. Society British Museum, free Lifts, Locks and Stanches London Metropolitan British Museum, free London Canal Museum, £4 Archives, free, booking Thursday 23 February, 1.30pm essential Friday 17 February, 6pm Romance and Wednesday 8 March, 8pm The Roman Elite in Ancient Vonnoisseurship: the Wallace Tottenham’s Forgotten Tuesday 14 February, 1.15pm Pompeii: Private and Frick Collections and the Houses Hidden in Plain Sight: Benefactors and Public British Museum Hornsey Historical Society, £2 Finding LGBTQ Histories at Gratitude British Library, free, booking the British Museum British Library, free, booking essential Wednesday 8 March, 6pm British Museum, free essential The Value of Heritage and Thursday 23 February, 6pm the Heritage of Value Tuesday 14 February, 6 pm Saturday 18 February, 10am-4pm ‘Numberless Diverse Acts Museum of London, Gresham Affairs of the Heart: an Navigating the Dreams of of Courage and Belief’: College event, free Exploration of the an Icon: Cy Grant Grand the Struggle Against Slavery Symbolism of the Heart Finale in History and in the Wednesday 12 March, 8pm in Art London Metropolitan Present A Child’s War: Growing up Museum of London, Gresham Archives, free, booking Gresham College, Barnard’s in WW2
College event, free essential Inn Hall, free Hornsey Historical Society, £2 of London Archives/City London Metropolitan
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2016 Vol 6 No 4 25 Ongoing The Waddesdon Bequest Treasures of the British Exhibitions Gallery displaying nearly 300 Library Contact the organisations for medieval and Renaissance View more than 200 of the Until Sunday 8 January dates, times and prices. Please pieces, as well as 19th-century world’s most beautiful and Heath Robinson at War note that these may change. fakes, illustrating the influential books and London’s newest museum development of the art market documents, including painted opens with an exhibition of Tours of Union Chapel in the late 19th century. and early printed books, maps artwork, books and Christmas 12.15pm, first Sunday of the Free, British Museum and literary, scientific and cards for military units. In each month musical works. Exhibits world war, Heath Robinson A chance to appreciate the Billingsgate Roman House include Gutenberg’s Bible of demonstrated his ability to beauty, complex architecture and Baths 1455, Leonardo da Vinci’s counter, with gentle satire and and extent of Union Chapel’s Various dates and times notebook, Shakespeare’s First absurdity, pompous German buildings, including areas rarely Talk plus tour of the remains of Folio, Handel’s Messiah and a propaganda and the fear and open to the public, a secret the Billingsgate Roman House 110cm diameter celestial depression engendered by the passage and a hidden garden. and Baths, discovered in 1848 globe. horrors of war. Group bookings also available. under Lower Thames Street. British Library, free Heath Robinson Museum, £5 donation, book in advance Museum of London, £5 £6/concs on 020 7359 4019 Victoria and Albert l Review, page 22 London Metropolitan Museum free tours George Orwell’s Islington Archives: regular events These include: Until Sunday 8 January Various dates and times Events include advice sessions l Daily introductory tour Christmas Past: 400 Years George Orwell was at his most on research and meeting LMA l Medieval and Renaissance of Seasonal Traditions in prolific during his time in professionals. They include: galleries English Homes Islington. While he was living l Family history starter l Theatre and performance Authentic festive decorations, at 27b Canonbury Square, l Use LMA: getting started l Britain 1500-1900 lighting, music and greenery Animal Farm was published and using the catalogue See: www.vam.ac.uk/whatson in Geffrye Museum’s period and he worked on drafts of l Behind the scenes tour living rooms give an insight Nineteen Eighty-Four, l Handling documents at British Museum: Around into Christmas celebrations in published essays and articles, the LMA the World in 90 Minutes middle-class homes in and broadcast extensively. l Deciphering old handwriting Fridays, Saturdays and England over the past 400 Contact Andrew Gardner on l LGBTQ history club Sundays, 11.30am and 2pm years. The exhibition [email protected] l Film club and book club Guided tour looking at the examines traditions such as or 020 7359 4019 l A visit to conservation. Rosetta Stone, the Lewis kissing under the mistletoe to Contact the LMA for chessmen, the Parthenon decorating the tree and Roman Fort Gate Tours information, dates and times. sculptures and other items. sending cards, and highlights Tour the remains of the British Museum, £12, booking how the popularity of western gate of London’s Clerkenwell and Islington required Christmas has waxed and Roman military fort, beneath Guides Association: walks waned through the centuries. the streets next to the Guided walks led by the First Thursday in the month, This is accompanied by a museum. mayor of Islington’s guides. 2pm programme of events. Museum of London, £5 www.ciga.org.uk British Library Conservation Geffrye Museum, free Studio Tour Gilbert Galleries Marx Memorial Library See techniques used in caring Until Sunday 15 January Reopened gallery at the V&A tours for collections. Bedlam: the Asylum and with over 500 items, including Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1pm British Library, £10/concs Beyond a 17th century Peruvian gold The collection illustrates This exhibition explores how cup recovered from a radical and working class Historic Almshouse Tour the experience of mental shipwreck, a Tudor pomander history. See where Lenin The Geffrye Museum’s illness and notions of madness worn to ward off diseases and worked in exile in 1902-03, 18th century almshouse offers have been shaped over a life-size silver swan as well items from the Spanish Civil a glimpse into the lives of centuries, tracing the rise and as objects that belonged to War, Soviet Union posters and London’s poor and elderly in fall of the asylum and how it Charles I, Louis XV, Catherine artefacts from the 18th and 19th centuries. has reflected changing the Great and Napoleon. industrial [email protected], attitudes of society. It looks at Free, V&A disputes. The 020 7739 9893 models of care from elsewhere building’s 15th in the UK and Europe, century vaults Europe 1600-1815 revealing how each was Life size silver can be visited. More than 1,100 objects of founded in an optimistic spirit swan from £5/£3 concs, 17th and 18th century of humanitarian reform, but the V&A’s book on admin@ European art and design are abandoned as therapies failed Gilbert mml.xyz or 020 displayed in seven galleries. and ideas changed.
V&A Galleries 7253 1485 Free, V&A Museum Free, Wellcome Collection
26 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2016 Vol 6 No 4 Until Wednesday 1 March Maps and the 20th Century: Free exhibitions at Islington Museum Drawing the Line This exhibition of Until Tuesday 3 January 2017 extraordinary maps looks at Festa! Celebrating Islington in Art the important role they played Inspired by regency clown Joseph Grimaldi, the in the 20th century, and how performers of Sadler’s Wells and the Italian community in they monitor and shape Islington, artists from Islington Museum and the Estorick society. Exhibits range from Collection of Modern Italian Art display their work. an original sketch of the London Underground and spy Until Saturday 7 January maps to the satellite imagery ‘Commit outrage!’: the Spa Fields Riots 1816 of the 1990s. On 15 November and 2 December 1816, two of the largest British Library, £12/concs public demonstrations in decades were held in London at Spa Fields, Clerkenwell. The scale of the first so surprised 14 January-2 April 2017 the organisers that they reconvened two weeks later; pikes Lockwood Kipling: Arts and and guns were purchased for the rescheduled event. Crafts in the Punjab and Post Napoleonic-war unemployment, recession, London poverty and food shortages had led to public anger and Lockwood Kipling (1837 – unrest throughout the country. Towards the end of 1816, leading Spencerians, a group 1911) was an artist, teacher, advocating public land ownership and curator and influential figure universal (including female) suffrage, in the arts and crafts began to plan a different kind of public movement and a campaigner meeting in the capital – one that would be for the preservation of Indian huge and feature physical force. crafts, who played a Commit Outrage commemorates significant role in shaping the these riots that shocked the nation and V&A’s foundation collection. looks at the protagonists and how the V&A museum, free authorities dealt with such public disorder 200 years ago. Until 15 January 2017 Punks 13 January-28 February From handmade mixtape Islington’s Pride – Collecting for the sleeves and DIY fanzines to Future radical clothes, this exhibition This exhibition explores some of tells the stories of ordinary Islington’s LGBT collections and invites punks of the late 1970s. Punk you to have your say on what is collected crashed into London and next. Come and see inspiring art work, changed music, fashion and LGBT exhibition: London Lesbian & Gay Centre, quirky objects and hear surprising stories. attitudes forever. In a move Cowcross Street in the 1980’ l An LGBT history month event away from the big names of punk, the museum invited people to share their punk not Pudding Lane. Until Sunday 19 February performances alongside stories and memorabilia. London Metropolitan A History of Photography: fashion, film, design and Museum of London, free Archives, free the Body political activism. Display on the body as a l Review, page 23 Until Wednesday 1 February Until Sunday 5 February 2017 subject of both artistic London’s Baking! Bakers, Opus Anglicanum: expression and scientific Until Saturday 12 March Cakes, Bread and Puddings Masterpieces of English examination, exploring Victorian Entertainments: from 1666 Medieval Embroidery themes such as beauty, There Will Be Fun Inspired by Thomas Farriner Display of over 100 exquisite sexuality, growth and ageing. Victorian shows brought and his bakery where the Great embroideries associated with V&A Museum, free popular entertainment – Fire started, this event tells the figures of the Middle Ages, magic, hypnotism, pantomime story of London’s bakers and including Edward the Black Until Sunday 26 February and circus – to the masses and their cakes, bread and puddings Prince and the sainted martyr You Say You Want a shaped the theatrical traditions from 1666 to the 20th century Thomas Becket. The phrase Revolution? Records and of today. The rise of colour (with recipes). Photographs, “opus anglicanum” was coined Rebels 1966-70 printing is shown through films and documents include to describe these items made This major exhibition explores decorative posters, handbills, the recently uncovered plan of silk and gold and silver the significance and impact of advertisements and tickets. that shows Farriner’s bakery thread with elaborate designs. the late 1960s, expressed British Library, free l was in Monument Street, V&A Museum, £12 through music and Review, page 23 Islington Museum
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2016 Vol 6 No 4 27 Burgh House and DoCoMoMo UK Directory Hampstead Museum Modern movement heritage. New End Sq, NW3, 020 7431 www.docomomo-uk.co.uk 0144, www.burghhouse. History, civic, amenity and archaeology org.uk East London History Society societies, museums and online resources 42 Campbell Rd, E3 4DT, mail Camden History Society @eastlondonhistory.org.uk 020 7586 4436, www. camdenhistorysociety.org Enfield Archaeological To add or update information Bethlem Museum of the Mind Society in our directly, email editor 020 3228 4227, www. Camden New Town History www.enfarchsoc.org Christy Lawrance on christy@ bethlemheritage.org.uk Group islingtonhistory.org.uk www.camdennewtown.info England’s Places Bexley Archaeological Group Historic England photographs. All Hallows by the Tower www.bag.org.uk, Martin Camden Railway Heritage www.historicengland.org.uk/ Crypt Museum Baker: 020 8300 1752 Trust images-books/archive/archive- 020 7481 2928, www.ahbtt.org. 21 Oppidans Road, NW3, collections/englands-places uk/visiting/crypt-museum/ Bishopsgate Institute [email protected] Library and Archive Federation of Family Amateur Geological 230 Bishopsgate, 020 7392 Canonbury Society History Societies Society 9270, www.bishopsgate.org.uk www.canonburysociety.org. www.ffhs.org.uk/ 25 Village Road, N3 1TL uk, 1 Alwyne Place, N1 Bomb Sight Foundling Museum Amwell Society London map of WW2 bombs, Chartered Institution of 40 Brunswick Square, WC1, 7 Lloyd Square, London www.bombsight.org Building Services Engineers 020 7841 3600, www. WC1X 9BA Heritage Group foundlingmuseum.org.uk [email protected] British Airways Heritage www.hevac-heritage.org/ www.britishairways.com/ Freud Museum Ancestor Search travel/museum-collection/ Cinema Museum 20 Maresfield Gdns, NW3, 020 Guidance on where to look. public/en_gb www.cinemamuseum.org.uk/ 7435 2002, www.freud.org.uk www.searchforancestors.com British Heritage TV City of London Friends of Hackney Archives Ancient Yew Group www.405-line.tv/ Archaeological Society 020 8356 8925, archives@ www.ancient-yew.org/ [email protected] hackney.gov.uk British Library Archives Hub 96 Euston Rd, NW1, 0330 333 Clerkenwell and Islington Friern Barnet & District http://archiveshub.ac.uk/ 1144, customer-Services@ Guides Association Local History Society bl.uk 07971 296731, [email protected]. www.friern-barnethistory.org. Arsenal FC Museum uk uk. Photo archive: www. 020 7619 5000, www.arsenal. British Museum friern-barnet.com com Great Russell Street, WC1, 020 Clockmakers’ Museum 7323 8299, information@ www.clockmakers.org/ Friends of the New River Association for the Study britishmuseum.org museum-and-library Head and Preservation of Roman c/o Amwell Society Mosaics British Postal Museum and Cross Bones Graveyard www.asprom.org Archive www.crossbones.org.uk Friends of Friendless Reopening mid 2017, 020 Churches Bank of England Museum 7239 2570, info@ Crossness Pumping Station www.friendsoffriendless Threadneedle St, EC2R 8AH, postalheritage.org.uk 020 8311 3711, www. churches.org.uk 020 7601 5545, www.bankof crossness.org.uk england.co.uk/museum British Vintage Wireless Geffrye Museum Society Design Museum 136 Kingsland Road, E2 8EA, Barnet Museum and Local [email protected] http://designmuseum.org 020 7739 9893, www.geffrye- History Society museum.org.uk www.barnetmuseum.co.uk Brixton Windmill Docklands History Group 020 7926 6056, www. info@docklandshistory group. Georgian Group BBC archive brixtonwindmill.org org.uk 6 Fitzroy Square, W1T 5DX, www.bbc.co.uk/archive [email protected] Bruce Castle Museum Dictionary of Victorian Benjamin Franklin House Lordship Lane, N17 8NU, 020 London/Cat’s Meat Shop Grant Museum of Zoology 020 7925 1405, info@ 8808 8772, museum.services@ Encyclopaedia and blog, www. 020 3108 2052, www.ucl.ac. BenjaminFranklinHouse.org haringey.gov.uk victorianlondon.org uk/museums/zoology
28 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2016-17 Vol 6 No 4 Gresham College London Lives 1690-1800 Free lectures on different www.londonlives.org topics, www.gresham.ac.uk London Metropolitan Greater London Industrial Archives Archaeology Society (GLIAS) 40 Northampton Rd, EC1 36 Gallows Hill Lane, Abbots 0HB, 020 7332 3820, ask. Langley, Herts, WD5 0DA, [email protected], www.glias.org.uk www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/lma
Guildhall Library London & Middlesex Aldermanbury, EC2V 7HH, Archaeological Society 020 7332 1868, textphone 020 020 7814 5734, www.lamas. 7332 3803, guildhall.library@ org.uk cityoflondon.gov.uk London Museums of Health Hackney Museum The Design Museum has opened in its new home in the former and Medicine 1 Reading Lane, E8 1GQ, Commonwealth Institute in Kensington High Street; it has a www.medicalmuseums.org www. hackney.gov.uk/ distinctive hyperbolic paraboloid roof that dips at the centre cm-museum.htm London Museum of Water Hornsey Historical Society Islington Museum & Steam The Hackney Society The Old Schoolhouse, 136 245 St John Street, EC1V 4NB, 020 8568 4757, www. Round Chapel, 1d Glenarm Tottenham Lane, N8 7EL, 10am-5pm, closed Weds and waterandsteam.org.uk Road, E5 0LY, 020 7175 1967, hornseyhistorical.org.uk Sun, 020 7527 2837, islington. [email protected] [email protected], London Socialist Hunterian Museum www.islington.gov.uk/heritage Historians Heath Robinson Museum RCS, 35-43 Lincoln’s Inn http://londonsocialist 020 8866 8420, welcome@ Fields, WC2, www.rcseng. Islington’s Lost Cinemas historians.blogspot.com heathrobinsonmuseum.org ac.uk/museums www.islingtonslostcinemas.com London Society Hendon and District IanVisits Islington Society http://londonsociety.org.uk/ Archaeology Society Blog with history and other 3P Leroy, 436 Essex Rd, N1 3QP, 020 8449 7076, hadas.org.uk events. www.ianvisits.co.uk [email protected] London Topographical Society Heritage of London Trust International Council on Jewish Museum www.londontopsoc.org 020 7730 9472, www. Monuments and Sites www.jewishmuseum.org.uk heritageoflondon.com www.icomos-uk.org London Vintage Taxi Joe Meek Society Association Historic Hospital Admission Imperial War Museum www.joemeeksociety.org www.lvta.co.uk Records Project Lambeth Road, SE1 6HZ, www.hharp.org/ www.iwm.org.uk Dr Johnson’s House London Transport 17 Gough Square, EC4, www. Museum Highgate Literary and Islington and Camden drjohnsonshouse.org 020 7379 6344, www. Scientific Institution Archives Cemetery ltmuseum.co.uk [email protected] High Road, East Finchley, N2, Keats House 020 7527 8804, www.islington. 020 7332 3868, keatshouse@ London Underground Historical Association, gov.uk/Environment/cemeteries cityoflondon.gov.uk Railway Society Central London Branch [email protected] 020 7323 1192, www.history. Islingtonfacesblog.com Lewisham Local History org.uk, [email protected] Living history interviews. Society London Westminster & http://islingtonfacesblog.com www.lewishamhistory.org.uk Middlesex Family History Historic Towns Forum Society www.historictowns forum.org Islington Local History London Archaeological www.lwmfhs.org.uk Centre Archive and Research History of Harringay Finsbury Library, 245 St John Centre Online Catalogue Markfield Beam Engine www.harringayonline.com/ St, EC1V 4NB. Open by http://archive.museumof and Museum group/historyofharringay appointment only. To make an london.org.uk/laarc/catalogue/ Markfield Park, N15, 01707 appointment or enquire about 873628, [email protected] Horniman Museum archive collections, email London Canal Museum 100 London Rd, SE23, 020 [email protected] 12-13 New Wharf Road, N1 Mausolea & Monuments 8699 1872, www.horniman. or call 020 7527 7988. www. 9RT, 020 7713 0836, www. Trust ac.uk islington.gov.uk/heritage canalmuseum.org.uk www.mmtrust.org.uk Road/Design Museum Gravity
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2016-17 Vol 6 No 4 29 Marx Memorial Library Newington Green Action St Marylebone Society Tiles and Architectural 37a Clerkenwell Green, EC1 Group www.stmarylebonesociety.org Ceramics Society 0DU, 020 7253 1485, info@ 020 7359 6027, www. http://tilesoc.org.uk marx-memorial-library.org newingtongreen.org.uk Science Museum Exhibition Road, SW7 2DD. Tottenham Civic Society The Model Railway Club New River Action Group www.sciencemuseum.org.uk www.tottenhamcivicsociety. 4 Calshot St, N1 9DA 020 8292 5987, mail@ org.uk 020 7837 2542, www. newriver.org.uk Sign Design Society themodelrailwayclub.org www.signdesignsociety.co.uk Transport Trust North London Railway Lambeth Rd, SE1, 020 7928 Museum of Brands Historical Society Sir John Soane’s Museum 6464, www.transporttrust.com 111-117 Lancaster Road, W11 020 7837 2542, www.nlrhs. 13 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, WC2A 1QT, 020 7908 0880, info@ org.uk 3BP, www.soane.org Twentieth Century Society museumofbrands.com 70 Cowcross St, EC1, 020 7250 Northview – 1930s estate Smithfield Trust 3857, www.c20society.org.uk Museum of Domestic www.northview.org.uk 70 Cowcross St, EC1, 020 Design & Architecture 7566 0041, info@ Union Chapel and Friends (MoDA) Ocean Liner Society smithfieldtrust.org.uk of the Union Chapel 020 8411 4394, www.moda. wwwocean-liner-society.com Compton Avenue, N1 2XD, mdx.ac.uk/home Society of Genealogists www.unionchapel.org.uk/ Pauper Lives in Georgian www.sog.org.uk, 020 7251 pages/friends.html Museum of London London and Manchester 8799, booking: 020 7553 3290 150 London Wall, EC2Y 5HN, http://research.ncl.ac.uk/ Victoria & Albert Museum 020 7814 5511, info@ pauperlives Society for the Protection Cromwell Rd, SW7, 020 7907 museumoflondon.org.uk of Ancient Buildings 7073, www.vam.ac.uk Peckham Society 37 Spital Sq, E1 6DY, 020 7377 Museum of London www.peckhamsociety.org.uk 1644, www.spab.org.uk V&A Museum of Childhood Archaeology 020 8983 5200, www. 020 7410 2200, www.museum Petrie Museum of Egyptian Southwark and Lambeth museumofchildhood.org.uk oflondon archaeology.org.uk Archaeology Archaeology Society www. ucl.ac.uk/museums/ 79 Ashridge Cres, SE18 3EA Victorian Society Museum of London petrie 020 8994 1019, www. Docklands The Streatham Society victoriansociety.org.uk 020 7001 9844, www.museum Prehistoric Society www.streathamsociety.org.uk oflondon.org.uk/docklands www.prehistoricsociety.org Wallpaper History Society Stuart Low Trust wallpaperhistorysociety.org.uk Museum of the Order of Proceedings of the Old www.slt.org.uk St John Bailey Walthamstow Historical St John’s Gate, EC1M 4DA, www.oldbaileyonline.org Rotherhithe & Bermondsey Society 020 7324 4005, www. Local History Society www.walthamstow museumstjohn.org.uk Railway Correspondence [email protected] historicalsociety.org.uk/ and Travel Society Musical Museum www.rcts.org.uk Royal Archaeological Wellcome Collection 399 High Street, TW8 0DU, Institute www.wellcomecollection.org www.musicalmuseum.co.uk Rescue/British [email protected] Archaeological Trust John Wesley’s House and National Archives www.rescue-archaeology.org. Royal College of Nursing Museum of Methodism 020 8876 3444, www. uk Library and Heritage Centre 49 City Rd, EC1, www.wesleys nationalarchives.gov.uk 0345 337 3368, rcn.library@ chapel.org.uk/museum.htm Ragged School Museum rcn.org.uk National Churches Trust 020 8980 6405, www.ragged William Morris Gallery www.nationalchurchestrust.org schoolmuseum.org.uk Thames Discovery Forest Road, E17, 020 8496 Programme 4390, www.wmgallery.org.uk National Piers Society Royal Air Force Museum Mortimer Wheeler Hse, www.piers.org.uk 020 8205 2266, www. 46 Eagle Wharf Rd, N1, Wilmington Square Society rafmuseum.org.uk/london 020 7410 2207, www.thewilmington Newcomen Society for the thamesdiscovery.org squaresociety.org History of Engineering and Royal Institute of British Technology Architects (RIBA) Theatres Trust Women’s Library Collection 020 7371 4445, office@ 66 Portland Place, W1B 1AD, 020 7836 8591, www. http://tinyurl.com/womens- newcomen.com www.architecture.com theatrestrust.org.uk library library
30 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2016-17 Vol 6 No 4 Islington Archaeology & History Society Events
Wednesday 18 January, 7.30pm, Islington Town Hall 1 January 2017, meet outside Highbury & Islington Station, 11am The Grand Junction Water Works and the New year walk: George Orwell’s Islington development of London’s water supply Led by Andy Gardner, IAHS chair
Chris Great, London Museum of Water and Steam, Kew George Orwell was at his most prolific during his time in Islington – Animal Farm was Chris Great will discuss the challenges of supplying water to a published and he worked on drafts rapidly growing city throughout the 19th century, with issues of of Nineteen Eighty-Four while he pollution and disease and the enabling role of the steam engine. was living in Canonbury Square. Steam was any important source of power the 18th, 19th and even 20th centuries. Suggested donation of £5. All The London Museum of Water and Steam (pictured) has four proceeds to the Margins working beam homelessness project. engines, including a Boulton and Watt of Booking preferred but not essential 1820 and the world’s – contact Andrew Gardner on largest working [email protected] or Cornish pumping 020 7359 4019 engine, which was installed in 1846 and worked 24/7 until Wednesday 15 March, 7.30pm, Islington Town Hall 1944. The Swedenborg Society The Kew Engines Trust, the restoration Richard Lines, author of A History of the Swedenborg of the engines and Society and former Swedenborg Society trustee how the museum was set up will also Emanuel Swedenborg (1688–1772) was a philosopher, scientist, be discussed. inventor, astronomer, mathematician, parliamentary figure and theologian. He had a prolific career as an inventor and scientist; among Wednesday 15 February, 7.30pm, Islington Town Hall his designs was a flying machine (pictured below). Later in life, The abandoned Northern Line extension he became increasingly involved in spiritual matters and wrote 18 published theological works, including a book on the Jim Blake, author of Northern Wastes: the Scandal of the afterlife, Heaven and Hell. Uncompleted Northern Line He knew London well and died at Cold Bath Fields, Clerkenwell, in March 1772. Plans for an extension to the Northern Line from Finsbury Park Established in 1810, the to Highgate and Alexandra Palace were abandoned in the early Swedenborg Society 1950s – even though works worth more than £3 million had translates and publishes been carried out on it. Swedenborg’s works. The works from Finsbury Park to Alexandra Palace were Richard Lines was secretary virtually complete. Highgate High Level Station was of the Swedenborg Society substantially rebuilt in 1940. from 2002 to 2014 and a The extension had been put on hold because of the Second trustee for nearly 20 years. World War. Although London Transport intended to complete the project – even announcing completion dates for 1948-49 – all uncompleted sections were abandoned in the early 1950s. l Keep up to date with our Facebook group Jim Blake will tell the story of this abandoned scheme. www.facebook.com/groups/islingtonhistory
The Islington Archaeology & History Society meets 10 times a year, usually at 7.30pm on the third Wednesday of the month
at Islington Town Hall, Upper Street, N1. £1 donation/free to members. Everyone welcome. www.islingtonhistory.org.uk Commons Wikimedia Christy Lawrance;
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2016-17 Vol 6 No 4 31 The Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Back page picture
This collage panel by Kenneth Halliwell has been acquired by Islington Museum (see news, page 5). It did not have a title, so museum staff have named it World of Cats Islington Museum