Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Vol 5 No 1 Spring 2015 incorporating Islington History Journal
Threat to Angel landmarks
Crossrail is called on to change its plans, so Angel’s historic buildings – including its former inn – will not be demolished to make way for the new railway
How language affects how we understand history l Film to show changes in a square over 50 years l Visit the Clerks’ Well l Growing up in postwar Islington l Dolls’ houses reflect architecture and society l The industrious inventor Mr Coan l Bedlam burial records go online l Stepping in for Shoreditch l Books and events l Your local history questions answered 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 Rt Hon Lord Smith of Finsbury 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 Chairman We organise lectures, tours research, memories and old Andrew Gardner, andy@ and visits, and publish this photographs. islingtonhistory.org.uk quarterly journal. We hold A one-page article needs Membership, publications 10 meetings a year, usually about 500 words, and the and events at Islington town hall. maximum article length is Catherine Brighty, 8 Wynyatt The society was set up in 1,000 words. We like receiving Street, EC1V 7HU, 020 7833 1975 and is run entirely by pictures to go with articles, 1541, catherine.brighteyes@ volunteers. If you’d like to but please check that we can hotmail.co.uk get involved, please contact reproduce them without Treasurer our chairman Andrew infringing anyone’s copyright. Philip Anderson, phlpandrsn6 Gardner (details left). The journal is published in @btopenworld.com www.facebook.com/ print and online in pdf form. Committee members 8 www.islingtonhistory.org.uk groups/islingtonhistory.org.uk Deadline for the summer Kathleen Frenchman issue is 30 April. Michael Harper Derek Seeley Journal back issues and extra copies Ever wondered…? Academic adviser Do you have any queries about Lester Hillman, former Journal distribution is Islington’s history, streets or visiting professor, London overseen by Catherine buildings? Send them in for Metropolitan Business School, Brighty (details left). our tireless researcher Michael London Metropolitan Contact her for more Reading and other readers to University copies, back issues, if you answer. Please note we do not Journal editor move house and about keep an archive or carry out Christy Lawrance, christy@ membership. Back issues family research. islingtonhistory.org.uk, can also be downloaded l See Letters, page 6 c/o 6 Northview, Tufnell Park via our website at www. Road, N7 0QB 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 ...... Contacts Contact editor Christy Name(s) ...... Lawrance about articles and pictures for the journal Address ...... (details left).
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2 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Spring 2015 Vol 5 No 1 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society
Incorporating Islington History Journal
Vol 5 No 1 Spring 2015
We may yet mourn loss of 1970s offices
he cranes continue to rise over London, a sign of renewed Teconomic vigour – but almost Contents every construction site is also a site of demolition of our architectural heritage. The scale of the demolition taking News 4 place in London is staggering. Call to act to save Angel’s heritage, Bedlam burial records made available and former Architecturally important buildings are Islington planner steps in for Shoreditch being razed – as are vast quantities of unheralded office blocks, industrial units Your letters and questions 6 and housing developments. The hoard by the coal hole, the disappearance of Canonbury Avenue and the In central London alone, 9.2 million street houses that joined a square square feet of office space is under construction, so existing office buildings, Threat to Angel landmarks 9 many built in the 20th century, will have Historic buildings, including the former Angel Coaching Inn are under to be come down to make way for it. Postwar housing estates are being Language and how we understand history 10 replaced by new homes. History texts can be misinterpreted if we fail to consider how language is used now The Spitalfields Trust, with the support and in the past of Sir John Betjeman, stopped the redevelopment of part of Spitalfields’ A square’s half century 12 historic Norton Folgate area in the 1970s. A film is to show the phenomenal changes in a square in Barnsbury over 50 years Today, there are proposals to demolish around three-quarters of the buildings in The Clerks’ Well 13 the area and replace them with office The well that gave Clerkenwell its name is open for viewing towers several times their height. Norton Folgate has plenty of unusual, Growing up in postwar Islington 14 historic buildings. The demolition of It was a time of freedom to play, learning to dance, film shows and holidays by newer ones of the type we see every day the seaside for Patricia Payne is unlikely to cause as much outrage. Some readers may rejoice that postwar Lives in miniature 16 buildings are being torn down. Many Dolls’ houses reflect architecture over the years, as well as society and home were built cheaply and sometimes owners’ aspirations shoddily. Many people find them unattractive. The industrious inventor Mr Coan 18 We should, however, remember that The aluminium foundry owner who was a skilled craftsman and a prolific inventor Georgian and Victorian family homes and factories were torn down in huge Publications 18 numbers. While several postwar office Filthy London, a social history of buses, daily life during the Napoleonic wars, a blocks were listed earlier this year, the garden suburb, days out in London, agony aunts plus special offers continuing assault on London’s 20th century everyday buildings indicates that Events and exhibitions 24 we are repeating the same mistake. Directory of societies, museums and resources 28 Tom Lorman Researcher, University College London Islington Archaeology & History Society events 31
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Spring 2015 Vol 5 No 1 3 news In brief Bedlam burial records available online
Market Estate tenants and staff tell their story The names and backgrounds of more than 5,000 Londoners An oral history of the Market buried in Bedlam’s burial Estate told by residents, ground at Liverpool Street councillors and housing staff, have been made available by a describes “a community failed Crossrail research project. by social housing policies”. Thousands of people were The 1960s estate was beset by buried in the grounds over antisocial behaviour and poor some 150 years. They included maintenance. It was knocked paupers, religious down in 2010 and replaced by nonconformists and patients the Parkside scheme, which at Bedlam Hospital. was developed in consultation Bedlam did not keep its Bedlam did not hold burial records; parish churches recorded with residents, with more open own burial records. Parish which of their parishioners had been buried at Bedlam space, gardens and balconies. churches recorded which of l https://market2parkside. their parishioners were buried established in 1569 to help industry, plague and the wordpress.com/film/ at Bedlam. parishes cope with Great Fire.” Last June, 16 volunteers overcrowding during The archaeological Postwar office blocks were recruited by Crossrail to outbreaks of plague and other excavations at Liverpool Street listed grade II scour parish records from epidemics; plague was the are being carried out by across the capital to create the most common cause of death Museum of London Fourteen postwar office blocks first extensive list of people given in the records, followed Archaeology staff. gained grade II listed status in buried at Bedlam in the 16th by infant mortality and The forthcoming dig is January. The offices, built and 17th centuries. tuberculosis. expected to uncover medieval between 1964 to 1984, include The database will inform Crossrail archaeologist Jay and Roman artefacts. 1 Finsbury Avenue and Civil Crossrail’s archaeological Carver said: “This research is Skeletons will be analysed to Aviation Authority House in excavation of the eastern a window into one of the most find out about the life, health Kingsway. Roger Bowdler, entrance of Liverpool Street turbulent periods of London’s and death at the time. director of designation at Crossrail station; around past. These people lived l The burial records can be English Heritage, said: “These 3,000 skeletons are expected through civil wars, the searched at www.crossrail.co. offices show how architecture to be found. Restoration, Shakespeare’s uk/sustainability/archaeology/ has adapted to recent radical The burial ground was plays, the birth of modern bedlam-burial-ground-register changes in how we work.”
Peak population in Former Islington planner steps in for Shoreditch London, not Islington London’s population reached Proposals for the historic area There are parallels between and fatuous” – and he its highest level on 2 February of Norton Folgate would cause Norton Folgate and Smithfield condemned plans to use fabric at just over 8.615 million “substantial harm”, according Market. Both sets of plans salvaged from demolished people, according to the to a report by Islington’s include the retention of a few warehouses in a new office as Greater London Authority. former chief conservation and facades and using some “vague… impossible to The previous peak population design officer. salvaged material – and both enforce’ and ‘meaningless”. was 8.6 million in 1939. Some Alec Forshaw prepared his gained support from English boroughs, however, have fewer report for the Spitalfields Heritage. residents. Islington has seen Trust, after British Land Concerning Norton Folgate, the biggest reduction, from proposed extensive demolition Mr Forshaw wrote: “The loss 343,000 people in 1939 to in the area to make way for of so much of the interiors of 221,000 in 2015 – a fall of 36%. large office blocks. the 19th century warehouses The plans involve destroying is extremely regrettable, and Pub protection plans 70% of the fabric of a harmful to their character.” conservation area. He criticised British Land’s Demolishing of changing the Mr Forshaw was an expert argument that tall buildings in use of pubs listed as assets of witness at the Smithfield Norton Folgate would mediate Keep up to date with our community value could Market public inquiry, which between the high-rise blocks Facebook page at www. require planning permission, rejected plans to redevelop the in the City and the low-rise facebook.com/groups/
Bedlam record: Crossrail; Martin Klute: Christy Lawrance; White Lion: Ewan Munro White Lion: Ewan Martin Klute: Christy Lawrance; Bedlam record: Crossrail; under proposed legislation. market buildings. area to the east, as “dreadful islingtonhistory
4 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Spring 2015 Vol 5 No 1 Angel’s heritage under threat: we have to act now
A stretch of Islington High and temporary work sites. Street, including the landmark Maps for the project show Co-operative Bank and other buildings on the west side of listed buildings, could be Islington High Street included knocked down to make way in such an area. Torrens Street for Crossrail 2. has also been designated, All the buildings on the probably for vent shafts. west side of the road from It is believed that earlier Angel tube to White Lion plans identified the Royal Bank Street could be demolished of Scotland building, which is Cllr Martin Klute, an used as a disaster recovery architectural technician and centre and has unused vice-chair of Islington’s shopfronts, as a potential planning committee, told a Left: Cllr Martin Klute: “If we don’t make a noise now, it will station site. This option would joint meeting of the Islington happen”; right: map showing where works are proposed be preferred by many people. Archaeology & History Cllr Klute said the plans Society and the Islington the station’s platforms, building carried out two years showed a “callous disregard” Society in January. expected to be 250m long, later by WH Lascelles & Co of and were an example of The entrance to a new would stretch to Penton Bunhill Row. The building was “engineers pleasing station at Angel is proposed Street. adapted in the early 1920s themselves”. for this This could necessitate the when its three lower storeys He emphasised that terrace; demolition of the grade II were converted into a Lyons’ decisions were being made listed Co-op building on the café. It has been occupied by now about which buildings main crossroads at the Angel. the Co-op since 1979. would have to be demolished. Built as an inn for brewer Other buildings under threat He pointed out that, Truman, Hanbury, Buxton & include the former Angel although Transport for Co, it was designed by Cinema and the White Lion London could say that nothing architects Frederick James Inn, both of which are listed. would happen for a long time Eedle and Sydney and they were at an early stage, Herbert Meyers, who Site identified it was important that local specialised in public Places at ground level that will residents and people acted houses. Plans were be affected by Crossrail 2 now – once time and money prepared in 1901 and works have been designated had been spent on drawing up “areas of surface interest”. They detailed architects’ plans, they include sites that could be used would be unlikely to change. The former White Lion, on the corner for stations, ventilation and “If we don’t make a noise of White Lion emergency access shafts, places now, it will happen,” he said. Street, could be where trains will reach the l Threat to Angel landmarks, demolished surface, maintenance depots page 9
Angel Association suggests alternatives to ‘simplistic’ proposals
The Co-op building on the redevelopment, leaving the contribute its views based on near Penton Street for the corner of Islington High historic buildings isolated its detailed local knowledge. station entrance, as this site Street is one of the area’s should not be contemplated. It made some suggestions as was both under exploited and “strongest landmarks” and the Is called the approach to the to where works could be very large and would provide cinema tower “similarly Angel area “too simplistic and carried out, including areas to “very good possibilities” for identifies the Angel”, the unimaginative”. the east of Islington High redevelopment. Angel Association said in its The association welcomed Street, which contain the The society added that its submission to Crossrail 2. the proposed transport system Royal Bank of Scotland suggestions would “draw The local amenity society and new station at the Angel building which is seen as together Angel town centre, wrote: “It seems inconceivable in principle, and said it was “ugly, overbearing and making get rid of dead frontages, and that these might be essential that good dialogue very poor use of its whole site”. make pedestrian flows much demolished or harmed.” with the Crossrail 2 project It also suggested using the easier to the benefit of the It added that piecemeal team continued so it could Sainsbury’s site and car park area’s amenity and success”.
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Spring 2015 Vol 5 No 1 5 Letters and your questions We welcome letters. Our researcher Michael Reading can answer your questions, so get in touch if you have a query about Islington, or can answer or add to anything here
The disappearance of present-day junction of in the names of Cornelius Canonbury Avenue Canonbury Villas/Braes Crastin at 3 Frederick Place My mother was born at Street. A small park now and Parker & Williams, 17 Canonbury Avenue in stands on the site. Paradise Nursery, at 1898; her brother Charles was The bomb damage map 21 Bellevue Terrace. born there in 1896. My shows that these houses were Seven Sisters Road at that grandfather was a builder not damaged by bombing time consisted of a variety of named Joseph Sheldon. during the Second World War, terraces, places etc and the I can’t find Canonbury although St Stephen’s Church road was not renumbered Avenue on Google maps and was completely destroyed by consecutively until 1873, am wondering if its name has incendiary bombs in 1940. It when all the subsidiary names changed or if it was destroyed. was rebuilt in 1958-59. disappeared. The 1901 census shows the I had a small booklet By 1880, the nurseries had family living at 9 Thornhill produced to commemorate gone. Like most open spaces Crescent, so I am wondering the 150th anniversary of the St Stephen’s Church next to in Islington, they were built why they moved. They were founding of St Stephen’s 17 Canonbury Road in 1939 on – a notable exception is the not in the 1911 census as they Church in Canonbury Road 27 acres that make up went to Australia in 1909 as in 1989. A photograph used in who owned this piece of land Highbury Fields. Joseph had a job building it shows the church and part was Bean. They were market No nurseries were listed in parliament house in Canberra. of 17 Canonbury Road. gardeners for several the 1869 Street Directory for Trish Anderson Unfortunately, it does not generations and I believe they Park Road, which was [email protected] show the whole house – there had links to Covent Garden. opposite Seven Sisters Road would have been a lower The time would be any time on the other side of Holloway I have found just two references window or windows. from 1805. James Bean’s son Road. Park Road became to Canonbury Avenue and On a personal note, as a was James William Bean Parkhurst Road in 1876. both refer to Canonbury small boy in 1942, I was a (born 1816) and his son was I have been unable to trace Road, with no indication of member of St Stephen’s wolf George William Bean (born any reference to the Bean the relationship. One just cubs who held their meetings 1843). My gran’s grandmother, family. You may be able to states “Canonbury Avenue in the church hall and I Mary Bean, married John find them through the – Canonbury Road 1892”. remember the houses had McRae and the family lived in 1851,1861 and 1871 censuses. Canonbury Road came into been reduced to rubble. Thornton Heath in 1851. It might be helpful to obtain a existence by order in 1863 and I believe – and this is only Alisa Jones copy of the birth certificate of houses were not numbered supposition on my part – that [email protected] George William Bean from systematically at that time. the houses were empty before the General Register. However, the 1869 Post Office the Second World War started The Commercial and Trade Finally, I am rather Street Directory shows the in 1939 and the area was due Directories for 1846, 1859 and surprised that the family lived numbering exactly as it is for redevelopment, which had 1869 contain no entries for in Thornton Heath as it would today, with even numbers on to be abandoned. anyone named Bean engaged have been a considerable the east side and odd numbers Michael Reading in market gardening, as distance from Islington. on the west, so we can assume nursery and seeds men, or in Michael Reading that your mother was born at When Holloway had landscape gardening. 17 Canonbury Road. market gardens The 1869 Ordnance Martineau Road and a Unfortunately, My family owned land at Survey map shows two 19th century traveller 17 Canonbury Road no longer Holloway Road/Parkhurst nurseries on the south Is there any connection exists. It stood on the west Road, N7. I have no idea side of Seven between Martineau Road, N5, side of the road and was the why/how they owned Sisters the much later Martineau first house north of St this land – I just Road, just Mews and Sir Wilfrid Stephen’s Church (built in remember my in from Holloway Martineau, joint executor to 1839); nos 1-15 were on the gran talking Road. These the will of Neville south side. It was one of seven about it. were listed in Chamberlain? houses of varying sizes, which The surname the Post Office Neville’s father, Joseph extended almost up to the of my ancestors street directory spent his early years in
6 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Spring 2015 Vol 5 No 1 Highbury Place, and famously named the family seat in Birmingham “Highbury”. Andrew Gardner [email protected]
Building started on Martineau Road in 1879-80 but, by 1882, only nos 1-7 had been built. It was named after Harriet Martineau (1802-1876) celebrated author, traveller, journalist and novelist. She travelled in Egypt and Palestine in 1846-47 and in the US in 1834-36. She was related to Richard Martineau who became a junior partner in Whitbread’s Brewery in 1828. Harriet stayed with his wife for three weeks in 1834 and wrote while there. When Harriet died, three years before building began on Martineau Road, she was well known as a social theorist and Whig writer. Sir Wilfrid was a member of the same family. Michael Reading
Next to the coal hole in Gladsmuir Road hoard Gladsmuir Road; finds include: next to the coal hole a razor, with patent numbers I found some interesting that could date it back to 1922; objects – some apparently a card; an ornament; and Victorian – when we dug out (opposite page) clay pipes. Do a pile of earth next to the any of these items look familiar? coal hole in my house in Gladsmuir Road, at the The clay pipes may well northern tip of the borough. have come from a public Would anyone be able to house, for it was quite a shed any light on them? Any common practice to give a input/suggestions welcome. clay pipe free with a pint of There is a child’s leather wife, 10-year-old daughter Rose Most of the bottles shown are beer. As pipes were smoked boot, lots of clay pipes, a doll (maybe the owner of the little medicine bottles, which they discoloured, which made or china figurine, a razor kit boot?) and his 17-year-old would have contained quite attractive patterns. (not sure of its age), bottles of servant Annie. I would guess dispensed prescriptions. There However, being rather brittle, different shapes and sizes, they were the first occupants. were very few ready-made they did not last very long. some with medicine still William was possibly medicines in Victorian and The razor is a Rolls Razor in them, and a big doing well for himself with Edwardian times, so most had (no connection with the kettle. We also found a his hat shop in Euston. He to be dispensed. Having said Rolls-Royce company) and is card, which is obviously was born there, as was his that, I can remember seeing said to have been in use since later, probably 1930s. wife, so maybe it was part such bottles in my own home 1922. There is a piece on The original of moving up in the when I was a child. Wikipedia on this product. owner of my world – or into the leafy There is also a milk bottle I own a Rolls Razor in house was suburbs? It appears they and a stone bottle, which pristine condition, still in William Hayland, moved to Hastings within may have contained ginger its box complete with the who owned a hat a few years. beer, lemonade or perhaps original tissue wrapping shop in Euston. He Tanith Carey jam, marmalade or some paper, and it has never been lived there with his [email protected] other food. opened. I inherited it from my Tanith Carey Islington Local History Centre; coal hole finds: church: St Stephen’s
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Spring 2015 Vol 5 No 1 7 father who received it as a gift shared the house for some more than 50 years ago. The years. I need to look at the price then was £2 2s 0d or census returns. two guineas. I have often I think 64 Colebrooke Row wondered if it has any value as still exists... am I correct? an antique. Ken Baker Michael Reading The Ordnance Survey maps Street houses renumbered for 1871 and 1894 both show to join a square four houses between Canon My father’s family and Street and Union Street. members of his extended The numbering I have family lived at 84 St Paul suggested is consistent with Street, N1, in the 1920s. The Ordnance Survey map published in 1896, showing a terrace of four the details in the Post Office street now seems to stop at houses on St Paul’s Road between Canon Street and Union Street Street Directory. 76 St Paul no 80 and the last two houses Street is the last house on the in the row – 1 and 2 Union 2 Union Square; there are Draper – dressmaker is shown corner of Canon Street (with Square – could be the former separate signs for both street at 84 St Paul Street. There the entrance in Canon Street) nos 82 and 84. Was the street names on this short terrace. were no entries for 1921 or then opposite is 78 St Paul renumbered and the last two 3 Union Square is the first 1925. As this person has the Street (again, with the entrance made into Union Square? house on the east side of the same name, could this be your in Canon Street), then nos 80, My grandmother, Florence square, opposite these grandmother before she 82 and 84 to the end. Looking Annie Baker, was dressmaker buildings, and the numbering married? at this small terrace, you can to music hall star Florrie continues consecutively. Michael Reading see windows for four houses, Forde in the 1920s and most In 1938, considerable but doorways for only three. of her dresses were created at renaming of streets took Yes, the numbering is a The old maps show St Paul in the basement work room of place, and Union Street mystery. As far as I can see, the Street continuing with a no 84. Her ripe language and became Rector Street. I do not renumbered 2 Union Square terrace of 10 houses, where banter during fittings meant know if the renumbering took may well be the old 84 St Paul the modern development that my father was sent to the place then or later, when Street but my last remaining now stands. pictures whenever she called! St Paul Street – which now relative, Miss E Draper, The mystery is compounded I think the family moved ends at Rector Street – was remembers the house being in by the fact that your family out after the tragic death of much longer and continued a terrace not at the end of one. had keys to the Union Square my grandmother, killed by a over Packington Street to She also says that we had a key garden, which would be issued runaway horse. Dame Street. This area was to Union Square’s gardens. to only those considered bona Any help you could provide built over with the creation of Miss Florence Draper was fide square residents. would be much appreciated the Packington Estate. my grandmother and married 64 Colebrooke Row still Ken Baker The only way I can think my grandfather George Baker exists and is at the north end [email protected] of to resolve this is to consult in March 1920 at St Peter’s of the street on the east side. the electoral rolls for, say, Church, Islington. Michael Reading It does seem strange that two 1935-39 or in the 1960s They were both recorded as of the four houses, formerly when the Packington Estate living at 64 Colebrooke Row Protect the pubs and their 78-84 St Paul Street on the was built. These are available on the certificate. When excellent glazed tiles north side of the street at the Islington Local Florence was killed in 1937, Good news in my book that between Canon Street and History Centre. the death certificate records the government is proposing Rector Street, were I viewed the Post Office she was living at 84 St Paul to save pubs from demolition renumbered, with 82 and 84 Street Directories for 1906 Street. I think both the Baker or change of use without St Paul Street becoming 1 and and 1912, and a Miss Florence family and the Draper family planning permission. I wouldn’t say there’s a lack Write to us of demand for the locals left in north London – more that l Email the editor at [email protected] there’s an appetite for land l Write to editor c/o 6 Northview, Tufnell Park Road, worth barrels more! Islington N7 0QB in particular is a great place l Via www.facebook.com/groups/islingtonhistory; for pubs, some real assets. I posts printed will give Facebook usernames think it also can boast to have the best collection of The society won’t trace family trees, but can help with, Victorian/Edwardian glazed say, finding information on a family member’s business tiled pubs of the lot. or home. Letters and Facebook posts may be edited. Cameron JD Macdowall
National Library of Scotland National Library via Facebook
8 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Spring 2015 Vol 5 No 1 Threat to Angel landmarks
The old Angel Coaching Inn is just one building that may be lost under Crossrail plans. Zena Sullivan gives a brief outline of the area’s history
ondon begins here the angel alone survived. in earnest,” In 1666, following the Great Fire proclaimed Noah of London, those who had fled to Claypole of the the green fields of Islington built Angel, Islington, in homes and began again here. Charles‘L Dickens’ Oliver Twist. Those leading the Transport for Traders and coaches London and Network Rail Areas nearby were infamous for a Crossrail 2 project are considering profusion of dangerous footpads demolishing the listed Co-op and highwaymen – necessitating an building on the Angel junction. overnight stay at a safe, renowned The frontage between Pentonville local inn. That inn was the Angel Road and White Lion Street – Coaching Inn. It was well which contains listed buildings – is established as the principle place of The cupolas of the Angel name. the former Angel under threat (see news, page 5). rest in the area for livestock traders Then, in 1935 or so, it is said a Hotel (left, now They appear to know nothing of and those travelling by long- the Co-op bank) discussion over which roads, local history and culture – as distance coach from the north. and Angel avenues and squares should be evidenced during a meeting at the In 1747, the inn was Picture Theatre included in the English version of town hall between representatives immortalised in typically and the Monopoly board game was and residents in January. marvellously grotesque fashion in held at the café and, in celebration, The following is a small morsel the painting The Stage Coach by the Angel itself was added. of the abundance of history in the Hogarth. Later, painter Thomas area, the final physical remnants Rowlandson depicted a similarly Skyline of listed buildings of which will be lost if Crossrail 2 bawdy scene at the inn, and it is Almost next door, Islington’s most proposals come into being. commonly held that Thomas Paine luxurious cinema – the Angel The area is believed to have began writing his Rights of Man at Picture Theatre – was erected in taken its name from a sign the Angel in the late 1790s. 1913, with a glorious baroque 100ft depicting the Angel Gabriel and The building here now is Italianate campanile. With the Mary, on land owned by St John’s Victorian. In 1921, it was bought terracotta dome on the Co-op Priory. King Henry VII’s ban on by J Lyons and Co and transformed bank, the two form a wonderful images of the Virgin Mary meant into a grand Lyons Café, retaining skyline and landmark, with both buildings listed grade II. However, London’s cultural and historical soul is proving ephemeral against gentrification, capitalism and overpopulation. The companies involved in the Crossrail 2 venture are entirely reliant upon producing capital for their investors. We cannot stand by and allow our cultural and architectural history to be sacrificed to big business interests. n Hogarth’s The l Please join the Save Our Angel Stage Coach Facebook group at http://tinyurl. (1747) shows com/p89n6on to discuss plans and the Angel ideas and sign the petition at
Coaching Inn http://ow.ly/IdGw8 Commons Osley/Wikimedia Art; cupolas: Julian Metropolitan Museum of York New Stage Coach: The
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Spring 2015 Vol 5 No 1 9 something more like “pleasing, awe-inspiring, and skilfully Language and how we achieved” (Potter, 1966: 116). In contrast, in amelioration, a word’s meaning becomes more understand history elevated or positive than before. The word “ambitious” was used to indicate a vainglorious desire for History texts can be misinterpreted if we fail to honour or preferment. The more consider how language is used now and in the positive meaning of “ambition” in today’s English appears to suggest a past, says Philip Barker change in attitudes towards those who seek to succeed in a highly competitive fashion (Hughes, 1988: 12). hile some preoccupation” and “diligent Therefore, while some words in historians labour”, but it later broadened to historical texts are clearly believe it is include “trade, profession” and unfamiliar, others may be similar to clear what eventually “a commercial those we know and recognise – and source texts company” by the 1700s (Oxford we may misunderstand them. Such Wtell us about the past, others may English Dictionary, 2015a). changes in meaning are not just stop to consider how linguistic In contrast, semantic narrowing linguistic curiosities; knowing relics are fragmentary snippets is the process whereby a word’s about their historical development from more complex fields of meaning becomes more restricted. can help historians avoid communication and endeavour. For instance, the word “meat” anachronism in their analysis. With many historical studies used to refer to foodstuffs in based solely on written sources, it general, but came to be used to Linguistic influences may be worth considering some distinguish the flesh of food As words are central to of the ways in which our animals from that of fish (Oxford understanding the cultures and understanding of language can lead English Dictionary, 2015b). politics of different eras, exploring us to misinterpret the past or believe Other common changes include the conditions and motivations that a history text speaks for itself. shifts towards more positive or behind changes in meaning can Language is in constant flux. We negative meanings. help us to understand sociocultural may not immediately recognise A change towards more negative dynamics that might otherwise this, but language is changing all meaning is known as pejoration. remain hazy. This leads us to a around us, influenced by social, For example, King James II is second consideration – the way in political, economic, religious and alleged to have described St Paul’s which both historical concepts and technological developments Cathedral as “amusing, awful and non-linguistic events are (Aitchison, 2001). artificial” on its completion, which reproduced in language. Just as some words fall out of use appears critical today. However, Experienced or theoretically and vanish, new words arise in the 17th century, those words minded historians may be familiar through a variety of processes, meant with the influence of linguistics including deliberate coinages, and literary criticism on the translations and acquisitions practices of from other languages. historiography that In addition, as the sounds resulted in the and grammar of a language “linguistic turn” of can shift gradually, so can the the 1960s (Clark, meanings and grammatical 2004) or the functions of words. Many contextualist approach items in everyday vocabularies of the “Cambridge meant something quite School” (Skinner, different in the past, 2002). Advocates of complicating our these approaches understanding of bygone voices. criticised earlier social One broad pattern of change, and materialist called semantic broadening, explanations and occurs where a word takes on a instead emphasised the wider meaning. An example is Workless or scrounging? These two reports, about the same set of problems of textual “business”. In Middle English, this Office for National Statistics figures, show how words can be used interpretation and the meant “care, anxiety, to show opinions and make value judgements creation of historical
10 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Spring 2015 Vol 5 No 1 narrative. Rather than adopting a contractual agreements, statutes “reflectionist” view of language – and other laws, and national that there is a one-to-one constitutions. Words can be used correspondence between language as weapons in power struggles and reality – they questioned the between ideologues who wish to relationships between authors’ persuade, gain the moral high texts, readers and contexts to ground and advance their own highlight the conflicts and tensions interests (think of the terms between language use and “pro choice” and “pro life” that historical representation. positively frame different stances on This can be illustrated using an abortion rights, but also implicitly example provided by Jørgensen and vilify opposing views, and note the Phillips (2002). A rise in water levels similar uses of the nouns that causes a flood is a material “terrorist” and “freedom fighter”). event that happens independently of people’s thoughts and talk. The Ideology and power consequences are disastrous for Whether they represent social those in the wrong place, irrespective norms or not of a certain time, of what they think or say. arguments and linguistic choices Then, as people give meaning to made by writers are often connected the flood, it is no longer outside to ideology and power, and may language. Some people categorise it reveal something of the social and as a natural phenomenon, drawing psychological pressures that on meteorological concepts and King James II is said to have described St Paul’s encouraged or prevented people arguments (“heavy rain”); others Cathedral as “amusing, awful and artificial” – terms that from acting in particular ways. may suggest human agency, were not derogatory at the time but showed admiration By focusing on the context of referring to global climate change sources rather than on individual (“the greenhouse effect”), or argument may lead to a variety of texts as self-standing accounts, we “political mismanagement”, possible, appropriate reactions to may avoid favouring certain kinds of highlighting the government’s the flood that may be endorsed or historical talk while simultaneously failure to dredge rivers or build rejected by various groups or downplaying others, an act that dykes. Finally, some may see it as a power elites. This can result in the ultimately – whether ideologically manifestation of God’s anger building of dams, protests against motivated or not – constitutes a towards sinful people. All these environmental policies or revision of history. n often overlapping arguments are preparation for Armageddon used to explain the event from Putting aside the question of Philip Barker is researching political many different perspectives. whether such arguments are true discourse at University College This does not mean that reality or false, we can see how language is London. He previously worked as a does not exist, but that our access used not only to reflect reality but freelance translator and taught to it is mediated through language. also to contribute to it. translation studies in Hungary for Perhaps most importantly, each Written language encodes 10 years
References Aitchison J (2001) Language Change: Glory, valour and a peaceful afterlife Progress or Decay? Cambridge: Cambridge University Press The inscription on the Islington Clark E (2004) History, Theory, Text: Boer War memorial at Highbury Historians and the Linguistic Turn. Fields uses the verbs “sleep” and Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University “sink to rest” as euphemistic Press expressions of death that suggest a Hughes G (1988) Words in Time: a peaceful afterlife. The words are Social History of the English Vocabulary. Oxford: Basil Blackwell from the poem Ode Written in the Jørgensen M, Phillips L (2002). Beginning of the Year 1746 by Discourse Analysis as Theory and William Collins to commemorate Method. London: Sage Publications those who died in the struggle Oxford English Dictionary (2015a) against the Scottish Jacobites. business, n: www.oed.com/view/ Along with the memorial’s Entry/25229 (accessed 26 January 2015) classical symbolism, the couplet Oxford English Dictionary (2015b) meat, appears to represent war through n: www.oed.com/view/Entry/115517 (accessed 26 January 2015) notions of glory, valour and Potter S (1966) Our Language. Baltimore: patriotism. Was conflict understood Penguin in such a uniform, positive way? Skinner Q (2002) Visions of Politics.
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press Christy Lawrance Cathedral: Commons; St Paul’s II: Nicolas de Largillière/Wikimedia King James Art Nouveau; Memorial: Love War Boer
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Spring 2015 Vol 5 No 1 11 A square’s half century
A film is being made to show the phenomenal changes in a square in Barnsbury over 50 years in the 20th century, writes Julie Melrose
n oral history and those living in the borough today film project is of its heritage. The film will be examining the social used to provide reminiscence and economic therapy for older people and will changes experienced be shown in more than 20 elderly byA those living in Milner Square, care and support centres in Barnsbury from the 1930s to 1972. Islington. For Through the Hole in the Wall: Milner Square was chosen as the Milner Square 1930-1972, past location for the project as it is The hole in the insight into this period and discuss residents will discuss what it was typical of the squares around wall at Milner issues around the break-up of their like living in the square and Islington built from the mid-1800s. Square in 1975 community and sometimes their compare their experiences with families. those of people living there today. Grand houses and tenements In addition, the project will A group of past residents – Although originally built as grand examine through oral histories and spanning three generations, and residences, by the beginning of the archive material the square’s brought up in what were, in effect, 20th century, Milner Square and industrial past. The Richford Iron tenements – will be filmed in the the surrounding area of Barnsbury Foundry, the British Syphon square, showing directly how life were in decline. From the 1930s Company and the Kardonia has changed since the 1930s. the square was predominantly a Greetings Card Factory, all based Their stories will be supported working class, tenemented area. in the square, provided work for by social and historical To improve living conditions for many local people. They have since commentaries and an assortment the residents, Islington Council closed and the sites are now of archive material to paint a bought properties in the square occupied by homes. picture of Milner Square during a under a compulsory purchase A team of volunteers will be period of great social, economic order in 1972. Some tenants were trained in oral history techniques and personal change. rehoused into nearby new and interviews and in using The film will not only provide a developments. archives and museums, including catalyst for further oral histories The oral histories of past Islington Museum, Islington Local and engagement but also inform residents will provide a unique History Centre and the London Metropolitan Archive. Other volunteers will take part in reminiscence sessions in older people’s day centres and care homes around the borough, talking to residents and visitors about local and cultural history and encouraging further oral history projects. n l If you would like to know more about the project or get involved, contact local history librarian British Syphon Julie Melrose on julie.melrose@ Company: the islington.gov.uk or director film will explore Susan Oudot – who was born and the square’s grew up in Milner Square – on
Islington Local History Centre industrial past 078 9099 2073.
12 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Spring 2015 Vol 5 No 1 The Clerks’ well
The Clerks’ Well – which gave Clerkenwell its name – is open for viewing, along with some original features, says Mark Aston
polluted and, to help prevent the Metal pipe connecting pump spread of cholera, the well was and well closed. Its chamber was filled with 17th century wall building debris and built over. 1800 iron pump and Recesses plaque Rediscovery in brick For many years, the exact location of the well was uncertain but it was 16th century refacing of rediscovered in 1924 during nunnery wall building work. In the same year, Finsbury Borough Council secured Holes for pipes a lease on the chamber. The well was listed grade I in 1950. Trimmed The viewing gallery was created Well ragstone blocks he Clerks’ Well, or “fons Above: in 1984, as part of the Well Court clericorum”, has a long rediscovery of redevelopment, to ensure the well which is a brick structure. There history dating from the the Clerks’ Well was preserved and to provide are seven recesses built into the by William 12th century. It gave its public access. upper wall which probably held a Barratt in 1924; name to the district of right: the well in On the east wall of the well windlass support over the well. TClerkenwell, and is named itself its viewing chamber are a plaque with the iron after the parish clerks of the City of gallery; below pump that were originally on the Visit the well London who, during the Middle right: the well face of 2 Ray Street (now 16 Visits are free and are arranged by Ages, performed plays here based today Farringdon Lane) for public use in the Local History Centre. Also, the on holy scripture. 1800. The metal pipe on display Clerkenwell & Islington Guiding The Priory of St Mary, a nunnery connected the pump to this well. Association’s walks in Clerkenwell of Augustinian canonesses, Below the pump, the 16th- include a visit to the well. n adjoining the Clerks’ Well, was century refacing of the medieval l For information on the well and founded in the mid-1100s on land wall of the nunnery is exposed, booking a visit, http://bit.ly/1CjypyX donated by nobleman Jordan de showing two courses of trimmed, Briset. Until the priory’s dissolution ragstone blocks. On the 17th- Mark Aston is local history manager in 1539, water from the well flowed century north wall, finely cut at Islington Local History Centre through one of the nunnery’s walls ashler blocks are visible, upon and Museum into an enclosure for public use. It provided fresh spring water.
Public use In 1673, local landowner James, the Earl of Northampton, gifted the well for the use of the poor of the parish of Clerkenwell. It was immediately leased to John Crosse, a brewer of nearby Hockley-in-the- Hole (now Ray Street), who enclosed its source at the old nunnery wall and provided a communal fountain. A pump was placed at pavement level in 1800. The Priory of St Mary (upper left) on the Civitas Londinium However, by the mid-19th (1570-90s) map showing water from the Clerks’ Well century the water had become flowing through its south-west wall into an enclosure all other images: Islington Local History Centre Photo of well: Christy Lawrance;
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Spring 2015 Vol 5 No 1 13 Growing up in postwar Islington
Patricia Payne looks back at childhood and early teens, a time of freedom to play, learning to dance, film shows and holidays by the seaside
he postwar rebuilding childhood and teen years were fun, had started. I watched The Paget Memorial Hall in as we were all in the same boat Randells Road, once home to York Way Court and where we lived, so there was no Sunday school and Naish Court being magic lantern shows, jealousy among us. We weren’t built. We made new now the Paget “striving” for anything then; we Tfriends who’d moved into the flats Christian Centre all seemed content with our lot. once they were finished. When we went to the cinema and In York Way next to the flats and saw Doris Day in her lovely house opposite the potato market was a and garden, that was fantasy. I very large pavement – nothing on don’t remember anyone saying: it, just paving. Now it’s full of “I want that.” plants, but then we all called it the rink. We all had skates with ball Shops and the cinema bearing wheels (very noisy!). So, A large grain store stood on the after school, on went the skates and corner at the bottom of off to the rink we went – it was Copenhagen Street, which was free! We had some great times called Essex Flour & Grain. They there and further down was had large open sacks everywhere, another large piece of paving, so and it smelled of grain and we used that too. We were about biscuits. There was an old- nine years old by then. fashioned draper’s called We went to Sunday school at the Robinsons, fitted with dark wood, Paget Memorial Hall in Randells We had great times. We went all a counter and little drawers – Mum Road, which is still there. We also over the place. I can’t believe the used to buy my socks, vests and went once a week to watch the places we went on our own when liberty bodices there, all on ration. magic lantern show. Mr Hogg who we were that age – Regent’s Park, On the corner of Bemerton Street ran it sometimes took us all the British Museum, Madame was a fish wholesalers. Tussaud’s, Finsbury Park, Cally There was also a cinema, which pool, Finchley pool, Parliament closed long ago. Mum called it the My friend’s dad drove Hill lido, Richmond Avenue “tuppenny rush” (tuppenny rushes a coal lorry open at the Gardens, St Pancras Gardens and were children’s matinées put on at King’s Cross Station to go on a reduced prices). I have always back, so we all jumped penny machine. We went to the loved the big screen and still do. in – five of us I think cinema in King’s Cross, the Regent My mum and dad took me almost – opposite St Pancras Station, the every Saturday. Sometimes it – and off we went Mayfair etc. I even went to the would start with a man coming out to school Eastman dental hospital on of the ground playing the organ, my own. especially at the Finsbury Park York Way Court had a Astoria. You would get the main swimming in the Cally pool. We community hall. We would go feature, a second film and the did all these things – we were lucky there every so often to watch a film news. I’m sure I saw Snow White at we were safe. – they were “proper” films that had the Gaumont (now the Holloway We later progressed to bikes and been on at the cinema. Odeon) in Holloway Road. went out all over the place, Once a month they would hold a I left Boadicea Street school at 11 especially in the summer evenings. dance on Saturday eve. It was there and went on to Barnsbury Central We would ride to Regent’s Park, that my friend and I learned to school. Me and my mates walked cutting down Goodsway. There ballroom dance – it was great. We between school and home four was nothing down there to see – it were 14 by then. times a day, unlike today when was just a cut-through for us. Apart from the war, our children are taken in cars. We did
14 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Spring 2015 Vol 5 No 1 iron; Mum had to put the iron on the gas on the kitchen range to heat it up first. The radio was run by an accumulator, which we had to get refilled every so often by taking it to a special shop. We took ours to a shop in Copenhagen Street – I also got my bike from there. Next to it was a hairdresser’s; Mum had a perm in there and was “wired up” for hours. After the war, Dad took us all on holiday to Ramsgate, where we stayed in a B&B. We went for a few years. You couldn’t go back to the B&B until the evening, so, whatever the weather, we were out. If it rained, Dad made a “tent” The Astoria: shows started with the organ player rising from below the stage from deckchairs on the beach. It was fun for me at least. go by transport one morning, At home, we still had gas lighting though. My friend’s dad drove a I remember a posh girl at school for a while, so we had to buy gas coal lorry open at the back, so we saying to us: “Oh, you come from mantels from Parkins in Outram all jumped in – five of us I think Street. They were very fragile. – and off we went. There were a the scruffy, horrible side of the Everything in the house was dark few giggles at the school gate. He’d Cally.” I think it’s still that way until we found matches to light get a telling off now by the health the gas. and safety brigade. Eventually, Dad had electricity When we walked to school and The horses still pulled the barges put in, so Mum got electric items crossed the Cally into Lofting Road down the canal, and the barges – an iron, a kettle and a clothes (now Bridgeman Road) it was very were painted beautifully. The dryer, which was square with a top different, lovely houses with trees Scammell lorries went in and out lid with bars inside where you hung and gardens – talk about a of the potato market. the clothes. She didn’t get a washing difference from one side to the We still took our large white machine until much later. n other! We admired those houses in washing to the bag wash shop. You the squares and crescents but we took all of it in a sack on Monday Patricia Payne was born in 1938 in weren’t envious. I remember one and collected it on Wednesday. It Outram Street. Her other journal posh girl at Barnsbury saying to us: was very heavy. It smelled of bleach articles include: “Oh, you come from the scruffy, – they used to put the whole lot, l A Child in Wartime Islington, horrible side of the Cally.” I think still in the sack, in a vat of boiling spring 2014, pages 18-19 it’s still that way. bleach, so it was all very creased l Starting School in the 1940s, when it came back and hard to summer 2014, page 13 Deliveries So, life went on much of the same for a while, with things on ration still. There were some changes. Now our coal was delivered by lorry not horse and cart. The coachman came through the passage to put the coal in the coal cellar. We had to count the bags when empty to make sure he hadn’t diddled us. The milk was delivered every day in bottles by Ted the milkman. The paper man came round each evening selling the Evening News or Star papers. The ice cream man came round in summer on his bike Summer holidays were spent in Ramsgate: the family could not stay in their with a square box fridge in front. B&B during the day, so went outside, regardless of the weather Astoria: Islington Local History Centre Commons; Margate postcard: Creative Anstiss/geograph.org.uk; David Paget:
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Spring 2015 Vol 5 No 1 15 Lives in miniature Dolls’ houses reflect architecture, society and home owners’ aspirations. Elizabeth Hawksley looks at 300 years of microcosms Amy Miles’s of clean country air. We learn that dolls’ house and the only way to clean the expensive its drawing wallpaper is by rubbing it gently room (1890): with bread, and Betsy tells us that items such as olls’ houses were Take the Killer Cabinet House the kitchen cat keeps down the electric lights not originally made from the 1830s. It was made by and a telephone rats. Plainly, the Killer household is for children but for Stockbridge surgeon John Egerton show status extremely labour intensive. the education of Killer for his wife and daughters, John Killer is instructing his wife young ladies. They and he was a man of substance – or and daughters in the importance of wereD both instructional – these are at least aspired to be. There is cleanliness, something which, as the servants you will have and this classy white and gold wallpaper in surgeon, he must have known is what they should be doing – and the drawing room and lots of about. However, he also wants a aspirational – your duty is to help gilded furniture, for example, and home to show off, where the right your husband go up in the world the kitchen boasts a modern sort of visitors will be impressed by and, for that, you need the right Rumford stove, which was more the elegant furniture, the piano and sort of home with the right sort of economical to run than an the top of the range wallpapers. things in it. old-fashioned open range. The Amy Miles’ dolls’ house from the An exhibition at the V&A’s house looks sparkling and clean 1890s neatly demonstrates how Museum of Childhood examines but that comes at a cost, as the things have changed in 50 years. changing architecture and servants in the kitchen tell us. This is still an aspirational house domestic life through 12 of its 99 Stockbridge, home to the Killer and we note that modern dolls’ houses from the past 300 Cabinet House, is a smoky, conveniences indicate status, too. asdf asdfdafdsf years. Curator Alice Sage looks at industrial town, and footman The house is lit by electricity, for the houses via the personal stories Henry complains of the constant example, and there is a telephone of some of the real-life characters struggle to keep the dirt at bay. Ann in the hall. The bathroom has an associated with them, which offer talks about the problem she has alarming-looking copper geyser some intriguing insights. with bedbugs and speaks wistfully which leads to a shower Killer Cabinet attachment over a bath; you can House and its kitchen, with its enjoy a hot bath – if the geyser Rumford stove, doesn’t explode first. The walls servants and have washable tiles so there is at blue and white least a nod in the direction of china (1830s) lightening the staff’s workload.
16 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Spring 2015 Vol 5 No 1 Clockwise from left: art deco glamour at Whiteladies House (1935); Kaleidoscope The number of rooms has but with the equipment of the House (2001) proliferated and they are now future.” The furniture may look back from the US; designated for specific activities. to the Tudor age but the kitchen, Tate Baby The schoolroom has globes and with its built-in sink, hot and cold House (1760) schoolbooks. A billiard room, with running water, larder, fridge and – Georgian sporting prints on the walls and a oven, is unashamedly modern. splendour with The 1935 Whiteladies House, in renovations contrast, has no truck with pseudo including Tudor. This is the aspirational house Victorian sash windows; Box for the interwar years par excellence. Back Terrace It is open plan, for a start. People are (1900) – many sitting by a swimming pool. There houses like this is a tennis court. Inside the house, were we glimpse the must-have art deco manufactured; drinks cabinet in the modern Peggy Lines’ particularly liked Katy Christianson’s dining room; and we note (with House (1930s) “I Always Dreamed of an envy) a sports car in the garage. – she became Underwater Aquarium Bathroom”, This is plainly a home for the chair of which has a Chagall-like feel about Hamleys toy drinks tray, is obviously for the Bright Young Things of the 1930s. store; present- it, and Dominic Wilcox’s Heath chaps. The nursery has a rocking Moving on, there is a 1965-70s day Offline Robinson-ish Offline Hideaway. horse and its very own dolls’ house. high-rise flat, with lots of bright Hideaway The rooms are at just the right In the drawing room are a number modern plastic in evidence. The height for children and, when I of gilt chairs, together with a grand Kaleidoscope House from 2001 by was there, lots of children were piano. The three people in the New York artist Laurie Simons with peering into them and pointing out room, two ladies and a formally its multicoloured, translucent walls things they liked to their friends. dressed gentleman, look ready for is defiantly minimalist – 1840s However, you don’t have to be a something. Perhaps they have surgeon John Killer would have child to enjoy this exhibition. come for an afternoon “at home”. been horrified. How can one display Personally, I loved the stories that Change in the style of dolls’ one’s status if there are few objects let you see the dolls’ houses through houses accelerates over the 20th in one’s house for visitors to covet? their original century. Peggy Lines’s 1930s house, The last room is devoted to the owners’ eyes. n for example, both looks forward to Dream House – 19 tiny rooms, l Small Stories: the future and harks back to a commissioned and magically at Home in a prewar past. The house is mock reimagined by some of London’s Dolls’ House Tudor and much of the “olde best artists and designers. I runs at the worlde” furniture V&A Museum is oak. The of Childhood advertising for until Sunday 6 the house says: September, “Bring Antique admission free beauty to your home! The Elizabeth Style of Hawksley the www.elizabeth past hawksley.com V&A Images
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Spring 2015 Vol 5 No 1 17 The industrious inventor Mr Coan
Robert Coan, who ran an aluminium foundry in the early 1920s, was also a skilled craftsman and a prolific inventor, says Christy Lawrance
riving could be cold work in the early 20th century – so Robert Coan, who ran an aluminiumD foundry in Clerkenwell, invented a centrally heated steering wheel. He didn’t stop there – his patents concerned gas burners, combined scraper/step mats for cars, kettle handles, miniature golf games and a hands-free telephone. Coan’s main business was the foundry, based at various sites in Adverts put an today and you’ll find its name Clerkenwell. emphasis on listed most often in the antique A government contractor, during quality with sections of auction sites and the war, the firm produced tons of in aviation equipment – as may be their use of antique dealers. illustration, aluminium castings each week and expected from a firm working with Alongside its industrial work, experience cast a 36” diameter scarf gun ring, a lightweight metal – and produced (“original the company made numerous a feat believed not to be possible at aluminium castings and crank number plates”) aluminium novelties, which the time. Flight magazine wrote: cases for aircraft and road vehicles and innovation demonstrated skill and precision. “Experts did not believe this – many of its advertisements (“original and These included cast aluminium method practicable with so carried the alliterative slogan only … dishes, cigarette boxes and other difficult a pattern until Mr Coan, “Coan casts clean crank cases”. patented”) items – often given away at the founder of the business, proved He approach was innovative – Christmas – as well as indoor it, and, incidentally solved the his firm devised Coanailium, “a games and aluminium bowling problem of the acute shortage corrosion-resisting alloy for balls (picture below). Some prevailing at the time. Over 20,000 marine parts and all outdoor of these items were stamped were produced and gave entire purposes”, to meet demand for with the name of the firm and satisfaction.” marine equipment. others on behalf of the King’s Robert W Coan Ltd specialised Yet search online for the firm
The foundry at 219 Goswell Road in 1907; the firm later operated from Coan House in Duncan Street
18 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Spring 2015 Vol 5 No 1 Cross Philanthropic Society, of hands-free phone (1907). which Coan was president for In 1928, just two years before his many years. death, Coan brought out a patent for a game “in which rings are Shops and shows pitched at… a polyhedral ball”. Robert William Coan was Before then, in 1924, he had born in Islington in 1864. The patented a miniature golf game. firm was established from at Coan also found time for least early 1902, when it was philanthropy, and was president of based at 15 Myddelton Street. the King’s Cross Philanthropic In November of that year, it Society for many years. exhibited at the Stanley Cycle He retired to Clacton, where he Club Show at the Royal supported sports clubs and set up a Agricultural Hall, where it bowling club which is still going. showed “all kinds of castings in His obituary in the Chelmsford aluminium in connection with Chronicle in April 1930 noted that cycles”; its programme entry, he “was largely responsible for the Precision and skill in like its advertisements at the time, aluminium were shown in splendid bowling greens on contained a guarantee “that castings novelty items such as the the Marine Parade”. can be made from a customer’s own kittens give-away, the He died in a nursing patterns in a single day”. dish and the home in London At this time, the company was keepsake of in 1930. His already making craft items, with Harry Randall’s obituary says he “various novelties in the form of performance at was twice souvenirs, badges, medals, etc” on Islington’s Grand married, and left a display at Stanley Cycle Club show. Theatre (below left) widow and a married The firm exhibited aluminium daughter. Flight in 29 castings in 1912 at the Non- trees and stretchers (1910, August 1930 reported that Ferrous Metals Exhibition at the 1912, 1914), one of which he left £64,344 in his will. n Royal Agricultural Hall and items involved a u-shaped spring bolt, including aluminium boot trees at and for step mats for cars (1915, Sources European Patent Office: www.epo.org the British Industries Fair in 1922 1920s) – these were marketed as Flight magazine archives: www. in Shepherd’s Bush, which was “the Coan ‘cone’ stepmat – the flightglobal.com/archive organised by the Department for motor mat that matters”. Grace’s Guide: www.gracesguide.co.uk Overseas Trade. His heated steering wheel (1904) Intellectual Property Exchange: www. ipexl.com was hollow and could be filled with Inventions hot water from the cooling jacket of Many thanks to Philip Mernick and Coan was a prolific inventor. His an engine. Unsurprisingly, he said Michael Reading for their research patents cover “gas burner rings it should be made of “aluminium and the like” (1912), pillion seats or other suitable metal”. (1921), fastenings for loose-leaf After finding it “at times ledgers (1906), a system of cords exceedingly inconvenient to write and metal rings for measuring down a message or the like when tennis courts (1921) and a kettle one hand is engaged in holding the handle that wouldn’t burn your telephone receiver”, he invented a hand (1921). He had several patents for boot
Robert Coan’s inventions included a hollow steering wheel that could be filled with hot water and a hands-free
telephone Guide and shop: Grace’s other adverts Philip Mernick; and novelties: British sport advert
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Spring 2015 Vol 5 No 1 19 Publications and bookshop
This issue looks at filthy 19th century London, everyday life during the tumult of the Napoleonic wars, London days out, the social history of the bus, a garden suburb and agony aunts
In These Times: Living in rapidly evolved and the events, including a humble Britain Through Napoleon’s introduction of mass soldier in Wellington’s army, Wars, 1793-1815 production forced people into a woman whose son was Jenny Uglow towns and cities and new ways pressganged and a mill £25, Faber & Faber of living and working. owner struggling to stay In These Times takes a critical There were natural disasters, afloat as Napoleon’s trade point in our nation’s history, such as failed harvests, as well embargo against Britain the Napoleonic wars, and as personal tragedies – the tightened its grip. examines how they affected wars killed more than 300,000 She illuminates the wider everyone – young, old, rich, men – but it was also a time of picture, too, as first the French poor, male and female. social mobility. For those who Revolution, then Napoleon’s Those 22 years propelled spotted gaps in the market, spectacular rise, upset the There are well over 100 Britain into the modern age as there were opportunities to balance of power in both lively illustrations and a it responded to the urgent make a fortune and rise in Europe and America. Former section at the end charting the needs of war including ship the world. allies became enemies and events of the wars. building, arms making, a Jenny Uglow delves into countries fragmented as This book had me gripped. swift transport system and forgotten archives to tell the Napoleon swept across Europe, Highly recommended. efficient banking. stories of ordinary people threatened to invade Britain Elizabeth Hawksley The industrial revolution caught up in extraordinary and set his sights on India. www.elizabethhawksley.com
Freedom Pass London recommended to break the tracks that have become Special offer: Mike Pentelow and Peter Arkell walks up into easy stages. wildlife trails. £12.98, Bradt Travel Guides, The distance and difficulty Every taste is catered for. 40% discount on www.bradtguides.com/ of each walk are given and all Those interested in the arts Freedom Pass freedom-pass-london-pb.html can be made family friendly. and crafts movement might This is a welcome addition to The range of interests runs wish to follow the Wandle London the long-running series of from pubs and churches walk, which begins with the site Bradt travel guides. (usually surprisingly close to of William Morris’s printing Bradt Travel Guides is The first thing to note is each other) to museums, works in Colliers Wood and offering Islington that the title suggesting this galleries and disused railway ends at the Hare & Hounds at Archaeology & History guide is for Freedom Pass Croydon. There is also a Society members the holders does it a disservice Darwin ramble at Downe. For opportunity to buy – it is relevant to anyone the political historian, there is Freedom Pass London and with an Oyster card or who a full day’s Marx from Soho to Eccentric London with an fancies a day out in easy reach Highgate. For literary interests, exclusive 40% off. of London. you can follow Dickens (over Detailing 25 days out, the more than one day) from Eccentric London – a guide authors give a short Bloomsbury to Chatham. to the capital’s unusual description of places of interest Hampstead Heath to places and characters – will along each route with maps Blackfriars – the route of the be reviewed in the next issue. and photographs. Ordnance Fleet river – will be familiar to Survey references are also IAHS members. My summer To get your 40% off, visit provided, along with walking treat will be the River www.bradtguides.com and directions from the starting Misbourne from Amersham enter the code “IAHS” at point, usually a station, to the to Great Missenden, not far the checkout or phone end destination. Places for from where I was born. 01753 480633. refreshment along the way are Andrew Gardner
20 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Spring 2015 Vol 5 No 1 Dirty Old London: the John Snow’s cholera paintings, trade cards and Victorian Fight Against Filth investigations. These driven posters – including one the Lee Jackson characters include Edwin parish of Clerkenwell £20, Yale University Press Chadwick, the often divisive providing misguided medical Nineteenth century London leader of the sanitary advice about cholera. was filthy. Roads were coated movement, Charles Cochrane, Photographs include with a thick layer of black who exhausted his personal contemporary images of mud, mainly dung, which was wealth promoting a system of working people, slum housing so slippery that horses and street cleaning and exposing and the Fleet Sewer, as well as people frequently lost their abuses in workhouses among a present-day image of 19th footing. It was a city of night other endeavours, and burial century barricades used to soil collection, overflowing ground reformer George stop public urination against cesspools, slums, water Alfred Walker. private buildings (one contaminated with sewage Successes included public survives in London, and the and overcrowded cemeteries. baths and wash-houses, which book tells you where to find Even staying clean could be developed into places of vested interests, a lack of it). Pictures carry concise and difficult – many people had to recreation from which funds and snobbery. Victorian informative captions. share pumps or taps, hence swimming baths evolved; they prudishness played a part; These pictures also serve to the term “great unwashed”. became a source of civic pride, public conveniences were show the scale of London’s Dirty Old London is a vivid, much like museums and designed to look like Swiss waste. A mountainous “grey, detailed account that brings to public libraries. However, chalets and discussions over volcanic” heap of dust (mainly life just how insanitary slum clearance could be less the provision of public toilets ash) in King’s Cross, near the London used to be and of successful, with displaced for women were met with Regent’s Canal, was striking efforts to improve matters. It people ending up in squalor juvenile laughter. enough even back then for is also far more entertaining elsewhere and model housing As well as historical sources, someone to paint it. than you think a book on such often proving too expensive this study draws on literature, While full of detailed a topic could (or should) be. for the poorest people. such as Charles Dickens’ research, this book is a lively Lee focuses on the the less Getting these improvements novels. read, and is engrossing even if well known reformers, was often a struggle. Lee Illustrations include it does make the reader feel although he covers Joseph Jackson sets out how schemes cartoons, photographs, queasy at the same time. Bazalgette’s sewer system and were held back, often by architectural drawings, Christy Lawrance
Omnibus: a Social History Routemaster and its New Bus Company, some of them of the London Bus for London descendent today. running with just one vehicle David Lawrence, ed The story is reasonably well like my great-uncle Bill Turner £25, London Transport known; buses carried most – who I never knew, but who Museum people on most journeys until lived in Islington as far as I It is curious to wait at the early 1960s when the know and drove his bus there. Highbury Barn for a number advent of wide private car There is also coverage of the 19 bus and realise that almost ownership started a decline now largely forgotten Green 100 years ago people would that became precipitous by the Line network, which ran have done the same, and 1990s and was arrested by a buses through London to could have made almost the combination of population destinations far out in its rural same journey on it. growth, bus priority measures surroundings. The 19 went from there to Camberwell is, remarkably, a and more convenient and Former transport minister Clapham Junction in those little-changed horse bus route. (relatively) cheap ticketing. Steve Norris used to boast that days, as an undated map at the All this just goes to show A huge range of pictures if he was remembered for front of this book shows – the that, as the introduction by include Londoners enjoying nothing else, it would be for typography suggest the 1920s. Transport for London’s country excursion by bus in saving the red London bus by Cut back to Battersea Bridge surface transport director the 1920s, the surreal sight of insisting on this colour, at one end and extended to Leon Daniels says, the red an entire queue clad in gas whoever operated them. Finsbury Park at the other, it’s buses have been “the unsung masks during the Second After all, our passenger at almost the same route today heroes of London’s transport”. World War and the use of Highbury Barn, as the book despite the huge changes in This is a largely pictorial London bus iconography in shows, for a brief time in the work and leisure patterns in book charting the change 1960s fashions. 1990s endured the indignity the intervening time. from horse buses to early One chapter deals with the of having to wait for a The 5 route shown from open decked motor ones, to interwar period when rhubarb-and-custard coloured Barnsbury to Putney is long the interwar vehicles that look independent “pirate” bus 19 run by Kentish Buses. gone but one illustration more recognisably like operators competed with the Mark Smulian suggests the 68 from Euston to modern buses, to the RT, the London General Omnibus www.marksmulian.co.uk
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Spring 2015 Vol 5 No 1 21 The Rookfield Estate. early years of the 20th century. Never Kiss a Man in a Muswell Hill’s Garden The author gives a clear Canoe. Words of Wisdom Suburb assessment of how both the from the Golden Age of David Frith garden city and arts and crafts Agony Aunts £9.99, Hornsey Historical movements influenced them Tanith Carey Society and, om turn, the estate’s form £3.99, available on Kindle, Interwar suburban English – its low density and human http://amzn.to/1vb1lBm housing – Metroland – all too scale, diversity of grouping This collection sets out some frequently evokes both and varied architectural styles. of the best and the worst patronising images and A final chapter considers advice meted out by derogatory phrases. the residents of the estate and newspaper and magazine However, while it is true concludes, interestingly, that agony aunts from the end of that much mass, speculative, the current range of the 19th century to the 1960s. unplanned housing of this occupations is not too This social history shows period can be dull and dissimilar from that of the how public attitudes have dispiriting, it should not be Muswell Hill Common and original occupants over 100 changed over time. As well as forgotten that only a few erection of three houses in the years ago. etiquette, the advice covers decades earlier the genesis 18th century, up to its This slender volume of just moral issues, which include of the modern suburb lay purchase by William Jefferies five chapters is supplemented not only marriage and in the founding, in 1903, Collins, a local builder and by a wealth of plans, relationships but also, for of Ebenezer Howard’s developer. illustrations, old maps and example, reading crime novels Letchworth, in Hertfordshire. A brief history of the photographs. This interesting and using a bicycle to get to This was the world’s first extensive Collins family and book not only tells the story of church on Sunday in 1885 (it garden city and the their business is followed by the Rookfield Estate but also is “excusable” if it the only way inspiration, in the early years the substance of the book – that of the Collins family and of getting there, but “clearly of the 20th century, for a how the estate itself evolved. the major part it played in the wrong” if the intention is to large number of similar The stages of development development of Muswell Hill provide exercise or idealistic experiments in are examined, from its and the surrounding areas. “exhilaration”). suburban living. acquisition in 1899, up to its Roger Simmons is a retired Agony aunts could be In this book David Frith, a completion nearly 40 years architect who has worked on scathing in their advice. A former planning officer at later when the number of historic building conservation young woman wishing to join Haringey Council, explores homes built had totalled a male friend on a canoeing the gestation and development almost 300. trip in 1895 is told: “It of one of these – the Rookfield Of particular interest is the All books listed opposite surprises us to find that a girl Garden Estate on the southern involvement of WJ Collin’s can be ordered using the sufficiently educated to write slopes of Muswell Hill. two sons, William and form – for large orders and spell well should be so The book starts with a Herbert, who essentially took and to collect in person, deplorably ignorant of the history of the 23-acre site, over the development of the call 020 7833 1541 common rules of society to from the partial enclosure of estate from their father in the think that she may go out $ alone with a young man in his canoe.” Order form for books from the IAHS (photocopies acceptable) A schoolgirl in 1933, saying she has fallen in love is told Name ...... “Fiddlesticks and nonsense!” and is advised at her age that Address ...... she should be thinking about ...... winning a hockey match or conjugating verbs. Tel no/email (in case we need to contact you about your order) ...... A woman “bored stiff” after three years of marriage in Title(s)of publication Cost 1929 is advised: “Leave your ...... work, stay at home and run your house, and have ...... a baby as soon as possible. Then you will find what ...... marriage means.” Total cost ...... While the advice makes an entertaining read today, as Please make cheques payable to “Islington Archaeology & History Society”; send this form Islington author Tanith Carey (photocopies acceptable) to IAHS, 8 Wynyatt Street, London EC1V 7HU says, it will make you grateful times have moved on.
22 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Spring 2015 Vol 5 No 1 Buy from the society store The Jewish Communities of Islington, 1730s-1880s The society stocks books, postcards, maps of Islington and Petra Laidlaw beyond and more – some are listed here. £9.99 + £2.80 p&p, Islington Call Catherine Brighty on 020 7833 1541 to check if we have a map of Archaeology and History your area, if no price is given, to order several items or if you would like Society to arrange to collect items in person. Islington has been home to a Book title Author Price p&p Total sizeable Jewish (£) (£) (£) population for over 250 years, An Architect in Islington Harley Sherlock 14.99 2.80 17.79 although their Angus McBean in Islington Mary Cosh, ed 4.00 1.20 5.20 long history is The Building That Lived Twice Alec Forshaw 20.00 2.80 22.80 largely Church Design for Congregations James Cubitt 11.00 1.50 12.50 forgotten. Several were well to do and Cinemas of Haringey Jeremy Buck 9.99 1.50 11.49 public figures in public, while The Contexting of a Chapel Architect: James Clyde Binfield 18.00 1.90 19.90 many more lived in much Cubitt 1836-1912 humbler circumstances. This Criminal Islington Keith Sugden, ed 5.00 1.40 6.40 volume traces a cross section 53 Cross Street. Biography of a House Mary Cosh and 9.95 1.90 11.85 of characters, their religious ON SALE Martin King life, their occupations and their contact with the rest of Dead Born Joan Lock 7.99 2.80 10.79 the community. Dead Image Joan Lock 7.99 2.80 10.79 Discover De Beauvoir Town and Environs Mike Gray and 1.50 0.75 2.25 Bargain books Isobel Watson Two IAHS books are on sale. Discover Stoke Newington. A Walk Through David Mander and 4.95 1.20 6.15 History Isobel Watson 53 Cross Street. Biography Dissent & the Gothic Revival Bridget Cherry, ed 15.00 1.65 16.65 of a House An Historical Walk Along the New River Mary Cosh 4.00 1.65 5.65 Mary Cosh and Martin King, with photographs by Pauline An Historical Walk Through Barnsbury Mary Cosh 4.00 1.65 5.65 Lord. Hardback. Islington’s Cinemas & Film Studios Chris Draper 5.00 1.65 6.65 £9.95 (was £20) + £2.10 p&p Islington: Britain in Old Photographs Gavin Smith 12.99 1.65 14.64 This book is a must for anyone Islington: the Second Selection Gavin Smith 12.99 1.65 14.64 interested in the history of home decor. It Islington Byways James Dowsing 4.00 0.75 4.75 tells the story The Jewish Communities of Islington, Petra Laidlaw 9.99 2.80 11.79 of how one 1730s-1880s house London Cat 1 James Dowsing 4.00 0.75 4.75 changed since London Cat 2 James Dowsing 4.00 0.75 4.75 1785, illustrated London Dog James Dowsing 4.00 0.75 4.75 with glorious London’s Mummies James Dowsing 4.00 0.75 4.75 colour photographs. Only Bricks and Mortar ON SALE Harry Walters 5.00 1.50 6.50 Only Bricks and Mortar New City: Contemporary Architecture in the Alec Forshaw 19.95 2.80 22.75 Harry Walters City of London £5 (was £7.99) + 1970s London Alec Forshaw 12.99 1.65 14.64 £1.50 p&p London’s New River in Maps. Vol I Part I Michael Kensey £20 A tale of London’s New River in Maps. Vol I Part 2 Michael Kensey £25 growing up and working class The Squares of Islington Part II. Islington Parish Mary Cosh 7.50 1.50 9.00 life from the 20th Century Buildings in Islington Alec Forshaw 14.99 2.80 17.79 1930s through Other items the Second Old Ordnance Survey maps 2.50 0.75 3.25 World War to the 1970s in notorious council tenements Union Chapel mug 6.00 2.80 8.80 in Popham Road, where Cathy New River Tea Towel 6.00 1.50 7.50 Come Home was filmed.
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Spring 2015 Vol 5 No 1 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
Monday 16 March, 1pm Tuesday 24 March, 1.15pm Wednesday 1 April, 6pm Wednesday 8 April, 8pm Cultural Misfits: Gender in British Admirers of Napoleon Srebrenica: Genocide and The Natural History of Early Twentieth-century Talk by Sheila O’Connell. Trials Haringey’s Ancient Literature British Museum, free Talk by Professor Sir Geoffrey Woodlands Talk by Professor Georgia Nice QC. Talk by David Bevan. Johnston. Wednesday 25 March, 1.15pm Barnard’s Inn Hall, Gresham Union Church Hall, N8 9PX, Museum of London, Gresham Australia in London College, free Hornsey Historical Society, £2 College event, free Talk by Rachael Murphy. British Museum, free Wednesday 1 April, 6pm Thursday 9 April, 4pm Tuesday 17 March, 1pm Pageant and Theatre, The Er-Ram Stone Mask in In the Saddle: Horse Wednesday 25 March, Thomas Doggett and the Context: Pre-pottery Doctors at War 6.30pm Watermen Neolithic Masks, Fiction Talk by Dr Paul Watkins. Gardens Fit for a Queen: Talk by Chris Dodd. and Facts Hunterian Museum, £4, book the Elizabethan Gardens at Museum of London Docklands, Lecture by Yuval Goren. on 020 7869 6568 Cowdray and Bisham Docklands History Group British Museum, free, booking Talk by Dr Jane Whitaker. essential Tuesday 17 March, 1pm Garden History Society, Thursday 2 April, 7.30pm Cantor’s Infinities 70 Cowcross St, EC1M 6EJ, The River Beat Tuesday 14 April, 6.30pm Talk by Professor Raymond £10/£8, including a glass Talk by Robert Jefferies. Palace Foreshores: Flood. of wine London Canal Museum, Investigations on the River Museum of London, Gresham £4/concs Thames at Fulham, College event, free Wednesday 25 March, 7.45pm Westminster, Greenwich The National Census and a Saturday 4 April, 11am and 2pm and the Tower of London Tuesday, 17 March. 6pm Look at a House in Paupers, Pilgrims and Talk by Nathalie Cohen. Politics and the First World Clerkenwell Priories Museum of London. London War Talk by Marlene McAndrew. Archaeological Archive event and Middlesex Archaeological Talk by Prof Sir Richard Evans. Friern Barnet & District Local on belief in Medieval London. Society event, £2/concs Museum of London, Gresham History Society, £2 Museum of London, £7.88 College event, free Tuesday, 14 April, 8pm Saturday 28 March, 1.15pm Wednesday 8 April, 1.15pm Excavations at the former Thursday 19 March, 7.30pm Flowers and the Inspiration Conservation Mounting of Inglis Barracks. Town Planning in Camden of Nature in Chinese Prints and Drawings in the Talk by Ian Cipin. Talk by Lester Hillman. Porcelain British Museum Avenue House, 17 East End Local Studies Library, WC1. Talk by Rachael Murphy. Talk by Emma Webb. Road, Finchley N3. Hendon & Camden History Society, £1 British Museum, free British Museum, free District Archaeological Society
Friday 20 March Thursday 16 April, 1.30pm When is a Torc not a Torc? Walk: Jewish Islington Sex and the Greek body: Talk by Dr Julia Farley. the Art of Being a Man in St Olave’s Church Hall, Mark Sunday 26 April, 11am-2pm Classical Greece Lane, EC3R. City of London Talk by Carrie Vout. Archaeological Society, £2 This walk around areas associated with Jews in Islington in the British Museum, free, booking 18th and 19th centuries will cover Clerkenwell, St Luke’s and essential Saturday 21 March, 11am and Moorfields. It will be led by Petra Laidlaw, author of The Jewish 2pm Communities of Islington, 1730s-1880s, and Andrew Gardner Thursday 16 April, 7.30pm Roman Holiday Camden Goods Station Museum of London Email [email protected] for more details and to book. Through Time Archaeology guided tour, Proceeds will be divided between IAHS and the Jewish Talk by Peter Darley. book in advance £7.88/concs, Historical Society of England Burgh House, NW3. Camden www.museumoflondon.org.uk History Society, £1
24 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Spring 2015 Vol 5 No 1 Friday 17 April, 1.15pm Kings and Scholars: Politics Housing today and Science in the Ancient Assyrian City of Nimrud Talk by Piers Gough Talk by Eleanor Robson. Free, British Museum Piers Gough will talk about housing including student accommodation in Friday 17 April, 2pm and 3pm Islington, with an emphasis on CZWG’s Roman Fort Gate Tours residential developments. There will also be a Museum of London, book in discussion on the similarities and differences advance, £2.65/concs around mass housing in Islington, Hackney and Tower Hamlets. Friday 17 April, 7pm Ritual Protection Marks at Wednesday25 March, 7pm, Islington Knole Town Hall, free James Wright, Museum of CZWG’s QN7 scheme London Archaeology. Joint Islington Society and North East in Queensland Road St Olave’s Church Hall, Mark Thames Architectural Society event Lane, EC3R. City of London Archaeological Society, £2 Friday 24 April, 7.45pm Thursday 7 May, 7.30pm Thursday 14 May, 7.30pm Saturday 18 April, 11am and Sir Ernest Shackleton The PLA in the 21st Spies at the Isokon 2pm Talk by Michael Smith. Century – Opportunities Talk by Dr David Burke. Paupers, Pilgrims and Lewisham Local History Society and Challenges Local Studies Library, 32-38 Priories Talk by James Trimmer. Theobalds Road, WC1. Archaeological Archive event Tuesday 28 April, 1pm London Canal Museum, Camden History Society, £1 on belief in medieval London. Royal Operations £4/concs Book in advance, Museum of Talk by Professor Harold Ellis. Wednesday 27 May, 7.45pm London, £7.88 Hunterian Museum, £4, book Saturday 9 May 9.45am-5pm Coins on 020 7869 6568 Sixth Thames Shipbuilding Talk by Jim Corbishley. Saturday 18-Sunday 19 April Symposium Friern Barnet & District Local Spring Diesel Gala Tuesday 28 April, 6pm Presentations by nine speakers History Society, £2 Epping Ongar Railway, 01277 War, Health and Medicine on London’s historic shipyards 365 200, http://eorailway.co.uk Talk by Professor Mark and ships they built. Monday, 1 June, 1pm Harrison. Museum of London, Safety Underground: Mining Tuesday 21 April, 6pm Museum of London, Gresham Docklands. Docklands and the Miners’ Lamp The General Election, 2010 College event, free History group. £35/concs Talk by Professor Frank James. Talk by Professor Vernon Museum of London, Gresham Bogdanor FBA CBE. Tuesday 5 May, 1pm Tuesday 12 May, 6.30pm College event, free Museum of London, Gresham ‘From Womb to Tomb’: The Official London Blue College event, free Medical Images in Eighteenth Plaques Scheme, 1866 to Wednesday 3 June, 6pm Century British Art the Present Day The Last Stuarts and the Wednesday 22 April, 6pm Talk by Dr Fiona Haslam. Talk by Howard Spencer. Death of the Royal Restoration and Reaction: Hunterian Museum, £4, book Museum of London. London Powerhouse Palaces of the Restoration on 020 7869 6568 and Middlesex Archaeological Talk by Dr Simon Thurley. Talk by Dr Simon Thurley Society event, £2/concs Museum of London, Gresham Museum of London, Gresham Wednesday 6 May, 6pm College event, free College event, free Srebrenica: Justice and Tuesday 12 May, 8pm Legacy The Knights Templar and Wednesday 3 June. 6pm Wednesday 22 April, 7.45pm Talk by Professor Sir Geoffrey their London Connections A Glimpse at Wooden Constable and Turner Nice QC. Talk by Robert Stephenson Boatbuilding on the Thames Talk by Pamela Wright. Barnard’s Inn Hall, Gresham Avenue House, 17 East End Talk by Mark Edwards. Friern Barnet & District Local College, free Road, Finchley N3. Hendon & Museum of London History Society, £2 District Archaeological Docklands. Docklands Wednesday 6 May Society History Group Thursday 23 April, 1pm Walk: Fighting Fascism in The Guitar and ‘the Fair Sex’ the 1930s Wednesday 13 May, 8pm Thursday 4 June, 7.30pm Talk by Prof Christopher Page. Walk led by David Rosenberg. Flat-Packed Churches Fenland Waterways St Sepulchre Without Docklands History Group Talk by Marianne Zierau. Talk by Alan Faulkner. Newgate, Gresham College – details to be posted at www. Union Church Hall, N8 9PX, London Canal Museum, event, free docklandshistorygroup.org.uk Hornsey Historical Society, £2 £4/concs Osley/geograph.org.uk Julian
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Spring 2015 Vol 5 No 1 25 Ongoing Behind the Scenes Tour Tour of the British Postal Exhibitions Tour the archives and meet Museum & Archive store Contact the organisations LMA professionals. Tour plus time to look around Friday 20 March-Sunday here for visiting arrangements yourself. Includes vehicles and 11 October and prices. Handling Documents at LMA over 200 post boxes. Painting Paradise: the Art of Practical sessions on handling www.postalheritage.org.uk/ the Garden Guided Tours of Union archival items and using the page/museum-tours Bringing together paintings, Chapel archive study area. botanical studies, drawings, 12.15pm, first Sunday of the Clerkenwell and Islington books and manuscripts, the month LGBTQ History Club Guides Association: walks exhibition explores how A chance to appreciate the A monthly meeting to explore Guided walks led by the gardens changed from the beauty, complex architecture and share lesbian, gay, trans, mayor of Islington’s guides. 16th to the early 20th century. and extent of Union Chapel’s bi and queer histories. www.ciga.org.uk It includes works by Leonardo complex of buildings, which da Vinci, Maria Sibylla Merian includes a secret passage and a Focus on Family History at Historic Almshouse Tour and Carl Fabergé, and some of hidden garden. LMA Visit the Geffrye Museum’s the earliest and rarest images £5 donation, book in advance Workshop for beginners on 18th-century almshouse to get of gardens and plants. on 020 7359 4019 using digitised family history a glimpse into the lives of The Queen’s Gallery, sources. London’s poor and elderly in Buckingham Palace, £10.00/ George Orwell’s Islington the 1700s and 1800s. concs Various dates and times Film Club [email protected], George Orwell was at his most Monthly screenings of archive 020 7739 9893 Until Sunday 22 March prolific during his time in film and discussion. Geffrye 100: a Brief History Islington. While he was living Behind the Scenes at the of the Museum at 27b Canonbury Square, The British Postal Museum Museum Depot This small display charts the Animal Farm was published & Archive: online exhibitions Last Friday and Saturday of changing nature of the and he worked on drafts of These include the Post Haste: every month almshouses and the museum. Nineteen Eighty-Four, Unusual and Bizarre Deliveries, Tours of London Transport Geffrye Museum, free published essays and articles, Victorian Innovation and Museum’s depot. This holds and broadcast extensively. Mount Pleasant – the Largest over 370,000 items, including From Monday 23 March Contact Andrew Gardner on Sorting Office in the World. vehicles, railway and bus Flora and Fauna [email protected] http://postalheritage.org.uk/ sheds, signs, ceramic tiles, Temporary exhibition on the or 020 7359 4019 page/onlineexhibitions ticket machines and ephemera. “Bank of England menagerie” £12/concs, book: 020 7565 through the ages, including Tunnel boat trips Mail Rail: a Photographic 7298/www.ltmuseum.co.uk elaborate floral banknote Sunday 10 and 24 May, 14 and Exhibition designs and sculpted lions. 28 June, various times Recent photos of the whole Gold Free, Bank of England Fifty-minute guided tour network, including tunnels Permanent exhibition to mark Museum through London’s longest and the underground stations museum reopening canal tunnel. used by the postal service. Display on the history of gold, Tuesday 24 March-Sunday £8.40/concessions, booking Free, British Postal Museum from Roman times to the 12 July required, London Canal and Archive, www. present day, as well as its Homes of the Homeless: Museum postalheritage.org.uk/page/ scientific properties. Seeking Shelter in Victorian mail-rail-exhibition Free, Bank of England Museum London Markfield Beam Engine and Tens of thousands of Museum Open Days Victorian Londoners lived in Open 11am-5pm, second lodgings or rented a room or a Sunday of each month, plus bed. Others turned to the Monday 6 April, 4 and 25 May workhouse or shelters, or Victorian engine in Markfield slept rough. This exhibition Park, N15. Free, www.mbeam. explores the places the poor org, 01707 873628 inhabited through paintings, photographs, objects, personal London Metropolitan stories and reports. Archives: regular events Geffrye Museum, £5/concs mainly free Contact the LMA for 26 March-5 July information, dates and times. Defining Beauty – the Body Use LMA: Getting Started in Ancient Greek Art Find out how to get the best For centuries the ancient
Christy Lawrance out of LMA research facilities. See the signs at London Transport Museum’s depot in Acton Greeks experimented in ways
26 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Spring 2015 Vol 5 No 1 of representing the human body, as an object of beauty Review: Lines in the Ice – Seeking the North West Passage and a bearer of meaning. Works in the exhibition range This exhibition on Europe’s from prehistoric figurines to fascination with the North realism in the age of West Passage is worth Alexander the Great. visiting. Concisely packed, it British Museum, £16.50/concs uses an range of material from Europe, Canada and Until Tuesday 31 March the Arctic to tell the stories Aerofilms: Britain From not just of the famous Above explorers such as Amundsen This exhibition from but also of the indigenous Aerofilms’ archive shows how peoples who, until the arrival Britain’s urban and rural of expedition ships, believed landscape changed over much that they were alone in the of the 20th century, and tells world. the story of the Aerofilms Artefacts such wooden company and its role during maps crafted by the Inuit and Inuit accounts of the Inuit describing the arrival the Second World War. illustrated books set out the explorers, writings, early of explorers such as John RAF Museum, Hendon, free historical context for the Arctic photography and Ross – but note some of the Passage and also portray the more. A minor criticism is recording is in native Until Tuesday 31 March incredible hardship and that it would have been good language – you need to wait Frontline Nurses: British sheer boredom endured by to have more information on for the English. Nurses of the First World the explorers in their search. the indigenous peoples. Margaret Lally War On display are early It was fascinating to hear l Free, British Library, until Nurses worked at every part European maps of the Arctic, the oral recording of the Sunday 19 April of the Allied front lines, caring for wounded patients, and combating illnesses in the First World War and tell the story of the life of John display are explored in over 50 including trench foot, the upheaval for Londoners. La Rose. Having been photographs and oral histories. dysentery and typhus fever. London Transport Museum, involved in workers rights Images include portrayals of Royal College of Nursing £16/concs (includes museum movements in Trinidad in the British-Caribbean life in Library and Heritage Centre, entry for a year) 1940s and 1950s, leading up London, music, fashion and 20 Cavendish Square, London to independence, La Rose youth culture. W1G 0RN, 0345 337 3368, Opening Thursday 23 April settled in London and became Free, V&A [email protected], free Indigenous Australia: an active member of Britain’s Enduring Civilisation black community in the early Until Sunday 6 September Until Sunday 12 April This major exhibition on the 1960s, founding New Beacon Small Stories: at Home in a Waterways on the Western history of indigenous Books and The Caribbean Dolls’ House Front: Untold Stories of Australia shown through Artists Movement. The history of the home, World War 1 objects celebrates the cultural Islington Museum, free architecture, everyday life and Hundreds of barges took five strength of Aboriginal peoples family relationships are told million tons of food to and Torres Strait Islanders. Until Saturday 23 May through dolls’ houses. Belgium and transported British Museum, £10/concs Mackintosh Architecture V&A Museum of Childhood, thousands of tons of Charles Rennie Mackintosh is free munitions each day to Ypres. Thursday 14-Saturday 16 May a leading figures in late 19th l Lives in miniature, page 16 Through archive film and Museums at Night and early 20th century photos, testimonies and rare Annual UK-wide festival of architecture. This exhibition Until Sunday 20 September objects, the exhibition charts evening events at museums, shows over 60 drawings and The Institute of Sexology the critical role played by galleries and heritage sites. watercolours, as well as This candid exhibition canals. www.culture24.org.uk/ models, films and portraits. features over 200 items London Canal Museum, £4/ places-to-go/museums-at-night RIBA, free spanning art, archival concs material, erotica, film and Friday 22 May-Saturday 29 Until Sunday 24 May photography. It shows how sex Until Sunday 19 April August Staying Power: Photographs has been observed, analysed Goodbye Piccadilly: from Dream to Change the of Black British Experience, and questioned from the late Home Front to Western World 1950s-1990s 19th century to today, and the Front This exhibition draws on the The experiences of black effect of such research on Exhibition on the contribution multicultural history of people in Britain in the latter attitudes and taboos.
of London’s buses and drivers Trinidad and its diaspora to half of the 20th century Free, Wellcome Collection British Library
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Spring 2015 Vol 5 No 1 27 British Postal Museum and Courtauld Gallery Directory Archive Somerset House, WC2R 0RN, Freeling House, Phoenix 020 7848 2526, galleryinfo@ Place, WC1X 0DL; store at courtauld.ac.uk History, civic, amenity and archaeology Debden, Essex, 020 7239 2570, societies, museums and online resources [email protected] Cross Bones Graveyard www.crossbones.org.uk British Vintage Wireless Society Crossness Pumping Station Check opening times before Bank of England Museum [email protected] 020 8311 3711, www. visiting. If you would like your Threadneedle St, EC2R 8AH, crossness.org.uk organisation listed here or to 020 7601 5545, www.bankof Brixton Windmill update details, email editor england.co.uk/museum 020 7926 6056, www. Docklands History Group Christy Lawrance on christy@ brixtonwindmill.org/ info@docklandshistory group. islingtonhistory.org.uk or c/o Barnet Museum and Local org.uk 6 Northview, Tufnell Park History Society Bruce Castle Museum Road, N7 0QB www.barnetmuseum.co.uk Lordship Lane, N17 8NU, 020 Dictionary of Victorian 8808 8772, museum.services@ London/Cat’s Meat Shop Alexandra Palace TV Group BBC archive haringey.gov.uk Encyclopaedia and blog, www. Runs museum. Tony Wilding, www.bbc.co.uk/archive victorianlondon.org 71 Dale View Avenue, E4 6PJ, Burgh House and 020 8524 0827 Benjamin Franklin House Hampstead Museum East London History Society Craven Street, WC2N 5NF, New End Sq, NW3, 020 7431 42 Campbell Rd, E3 4DT, mail Alexandra Palace TV Society 020 7925 1405, info@ 0144, www.burghhouse.org.uk @eastlondonhistory.org.uk Archives: 35 Breedon Hill BenjaminFranklinHouse.org Road, Derby, DE23 6TH, Camden History Society Enfield Archaeological 01332 729 358, [email protected]. Bethlem Royal Hospital 020 7586 4436, www. Society uk, www.youtube.com/ Archives and Museum camdenhistorysociety.org www.enfarchsoc.org aptsarchive Monks Orchard Road, Beckenham, 020 3228 4227, Camden New Town History Estorick Collection of All Hallows by the Tower www.bethlemheritage.org.uk Group Modern Italian Art Crypt Museum www.camdennewtown.info 39a Canonbury Square, N1 020 7481 2928, www.ahbtt.org. Bexley Archaeological Group 2AN, 020 7704 9522, info@ uk/visiting/crypt-museum/ www.bag.org.uk, Martin Camden Railway Heritage www.estorickcollection.com Baker: 020 8300 1752 Trust Amateur Geological Society 21 Oppidans Road, NW3, Alexander Fleming 25 Village Road, N3 1TL Bishopsgate Institute Library [email protected] Laboratory Museum and Archive St Mary’s Hospital, W2, 020 3312 Amwell Society 230 Bishopsgate, EC2M, 020 Canonbury Society 6528, www.imperial.nhs.uk/ 8 Cumberland Gardens, 7392 9270, www.bishopsgate. www.canonburysociety.org. aboutus/museumsandarchives WC1X 9AG, 020 7837 0988, org.uk uk, 1 Alwyne Place, N1 [email protected] Foundling Museum Bomb Sight Chartered Institution of 40 Brunswick Square, WC1, Ancestor Search Online map of WW2 bombs Building Services Engineers 020 7841 3600, www. Guidance on where to look. in London 1940-41, Heritage Group foundlingmuseum.org.uk www.ancestor-search.info www.bombsight.org www.hevac-heritage.org/ Freud Museum The Angel Association British Airways Heritage Cinema Museum 20 Maresfield Gardens, NW3, www.angelassociation.org.uk www.britishairways.com/ www.cinemamuseum.org.uk/ 020 7435 2002, info@www. travel/museum-collection/ freud.org.uk Archives Hub public/en_gb City of London http://archiveshub.ac.uk/ Archaeological Society Friends of Hackney Archives British Library [email protected] Hackney Archives, Dalston Arsenal FC Museum 96 Euston Road, NW1, 0330 Sq, E8 3BQ, 020 8356 8925, 020 7619 5000, www.arsenal. 333 1144, customer-Services@ Clerkenwell and Islington [email protected] com bl.uk Guides Association 07971 296731, [email protected] Friern Barnet & District Association for the Study British Museum Local History Society and Preservation of Roman Great Russell Street, WC1, 020 Clockmakers’ Museum www.friernbarnethistory.org. Mosaics 7323 8299, information@ www.clockmakers.org/ uk. Photo archive: www. www.asprom.org britishmuseum.org museum-and-library friern-barnet.com
28 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Spring 2015 Vol 1 No 5 Friends of the New River Jewish Museum Head www.jewishmuseum.org.uk c/o Amwell Society Joe Meek Society Friends of Friendless www.joemeeksociety.org Churches www.friendsoffriendless Dr Johnson’s House churches.org.uk 17 Gough Square, EC4, www. drjohnsonshouse.org Garden History Society 70 Cowcross St, EC1, 020 7608 Keats House 2409, gardenhistorysociety.org 020 7332 3868, keatshouse@ cityoflondon.gov.uk Geffrye Museum 136 Kingsland Road, E2 8EA, Lewisham Local History 020 7739 9893, www.geffrye- Society museum.org.uk www.lewishamhistory.org.uk Schreiber corner sofa, 1973: view decades of design at the Georgian Group Locating London’s Past Museum of Domestic Design & Architecture’s website 6 Fitzroy Square, W1T 5DX, www.locatinglondon.org [email protected] Records Project Imperial War Museum www.hharp.org/ Lambeth Road, SE1 6HZ, London Archaeological Grant Museum of Zoology www.iwm.org.uk Archive and Research 020 3108 2052, www.ucl.ac. Highgate Literary and Centre Online Catalogue uk/museums/zoology, Scientific Institution Archives Islington and Camden Includes over 7,500 sites, http:// [email protected] [email protected] Cemetery archive.museumoflondon.org. High Road, East Finchley, N2 uk/laarc/catalogue/ Gresham College Historical Association, 9AG, 020 7527 8804, www. Free lectures on different Central London Branch islington.gov.uk/ London Canal Museum topics, www.gresham.ac.uk 020 7323 1192, www.history. Environment/cemeteries 12-13 New Wharf Road, N1 org.uk, [email protected] 9RT, 020 7713 0836, www. Greater London Industrial Islingtonfacesblog.com canalmuseum.org.uk Archaeology Society (GLIAS) Historic Towns Forum Living history interviews. 14 Mount Rd, EN4 9RL, 020 www.historictowns forum.org http://islingtonfacesblog.com London Fire Brigade Museum 8692 8512, www.glias.org.uk 020 8555 1200, www.london- History of Harringay Islington Local History fire.gov.uk/london-fire- Guildhall Library www.harringayonline.com/ Centre brigade-museum.asp Aldermanbury, EC2V 7HH, group/historyofharringay Finsbury Library, 245 St John 020 7332 1868, textphone 020 St, EC1V 4NB. 9.30am-8pm London Lives 1690-1800 7332 3803, guildhall.library@ Honourable Artillery Mon and Thurs (shuts 6pm www.londonlives.org cityoflondon.gov.uk Company Museum every other Monday); City Road, EC1, 020 7382 9.30am-5pm Tues, Fri and Sat; London Metropolitan Hackney Museum 1541, www.hac.org.uk closed Weds and Sun; closed Archives 1 Reading Lane, E8 1GQ, 1pm-2pm; 020 7527 7988; 40 Northampton Rd, EC1 www. hackney.gov.uk/ Horniman Museum [email protected], 0HB, 020 7332 3820, ask. cm-museum.htm 100 London Rd, SE23, 020 8699 www.islington.gov.uk/heritage [email protected], 1872, www.horniman.ac.uk www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/lma The Hackney Society Islington Museum Round Chapel, 1d Glenarm Hornsey Historical Society 245 St John Street, EC1V 4NB, London & Middlesex Road, E5 0LY, 020 7175 1967, The Old Schoolhouse, 136 10am-5pm, closed Weds and Archaeological Society [email protected] Tottenham Lane, N8 7EL, Sun, 020 7527 2837, islington. 020 7814 5734, www.lamas. hornseyhistorical.org.uk [email protected], org.uk Hendon and District www.islington.gov.uk/ Archaeology Society Hunterian Museum museum London Museums of Health 020 8449 7076, hadas.org.uk RCS, 35-43 Lincoln’s Inn and Medicine Fields, WC2, www.rcseng. Islington’s Lost Cinemas www.medicalmuseums.org Heritage of London Trust ac.uk/museums www.islingtonslostcinemas.com 020 7730 9472, www. London Museum of Water heritageoflondon.com IanVisits Islington Society & Steam Blog with history and other 35 Britannia Row, N1 8QH, 020 8568 4757, www. Historic Hospital Admission events. www.ianvisits.co.uk www.islingtonsociety.org.uk waterandsteam.org.uk/
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Spring 2015 Vol 5 No 1 29 London Socialist Historians Museum of London Docklands Ragged School Museum Theatres Trust Group 020 7001 9844, www.museum 020 8980 6405, www.ragged 020 7836 8591, www. http://londonsocialist oflondon.org.uk/docklands schoolmuseum.org.uk theatrestrust.org.uk historians.blogspot.com Museum of the Order of Rescue/British Twentieth Century Society London Vintage Taxi St John Archaeological Trust 70 Cowcross St, EC1, 020 Association St John’s Gate, EC1M 4DA, www.rescue-archaeology.org.uk 7250 3857, www.c20society. www.lvta.co.uk 020 7324 4005, www. org.uk museumstjohn.org.uk Rowan Arts Project London Transport Museum 020 7700 2062, www. Union Chapel and Friends 020 7379 6344, www. Musical Museum therowanartsproject.com of the Union Chapel ltmuseum.co.uk 399 High Street, TW8 0DU, Compton Avenue, N1 2XD, www.musicalmuseum.co.uk Royal Air Force Museum www.unionchapel.org.uk/ LT Museum Friends 020 8205 2266, www. pages/friends.html 020 7565 7296, www. National Archives rafmuseum.org.uk/london ltmuseum.co.uk/friends 020 8876 3444, www. Victoria & Albert Museum nationalarchives.gov.uk Royal Institute of British Cromwell Rd, SW7, 020 7907 London Underground Architects (RIBA) 7073, www.vam.ac.uk Railway Society National Churches Trust 66 Portland Place, W1B 1AD, [email protected] www.nationalchurchestrust.org www.architecture.com V&A Museum of Childhood Cambridge Heath Road, E2 London Westminster & National Piers Society Science Museum 9PA, 020 8983 5200, www. Middlesex Family History www.piers.org.uk Exhibition Road, SW7 2DD. museumofchildhood.org.uk Society www.sciencemuseum.org.uk www.lwmfhs.org.uk Newcomen Society for the Victorian Society History of Engineering and Sir John Soane’s Museum 020 8994 1019, www. Markfield Beam Engine and Technology 13 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, WC2A victoriansociety.org.uk Museum 020 7371 4445, office@ 3BP, www.soane.org Markfield Park, N15, 01707 newcomen.com Wallace Collection 873628, [email protected] Smithfield Trust Hertford House, Manchester Newington Green Action 70 Cowcross St, EC1, 020 7566 Sq, W1, 020 7563 9500, www. Mausolea & Monuments Group 0041, [email protected] wallacecollection.org Trust 020 7359 6027, www. www.mmtrust.org.uk newingtongreen.org.uk Society of Genealogists Wallpaper History Society 020 7251 8799, www. wallpaperhistorysociety.org. Marx Memorial Library New River Action Group societyofgenealogists.com uk 37a Clerkenwell Green, EC1 [email protected], 0DU, 020 7253 1485, info@ 020 8292 5987 Society for the Protection Walthamstow Historical marx-memorial-library.org of Ancient Buildings Society North London Railway 37 Spital Sq, E1 6DY, 020 7377 www.walthamstow Museum of Brands Historical Society 1644, www.spab.org.uk historicalsociety.org.uk/ 2 Colville Mews, Lonsdale www.nlrhs.org.uk Road, W11, 020 7908 0880, Southwark and Lambeth Wellcome Collection [email protected] Northview – 1930s estate Archaeology Society www.wellcomecollection.org www.northview.org.uk 79 Ashridge Cres, SE18 3EA Museum of Domestic Design John Wesley’s House and & Architecture (MoDA) Pauper Lives in Georgian Stuart Low Trust Museum of Methodism 020 8411 4394, www.moda. London and Manchester www.slt.org.uk 49 City Rd, EC1, www.wesleys mdx.ac.uk/home http://research.ncl.ac.uk/ chapel.org.uk/museum.htm pauperlives Rotherhithe & Bermondsey Museum of London Local History Society William Morris Gallery 150 London Wall, EC2Y 5HN, Peckham Society [email protected] Forest Road, E17, 020 8496 020 7814 5511, info@ www.peckhamsociety.org.uk 4390, www.wmgallery.org.uk museumoflondon.org.uk Royal Archaeological Institute Petrie Museum of Egyptian [email protected] Wilmington Square Society Museum of London Archaeology www.thewilmington Archaeology UCL, Malet Place, WC1, www. Thames Discovery squaresociety.org Mortimer Wheeler House, 46 ucl.ac.uk/museums/petrie Programme Eagle Wharf Road, N1, 020 Mortimer Wheeler Hse, 46 Women’s Library Collection 7410 2200, www.museum Proceedings of the Old Bailey Eagle Wharf Rd, N1, 020 7410 [email protected], oflondon archaeology.org.uk www.oldbaileyonline.org 2207, thamesdiscovery.org [email protected]
30 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Spring 2015 Vol 1 No 5 Islington Archaeology & History Society Events
Wednesday 18 March, 7.30pm, Islington Town Hall Annual general meeting Getting it wrong? Medieval history on TV The annual general meeting of the Islington Archaeology & History Society will be held at 7pm, Islington Town Hall, Presented by Upper Street, London N1 2UD David Wilson
TV producer and Wednesday 20 May, 7.30pm, Islington Town Hall. director David Wilson will be The Chamberlain dynasty and Islington: talking and showing film clips about nonconformism and coalition making history Dr Thomas Lorman and Andrew Gardner programmes for TV. This event coincides with the 75th anniversary of the wartime David, who lives in Tufnell Park, has worked coalition government being set up by prime minister Winston on programmes including Britain’s Bloodiest Churchill after his predecessor Neville Chamberlain resigned. Dynasty, presented by Dan Jones and based on his book The Plantagenets. Pictured are Dan on The story begins with Joseph’s childhood in the first day of filming and a scene showing Queen Isabella and Highbury (plaque in Highbury Place Mortimer en route to depose Edward II. pictured). His brother Richard was MP for Islington West in 1885-92. David says: “I love researching and telling stories that matter, showing viewers new ways of seeing the world, both theirs and This event will explore the relationship those of people in the past.” between the Chamberlains and the Churchills, and collaboration and conflict. You can see films made by him at https://vimeo.com/ user4577817/videos/all or via www.davidgmwilson.com Wednesday 17 June, 7.30pm, Islington Town Hall. Our meetings start at 7.30pm
Wednesday 15 April, 7.30pm, Islington Town Hall. Played in London: a sporting history Commemorating the Talk by Simon Inglis First World War in Islington is a well-established part of London’s sporting heritage, Islington with archery at Angel, swimming in Peerless Pool in Clerkenwell and, of course, Arsenal Football Club. John Shepherd, First World War project officer, Simon Inglis is a historian, writer and broadcaster and editor of Islington Museum the Played in Britain series on sporting heritage, published by English Heritage. He will be looking at London’s sporting Islington Museum is examining and recording the effects of the history, dating back to its first century Roman amphitheatre. First World War on Islington’s residents and neighbourhoods. Projects include plaques commemorating residents who died in This event will be preceded by the AGM at 7pm each street (pictured), an Online Book of Remembrance and exhibitions. It has also carried out research. We break for summer, then will be back on 16 September, when John will be discussing the First World War project’s Gary Butler of Butler Hegarty Architects will be talking about commemorative work and research, and how to get involved. the rescue, restoration and recreation of 47 Canonbury Square.
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 Filming: David Wilson; WWI plaque: David Holt; Chamberlain plaque: Christy Lawrwance; Arsenal FC: Played in Britain Arsenal FC: Played Holt; Chamberlain plaque: Christy Lawrwance; WWI plaque: David Wilson; David Filming:
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Spring 2015 Vol 5 No 1 31 The Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Back page picture Life in the 1940s in a London County Council estate reflected in a dolls’ house. For more on the architectural and social history of dolls’ houses, see page 16 V&A Images