Journal of the Archaeology & History Society

Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Vol 3 No 3 Autumn 2013 incorporating Islington History Journal

Community pride and resistance

A treasure trove of local activism found in a dusty loft shows the story of determined campaigners who worked to protect their homes and celebrate their community

Manor Gardens marks centenary with a healthcare pioneer’s plaque l The Cally carbuncle l Heritage buses go back on the road l An authoritarian communist’s time in Islington l Industrial grandeur meets postwar optimism on a housing estate l An icy history l Cooking like a Roman l The Holloway cheesecake l Books and reviews 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 events including We welcome articles on local researcher Michael Reading Rt Hon Lord Smith  Tlectures, walks, book history, memories and – and maybe other readers of launches and outings about research. – to answer. Please note that the archaeology and history One page takes about 500 we do not carry out family Vice president of Islington. words, and maximum article research. Mary Cosh We liaise with the council length is 1,000 words. We l See Letters, page 6 and others in matters of like receiving pictures, but Chairman planning and development please check that we can Copyright Andrew Gardner to record and protect reproduce them without Copyright of everything in [email protected] Islington’s sites that are of infringing anyone’s copyright. this journal lies with the archaeological and historical The journal is publised in creator unless otherwise Secretary importance. print and online in pdf form. stated. While it can be Peter Fuller We also aim to document Deadline for the winter difficult to trace copyright [email protected] archaeological findings in issue is 1 November. ownership of archive the borough. materials, we make every Membership and events Local historical and Ever wondered…? effort to do so. Catherine Brighty literary walks can be Do you have any queries 8 Wynyatt Street arranged for groups. about Islington’s history, Any questions? EC1V 7HU streets or buildings? Send Contact editor Christy 020 7833 1541 Why archaeology? them in for our tireless Lawrance (details right). Archaeology is not just Treasurer about what is buried; it Philip Anderson includes structures and Journal back issues and extra copies phlpandrsn6@ fragments that still exist,  btopenworld.com and people who have lived, Journal distribution is worked and died in them. overseen by Catherine Committee members We are here to investigate, Brighty (details right). Kathleen Frenchman learn about and celebrate Contact her if you Michael Harper what is left to us. would like more copies  Derek Seeley or back issues, if you Our website move house and for Academic adviser Go to www.iahs.org.uk to enquiries about Lester Hillman, former find out more. membership. 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 Journal editor concessions £8; corporate £15. (Membership renewals are sent out when due.) Christy Lawrance [email protected] Name(s) ...... c/o 6 Northview 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 Archaeology & History Society” for ...... ISSN 2046-8245

Please return this form (photocopies acceptable) to: Catherine Brighty, Islington Printed by PrintSet, Archaeology & History Society, 8 Wynyatt Street, London EC1V 7HU 15 Palmer Place, London, 

Cover picture: Community Association Community Whittington Park picture: Cover N7 8DH, www.printset.co.uk

2 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Autumn 2013 Vol 3 No 3 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society

Incorporating Islington History Journal Vol 3 No 3 Autumn 2013

Local attention, not distant decisions

e don’t live in museums, and buildings are adapted Was lifestyles change. We Contents might live in a Victorian property but we don’t have to tolerate Victorian plumbing or light fires on winter News 4 mornings. A grand house with room Four hundred years of fresh water, butchery looms for Smithfield market for servants may now have a row of and a new book on Joe Orton bells next to its front door. Former factories contain upmarket flats. Letters and your questions 6 As the Journal went to press, A jeweller’s store, canal company plans and more memories Islington’s architecture was hitting the headlines in the national press – for Good health and a green plaque 9 the wrong reasons. Manor Gardens’ centenary street fair celebrates founder Florence Keen A student housing scheme with a retained Victorian facade has reached The Cally carbuncle 10 the finals of a competition to find A scheme with a Victorian facade is voted one of Britain’s worst new buildings Britain’s ugliest new building (page 10). There is no sensitive adaptation here. Heritage buses go back on the road 11 Rightly, the council had rejected this Historic buses run again at bus garage’s open day monstrosity but its decision was overturned by the central government Rákosi in London 18 Planning Inspectorate. An authoritarian communist leader’s influential time in Islington It is rumoured that inspectors are under growing pressure to overturn A modern classic 16 councils’ planning decisions, so Industrial grandeur and postwar optimism combined in a housing estate developers are appealing routinely. Islington’s councillors want the law Cold stories 18 changed so appeals can only be made Frost fairs, frost saints, and chilly goings-on at the when the council has broken rules, such as disregarding evidence or policy. Cooking like a Roman 20 It is only right that planning appeals The Romans used sophistical vessels that combined cooking techniques are brought into line with the rules on appeals in the rest of the legal system. The Holloway cheesecake 21 Decisions should not be so easily A 19th century delicacy hawked on the streets and served in wealthy homes overruled by a distant, national body that can ignore local views. Islington’s Publications  21 policy – such as that on keeping pubs Theatre history reviewed, plus IAHS bookshop – has recently been brushed aside by inspectors. An appeal system is needed What’s on  24 but this is not how it should work. Talks, walks and exhibitions After all, it’s the people who live here who have to live alongside the results. Directory of societies and museums 28 Civic, local history and archaeology societies, museums and online resources Christy Lawrance Editor Islington Archaeology & History Society events 31

Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Autumn 2013 Vol 3 No 3 3 news In brief Butchery of Smithfield market looms

Cemetery friends take SAVE Britain’s Heritage has over the lodge called on communities secretary Eric Pickles to call The Friends of Tower in for a public inquiry an Hamlets Cemetery have application to redevelop taken over the lodge by the Smithfield market. main gate for their activities, The City of London gave the East London History consent in July for a £160m Society Newsletter has office scheme that would reported. include partial demolition of l Volunteers are sought to the market and the record memorials and destruction of its interior. search records at Islington The City’s planning and St Pancras Cemetery. committee voted 19-2 to Smithfield: permission has been given for its redevelopment Contact Richard Baldwin at allow the £160m project by Richard.Baldwin@islington. Henderson Global Investors. substantially larger scheme said the inquiry findings had gov.uk or call 020 7527 8804 SAVE Britain’s Heritage [that] would have resulted been applied incorrectly. on Wednesday-Friday. said most of the building in a much more substantial However, the City said would be destroyed, and that loss of historic buildings”. tendering was not necessary, Old War Office put up there was evidence it had Yet it admitted the “scale as Henderson’s plans would for sale been deliberately neglected. and height of the new office not cause “substantial harm”. The City received over 250 floors will result in moderate Eric Reynolds, who set up The Old War Office building objections to the plans, harm to the conservation Camden and Spitalfields in Whitehall is to be sold on including one from Islington area in certain views”. markets, said he could run a the open market. Built in Council. Nearly 3,000 people Islington Council is viable market in the building. 1902, it was a centre of signed a petition against it. concerned about the effects Marcus Binney, president military planning during 20th Numerous heritage on the Charterhouse Square of SAVE, said: “It is century conflicts, housing organisations, including the conservation area, and is contested by substantial secretaries of state including Victorian Society, have seeking to have the area put parties on both sides and Sir Winston Churchill. A opposed the scheme. on English Heritage’s at risk there are many important government statement said However, English Heritage register. issues that can only be it was “expected to attract has backed it, saying it A public inquiry in 2007-08 properly examined, tested significant interest from “unites long-term sustainable said the City should put the and weighed in the open developers”. restoration with the re-use redevelopment out to tender forum of a public inquiry.” of the Smithfield Western so conservation-led schemes l Sign the petition to call for Former banker chairs Market Buildings” and that it could be put forward. a public inquiry at http:// English Heritage replaced a proposal for “a SAVE Britain’s Heritage tinyurl.com/kzbsklz English Heritage has a new Victorian garden to chair, Sir Laurie Magnus. A become public again former investment banker, he is deputy chairman of the A 19th century garden on National Trust and a trustee Seward Street, Finsbury, is of the Landmark Trust. He to be reopened to the public replaces Baroness Kay after being off limits for Andrews. more than half a century. The park had been leased Developer pledges to a local private school. cash for blue plaques Local activist Leo Chapman obtained a copy of English Heritage’s blue the lease, and saw a break plaque scheme has been clause allowed the council to restarted after a property end the lease after five years developer David Pearl if it gave six months’ notice. pledged £80,000 to it. The Bright Hastings day: the Market Cross (above), a tour of the old town “I asked the council to do scheme was suspended after and two museums – the Fishermen’s Museum and the Shipwreck just that. It did,” he said. the government cut English Museum – were on offer at the society’s trip to Hastings. The visit Works are needed to the

Smithfield: Michel Wal/Wikimedia Commons; Hastings: Peter Fuller; New River Head: OFE/Creative Commons; Orton book cover: Islington Local History Centre Commons; Orton book cover: Head: OFE/Creative Peter Fuller; New River Commons; Hastings: Wal/Wikimedia Smithfield: Michel Heritage’s budget. took place in August, to coincide with the Old Town Carnival. garden before it opens.

4 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Autumn 2013 Vol 3 No 3 Call for more heritage honours Four hundred years of fresh water – Nominations for recognition and more Islington anniversaries for services to heritage in the 2014 Queen’s birthday honours list are being This autumn marks 400 sought, particularly women years since the New River and black and ethnic Head brought fresh drinking minorities. The deadline is water to London. Friday 20 September 2013. The New River, completed l http://tinyurl.com/blgocpe by Sir Hugh Myddelton, started in Amwell in 100 pubs now Hertfordshire and terminated at . It ‘community assets’ was officially opened on 29 A hundred pubs have been September 1613. listed as community assets It is also 75 years since the under the Localism Act in Finsbury Health Centre just four months, according opened. This year, it can be to government figures. The visited as part of London Two 18th century buildings at New River Head: left is the base community right to buy Open House for the first of a windmill; on the right is the engine house gives local people six time in several years. months to bid to purchase a This summer, Manor and it’s 100 years since the (winter 2011-12) and Manor pub for themselves if it is Gardens Centre celebrated birth of composer Benjamin Gardens (spring 2012). placed on the market. 100 years (see page 9). The Britten, whose former home Details of New River centenary of Arsenal FC’s in Halliford Street has an events can be seen at BBC archaeology move is marked with an plaque. l www.amwell.org.uk/ exhibition this autumn at The Journal has covered newriver400th.html; archive put online . the histories of the New l www.islington.gov.uk/ The BBC’s first archaeology Additionally, Archway Toll River Head (winter 2012-13), newrivercelebrations; and TV programmes dating back Gate opened 200 years ago, Finsbury Health Centre l http://newriver.org.uk. to the 1950s can be watched online in full. l http://ow.ly/kDE4u New history of Orton’s library damage Admiralty Arch to A book on playwright Joe from art books, which they become hotel Orton and his partner used to wallpaper their flat. The grade I listed Admiralty Kenneth Halliwell and how They were caught in 1962 Arch is set to be converted and why they defaced and, after pleading guilty to into a five star hotel with 100 Islington’s library books, is theft and malicious damage, bedrooms and suites. Two to be published in late were each sentenced to six new basements will hold a September months. ballroom, a spa, gym and a Malicious Damage: the Orton went on to become swimming pool. The hotel is Defaced Library Books of a successful playwright, but due to be completed by 2016. Kenneth Halliwell and Joe his life was cut short when Orton by Ilsa Colsell tells the he was murdered in 1967 by Railway signal boxes story behind the defacing of Halliwell in a fit of jealousy. the books. It includes by After the court case, the granted listed status reproductions of all Doctored book cover covers were locked away Twenty-six signal boxes surviving defaced Islington and largely forgotten until have been given grade II library books and other adding pictures and texts to Orton’s reputation grew. listing as a result of a joint pictures. the books, they would l The council has also English Heritage and Orton and Halliwell, who return them anonymously obtained a rare collage by Network Rail project. They lived in Noel Road, N1, then stand back to watch Orton’s partner Kenneth date from the 1870s to the “doctored” book covers to readers’ reactions. Orton Halliwell. 1920s and many retain their protest at what they said this was “very fun, very Islington Museum raised original operating described as “endless interesting”. Heritage Lottery funding to equipment. One is in shelves of rubbish” in The couple also stole more make its successful bid to London, in Liverpool Street. Islington’s libraries. After than 1,600 coloured pictures buy the collage at auction.

Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Autumn 2013 Vol 3 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

Lamb’s Passage The Islington Local Centre the corner of Essex Road Michael Reading writes: I am trying to find out more may have more information and Ockenden Road. The building of the Regent’s about the history of Lamb’s on Thomas Lamb. The building was erected Canal started in 1812 and Passage, off Chiswell Street. in 1860 and Jay’s business was completed in 1820, I am particularly interested Essex Road jewellers was formed in 1862. The opening on 1 August. in the life of Thomas Lamb address sought building was listed on 20 Its early life was very and his role as overseer of I have been looking into my June 1974. profitable, but its the poor. family history and been I do not know when the construction was at the Do you have any handed some information business ceased trading, but latter part of the heyday  information or advice as to and objects relating to a I can remember passing the for canals. They were where to search? I am not Slade family who lived in shop on many occasions superceded by the railways familiar with the area. Ringcroft Street; the wife’s and noting the very fine after 1837 and this decline Daniel Jones maiden name was window displays. continued throughout the daniel.jones@stewardship. Ringwood. Today the premises are 19th century. org.uk One of the items is a occupied by Tommy Miah’s In 1929, the Regent’s and battered old watch that Raj Hotel. The building has Grand Junction canals were Michael Reading writes: appears to have an address hardly changed and the joined and the Grand Union Very little remains of the on it of 166 Essex Road but clock has been retained. Canal Company formed. original Lamb’s Passage it could be 156. This would I believe that David Penny This was transferred to the since the end of World of www.antiquewatchstore. British Transport War II, other than Lamb’s co.uk has some artefacts Commission in 1948. In Buildings at the corner with The street is named from the business and may 1963, the canals passed to Errol Street. These date from after Thomas Lamb, know more about its history. the British Waterways Board. 1769-70. Before 1813, this The change of ownership was known as Great Sword the overseer of the Where are the plans for and amalgamation probably Bearer’s Alley. The other old poor, who was a Diespecker Wharf? meant the loss or dispersal building is the Catholic buckram stiffener I am researching a canal of archive documents to church of St Joseph. property on the Regent’s several locations. Some of The street is named after Canal in Islington and  these are now over 200 Thomas Lamb, the overseer possibly tie up with a story trying to find original or years old. of the poor, who lived there that Slade was or worked in early floor plans and images The London Metropolitan from 1754 to 1813 and was a a jewellers. I found nothing of it. Archives may have some buckram stiffener. online. The watch is battered The building is 38 Graham information on the Regent’s The Ordnance Survey and not worth anything but Street at Diespecker Wharf. Canal and may hold some Map for 1873 shows that has sentimental value. It dates from the time the records. They may also be Lamb’s Passage had two If you can shed any light canal was built and is listed. able to help you with the timber yards, a saw mill  on it I would be grateful. It is described as both a lock Islington drain plans, which and a cooperage on its east Adrian Chapman keeper’s cottage and would have come under the side. On the west side was  Ajmchapman@btinternet. Wharfinger’s cottage. original Metropolitan Board a drug mill and houses. com Unfortunately, Islington of Works, founded in 1855. Behind the east side is the council has lost its planning The London Canal New which Michael Reading writes: file for the site and the  Museum may have more is still occupied by the May I ask you to look again local history section of the information. As no 38 is a Honourable Artillery at the address on the watch library had very little listed building, English Company. you have? Nos 166 and 156 information on the building. Heritage may also be able  The map for 1894 shows are in a part of Essex Road And do you know if to help you. that the cooperage has gone that normally sells food but Islington drainage plans are and replaced by a drill hall. there was a jeweller’s at 366 at the London Metropolitan Rob Bevan writes: Samuel Whitbread lived in Essex Road named Jay’s  Archives? They are not at Yes, it is those original Lamb’s Passage and, in (I believe they also had  Finsbury Library. Regent’s Canal documents 1750, founded the brewery a branch at 142 Oxford Rob Bevan and plans that I’m trying to in nearby Chiswell Street. Street) which stands on  [email protected] track down. They appear to

6 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Autumn 2013 Vol 3 No 3 be in different waterways was renamed the North institutions up and down London Railway. the country, some of which The NLR bought up are being moved and others several nearby properties, where there is no archivist including Wells Row and,  in post – all a bit of a in 1872, a magnificent new nightmare! station, built in a style similar to St Pancras station, A landowning ancestor and was opened. It included, as a the Cock at Highbury wing to the building, a new I wonder if you or any of Cock Tavern. your members know how I The station remained until can find out if the house 27 June 1944 when a V1 that is now 29 Park Street flying bomb fell at Highbury has held the number 29 for Corner, destroying it. The a very long time? present station serves the My great grandfather, London Underground and George Woolley, lived there the London Overground with his large family from and Victoria line. A public approximately 1825 until his house has been rebuilt on death in 1842. His widow the original site and trades later moved to Manchester Catholic Herald House, part of St Joseph’s buildings, Lamb’s Passage under the name of The Terrace, Liverpool Street, to Famous Cock. live close to one of her elder conducting a business and could look quite different sons and his family. as a residence. With the rise from each other. Lynn Yates writes: Do you think 29 Park of supermarkets, such The original Cock Tavern I can now safely say that  Street could be the original establishments reverted to was at 21 Wells Row, which 29 Islington Park Street is no 29 or would the houses residential use. was a line of properties at the house where George have been renumbered, The Post Office street the end of Woolley and his family lived possibly after World War II? directory for 1935 shows where it joins Holloway in the early 1800s. It is nice George Woolley’s will that 29 Park Street was Road and is known as to see that the house is lived shows that he owned many occupied by William Smith, Highbury Corner. It was in and in very good order. I properties and businesses a greengrocer. The there as early as 1780,  could kick myself as when I including the Cock Inn in corresponding entry in the with extended rear premises, visited Islington several Islington. The only pictures 1939 directory (after the including a large yard years ago, I walked past that that I can find of such a change of name) remains stocked with trees. house without realising that property are of a later Cock the same, so it follows that From 1846, under an act of it had been George’s. Inn next to a railway station, the street was not parliament, the East and As far as the Cock Tavern which was bombed during renumbered. Back in 1880, West India Docks and is concerned, I had an World War II. Charles Brady, another Birmingham Junction inkling that the pub I saw Is there any chance that greengrocer, occupied no 29. Railway Company built a pictured was probably built there is a drawing of the When I lived in Islington goods line from Camden in the mid/late 1800s as it original Inn or something in 1958, practically all Road to Blackwall via looked very Victorian with that tells us where exactly it houses were coloured black Islington, and its ornate brickwork. I was situated? due to almost two centuries Kingsland, this line passing thought that the old Cock Lynn Yates of smoke from coal fires. through Wells Row. A Inn that George once owned [email protected] With the coming of the wooden station was erected would have been an earlier Clean Air Acts and after a here in 1849 and the first building than that. Michael Reading writes: period of 60 years, much  passenger trains, linked to If anyone knows of an  Maps of Islington for 1801 of this grime has been Broad Street station in the old drawing or photograph and 1853 both show a line washed away by rain. City, ran from this station  of the pub, please get in of houses are shown where Additionally, many houses in 1850. touch on lpy.llwyn@ no 29 is today. Park Street were acquired by Three years later, the line googlemail.com. became Islington Park  developers/builders who Street in 1937, when several rehabilitated them and often streets in Islington were had the brickwork cleaned. Builders often put up only a small number renamed and a few When these houses were of dwellings so many houses in the same renumbered. built, builders often put up I expect no 29 – like many only a small number of terrace could look quite different from other houses in Islington in dwellings and so many each other the past – was used both for houses in the same terrace

Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Autumn 2013 Vol 3 No 3 7 I admire George as he previous librarians, one of I used to walk through migrated from Axminster in whom was familiar. Lewis Baalbec Road lived on my Devon in 1780 with his Hertslet (1787-1870) was way to Highbury County siblings and appeared to librarian to the Foreign school but no doubt that have become a successful Office between 1810 and would have been some years businessman within a short 1857. He published a before Linda lived there. space of time. He married collection of treaties Douglas Hague twice and had 14 children. between Great Britain and Chandlers Way, Hertford Shortly before he died in foreign powers. This practice 1842, he set up a trust fund was continued by his son  Wall Street story and street for his descendants which Sir Edward Hertslet KCB name mysteries lasted for over 100 years.  (1824-1902), who also The Journal published a My grandmother, her sisters published a collection of summary of some research I and various cousins received treaties between Turkey and carried out on the history of regular payments from this other foreign powers Wall Street (The story of a trust until the 1940s. between 1835 and 1855. small street, spring, page 11). Unfortunately, the Enkel Street was named I started this project with bombing of World War II after local nurseryman the intention of discovering destroyed the last of his Robert Enkel, who was 29 Islington Park Street: once the origin of the name – it properties that were succeeded by Cornelius owned by greengrocers appears to be the only Wall bringing an income to the Crastin and his family. At Street in the London A-to-Z. trust. After the war, the the time of Lewis Hertslet’s Road. In January 2007, I The history of this little death, this area was being went on a tour of the street proved to be much The outdoor theatre built up and it was organised more interesting than I suggested that the new by the IAHS and afterwards could have imagined, in street be named in his I walked across Drayton though I never did discover owed its origins to honour. One of those Park and through Whistler how it got its name. suggesting this was a Street. Framfield Passage I have deposited a copy of the wartime Mrs Crastin. was still there and looked the results of my government’s Roy Hidson just as I remembered it. investigation with the Holidays at Home St Thomas’s Road, Finsbury The outdoor theatre in the Islington Local History Park, London N4 Fields mentioned by Linda Centre. scheme owed its origins to the Should any readers be More memories of wartime government’s able to add to my findings government paid Highbury Fields Holidays at Home scheme, or comment on them, I compensation for businesses Lynda Tyrie’s memories of in 1942 I think, when a would be glad to correspond destroyed and the trust was growing up in by Highbury covered stage was with them, especially with then wound up. Fields (summer 2013) struck constructed at the northwest regard to the origin of the I am always trying to find a chord. corner of the fields nearest names Motts Lane or Wall more about his life as he I was 10 years old when in the netball and football Street. Even the local history was a man I greatly admire. 1936 we moved from pitches. One had to pay to centre was unable to help. to Battledean Road, sit down in the enclosure, I am also interested in the Enkel and Hertslet – the N5, and having the fields which was surrounded by a factory at the south end of people behind street names close by was a huge chestnut paling fence. As the street which apparently I recently visited the Foreign attraction after the confines Linda did, we stood outside was at one time occupied by and Commonwealth Office of living in central London. to watch the entertainment brass finishers and beer in King Charles Street. It is Like Linda, both of my which was much as she engine makers, as well as housed in a magnificent sisters went to Drayton  describes. The shows, which the Jahnke box factory in Victorian building with Park school and we all included talent Dove Road, known locally interiors decorated in the attended Christ Church at competitions, were relayed as Yonkers. gothic style. These have Highbury Barn. to the rest of the fields by Charlie Greenfield recently been renovated as Linda refers to Framfield public address loudspeakers. [email protected] they had suffered from Passage and not being able decades of coal fires. There to find it when she visited are imposing statues and the area a few years ago. As Write to [email protected], via www.iahs.org.uk or c/o wall paintings as well as the name implies, it is 6 Northview, Tufnell Park Road, N7 0QB. Please note mosaic floors. The Durbar simply a short narrow letters may be edited. Say if you would like your email/ Court is a survival of the pedestrian alleyway postal address printed, so readers can contact you days of the British Raj between houses connecting in India. Whistler Street with the Note: the society does not carry out family research

Christy Lawrance The wall held portraits of lower end of Framfield

8 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Autumn 2013 Vol 3 No 3 Local history project wants My research is focused on your memories the soldiers who are buried If you have lived in Islington in the war cemetery of for a while, please get Valkenswaard. These involved with Peabody’s soldiers fought and died on Islington history project. 17 September 1944 during All you have to do is to the opening battles of spare 15-20 minutes at a operation Market Garden. time that suits you and talk I am looking for relatives about what you like about of and information about this historic part of London, Ernest Charles Kelly. your experiences of life here He was the son of James and how the people, local Patrick Kelly and Esther  businesses and social, leisure May Kelly, of Islington, and sporting activities have London. changed over the years. He was a private in the The project is being run by Devonshire regiment, Peabody, but you do not Highbury Fields: hugely attractive after living in central London service no 5342613, and died have to be a Peabody tenant on 17 September 1944, to take part. Fallen soldier and teaches people about aged 24. Rob Robertson I am researching the history the history of World War II Please contact me if you Peabody, Hugh Cubitt of a soldier who died in around Valkenswaard en could help us trace relatives Centre, 48 Collier Street, World War II, whose family Aalst-Waalre in Holland. It or have any more N1 9QZ, 020 7021 4127, were from Islington. is called the Erfgoed 40-45, information about him. rob.robertson@peabody. I am doing research for a gemeenten Valkenswaard en Raimondo Bogaars org.uk foundation that researches Waalre foundation. [email protected]

Manor Gardens celebrates with a plaque and a party

n Islington People’s – the North Islington Infant Plaque commemo- Welfare Centre and School Arating Florence Keen for Mothers – in 1913, when was unveiled at Manor around one in 10 children in Gardens Centre’s centenary Islington died before their street party this summer. fifth birthday. Members of Ms Keen’s She worked to educate family were there to unveil mothers about improving the plaque to Manor their families’ health. By Gardens’ founder. 1920, the clinic had received A heritage centre showing over 12,000 visitors and the work of the centre was expanded its services. opened by William Gaminara, The centre hopes to an actor and screenwriter develop the heritage centre who is best known for into something more playing pathologist permanent. If you’d like to Professor Leo Dalton in the be involved, contact heritage TV series Silent Witness. manager Ed Bartram on 020 Florence Keen founded the 7272 4231 or ed@ Manor Gardens’ forerunner manorgardenscentre.org.

Florence Keen’s family; actor William Gaminara opens the heritage centre; Pearly King of Finsbury John Walters with Pearly King of Crystal Palace Pat Jolly. Left: baby book and light clinic in heritage centre

Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Autumn 2013 Vol 3 No 3 9 The Cally carbuncle

‘Does facade retention get any worse than this?’ asked the Victorian Society, as a redevelopment reached the finals in a competition to find Britain’s ugliest new building

he Mallett, Porter & 465 Caledonian Inspectorate overturned the Dowd building dated Road before, council’s decision later that year. back to 1874 and was during and after The planning inspector’s report works recorded by Sir said: “The development would Nikolaus Pevsner in achieve an acceptable balance of This Buildings of . variety and cohesion, rather than Only the former warehouse’s create undue visual confusion.” locally listed facade survives, An extra “storey” was added to retained after the rest of the the facade and the old pediment building was demolished for placed on top of that. The student accommodation. It now planning inspector said the sits uncomfortably a few feet in facade was “sufficiently robust to the street is only visible at an  front of the new building. accept the raised height without oblique angle. This scheme near Caledonian harm to its proportions”. Controversially, the planning Road tube station, designed by Around half of the rooms inspector said that because the Stephen George and Partners, facing the street look onto the rooms would be used mainly for has reached the finals in a facade’s back wall; from them, sleeping, the full standards for competition to find Britain’s daylight did not need to be met. ugliest new building. He concluded that the The Carbuncle Cup, run by proposals were of sufficient architectural magazine Building quality to meet the design Design, is awarded to requirements of the council, the “architectural travesties” London Plan and local and involving “lazy design” and national guidance. “cynical development”. Others disagreed. Kieran Long, Evening Standard architecture Refusal overturned critic and senior curator of The £18 million, 350-room contemporary architecture at the student housing development for V&A, wrote: “Caledonian Road University College London was – you’re doing it wrong.” The refused permission by Islington Victorian Society asked: “Does Council in 2010. However, the facade retention get any worse

Christy Lawrance central government Planning than this?”

10 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Autumn 2013 Vol 3 No 3 Caledonian ward councillor The crassness of the relationship Paul Convery said: “I was between new and old takes this staggered when the planning scheme to beyond bad. inspector overturned our refusal “The inmates living behind the decision. His amazing disregard massive masonry ruin will acutely for normal daylight and design feel the heritage of the retained standards was quite extraordinary. wall, but it is not clear they will “Now the building has be able to see out. Perhaps the emerged from its hoardings, the architects were influenced by the full absurdity of the design is historic Prison down suddenly apparent.” the road.” Comments made to Building Facade ‘made to look ridiculous’ Design included: “Like some kind This summer, the scheme was of inglorious poacher wearing nominated for the Carbuncle Cup. the pelt of an endangered lion” The nominator wrote: “It is and: “The historic facade is one of the worst facade retention made to look ridiculous as no schemes that I have seen. The attempt has been made to link it lack of any meaningful with the new building.” relationship between the retained The winner was due to be facade and the new build behind announced as the Journal was is embarrassing. The addition of going to press. The frontrunner is an extra storey to the retained also student housing – Castle Mill Top: pediment with oak leaf detailing; above: flank facade ruins its proportions…. for the University of Oxford. n wall, with Caledonian clock tower in the distance

Heritage buses go back on the road

Historic buses run the Kingsway subway tram again at Holloway bus routes until then. From 1960, trolleybuses at garage’s open day Holloway were replaced by Routemasters. The 271 bus has the same two terminus points as olloway bus garage first the 611 trolleybus – rare for a opened as a tram depot trolleybus route. Hin November 1907. In 1971, the garage received Covering 3½ acres, it had spaces some of the first one-person- for 336 trams on tracks that were operated buses in London. accessed by a traverser. On the open day in August, From March 1938, tram routes the garage ran route 39A to from the depot started to be Parliament Hill Fields, route 196 converted to trolleybus to King’s Cross Garage, route operation. Both forms of 609 to East Station and transport continued for 14 years route 611 to Village until 1952. The depot operated and Holloway Nag’s Head. n

Visitors viewed and took free rides on historic buses, including the 39A on Junction Road

Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Autumn 2013 Vol 3 No 3 11 the park and nearby roads being designated as open space. Many residents found themselves at risk from relocation and their homes being destroyed. This created an environment of uncertainty and planning blight. Whittington Park was created in 1954. By the 1970s, the area was still suffering from dereliction and crime, particularly among young people. By 1971, growing discontent led to a movement of resistance from which emerged the WPCA. “At times it comes about that Majorettes and the Whittington Cat (containing award-winning actor Tom Wilkinson) lead the in certain places a movement Whittington Park Community Association festival procession down Tufnell Park Road in 1978 begins seemingly out of nothing,” says Phil Miles, founding member of WPCA “WPCA … began as a protest, Pride and resistance an expression of frustration and annoyance at neglect and uncertainty in the district. “For years, the ageing area, An archive of community activism was accidently discovered with the threat of compulsory by Katia Lom in the loft of Whittington Community Centre. purchase and demolition hanging over it, had become run down. She tells the story of people who stood up for their area The worst four streets had already been demolished for the start of a 20-acre park, but that area was ast autumn, I found a artwork. I staged an exhibition of Girl with cat already derelict, while the rest, portfolio in the commu- some of the photographs in the probably at the quite substantial Victorian nity centre loft. Inside community centre, which is now WPCA Festival housing stock of real potential, was a gem: nearly 300 on permanent display. pet show 1973; faced an uncertain future…. This adventure photographs, mostly in I began to piece together the affected virtually the whole area playground, black and white from the 1970s, history behind the photos with north of Tytherton Road and L 1979 of festival scenes in Whittington the assistance of Tim Coles, a Wedmore Street from Campdale Park, beautiful hand-drawn postgraduate student at the CASS, Road to .” posters, newsletters and original and firsthand accounts of the Local residents recognised that centre’s founding members and the area had problems. However, people who had used its services. they opposed most of the open Whittington Park Community space designations as this would Association (WPCA) was break up the community and established on 19 September most did not want to leave. 1972. It used the same buildings (dating back to the 1800s) as today to run its many activities. However, the area itself was quite different. Until the 1970s, the area around Whittington Park was described as being close to a slum. The years after World War II had been particularly difficult as it had been bombed. This was exacerbated when, in 1944, Sir Patrick Abercrombie drew up the Greater London Plan. This led to both demolished and occupied homes in what is now

12 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Autumn 2013 Vol 3 No 3 Ann Wilson, a member of the force in establishing the group. WPCA’s over 60s’ lunch club, She put great efforts into recalls how her house – securing a licence from Islington designated for open space – was Council to use the building that scheduled for demolition, and is still used by the association At the festivals: residents in association with the how, following WPCA today. As Phil Miles states, Emily pram race, WPCA to oppose the council’s campaigns, she has remained “practically crucified herself in 1973; Bees proposals for the further extension Make Honey there since. Rupert Road efforts to keep things going”. of Whittington Park which would perform at the residents held organised regular One of WPCA’s first projects  adventure require demolition of houses in “Rupert Road reunions” after to come to fruition was an playground, Foxham Road, in Beversbrook their homes were demolished. adventure playground in the 1974; Emily Road and in Yerbury Road.” Residents began to meet park. Soon after it opened, local Hope with Eventually, WPCA’s efforts regularly in earnest in 1971, with police found crime in the area fell. mayor Harry were successful and Whittington the goal of resisting the council’s Other activities were set up in Reid and the Park covered just 10 acres. Even planning schemes. They also the centre, including a lunch club mayoress, 1973 though much housing had been decided to develop services for for over 60s where people could destroyed, Tytherton Road, the community and improve the Yerbury Road, Wedmore Street, area, and started a newsletter. Foxham Road and Beversbrook This group named itself the Road were spared and their open Whittington Park Action Group. It space designation was removed. did not have a building; meetings Although it had started out by were held in people’s houses, protesting against Islington’s sometimes even in their cars. plans, WPCA relies on council The group pressed for All Saints funding to support its work. Church Hall (where the nursery, Managing this dichotomy is also cafe and lounge are today) to seen as a great achievement. become a community centre, and Another achievement may be this led to the formation of how, by giving a place for people WPCA. The group remained in have freshly cooked meals, a one of all ages, WPCA showed how a existence to campaign on local o’clock club and the Butterfly community can transform itself issues, especially the open space Nursery (today the independent by its own motivations, designations. Leaping Lizards Day Nursery). benefiting generations to come. n One member of this group was From 1973 to the late 1980s, Emily Hope. She and her WPCA ran a popular annual Katia Lom is project development husband Tom had recently summer festival in Whittington and administrative support worker settled in the area. Emily was an Park, which at its height attracted at WPCA. The archive can be seen American and a graduate of Vassar over 10,000 people. at the Bishopsgate Institute: www. College in the US. Her education The catalyst that first brought bishopsgate.org.uk, 020 7392 9270 and cultural experience of 1960s local residents together – housing political trends, in the US and demolition – stayed active well Sources London in the women’s into the mid 1970s. As the Firsthand accounts from Phil Miles, Tom Hope, Ann Wilson and Bert Gafney movement, meant she brought October 1975 WPCA Newsletter WPCA archive and newsletters tremendous energy and expertise attests: “1,057 people signed a Islington Tribune to the project. She was a main petition organised by local Islington Council archive WPCA all courtesy of the all other photographs; unknown photographer Tracy; and Emily Hope: John race Girl with cat, pram

Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Autumn 2013 Vol 3 No 3 13 Rákosi in London

Mátyás Rákosi was an authoritarian ruler who imposed Soviet communism on Hungary. As a young man, he spent an influential year in London, including in Islington

átyás Rákosi indelibly associated with one of was the abso- the darkest periods in recent lute ruler of Hungarian history. As “Stalin’s communist best student”, he established a Hungary from ruthless one-party state, abolished M1948 until 1956. Born in 1892 in all forms of private enterprise, Rákosi c1914: he saw extremes of the south of Hungary, in what is and arrested tens of thousands wealth and poverty in London now Serbia, he was one of 13 of his countrymen before being children. His family were forced once again into exile in and unadventurous for his tastes, patriotic Hungarian Jews. 1956 at the outbreak of that year’s so that summer he sailed to He proved himself a bright and ill-fated Hungarian revolution. London, equipped with only  idealistic student who was The next communist leaders of a small sum of money and the attracted to left-wing politics. He Hungary refused to allow him to address of the Communist Club abandoned his religion and return home and he died in the at 107 Charlotte Street (now travelled across Europe. Soviet Union in 1971. Fitzroy Street). He fought for the Austro- It was a fortuitous contact. The Hungarian army in World War I club, which had three floors of and was captured by the Russian or one short but influential premises, provided a warm army. Inspired by the Russian year in his life, Rákosi welcome to the young revolution of 1917, he returned Fbecame a Londoner. He Hungarian and served as a to Hungary and served, in 1919, learned to speak English fluently, second home in London. It had as a commissar in Béla Kun’s found gainful employment, 12 international sections, Hungarian Bolshevik Council romanced a local girl, joined the including a Hungarian section Republic. struggle for women’s suffrage, with some 80 members. The club In August that year, he was and ended up living in Islington, Below: gates to subscribed to many newspapers, forced into exile by the Hungarian in Finsbury Street. Artillery Fields had a kitchen, buffet, fitness counter-revolutionary regime, Eager to learn about the at the end of room, dance hall, auditorium Finsbury Street, which remained in power until strengths and weaknesses of the and skittle alley. where Rákosi 1945. He was ordered by Moscow capitalist system, in 1913 Rákosi lived: none of The Hungarian members of to re-found an illegal Communist had travelled to Hamburg. the terraced the club found Rákosi his first Party in Hungary, for which was However, the great German  houses in the place to live in Gower Street, arrested and sentenced to death. port proved to be too small  street survive , work in Oxford He became an international Street at an import-export cause celebre. After spending 14 trading company (where he years in prison, he was handed enjoyed chatting with his over to the Soviet Union in 1940. well-travelled boss, a In 1945 he was back in Mr Cornish) and English Hungary, re-establishing the language instruction provided by Community Party that seized the City of London (Baráth et power in 1948 and brutally al, 2002). imposed Soviet communism Although shocked by the poor upon Hungary. quality of this accommodation, By the summer of 1956, with its coin-operated lamp that however, Rákosi’s grip on the limited his avid reading, Rákosi country was broken. He was was immediately fascinated by dispatched to Moscow, London. subsequently stripped of his He kept every weekend for party membership and never lengthy walks and visits to the permitted to return to Hungary. great attractions. In his memoirs, Rákosi’s name is, therefore, written almost 50 years later in

14 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Autumn 2013 Vol 3 No 3 exile in the Soviet Union, Rákosi still remembered the evident power of London, its wealth, and its multiculturalism, recalling that if you took a bus from Whitechapel to Park Lane “it was as if in half an hour one had stepped into a different world” (Baráth et al, 2002). He also adored spending time in the , wondering if he was sitting on Karl Marx’s chair, and the , whose magnificent collections, he caustically noted, demonstrated that “there was barely a country that the English hadn’t stolen from” (Baráth et al, 2002). Even though Rákosi had immediately joined the Rákosi in Hungary in 1919, during the short-lived period of the Hungarian Communist Club, he was not  Bolshevik Council Republic, of which he was a commissar at this point a fanatical communist. It was in London Communist Club. As well as an active role in the suffragette that he first became properly tutoring Mrs McSweeney’s son, movement. On 8 May1914, he acquainted with the pantheon of he courted her daughter joined a rally of the Men’s communist writers, the new Florence, a 28-year-old shop League for Women’s Suffrage, currents in revolutionary assistant with striking red hair, and during a violent clash with thinking, and the vigorous who Rákosi promptly “fell madly the police in Trafalgar Square, he debates between communists, in love with”. sustained an injury to the head socialists and anarchists. As well as inviting her to (The Times, 1914). dances at the Communist Club, Settled in Islington, fluent in Radical transformation Rákosi won her affection by English, financially stable, His radicalisation was arranging for a box of apricots to promoted to the head of the accelerated by the extremes of be sent to her from his native Hungarian section at the wealth and social deprivation Hungary (Pünkösti, 2004). Communist Club and an eager that confronted him in London. participant in British political He spent time with homeless Finsbury: toleration and dissent debate, he appeared to have people and visited a Salvation By early 1914, he had earned successfully made a new home Army shelter, while also enough money to rent his own for himself in London. marvelling at the luxury goods flat and moved to Finsbury Street. It was the shock news of the ostentatiously displayed in the His new home was close to his assassination of Franz Ferdinand shop windows of the West End. place of work, the Communist in Sarajevo and a sense that war He recognised that British Club and his girlfriend. was now unavoidable, which capitalism provided the Moreover, Finsbury was reawakened Rákosi’s patriotism population with cheap food, an affordable, vibrant and enjoyed  and compelled him to leave abundance of choice and a reputation for toleration and London in July 1914. He never inexpensive housing. dissent that made it a natural returned. n It was Rákosi’s experiences in choice for Rákosi and other London that arguably foreigners. Tom Lorman is a researcher at transformed him from a socialist Having never acquired a taste University College London into a committed communist or, for British food, but adoring as he himself put it: “I began to French cuisine, Rákosi was also References be aware of the practical attracted to Finsbury Street by Baráth et al, eds (2002) Rákosi Mátyás questions of the international the fact that, among the Visszaemlékezések 1892-1925. Vol 1. Napvilag, Budapest proletarian movement there, in profusion of downstairs Parish of St Luke (1913) Rate Book for London” (Baráth et al, 2002). workshops and upstairs offices, the Borough of Finsbury, Parish of St Seeking better accommodation, was a French restaurant and Luke, October 1913. Islington Local Rákosi rented a room from a bakery (Parish of St Luke, 1913). History Centre Pünkösti A (2004) Rákosi, Sztálin widow called Eliza McSweeney, While living in Islington, Legjobb Tanítványa. Európa Könyvkiadó, who lived at 1-2 Rathbone Mews Rákosi immersed himself deeper Budapest

in Fitzrovia, just behind the into British politics and played The Times, 9 May 1914 Commons; gates: Christy Lawrance Wikimedia Rakosi:

Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Autumn 2013 Vol 3 No 3 15 Georgian industrial grandeur and postwar optimism are A modern combined in one of Islington’s most classic unusual and distinguished estates, says Ian Hunt

Three- and four-storey blocks are arranged around large areas of green

he Holloway Estate is Given the postwar period’s superbly judged development of one of Islington’s most embrace of modernism, this was small-scale cottages and flats unusual housing a rather embattled position but, around a green, showing estates. It has been with the passing of time, it has McMorran’s characteristically described as a “City of become possible to see the learned Renaissance geometry in TLondon estate that is older than qualities of their buildings. These its facades. Although the the 1970s, comprised of brown include the Old Bailey Extension; Holloway Estate shares the brick flats rather like those built McMorran also designed qualities of these schemes, it is by the London County Council” Hammersmith police station and not nationally listed as they are. in the Journal (spring 2013). It is worked jointly with Horace a lot more distinguished than Farquharson on the Phoenix Estate characteristics that description would lead School in Bow Road – an “open Phase 1 of the Holloway Estate, anyone to think. air” school for the LCC. built in 1959-65, north of Camden The estate was designed by They were also responsible for Road, shows McMorran’s McMorran and Whitby, who Arcaded area some very thoughtful social characteristic preoccupations and reinterpreted architectural under housing, such as Wood Field and influences clearly. The model is tradition, using a modern McMorran Barn Field, built in 1946-49 for that of the quadrangles of understanding of classical ideas. House Hampstead Borough Council. Oxford and Cambridge These were arranged on a universities, or London’s Inns of modern principle of planning, the Court. The three- and four-storey “Zeilenbau” or “line building”: blocks are arranged around large two parallel blocks run north to areas of green. south, so each flat gets east light These spaces are clearly in the morning and west light in demarcated from the outside by the evening. Lubetkin’s Spa doubled screen walls, through Green was designed on the same which there are two sets of arches. basis. Lammas Green in Yet, inside this well-protected Sydenham, for the City of zone, the buildings do not form London Corporation, is a wholly enclosed courtyards; they

Why could the City build on Islington land?

The Corporation of London the site of Bunning’s City Prison, acquired the site in 1832 as a which became Holloway Prison potential cemetery for cholera (replaced in the 1970s) and victims. It was used instead as terraces of houses.

16 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Autumn 2013 Vol 3 No 3 feel open and light. The effect of the architecture as a whole is unusual, as it is influenced by McMorran’s close study of Georgian industrial buildings. Large sash windows are contrasted with small, deeper set windows. According to Edward Denison, “McMorran himself believed that mills descended from the ‘sensible Georgian ways of building’ and were ‘the last works of traditional architecture in this country’ ” (Denison, 2009). The central McMorran House, named after the architect, who died as the work was near completion, is varied with an arcaded area of round arches in hard black bricks. Although the estate at first Light and open: sandpit and play area in the late 1960s, when the estate was new sight shares characteristics with sober interwar LCC housing, successful and, for its date, some of which used arcaded There cannot be many estates highly surprising contribution to areas, its spatial organisation and postwar social housing. detailing are derived from very where council tenants live in homes It still has lessons for new different sources. There cannot modelled on buildings enjoyed by developments, especially in its be many estates where council Oxbridge scholars and City lawyers building craft and its generous tenants live in homes modelled control of light and space. n on buildings enjoyed by Oxbridge l Nine original drawings for the scholars and City lawyers. Holloway Estate are held in Phase 2 of the estate, progress and it was named RIBA’s collection at the V&A. completed in the mid-1970s on a Whitby Court after him. Many photos of the estate can be difficult adjacent site between Christian Wolmar’s question in seen on English Heritage’s Parkhurst Road and Camden the spring issue of the Journal ViewFinder site: http://viewfinder. Road, looks somewhat different “Why demolish perfectly good english-heritage.org.uk as it was designed by Whitby houses, the rest of which have alone. He ensured the houses survived?” is a good one. An Ian Hunt is an art critic and teaches looked onto an enclosed green. answer might be: when they can in the department of art at It was pioneering in its be replaced with something Goldsmiths, University of London. integration of homes for disabled better and more useful. He writes in response to Christian people, which was undertaken in The Holloway Estate involved Wolmar’s letter in the spring 2013 partnership with the John the loss of some pleasant but issue about the estate Grooms Association. Whitby ordinary Victorian builders’ died while the work was in houses (the Corporation of Reference Denison E (2009) McMorran & Whitby. London already owned most of RIBA Publishing, English Heritage and the site) and the gain of a Twentieth Century Society, London

Large sash windows contrast with small, deeper

set windows Denison details: Ian Hunt; other images: Edward window family archive; from McMorran Gay, Sandpit: John

Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Autumn 2013 Vol 3 No 3 17 walls of the city is frozen, large Cold stories numbers of the younger crowd go there to play about on the ice,” he wrote. Ice sledges were dragged Lester Hillman gets his skates on to describe an icy heritage across the areas of today’s of frost fairs and frost saints, as well as some chilly goings-on Moorgate and Moorfields. People strapped on animal shin bones at the London Canal Museum as skates and, with handheld metal-tipped wooden poles, propelled themselves across the ce has been a hot topic this carrying a 42kg fridge on his ice at speed. year. The London back (over 1,000 miles in 40 Metropolitan Archive in days) takes some beating. A well of frozen assets Islington hosted an exhibi- The London Canal Museum, tion on Frozen London. In Ice ages past alongside the Regent’s Canal in IMay, local papers reported a London’s “little ice age” was New Wharf Road, sits above football-sized ball of ice crashing marked at the Frozen London deep 19th century ice wells. The into a garden in . 1683-1895 exhibition at London metal reinforcement supporting A programme of events and Metropolitan Archives earlier the ground floor had Heritage Lottery funded work at this year. Over this period, the deteriorated, which had the London Canal Museum in Thames is thought to have Mrs Agnes B damaged the concrete. Specialist Islington – which covers much of frozen over some 16 times. Marshall, who is engineering works in the early the history of ice – has stimu- Going further back, writer believed to have part of 2013 saw the underside of lated further interest. William Fitzstephen from the invented the ice the ground floor repaired and late 12th century offers cream cone; three structural piers supporting St Pancras – ice saint tantalising snippets of winter below: her the western ice well nearest the fast-acting Across Europe in mythology and and ice in Islington several patent freezer canal basin replaced. sayings, St Pancras is familiar as centuries ago. He was a At the outset, a highly an “ice saint”. In Poland, he is contemporary and an aide to rewarding and unusual task was called the “cold gardener”. For archbishop Thomas Becket. to gather up all the accumulated centuries, St Pancras day on His writings on London devote coins cast into the ice well – 12 May has been a bellwether  considerable attention to games frozen assets indeed. April saw for agriculture, for assessing on the ice. He may have had the structural works largely whether the ice has cleared firsthand experience of these completed, ready for the start  enough for the growing season growing up in the city. of a programme of events and offering a pointer to  “When the great marsh that celebrating and exploring harvest yields. laps up against the northern Islington’s ice heritage. The thawing of Fleet river ice The museum states: “For us, used to have serious implications the project represents an for Islington. A sudden thaw on opportunity to bring the unique 27 January 1809 caused flooding industrial heritage of the ice for several days between Somers wells to a new audience and Town and Pentonville. With make it better known.” water three feet deep in the Celebrations and middle of the road, householders interpretation have ranged from took in provisions through  workshops, guided trips down their windows. into the ice wells, a temporary More recently, in January 1987, exhibition about and some opportunist mountaineers his ice business and archive came across a three-storey icicle research to the commissioning of hanging off the west face of St a working replica of a Victorian Pancras Hotel in Midland Road, making machine. just off the Euston Road. They Better lighting, floodlighting and climbed it, belaying off a handy remote viewing into the ice wells parking meter, before British are to be introduced. Transport Police intervened. For human endurance, a Art in the ice well summer attempt by Tony A major initiative with the Phoenix-Morrison to walk from Institute of Physics has seen John O’Groats to Lands End artist Lyndall Phelps team up

18 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Autumn 2013 Vol 3 No 3 with Queen Mary College London particle physicist Ben Sill to create a work in the eastern ice well. Superposition is a concept in physics that can be described as “being in two or more places at the same time”. The institute’s physics in society team aims to engage adult audiences with contemporary physics, and artist and scientist have worked together to produce a work inspired by particle detection, detectors, data capture and visualisation. The work is made up of almost a mile of brass rods, hundreds of acrylic discs, over 28,000 glass beads and 36,000 diamantes (see Above: Thames frost fair, 1864: watermen put wheels on boats; below: skates picture, page 25). The ice wells made of animal bones; bottom: a football-sized ball of ice hit the headlines themselves echo the form of detectors and the fusion of art Islington’s Carlo Gatti? Maybe and science offers the chance of the area took its name from the unexpected consequences. ice company. Superposition is open on For the future, St Pancras limited days and runs until awaits the ICE train, the intercity 20 October. Bookings should be express trains from Germany set made via the museum (020 7713 to serve Frankfurt, Cologne and 0836, www.canalmuseum.org.uk). beyond. The first test train arrived in October 2010. Ice cream’s early days The museum has long staged Spreading ice events to celebrate ice cream. Islington’s Stuart Low Trust  In July, the London Canal gave over their Friday evening Museum offered a suitably frosty Last year, an ice cream festival slot to an ice event this summer. welcome to Mrs Agnes B took place in and around the The trust’s programme features Marshall, the Mrs Beeton of King’s Cross development lands. regular events with the London Victorian ice cream making, who Canal Museum and, not was granted a patent for a North Pole to north London surprisingly, the evening machine that could freeze a pint It was not long ago that generated close questioning  of ice cream in five minutes. Dr international travellers at and discussion. Annie Gray, food historian and St Pancras were trapped in The Clerkenwell and Islington ice cream expert, dropped in and 20-hour queues by the wrong Guides Association will review ran a workshop on her story. It kind of snow. Just before Islington’s year of ice at their was a cool event attracting a Christmas 2009, fine snow December meeting. n capacity audience. seriously disrupted services. You can read more about Since moving to St Pancras,the Lester Hillman is the IAHS’s Agnes Marshall, who is believed Eurostar no longer goes through academic adviser. He addressed the to have invented the ice cream the North Pole area. This refers society on Islington’s ice history and cone, at www.canalmuseum.org. to the railway depot, junction the Heritage Lottery funded projects uk/ice/marshall.htm. Her books and area near Wormwood at the London are understood to have boosted Scrubs. Eurostar’s North Pole Canal Museum London’s ice trade. depot was a familiar feature for at its AGM in Carlo Gatti’s business and the several kilometres alongside the June. The ice trade were the focus of a approach into Paddington. Heritage follow-up workshop on Why was this district called Lottery works 12 August and the Regent’s North Pole in the first place? at the Museum Canal venue was perfect, it  Could the answer lie in the featured in the being the 251st birthday of the North Pole Ice Company, one  Journal’s spring

Prince Regent. of the few competitors to 2013 issue Commons; newspaper board: Lester Hillman Wikimedia Agnes Marshall and machine: G Johnson; fair: Rita Greer; bone skates: Steven Frost

Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Autumn 2013 Vol 3 No 3 19 potter Andrew Macdonald. Since Cooking like a Roman then, these ovens have spread among the Roman historical re-enactment fraternity and I see them wherever Roman cooking The Romans used sophisticated vessels such as the double is demonstrated. Over the years, clibanus oven, which combined cooking techniques, in their I have had numerous versions made (as they inevitably fall preparations for fine dining, says Sally Grainger apart under thermal shock) and have also developed the skills needed to bake and roast in aving spent many them and written about these years studying experiences in my own and experi- publications on Roman food menting to (Grocock and Grainger, 2006; understand what Grainger, 1999). RomansH ate and how they On Sunday 19 May I received a prepared and made it, my replica of a double clibanus particular interest is not so  made just three weeks after the much with the outward service Pompeii and Herculaneum of food but the actual cooking exhibition opened, by potter process. Chris Lydamore whose creations It is clear from ancient texts are highly valued as museum that the preparation of dishes  replicas as well as by historical for fine dining was very reconstructionists. n sophisticated, with intricate The clibanus was a Above: replica vessels combining steam and sophisticated piece of cooking of a double Sally Grainger is a chef, food oven heat and also gentle technology most likely to have clibanus oven; historian and writer. With Andrew delicate poaching and simmering been used by wealthy Romans. below: Dalby, she is author of The Classical carbonised loaf – techniques one does not These ovens were made with Cookbook, £10.99 from the British of bread found normally associate with  very coarse gritted clay and at Pompeii Museum. This article was first ancient cultures. ranged in size from 15cm to published by the British Museum: Food features heavily in the 50cm in diameter, with walls up http://blog.britishmuseum.org Life and Death in Pompeii and to 10cm high. A central hole Herculaneum exhibition at the seems to have been for References British Museum, which has a regulating the temperature and Cubberly AL, Lloyd JA, Roberts PC (1988) Testa and clibani: the baking unique and inspired focus, as could allow cooks to keep an eye covers of classical Italy. Papers of the curator Dr Paul Roberts has on the food baking inside. A British school at Rome 61, 98-119 recreated the shell of a Roman flange allowed the fire to be Grocock C, Grainger S (2006) Apicius: home, with each room placed on the top of the oven. a Critical Edition with Introduction and English Translation. Prospect Books, containing the artefacts Totnes associated with the function  A mystery oven Grainger S (1999) Cato’s Roman of that room. Many years ago, Dr Roberts was cheesecakes: the baking techniques. When I visited, I entered the responsible, along with two In: Milk: Beyond the Dairy. Proceedings of the Oxford Symposium on Food and kitchen room with huge other archaeologists, in reporting Cookery. Prospect books, Totnes: anticipation. I was not on these ovens and had alluded 168-178 disappointed: a good selection of to the idea of a double one, but bronze cooking pans and food no drawings existed and I had residues of all kinds, including long been impatient to see one one of those wonderful (Cubberley et al, 1988). carbonised loaves of bread and He tells me that when he dried fruits, seeds and nuts found this oven in the store at which are so perfectly Naples he just had to have it for recognisable. the exhibition and I am so The cooking equipment is very grateful that he did as it is a fine; a compact little portable beautiful piece of cooking brazier that appears to be the technology that I am eager to kind shared around by tenement experiment with. dwellers and, most importantly Many years ago now I had one for me, a double clibanus or of the more common single-

Clibanus: Sally Grainger/British Museum; bread: Beatrice/Wikimedia Commons Museum; bread: Beatrice/Wikimedia Clibanus: Sally Grainger/British portable oven/casserole. bodied clibanus ovens made by

20 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Autumn 2013 Vol 3 No 3 The Holloway cheesecake

While researching Islington’s geology, Diana Clements made a culinary discovery – which turned out to be a great way of getting people to talk about local history

came across a recipe for beds, and pubs here required desserts were regularly hawked Holloway cheesecake quite deep wells that went right through the streets and served at by chance while through the London Clay to informal parties in wealthy homes. researching material for a extract water from the sand and I live in a delightful street, temporary exhibition at the chalk layers below. Tavistock Terrace in Upper IIslington Museum. One of these pubs was the Holloway. Occasionally, we close The exhibition was called Mother Redcap on the Holloway the street and have a street party Beneath Our Feet: the Geology of Road near St John’s Church in for the residents. For one of these, Islington. My aim was to show . This was I put together some images of the how geology had influenced famous for its Holloway street and the neighbourhood to development. I spent many cheesecake. By chance, my show its development from green happy hours in archive libraries research turned up a recipe. fields with cows to the densely in and around the borough. populated area we know today, Mostly, I was looking for images Streets to wealthy homes adjacent to the busy A1 and close of brickmaking, gravel extraction The Holloway cheesecake was to Upper Holloway Overground and anything to do with water. well known in Islington during station. The Nag’s Head shopping My research included the many the 19th century. It was made area is nearby, in the middle of inns that took water mainly from using high-quality milk from the former Hollow Way. I also shallow wells in the gravel above local farms and sold to residents made a Holloway cheesecake for the London Clay in the south of moving into newly built middle- some additional flavour. the borough. Further north and class terraced housing, as well as One of my neighbours is higher up, there were no gravel in the City of London. Such rich Andrew Turton, the chairman of the Manor Gardens Welfare Trust. He remembered the Holloway cheesecake and invited Holloway cheesecake recipe me to have a stall at the centenary celebration of the Filling Method Manor Gardens Centre in July. 1 1b curd cheese (quark or Crumble biscuits, add all the other I am not a chef so declined, cottage cheese) ingredients for the base and press offering instead to take along 3 oz unsalted butter into a cake tin with removable base some old maps and my laminated 3 oz demerara sugar (at least 8” diameter). images of the development of ½ pt double cream Beat the curd cheese, then beat the area – and make just a 3 eggs in eggs, cream, butter and Madeira. couple of cheesecakes as tasters. 2 oz currents Add ground almonds, sugar, orange The recipe I found is more of a 1 oz ground almonds (optional) and lemon zest, cinnamon and list of ingredients than a recipe, 2 fl oz Madeira or cream sherry ground nutmeg. Finally add the the key distinguishing tastes being Zest of one orange lemon juice and pour mixture over Madeira, cinnamon, nutmeg and Zest of one lemon the prepared base. currents. For the base, I was Juice of half a lemon Bake until firm in a moderately hot guided by a recipe given to me Pinch of nutmeg oven (probably about 30 minutes). If by my Hungarian mother-in-law. Pinch of cinnamon desired, when nearly firm, add whole As it is a very rich mixture with almonds around the top for curd cheese, eggs, cream and Cheesecake base decoration. This helps delineate slices. butter, I could give small slices at 4 oz digestive biscuits When cool, remove outer ring and the festival without appearing 1 level dessertspoon caster sugar leave on the base to serve. mean. It was a great crowd puller, 1 level teaspoon cinnamon drawing people into talking about 2 oz melted butter Method and base ingredients from a local history. I was delighted Finely grated rind of 1 lemon Hungarian recipe with the interest it attracted. n Happy baking! Islington Local History Centre Commons; cheesecake: Wikimedia Book:

Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Autumn 2013 Vol 3 No 3 21 Publications and bookshop

Review environmental contexts. The looks at the area’s industrial The Hope Playhouse, Animal text is enhanced by almost use, from the glass making Baiting and Later Industrial 70 photographs, tables, and working of the mid 17th Activity at Bear Gardens on plans, maps and drawings. to 18th centuries to the Bankside: Excavations at The range of archaeological warehouses, iron works and Riverside House and New finds is breathtaking – from tin-glazed pottery Globe Walk, Southwark, pottery to animal bones, manufacture in the late 18th 1999-2000 from tobacco pipes to and 19th centuries. Anthony Mackinder with Lyn building materials – and the This is an impressively Blackmore, Julian Bowsher and picture of the area and detailed and scholarly and, Christopher Phillpotts activities there based on this at the same time, eminently Archaeology Studies Series 25, material is fascinating. readable publication. It is a There is something to fine addition to the wide- Archaeology, 92pp, £12 satisfy almost every interest. ranging MoLA Archaeology For the general reader For example, the historical Studies Series, which dealt Bankside – London’s Original account of the building of with Islington-related topics District of Sin by David professional archaeologist the Hope playhouse and in volumes 20 and 21. Brandon and Alan Brooke and social historian, is an Philip Henslowe’s part – the Richard Pugh (2011) provided an absorbing, well-written and premiere of Ben Jonson’s intriguing, if brief, glimpse comprehensive account that Bartholomew Fair in 1614 New on the list into the goings-on in the is readily accessible to the was the first recorded Bear Gardens in the 16th lay enthusiast. The study performance there – is Three books have been and 17th century, drawing area (formerly the Bishop of compelling material for a added to our for sale list: see on the writings of John Stow Winchester’s manor) yielded student of theatre history. So the opposite for prices. and John Evelyn and, evidence from the late too is the other aspect of the indeed, several earlier MoLA medieval up to the 18th and dual-purpose building: the New City: Contemporary publications. 19th centuries. animal baiting (bear baiting Architecture in the City of This latest volume in the The finds are integrated in particular) that took place London MoLA series, although into their historical, there from 1614 to 1656. Alec Forshaw, photographs by aimed primarily at the artefactual and The latter part of the study Alan Ainsworth This new book by the former $ Islington chief conservation officer looks at the extensive Publications order form (photocopies acceptable) development in the City in the past 25 years, from Name ...... high-profile offices to shops, parks and cultural buildings. Address ...... 20th Century Buildings in ...... Islington Alec Forshaw Tel no/email (in case we need to contact you about your order) ...... This covers both famous buildings and hidden gems, Title(s)of publication Cost showing the quantity and ...... range of Islington’s 20th century buildings...... An Architect in Islington ...... Harley Sherlock Harley Sherlock showed that Total cost ...... tower blocks weren’t needed to achieve high densities. This Please make cheques payable to “Islington Archaeology & History Society”; send this covers his long career, from form (photocopies acceptable) to IAHS, 8 Wynyatt Street, London EC1V 7HU a “working commune” to an award-winning practice.

20 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Autumn 2013 Vol 3 No 3 Buy from the society bookshop New books

The society stocks books, postcards, maps and more – some are listed London’s New River in below. Our historical and old Ordnance Survey maps cover Islington and Maps. Vol 1 (Part 2) c1600 other areas of London – call 020 7833 1541 to see if have your area. to 1850. Robert Mylne’s Where no price is given or if you wish to order several items or order in Survey bulk, please call Catherine Brighty on 020 7833 1541. Michael F Kensey £25, 330pp, available at Islington Museum and Islington Book title Author Price p&p Total Local History Centre (£) (£) (£) This second volume coincides An Architect in Islington Harley Sherlock 14.99 2.60 17.59 with the 400th anniversary Angus McBean in Islington Mary Cosh, ed 4.50 0.69 5.19 of the New River’s arrival. In full colour, it covers the Church Design for Congregations James Cubitt 11.00 1.40 12.40 history of its original course Cinemas of Haringey Jeremy Buck 9.99 1.40 5.19 in Islington in detail, The Contexting of a Chapel Architect: Clyde Binfield 18.00 1.90 19.9 including New River Head. James Cubitt 1836-1912 Criminal Islington Keith Sugden, ed 5.00 1.40 6.40 Hornsey Historical Society Bulletin 54 53 Cross Street. Biography of a House Mary Cosh and Martin 20.00 1.90 21.90 £6.50 + p&p, Hornsey King Historical Society Dead Born Joan Lock 7.99 2.20 10.19 This issue marks two Dead Image Joan Lock 7.99 2.20 10.19 anniversaries – 400 years of the New River’s construction Discover and Mike Gray and Isobel 1.50 0.69 5.19 and 100 years since the Environs Watson Hornsey Enclosure Act. Discover Stoke Newington. A Walk David Mander and Isobel The New River’s history in Through History Watson Hornsey is tracked in the Discover Stoke Newington. A Walk Friends of Hackney 4.95 0.69 6.65 first article, with a large map Through History Archive showing original and Dissent & the Gothic Revival Bridget Cherry, ed existing courses, and a variety of images. An Historical Walk Along the New Mary Cosh 5.00 0.69 6.69 Healthcare is prominent, River with the story of Hornsey An Historical Walk Through Mary Cosh 4.50 0.69 5.19 Cottage Hospital, built for “the Glory of God and the The History of Highbury Keith Sugden 3.00 1.40 5.40 Healing of the Poor” before the NHS. A former member Islington’s Cinemas & Film Studios Chris Draper 5.00 1.40 6.40 of staff recalls rising to being Islington: Britain in Old Photographs Gavin Smith 12.99 1.40 14.39 “in charge” at Hornsey Islington: the Second Selection Gavin Smith 12.99 1.40 14.39 Central Hospital between Islington’s Cinemas & Film Studios Chris Draper 5.00 1.40 5.40 1950 to 1984. Other chapters cover the Little Italy. The Story of London’s Tudor Allen 1902 Education Act, Italian Quarter including disagreements London Cat 1 James Dowsing 3.50 0.69 4.19 between churches and London Cat 2 James Dowsing 4.50 0.69 5.19 politicians. London Dog James Dowsing 3.50 0.69 4.19 The bulletin concludes with the 1960s battle over Only Bricks and Mortar Harry Walters 7.99 1.40 8.49 Alexandra Palace and Park, New City: Contemporary Architecture Alec Forshaw 19.95 2.60 22.55 and its consequences. in the City of London The articles are referenced 20th Century Buildings in Islington Alec Forshaw 14.99 2.60 17.59 and the pictures do not disappoint. The article on The Squares of Islington Part II. Mary Cosh 7.50 1.40 7.90 the New River alone Islington Parish includes images of pastoral Other items scenes, a tea garden, a 6ft Old Ordnance Survey maps 2.50 0.50 3.00 wide steel lining pipe, 19th Union Chapel mug 6.00 2.20 6.90 century skating and an enormous Victorian trout.

Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Autumn 2013 Vol 3 No 3 21 What’s on Events, exhibitions, courses, walks and more. Contact details of organisers are in the directory on page 28 – events may change or need advance booking. Islington Archaeology & History Society events are listed on the inside back page

Sunday 8 September, 10am-5pm Sunday 15 September, 2.30pm 12pm and 2pm, plus advice Wednesday 25 September, Classic and vintage vehicle Guided towpath walk on family history research. 7.45pm show Various charges, London Free, book on events@sog. Stained glass £5.50/concessions, Capel Canal Museum org.uk or 020 7553 3290 Talk by Helene Davidian. Manor Gardens, Enfield, £2, St John’s Church Hall, 08456 122 122, www. 19 September, 5.30pm Saturday 21 and Sunday Lane. Friern capelmanorgardens.co.uk Superposition: conversation 22 September Barnet & District Local The artist and the physicist London Open House History Society Thursday 12 September, 7pm discuss the artwork. See hundreds of London’s John Soane and St Pancras Free, booking required, buildings for free. Those in Friday 27 and Saturday 28 Talk by Gillian Darley. London Canal Museum Islington include Finsbury September St Pancras Church, Pancras Health Centre (pictured). Behind the scenes at the Road, NW1, www.posp.co.uk Thursday 19 September, 7pm www.londonopenhouse.org museum depot Mr Poppleton’s horse: a Tours of London Transport Thursday 12 September, gallop through the history Sunday 22 September, 11am, Museum’s depot in Acton. 1.15pm of horse-drawn mails 12pm, 2pm, 3pm and 4pm £12/concs, book in advance, ‘Glorious discoveries’: Sir Talk by Julian Stray Guided tunnel boat trips 020 7565 7298 or at www. William Hamilton, Pompeii £3/concs, book ahead. British Fifty-minute trip through ltmuseum.co.uk and Herculaneum Postal Museum and Archive London’s longest canal tunnel. Free talk, British Museum £8.30/concs, book ahead, Sunday 29 September, 11am, Thursday 19 September, 7.30pm London Canal Museum 12pm, and 4pm Thursday 12 September, 1.15pm Violent crime in 19th Guided tunnel boat trips Pompeii and Herculaneum: century Camden Tuesday 24 September, 1pm Details as for 22 September, curator’s introduction Talk by Katherine Watson. Spotting mermaids London Canal Museum Free lecture, booking Camden History Society £4, Hunterian Museum required, British Museum Thursday 3 October, 7.30pm Saturday 21 September Wednesday 25 September, Archive photos of the early Friday 13 September, 6.30pm Society of Genealogists 1.15pm 1960s Le Corbusier: Secret open day Guided towpath walk Talk by Roger Butler. Photographer Tours of library at 11am, Free, London Canal Museum £4/concs, London Canal Talk by Tim Benton. Museum £9/£6 concessions, V&A Tours and tea at the Union Chapel Saturday 5 October, 2pm Saturday 14 September, War by timetable? Railways, 10am-5pm Go behind the scenes at the Union war plans and the origins of Archive open day – Mail Chapel to see the extent and details the First World War Rail of the grade I listed building, Talk by Prof David Stevenson Explore the history of the including a secret passage and a £3, Historical Association, former Post Office hidden garden, as well as the book on 020 7323 1192, underground railway. British architectural splendour. [email protected] Postal Museum and Archive Guided tours of around an hour are held on the first Sunday of the month Monday 7 October Saturday 14 September at 12.15pm. Franklin and the dissenters London Ride + Stride A donation of £5 per head or other amount is invited Talk by Lady Reid Sponsored visits on foot or towards upkeep. Book in advance on 020 7359 4019 £5/concs, Benjamin Franklin by bike to places of worship House, www. of all faiths and eras. New: tea and conversation BenjaminFranklinHouse.org Information at the Heritage Appreciate this building while talking over a cup of tea. of London Trust’s website: Wednesday, 10am-12 noon, free Tuesday 8 October www.heritageoflondon.com Brunel’s tunnel under the

24 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Autumn 2013 Vol 3 No 3 Thames Thursday 17 October, 7.30pm Talk by Robert Hulse, Brunel A Hampstead coterie: the Museum director. Carrs and the Lushingtons 8pm, , 17 East Talk by David Taylor. End Road, N3 8QE. Camden History Society and District Archaeological Society Friday 18 October, 8pm The Roman bones of old Wednesday 9 October, 5.45pm Enfield The centenary of stainless Talk by Neil Pinchbeck. steel from Faraday to 8pm, £1, Jubilee Hall, 2 Brearley and after Parsonage Lane. Enfield Talk by David Dulieu. Archaeological Society Newcomen Society, director’s suite, Science Museum Sunday 20 October, 3pm The trees of Southwark Finsbury Health Centre: open for London House and the subject Thursday 10 October, 7pm Talk by Christopher Cook. of the Sunshine indoors! exhibition at the Islington Museum St Pancras Station Goose Green Centre, St Talk by Simon Bradley. John’s Church, SE22, organised by British Postal 8pm, £1, Jubilee Hall, 2 St Pancras Church, Pancras Peckham Society Museum and Archive Parsonage Lane. Enfield Road, NW1, www.posp.co.uk Archaeological Society Tuesday 22 October, 1pm Thursday 7 November, 7.30pm Sunday 13 October, 10.30am Surgeons at sea: the naval The canal pioneers: Brindley’s Thursday 21 November, Crossness Pumping Station surgeon and health of the school of engineers 7.30pm steaming day seaman in the age of Nelson Talk by Chris Lewis. The Marquis of Leuville Steaming and history day, £5 Talk by Dr Kevin Brown £4/concs, London Canal Talk by Dick Weindling and £4, Hunterian Museum Museum Marianne Colloms. Sunday 13 October, 11am, Camden History Society 12pm, 2pm, 3pm and 4pm Wednesday 23 October Tuesday 12 November Guided tunnel boat trips Friern Hospital Lions on Kunulus – Wednesday 27 November Fifty-minute guided tour Talk by David Berguer. excavations of early bronze Coffee houses, coffee through London’s longest 7.45pm, £2, St John’s Church and iron age periods at Tell shops, coffee stalls and canal tunnel. Hall, Friern Barnet Lane. Taymar, Hatay, Turkey coffee bars £8.30/concessions, booking Friern Barnet & District Talk by Dr Fiona Haughey. Marlene McAndrew required, London Canal Local History Society 8pm, Avenue House, 17 East 7.45pm, £2, St John’s Church Museum End Road, N3 8QE. Hendon Hall, Friern Barnet Lane. Thursday 24 October, 7pm and District Archaeological Friern Barnet & District Thursday 17 October, 5.30pm The Royal Mail – past and Society Local History Society Superposition: conversation present The artist and the physicist Talk by Duncan Campbell- Wednesday 13 November, 29-30 November, 11am and discuss the artwork. Smith. 5.45pm 2pm Free, booking required, £3/concessions, book ahead, The introduction of pre- Behind the Scenes at the London Canal Museum Guildhall Library, event stressed concrete into Britain Museum Depot Talk by Chris Burgoyne. Details as for Friday 27-28 Newcomen Society, director’s September Suite, Science Museum 5 December, 7.30pm Thursday 14 November, 7pm Ice for the metropolis If you’re reading this: last Talk by Malcolm Tucker letters from the front line £4/concs, London Canal Talk by Sian Price Stray. Museum £3/concessions, book ahead, Phoenix Centre, British Wednesday 11 December, Postal Museum and Archive 5.45pm The 1862 exhibition: Friday 15 November, 8pm machinery on show and its Shakespeare’s Curtain message Theatre – the whole story Talk by John Agnew Talk by Julian Bowsher, Newcomen Society, Physics meets art in the ice well: exhibition plus conversations on Museum of London director’s Suite, Science

19 September and 17 October. See Cold stories, page 18 Archaeology. Museum Health Centre: Gillfoto Finsbury Davies; Superposition: Richard

Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Autumn 2013 Vol 3 No 3 25 Exhibitions

The river and port of London Until Sunday 15 September Pride and prejudice: the London & Middlesex Archaeological Society battle for Betjeman’s Britain 48th local history conference This exhibition shows how John Betjeman and others campaigned to protect 18th and 19th century A changing port in a changing world. Primus omnium: the world’s first modern architecture, and how the London’s harbours from the first to the police force listing system emerged. 18th century Robert Jeffries, curator, Thames Police Quadriga Gallery, Gustav Milne, director, Thames Discovery Museum Wellington Arch, Hyde Park Programme Corner, www.english- The Thames as a provider of drinking heritage.org.uk/caring/ Re-invention and change: the Port of water heritage-centenary/ London 1790-1938 Mark Jenner, University of York Chris Ellmers, founding director, Museum Until Saturday 28 September in Docklands The Thames beautiful: the artist’s Northern vision: master perspective drawings from the Tchoban Local history and the environmental Mireille Galinou, arts and museums Foundation history of the Thames 1960-2010 consultant, former curator of paintings, Exhibition of images from Vanessa Taylor, research fellow, prints and drawings at the Museum of the newest architectural Maritime Institute London museum in Europe -  Berlin’s Tchoban Displays by local history societies throughout the day Foundation, Museum für Architekturzeichnung. 10am-4pm Saturday 16 November 2013 The exhibition will focus on Weston Theatre, Museum of London works by architects rarely Tickets £15/£12 in advance until 1 November, includes tea and biscuits. Pay via PayPal at www. seen in British collections, lamas.org.uk or c/o Eleanor Stanier, 48 Coval Road, East Sheen, SW14 7RL mainly by German and Russian draughtsmen. The l www.lamas.org.uk/localhistory2013.html drawings range from the late 16th century to modernist work. Ongoing Free, Soane Museum

Walks led by the Until Sunday 29 September Clerkenwell and Islington Mass Observation: this is Guides Association your photo Walks on different themes. Mainly photographic £6/£5, www. exhibition of recordings of clerkenwellwalks.org.uk the lives, opinions and daily thoughts and habits of the Free Clerkenwell and British people. Islington Guides Free, The Photographers’ Association weekday walks Gallery, 16-18 Ramillies Various times and topics Street, W1, 020 7087 9300, during September. [email protected] See http://footprintsof london.com/ciga/ Until Sunday 27 October special-walks/free-walks/  The first version of The Cardsharps, by Michelangelo Merisi da Poster Art 150 – London or [email protected] Caravaggio has been loaned to the Museum of the Order of St Underground’s greatest John in Clerkenwell. Caravaggio is a notorious figure; accused of designs Tour the Museum of murder in 1606, he sought refuge on Malta where his artistic Display of 150 posters, reputation secured him admission as a Knight of the Order. London’s archaeological including those made in the archive 19th century. 11am, 2pm, first and third Friday archaeological archive and excavations. £5, book ahead, £15 (includes museum entry and Saturday of the month handle some of the finds www.museumoflondon.org. for one year)/concessions, Tour the world’s largest from more than 8,500 uk/tours Map: Edward Weller Map: Edward

26 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Autumn 2013 Vol 3 No 3 on these detailed erotic well is inspired by particle 100 years of Arsenal FC in Islington paintings produced from physics research. Picture and 1600 to 1900 and their place details of conversations with in Japanese social and the creators on previous cultural history. page; more detail in Cold £7/concs, British Museum stories, page 18. Book tours on Thursdays, Monday 14 October-Saturday Saturdays, and Sundays 21 December 2013 only. London Canal Sunshine Indoors! Finsbury Museum, £4/concs Health Centre Display to commemorate 75 Until Saturday 9 November years since the opening of Opened up: 200 years of the Finsbury Health Centre. the Hunterian Museum Free, Islington Local History Exhibition of collections of Centre human anatomy and A major exhibition marking Arsenal FC’s 100 years in pathology and natural Islington opens shortly. Above is shown the Highbury Thursday 19 October-Sunday history, as well as works of ground’s north bank in 1913 being built up in time for the 23 March art. This exhibition looks at club’s opening in September – the slope of Highbury Hill Beyond El Dorado: power who took care of these meant that a lot of time was spent levelling the pitch. The and gold in ancient items, how were they were houses on Avenell Road are still there. Colombia displayed and the museum’s It’s Arsenal around here: 100 years in Islington runs from The truth behind the myth role in surgical education. Friday 6 September until Friday 24 January 2014 at Islington of El Dorado is revealed in Free, Hunterian Museum Museum. Admission free. this exhibition. On display are more than 300 objects Until 1 December made of gold and other When ice came to London Wednesday 25 September- nobility and a necklace of precious metals from When Victoria came to the Sunday 24 November cultured pearls given to pre-Hispanic Colombia. throne in 1837, ice was a Brutal and beautiful: saving Marilyn Monroe by Joe £10/concessions, British scarce luxury. When she the twentieth century DiMaggio in 1954. Museum died, it was widely available. This exhibition looks at the £10/concs, Victoria & Albert This exhibition tells the story love/hate relationship with Museum, book on www. Until 20 October of London’s ice history. recent architecture and asks vam.ac.uk/pearls Superposition London Canal Museum, £4/ “what is worth saving?” This installation in an ice concs Quadriga Gallery, Until Sunday 29 September- Wellington Arch, www. Life and death in Pompeii english-heritage.org.uk/ and Herculaneum Until 20 October brought the novel to life. caring/heritage-centenary/ The cities of Pompeii and Memory Palace Their creations include the Herculaneum in Italy were A graphic novel by Hari Shard overgrown with Thursday 26 September- buried in 24 hours when Kunzru and an exhibition vegetations. Tuesday 1 October volcano Vesuvius erupted in come together to give a At the end, visitors can Cyril Mann: the Bevin AD 79. The excavation of rebel’s view of how the 20th add their own memories. Court years (1956-63) these cities has given us century might be Display of paintings by unparalleled insight into remembered. l £8/concessions, Victoria and Finsbury artist Cyril Mann. daily Roman life. The A magnetic storm has Albert museum Free, Islington Local History exhibition, which takes the wiped the world’s Centre form of a Roman house, computers and the ruling includes furniture, domestic elite have outlawed memory, Saturday 21 September-Sunday equipment including lamps art, writing and recording. 19 January 2014 and kitchen items, pictures, The jailed protagonist Pearls sculptures and casts of some writes everything he can Exhibition of over 200 pieces of the victims. remember on the of jewellery and works of art £15/concessions, British walls of his cell – the showing the variety of Museum “memory colour and shape of natural palace” of and cultured pearls. These Thursday 3 October-Sunday the include a pearl-drop earring 5 January exhibition. worn by Charles I at his Shunga: sex and pleasure in Twenty execution in 1649, pearl Japanese art graphic Ambulance from

tiaras worn by European This exhibition sheds light artists have Memory Palace Albert Museum: Le Gun and Victoria Arsenal FC;

Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Autumn 2013 Vol 3 No 3 27 British Postal Museum and Cockney Heritage Trust Directory Archive www.cockneyheritagetrust. Freeling House, Phoenix com Place, WC1X 0DL, and store History, civic, amenity and archaeology at Debden, Essex, 020 7239 Cross Bones Graveyard societies, museums and online resouces 2570, info@postalheritage. www.crossbones.org.uk org.uk Crossness Pumping Station British Vintage Wireless The Old Works, Belvedere Check opening times before Society Road, SE2 9AQ, 020 8311 visiting. If you would like Threadneedle St, EC2R 8AH, [email protected] 3711, www.crossness.org.uk your organisation listed here 020 7601 5545, www.bankof or to update details, contact england.co.uk/museum Brixton Windmill Docklands History Group the editor on news@iahs. 020 7926 6056, www. 020 7537 0368, info@dock org.uk or c/o 6 Northview, Barnet Museum and Local brixtonwindmill.org/ landshistorygroup.org.uk Tufnell Park Road, N7 0QB History Society www.barnetmuseum.co.uk Museum Dictionary of Victorian Abney Park Cemetery Lordship Lane, N17 8NU, London/Cat’s Meat Shop 020 7275 7557,  BBC archive 020 8808 8772, museum. Encyclopaedia and blog, www.abney-park.org.uk www.bbc.co.uk/archive [email protected] www.victorianlondon.org

Alexandra Palace TV Group and East London History Society Runs museum. Tony Wilding, Craven Street, WC2N 5NF, Hampstead Museum 42 Campbell Rd, E3 4DT, mail 71 Dale View Avenue, E4 020 7925 1405, info@ New End Sq, NW3, 020 7431 @eastlondonhistory.org.uk 6PJ, 020 8524 0827 BenjaminFranklinHouse.org 0144, www.burghhouse.org.uk Enfield Archaeological Alexandra Palace TV Society Bethlem Royal Hospital Camden History Society Society Archives: 35 Breedon Hill Rd, Archives and Museum 020 7586 4436, www. www.enfarchsoc.org Derby, DE23 6TH, 01332 729 Monks Orchard Road, camdenhistorysociety.org 358, [email protected], www. Beckenham, Kent, BR3 3BX, Alexander Fleming Museum youtube.com/aptsarchive 020 3228 4227, www. Camden New Town History St Mary’s Hospital, Praed bethlemheritage.org.uk Group Street, W2 1NY, 020 3312 All Hallows by the Tower www.camdennewtown.info 6528, www.imperial.nhs.uk/ Crypt Museum Bexley Archaeological Group about us/museums 020 7481 2928, www.ahbtt.org. www.bag.org.uk, Martin Camden Railway Heritage andarchives/ uk/visiting/crypt-museum/ Baker: 020 8300 1752 Trust 21 Oppidans Road, NW3, Friends of Hackney Amateur Geological Society Bomb Sight [email protected] Archives 25 Village Road, N3 1TL Online map of WW2 bombs Hackney Archives, Dalston in London 1940-41, Canonbury Society Sq, E8 3BQ, 020 8356 8925, Amwell Society www.bombsight.org www.canonburysociety.org. [email protected] 8 Cumberland Gardens, uk, 1 Alwyne Place, N1 WC1X 9AG, 020 7837 0988, British Airways Heritage Friern Barnet & District [email protected] www.britishairways.com/ Cartoon Museum Local History Society travel/museum-collection/ 35 Little Russell Street, www.friernbarnethistory. Anaesthesia Heritage Centre public/en_gb WC1, 020 7580 8155, www. org.uk. Photo archive: www. 21 Portland Place, W1B 1PY, cartoonmuseum.org friern-barnet.com 020 7631 1650, www.aagbi. British Dental Association org/education/heritage-centre Museum City of London Friends of the New River 64 Wimpole St, W1G 8YS, Archaeological Society Head The Angel Association 020 7563 4549, museum@ [email protected] c/o Amwell Society www.angelassociation.org.uk bda.org, www.bda.org/ museum Clerkenwell and Islington Arsenal FC Museum Guides Association 40 Brunswick Square, WC1, 020 7619 5000, www.arsenal. British Heritage TV Group 07971 296731, info@ciga. 020 7841 3600, www. com www.405-line.tv/ org.uk foundlingmuseum.org.uk

Association for the Study British Museum Clockmakers’ Museum and Preservation of Roman Great Russell Street, WC1, Guildhall Library, www. 20 Maresfield Gardens, Mosaics 020 7323 8299, information clockmakers.org/museum- NW3, 020 7435 2002,  www.asprom.org @britishmuseum.org and-library [email protected]

28 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Autumn 2013 Vol 3 No 3 Friends of Friendless 020 8568 4757, www.kbsm. Churches org www.friendsoffriendless churches.org.uk Locating London’s Past www.locatinglondon.org Garden History Society 70 Cowcross St, EC1, 020 7608 London Canal Museum 2409, gardenhistorysociety.org 12-13 New Wharf Road, N1 9RT, 020 7713 0836, www. Geffrye Museum canalmuseum.org.uk 136 Kingsland Road, E2 8EA, 020 7739 9893, www. London Fire Brigade geffrye-museum.org.uk Bruce Castle Museum: this free museum in a grade I listed 16th Museum century manor house sits in 20 acres of parkland and is home to 020 8555 1200 x 39894, Georgian Group Haringey council’s local history collections and archives [email protected]. 6 Fitzroy Square, W1T 5DX, uk, www.london-fire.gov.uk/ [email protected] Chartered Institution of www.islington.gov.uk/ OurMuseum.asp Building Services Engineers Environment/cemeteries Grant Museum of Zoology Heritage Group London Lives 1690-1800 020 3108 2052, www.ucl. www.hevac-heritage.org/ Islington Local History Centre www.londonlives.org ac.uk/museums/zoology, Finsbury Library, 245 St John [email protected] Heritage of London Trust St, EC1V 4NB. 9.30am-8pm London Metropolitan 020 7730 9472, www. Mon and Thurs (shuts 6pm Archives Gresham College heritageoflondon.com every other Monday); 40 Northampton Rd,  Free lectures on different 9.30am-5pm Tues, Fri and EC1 0HB, 020 7332 3820, topics, www.gresham.ac.uk Historical Association, Sat; closed Weds and Sun; ask.lma@cityoflondon. Central London Branch closed 1pm-2pm; 020 7527 gov.uk, www.cityoflondon. Greater London Industrial 020 7323 1192, www.history. 7988; local.history@ gov.uk/lma Archaeology Society (GLIAS) org.uk, [email protected] islington.gov.uk, www. 14 Mount Rd, EN4 9RL, 020 islington.gov.uk/heritage London & Middlesex 8692 8512, www.glias.org.uk Historic Towns Forum Archaeological Society www.historictowns forum.org Islington Museum 020 7814 5734, jkeily@ Guildhall Library 245 St John Street, EC1V museumoflondon.org.uk, Aldermanbury, EC2V 7HH, Honourable Artillery 4NB, 10am-5pm, closed www.lamas.org.uk 020 7332 1868, textphone Company Museum Weds and Sun, 020 7527 020 7332 3803, guildhall. City Road, EC1, 020 7382 2837, islington.museum@ London Museums of Health [email protected] 1541, www.hac.org.uk islington.gov.uk, www. and Medicine islington.gov.uk/museum www.medicalmuseums.org Hackney Museum 1 Reading Lane, E8 1GQ, 100 London Rd, SE23,  Islington Pensioners’ Forum London Socialist Historians www.hackney.gov.uk/ 020 8699 1872, enquiry@ 1a Providence Court, Group cm-museum.htm horniman.ac.uk Providence Place, N1 0RN http://londonsocialist historians.blogspot.com The Hackney Society Hornsey Historical Society Islington Society Round Chapel, 1d Glenarm The Old Schoolhouse, 136 35 Britannia Row, N1 8QH, London Society Road, E5 0LY, 07771 225183, Tottenham Lane, N8 7EL, www.islingtonsociety.org.uk Mortimer Wheeler House, [email protected] hornseyhistorical.org.uk 46 Eagle Wharf Road, N1, Joe Meek Society www.londonsociety.org.uk History of Harringay Hunterian Museum www.joemeeksociety.org www.harringayonline.com/ RCS, 35-43 Lincoln’s Inn London Transport Museum group/historyofharringay Fields, WC2, www.rcseng. Dr Johnson’s House Covent Garden Piazza, ac.uk/museums 17 Gough Square, EC4, WC2, 020 7379 6344, www. Heritage of London Trust www.drjohnsonshouse.org ltmuseum.co.uk 34 Grosvenor Gardens, Island History Trust SW1W 0DH, 020 7730 9472, , 020 7987 6041, LT Museum Friends [email protected] [email protected] Keats Grove, NW3 2RR,  020 7565 7296, www. 020 7332 3868, keatshouse@ ltmuseum.co.uk/friends Hendon and District Islington and Camden cityoflondon.gov.uk Archaeology Society Cemetery London Underground 020 8449 7076, secretary@ High Road, , Kew Bridge Steam Museum Railway Society

hadas.org.uk N2 9AG, 020 7527 8804, Green Dragon Lane, TW8, [email protected] Commons Herry Lawford/Creative

Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Autumn 2013 Vol 3 No 3 29 London Westminster & National Archives Rescue Tottenham Civic Society Middx Family History Society 020 8876 3444, www. British Archaeological Trust, www.tottenhamcivicsociety. www.lwmfhs.org.uk nationalarchives.gov.uk 01992 553377, www. org.uk rescue-archaeology.org.uk Markfield Beam Engine and National Piers Society Transport Trust Museum www.piers.org.uk Rotherhithe & Bermondsey Rd, SE1, 020 7928 Markfield Park, N15, 01707 Local History Society 6464, www.transporttrust.com 873628, [email protected] Newcomen Society for the [email protected] History of Engineering and Twentieth Century Society Mausolea & Monuments Trust Technology Royal Air Force Museum 70 Cowcross St, EC1, 020 7250 70 Cowcross St, EC1M, 020 7371 4445, office@ 020 8205 2266, www. 3857, www.c20society.org.uk www.mmtrust.org.uk/ newcomen.com rafmuseum.org.uk/london Union Chapel and Friends Marx Memorial Library Action Royal Institute of British of the Union Chapel 37a Clerkenwell Green,  Group Architects (RIBA) Compton Avenue, N1 2XD, EC1 0DU, 020 7253 1485, 020 7359 6027, www. 66 Portland Place, W1B 1AD, www.unionchapel.org.uk/ info@marx-memorial- newingtongreen.org.uk www.architecture.com pages/friends.html library.org New River Action Group Science Museum Victoria & Albert Museum Medieval Pottery Research [email protected], Exhibition Road, SW7 2DD. Cromwell Rd, SW7, 020 Group 020 8292 5987 www.sciencemuseum.org.uk 7907 7073, www.vam.ac.uk www.medievalpottery.org.uk North London Railway Sir John Soane’s Museum V&A Museum of Childhood Historical Society 13 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, Cambridge Heath Road, E2 2 Colville Mews, Lonsdale Keen House, 4 Calshot St, WC2A 3BP, www.soane.org 9PA, 020 8983 5200 Road, W11, 020 7908 0880, 020 7837 2542, www.nlrhs. [email protected] org.uk Smithfield Trust Victorian Society 70 Cowcross St, EC1, 020 7566 020 8994 1019, www. Museum of Domestic Design North London Transport 0041, [email protected] victoriansociety.org.uk & Architecture (MoDA) Society 020 8411 4394, www.moda. www.northlondontransport Society of Genealogists mdx.ac.uk/home society.co.uk, [email protected] 020 7251 8799, www. Hertford House, Manchester societyofgenealogists.com Sq, W1M, 020 7563 9500, Museum of London Northview – a Rare Survivor www.wallacecollection.org 150 , EC2Y www.northview.org.uk Society for the Protection 5HN, 020 7814 5511, info@ of Ancient Buildings Wallpaper History Society museumoflondon.org.uk Pauper Lives in Georgian 37 Spital Sq, E1 6DY, 020 wallpaperhistorysociety.org.uk London 7377 1644, www.spab.org.uk Museum of London http://research.ncl.ac.uk/ Walthamstow Historical Archaeology pauperlives Southwark and Lambeth Society Mortimer Wheeler House,  Archaeology Society www.walthamstow 46 Eagle Wharf Road, N1,  Petrie Museum of Egyptian 79 Ashridge Crescent, SE18 historicalsociety.org.uk/ 020 7410 2200, www. Archaeology museumoflondon UCL, Malet Pl, WC1, www. St Marylebone Society archaeology.org.uk ucl.ac.uk/museums/petrie www.stmarylebonesociety. www.wellcomecollection.org org Museum of London Peckham Society John Wesley’s House and Docklands www.peckhamsociety.org.uk Strawberry Hill Museum of Methodism 020 7001 9844, www.museum 268 Waldegrave Road, TW1 49 City Rd, EC1, www.wesleys oflondon.org.uk/docklands Proceedings of the Old 4ST, 020 8744 1241, www. chapel.org.uk/museum.htm Bailey strawberryhillhouse.org.uk Museum of the Order of www.oldbaileyonline.org St John Royal Archaeological Institute Forest Road, E17, 020 8496 St John’s Gate, EC1M 4DA, Ragged School Museum [email protected] 4390, www.wmgallery.org.uk 020 7253 6644, www. 020 8980 6405, www. museumstjohn.org.uk raggedschoolmuseum. Thames Discovery Wilmington Square Society org.uk Programme www.thewilmington Musical Museum Mortimer Wheeler Hse, 46 squaresociety.org 399 High Street, TW8 0DU, Railway Correspondence Eagle Wharf Rd, N1, 020 www.musicalmuseum. and Travel Society 7410 2207, enquiries@ Women’s Library Collection co.uk www.rcts.org.uk thamesdiscovery.org [email protected]

30 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Autumn 2013 Vol 3 No 3 Islington Archaeology & History Society Events

Wednesday 18 September Walk: Jewish Islington 1730-1880 The New River and the New River Company Sunday 29 September, 11am-3pm. Booking Speakers: Darian Mitchell, the Friends of the New River Head, and essential. Voluntary donation of £5. Andrew Smith, Islington Buildings Preservation Trust This takes us through some of the main Islington areas in which Jews were living and worshipping It is 400 years since the New River Company opened a during 1730-1880. After lunch, there is a visit to the waterway that brought fresh drinking water to London Reform Jewish cemetery off Balls Pond Road. at its historic site in Clerkenwell. Joint event with the More information from Petra Laidlaw on ajdb@ Islington Society. btinternet.com. Call 020 7833 1541 or fill in form below to book.

Wednesday 16 October $ Photocopies acceptable Islington’s Kennedy moment Walk: Jewish Islington Speaker: Lester Hillman  Please reserve me a place 8pm, Islington Town Hall, Upper Street, London N1  I would like to donate ...... (£5/other amount), Join Lester Hillman in remembering where and when you heard the payable to the Islington Archaeology & History Society that US president John F Kennedy had been assassinated in November 1963. We will also look at England’s “Kennedy moment”, Name ...... when prime minister Spencer Perceval was assassinated in 1812. Address ......

...... Wednesday 20 November ...... Tel ...... Bombing and building: the postwar rebuilding of parliament Return to IAHS, 8 Wynyatt St, London EC1V 7HU Speaker: Dr Caroline Shenton 8pm, Islington Town Hall, Upper Street, London N1 See us at local events… Caroline Shenton is an archivist, historian and author, and director of Snap up books, maps and postcards at our stall at the parliamentary archives. She is a fellow of the Society of the following events: Antiquaries and a fellow of the Royal Historical Society and author of the award-winning The Day Parliament Burned Down. Gillespie festival 1pm-5pm, Sunday 8 September, Gillespie Park, N4

Wednesday 11 December Get involved: things to do in Islington 2013 People and planning in Islington from the 1960s 10.30am-12 30pm, 17 September, Islington Assembly Hall. Over 55s’ event to the 1980s Speaker: David Ellis Open House London 8pm, Islington Town Hall, Upper Street, London N1 Union Chapel, 21-22 September

David Ellis is researching contemporary British history, especially New River festival: celebrating 400 years community action in urban areas in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. He 11-4, Sunday 29 September, New River Walk, has interests in housing, planning, conservation and gentrification. entrance St Paul’s Road

Non-members are always welcome at talks – we invite a £1 donation from non-members towards the speaker’s expenses.

The Islington Archaeology & History Society meets 10 times a year, usually on the third Wednesday of each month

Christy Lawrance 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 2013 Vol 3 No 3 31 The Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Back page picture New River Walk: the round 17th century hut was used by watchmen who prevented swimming, fishing and rubbish tipping in the water supply as well as the theft of water fittings Christy Lawrance Christy