Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Vol 2 No 3 Autumn 2012 incorporating Islington History Journal
Everyday lives in a Victorian road
Blue plaques for this railway porter, along with a compositor, a lady’s mantle cutter, a zinc worker and an Olympic athlete in a Finsbury Park road
A 19th century whalebone worker l The story of Islington’s German church l How South Cally was saved from demolition l A Fleet River exploration l The suffragette who knew ju-jitsu l Regent’s Canal anniversary celebrated l First appeal under new planning laws favours heritage l Your local history questions answered l News and events About the society
What we do Memories, reviews, old photographs, Islington Archaeology & ideas sought… contribute to this journal History Society Committee he society arranges President lectures, walks, visits We welcome contributions, streets or buildings? Send Rt Hon Lord Smith Tand outings about including articles on local them in for our tireless of Finsbury the archaeology and history history, memories and more researcher Michael Reading of Islington. academic pieces. – and maybe other readers Vice-president We liaise with the council Each page takes about 500 – to answer. Mary Cosh and others in matters of words, and maximum article l See Letters, page 6 planning and development length is 1,000 words. Email Chairman to record and protect the editor for a copy of our Copyright Andrew Gardner Islington’s sites that are of writing guidelines. Copyright of everything in [email protected] archaeological and historical We like receiving pictures, this journal lies with the importance. but please check that we can creator unless otherwise Secretary We also aim to document reproduce them without stated. While it can be difficult Vacant – enquiries welcome archaeological findings in infringing anyone’s copyright. to trace copyright ownership the borough. Deadline for the autumn of archive materials, we Membership and events Local historical and issue is 1 November. make every effort to do so. Catherine Brighty literary walks are arranged 8 Wynyatt Street for groups. Ever wondered…? Any questions? London EC1V 7HU Do you have any queries Contact editor Christy 020 7833 1541 Why archaeology? about Islington’s history, Lawrance (details right). Archaeology is not just Treasurer about what is buried; it Philip Anderson includes structures and Join us and benefit from membership phlpandrsn6@ fragments that still exist, and btopenworld.com the people who lived, Members receive this restoration, entertainment, worked and died in them. journal and are invited to healthcare and crime. We Committee members We are here to investigate, 10 talks a year with guest also organise walks based Kathleen Frenchman learn and celebrate what is speakers and other events. on various issues. Peter Fuller left to us. We run a wide range of Members also receive this Michael Harper talks, with topics including journal four times a year. Derek Seeley Our website architecture, gardens, Non-members are always Go to www.iahs.org.uk to transport, industry, politics, welcome at talks – we invite Academic adviser find out more about us and social change, London’s a £1 donation towards the Lester Hillman, former our events. waterways, maps, building speaker’s expenses. visiting professor, London Metropolitan Business (photocopies acceptable) $ School, London Join the Islington Archaeology & History Society Metropolitan University
Membership per year is: £10 single; £12 joint at same address; concessions £6; joint Newsletter editor concessions £8; corporate £15. (Membership renewals are sent out when due.) Christy Lawrance [email protected] Name(s) ...... c/o 6 Northview Tufnell Park Road Address ...... London N7 0QB
...... The Journal of the Islington Tel no/email (if we need to contact you) ...... Archaeology & History Society is published four times a year I/We would like single/joint/concession/joint concession/corporate membership, and enclose a cheque payable to “Islington Archeology & History Society” for ...... ISSN 2046-8245
Please return this form (photocopies acceptable) to: Islington Archaeology & History Printed by PrintSet, Society, 8 Wynyatt Street, London EC1V 7HU 15 Palmer Place, London,
Cover picture: Christy Lawrance Cover N7 8DH, www.printset.co.uk
2 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Autumn 2012 Vol 2 No 3 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society
Incorporating Islington History Journal Vol 2 No 3 Autumn 2012
Much still at risk but much more to enjoy hat a full month September always is. The Angel canal Wfestival (in its 26th year) is Contents swiftly followed the Thames festival, and there are guided walks abundant. Open House weekend, as always, News 4 presents a treasure trove – to give a Pump House fate in the balance literary reference, The Box of Delights, First appeal under new planning laws finds in favour of heritage which leads the child protagonist into Fascinating free films show British life in the 1940s many adventures. From Wren churches in the City to Letters and your questions 6 the modernist work of Holden and J Arthur Rank’s hall at Archway, the Grahams of Graham Street and the very Lubetkin, every year there is far more wide City Road to take in than is possible in one weekend. As soon as I put something A 19th century whalebone worker 8 on the “must see” list, another location Borchert Brunies’ life traced through insurance records insists on its importance. Below is the Almeida theatre, open this year. The story of the German church 10 Heritage is to be cherished. I often A church for Islington’s one-time substantial German community receive visitors unversed in history, who brighten with enthusiasm when The saving of South Cally 12 told of how a street used to look, or How determined campaigning stopped demolition to make way for a station who lived there. Thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund and many other An exploration of the Fleet river 14 supporters, we are able to appreciate A voyage along the lower reaches of Islington’s river of wells what has been left to us, and view buildings that would not so long ago Lives in a Victorian north London road 16 have been bound for destruction. Blue plaques show the homes of people from printworkers to an Olympic athlete There are still many buildings on English Heritage’s At Risk register, The suffragette who knew ju-jitsu 17 with much work awaited. In enjoying A green plaque for one of the world’s first women martial arts instructors what we have, we need also to be aware of what still needs to be done. Scene set for the new canal 18 The Regent’s Canal Act bicentenary was celebrated with walks, words and music Andrew Gardner Chairman Recognise a name? 19 Islington Archaeology & History Society Names on coffin plates from Islington Green burial ground
Exhibitions 20 Codebreaker – Alan Turing’s Life and Legacy at the Science Museum and The Horse: from Arabia to Royal Ascot at the British Museum
Publications, book reviews and bookshop 22 Events 24 Directory of societies and museums 28
Cafe: Randal Keynes; bridge plaque: Lester Hillman Cafe: Randal Keynes; Islington Archaeology & History Society events 31
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Autumn 2012 Vol 2 No 3 3 news In brief Pump House fate in the balance…
British life in the 1940s: An appeal against Islington because it would cause fascinating free films council’s decision to reject “substantial harm” to a plans to redevelop the New heritage asset of national An engrossing collection of River Pump House was significance. films to promote Britain and being heard as the Journal Groups working to save Britishness in the 1940s, went to press. the Pump House include including footage of daily Developer Turnhold the Amwell Society, the London life, can be watched Properties wants to build Islington Society and online and downloaded for luxury flats and commercial Islington Building free. The British Council and community space at Preservation Trust. Their commissioned over 125 the historic site off Amwell campaign is backed by films as wartime “cultural Street. Hugh Myddelton – a distant propaganda” . Titles include Islington council last year relative of Sir Hugh Gardens of England, The Life rejected an application to Myddelton, who brought History of the Onion, Macbeth redevelop the grade II listed fresh water to the New River Pump House: government and Student Nurse. Architects New River Pump House Head in 1613. inspector deciding its future of England goes from Stonehenge to modernism, Good Value shows industrial …while first major heritage appeal rejects flats skills and City Bound honours London commuter Plans for a block of flats in in Featherstone Street was exceptionally high historic trains, tubes and buses. Islington were rejected in turned down by the council. and architectural interest, l http://film.britishcouncil. the first significant appeal It was rejected on appeal influencing the character and org/british-council-film- decision on heritage under because of its effect on the distinctiveness of the area.” collection the National Planning Policy neighbouring grade I listed She that potential benefits, Framework (NPPF), the new Bunhill Row burial grounds. such as new homes and Manor Gardens wins planning system. The NPPF says heritage jobs, would not outweigh Housing association assets must be conserved in the harm caused to the lottery grant for archive Southern Housing Group a manner appropriate to setting of heritage assets. Manor Gardens Centre has appealed after its application their significance. l The council has now given been awarded a Heritage to build a seven-storey block Government planning Southern permission to Lottery grant of £76,000 to of flats on the site of inspector Christine Thorby build a five-storey block of digitise its archives and put Moorfields Primary School said: “The assets are of flats on the site. them online; they will show the development of community health services Wilton’s music hall stays open Flats could block view in the UK. Its bid for of Union Chapel funding was supported by Wilton’s music hall, the the IAHS (news, spring world’s oldest surviving Fears have been expressed 2012, page 5). The centre’s music hall, has been saved that views to the Union founder, Florence Keen,is to after the Heritage Lottery Chapel could be blocked if be commemorated with an Fund awarded it £56,000. plans for a five-storey block Islington People’s Plaque. The grade II listed hall in of flats get the go-ahead. Wapping was opened in Notting Hill Housing has Culpeper garden still 1858 by entrepreneur John applied to build the flats on growing after 30 years Wilson. the Highbury Ford site on The HLF had originally Canonbury Road. Culpeper Community rejected a bid for funding. It Plans for a seven-storey Garden, named after the has now said it will provide a block were rejected at famous 17th century £1.6m grant if the hall’s appeal because of its scale herbalist who published his managers raise £600,000 (news, spring 2011, page 4). works in Islington, reached within two years. The Union Chapel has its 30th anniversary this Wilton’s music hall was since gained grade I listing. summer. It started as a school saved from closure by Poirot The Canonbury Society project supported by a small star David Suchet, who said the new scheme was grant from Islington council raised enough money to Barley sugar twist post at “a welcome improvement to turn a derelict site into carry out emergency Wilton’s music hall; the stage on the original, but there is
Spa Green: Stephen Richards/geograph.org.uk; St Mary’s Church: Tolleranza/Wikimedia Commons; Tolleranza/Wikimedia Church: St Mary’s Spa Green: Stephen Richards/geograph.org.uk; photo; all others: Christy Lawrance own Museum of the Order St John, green open space in 1982. structural works. can be seen to the left still some way to go”.
4 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Autumn 2012 Vol 2 No 3 Dog remains found near hunting lodge site Open House, open doors Significant animal bone and Offices, theatres, arts pottery findings have been centres, healthcare discovered at the site of a buildings, museums, houses hunting lodge at 18-30 and more are open in Leonard Street, near Old Islington for this year’s Street. The bones are mainly London Open House on those of harrier-type dogs. 22-23 September. There were also the remains Places to visit include of a large hound, possibly a (anticlockwise from left): the “gaze” hound similar to the Spa Green estate; Finsbury modern greyhound. Ceramic Town Hall; St Mary’s church; finds include domestic, and the Museum of the Order industrial and imported fine of St wares. Analysis is being John. carried out by AOC Archaeology.
Structures of very early gas works unearthed Part of the curved wall of a gasholder and remains of a retort house have been found at the site of one of the first gasworks in the world. Pre-Construct Archaeology carried out the investigations at the site of the Great Gas Manufactory in Peartree Street, which was opened by the Light & Coke Company.
House prices show the Coronation thanksgiving remembered value of heritage To mark the Queen’s jubilee Upper Street. In due course, Music was provided by the London homes in year, a copy of Islington’s he was appointed suffragan Metropolitan Police Central conservation areas are worth Coronation Thanksgiving bishop of Woolwich and Band and the Edmonton 37.2% more than those Service, which was held at eventually bishop of Salvation Army Band. outside them, according to the Arsenal Stadium on Liverpool. Many thanks to Mr Hague research commissioned by 31 May 1952, has been sent “The address was given by for saving the order of English Heritage. Researcher to the Journal by reader the bishop of Stepney, the service for all these years Dr Gabriel Ahlfeldt of the Douglas Hague. Right Rev Joost de Blank and sending in a copy. London School of He writes: ”Some who held that office from Economics said: “Heritage hundreds of Islington 1952-57 until his has economic value. People citizens including me appointment as bishop of value living in places with attended the service, Cape Town (1957-63). He architectural integrity, good occupying seating at the died in 1968, is buried in design and traditional East Stand of the Arsenal Westminster Abbey and was character.” Dr Simon Stadium. The first lesson know in South Africa as ‘the Thurley, chief executive of was read by His Worship the scourge of apartheid’.” English Heritage, said Mayor, Councillor CR The service, conducted by conservation areas ”form Rogers JP, and the act of Rev Maurice Wood, started the network of everyday dedication was spoken by with the national anthem. heritage that gives Mr David Sheppard, the Hymns included Crown Him communities their cohesion Sussex and England Test with Many Crowns and Jesus and makes this country cricketer who became curate Shall Reign, ending with unique”. at St Mary’s parish church in Jerusalem.
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History & Society Autumn 2012 Vol 2 No 3 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
Grahams of Graham Street old commercial buildings NHS City building The area was mainly a I have been researching the and a former pub at the I am preparing a staff manufacturing one, and Graham family from southern end of City Garden newsletter for NHS of East Clifton House shows its Islington. My mother was a Row (see picture). London. One of our major manufacturing past with the Graham (father James buildings is Clifton House at doors on each floor where Graham) and they lived in Horse bone mystery 75-77 Worship Street. goods were passed in and City Garden Row. Digging a garden on the I am trying to find the out using a hoist on the roof. I have just found Graham corner of Ambler and Plimsoll history of this building and The Post Office street Street on a map. When was Roads, I found a fragment of wondered if you could point directory for 1935 appears to this street named and was it a horse’s jawbone. I have me in the right direction. show 75-77 Worship Street named after the Graham heard there may have been Laura Miller, social on the west side of Clifton family? Any historical a coaching inn there. Do you partnership co-ordinator, East Street, and Clifton House on information would be know of any records of this? London and the City NHS the east side. The building appreciated. Naomi Schillinger now on the west side of Brenda Kellington [email protected] Michael Reading writes: Clifton Street is fairly new, By email Only the western part of probably built within the past Michael Reading writes: Worship Street, on its 20 years, so there may have Michael Reading writes: The 1869 Ordnance Survey northern side to Paul Street been some renumbering. Graham Street was built in Map shows Ambler Road, and its southern side to Now that the majority of 1843-44 and was named exiting into Blackstock Lane, Wilson Street, are within the street is within Hackney, after James Graham, the but with very few houses Islington’s boundaries. you may wish to contact the owner of City Gardens (now and surrounded by fields. I believe Clifton House Hackney Archives. City Garden Row), which Plimsoll Road has yet to be was in the Borough of runs parallel with Graham laid out. A coaching inn Shoreditch. This was merged A terrace in City Road Street, in 1847. Your research would have been on a main into the Borough of I grew up at 303a City Road may show that this James thoroughfare, which neither Hackney in 1965. and my parents still live Graham is of your family. road would become. Before 1866, Worship there. I’ve always wondered In 1879, Graham Street The 1894 map shows both Street was Finsbury Court about the history of the incorporated the street to its roads completed and a pub and Providence Row. building. Could you give me south, Macclesfield Street at the junction of Plimsoll Worship is a corruption of an idea as to where I could North. The Ordnance Survey Road and St Thomas’s Road, “worsop”. John Worsop, a find any such information? map for 1894 shows that the which is still be there, now merchant tailor, held land Niall Smith east side of Graham Street named The Auld Triangle. and property here in 1567 – By email was occupied mainly by Ambler Road was named six and half acres in Finsbury wharves facing the City after Benjamin Ambler who or High Field and 10 acres in Michael Reading writes: Road Canal Basin, while the lived in Blackstock Lane and Moorfield. I believe 303 City Road is in west side consisted almost owned property in the area. There was a foundry here, the terrace of six houses entirely of houses. Plimsoll Road was named which cast a cannon for the between Remington Street During the Second World Templeton Road in 1871 but Civil War. The foundry was and Haverstock Street on War, practically every renamed in 1881 after leased to John Wesley (1703- the north side of City Road. building in both streets Samuel Plimsoll (1824-98) 91) as a place of worship Anderson’s Row, built in suffered general blast of the famous Plimsoll line – which could be another 1790, stood there; in 1813, it damage from bombing, with marked on all ships. explanation for the name. was changed to Anderson’s some being totally l Victorian lives, page 16. I have checked the Buildings. Nos 17-21 were destroyed. Today, very few Ordnance Survey maps for demolished in 1856-57 and original buildings remain in 1873, 1894 and 1913. Clifton the remainder renumbered either street, having been No building was House is not on the 1873 293-307 City Road. replaced by large estates and allowed within map, the site consisting of Remington Street was built commercial buildings. houses. There is an open site in 1846-47 and Haverstock There are two original 50ft of City Road on the 1894 map, which Street in 1852; their building houses still at the north end on either side would suggest it was built may have necessitated the
Ewan Munro/Creative Commons Munro/Creative Ewan of Graham Street and some after 1894 but before 1913. partial demolition.
6 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Autumn 2012 Vol 2 No 3 City Road was built under to train young ladies for a film an act of parliament that career. He joined the peerage required the road to be 40ft as Baron Rank in 1957. wide, and no building was A useful publication is allowed within 50ft of the Fifty Years on… the Story of road on either side, hence the Archway Central Hall, large front gardens. Methodist Church 1934-1984: The Islington Local History Jubilee Souvenir. Centre may hold records Roy Hidson such as rates or rent books St Thomas’s Road, Finsbury and details of the original Park, N4 2QJ ownership of the buildings. More damage than by bombs Lost pump of Lower Street Lester Hillman (Reminders of I’m trying to establish the wartime, summer 2012, page exact location of the pump Former pub on Graham Street, now flats: previously the Fallen 20) writes that the V1 attack that was in Lower Street in Angel, Dove Regent and Duke of Bridgewater on Highbury Corner left the the 1760s, when Benjamin Cock Tavern destroyed and D’Israeli (grandfather of the southern end of the parish, maintenance caused their the station damaged beyond prime minister) lived around the Angel, had water closure or conversion. repair. The pub was finally “opposite the pump”. piped by the New River John Wesley had preached demolished in 1956 and the I imagine it would be Company. Others had to at Highgate. In Victorian station in the mid 1960s. along the course where the buy water taken from the times, the site was occupied It’s a sad fact that more of New River was culverted stream at ½d per pail. Piped by an ornate Victorian chapel. Britain’s historic buildings between Asteys Row and supplies seem to have By 1932 the chapel was were, knowingly and Colebrooke Row. extended to most of Islington dilapidated and rebuilding misguidedly, demolished in Petra Laidlaw by 1809 but Holloway and was organised by Rev the 1950s and 1960s than By email Canonbury relied on a Charles H Hulbert. The bulk were destroyed by enemy pump in the river a Hopping of the money was supplied action in the Second World Michael Reading writes: Lane (St Paul’s Road).” by Joseph Rank (1888-1972). War. Their replacements I have been unable to find This has not answered He provided 75% of the cost were, with a few exceptions, any reference to the pump your enquiry but I trust it on the understanding that of uninspiring design. you believe stood in Lower will be of interest to you. he was guaranteed adequate It is hoped that today the Street Islington in 1760. staff and complete authority architectural and historic It is probable that one German church in the execution of the value of such buildings existed, drawing water from One of my relatives enterprise. He scrapped the would be recognised and the New River. Other than emigrated in 1881 from original plans as “totally they would be saved. being a water source, it Hesse in Germany and inadequate”. Roger Simmons appears not to have any settled in Islington. My Better known as J Arthur By email additional use, such as a relative was married at the Rank, he was a member of a meeting place. It may German Evangelical Church wealthy family of flour millers City boundary map sought appear on one of the old on the corner of Fowler Road and a devout methodist. He I am researching the parish large maps at the Islington and Halton Road. I’d like to believed that film could be boundaries of London and Local History Centre. learn more of its history. used to propagate the gospel cannot find a copy of the I have found a reference Aron-G Schmidt and his first films were map showing the parish that states “Isaac D’Israeli Kirchheim, Hesse aimed at Sunday schools. boundaries of the City of (1766-1848) took a house at By email He became a leading London 1907. No 9 Trinity Row, which figure in British film making If any reader has a copy of later became No 215 Upper See The story of the German in the postwar period when this map and is willing to Street. The D’Israelis only church by Michael Reading, the industry was dominated sell it, I would gratefully lived at Trinity Row for page 10 by Hollywood. On the site purchase it. about a year to 18 months, of Athenaeum Court in Peter Fuller having been living in a J Arthur Rank at Archway Highbury New Park, Rank Flat C, 2a Kelross Road, N5 house behind Canonbury I was interested to read the established his charm school 2QS, [email protected] Tower. Benjamin Disraeli letter on the Archway born in 1804, may well have Central Hall (summer issue, been born here during the page 6). At one time, central Write to [email protected], via www.iahs.org.uk or c/o 18 month period.” halls and Salvation Army 6 Northview, Tufnell Park Road, N7 0QB. Please note Another reference states: citadels were common in letters may be edited. If you would like readers to “In the mid 18th century urban areas but falling contact you, your email or post address can be printed only householders in the congregations and costly
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History & Society Autumn 2012 Vol 2 No 3 7 A 19th century whalebone worker
Searching the policy records of the Sun Fire Office, Ruth Darton came across Borchert Brunies. Piqued by the name, she decided to find out about him
earching my latest register, I met Borchert Brunies, whalebone worker, who insured the contents of his house,S 7 Arlington Street, Middleton Square, on 31 March 1838 (policy number 565/1269860). Percy Circus: Borchert Brunies and his family lived at no 6 in 1851; it is I did what I often do when I near the top, to the right of the scaffolding, with a black taxi outside come across an unusual name – I searched the internet to see and other sources. and a boarder, Carl Conrath, a if I could find other references At the time of the 1841 census, whalebone worker from to him. Borchert Brunies, a “fancy Germany, aged 24. The National Archives whalebone worker”, was living The 1871 census records catalogue revealed that he was in Arlington Street with his wife Borchert and Sarah Brunies from Hanover and, on 4 March Sarah and two daughters, Sarah living at 8 Ashmead Road, St 1844, was granted by letters Emma, aged three (baptised Paul Deptford. Under the patent the right “to be a free 3 December 1837 at St James heading “rank, profession or denizen & liege subject”. The Clerkenwell), and Mary Annie, occupation” Borchert is status of denizen allowed a aged one (baptised on 18 described as of “independent foreigner to purchase property; October 1841 at St Clement City means”. Presumably, he made according to the catalogue entry, Road. Borchert and Sarah were enough money as a whalebone “to hold landed property” was married at St Pancras church on worker to be able to retire. the object of Borchert Brunies’ 13 September 1836. Sarah’s Ten years on, the 1881 census application. maiden name was Gayford. records Sarah as a widow, living This was an interesting start, so The 1851 census shows in the home of her son-in-law I continued my search and, by Borchert was born in Germany Charles Christey, a mercantile looking at other online sources, in 1810, and Sarah in Chigwell in clerk, at 46 Tressillian Road, St was able to piece together an Essex in 1817. They now had a Paul Deptford. outline of Borchert Brunies’s life. third daughter, Anna, aged From the National Probate This demonstrated how much seven, born in 1843. (She was Calendar, I learnt that Borchert can now be discovered by baptised on 2 January 1850 at Brunies had died on 28 July 1874 looking solely at online indexes St Philip Clerkenwell.) The at 18 Ashmead Road. His will family was living at 6 Percy was proved by his sons-in-law, Circus, St James Clerkenwell. Charles Christey and George They had a servant, Rachel Dearberg, who were the Gilbert, aged 24. executors. He left “effects under At the time of the 1861 census, £1,500” – a considerably larger the family was living at 6 Percy sum than those left by others Circus. The two older daughters, listed on the same page of the now aged 23 and 21, were each calendar. Whale described as “teacher of music”; Sarah Emma Brunies, the jawbones, the youngest, aged 17, was a eldest daughter of Borchert and showing sheets “bazaar assistant”. They had a Sarah, and Charles Christey
Whale: John Pittman/Creative Commons Pittman/Creative Whale: John of baleen servant, Sarah Roberts, aged 20, (born in 1831) were married on
8 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Autumn 2012 Vol 2 No 3 13 September 1864 at St Mark See Islington from Myddelton Square. They had two He left ‘effects under A 19th century whalebone worker sons and two daughters. By the above in two ways time of the 1881 census, when £1,500’ – a his mother-in-law Sarah was a considerably larger member of his household, sum than those left by Tour the Cally clock – and Charles Christey was himself a become a clock winder widower; Sarah Emma died in others on the same 1879, when their four children page of the National Alfe Dennen, who got the clock were aged from 6 to 13. in Caledonian Park Tower ticking Sarah Brunies died on 14 Probate Calendar again, is looking for people who March 1887 at Clevedon, Foots would be interested in seeing the Cray Road, New Eltham. This Cally clock or winding it was the home of her youngest is more like fngernail than bone. themselves. daughter Anna and son-in-law The defnition was not clear and The clock tower has some steep George Dearberg. Her will was baleen and whalebone were stairs, some with rope banisters. proved on 12 May 1887 by her used interchangeably. From the top you’ll be able to son-in-law Charles Christey, one Whalebone is tough yet distant hills, the Gherkin in the of the executors. She left a flexible, and light in weight. City and the Holloway Odeon. personal estate of £785 13s 8d. Perhaps its most common and See our summer 2012 issue to Anna Brunies, the youngest profitable use was in the read about the clock and how daughter of Borchert and Sarah, manufacture of corsets – we have Alfe Dennen’s Stopped Clocks and George Dearberg (born in found a number of staymakers in Project got it going again. 1833) were married on 29 the Sun registers – but it was l Contact [email protected] or October 1868 at St James also used for many other items, via https://twitter.com/callyclock Clerkenwell. The 1871 census including whips, umbrella records that George was a “clerk spokes and fishing rods. (in leather trade)”. His wife also The Sun registers contain had an occupation – she was an several references to whalebone “artist in paper flowers”. They cutters, but none so far to lived at 6 Clarewood Terrace whalebone workers. I don’t Lambeth, and had a baby know whether there is a daughter, Anna Kate, aged seven difference between a “cutter” months. They went on to have and a “worker”, nor do I know three more daughters. George exactly what kind of whalebone Dearberg died in 1893 aged 60, work Borchert Brunies did. It and Anna in 1917, aged 73. does seem that in his time the Mary Ann Brunies, the second trade was prosperous, and that daughter of Borchert and Sarah, he did well in it. n did not marry. At the time of the 1891 and 1901 censuses, she was Ruth Darton is a former librarian, Alfie Dennen checks the gears in a lodging house keeper at and a volunteer researcher for the the Caledonian Park clock tower 18 Cheriton Gardens, Place in the Sun project Folkestone. In 1911, she was herself a lodger, with private The Place in the Sun indexing Aerial photographs from means, at 14 Boscombe Road, project puts details 1920s and beyond online Folkestone. She died in 1931 in of the people, Lewisham, aged 91. places and Aerial photos of Islington in the businesses 1920s, including of the New River Whaling mentioned in more Head Metropolitan Water Board Until the end of the end of the than 280,000 building, Arsenal stadium, the 19th century, whalebone was the insurance policies in 161 policy leather works and clock tower in primary product of whaling. registers from the Sun Fire Office in Highbury, the Metropolitan What was commonly called 1790-1839 online. They can be Cattle Market – with the Cally whalebone was actually baleen, searched at www.nationalarchives. clock – can be viewed online. which hangs in long parallel gov.uk/a2a. More than 15,000 images sheets in the mouths of some The project is based at London taken between 1919 and 2006 whale species and acts as a sieve, Metropolitan Archives and run by from the Aeroflms Collection filtering sea water to catch the volunteers, The data is being added have been put online in the plankton on which the whale to the LMA’s digitised catalogue Britain from Above project. feeds. It is made of keratin, and (www.lma.gov.uk). l www.britainfromabove.org.uk
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History & Society Autumn 2012 Vol 2 No 3 9 The story of the German church
Islington used to be home to a substantial German community. Michael Reading tells the little-known history of its German church
erman merchants having brick arches. The inside have lived in was 64ft long and 38ft wide, and London since the tall enough to hold galleries for a middle ages and, future, larger congregation. The after the union of final total cost, including fittings Above: drawing the crowns of England and and the heating system, was Haggai. Chap. 11 Ver. 9 G by unknown Hanover between 1712 and 1837, £1,700; there was no provision artist – no This stone was laid by His larger numbers came. They for a house for the pastor. photographs are Excellency Count Bernstorff, worked mainly in the sugar On Tuesday 28 May 1861, a known to have Prussian Ambassador. refining, glass, meat and baking crowd of people gathered in survived; below: 28 May 1861, TW Constantine, industries and became so Fowler Road for the laying of the school in Architect. assimilated that they almost foundation stone. The Grantbridge The ceremony continued with disappeared as a community. proceedings began with a Street, now flats another German hymn. Rev The 1851 census shows that German hymn, prayers and a Daniel Wilson, the vicar of St there were 9,566 German Bible reading. The pastor, Rev Dr Mary’s, then spoke on behalf of residents in London. By the 1891 Theodore Christlieb, gave a long the Islington clergy. He was census, this had risen to 26,920. address in German then the followed by the Rev Henry Allon A Protestant congregation, church treasurer, Mr Rauch, read a who spoke for the nonconformist they held their first services in document that was to be placed churches. A final hymn was sung 1857 in the school room in the in the stone, which was laid by in English, and closing prayers Union Chapel in Upper Street, His Excellency Count Bernstoff, were offered by Rev BS Hollis. but not the present building. As the Prussian ambassador. The company adjourned to the the congregation grew, the room Each member of the vestry, in adjacent Cross Street Baptist was no longer adequate, so a accordance with German custom, church Sunday school building decision was made to build a invoked a blessing on the for a meal, in a room decorated simple church to keep the proposed church by striking the with flags of many nations. The running costs as low as possible. stone with a wooden mallet at the treasurer said that the collection The design was chosen from a same time. The inscription read: amounted to £670, including £50 list of seven in a limited private German Evangelical Church from the Prince Consort and competition for architects. The erected 1861. £100 from the King of Prussia. winner was Mr TW Constantine ”In this place I will give peace Seven months were to elapse of New Ormond Street, WC1. saith the Lord of Hosts “ between the laying of the The cost was estimated at £2,000 foundation stone and the first and the building was to service. On Sunday 5 January accommodate 400-500 people. 1862, the church was opened for A site was acquired on the divine service conducted by Rev north side of Fowler Road, which Dr Christlieb. There was a was then a cul-de-sac out of baptism in the afternoon, and the Halton Street. This was evening service was conducted eventually extended into a road, by Rev Kubler. The first marriage becoming Grove Road and in the church took place over a renamed Fowler Road in 1878. year later on 14 February 1863. The building was a gothic In 1869, Rev Christlieb was structure of the early decorated succeeded by Rev Thomas period, consisting chiefly of brick, Fliedner. He was succeeded by faced with pale yellow malma and Rev T Kubler in 1875, who
10 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Autumn 2012 Vol 2 No 3 stayed for the next 27 years. When the war ended in 1945, During his ministry, there were there was a shortage of two notable events. In 1897, he everything, including commercial gave a lengthy interview to social premises. The German church historian Charles Booth, who was repaired sufficiently to allow was carrying out his survey of its occupation by a war surplus poverty in London. He described goods merchant. It remained his congregation as consisting of there until 1958 when, in the middle-class Germans, such as evening of 3 May, the building bakers, butchers and city clerks; suffered a serious fire. The few “people of standing” ran their building was damaged beyond own businesses. The congregation repair and probably unstable and, had diminished because the in due course, was demolished. more successful and educated What happened to the Germans had moved away. foundation stone is not known. Despite this, at about the same Memories of the war were still time, the German community had fresh at the time, so it may have sufficient funds to build a school been allowed to disappear into in nearby Grantbridge Street. building and the hall. This Above: from the the rubble. Rev Kubler retired in 1902 and community grew, and established letterheading of On 12 January 1960, the site of was succeeded by Rev A Scholten. a variety of bodies and the church’s last “the German Church” – as it was He was to be the last pastor for associations. With the outbreak minister, Pastor still referred to in the conveyance A Scholten; the German community. of the Second World War, documents – was sold by below right: the With the start of the Great War numbers began to diminish – as Sunday school compulsory purchase to the in 1914, the Aliens Restriction they did in all London churches building today London County Council for Act was quickly passed and – as men were conscripted and £695. The area was cleared and nearly 30,000 Germans and women and children evacuated. St Mary’s Church of England Austrians were instantly The bombing attacks on primary school was built on the London began in September site – the site of the German 1940 and continued until May Church is now part of the 1941, but the church was spared school’s playground. any damage. However, three It is a final irony that a church years later, the German V that was built by the enthusiasm, weapons campaign began. dedication and love of the At 6.20am on 29 June 1944, a Islington German community V1 landed in nearby Hayman was destroyed by a German V1 Street, demolishing the entire weapon. n street of 14 houses and most of St Mary’s Church school and the 12 houses in Fowler Road. Eleven people were killed and 93 injured. The church, which was 111 Essex Road: used for Pentecostal sideways to Hayman Street, took worship after bombs hit the church a considerable blast on its west side and could no longer be used repatriated and another 32,000 as a place of worship. non-British nationals were The Pentecostal congregation interned. In parts of London, moved to 111 Essex Road – this including Islington, rioting broke is now a hairdresser’s two doors out and German-owned from South Islington Library. businesses attacked; the church They never returned to Fowler did not suffer as such. Road and, in 1947, moved to a In 1915, Reverend Scholten new chapel in Elwood Street was forced to close the church in Highbury. and the school and the German connection ended. Michael Reading is the Islington Archaeology & History The church’s ownership passed Society’s researcher from the German community and the building was to remain The above is an edited extract from: Reading M (2006) empty until 1929, when the Elim The Church in Fowler Road N7. A History of the “German Pentecostal Church rented the Church”, available at Islington’s local history library
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History & Society Autumn 2012 Vol 2 No 3 11 The saving of South Cally
Determined campaigning over several years stopped the demolition of much of the south Caledonian Road area for a new station. Randal Keynes describes how it all started
came to live in South Cally side streets knew each other Above: Keystone London to Paris and Brussels. In in 1986 because I’d seen well, and we all got on, partly Crescent, home the first years, the trains would use Keystone Crescent and just because there was no point in to Randal lines from Waterloo, but capacity wanted to live there. I liked anyone setting themselves apart Keynes; below: and speeds would be limited. the view from the contrasts of the area: from anyone else, but often also They realised that if they could Wharfdale Road the crowds of travellers moving with the neighbourliness that is get the high-speed line to King’s I towards York between train, bus and tube and the special benefit of many Way and the Cross and put the new station the sudden change to quietness places like South Cally in gasholders – the somewhere there while leaving in the narrow streets around. run-down parts of London. Prince Albert enough of the Railway Lands The neighbourhood was part pub is now free for office development, of the small pocket of King’s Central Station they’d be able to raise the Cross between the station to the n the London commercial commercial value of the whole west, Regent’s Canal to the property boom of the mid venture to a very high figure. north, Pentonville Road to the I1980s, British Rail saw the They found that in order to south and Killick Street to the King’s Cross Railway Lands as an leave enough of their property east. The shops were diverse – an obvious opportunity for commer- clear for a high profit on the Italian deli, Housmans bookshop, cial development and, in 1987, office development, they would porn shops, an aquarium shop, a the British Railways Property have to position the new station hardware store, an oculist and a Board launched an ambitious below ground with a large part hairdresser’s. The people living plan for a major development. beneath King’s Cross Station and working there included There was another opportunity and another large part beneath Scottish shopkeepers, an Irish to consider. The Channel Tunnel what were then other people’s publican, Bangladeshis, Turkish was being built and, when it was properties to the south and east. and Greek Cypriots and a Sri opened in 1994, it would enable They’d have to obtain those Lankan poet. Some of the oldest rail services to be run from properties by compulsory were Italians who had come in purchase, demolish them, dig the 1930s, while many of the most out the space for the station, recent arrivals were young and construct the station and then middle-aged professionals like me. roof it over for replacement We couldn’t be sentimental buildings from ground level up. about the neighbourhood, with Seeing the potential for a huge the crowds coming to and from profit if they could start on the the station, the winos, sex workers new station at once, British Rail and drug dealers. The pavements quickly worked up their proposal were strewn with litter, dropped for it. They called it the Low take-aways and spilt drink, urine It was a jarring shock to see their Level Station. and vomit. There was almost no view of our streets and buildings and They kept the plan secret from open space for children to play; local people but revealed it to the the only greenery was the buddleia to find that we, the people living and developers they had invited to along the cracks in the rooftops. working there, weren’t mentioned tender for the Railway Lands But many people along the scheme so that the developers
12 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Autumn 2012 Vol 2 No 3 could cover it in their proposals. lived and worked in South Cally During the summer of 1987 and how the neighbourhood one developer showed a map for would be drained of life if they its proposal to some local people were removed. South Caledonian and left in by mistake the lines Community Association gave the British Rail had provided for the shopkeepers clipboards with a Low Level Station. Someone letter to sign and in a few days asked what the lines were and we had 336 signatures from their the secret was out. customers. News spread fast and, when people pressed the Railway Lands Parliament and petitioning project staff, they confirmed that Faced with the boldness of British Above: they were considering adding a Rail’s plan, we quickly recognised welcoming station for the CTRL and admitted smiles in a Cally that our accustomed ways of that their plan for the Low Level cafe; left: The campaigning on community Station would involve taking shops were issues would be useless. over some properties in South diverse, and the But British Rail’s need for special Cally and demolishing them. main local powers of compulsory purchase meeting places and the special requirements for granting those powers would n December 1987, British Rail give us other opportunities. produced an information companies had been able to use They’d have to deposit a private Ibooklet for their project for the in the 19th century when they bill in parliament for approval by Low Level Station with a map brought their lines into central the Commons and the Lords; our indicating all the properties they London through the crowded MP Chris Smith could act for us intended to take for the works. slums of the Victorian city. in the Commons; we could hope It was a jarring shock for us to Eighty years on, British Rail to find peers to support us in the see their view of our streets and now clearly felt they had another Lords; we’d be able to make buildings and to find that we, the opportunity to clear a worthless formal petitions to both houses people living and working there, area of inner city decay for a and, in each house’s committee weren’t mentioned. The buildings major railway and commercial hearings, we’d be able to question they planned to take from us and development, and trusted that British Rail’s witnesses on their demolish were shown simply as everyone with any sense would claims for their proposals then “Land to be acquired” with no see their plan as a great benefit make our own cases against them. reference at all to the many to London and the nation. hundreds of people who’d lose They appeared to believe that British Rail deposited the King’s their homes or workplaces. anyone living or working in the Cross Railways Bill in parliament British Rail was planning to areas to be cleared should be on 29 November 1988 – 282 take 17 acres from the streets happy to leave for the clearance petitions were received against it, immediately east and south east and rebuilding, and any who a record at the time. of the station. All the buildings weren’t could be disregarded as Chris Smith MP told the House would be demolished and the site flies on the windscreen of progress. of Commons the plans would mean would be excavated to a depth of When news of British Rail’s the “massive destruction of a 40ft. One hundred and fifty plans spread in South Cally, we thriving local neighbourhood”. buildings would be demolished, all agreed at once that the first Over several long years of including 88 homes and 168 need was to support and protect examination in parliament, the area workplaces, among them 59 shops our local shops. became blighted. Then, in 1994, the of which 38 provided key services; As well as providing goods, the government confirmed the Low 326 people would lose their homes shops were our main places for Level plans would be dropped and and 1,620 jobs would be lost. meeting and talking with each the CTRL would be at St Pancras. The whole project would take other. If an elderly person needed For the final comment, we return six years, with working up to help, one of the shopkeepers to Randal Keynes: seven days a week and 24 hours would often be the first to notice a day. The effects on us would and alert a neighbour. Our old streets and buildings had often be unbearable because the British Rail planned to survived the blight and decay, demolition, excavation and demolish 27 of the shops and now at last they could have a construction would be taking including seven food stores, two future again, as well as their past. n place directly next door to our newsagents, two bicycle shops homes and workplaces. and the hairdresser’s. The above excerpts and pictures by Randal Keynes are British Rail’s approach followed They clearly had no idea of the from King’s Cross: a Sense of Place by Angela Inglis with
the ruthless methods railway shops’ importance for all who Nigel Buckner, £19.95, published by Matador taken in the late 1980s all photographs Randal Keynes:
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History & Society Autumn 2012 Vol 2 No 3 13 An exploration of the Fleet river
The society recently held an expedition charting the hidden lower reaches of Islington’s river of wells, the Fleet. Coxswain Lester Hillman describes a voyage that took in health spas, palaces and clandestine marriages
slington’s medieval water- large cauldron then drawn into side health hydro history glasses. In some ways, it was also and the riverside’s role as a a sort of Starbucks of its day. matrimonial Las Vegas were The well fell into decline from revisited during a walk held the early 19th century. Iby the society this summer. After a tight passage was The walk was arranged after I negotiated, King’s Cross Road gave a talk to the society on the was revealed and the sinuous Fleet. Interest had been reinforced course of the long-buried river by the recent rediscovery of the beckoned. course of the Faggeswell Brook, a medieval tributary at the Bagnigge Wells southern boundary of the The walkers halted to inspect the Above: borough (see box). plaque to the former pleasure were distributed. Bridewell Taking a quick bearing off the gardens of Bagnigge Wells. Palace, c1880; Also circulated were Fleet King’s Cross lighthouse, the Steering west of the Exmouth below left: marriage certificates. These commanding western landmark grog houses and eschewing the Bagnigge Wells clandestine weddings were to Islington shrouded in a fog of calm waters of the New River plaque; below: carried out by the large numbers scaffolding, the party set off. Head, the group of walkers the lighthouse of clergy, former clergy or those Just two days off a full moon, rounded Mount Pleasant. building at masquerading as such in and and with the tricky rapids of the The gratings at Ray Street King’s Cross around the Fleet prison. The Euston Road safely behind, the offered a chance to hear and enthusiastic cooperation of group sailed into the tranquil glimpse the waters gushing innkeepers and other service backwaters of St Chad’s Place. below. The faintest aroma providers can only have This was once home to St wafting up gave yet another heightened the attractions. Chad’s Well, a celebrated sensory confirmation. medicinal well set in gardens, Rejoining the Islington side of Fleet Market and Fleet Street whose waters were believed to the river of wells allowed us to The group rejoined the main be useful in cases of liver attacks, view the Clerk’s Well. You can see course of the Fleet, charting the dropsy and scrofula. it through a window in wide Farringdon Road where a The water was heated in a Farringdon Lane. market once flourished. The Thames and Fleet rivers The streets and lanes either must have offered a preferred side – Seacoal, Newcastle and mode of arrival here for those Stonecutter, not forgetting Fleet seeking spiritual, physical and Street itself – are reminders of medical care from the nearby the river and its cargo. priories, nunneries and houses. The earliest records of cargo carried on the Fleet relate to Faggeswell Brook stone for the building of St Paul’s The Turnmill Street sign and Cathedral 1110–33. After the other physical clues reassured us Great Fire of London, taxes on that we were on the right course. sea coal helped pay for the Venturing east for a short rebuilding of today’s cathedral. diversion into Smithfield brought the group within sight of the Bridewell Faggeswell Brook excavations. At New Bridge Street, a plaque These have been illustrated in to Bridewell Palace on the Fleet’s Crossrail engineering and west side sparked interest. The
Lighthouse: Mike Peel, www.mikepeel.net/Wikimedia Commons; Bridewell Palace: EH Maund; Fleet river in 1844, Mr Crosby; in 1844, Mr Crosby; EH Maund; Fleet river Commons; Bridewell Palace: www.mikepeel.net/Wikimedia Lighthouse: Mike Peel, Lester Hillman at Blackfriars: walkers on behalf of Crossrail; Archaeology Brook: Museum of London Faggeswell archaeology reports which site also housed the Fleet prison
14 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Autumn 2012 Vol 2 No 3 and, today, St Bride’s church is Left: Fleet river Plans are in hand to navigate complemented with an institute in 1844; below: the Fleet alongside Islington’s and theatre where study, the tour western boundary from performance and other activities concludes Highgate to the King’s Cross where the Fleet can be pursued. The Fleet has Lighthouse. There is a wealth of reaches indulged agreeable pastimes for Blackfriars history and interest. It may be centuries. possible to make this a Fleet Early June 1523 saw King navigation by the stars via Henry VIII at Bridewell Palace. Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s home Across the Fleet, the Holy (today home to Kate Moss) and Roman Emperor Charles V of the treacherous rapids of Fitzroy Spain lodged with the Park, where former Monty Dominican Order of Blackfriars Python Terry Jones may be and a new bridge linked the two encountered. n entourages. The crimson velvets and purples of the royal parties Lester Hillman is academic adviser mingling with the scarlet of the to the Islington Archaeology & City’s mayor and aldermen must perhaps been siphoned off in History Society have made for a colourful scene. service of the low level The society’s visit in the middle interceptor sewer. Further reading of Wimbledon 2012 was a Shelter was sought under Hillman L (2011) Islington’s western reminder that a real tennis Blackfriars Bridge with the shores. Journal of the Islington match (the ancestor of modern- salutary recollection that exactly Archaeology Society; 1: 4, 21 Lawrance C (2011) Las Vegas in day tennis) had been played 30 years earlier the media had Georgian London. Journal of the during that 1523 visit. been saturated with reports and Islington Archaeology Society; speculation about this spot. On 1: 4, 14-15 Lost river to the end 17 June 1982 Roberto Calvi – Honourably discharged, the called “God’s banker” because group is pictured at the mouth of of his connections with the Holy the Fleet, having completed the See – had been found hanged. navigation with distinction. Alas, the river – which is said Future walk upstream to have been 600 feet wide in Before the society group melted Roman times and 300 feet wide away, strong enthusiasm was in Saxon times – could not be expressed for an expedition to seen. The gushings heard just a the uncharted upper reaches of few hundred yards upstream had the Fleet.
First walk to greet lost river
he society walk was the first to This former tributary of mark the rediscovery of what is the Fleet under 8-10 Tbelieved to be the long-lost Hayne Street was Faggeswell Brook. identified by archaeologists from the Museum of London Archaeology during an evaluation exercise at Crossrail’s eastern ticket hall site at Lindsey Street (news, spring 2012, page 5). Stake holes along the brook’s edge show where a boundary had been built. Stake holes show where the brook’s edge had been This could have been to dam the brook or to prevent people and textiles, including many small from falling in to the watercourse. shoes, were also found. These may A large quantity of medieval leather have been manufactured in the area.
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History & Society Autumn 2012 Vol 2 No 3 15 Lives in a Victorian north London road
Blue plaques show a Finbury Park road was home to range of people, from printworkers to an Olympic athlete. Mark Smulian reports Islington’s printing history is evident by the round the middle of plaques were printed up and occupations Finsbury Park’s distributed and most people shown; below Ambler Road, a were happy to take them and left: horse series of blue circles still have them up. People love jawbone have sprouted in reading them.” fragment could residents’A windows to commemo- reveal some rate those who used to live there. Olympic resident history; opposite Results from the 1891 and 1901 Ambler Road’s most famous left: the census returns have been printed resident was Frederick Murray Victorian sweep of Ambler Road; on paper replicas of the blue Ashford, born in 1886, who lived opposite right: plaques used to record where a at number 64 and represented ornamental famous person lived. Great Britain at the London 1908 details show the This time though – with one Olympic Games in the 800m race. houses were notable exception – they mark He is recorded as having not designed for the homes of people who were completed his qualifying heat, so reasonably never famous, just the road’s did not progress to the final race. well-to-do ordinary residents around the Before the Olympic Games, he people turn of the previous century. had represented the Finchley Resident Naomi Schillinger Harriers at the 1908 Amateur organised the plaque display Athletic Association following research by neighbour Championships. Lucy Smith, who has since He later studied at the Royal moved away. Academy of Music, and moved The plaques were originally to Scarborough, where he put up when people living on appears to have become a light this section of the road took part entertainment performer and in the Chelsea Fringe Flower impresario. Show, a gardens and gardening Sadly for your correspondent, event that started this year. the plaque display does not Ms Schillinger explains: “The stretch quite to number 76, plaque idea came from Danny where my mother lived as a child Coope, an artist who had led a and where my grandparents similar project in Walthamstow. lived from shortly before the “We heard about his scheme First World War until they, like and thought it would be a good many other families, followed idea to get blue plaques up here. the newly built Piccadilly line “Lucy Smith found the names and moved to Cockfosters and details and the mock in 1933.
16 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Autumn 2012 Vol 2 No 3 According to my late mother’s alarm that they had come with a recollection, she was playing in view to carrying off local women the street one day when a to America, and the ladies of the neighbour shouted at my road drew ranks with rolling pins grandmother: “Mrs Turner, quick, drawn to deter any such outofmyshed.co.uk) says: get your children in and lock the intentions. “My project is to get 100 door – the Mormons have been Those who visit Ambler Road neighbours growing vegetables seen at Manor House!” now can enjoy the fine displays and fruit in their front gardens. Since all that most people of flowers, fruit and vegetables It makes the area pleasanter to knew about Mormons in those grown by neighbours in this walk through, adds to the days was that they came from section of the street. community feel of the road and America and had multiple wives Ms Schillinger, a gardener and improves its appearance.” there was, as my mother recalled, gardening writer (http:// The growing project has unearthed a small discovery that shows Ambler Road may have Who lived in which house yet more history to yield up. When digging in a garden on its corner with Plimsoll Road, Number 41: in 1891, Alexander Forrester, on a site believed to have once compositor held a former bus depot, Ms Number 43: in 1901, William Lutter, zinc worker, Schillinger found part of a his wife and five children horse’s jawbone. She thinks a Number 45: (no date given) Alfred Pitt, lady’s coaching inn may have been mantle cutter there and would be interested to Number 52: in 1901, George Parsons and family, hear any further information. publishing manager Contact her on outofmyshedblog Number 54: (no date given) William Sheffield and @gmail.com. n family, journeyman and bookbinder l To see more blue plaques, Number 56: in 1891, George Lore, railway porter go to www.dannycoope.co.uk/ Number 58: in 1901,William Holmes, print machine minder blue_plaques.html Number 64: (no date given) Frederick Murray Ashford, 1908 London Olympics competitor (pictured) Mark Smulian is a freelance journalist, www.marksmulian.co.uk
Green plaque for suffragette who knew ju-jitsu
n Islington People’s Garrud, one of the world’s first Left: Punch Plaque has been unveiled female martial arts instructors, cartoon, dated to commemorate Edith ran a ju-jitsu school in Seven 6 July 1910, A showing Edith Garrud at her former home at 60 Sisters Road. She trained the Garrud getting Thornhill Square. Bodyguard – the suffragette’s the better of a protection unit – who defended group of suffragettes against arrest at her policemen; women-only training hall. right: some of Garrud, who was just 4ft 11, her female said women able to do ju-jitsu relatives with could bring down “great burly the green cowards nearly twice their size to plaque their feet and made them howl for mercy”.
She died in 1971 aged 99. n Christy Lawrance Cartoon: Islington council; all other photographs:
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History & Society Autumn 2012 Vol 2 No 3 17 “Nash’s scheme will rival Scene set for Napoleon’s Paris,” declares Rob Inglis, who wrote the script and music the new canal
The bicentenary of the Regent’s Canal Act was celebrated with walks, words and music. Lester Hillman gets in the spirit
slington’s London Canal whisk the audience back two Walkers traced the history and Museum at the heart of the centuries. political drama between King’s Regent’s Canal made a Architect and canal promoter Cross and Hampstead Road splendid focus for cel- John Nash, engineer James Locks in Camden. The ebrating a canal Morgan and Counsellor William Hampstead Road Locks are Ibicentenary. Agar – the local landowner who known today as Camden Lock; The Regent’s Canal Bill was vehemently opposed the canal the area and the market around lodged on 7 May 1812, just four being run through his land – the lock attract 10m-15m visitors days before prime minister were brought to life by Kai each year. Spencer Perceval was Simmons, Andrew Boxer and Ian assassinated in the House of Macnaughton. Canal charity launch Commons lobby. It took until Also on hand were dramatist The day before the preview, the 8 June and five attempts to find a Rob Inglis, musical director and Canal and River Trust (CART) new prime minister, Lord arranger Bob Stuckey, director was formally launched at the Liverpool. Soon after, the US John Dunne, guitarist Dominic Holiday Inn in Camden, just declared war on Britain and Ashworth and Cathy Aitcheon, upstream from the museum. Napoleon invaded Russia. who managed publicity and Above: Rob The new charity has taken on While events unfolded on a administration. Inglis runs British Waterways’ former role in world stage, the weighty script The event was attended by through excerpts looking after more than 2,000 for the Regent’s Canal drama members of the King’s Cross from the opera; miles of waterways in England progressed through parliament. Business Partnership, who below: and Wales. engineering On Monday 13 July 1812, the returned from a walk along the CART has been two years challenges, Regent’s Canal Act received canal as the curtain went up. tragedy and arriving, having been first floated royal assent. Construction began The theatre bar, alongside the scandal – the in October 2010 as part of the three months later in October. museum’s ice supply heritage folk opera in government’s comprehensive collection, and offshore full flow spending review. Story in song victualling from a mooring The preview of Regent’s Canal – anchored the after-show a Folk Opera was performed on gathering. The sheltered quay 13 July at the London Canal proved ideal for socialising into Museum by the Musical Flying the night. Squad and London Irish Theatre. The fast-paced drama featured Walk-on parts engineering challenges, legal Earlier that day, the museum machinations, money troubles, had offered walk-on parts in tragedy and scandal. the history of the canal with The venue and timing were a guided towpath walk to
Performance and oblique bridge sign: Lester Hillman; John Nash: David Castor/Wikimedia Commons Castor/Wikimedia Nash: David and oblique bridge sign: Lester Hillman; John Performance uniquely appropriate and helped Camden Town.
18 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Autumn 2012 Vol 2 No 3 The symbol of the new trust is Left: John Nash: l For details of peformances of the silhouette of a lone swan on bust at All Souls’ Regent’s Canal – a Folk Opera, a black background.It will soon Church, central go to http://regentscanalafolkopera. be familiar along the canal. London; right: org.uk/ Obligingly, a single swan the Oblique Bridge carries appeared out of the inky Camley Street: it darkness after the folk was the opera, gliding in to offer boundary of congratulations just as those land owned by gathered dispersed into William Agar, the night. n who did not want the canal Lester Hillman is academic adviser cutting through his land to the Islington Archaeology & History Society
Islington burials: do you recognise any names?
Hundreds of coffin plates were recovered from Islington Green burial ground. Names and other details from them have been provided by Derek Seeley of the Museum of London Archaeology, an IAHS committee member. If you recognise any of the names (is one a relative?), contact him at [email protected]
Richards?? Ann female 1845 iron 23 Mar 39 Windsor Street, Islington Richardson Frances female 1850 iron 26 Dec 11 Carlton Gardens, Caledonian Road Richardson Walter male 1849 iron 22 Aug 8 Hemmingford Terrace West, Islington Richardson Mary Ann female 1835 iron 18 Nov 1 Colebrook Row, Islington (Margaret Ann) Riddelsdell Mary female 1849 iron 10 Jul 2 Goswell Place, Goswell Rd Rigg John male 1845 iron 26 Oct Charlotte Terrace, White Conduit Fields Riste Edward male 1825 iron Roach Mary Hoal female 1850 iron 9 Jan 8 Frederick Place, Goswell Road Frigwell? Robbins Maria female 1833 iron 2 May 16 Barnsbury Row, Islington Roberts Alfred male 1846 iron 17 Jun Brittannia Row, Islington Roberts Esther female 1840 iron 29 Dec Albion Tavern, Barnsbury Roberts?? James male 184(5) iron 12 Jan Albion Tavern, Thornhill Road, Islington Robertson George Keith male 1832 iron 3 Jun Back of Wells’s Row, Islington Robinson John male 1829 iron Robinson Samuel George male 1819? iron Robinson Mary female 1799 lead Robinson Elizabeth female 1841 lead 9 Mar Upper John Street, Fitzroy Square Robinson Daniel male 1832 lead 9 Apr 194 Regent Street, St James’s Robinson Mary Ann female 1833 lead 5 Jul 39 North Bank, Regents Park Rogers Sarah Frances female 1834 lead 11 Apr Great Coram Street, Brunswick Square Rogers Nicholas Willis male 1843 lead 16 Mar Little Carter Lane, Doctors Common Rogers James male 1839 lead 14 Feb Kingsland Rd Roome Mary female 1851 iron 19 Jan St Helena Place, Spa Fields Roots George male 1827 iron Rose Alfred male 1852 iron Ross James male 1818 iron Ross Sarah female 1841 iron 14 Feb White Conduit Fields, Islington Rudkin Louisa female 1832 iron 21 Nov Prospect Place, Liverpool Road,Islington Rushmore Samuel male 1831 iron 14 Jul John Street, Liverpool Road,Islington Russell Mary female 1849 iron 7 Sep 27 Windsor St, Islington Russell John male 1823 iron Russell Caroline female 1849 iron 9 Dec Waterloo Place, Clerkenwell Rutland Benjamin male 1821 iron
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History & Society Autumn 2012 Vol 2 No 3 19 Enigma exhibition
Computer pioneer and wartime codebreaker Alan Turing is being celebrated in an exhibition at the Science Museum to mark the 100th anniversary of his birth
Right: Alan Turing (1912-54) in 1951; left: your laptop’s ancestor – the Pilot ACE Computer at the National Physical exhibition curator David Rooney Laboratory; said: “The exhibition presents below: Enigma the remarkable work of a man cypher machine whose influence reaches into perhaps the most widespread pastime of the 21st century, the use of the personal computer. “Turing’s scientific creations he life and pioneering structures following a series of and wartime heroics are beyond work of Alan Turing is crashes, helping to find the question but we are able to show being explored at an source of the problem and a more complete portrait of the exhibition at the leading to changes in aeroplane man who, far from being the Science Museum. design; it was used by Nobel cold, insular lone genius of T Turing had a major influence Prize-winning chemist Dorothy popular belief, can be seen as a on computing as we know it Hodgkin in her examinations of convivial character with many today. He is best known for his the structure of vitamin B12 and endearing qualities. secret codebreaking at Bletchley insulin molecules; and it was put “Turing, who had undoubted Park – where was known as into use as one of the earliest eccentricities and a particular “the Prof” – which helped to computer traffic simulators. intensity of thought, debated shorten the Second World War by Turing later moved to the complicated theories with several years. University of Manchester to colleagues while running Turing’s work was cut short by continue his innovative work. In Olympic-standard races and was his untimely death in 1954, 1952, he was arrested in the city regarded with affection by following a conviction for gross following a relationship with colleagues throughout his career. indecency and enforced medical technician Arnold Murray and His treatment at the end of his treatment with female hormones. convicted of gross indecency. life is a source of national shame.” At the heart of the exhibition is Faced with a choice of Other exhibits include three the Pilot ACE – the result of imprisonment or chemical military Enigma machines, Turing’s ideas for a universal castration – a course of treatment including one loaned by Mick programmable computer. It was with female sex hormones – he Jagger that appeared in the 2001 the fastest computer in the world chose the latter. film Enigma, and two working at its time and is a forerunner of Throughout and after his aids used to break Enigma that today’s machines. treatment he continued to are on public display for the Turing developed the Pilot ACE work at a highly advanced first time. n computer after the war at the level, but in 1954 he was government’s National Physical found dead in his bed from Codebreaker – Alan Turing’s Life Laboratory. Completed in 1950, cyanide poisoning. The and Legacy runs until June 2013 the Pilot ACE was not only the coroner’s official verdict was at the Science Museum. physical validation of Turing’s suicide, although his death Admission free. theories, but also a powerful tool is still the subject of some Thanks to the with a wide variety of uses. debate. Science Museum
Alan Turing: NPL Archive, Science Museum; ACE computer and Enigma: Science & Society Picture Library ACE Science Museum; Archive, NPL Turing: Alan It analysed jet aircraft Science Museum for this article
20 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Autumn 2012 Vol 2 No 3 Wilfred (1840–1922) and Lady Anne Blunt (1837–1917) who Ancient world to Ascot travelled extensively in the Middle East. Lady Anne was a proficient watercolourist, whose skills are Horses were crucial to civilisation and appear throughout shown here. The couple imported purebred Arabs and set up a recorded history. Elizabeth Lawrance visits the British renowned stud in East Sussex. Museum’s exhibition that charts human and horse history Arabian horses had been imported before and had a pivotal role in the development of the modern thoroughbred ow important is for horseracing. All modern the horse to thoroughbreds can trace their human civiliza- ancestry back to three Arab tion? In our urban, stallions that were imported in mechanised the 18th century, including the world,H the horse is peripheral, Godolphin Arabian which and largely used for recreation. “refresh’d the English Blood The working horse in London is more than any Foreign Horse yet mainly decorative – the pag- imported”. eantry of the Household Cavalry, This section is extensive and the royal coach horses or the includes racing paraphernalia, impressive brewery horses. including a set of racing colours Yet the horse is a fundamental lent by the Queen. part of human civilisation and and horsemanship were crucial Above: Three The role of the working horse in development. Even on a to the success of ancient empires Galloping towns, cities and the countryside mundane level, one can see such as those of Egypt, Assyria Horses (white, is shown here. Highlights where the horse has trodden; and the Parthians. black and include Thomas Rowlandson’s chestnut) buses turn round at the bottom of The horse rose in importance Miseries of London (1807), which Persian, 1550; Hampstead Hill because horses in the Middle East in Islamic below: gold depicts the chaos and confusion could not pull a heavily laden times. A loan from the British model chariot arising from crowded streets bus up the hill. London’s water Library – Furusiyya – an illustrated from the Oxus with an equestrian traffic troughs – such as those on City manual of horsemanship and a Treasure, accident in the middle of it all. Road and Finsbury Square – delight to behold, dates from the Persian, 5th-4th The horse has been a constant echo a horse-dependent past. 14th century. There are some century BC human ally for 5,000 years and The exhibition begins with the exquisite Mughal miniatures and appears throughout recorded domestication of the horse and the Persian Safavid painting history. It is the emblem of our its contribution to the Three Galloping Horses (1550) reliance on the natural world. establishment of empires. shows wonderful lines of There are, of course, gaps in Decorative harnesses show how movement and energy. such an ambitious exhibition but horses were held in high esteem the Arab horse from its Middle and contributed to the status and Deceptive looks East origins to its descendent the importance of their owners. Panoramic photographs of Saudi modern thoroughbred does In this section, the Standard of rock art can be viewed using a provide the link from the ancient Ur (c2600 BC) shows chariots touch screen. Many desert world to Royal Ascot. drawn by donkeys, which were people were nomadic and Anyone who wishes to learn domesticated before horses. The needed a sound horse with great about how the horse has Achaemenians, who formed the stamina. This led to the contributed to human history first Persian empire, made development of the Arab, with and continues to do so, as well models of their horses. There is its dished face, high tail carriage as the horse lover, will find this 4th–5th century BC model of a and short back. It looks very exhibition of interest. n four-horse chariot made entirely pretty but do not be deceived. of gold from the Oxus treasure. You will learn in this Elizabeth Lawrance is a Also, there is one of the earliest exhibition that this is former racehorse known depictions of a horse and the only horse used syndicate member rider (horses were used for in modern long- draught before being ridden) – a distance riding. The Horse: from Arabia terracotta mould found in At this point, the to Royal Ascot runs until modern Iraq dating to around chronology stutters a 30 September at the British
British Museum 2,000–1,000 BC. Good horses little as one leaps to Museum. Admission free
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History & Society Autumn 2012 Vol 2 No 3 21 Publications and bookshop
We look at the secret history of Islington looked like in 1871 An or Holloway in 1914? We Historical Caledonian Road, Victorian street life and stock historical maps of Walk V rockets, and list some IAHS publications Islington and beyond, as Through well as a range of postcards. Barnsbury Call us for details. Mary Cosh £2.50 each + 50p p&p Lots of 53 Cross Street. Biography when it was built, to gaining twists and of a House a floor and losing half its An turns in this walk that starts Mary Cosh and Martin King, back garden for St Mary’s Historical at Angel. It goes through with photographs by church hall, through various Walk Along Chapel Market to the start Pauline Lord. Hardback. types of occupation and the New of Barnsbury proper, at the This book is a must for ownership. River site of former pleasure anyone interested in Martin King, who moved Mary Cosh gardens, with trade union historic decor. here in 1990, became This and market history. See the It traces the history of 53 fascinated by the house’s historical classic houses and squares Cross Street from 1785 history, and uncovered walk along – and unusual features such many original features, the route of as sphinxes guarding a door. including paintwork of 1785. the New River, from the Published by the Islington By the time he left Cross New River Head at Sadler’s Archaeology & History Society Street, he had a remarkably Wells, takes a few diversions, £4.50 + 69p p&p complete record of the decor going through Clissold Park of the house. and past the wonderful Britain in Old Photographs: Published by the Islington Victorian pumping station Islington Archaeology & History Society known as Stoke Newington Gavin Smith £20 + £1.90 p&p Castle. Two books show changes in The walk is upstream but, Islington through old Historical maps and regardless of which way you photographs and postcards. postcards follow the route, you’ll find The first begins in the Alan Godfrey pubs the end. 1860s and 1870s. Roads are £2.50 each + 50p p&p £5 + 69p p&p, published by busy with horse-buses, Wonder what Highbury & IAHS motor-buses, trains and the occasional car. The second $ shows changes in transport, Publications order form (photocopies acceptable) architecture and industry, including street lamps and Name ...... electric trams. Address ...... £12.99 + £1.40 p&p, ...... published by History Press, Tel no/email (if we need to contact you about your order) ...... available from the Title(s)of publication Cost IAHS ......
...... All books on this page can be ordered using the form ...... – if you want more than one item, call us on 020 Total cost ...... 7833 1541
Please make cheques payable to “Islington Archaeology & History Society”; send this Call 020 7833 1541 for form (photocopies acceptable) to IAHS, 8 Wynyatt Street, London EC1V 7HU trade orders
22 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Autumn 2012 Vol 2 No 3 The Secret History of Our Islington estate, and provoked London Labour and the Streets street in the controversy over the London Poor Joseph Bullman, Neil Hegarty book, was activities of local landlord Henry Mayhew, edited by and Brian Hill built in the Andrew Panayi, the book Robert Douglas-Fairhurst BBC Books, £20 1820s as concerns Booth’s era, Oxford World’s Classics, £8.99 “Gangs of boys and young London venturing into modern This is fascinating and men there to inflict grievous began to times with only a very brief shocking study of poverty in bodily harm on each other expand and section on the battles to Victorian London. All life is – for reasons that had little soon preserve the road’s southern here, as Mayhew honestly to do with any particular became a mixture of end from demolition when a chronicled the lives of street grudge and everything to commerce, heavy industry Eurostar terminal was sellers, buyers, performers, do with location and local and residential areas. proposed at King’s Cross artisans and costermongers. identities.” The road made full call on 20 years ago. He wrote of an eight-year- A recent “postcode” Booth’s colour scheme. To This is not and doesn’t old girl from Clerkenwell stabbing? No, a description the east, the Thornhill family claim to be a detailed history who sold cress at Farringdon of Caledonian Road in 1907 built a respectable of Caledonian Road – market: “There was when “Clerkenwell Boys” residential area, parts of indeed, the section north of something cruelly pathetic raided the Swan pub and which still bear their name. Pentonville prison barely in hearing this infant […] assaulted local people, and West of Caledonian Road, appears – but the book will talking of the bitterest fights broke out involving up to the railway into King’s interest anyone who would struggles of life, with the firearms. There is, perhaps, Cross, lay “the cattle market, like to know more about calm earnestness of one little that is really new. the sulphurous brick and tile London’s social history in who had endured them all.” Caledonian Road is one of kilns and industrial plants”, Victorian times and the He noted she scorned six London streets to feature the book notes, along with a strange parallels that some sweets as being for children, in this book, which knacker’s yard, whose of it has with what we see “not like one who’s got a accompanies the BBC series business provoked today. living and vittals to earn”. shown in June and July. complaints from train The other streets included The Both are based on the passengers that pieces of are: Reverdy Road, introduction famous colour-coded maps dead horse were suspended Bermondsey; Deptford High to this book of poverty and prosperity in in their full view. Street; Arnold Circus, Bethnal usefully puts London compiled by the Unlike the television Green; Portland Road, Mayhew’s Victorian social reformer programme, which Notting Hill; Camberwell work into Charles Booth. concentrated on the Prince Grove, Camberwell. the context Caledonian Road, the only pub and the Bemerton Mark Smulian of its time.
Target London: Under 1942. Mr Campbell indicates disruption The book is mysteriously Attack from the V-Weapons that about 6,000 V2s were of supply, dedicated to “To Miss M During WWII made, of which about 1,400 bombing of Moss, Foreign Office civilian Christy Campbell, reached the UK, causing development Broadway and War Station Little, Brown, £20 2,754 fatalities. sites and 1938–9” and refers to Mr Christy Campbell grew up There are references to sabotage Campbell’s sister Rosheen just off Farringdon Road. specific V2 launches accounted Finnigan as “keeper of the The preface refers to his including seven on Sunday for many family secrets”. childhood home and the 5 November 1944; one, on more. Mr Campbell was defence postwar neighbourhood. Grovedale Road in Islington The book finds space for correspondent for the Turning his sights to the in the early evening, contemporary observations. Sunday Telegraph, reporting V1 and V2 menace, Mr accounted for 31 of the 32 Islington’s own George from wars in Cambodia, Campbell in his latest book fatalities from V2s that day. Orwell, writing on Central America, the Gulf penetrates the fog of war Some 32,000 pulse jet VIs 1 December 1944, and the former Yugoslavia. over London and in its were made. Of the 10,492 tentatively mentions the V2, His contemporary history Whitehall corridors, and launched against London, apprehensive lest he stray books include The tracks the rocket and jet only 2,419 reached their over censorship guidelines, Maharajah’s Box, Fenian Fire exhausts across Europe. target but fatalities and musing about nostalgia and Band of Brigands. The volume is well crafted, numbered 6,184. for the days of the V1. The Lester Hillman is academic with 10% of it given over to Over 4,000 were shot Woman’s Own editor adviser to the IAHS and was at sources and references. down, “tipped” off course by provided useful etiquette; on school with Christy Campbell This year is the 70th fighter aircraft or succumbing hearing the knowing thud of 50 years ago. For more on anniversary of the rocket to barrage balloons. a V2, readers should keep Islington’s V1 and V2 launch that ushered in the Deception, bombing and talking without mentioning it experience, see Reminders of space age on 3 October capture of launch sites, and carry on serving tea. Wartime, summer issue, page 20
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History & Society Autumn 2012 Vol 2 No 3 23 What’s on Events, exhibitions, courses, walks and more. Contact details of organisers are in the directory on page 28 – events may need advance booking. Islington Archaeology & History Society events are listed on the inside back page
Wednesday 12 September Friday 21-Saturday Sunday 23 September Tuesday 25 September The Big Update 22 September 2012 Guided Tunnel Boat Trips The Black Death Historic Religious Buildings Archaeology and Economic Through Islington Tunnel Talk by Professor Sir Richard Alliance annual event. Development 11am, 12pm, 2pm, 3pm and Evans FBA. £28 including lunch, Conference examining 4pm, £8.30/£6, book in 6pm, free. Gresham College New West End Synagogue, theoretical, ethical and advance, London Canal event at the Museum of Bayswater, W2 4JT, practical aspects. Museum London, www.gresham. www.hrballiance.org.uk £60/concessions, Institute of ac.uk Archaeology, University Sunday 23 September Friday 14 September College London, www.ucl. Markfield Beam Engine Wednesday 26 September Update on the Excavations ac.uk/aed2012 Steam Dates Anatomy Museums: Past, at Copped Hall Starting 1pm, 2.30, 4pm, Present and Future Talk by John Shepherd, Saturday 22 and Sunday Markfield Park, N15, 01707 Talk by Professor William Copped Hall Trust 23 September 83628, [email protected] Ayliffe FRCS. Archaeological Project. Open House London 6pm, free, Pathology 7.30pm, £1, Jubilee Hall, Over 750 buildings, many Sunday 23 September Museum, St Bartholomew’s 2 Parsonage Lane, Enfield. usually closed to the public, Walk: Abney Park Cemetery Hospital, Gresham College Enfield Archaeological Trust will open their doors to Organised by the Friends of event at the Museum of visitors for free. Lots of events Union Chapel. London, www.gresham. Saturday 15 September organised by local history £5 donation, 3pm-4pm, ac.uk A Post-War Bus Tour and amenity groups, www. meet at park main entrance Tour of London’s postwar openhouselondon.org.uk Wednesday 26 September architecture in a red Monday 24 September The Temple Routemaster bus, led by Saturday 22 September Practical Localism Talk by John Neal. historian and London bus Capture the Hidden Past: Historic Towns Forum 7.45pm, £2, St John’s Church driver Professor Joe Kerr. an Introductory Course in seminar on localism, Hall, Friern Barnet Lane, 2pm-5pm, £18/concessions, Oral History including the Localism Act Friern Barnet & District book on 020 7001 9844, 10am-4pm Old Fire Station, and heritage. Local History Society Museum of London, www. 84 Mayton Street, N7 6QT. 12.30pm-4.30pm, £65-£99, museumoflondon.org.uk £50 including lunch, Rowan Bircham Dyson Bell, 50 Thursday 27-Friday Arts Project, 07975 758 756, Broadway, SW1H, 0117 975 28 September Saturday 15 September, 2pm; info@therowanartsproject. 0459, www.historictowns Nobler Imaginings and Tuesday 18 September, 11am com forum.org/london2012 Mightier Struggles – Walk: Georgian Villas and Octavia Hill and the Edwardian Terraces Along Remaking of British Society Forest Road Saturday 17 November Conference – attend one or Free, meet at the William A Capital Way to Go: Death in London Through the Ages both days. Morris Gallery, Forest Road. £25-£50, Sutton Walthamstow Historical London and Middlesex Archaeological Society local House, Hackney, Society, www.walthamstow history conference http://octaviahill2012. historicalsociety.org.uk wordpress.com This year’s event will consider death and the remains, Thursday 20 September records, rituals, ceremonies, memorials and obituaries Flying High Restoration of St Pancras around it in London and Middlesex, including during Friday 28 September Station and Hotel medieval and Victorian times. Events and talks celebrating Talk by Robert Thorpe, who the V&A museum’s worked on the restoration. Tickets: £10 until 31 October, £15 from the 1 November. sightlines, skylines and 7pm, Camden History Conference programme and tickets available at www. hidden spaces, plus late bar. Society, 020 7586 4436, www. lamas.org.uk/localhistory2012.html, 020 7410 2228 6.30pm-10pm, free, Victoria camdenhistorysociety.org and Albert Museum
24 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Autumn 2012 Vol 2 No 3 Friday 28 September The Men Dig Like Moles: Try some historic cooking English Civil War Defences in Islington Talk by David Flintham. Try some old recipes and Sunday 18 6.30pm, free, Islington learn about table manners November, Museum of the time at these 12pm-4pm cookery workshops. Delights of the Saturday 29 September Georgian Table Broadwater Farm Estate: a Saturday 15 or Sunday 16 Some decadent Success Story September, 12pm-4pm Georgian Tour led by Sean Gardiner, Dining with the Ancient favourites to wow Broadwater Farm Romans people when you neighbourhood officer. Dishes prepared using the cook back home. Meet 11am, Neighbourhood Apicius recipe text. Office, 108c Gloucester Saturday 15 Road, N17 6GZ, www. Saturday 27 or Sunday 28 or Sunday, 16 tottenhamcivicsociety.org.uk October, 12pm-4pm December, Anglo-Saxon Recipes 12pm-4pm Saturday 29 September Revealed Edible Treats Fit Coach Outing to Little Recipes from a very early for Charles Dickens unhealthy Victorian Easton and Kentwell Hall Anglo/Norman text, plus This workshop will stodge, and comes with Day out organised by spiced ale. challenge the myths of Dickensian punch. Hornsey Historical Society. £33.50. Contact Racheal Museum of London, 150 London Wall, EC2Y 5HN. Minimum age 18. £28/£22 Macdonald, 020 8889 7388, friends, all four workshops: £99/£75 friends. Book in advance 020 7001 9844, [email protected], www.museumoflondon.org.uk www.hornseyhistorical.org.uk
29 September Thursday 4 October Tuesday 9 October schools or on sites. Animal Pasts in London’s The Grantham Canal The Life and Legacy of Organised by the London Landscape Today Talk by Mike Stone. George Peabody and Middlesex Two-hour walk starting at 7.30pm, £4/concessions, Talk by Christine Wragg. Archaeological Society and Barbican, led by Dr Hilda London Canal Museum 8pm, Avenue House, 17 East the Museum of London. Kean, looking at traces left by End Road, N3 8QE, Hendon £10, 2pm-5pm, Museum of cattle, horses, dogs and cats. Saturday 6 October at 2pm; and District Archaeological London, contact Eileen £8, 2pm-4pm, book in Tuesday 9 October at 11am Society Bowlt 01895 638060, advance, London Mansions, Shopping and [email protected] Metropolitan Archives Slavery Friday 12 October event: 020 7332 3851, www. A medieval road, Victorian Post-Medieval Archaeology Thursday 18 October cityoflondon.gov.uk/events shops and early cinemas. in London A Hampstead Coterie: the Free, meet outside Barclay’s Jaqui Pearce, joint editor, Carrs and the Lushingtons Sunday 30 September Bank, 278 Hoe Street, E17 Post-Medieval Archaeology Talk by David Taylor. Outing to St Albans, Beech 9QE. Walthamstow 7.30pm, £1, Jubilee Hall, 2 7.30pm, £1/free, Camden Bottom Dyke, Kingsbury Historical Society, www. Parsonage Lane, Enfield History Society Barn, Verulamium Museum walthamstow historical and More society.org.uk Sunday 14 October Thursday 18 October Day out organised by Guided Tunnel Boat Trips Egyptology Hendon & District Sunday 7 October Through Islington Tunnel Talk by Elizabeth Chappell. Archaeological Society. Guided Towpath Walk to 11am, 12pm, 2pm, 3pm and 8pm, Bexley Archaeological £25, www.hadas.org.uk Camden Town 4pm, £8.30/£6, book in Group, Bexley-Sidcup 2.30pm, various charges. advance, London Canal Conservative Club, 19 Wednesday 3 October London Canal Museum, Museum Station Road, Sidcup, Kent Tour of the British Postal book in advance Museum Store Wednesday 17 October Sunday 21 October Highlights include fleet of Sunday 7 October Local History In Schools – Crossness Steaming Day postal service vehicles and Guided Tunnel Boat Trips The Local Historian’s Role Crossness Pumping over 50 pillar boxes. Through Islington Tunnel Workshop for local history Station, Belvedere Road, 1pm-3pm, £5 donation, 11am, 12pm, 2pm, 3pm and society members, librarians Abbey Wood, SE2 9AQ, 020 020 7239 2570, info@ 4pm, £8.30/£6, book ahead, and museum staff who work 8311 3711, www.crossness.
postalheritage.org.uk London Canal Museum with young children in org.uk Museum of London Wollop: Another slice of plumb pudding for Counsellor
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History & Society Autumn 2012 Vol 2 No 3 25 Talk by David Clark The Retrial of Dr Crippen 7.45pm, £2, St John’s Church Hall, Friern Barnet & District Islington Museum, Thursday 18 October, 6.30pm Local History Society
1 December 2012 Dr Hawley Harvey Crippen V&A Furniture Gallery: was executed for the murder Opening of his wife Cora in 1910, but This is the only gallery doubt has been cast over his worldwide devoted to a guilt. comprehensive display of This retrial will examine furniture, covering six the facts in the original case centuries. Opening today. but applying modern criminal proceedings. Searching the garden at Free, Victoria & Albert It will be led by solicitor and Islington councillor Greg 39 Hilldrop Crescent for Museum Foxsmith, and attended by criminal lawyers and a circuit the body of Crippen’s missing spouse judge. Thursday 6 December The Chesterfield Canal, Past Islington Museum, 245 St John Street, London EC1V 4NB. Free, but booking essential Present and Future on 020 7527 2837 or [email protected] Talk by Geraint Coles. London Canal Museum,
Wednesday 24 October Tuesday 13 November Archaeological Society Dig for Victory The Historic Buildings, 8pm, Bexley Archaeological Ongoing Talk by Russell Bowes. Parks and Gardens Event Group, www.bag.org.uk, 7.45pm, £2, St John’s Church Exhibition with speakers Martin Baker, 020 8300 1752 Walks led by the Hall, Friern Barnet Lane. including Lloyd Grossman. Clerkenwell and Islington Friern Barnet & District 9am-5pm, free if you Saturday 17 November Guiding Association Local History Society register by 26 October, One Day School on £6/£5, www. Queen Elizabeth II, SW1P Egyptology clerkenwellwalk.org.uk Tuesday 30 October 3EE, www.hall-mccartney. Led by Liz Chappell. Sundays 11am The Great Pox co.uk/Exhibitions.htm £20, Bexley Archaeological Murder, Monasteries and Talk on syphilis and its Group, www.bag.org.uk Martyrs history by Professor Sir Tuesday 13 November A walk through Smithfield; Richard Evans FBA. Archaeological Discoveries Friday 23 November meet at Barbican station 6pm, free. Gresham College in Southwark The Cavendishes of Wednesdays 11am, Saturdays event at the Museum of Lecture by Peter Moore Newcastle House 2pm London, www.gresham.ac.uk 8pm, Avenue House, 17 East Talk by David Flintham on Radicals, Religion and End Road, N3 8QE, Hendon writer and scientist Margaret Rivers Monday 5 November and District Archaeological Cavendish, Civil War general A walk through Clerkenwell; Tours of the British Postal Society William Cavendish and meet at Farringdon station Museum & Archive Elizabeth Monck, the “mad Sundays, 2pm Archives covering social, Tuesday 13 November duchess of Albemarle”, who The Angel’s Delights postal and design history How To Get There – London lived at Newcastle House in Meet at Angel station from 1636 to today. Underground Signage Over Clerkenwell. 3pm-4pm, info@ the Years 6.30pm, free, Islington Bexley Archaeology Site postalheritage.org.uk Talk by Kim Rennie. Museum Bexley Archaeological Group’s 7pm, All Souls Clubhouse, site is open at the weekends Thursday 1 November 141 Cleveland Street, W1T Thursday 27 November until November, www.bag. Lost Canals of the East 6QG, London Underground The White Plague org.uk, 07961 963 893. Midlands Railway Society Talk on tuberculosis from Talk by Dr Wendy Freer. prehistory to the present day Behind the Scenes at the 7.30pm, £4/concessions, Thursday 15 November by Professor Sir Richard Archaeological Archive London Canal Museum Unearthing Redpath Evans FBA. Various dates Talk by Marian Kamlish and 6pm, free. Gresham College See and handle some of the Wednesday 7 November David Hayes. event, Museum of London, thousands of finds not on Tours of the British Postal 7pm, Camden History www.gresham.ac.uk public display at the London Museum Store Society Archaeological Archive and BPMA Museum Store, Wednesday 28 November Research Centre. Debden, Essex IG10 3UF, Thursday 15 November London’s Transport £5, book in advance, Museum [email protected] Talk by the Hastings 1900-1990 of London Archaeology
26 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Autumn 2012 Vol 2 No 3 Exhibitions Clerkenwell has seen protests including the 14–23 September Peasants’ Revolt, Tolpuddle London Design Festival Martyr protests and May Free, some ticketed events, Day marches, and has been Victoria and Albert Museum, home to radical presses. The 020 7907 7073, www.vam. display examines the events, ac.uk/whatson groups and people that gave the area a radical reputation. Until 16 September, 2012 Free, Islington Local History The Noble Art of the Centre Sword: Fashion and Fencing in Renaissance Europe Until June 2013 Free, Wallace Collection, 020 Codebreaker – Alan Turing’s 7563 9500 www.wallace Ben Walsh and John Wells: Londoners with their royal memorabilia Life and Legacy collection.org for At Home with the Queen at the Museum of London Exhibition with the largest collection of Turing artefacts From 17 September studio over the past 20 years. Angels and Ducats: in one place, including a Let’s hear it for the boys! £6/concessions, Victoria & Shakespeare’s Money and device used to break Enigma Foyer exhibition on the Albert Museum Medals never before displayed commitment of men and Until 28 October outside GCHQ. women to achieve an equal Until 30 September Exhibition on the role of Free, Science Museum society for all, from the 19th Athletes and Olympians: coins and money in l See review, page 20 to the 21st century. Sport in the RAF Shakespeare’s works. Free, Women’s Library Exhibition including sports Free, British Museum 20 October–27 January 2013 to break down barriers and Hollywood Costume 17 October 2012 RAF Olympic athletes. Until 27 November Over one hundred costumes The Long March to Free, Royal Air Force After the Party – the Legacy for cinema characters over a Equality: Treasures of The Museum of Celebration century, including Dorothy Women’s Library Exhibition on how in the Wizard of Oz, Scarlett This exhibition shows the Until 20 October celebrations – victories, O’Hara in Gone with the library’s rarest and most Sadler’s Wells Theatre expositions, anniversaries Wind and Holly Golightly in treasured items from its Archive and Olympics – led to the Breakfast at Tiffany’s. collections, covering four 18th century playbills, creation of some £14/concessions, Victoria centuries. architects’ drawings and extraordinary structures. and Albert Museum Free, the Women’s Library more to document the six 10am-5pm, free, RIBA theatres that have occupied 19 October-14 April 2013 Until 19 September the site since 1683. From India to Islington. A Doctors, Dissection and Island Stories: Fifty Years of Free, Islington Local History 1,000 year Roma Journey Resurrection Men Photography in Britain Centre 28 September-1 December Early 19th century history of Over 80 photographs taken An exploration of the Roma human dissection and the since the 1950s. Until 28 October culture, with photographs trade in bodies through Free, Victoria and Albert At Home with the Queen and written and oral histories. evidence unearthed during Museum, 020 7907 7073, Photographic exhibition of Free, Islington Museum Museum of London www.vam.ac.uk/whatson Londoners at home with Archaeology excavations at their royal paraphernalia. 27 November-6 January the Royal London Hospital. Until 30 September Free, Museum of London Christmas Past: 400 years Not suitable for children The Horse: From Arabia to of Seasonal Traditions in under 12 or the squeamish. Royal Ascot Shakespeare: Staging the English Homes Various charges, Museum of Major exhibition exploring World Period rooms are decorated London the influence of horses on Until 25 November in authentic styles, to show civilisation. Joint British Museum and how Christmas was 13 October–14 April 2013 Free, British Museum the Royal Shakespeare celebrated in English Modern British Childhood l See review, page 21 Company exhibition, giving middle-class homes from 1948-2012 an insight into London’s 1600 until the present day. Exhibition of artworks, Until 30 September emergence as a world city, Free, Geffrye Museum clothing, toys, books, Heatherwick Studio: looking at the connections childcare items, television Designing the Extraordinary between the exhibits and 29 October-19 January 2012 programmes, film and The first major solo exhibition Shakespeare’s work. Rebel Clerkenwell. A photography. of huge variety of work by £14/concessions, British History of Dissent and Free, V&A Museum of
Thomas Heatherwick and his Museum Radicalism Childhood Museum of London
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History & Society Autumn 2012 Vol 2 No 3 27 The Cartoon Museum Friends of Friendless Directory 35 Little Russell Street, Churches WC1, 020 7580 8155, www. www.friendsoffriendless cartoonmuseum.org churches.org.uk Here were list history, civic, amenity and archaeology societies, and museums City of London Garden History Society Archaeological Society 70 Cowcross Street, EC1M [email protected] 6EJ, 020 7608 2409, enquiries @gardenhistorysociety.org Check opening times before British Museum Clerkenwell and Islington visiting. If you would like Great Russell Street, WC1, Guides Association Geffrye Museum you organisation’s details 020 7323 8299, information 07971 296731, info@ciga. 136 Kingsland Road, E2 8EA listed or updated here, email @britishmuseum.org org.uk 020 7739 9893, www. [email protected] geffrye-museum.org.uk British Postal Museum and The Clockmakers’ Museum Abney Park Trust Memorial Archive Guildhall Library, www. The Georgian Group Park and Nature Reserve Freeling House, Phoenix clockmakers.org/museum- 6 Fitzroy Square, W1T 5DX, 020 7275 7557, Place, WC1, 020 7239 2570, and-library 0871 750 2936, info@ www.abney-park.org.uk www.postalheritage.org.uk georgiangroup.org.uk The Crossness Engines Trust Alexandra Palace Television British Postal Museum and The Old Works, Thames Gresham College Society Archive Museum Store Water STW, Belvedere Road, Free lectures on different 01332 729 358, apts@apts. Debden, Essex IG10 3UF, SE2 9AQ, 020 8311 3711, topics. www.gresham.ac.uk org.uk, www.youtube.com/ 020 7239 2570, info@ www.crossness.org.uk aptsarchive postalheritage.org.uk Greater London Industrial Docklands History Group Archaeology Society Amateur Geological Society British Vintage Wireless 020 7537 0368, info@dock (GLIAS) 25 Village Road, N3 1TL Society landshistorygroup.org.uk 14 Mount Road, EN4 9RL, [email protected] 020 8692 8512, secretary@ The Amwell Society East London History Society glias.org.uk Active civic society. 020 7837 Bruce Castle Museum www.eastlondonhistory. 0988, info@amwellsociety. Lordship Lane, N17 8NU, org.uk Guildhall Library org 020 8808 8772, museum. Aldermanbury, EC2V 7HH, [email protected] EC1 History 020 7332 1868, textphone The Angel Association www.ec1history.co.uk 020 7332 3803, guildhall. www.angelassociation.org.uk Camden Civic Society [email protected] 020 8340 5972, morton@ Enfield Archaeological Trust Architectural Heritage Fund btopenworld.com www.enfarchsoc.org Hackney Museum Alhambra House, 27-31 1 Reading Lane, E8 1GQ, Charing Cross Rd, 020 7925 Camden History Society Friends of Hackney Archives www.hackney.gov.uk/ 0199, [email protected] 020 7586 4436, www. 43 De Beauvoir Road, N1 cm-museum.htm camdenhistorysociety.org 5SQ Arsenal FC Museum The Hackney Society 020 7619 5000, www.arsenal. Camden New Town History Friern Barnet & District Round Chapel, 1d Glenarm com Group Local History Society Road, E5 0LY, 07771 225183, cowleyjohn@blueyonder. www.friernbarnethistory. [email protected] Association of Leading co.uk, www. org.uk. Photo archive: www. Visitor Attractions camdennewtown.info friern-barnet.com Hendon and District http://www.alva.org.uk/ Archaeology Society Camden Railway Heritage The Foundling Museum 020 8449 7076, secretary@ Association of Preservation Trust 40 Brunswick Square, WC1, hadas.org.uk Trusts 21 Oppidans Road, NW3 020 7841 3600, www. Alhambra House, 27-31 3AG [email protected] foundlingmuseum.org.uk Heritage of London Trust Charing Cross Rd, WC2, 020 7730 9472, www. www. ukapt.org.uk, 020 Camley Street Natural Park Forest Hill Society heritageoflondon.com 7930 1629 Camley Street, NW1 0PW, www.foresthillsociety.com 020 7833 2311 Historical Association, Bexley Archaeological Freud Museum Central London Branch Group The Canonbury Society 20 Maresfield Gardens, 020 7323 1192, www. www.bag.org.uk, Martin www.canonburysociety.org. NW3, 020 7435 2002, history.org.uk, chrissie@ Baker, 020 8300 1752 uk, 1 Alwyne Place, N1 [email protected] ganjou.com
28 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Autumn 2012 Vol 2 No 3 Historic Towns Forum London Undergroup www.historictowns forum.org Railway Society [email protected] The Honourable Artillery Company Museum Markfield Beam Engine and Armoury House, City Road, Museum EC1, visit by appointment Markfield Park, N15, 01707 only, 020 7382 1541, www. 873628, [email protected] hac.org.uk Mausolea & Monuments The Horniman Museum Trust 100 London Rd, SE23, 70 Cowcross Street, EC1M 020 8699 1872, enquiry@ 6EJ, 020 7608 1441, horniman.ac.uk [email protected]
Hornsey Historical Society Marx Memorial Library The Old Schoolhouse, 136 37a Clerkenwell Green, EC1 Tottenham Lane, N8 7EL, 0DU, 020 7253 1485, info@ hornseyhistorical.org.uk marx-memorial-library.org
Hunterian Museum Medieval Pottery Research Royal College of Surgeons Group of England, 35-43 Lincoln’s www.medievalpottery.org.uk Inn Fields, WC2A 3PE, Preview of recent Joe Orton exhibition at the Islington Museum www.rcseng.ac.uk/museums The Museum of Brands Dr Johnson’s House London Metropolitan 2 Colville Mews, Lonsdale Inland Waterways 17 Gough Sq, EC4, Archives Road, W11, 020 7908 0880, Association 020 7353 3745, www. 40 Northampton Road, EC1 [email protected] North-east London branch, drjohnsonshouse.org 0HB, 020 7332 3820, ask.lma [email protected] @cityoflondon.gov.uk, www. Museum of London Keats House cityoflondon.gov.uk/lma 150 London Wall, EC2Y Island History Trust Keats Grove, NW3 2RR, 5HN, 020 7814 5511, info@ Isle of Dogs, 020 7987 6041, 020 7332 3868, keatshouse@ London & Middlesex museumoflondon.org.uk [email protected] cityoflondon.gov.uk Archaeological Society 020 7814 5734, jkeily@ Museum of London Islington Local History Kew Bridge Steam Museum museumoflondon.org.uk, Archaeology Centre Green Dragon Lane, TW8, 020 www.lamas.org.uk Mortimer Wheeler House, Finsbury Library, 245 St John 8568 4757, www.kbsm.org 46 Eagle Wharf Road, N1, St, EC1V 4NB. 9.30am-8pm The London Museums of 020 7410 2200, enquiries@ Monday and Thursday (shuts Labour and Wait Brush Health & Medicine www.museumoflondon 6pm every other Monday); Museum www.medicalmuseums.org archaeology.org.uk 9.30am-5pm Tuesday, Friday Small display in hardware and Saturday; closed store, 85 Redchurch Street, London Socialist Historians Museum of London Wednesday and Sunday; E2, www.labourandwait.co.uk Group Docklands closed 1pm-2pm; 020 7527 http://londonsocialist West India Quay, E14 4AL, 7988; local.history@ The Charles Lamb Society historians.blogspot.com 020 7001 9844, www.museum islington. gov.uk, www. 28 Grove Lane, SE6 8ST oflondon.org.uk/docklands islington.gov.uk/heritage The London Society London Canal Museum Mortimer Wheeler House, Museum of the Order of Islington Museum 12-13 New Wharf Road, N1 46 Eagle Wharf Road, N1, St John 245 St John St, EC1V 4NB, 9RT, 020 7713 0836, www. www.londonsociety.org.uk St John’s Gate, EC1M 4DA, 10am-5pm, closed canalmuseum.org.uk 020 7253 6644, www. Wednesday and Sunday, London Transport Museum museumstjohn.org.uk 020 7527 2837, islington. London Fire Brigade Covent Garden Piazza, [email protected], Museum WC2, 020 7379 6344, www. The Musical Museum www.islington.gov.uk/ Winchester House, 94a ltmuseum.co.uk 399 High Street, TW8 0DU, museum Southwark Bridge Road, SE1 www.musicalmuseum.co.uk 0EG, visit by appointment LT Museum Friends Islington Society only, 020 8555 1200 x 39894, Friends’ Office, London The National Archives, 35 Britannia Row, N1 8QH, www.london-fire.gov.uk/ Transport Museum. www. Kew, 020 8876 3444, www. www.islingtonsociety.org.uk OurMuseum.asp ltmuseum.co.uk/friends nationalarchives.gov.uk
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Autumn 2012 Vol 2 No 3 29 The National Piers Society www.piers.org.uk
Newcomen Society for the History of Engineering and Technology 020 7371 4445, office@ newcomen.com
Newington Green Action Wheatsheaf detail from stained glass in Union Chapel Group 020 7359 6027, www. The Smithfield Trust Tottenham Civic Society The Wallace Collection newingtongreen.org.uk 70 Cowcross St, EC1, 020 www.tottenhamcivicsociety. Hertford House, Manchester 7566 0041, [email protected]. org.uk Square, W1M, 020 7563 New River Action Group org 9500, www. [email protected], Transport Trust wallacecollection.org 020 8292 5987 Sir John Soane’s Museum Lambeth Road, SE1 7JW, 13 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, 020 7928 6464, www. Wallpaper History Society North London Transport WC2A 3BP, www.soane.org transporttrust.com wallpaperhistorysociety.org.uk Society www.northlondontransport The Society of Genealogists Twentieth Century Society Walthamstow Historical society.co.uk, [email protected] 14 Charterhouse Buildings 70 Cowcross Street, EC1M Society Goswell Road, EC1M 7BA, 6EJ, 020 7250 3857, 37 Chewton Road, E17 Petrie Museum of Egyptian 020 7251 8799, www. www.c20society.org.uk 7DW, contact@walthamstow Archaeology societyofgenealogists.com/ historical society.org UCL, Malet Place, WC1, www. Two Temple Place ucl.ac.uk/museums/petrie Society for the Protection 7836 3715, info@ Wandsworth Museum of Ancient Buildings twotempleplace.org 38 West Hill, SW18 1RZ Peckham Society 37 Spital Square, E1 6DY, wandsworthmuseum.co.uk www.peckhamsociety.org.uk 020 7377 1644, www.spab. Union Chapel and Friends org.uk of the Union Chapel Wellcome Collection Railway Correspondence Compton Avenue, N1 2XD, 183 Euston Road, NW1 2BE, and Travel Society Southwark and Lambeth www.unionchapel.org.uk/ 020 7611 2222 www.rcts.org.uk Archaeology Society (SLAS) pages/friends.html 79 Ashridge Crescent, SE18 Victoria and Albert Museum, John Wesley’s House and Ragged School Museum 020 7907 7073, www.vam. Museum of Methodism 46-50 Copperfield Road, E3 Spencer House ac.uk/whatson 49 City Rd, EC1, www. 4RR, 020 8980 6405, www. 27 St James’s Place, SW1, wesleys chapel.org.uk/ raggedschoolmuseum.org.uk 020 7499 8620, www. Victoria & Albert Museum museum.htm spencerhouse.co.uk Cromwell Road, London Rescue SW7 2RL 020 7907 7073, William Morris Gallery The British Archaeological The Streatham Society www.vam.ac.uk/whatson Lloyd Park, Forest Road, E17 Trust, 15a Bull Plain, www.streathamsociety.org.uk 4PP, 020 8496 4390, wmg. Hertford, SG14 1DX, V&A Museum of Childhood enquiries@walthamforest. 01992-553377 www. Sutton House Free, Cambridge Heath gov.uk rescue-archaeology.org.uk 2/4 Homerton High St, E9, Road, E2 9PA, 020 8983 5200 020 8986 2264, www. Women’s Library Royal Air Force Museum nationaltrust. org.uk/ The Victorian Society London Metropolitan Grahame Park Way, NW9, main/w-suttonhouse 1 Priory Gardens, W4, University, Old Castle Street, 020 8205 2266, www. 020 8994 1019, admin@ E1 7NT, www.londonmet. rafmuseum.org.uk/london/ Royal Archaeological victoriansociety.org.uk ac.uk/thewomenslibrary Institute Royal Institute of British Burlington House, Piccadilly, Architects (RIBA) W1, [email protected] Tell us about your society, museum or group 66 Portland Place, W1B 1AD, www.architecture.com Thames Discovery If you would like your organisation to be mentioned Programme here, or would like to write a few words about it for the Science Museum Mortimer Wheeler House, journal, contact the editor on [email protected], Exhibition Road, SW7 2DD. 46 Eagle Wharf Road, N1, via www.iahs.org.uk or c/o 6 Northview, Tufnell Park www.sciencemuseum.org. 020 7566 9310, enquiries@ Road, N7 0QB uk, 0870 870 4868 thamesdiscovery.org
30 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Autumn 2012 Vol 2 No 3 Islington Archaeology & History Society Events
Wednesday 19 September The day parliament burned down Speaker: Caroline Shenton 8pm, Islington Town Hall, Upper Street, London N1
In the early evening of 16 October 1834, a huge ball of fire exploded through the roof of the Houses of Parliament, creating a blaze so enormous that it could be seen by the king and queen at Windsor, and from stagecoaches on top of the South Downs. It would have been clearly visible from Islington. Glorious old buildings and their contents were destroyed. Today, it is a forgotten disaster.
Caroline Shenton will tell the story of the fire and its consequences, based on her recently published book of the same name.
Ms Shenton is clerk of the records at the Parliamentary Archives and a former senior archivist at the National Archives. She is a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and the Royal Historical Society.
Wednesday 17 October Black people at the Old Bailey Speaker: Kathleen Chater 8pm, Islington Town Hall, Upper Street, London N1
Kathleen Chater will be talking about black people in the Islington/Clerkenwell area, concentrating on Old Bailey records. This is a Black History Month event.
Ms Chater is the author of Untold Histories: Black people in England and Wales During the Period of the British Slave Trade published by Manchester University Press
Details for Wednesday 21 November and 19 December are being finalised. Check our website at www.iahs.org.uk for details
Saturday 3 November $ Walk: Perceval perambulation Perceval perambulation booking form (photocopies acceptable) Walk led by IAHS academic adviser Lester Hillman 11am-1pm (approx), from Angel tube station to the I would like to order ...... tickets at £5 each and enclose a cheque Museum of London for ...... payable to the Islington Archaeology & History Society
New walk, involving drama, tragedy, comedy, civil Name ...... unrest and global conflict, to mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of Spencer Perceval, who Address ...... became the first British prime minister to be ...... assassinated in 1812. Return to Catherine Brighty, IAHS, 8 Wynyatt St, London EC1V 7HU
The Islington Archaeology & History Society meets 10 times a year, usually on the third Wednesday of each month at 8pm, at Islington Town Hall, Upper Street, N1. Check our website at www.iahs.org.uk for updates
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History & Society Autumn 2012 Vol 2 No 3 31 The Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Back page picture See these beautiful art nouveau, geometric and decorative tiles at the c1900 former W Plumb Family Butchers, 493 Hornsey Road, at Open House London