Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Vol 6 No 2 Summer 2016 incorporating Islington History Journal
Verger’s cottage listed grade II Threatened building is a ‘carefully detailed piece of vernacular revival’
Heritage champion Alec Forshaw appointed IAHS president l Museum of London goes to market l Laws could put archaeological sites at risk l George Orwell plaque replaced l Academic adviser describes his role l Ragged schools founder Anthony Ashley Cooper l Ladies’ antique skirt lifters l Books l Events and exhibitions l Letters and questions About the society
Our committee What we do: talks, walks and more Contribute to this
and contacts he Islington journal: stories and President Archaeology & History pictures sought Alec Forshaw TSociety is here to Vice president investigate, learn and celebrate We welcome articles on local Mary Cosh the heritage that is left to us. history, as well as your Chair We organise lectures, walks research, memories and old Andrew Gardner, and other events, and photographs. [email protected] publish this quarterly A one-page article needs Secretary journal. We hold 10 about 500 words, and the Alexis Magness meetings a year, usually at maximum length is 1,000 [email protected] Islington Town Hall. words (please do not submit Membership, publications The society was set up in articles published elsewhere). and events 1975 and is run entirely by We like pictures – please check Catherine Brighty, volunteers. If you’d like to we can use them without 8 Wynyatt Street, EC1V 7HU, get involved, please contact infringing anyone’s copyright. 020 7833 1541, catherine. our chairman Andrew The journal is published in [email protected] Gardner (details left). www.facebook.com/ print and online in pdf form. Treasurer 8 www.islingtonhistory.org.uk groups/islingtonhistory.org.uk Deadline for the summer Philip Anderson, issue is 1 August. phlpandrsn6 @btopenworld. com Journal back issues and extra copies Ever wondered…? Academic adviser Do you have any queries about Lester Hillman, former Journal distribution is Islington’s history, streets or visiting professor, London overseen by Catherine buildings? Send them in for Metropolitan University Brighty (details left). our tireless researcher Michael Journal editor Contact her for more Reading and other readers to Christy Lawrance copies, back issues, if you answer. Please note we do not Committee members move house and about keep an archive or carry out Michael Harper membership. Back issues family research. Derek Seeley can also be downloaded l See Letters, page 6 Samir Singh via our website at www. Zena Sullivan islingtonhistory.org.uk Copyright Copyright of everything in $ (photocopies acceptable) this journal lies with the Join the Islington Archaeology & History Society creator unless otherwise stated. While it can be difficult Membership per year is: £12 single; £15 joint at same address; concessions single £8/joint £10; to trace copyright ownership corporate £25; overseas £20; life: £125 (renewal forms sent out when due) of archive materials, we make every effort to do so. I/We would like single/joint/concession/joint concession/corporate membership and enclose a cheque payable to “Islington Archaeology & History Society” for ...... Editor Christy Lawrance, christy@ Name(s) ...... islingtonhistory.org.uk, c/o 6 Northview, Tufnell Park Address ...... Road, London N7 0QB
...... ,...... The Journal of the Islington Tick here to go on our email list. Email address ...... Archaeology & History Society is published four times a year Tel no (in case of membership queries) ...... ISSN 2046-8245 Please return this form (photocopies acceptable) to: Catherine Brighty, Islington Archaeology & History Society, 8 Wynyatt Street, London EC1V 7HU Printed by PrintSet, 15 Palmer We will not give your details to third parties unless required to by law Place, London,
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2 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Summer 2016 Vol 6 No 1 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society
Incorporating Islington History Journal
Vol 6 No 2 Summer 2016
Museum’s move is a historic happy ending
t looks as if the saga of Smithfield’s market buildings is finally reaching a Ihappy ending, as the Museum of Contents London will move there. The museum will have more space and be much more visible, at street level on a busy cross- News 4 roads, rather than on the first floor of the Museum of London goes to market, fears raised that legislation may damage notoriously maze-like Barbican complex. archaeology, plaque replaced at George Orwell’s house, heritage champion And what could be more apt than having Alec Forshaw appointed IAHS president a museum move into such a historic building? Plus it’s on the border of Your letters and questions 6 Islington, so could raise the profile of the The tower on the corner, coach and carriage building, an immigration stamp in borough’s heritage. the hole in the wall, the fishpaste factory of Finsbury Park and a call to help The future of the verger’s cottage at the protect Archway’s heritage; Andy Gardner remembers Pat Haynes Islington Arts Factory in Holloway also looks safer, now it has been listed The role of the academic adviser 10 grade II. Let’s hope this protects it against Lester Hillman describes his work for the society redevelopment. However, the Better Archway Forum Verger’s cottage listed grade II 11 has warned that asset of community Threatened cottage is ‘innovative in its use of materials and expressive of the value status may not be sufficient to architect’s individual style’ protect the Whittington & Cat. As its letter states: “Now that the upstairs has Learning legacy 12 been converted to flats and the pub has Philanthropist Anthony Ashley Cooper, founder of ragged schools for poor and been gutted, its future is uncertain. It will working children take determination to make sure it remains a pub.” Skirting the issue 14 A curious invention helped Victorian women keep their clothes clear of We can all be archivists dirty roads – ladies’ skirt lifters The plaque that commemorated one of Islington’s most famous residents, George Publications 16 Orwell, has now been replaced with one An Islington builder left his mark on north London’s shopping parades, plus showing the correct dates. Orwell deco and brutalist maps and some Hornsey history broadcast extensively while living in Canonbury, although sadly no records of Reviews 18 his voice appear to have survived. Rediscovered cities shed light on Egyptian and Greek civilisations; underwear Nowadays, technology makes it easy for from the (im)practical to the glamorous; and whistle and purr with the Clangers us to create our own sound, film and and Bagpuss picture archives. Many of us can do this on our mobile phones. So now is a good time Events and exhibitions 20 to record your relatives’ memories – and Days and evenings out maybe create an archive of life in Islington as it is now for the next generation. Directory 24 Societies, museums and resources Mark Smulian IAHS member Islington Archaeology & History Society events 27
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Summer 2016 Vol 6 No 2 3 news In brief Museum of London to go to market
Locally listed building project needs help The Building Exploratory is looking for volunteers to visit, photograph and research locally listed buildings in Islington. These buildings are considered to be important because of their architecture, history or distinctive character. Volunteers will receive training from historic building experts, conservation officers and professional photographers. If you are interested in taking part, contact Katie Russell on mail@buildingexploratory. org.uk or 020 7608 0775.
Anne Frank tree planted in Highbury
A sapling from the tree Smithfield shift: the Museum of London is to move into the General Market building described by Anne Frank in her diary has been planted in Six architectural firms have railway track, which director Plans to demolish the Highbury Fields. The tree was been shortlisted to design Sharon Ament has reportedly general market and other grown from a cutting taken the Museum of London’s said she is determined to keep. buildings to make way for a from the horse chestnut tree new home in the derelict The museum will be able to large commercial scheme she could see out of the General Market building at exhibit more items at the new were rejected following window in the attic where her Smithfield, next to the meat site, and it is hoped the move sustained campaigning. family hid in Amsterdam market. to a busier area will increase The museum plans to open during the Second World War. The building has its own visitor numbers. at the market by 2021. The tree planting ceremony was attended by Dr Eva Schloss, a friend of Anne Fears raised that new laws may Name your own Frank, who spent time in a Mail Rail sleeper concentration camp aged 15. threaten archaeological sites The Postal Museum is offering Victorian Society seeks The Council for British important archaeological sites people a chance sponsor endangered buildings Archaeology has raised could be damaged or destroyed. sleepers in its underground concerns that two pieces of In addition, notes to the railway. The Victorian Society is legislation could undermine Neighbourhood Planning and You can sponsor a sleeper inviting nominations for the how potential archaeological Infrastructure Bill say that for yourself or as a gift. “Top Ten Endangered sites are protected. “excessive pre-commencement Sponsorship costs £250. Victorian and Edwardian Under the Housing and planning conditions” can slow Sleepers will bear a plaque Buildings in England and Planning Act, councils have to down or stop housebuilding. showing the sponsor’s name, Wales” for 2016. Nominated keep a register of brownfield The CBA said such and sponsors will be invited structures could be threatened land suitable for housing conditions were crucial to on a tour through the tunnels by demolition, neglect or development. Homes identifying sites of to visit their sleeper. They will inappropriate redevelopment. proposed for these sites could archaeological interest. also receive two tickets for Mail To nominate a building, be given planning permission It fears that the effect of Rail rides before it opens and contact the Victorian Society in principle automatically. these two pieces of legislation a certificate of sponsorship. at media@victoriansociety. The CBA is concerned that, if could be “devastating to the The public will be able to org.uk) or 1 Priory Gardens, consent is given automatically archaeological sector, and to take rides on Mail Rail when London W4 1TT. without archaeological the robust protection of this the museum opens in 2017. l Christy Lawrance Nominations close on 1 July. assessment, potentially nation’s history”. http://sponsorasleeper.org
4 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Summer 2016 Vol 6 No 2 Get your nomination in for people’s plaque Plaque replaced at Orwell’s house
Nominations for Islington Richard Blair, the adopted son Richard Blair People’s Plaques have to be in of George Orwell, has talks about by 30 June. Anyone can unveiled a plaque at 27B his father suggest people, places and Canonbury Square in May George Orwell and events. Those shortlisted for a – this time showing the growing up in plaque will be announced in correct dates of his father’s the top floor the autumn then public voting residence. flat of the will start. The three entries Orwell, whose real name house in with the most votes will was Eric Blair, lived there Canonbury receive a green plaque in 2017. between 1944 and 1947, but Square l www.islington.gov.uk/ the old plaque said 1945. peoplesplaque It was here he began writing Nineteen Eighty-Four. Legal challenge to Blair said he remembered Caledonian park centre his father making wooden toys for him, and getting an Local residents objecting to a proposed visitor centre in electric shock from the The plaque unveiling event Caledonian Park near its doorbell. was organised by the historic clock tower are Andy Gardner, IAHS chair, Canonbury Society with considering legal action met Richard Blair on the day. Islington Council. against the council. The He said: “It was a great George Orwell was living Clocktower Residents Group honour to have met Richard at 27b Canonbury Square said the council had decided to Blair and his son twice in one when Animal Farm was site the centre at the north gate week, at the plaque unveiling published. without fully considering and afterwards at the During his time in placing it near the south gate, Canonbury Tavern, then in Islington, he worked on drafts and dispute the council’s claim central London for the annual of Nineteen Eighty-Four, wrote that Historic England did not Orwell Awards ceremony. I numerous essays and articles, support this option. couldn’t describe two more and broadcast extensively. charming men. l The definitive George No works at Norton “The unveiling was tinged Orwell walk is organised Folgate this year with sadness that Richard had by IAHS chair Andy Gardner. so few years with his adoptive For details and dates, British Land has said it is father, whose grandson was contact him on andy@ unlikely to start work at born long after Orwell’s death islingtonhistory.org.uk, Norton Folgate this year. aged 46.” telephone 07952 586450. Meanwhile, campaigners have vowed to challenge a high court decision backing former Modernist homes’ London mayor Boris Johnson’s Heritage champion Alec Forshaw mural restored approval of the redevelopment. appointed IAHS president Bevin Court’s mural, Day and Holloway prison tales? Alec Forshaw has become past, Night Winged Bulls, painted president of the Islington present and by Peter Yates, has been Islington author Caitlin Davies Archaeology & History Society. future of restored. The ribbon was cut is researching Holloway Prison He replaces Lord Smith of Islington. by Joan Edmonds, 87, who has for a book. If you have any Finsbury, who was IAHS He said: lived in the grade II listed stories or pictures related to president for many years. “I am block of flats designed by the prison, she would like you Forshaw worked in Islington delighted Berthold Lubetkin since it get in touch on 020 7263 8180 Council’s planning department and opened in 1954. Also unveiled or email [email protected]. for 32 years, the last 20 years as honoured to become the was a printed 3D bust of its conservation officer before society’s new president. I am Ernest Bevin, which replaces Keep up to date at retiring in 2007, so has a great looking forward to continuing the one that mysteriously www.facebook.com/ deal of knowledge about the my work to protect and raise disappeared from the foyer in groups/islingtonhistory borough and its history. the profile of Islington’s deep the 1990s. See the back page He has strong interest in the and rich heritage.” for a picture of the mural.
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Summer 2016 Vol 6 No 2 5 Letters and your questions We draw on the expertise of our researcher Michael Reading and our Facebook group members, so get in touch if you have a query or can respond to anything here
Verger’s cottage in and what life was like in Holloway listed grade II Islington in 1860-1870. I have heard from Historic Suzanne Carter Jenkins England the EG Trobridge Ridgefield, Washington, US additions to the Camden [email protected] Road New Church on Parkhurst Road – the There is no street in Islington Islington Arts Factory – have named Shelbourne. However, been listed at grade II, there are two streets with following my application. similar spelling: Sherborne It’s officially called the Street, built in 1826; and verger’s cottage and Shelburne Road, built in 1860 remodelled entrance but a under another name, then search on Historic England’s renamed in 1863 and again online list for Islington Arts Downham Road: the houses may be similar to those that were in in 1875 as Shelburne Road. Factory works. Sherborne Street You have provided two The listing entry on the points of reference, which interiors is very full, which While I realise the odds of who was the daughter of makes me think that your gives a good level of finding the residence or Richard Kelly. family lived in Sherborne protection of the specific location intact are low, I The descendants I have Street. features, including the humble would love to know if I am verified are Richard Joseph The first is your reference to copper, as well as the fantastic looking in the right place and Carter (my ancestor); John Downing Road. This street mosaics by Rust & Co. that, indeed, Shelbourne is Philip Carter and, just has never existed but the The entry is at https:// now Shelburne. I am also recently, Jasper James Carter north end of Sherborne Street historicengland.org.uk/listing/ curious about the address and Jane Carter, who married joins Downham Road. The the-list/list-entry/1427828 including Downing Road. a JB Larkin. Jasper and Jane Ian Hunt Hugh Carter and his wife remained at times in the via Facebook Susan may have had as many London area, Richard and The fact that there l See page 11 as eight children, one of them John came to the US shortly were large families being my great grandfather. after their father died. I am Excellent news! I imagine a family of this from the US. at this time did not Congratulations, it’s always size must have had a fairly I have not been able to track mean that they had good to hear of successes as large lodging. down the names of the other large houses well as remember what’s gone. I would love to verify the four children, and am hoping Andy Gardner general location of this that determining the correct address, what this residence address and overall situation second point is your Shelburne or Sherborne? may have looked like in 1870, in Islington might help in gg-grandfather’s attendance at My great great grandfather was and how Hugh Carter would narrowing down possibilities. St John the Evangelist church a Hugh Carter of Islington, have likely travelled to work at The Rev A Mooney of St in Duncan Terrace, which is who was an acting director of the main Post Office location. John the Evangelist church in within walking distance of the General Post Office at the Overall, what was their life Islington was listed as a dear Sherborne Street. time of his death aged 50 in like in Islington? Was friend of Hugh Carter’s in the The other street, Shelburne 1870. Newspaper records listed Islington a favoured location death notices, so I had hoped Road, is much further north his address as 28 Shelbourne for employees of the GPO, or this would have indicated that in the centre of the borough. Street, Islington, or 28 was this an unusual choice? this was the Carter home Sherborne Street,which is in Shelbourne Street, Downing Was Shelbourne Road a church in Islington. I did the south-east corner of the Road, London. popular place for families with contact the church but they borough, still exists today, Searching current and older young children? said they did not keep records although all the original maps online, I have found a Hugh was of the Richard prior to 1919. houses have gone. On the east road called Shelburne, where Carter family line of Galway, I would greatly appreciate side, there is now a park, and there are some homes, but Ireland, and was Catholic. He any insights you might be able on the west a large block
Google Street View Google Street none at number 28. married Susan Kelly of Tuam, to provide about this location of flats.
6 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Summer 2016 Vol 6 No 2 The tower on the junction of Liverpool Road and Barnsbury Street: does anyone know who the architect was?
The original houses were again reached such a high three options for travelling to Melbury Road W14. still standing at the end of the figure. Today, the figure is work – Hackney carriage I’ve tried the relevant Second World War. Every approximately 200,000. (horse-drawn taxi), horse- volumes of Pevsner and the house suffered bomb damage At the time of your drawn tram or walking. library of the Royal Institute classified as “general blast grandfather’s death in 1870, If you would like to learn of British Architects without damage, not structural”. I the population was more about Islington, then success. believe the houses were approximately 214,000, so the may I recommend two books, Mark Hassall demolished when the area was decline was well under way. Islington Past by John [email protected] redeveloped in 1982. During this period, there Richardson and A History of The Ordnance Survey very few, if any, houses with Islington by Mary Cosh. They In 1777, a large brick building map for 1871 shows the just one family in occupancy. have an abundance of was erected on the site as the layout of the houses in Multi-occupancy was the rule photographs, maps, drawings parish workhouse, the land Sherborne Street and also rather than the exception, and other illustrations. being left for this purpose in Downham Road. with consequently appalling Michael Reading the will of a Mrs Amy Hill. The surviving houses in living conditions up to and The building was enlarged Downham Road may be after 1945. The tower building in 1802; it may be that the similar to those in that were in on the corner taller building on the left was Sherborne Street. The London This is a pretty long shot but I the original structure and the Metropolitan Archives may It may be that the wonder if Michael Reading lower building with the tower have a photograph of lower building with knows the name – or could were additions. Sherborne Street before it was the tower were find out the name – of the It ceased to be a workhouse redeveloped. architect of the house or in 1872 and, from then until In 1810, the population of additions building with the “medieval 1892, was the board of Islington was approximately tower” on the corner of guardians district relieving 10,000. As the industrial Barnsbury Street and offices, vaccination and labour revolution progressed and the The fact that there were Liverpool Road (part of 26 bureau. British Empire expanded, the large families at this time did Barnsbury Street and 281 After 1892, it was the population grew and, in 1901. not mean that they had large Liverpool Road). St Mary Islington district Islington’s population stood at houses. There was much It reminds me of the work relief office, dispensary and 334,981. This would decrease sharing of rooms and beds of the 19th century architect vaccination station, and to approximately 300,000 by and parents often had to share William Burges who rebuilt Islington vestry depot. The the beginning of Second their bedrooms with some of Castell Coch in Wales for the 1939 London street directory World War and drop further their children. Marques of Bute and who shows it was the register office during hostilities. It never There would have been lived in the Tower House in for the Islington district, for Christy Lawrance
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Summer 2016 Vol 6 No 2 7 We have discovered a home for unmarried mothers and a station master’s house for an abandoned railway station
St Luke’s in London. In Islington, there is a St Luke’s at Hillmarton Road, Holloway, built in 1857, as well as St Luke’s Church, Old Street, built in 1777. There are many other churches in London dedicated to St Luke. By the time of the census The Better Archway Forum persuaded the council that the whole frontage of these buildings in (I presume 1871, when your Junction Road should be repaired, not just the shopfronts, with infinitely better results g-grandfather would have been 23), he was living and births, marriages and deaths, The 1901 census shows that In 1894, 1896 and 1898, he working in Hampshire and, by and the council cleansing my paternal great grandfather, was described as a “railway the 1880s, was living in depot. Frank Brown, was born in coach builder” after three Willesden with an ever- Stone plaques on the taller “London, St Luke’s” more births, all of which were growing family. On each building can be seen where around 1848. registered in Hampshire. occasion of registering the the building faces Liverpool That may have been the I cannot find a record of births, his occupation was Road. Neither have any parish of St Luke’s in Islington a marriage for Frank, and I stated as “coach builder” and inscriptions. There may well but, by the time of the census, can’t trace his birth or subsequently as “railway be a tablet incised into the he lived and worked in parentage with confidence, coach-builder”. brickwork somewhere on the Hampshire. but I’d like to know more I can offer no information building with dates and He was described as a about how he came by the on coach building in Islington architects etc, but you would “coach builder” when his son skills that saw him through during the 19th century, but I need to visit to confirm this. was born in Willesden in his life (he died in 1923), am sure that there were The use of the site all along 1885, and a “coach builder which, I guess, may have been several businesses, as has been in the control of (journeyman)” a year later acquired during his youth transportation was a growing local government, mainly when another birth was in Islington. industry. before the London Borough of registered, and again in 1887 Joseph (Ted) Brown It seems your g-grandfather Islington came into existence when a daughter was born. [email protected] switched to building railway when such matters were This was reaffirmed in 1889 coaches, with the vast controlled by the vestry. when she died and later in the I believe your family link with expansion of the railways The Islington Local History same year after another birth, Islington is rather tenuous. As during the 19th century. Centre may hold information and was repeated in 1891 after you say, your great May I suggest you approach on this site and newspaper another birth. All these events grandfather was born in 1848, one of the transport cuttings. Similarly, the were registered in Willesden. and the birth was registered at museums, which would council’s planning department may hold some information Write to us on file. Michael Reading l Email the editor at [email protected] l Write to the editor c/o 6 Northview, Tufnell Park Coach and carriage Road, N7 0QB building in the 19th century l Via www.facebook.com/groups/islingtonhistory; Could you tell me anything posts printed will give Facebook usernames about coach building or carriage making in Islington The society won’t trace family trees, but can help with, in the mid 19th century or say, finding information on a family member’s business point me in the right direction or home. Letters and Facebook posts may be edited.
Shops: Better Archway Forum Archway Shops: Better to find out more?
8 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Summer 2016 Vol 6 No 2 certainly have information I have searched the trade and archives on early road directory for 1916, as this is and rail vehicles and their nearest to the relevant period. building. I searched the following Michael Reading categories: food mfgs; food preservative mfgs; Help preserve Archway’s paste mfgs (although I believe heritage – and pick up this is the adhesive type); some skills sauce & pickle mfgs. The Better Archway Forum Under the last category, I (www.betterarchway.org.uk) found Pinnock Brothers of was founded 12 years ago in 2 Landseer Road Holloway; response to a proposal to and G Watkins of 49a Vorley demolish Archway’s office Road, Holloway Road. blocks and build more and Whether these two companies larger towers, plus a giant manufactured fishpaste is not supermarket. known; neither were in Many sessions of Finsbury Park in 1916. community planning and With so very little to go on, lobbying later, our alternative one is rather in the dark and proposals are being acted on, the above is the best I could buildings are being come up with. refurbished and the spaces Michael Reading around them improved. These community sessions The Whittington & Cat pub was designated Islington’s first asset of Mystery sign of Milner highlighted the need to community value, in part because of its unspoilt interior Square protect the streetscape. Does anyone know the As a result, a parallel part because of its unspoilt Fishpaste factory of significance of the sign in activity has developed for the workaday interior. Finsbury Park Almeida Passage? It shows a forum – responding to Now that the upstairs has My Finsbury Park granny said stamp with “Immigation” at planning applications and been converted to flats and she worked in a fishpaste the top and “Australia” at the lobbying to save and/or the pub has been gutted, its factory before she married. bottom. Inside are the words refurbish existing buildings. future is uncertain. It will take This would have been around “arrived 24 Jun 1964, Sydney Does it make a difference? determination to make sure it 1910-14. Airport, 1???” Just look at the run of four remains a pub. Does anyone have any idea If you enter Almeida buildings in Junction Road Would you be interested in where this might have been, Passage at Almeida Street – that face the exit of Archway helping with that and other what it was called and where I which is known locally as tube station. similar challenges? might find out more? I’ve “the hole in the wall – you’ll We persuaded Islington We’ve made a start on checked online and see it above the archway Council it really would be researching the history of publications but not local where the passage leads to worth using grant funding to buildings in the area (and archives as I don’t live nearby. Milner Square. repair not just the shopfronts discovered unexpected details Celia Hunt Philip Nelkon but the whole of the frontages, like a home for unmarried [email protected] [email protected] and the buildings now look mothers and a station master’s infinitely better. house for an abandoned More challenging is the railway station). And we need Pat Haynes Whittington & Cat pub on to build a group to offer local I was very sad to hear of the death of Pat Haynes. He was a Highgate Hill which was input on key planning strong Islington councillor, and we did not always sing from designated Islington’s first applications. the same page. That didn’t matter. asset of community value, in Could you contribute a little Pat was a warm and encouraging friend, and fully time to help with this? While supportive of IAHS. Back when we had three local papers, experience can be useful, he had a regular history column in the High & I. He was a more important is simple strong supporter of bringing the semi-derelict Assembly interest as we can explain how Hall in Upper Street back into use, and of the Clerkenwell it’s done. and Islington guides in their role in outreach. When I began If you might have some to chair the IAHS following the death of Peter Powell (and I time to give, please get in was very young to do this) Pat, along with Harley Sherlock, touch at contact@ always provided wisdom when I was anxious. betterarchway.org.uk. I miss Pat, and remember him fondly. The Australian immigration Kate Calvert Andy Gardner stamp in Almeida Passage Chair, Better Archway Forum Munro Pub: Ewan
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Summer 2016 Vol 6 No 2 9 The role of the academic adviser
Lester Hillman is academic adviser to the IAHS, a role that includes giving talks, writing articles, organising events, leading walks and more
nside the cover page of the underground railway. It offered Journal, issue after issue, I opportunities to showcase am listed as the society’s Farringdon and its place in the academic adviser. Just what birth of the global “metro” story. does the adviser do? Bicentenaries of the phased II enjoy taking the society and completion of the Regent’s Canal our local heritage to other groups stretch from this year to 2020. It is in Islington and beyond, including a colourful story with many local to Camden, the City of London, dramas, such as the Spa Fields Riot Barnet, Wandsworth, Brent, of 2 December 1816, in which Hertfordshire, Cambridge, unemployed canal navigators seem Bedfordshire, Leicestershire, to have featured. Northamptonshire, Somerset and All things “ice” is perhaps an even Edinburgh. Such visits can lead unexpected theme. The Museum of to speakers coming to Islington. the Ice Trade – part of the London Lester Hillman: volunteering, writing articles and From time to time, I address Canal Museum at King’s Cross – is the academic working on joint projects. I have IAHS meetings. I write for this a rare asset for Islington – the next adviser position worked closely with the Stuart Low journal, review exhibitions and nearest ice museum is in Alaska. involves Trust and Clerkenwell and spreading the books and lead walks, which also Islington Guides’ Association for word about provides opportunities to raise funds Expertise Islington’s many years. for the society. I often give talks with I have held this position for five heritage At a presentation I once gave at society chair Andy Gardner. years or so. Being asked to be the Islington Museum, the main Last October, I found myself academic adviser was a surprise. characters all wore top hats. I was assisting a gathering in memory of The late Professor Christopher delighted that the museum has Angela Inglis, a good friend to Elrington was the previous adviser. made use of a black top hat handed local history and heritage, which A distinguished historian, he had a down to me from my grandfather, was unexpected. major role in producing the in immaculate condition – it must I welcome new organisations to Victoria County History. be well over 100 years old. Islington. For some years, I have The society is fortunate in the We are fortunate that sports been organising heritage events for wealth of expertise among its heritage is being reflected in the the Institution of Structural membership. I am grateful that society more prominently and have Engineers, which recently set up much of the load in respect of welcomed Samir Singh who shop in Islington. enquiries is so often carried by reinforces links to Arsenal FC. Subjects range from individual others; particular thanks go to I once had a go at seeing if we buildings and topical themes to Michael Reading, who answers could engage with prisoner areas of excellence in Islington. questions regularly in this Journal. education in Islington. John Burns A number of themes have been We also owe an enormous debt MP, who spent time in Pentonville pursued in recent years including of gratitude to generous society in the 1880s, rose to become a the assassination of Spencer stalwarts such as Mary Cosh and cabinet minister and steered Perceval, the Fleet River, the 400th Catherine Brighty. Making sure through the first town planning anniversary of the New River and, publications are available and legislation. The recent Magna last year, Magna Carta. The post- generating sales can be challenging. Carta celebrations featured a giant Agincourt peace negotiations have embroidery, designed by artist surprising local links stretching Working with others Cornelia Parker, at the British from Clerkenwell to cat loving Dick Local authority and not-for-profit Library and I have written about Whittington on Highgate Hill. sectors are under pressure. The prisoners’ contribution to it. One example was the 150th society has a part to play at Perhaps it is time for another effort anniversary of the Metropolitan Islington’s museums and other here, before the prisons disappear Railway in 2013, the world’s first organisations, through visits, from Islington. n
10 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Summer 2016 Vol 6 No 2 building, innovative in its use of materials and expressive of the Verger’s cottage listed architect’s individual style”. The listing entry for the cottage draws much attention The threatened verger’s cottage in Holloway is described to the interior, including the staircase with its intricate iron as ‘innovative in its use of materials and expressive of the balustrade and original wooden architect’s individual style’ by Historic England handrails, Pentelikon marble treads and mosaic tiled dados and risers, which make it consistent with the entrance hall. The “sculpted, he “verger’s cottage and The listing is timely, as the City The mosaic tiled curved wood” surrounding the the remodelled Corporation has applied to entrance and windows gets a mention, as does intact floor entrance”– part of the redevelop the site. The council’s an intact “copper with built-in signs were Islington Arts Factory website says the planning highlighted by stove below”. complex on Parkhurt application includes “demolition of Historic A particular highlight is the TRoad – have been listed grade II. the existing garage structure and England; “the “distinctive quality and survival of They were put forward for listing verger’s cottage, converting the new church” is the decorative vitreous mosaic by IAHS member Ian Hunt (see Sunday school and the church into picked out in tiled entrance with intact floor letters, page 6). flats, demolishing other buildings, red against signage, and for its impressive and and building a five-storey block of turquoise blue, well-finished fixtures and fittings”. flats with a basement to provide green and white The complex is of historic tiles facilities for the Islington Arts interest due to Trobridge’s Factory”. The application was background as a Swedenborgian as registered in March last year. well as his architectural skills. n The Camden Road New Church was built in 1873 for a Sources: Historic England, Islington Council Swedenborgian society, which moved out in 1954. The complex was altered and extended in 1908 to provide a library, a caretaker’s residence and a new entrance to the church and a lecture hall. The church, Sunday school, the verger’s cottage and the remodelled entrance were designed by Ernest G Trobridge. The verger’s cottage is described by Historic England as “a carefully detailed piece of Vernacular Revival”. Historic England describes the
structure as “a well composed Christy Lawrance
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Summer 2016 Vol 6 No 2 11 the pocket borough of Woodstock in Oxfordshire; he was later elected to other seats. Early in 1828, he accepted a commissionership at the India Board of Control and sought to promote humanitarian and administrative reform in India. He also took a leading part in securing legislation to protect the mentally ill and was appointed to the Metropolitan Commission in Lunacy, becoming its chairman in 1833. Ashley Cooper was also interested in conditions in factories. His proposals to limit the hours worked by children and young people met with strong opposition, but the Factory Act of 1833 was passed, although the limits on hours were higher than the ten hours and the regulation less than he had advocated. A ragged school In the Peel administration of in London in the 19th century 1834-35, Ashley Cooper served as Learning legacy a civil lord of the Admiralty. However, he wanted to pursue his religious, moral and social Philanthropist Anthony Ashley Cooper supported concerns without restriction and, many causes, and is best remembered for setting although he accepted a post in the royal household in 1839, he turned up schools for poor and working children down the renewed offer in 1841. Ashley Cooper had always been a Christian, but his beliefs now nthony Ashley Later, as a boarder at Harrow, he assumed an evangelical character. Cooper, who became discovered he liked learning and His spiritual fervour reinforced his the seventh earl of won a couple of prizes. It also endeavours for national social and Shaftesbury, is started his interest in philanthropy, moral improvement. In 1840, he best known for his as noted by a tablet near the school. strenuously supported legislation championingA the education for the He attended Christ Church to protect child chimney sweeps poor, through what became known Oxford then became Tory MP for and, in 1842, secured the passing as ragged schools. of the Mines Act. Also in 1845, he These schools were often set up sponsored acts to improve the by fellow philanthropists and treatment of lunatics and the staffed by volunteers. Many were regulation of asylums. started in Islington, although little Ashley’s sympathy with the can be seen today. oppressed increasingly set him at He had many other achievements; variance with his constituents. A his other efforts led to limits on the speech in November 1843 in which hours that children worked in he criticised landowners and factories and better treatment of the manufacturers over their treatment mentally ill. of labourers, tenants and others led At seven, he went to a very large to a permanent estrangement from school at Chiswick – and hated it. his father. In early 1846, his political He said: “Nothing could have position became untenable when he surpassed it for filth, bullying, believed it was necessary to repeal neglect and hard treatment of every Early influence: “Near this spot Anthony Ashley Cooper, the corn laws and he resigned. sort; nor had it in any respect any while yet a boy at Harrow School, saw with shame and He became increasingly one compensating advantage, except, indignation the pauper’s funeral, which helped to concerned with education, mainly perhaps … [giving me] an early awaken his lifelong devotion to the service of the poor for moral and spiritual reasons; horror of oppression and cruelty.” and oppressed” one of his main motives for
12 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Summer 2016 Vol 6 No 2 seeking to limit the hours worked schools. In the spring of 1847, he position remained insecure. by children was provide them with saw the enactment of a 10 hours He enjoyed some satisfaction more time for instruction. He had measure to limit working hours in the later 1850s from the been disappointed by a failure in for children in factories, and partial success of his 1843 to legislate for the provision in July he was returned as efforts to facilitate and of education in factories, but MP for Bath. The promote informal committed himself to voluntary implementation of the religious services to efforts. It was this that led to his 1847 act proved attract the working most notable legacy, the presidency problematic and, in 1850, classes. He maintained of the Ragged School Union – the he conceded a his strenuous but not name of which he got from his compromise which in always successful friend Charles Dickens. effect allowed 10½ hours. efforts to improve Ragged schools soon became his He interested many social conditions, central interest as he sought to other philanthropists in seeking to extend the ensure all children had access to the educating poor children, regulation of child four Rs (the fourth being religion including Thomas Barnardo labour to other areas and – the most important to him). who, among many other to improve conditions Ragged schools were usually works, started the Copperfield for lunatics. fairly informal institutions where Road Free School which is now the While he recognised the necessity poor, destitute and often working Ragged School Museum. for the Education Act of 1870 – the children could get a rudimentary On the death of his father on start of state funded education for education from volunteer teachers. 2 June 1851, Ashley Cooper all – he was disappointed that the A typical school had around succeeded to the title of seventh ragged schools were integrated “150 square feet of floor space earl of Shaftesbury, and inherited into the new schools. shared by 50-60 children and some the family estates, amounting to Shaftesbury’s wife’s death in 1872 8-10 teachers”. Despite efforts by over 20,000 acres in Dorset, reinforced his self-image as a many teachers, a commissioner Hampshire and Wiltshire. lonely old man left behind by the inspecting schools in 1870 noted Although he first felt that the tide of history. that at one ragged school “the chief House of Lords was a political However, in 1881, on his 80th text book appeared to be a kitten to backwater, he used his position to birthday, a celebratory dinner was which all the children seemed to further his religious and social held for him at the Guildhall. The be very attentive”. objectives. In 1861, Lord Duke of Argyll said: “The social Charles Dickens, on his first visit Palmerston honoured his public reforms of the last century have to a ragged school, which was in services with the conferment of the been due mainly to the influence, Saffron Hill (now Ragged House in Order of the Garter. character and perseverance of one Vine Hill) in Clerkenwell, noted it The family estates at Wimborne Lord Shaftesbury.” had “miserable rooms, upstairs in a St Giles in Dorset were heavily The Times praised his “long life miserable house” . He reported encumbered with debt and much nobly spent in ameliorating the lot that the girls’ schoolroom appeared in need of improvement. and improving the welfare of “sad and melancholy, of course – Shaftesbury achieved substantial working people of England”. how could it be otherwise! – but, improvements in the social His memory lives on at on the whole, encouraging”. The condition of his tenants and Piccadilly Circus with the pupils, including “many wretched dependants, but his own financial Shaftesbury fountain surrounding creatures”, “listened with apparent Eros and in Shaftesbury Avenue. earnestness and patience to their In Islington, Highbury Fields instructors. In the boys’ room, School started life as the Holloway pupils ranged from “mere infants Free and Ragged School in 1846. to young men … young thieves Those long disappeared include and beggars … low-browed, Britannia Row Ragged School off vicious, cunning, wicked; Essex Road, Angel Court Ragged abandoned of all help but this … School, Copenhagen Street Ragged and UNUTTERABLY School, Elder Walk Ragged School, IGNORANT.” All this helped him St John, Upper Holloway, Ragged to build the characters and story of School and Sermon Lane Ragged Oliver Twist. School. n From the late 1840s, Ashley Cooper promoted schemes to This is Alan Pattison’s second article support the emigration of young Former ragged about philanthropists who made people whose prospects in Britain school in their mark on Islington. His previous were poor, including those who Vine Hill, article, about George Peabody, had been successful in ragged Clerkenwell appeared in the spring issue Alan Pattison Hill: Vine Images; plaque: Spudgun67/Flickr; Wellcome and portrait: School
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Summer 2016 Vol 6 No 2 13 Skirting the issue
A curious invention helped Victorian women keep their clothes clear of dirty roads. Carole Walker tells the story of ladies’ skirt lifters
back as c1540. I have a lifter that has been dated to c1650 and another, made of silver, dated 1836. By 1846, there were written references to them, and patent t an antiques fair, I Above: brass applications date from 1858. In came across an art nouveau 1859, there was a reference to the unusual invention styles; top: Watteau port-jupe, a basic design of that turned out to be base metal an adjustable ribbon-covered wire a Victorian ladies’ suspender loop hooked to the waist enabling skirtA lifter. I was fascinated and chains part of the skirt to be placed in the bought it. From there, my collec- loop and so lift the skirt. tion grew. The heyday of the skirt lifter was The term “skirt lifter” has undoubtedly the period from the unfortunate connotations and I middle to the late 1800s. Industrial The long, cumbersome and have been involved in some advances during Queen Victoria’s impractical design of the crinoline hilarious moments when trying to reign made it possible to produce skirt cried out for some way of purchase them at antique fairs and machinery capable of keeping skirt hems out of the dirt. antique shops. I now always ask for manufacturing large numbers of Queen Victoria was appalled to “ladies’ antique skirt lifters”. “Unique, items relatively cheaply. read of the daily accidents arising Earlier and less embarrassing simple, Victorian thoroughfares were from wearing such expensive, names given to these items were effective”: exceedingly muddy and mucky; dangerous and hideous clothes. It porte-jupe and page-jupe as the Grappler Charles Dickens wrote about the was claimed that ladies wearing such they were made in France; these adjustable terrible state of the roads in Bleak apparel would often break valuable translate as skirt hanger. In the dress holder House. Gwen Raverat (1952), neé china ornaments indoors and knock UK, manufacturers gave them and its box Darwin, a wood engraver and over children when out walking. various names including dress (below and founder member of the Wood In spite of disapproval, crinolines clip, dress holder, dress hook, right) Engravers’ Society, recalled continued to be worn by ladies’ dress suspender, skirt growing up in the late maids and factory girls as well as elevator, skirt grip, 1800s and the by the rich. skirt hook and skirt difficulties she had in In the early 1860s, crinoline supporter. Skirt lifter is keeping her apparel wearers began to loop the skirt up now the most popular out of the mud. She with ribbons or tapes for walking. term. described the need This was followed by a mechanism Long skirts had to sew “brush braid” of cords and loops inside the skirt obviously been around the hem of to pull up the skirt all round. One troublesome for their the skirt to collect design of skirt lifter used multiple wearers for some the worst of the chains from a waist belt, allowing considerable time. mud, which the skirt to be raised in a wave of Evidence suggests afterwards had to scallops, and was worn outside the that women wore be painstakingly skirt. This design was both skirt lifters as far brushed off. practical and decorative.
14 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Summer 2016 Vol 6 No 2 Clockwise from above: Soley patent brass rose scissor skirt lifter; brass screw-top; three scissor skirt lifters with flower design; brass lifter with grapes design; three silver Eureka models; silver tong skirt lifter with red cord
The decline of the crinoline in The designs and mechanisms fall available. They cost about £80, the middle to late 1860s was into various categories. depending on condition. followed by the arrival of the The scissor skirt lifter does look The Grappler Adjustable Dress bustle, dresses with material like a weird kind of scissor. These Holder is very collectable and, draped around the hips. With the come in base metal, brass plate and depending on condition, costs about change of dress design in the 1870s solid brass. Designs are very diverse £135-£155. The Fyfe’s Patent Bicycle and 1880s, it became necessary to – butterflies, closed hands, acorns, Holder, the Penny Farthing, is very change the design of the skirt lifter. shields with flowers, baskets of attractive and unusual, and costs The new designs came in the flowers, anchors and grapes, to name around £200. shape of scissors and tongs that a few. Costs run from about £60-£90 A smaller girl’s skirt lifter can cost as firmly gripped the skirt or train for base metal to £125-£150 for much if not more than one for adults. Skirt and lifted it using a chain or strong more intricate brass designs. Fyfe’s lifters were also produced in black or with cord. There would often be a patented many of these; there are black crepe for those in mourning. chatelaine or fob hook on the cord others by Plant & Green. The Soley The shortage of luxury dress fabrics or chain fitting over the waistband, Patent, a particular favourite, has a and the need for women to undertake enabling the wearer to pull on the slightly different scissor men’s work during the First World War chain to lift the skirt. mechanism, and costs £135-£175. unhampered by trailing skirts finally In 1880, Fyfe’s patented a Tong skirt lifters were usually brought about a change in style of dress particularly strong spring with a made in base metal and brass and to a far slimmer and shorter design. cost roughly £25-£55. The one This, together with the effects of women shown (left), made of silver, has a fighting for suffrage and their desire to be cord and bow over the fob or in less cumbersome dresses, made skirt chatelaine which was placed over lifters superfluous. n the waistband; these cost £150-£180. Look out for Plant & Green and Carole Walker is the author of A History and Walton & Shaw patents. Guide to Collecting Ladies’ Antique Skirt The suspender skirt lifter is Lifters. See publications, page 16 usually made of base metal, often Willett Cunnington C (1990) English Women’s Clothing in the with an ornamental chain, and sells 19th Century. Dover Publications. First published by Faber & for £45-£65. Many are unbranded, Faber, London, 1937 but look out for the Uwantit, the Raverat GM (1952) Period Piece. A Cambridge Childhood. cast bronze ornament on the front. Superior, Crown, the Alexandra, Faber & Faber The grip was on a chain with a Rubber Clip and HK & Co. bangle to go over the wrist, so all The screw top design, in base the wearer had to do was lift her metal, £80-£120, and brass (shown arm. Lifters on bangles were above) costs about £120. particularly useful when dancing. There are a number of delightful Skirt lifters came in a wide range, and very attractive art nouveau from fairly basic and functional spring clip skirt lifters. These tend items sold at drapers’ stores or to be cheaper at £55-£100 as they cycling outlets to silver, gold and are generally not sought after. jewelled items individually made by The Eureka (pictured right) must jewellers as a decorative adornment have been produced in large to a lady’s dress. numbers as a good few are
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Summer 2016 Vol 6 No 2 15 Publications and bookshop
This month we go shopping, rummage through Victorian rubbish, look at Smithfield’s past, consider some Hornsey history and remember prefab housing
Shopping Parades commercial centre of Kathryn A Morrison (author), suburban and dormitory Paul Stamper (editor) communities. They were built Historic England, 2016, free to on main roads, close to download: https:// railway stations or tram or historicengland.org.uk/ omnibus termini, where they images-books/publications/ might attract passing traffic as iha-shopping-parades/ well as local shoppers. The “striking and ambitious” From the 1880s, parades work of prolific Highbury adopted a plethora of builder James Edmondson is historicist styles: neo-Tudor, Smithfield: Past, Present highlighted in this publication neo-Baroque, Queen Anne and Future – he built Queen’s Parade in and a restrained neo-Georgian. Alec Forshaw Muswell Hill, which is shown The last predominated in the £18.95 + £2.80 p&p, 304pp, on the cover, in about 1897. interwar years, which might be Robert Hale, 2015. Available W Martyn’s shop (with the purpose-built rows of shops, regarded as the heyday of the from the IAHS extended canopy), is listed often with spacious residential shopping parade. This third edition is a concise, grade II because of its accommodation above. Parades often have a strong readable account of the well-preserved interior and They were built in large degree of architectural history of the Smithfield area 1930s shopfront. numbers, and with increasing uniformity. The standard from the medieval period Also highlighted are architectural elaboration, parade comprises a terrace, to today. It examines the Edmondson’s developments in from the mid-19th century. with shops on the ground history of the markets, Highbury Park and Crouch Several areas of north floor and flats or offices above. St Bartholomew’s Hospital, End, and his suburban houses London acquired clusters of Some include facilities such as the religious houses, trades – similar in design to his shopping parades in the late banks or cinemas, which can and leisure. parades – get a mention. 19th and early 20th centuries. add interest to otherwise It also considers the area’s Shopping parades are Parades often were often the repetitious elevations. future, including the building of a Crossrail interchange and the use of the market Hornsey Historical Society finding information on Hugh buildings. Bulletin 57 Victor Hember, and the story The meat market building, £6.50 + £1.20 p&p, Hornsey of letters, medals etc, which opened in 1868, is one Historical Society connected with their relative, of the greatest surviving This issue pays tribute to the with many family commercial buildings of late Ken Gay, president of the photographs of the time. Victorian London. Some of Hornsey Historical Society Muswell shopfronts are the buildings are empty. and chair of its publications described and their stories are The book also describes committee for 34 years, and told by David Frith with some struggles over the some of the contains an appreciation of intriguing photographs of these buildings’ future him and his work on the their architecture. Before and between those who wanted many publications produced after photographs help tell the them conserved and put back by the society. story of Starbucks moving into use, and those who “Hornsey in the great war” into the store of George Cox, wanted most of them is covered in its third fitters, and how the frontage demolished and office instalment in this bulletin, said no” continues the story of was altered. . blocks built. with research on the “pals” first world war conscientious More articles are contained Forshaw – who was deeply battalion (the 1/7th Middlesex objectors in Hornsey – again in this excellent bulletin involved in the campaign to Battalion) plus fascinating with many photographs. which never seems to lose its save the building – provides photographs. An article by Hugh, Ruth professionalism and style. an insider’s view of the Part two of “The men who and Chris Garnsworth tells of Peter Fuller planning inquiries.
16 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Summer 2016 Vol 6 No 2 Ivy-Mantled Tower. A Prefab Homes people”, and with kitchens, History of the Church and Elisabeth Blanchet bathrooms and heating Churchyard of St Mary £7.95 + £1.50p&p, Shire, systems, they proved popular Hornsey, Middlesex 2014. Available from the IAHS and, instead of being Bridget Cherry At the end of the Second demolished as intended, they £19.50, 133pp, Hornsey World War, Winston were defended by residents Historical Society, 2015 Churchill promised to who campaigned to keep their Architectural historian manufacture half a million homes and communities. Bridget Cherry charts the prefabricated bungalows to Nearly 70 years later, history of the church and ease the housing shortage; in Elisabeth Blanchet tells the churchyard from its 13th the end, more than 156,000 story of these popular homes century origins. temporary “prefabs” were and their gardens and shows The 15th century square delivered. the various designs that were brick and rubble stone tower Nicknamed “palaces for the produced. is all that is visible of the site’s Through the memories of 500 year history and provides residents, she also reveals the from Piccadilly Line stations a common element to the communities who were to the factories of Wallis, site’s three churches, built to pleased to live in the prefabs. Gilbert and Partners and meet the needs of a growing The IAHS hosted the launch Hornsey Town Hall. local population. of this book in December 2014. The Brutalism map The story of the three features buildings including churches starts in the middle Art Deco London Trellick ages and places their Brutalist London Tower and architecture in a historical Maps, £8 each, £14.50 for Robin context. both, Blue Crow Media, http:// Hood The research is wide ranging bluecrowmedia.com/shop Gardens, and meticulous but readily The art deco map, illustrated as well as accessible. Text is supplemented with photographs, shows the lesser by photographs, illustrations, whereabouts of beautiful known drawings, plans and paintings. 1920s and 1930s buildings, buildings.
What the Victorians Threw A History and Guide to includes photos, drawings and Away Collecting Ladies’ Antique images from old advertising Tom Licence Skirt Lifters catalogues. £4.50, 108pp, Oxbow Books, Carole Walker l Skirting the issue, page 14 2015. Available from the IAHS £18.50 + £1.50, 120pp, Wolds Rubbish tips act as archives of Publishing, 2016, books@ everyday life, showing what woldspublishing co.uk people bought, how they Back in the days when women stocked their kitchen wore long, voluminous skirts, cupboards and the medicines, they used items called ladies’ soaps, face creams and skirt lifter to keep their hems perfumes they used. out of the dirt and muck of A glass bottle can reveal the streets, and to make what people were drinking, dancing and sports activities how a famous brand emerged, easier. They were made in a or whether an inventor huge variety of materials and triumphed with a new design. and mass consumption. His designs, some very ornate. An old tin can tell us about research also illustrates how Carole Walker has a large advertising, household chores our own throwaway habits collection of these attractive, or foreign imports. were formed. unusual items and her book Tom Licence, who has spent The book’s three main case much time going around the studies are a labourer’s cottage country digging up rubbish in Kent, a post office in Buy from the IAHS dumps, shows how discarded Shropshire and a rectory in You can buy from the IAHS at our meetings and local fairs. household items contribute to Norfolk. If you would like to buy books, make a trade or bulk order, the bigger story of how our l Tom Licence’s database of collect books in person or have any queries, contact not too distant ancestors built found objects is at www. Catherine Brighty on 020 7833 1541, email catherine. a throwaway society on the whatthevictoriansthrewaway. [email protected] or 8 Wynyatt Street, EC1V 7HU twin foundations of packaging com/
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Summer 2016 Vol 6 No 2 17 Exhibitions Rediscovered cities shed light on Egyptian and Greek civilisations
magine a city three times the Thonis was simply the Egyptian size of Pompeii disappearing name for the city that the Greeks off the face of the earth. called Heracleion (in honour of the Ancient Egyptian city half-god Heracles). Thonis-Heracleion did just Also on display are items Ithat when it sank into the watery including the statue of Arsinoe II, deep about 1,200 years ago. daughter of Ptolemy I, who was The thriving seaport’s stone worshipped by Egyptians and buildings had been built on soft clay Greeks alike after her death. Dating and sand sediment at the mouth of back to the third century BC, a the River Nile. Over time, the sea massive granite statue 5 metres tall reclaimed this dynamic settlement, of river god Hapi is as beautiful as along with a major centre for the the tiny gold coins, jewellery and worship of Egyptian gods, other artefacts on display. Canopus, to the west. This exhibition brings the In 1933, an aerial survey and ancient seaports to life by pairing subsequent diving expeditions the recent finds from the two lost revealed a fraction of Canopus. cities of the Nile with treasures on Until recently, no trace of Thonis- Intact stele of Egypt, using the most sophisticated loan from Egyptian museums, Heracleion had been found. Its Thonis- geophysical techniques available. such as a statue of bull god Apis, name had been seen only in Heracleion, Canopus was discovered at about which dates to Emperor Hadrian’s ancient texts and rare inscriptions. Thonis- the same time. reign, discovered at the entrance to A survey in 1996 by the Heracleion, Their discovery shed light on the the underground galleries of the European Institute for Underwater inscribed with daily life, routines and rituals the Serapeion of Alexandria. the decree of Archaeology properly located Egyptians and Greeks shared at Amazingly, Dr Goddio said 95% Saïs; bull god the cities. The preliminary survey Apis – the bull these cosmopolitan centres at the of the site is still to be excavated statue is nearly mouth of the River Nile. – which is overwhelming when 2 metres tall; Built in the eighth century BC, viewing this extensive show. n statue of Thonis-Heracleion was a prominent l Sunken Cities: Egypt’s Lost Worlds Arsinoe II trade centre and the main port of is on at the Museum of London dressed as the entry into Egypt. This is significant, until 27 November, £16.50/concs goddess Isis as parts of ancient Egypt believed to be isolated were more cosmopolitan Alexis Magness than had been previously thought. Key information about a pivotal point in Egyptian history, during the period when Alexander the Great conquered the country, has now been revealed through this underwater discovery.
The exhibition No fewer than 69 ships and 700 anchors were discovered between alone lasted three years – using 1996 and 2012. Over 300 pieces have gravity, magnetic, electrical and been retrieved and are on display. seismic methods. The exhibition includes a In 2000, Thonis-Heracleion was wonderfully preserved stela, or discovered by the institute, tablet, found a the temple of directed by French archaeologist Heracleion, which states that by Dr Franck Goddio and his team of royal decree 10% of the taxes marine archaeologists, in collected on all goods imported cooperation with the Egyptian from the “Sea of the Greeks” were Supreme Council of Antiquities. It to be donated to an Egyptian was located 30 feet under the temple. The stela showed that surface of the Mediterranean Sea Thonis and Heracleion were not
Franck Goddio/Hilti Foundation – photos by Christoph Gerigk – photos by Goddio/Hilti Foundation Franck in Aboukir Bay, near Alexandria in two cities as had been thought –
18 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Summer 2016 Vol 6 No 2 Underwear from (im)practical to glamorous
his entertaining and Loosening man attempting seduction would knowledgeable exhibition corsets: the have found the corset a challenge. looks at mainly women’s exhibition Inevitably, there were periods, T shows how underwear from the 18th century to such as the early 19th century, which the present day, and shows how the underwear allowed women more freedom of design evolved, shaping of the female body echoed especially for movement. Revolutionary ideas contemporary views of gender, women were sweeping Europe and it is status and morality. arguable that this also affected Functional support for the female women’s underwear. form frequently warred with Out went rigid hoops and corsetry the contradictory demands of and in came flowing almost feminine allure. transparent muslin dresses, and The exhibition has lighter corsets with gussets 18th century stays, rigid to support the breasts rather with wooden slats and than busks to flatten them. whalebone, 19th century The 20th century saw a This exhibition also offers corsets doing the same similar loosening of corsets, glamour in spades. I loved the silk with steel and 1950s latex encouraged by a new satin and Chantilly lace negligee as “roll ons”, all holding the emphasis on activity for worn by Bérénice Marlohe, the female shape firmly in women. However, anyone Bond girl in Skyfall. All huge fun. position – and perhaps remembering the discom- l Undressed: A Brief History of also containing female fort of the Silhouette 1960s Underwear is on at the Victoria & waywardness. Lycra girdle might question Albert Museum, until 12 March I loved the cyclamen the veracity of the poster 2017, £12/concs pink silt and whalebone proclaiming a new freedom corset from 1890-95; of movement for the Elizabeth Hawksley sexy, certainly, but any modern woman. www.elizabethhawksley.com Estate V&A Museum/Hans Schleger
Animated films will make you whistle and purr
he Museum of (and the Soup Dragon), the Childhood in inhabitants of Pogles’ Wood and TBethnal Green Bagpuss and his friends, who have is one of London’s delighted children over more than gems and the four decades. perfect place to Although they were created in take children on a the 1960s and 1970s, Smallfilms surviving animated cold, wet day. productions are essentially feature film, The Adventures of You can laze in a timeless. Who would guess that Prince Achmed (1926), and Wallace deckchair and Bagpuss’s Emily is Peter Firmin’s and Gromit: the Curse of the imagine you’re on daughter and not from the first Were-Rabbit. the beach while they play in golden age of children’s literature? A small exhibition, befitting the sandpit in the Childhood Oliver Postgate would be Smallfilms for, Bagpuss and the Galleries. But wait, you will want delighted that fox hunting is cameras aside, most of the items to wander around Clangers, now banned, but there would fit into a suitcase, let alone a Bagpuss & Co first. are few such Froglet’s top hat. Can that be said Through to October there is an anachronisms. of today’s productions? Enjoy. exhibition of Smallfilms’ wonderful Activities around You’ll leave whistling. n creations. One wonders at the the exhibition Clangers, Bagpuss ingenuity of Peter Firmin and include craft & Co is on at the Oliver Postgate as they brought activities and V&A Museum of their animations to life. screenings of Childhood until There are drawings and cut-outs animated films, 9 October, free from Ivor the Engine and Noggin including the the Nog; you’ll meet the Clangers world’s oldest Stewart Rayment SmallFilms/V&A
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Summer 2016 Vol 6 No 2 19 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
Wednesday 15 June, 2pm Thursday 16 June, 1.30pm Pat Hardy – How to avoid Mistakes in Rootsmagic Masterclass: Multiculturalism in Norman Museum of London, free. Genealogy Publishing – Turning your and Hohenstaufen Sicily Gresham College event Peter Bailey Family History into a Book Jeremy Johns Society of Genealogists, £8/ Charlie Mead British Museum, free, booking Monday 20 June, 7pm concs Society of Genealogists, £8/ essential Crossing Borders: European concs Migration Throughout Wednesday 22 June, 7.45pm Friday 17 June, 1pm History Seeking Sergeant Hember: Thursday 16 June, 7.30pm Servants in London Private view of Sicily: Culture the Story of a First World Camden: the First 50 Households 1800-1900 and Conquest and panel War Soldier Years Geffrye Museum, free discussion and debate Hugh Garnsworthy Tudor Allen British Museum, £15/concs Friern Barnet & District Local Camden History Society Saturday 18 June, 1.15pm History Society, £2 Whitechapel Bell Foundry Tuesday 21 June, 1.15pm Thursday 16 June, 7pm Visit Presenting and Preserving Friday 24 June, 1.15pm Open Evening: the Servant Society of Genealogists, African Rock Art From Persia to Iran: a Problem £17.50/concs Victoria Suzman Thousand-Year journey Evening of drama, songs and British Museum, free Vesta Curtis anecdote uncovering the lives Saturday 18 June, 1.30pm British Museum, free of servants Nebamun and Ancient Wednesday 22 June, 1.15pm Geffrye Museum, £16/concs Egyptian Art Love and Marriage in Iran Friday 24 June. 6.30pm Carol Andrews Ladan Akbarnia Sicily: a Force to be Thursday 16 June, 1.15pm British Museum, free British Museum, free Reckoned with in the The Parthenon Sculptures Ancient world Susan Woodford Monday 20 June 16, 1pm Wednesday 22 June, 2pm Dr Michael Scott British Museum, free Canaletto’s London Legacy Guidelines and Standards British Museum, £5/concs
Festival of Archaeology Before the tour on Other London events 16-31 July l www.archaeologyfestival.org.uk Wednesday is an include: 01904 671 417 l [email protected] opportunity to hear the l An evening in Burlington restored Henry Willis organ, House courtyard on Friday Organised by the Council with a further hour seated which is listed grade I in its 15 July, with the Society of for British Archaeology, the for discussion in a place of own right. Antiquaries, free (www.sal. festival offers hundreds of refreshment. The event is organised by org.uk/lates) events nationwide – This event is organised by the Union Chapel with the l A focus on industrial including two from the IAHS. the Islington Archaeology Islington Archaeology and archaeology at Kirkaldy and History Society, £10/£8 History Society. Events are Testing Museum, Saturday George Orwell and concs. Book at andy@ free but donations are 16 July, 10am-4pm Islington in the 1940s islingtonhistory.org.uk invited towards the chapel’s l An opportunity to descend This walk explores the legacy l Sunday 10 July, 4pm Margins project for the into the Victorian ice wells at of the V1 bomb, its l Sunday 17 July, 4pm homeless. Booking the London Canal Museum, permanent reminders, and preferred: email andy@ Sunday 24 July, 10am-4pm stories associated with its Guided tour of the Grade unionchapel.org.uk. l Interactive walks at the horror. These fed directly I listed Union Chapel l Sunday 10 July, 12.15pm Museum of London into Orwell’s letters, novels An opportunity to explore l Sunday 17 July, 12.15pm Docklands, Monday and essays. The walk last the chapel, including some Wednesday 20 July, 11am 25 July-Friday 29 July, approximately one hour, rarely seen spaces. (includes organ recital) 11.30am and 1.30pm
20 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Summer 2016 Vol 6 No 2 Saturday 25 June, 1.15pm Egyptian Animal Cult Silk Road Commodities: Daniela Rosenow Jade, Jewels and Princesses British Museum, free, booking Diana Driscoll essential British Museum, free Friday 29 July, 1.15pm Sunday 26 June, 2pm Egypt and Greece: Early The Destruction of Memory Encounters This new documentary tells the Aurélia Masson-Berghoff story of the war against culture, British Museum, free and the battle to save it. British Museum, free, booking Thursday 4 August, 1.30pm essential Greek Kings and Egyptian Gods Monday 27 June 16, 1pm Aurélia Masson-Berghoff London Fog and the British Museum, free, booking Impressionists You take take free rides on historic buses at Holloway Bus essential Christine Corton Garage’s open day on 9 July Museum of London, free. Wednesday 10 August, 2pm Gresham College event Thursday 30 June, 1.15pm Simon Fowler Using Masonic Records for The Skills of the Huguenots Society of Genealogists, £8/ Family and Local History Monday 27 June, 1.30pm Charlie de Wet concs Diane Clements An Archaeological British Museum, free Society of Genealogists, £8/ Detective Story in Early Thursday 14 July, 1.30pm concs Byzantine Sicily Wednesday 6 July, 6pm Sicily Under Muslim Rule Roger Wilson The River Thames Society Alex Metcalfe Thursday 1 September, 1.30pm British Museum, free, booking Peter Finch British Museum, free, booking Rome and Egypt: a Long essential Museum of London essential Relationship Docklands, £2. Docklands Ross Thomas Tuesday 28 June, 1.15pm History Group event Friday 15 July, 1.30pm British Museum, free, booking Swords and their Wielders Curator’s Introduction to essential in Anglo-Saxon England Thursday 7 July, 7.30pm Sicily: Culture and Sue Brunning All Ship-shape and Conquest Friday 2 September, 1.15pm British Museum, free Blackwall-fashion Peter Higgs The Sarcophagus of Jeremy Batch British Museum, free, booking Nectanebo II: the Tuesday 28 June, 6pm London Canal Museum, £4/ essential Legendary Father of Government and Record- concs Alexander the Great keeping in the Middle Ages Saturday 16 July, 2pm Daniela Rosenow Pipe Roll Society Friday 8 July, 1pm Cleopatra’s Palace: in British Museum, free National Archives, free Servants in London Search of a Legend Households 1900-2000 Film Friday 2 September, 7pm Wednesday 29 June, 1.15pm Geffrye Museum, free British Museum, £3/concs Sounds of the Deep Modern Europe: New Event exploring the Acquisitions Friday 8 July, 1.30pm Monday 18 July, 1.30pm relationship between poetry Judy Rudoe Storms, War and Curator’s Introduction to and the sea through the ages. British Museum, free Shipwrecks: Treasures from Sunken Cities: Egypt’s Lost British Museum, £10/concs, the Sicilian Seas Worlds book at poetinthecity.co.uk Wednesday 29 June, 2pm Alexandra Sofroniew Aurélia Masson-Berghoff Hell Upon Water: the British Museum, free, booking British Museum, free, booking Wednesday 14 September, Infamous Prison Ships of essential essential 2pm England 1793-1815 Medical Sources for Paul Chamberlain Saturday 9 July, 10.30am-4pm Friday 22 July, 6pm Genealogists Society of Genealogists, £8/ Holloway Bus Garage Open Special Event: Sicilian Dr Chris Hilton concs Day Splendour Society of Genealogists, £8/ Includes free rides on historic Event including music, drama, concs Thursday 30 June, 12pm buses and sales stands. workshops and poetry. The Photographic History £2.50, including programme British Museum, free Thursday 15 September, 7.30pm of Charing Cross Road London School of Hygiene Rob Kayne Wednesday 13 July, 2pm Monday 25 July, 1.30pm and Tropical Medicine London Westminster & Researching Brewery & Between Fascination and Victoria Cranna
Middx Family History Society Publican Ancestors Horror: the Ancient Camden History Society, £1 Christy Lawrance
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Summer 2016 Vol 6 No 2 21 Ongoing Victoria and Albert Exhibitions Museum free tours Contact the organisations for These include: Ongoing programme of events dates, times and prices. Please l Daily introductory tour Designology note that these may change. l Medieval and Renaissance This looks at how design in galleries London’s transport system has Tours of Union Chapel l Theatre and performance evolved, including publicity, 12.15pm, first Sunday of the l Britain 1500-1900 architecture, technology, month See: www.vam.ac.uk/whatson engineering, service operation A chance to appreciate the and the urban environment. beauty, complex architecture First Thursday in the month, 2pm London Transport Museum, and extent of Union Chapel’s British Library Conservation £17/concs, including museum buildings, including areas Studio Tour admission for a year rarely open to the public, a See techniques used in caring secret passage and a hidden See this king vulture, c1725- for collections. Until Sunday 3 July garden. Group bookings 31, in the V&A’s In Europe British Library, £10/concs Under London also available. 1600-1815 galleries Objects found at £5, donation, book in advance Markfield Beam Engine and archaeological digs in London on 020 7359 4019 London Metropolitan Museum Open Days since the late 20th century Archives: regular events 11am-5pm, second Sunday of have been photographed close George Orwell’s Islington Events, including advice on the month, plus bank holidays to where they were found or Various dates and times research and meeting LMA Markfield Park, N15, free, www. in places associated with them George Orwell was at his most professionals. Include: mbeam.org, 01707 873628 by National Geographic prolific during his time in l Family history starter photographer Simon Norfolk Islington. While he was living l Use LMA: getting started Historic Almshouse Tour can be seen at http://ngm. at 27b Canonbury Square, and using the catalogue The Geffrye Museum’s nationalgeographic.com/ Animal Farm was published l Behind the scenes tour 18th-century almshouse offers magazine – scroll down, click and he worked on drafts of l Handling documents at the a glimpse into the lives of on the February issue, then Nineteen Eighty-Four, LMA London’s poor and elderly in click on London’s Big Dig. published essays and articles, l Deciphering old handwriting the 18th and 19th centuries. Free, Museum of London and broadcast extensively. l LGBTQ history club [email protected], Contact Andrew Gardner on l Film club 020 7739 9893 Until Sunday 14 August [email protected] l A visit to conservation. Sicily: Culture and or 020 7359 4019 Contact the LMA for Clerkenwell and Islington Conquest information, dates and times. Guides Association: walks Since the 8th century BC, Roman Fort Gate Tours Guided walks led by the Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Tour the remains of the Marx Memorial Library tours mayor of Islington’s guides. Byzantines, Arabs and western gate of London’s Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1pm www.ciga.org.uk. Normans all settled or Roman military fort, beneath View a collection illustrating invaded Sicily, lured by its the streets next to the radical and working class Treasures of the British fertile lands and strategic museum. history. This includes where Library location. This exhibition Museum of London, £5 Lenin worked in exile in View more than 200 of the includes ancient Greek 1902-03, items from the world’s most beautiful and sculpture, architectural Billingsgate Roman House Spanish Civil War, Soviet influential books and decorations from temples, and Baths Union posters and artefacts documents, including painted churches and palaces, early Various dates and times from industrial disputes. The and early printed books, maps coins, gold jewellery, mosaics Talk plus tour of the remains building’s 15th century vaults and literary, scientific and and textiles, which show the of the Billingsgate Roman can be visited. musical works. Exhibits island’s diversity, prosperity House and Baths, discovered £5/£3 concs, book on admin@ include Gutenberg’s Bible of and significance over in 1848 under Lower Thames mml.xyz or 020 7253 1485 1455, Leonardo da Vinci’s hundreds of years. Street. notebook, Shakespeare’s First British Museum, £10/concs Museum of London, £5 British Museum: Around Folio, Handel’s Messiah and a the World in 90 Minutes 110cm diameter celestial globe. Until Wednesday 24 August The Waddesdon Bequest Fridays, Saturdays and British Library, free Speak Out London Gallery displaying nearly 300 Sundays, 11.30am and 2pm exhibition medieval and Renaissance Guided tour looking at the In Europe 1600-1815 This LGBTQ+ oral history pieces, as well as 19th-century Rosetta Stone, the Lewis More than 1,100 objects of community project is creating fakes, illustrating the chessmen, the Parthenon 17th and 18th century a contemporary archive. The development of the art market sculptures and other items. European art and design are looks at LGBTQ+ history in the late 19th century. British Museum, £12, booking displayed in seven galleries. from 1395 to the present,
Victoria and Albert Museum and Victoria Free, British Museum required Free, V&A Museum covering court records, GLC
22 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Summer 2016 Vol 6 No 2 events, medical studies, to campaigns and legislation. The Battle of the Somme: London Metropolitan Archives, free Searching for Hugh Victor Islington Museum Until 29 August Dorothy Bohm: Sixties 27 June-27 August, admission free London Discover London life of the Islington-born Sergeant letters from his family as 1960s with photographs of (Hugh) Victor Hember went they desperately tried to find people from all walks of life, missing in action on 1 July out what happened to him. from schoolchildren to 1916, the first day of the The photo in the trench on fashion-conscious young Battle of the Somme in the Western Front was taken adults to market traders. France. by Hember’s friend Gerald Jewish Museum, £7.50/concs Hember’s story of 26-year- Paterson. Soldiers were old features in a display to banned from Until Wednesday 31 August mark the centenary of the taking Curtain Up: Celebrating 40 Battle of the Somme. photos at the Years of Theatre in London On show are photographs, time, so and New York artefacts and letters written Paterson hid Delve into the world of plays, by him, including his last the film by musicals and productions to letter, addressed to his cutting out explore the craft and brother and written just two the middle of collaboration that creates days before he went missing his shaving spectacular theatre. in action. Also displayed are stick. V&A, free
Until Tuesday 6 September Punk 1976-78 fanzines, flyers, recordings Until 20 Sunday November Shakespeare in Ten Acts This exhibition celebrates the and record sleeves. Courting to Contract: Love This charts Shakespeare’s 40th anniversary of punk. Free, British Library and Marriage in Iran reinvention across the Starting with the impact of Small display exploring love centuries from the first the Sex Pistols in 1976, it Until Sunday 9 October and courtship through productions of Hamlet and The explores punk’s early days in The Clangers, Bagpuss & Co drawings, illustrated Tempest to how his plays have the capital and reveals how This first major retrospective manuscripts pages and objects been transformed for new its remarkable influence of Smallfilms goes behind the dating from the 1500s to the generations of theatre-goers. spread across music, fashion, scenes of some of Oliver 20th century. British Library, free print and graphic styles. Postgate’s and Peter Firmin’s British Museum, free Until Sunday 2 October Items on show include creations including Pogles’ Wood, Noggin the Nog and Until Sunday 19 February Ivor the Engine. It brings A History of Photography: together puppets, archive the Body footage, sets, storyboards, Display on the body as a photos, scripts and filming subject of both artistic equipment. expression and scientific ‘It’s ours whatever they say’: celebrating half V&A Museum of Childhood, examination, exploring a century of adventure play in Islington free themes such as beauty, l Review, page 19 sexuality, growth and ageing. Islington Museum V&A, free Until Saturday 25 June Until Sunday 27 November Admission free Sunken Cities: Egypt’s Lost Until 12 March 2017 Worlds Undressed: a Brief History This exhibition looks at the and their play spaces and The discovery of the lost cities of Underwear history of the adventure why adventure playgrounds of Thonis-Heracleion and This exhibition traces the role playground movement are important to them. Canopus at the mouth of the of underwear in decorating in Islington. It will also look at the Nile is transforming our and manipulating the bodies Islington has 12 adventure significant role of local understanding of the deep of women and men from the playgrounds, which have action in the development connections between the 18th century, considering the been around for almost 50 of these sites – especially ancient civilisations of Egypt practical, personal, sensory, years. The display will look at mothers in their fight for and Greece. sexual and fashionable. the heritage of local children children’s rights to play. British Museum, £16.50/concs V&A, £12/concs l l Review, page 18 Review, page 19 Association; Hugh, Ruth and Chris Garnsworthy LIslington Council/Islington Play
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Summer 2016 Vol 6 No 2 23 Bruce Castle Museum DoCoMoMo UK Directory Lordship Lane, N17 8NU, 020 Modern movement heritage. 8808 8772, museum.services@ www.docomomo-uk.co.uk haringey.gov.uk History, civic, amenity and archaeology East London History Society societies, museums and online resources Burgh House and 42 Campbell Rd, E3 4DT, mail Hampstead Museum @eastlondonhistory.org.uk New End Sq, NW3, 020 7431 0144, www.burghhouse.org.uk Enfield Archaeological To add or update information Bethlem Museum of the Society in our directly, email editor Mind Camden History Society www.enfarchsoc.org Christy Lawrance on christy@ Monks Orchard Road, 020 7586 4436, www. islingtonhistory.org.uk Beckenham, 020 3228 4227, camdenhistorysociety.org England’s Places www.bethlemheritage.org.uk Historic England archive All Hallows by the Tower Camden New Town History photographs. www. Crypt Museum Bexley Archaeological Group historicengland.org.uk/images- 020 7481 2928, www.ahbtt.org. Group www.camdennewtown.info books/archive/archive- uk/visiting/crypt-museum/ www.bag.org.uk, Martin collections/englands-places Baker: 020 8300 1752 Camden Railway Heritage Amateur Geological Trust Estorick Collection of Society Bishopsgate Institute 21 Oppidans Road, NW3, Modern Italian Art 25 Village Road, N3 1TL Library and Archive [email protected] 39a Canonbury Square, N1 230 Bishopsgate, EC2M, 020 2AN, 020 7704 9522, info@ Amwell Society 7392 9270, www.bishopsgate. Canonbury Society www.estorickcollection.com 8 Cumberland Gardens, org.uk www.canonburysociety.org. WC1X 9AG, 020 7837 0988, uk, 1 Alwyne Place, N1 Foundling Museum [email protected] Bomb Sight 40 Brunswick Square, WC1, London map of WW2 bombs, Chartered Institution of 020 7841 3600, www. Ancestor Search www.bombsight.org Building Services Engineers foundlingmuseum.org.uk Guidance on where to look. Heritage Group British Airways Heritage www.hevac-heritage.org/ Freud Museum The Angel Association www.britishairways.com/ 20 Maresfield Gdns, NW3, 020 www.angelassociation.org.uk travel/museum-collection/ Cinema Museum 7435 2002, www.freud.org.uk public/en_gb www.cinemamuseum.org.uk/ Archives Hub Friends of Hackney Archives http://archiveshub.ac.uk/ British Heritage TV City of London Hackney Archives, Dalston www.405-line.tv/ Archaeological Society Sq, E8 3BQ, 020 8356 8925, Arsenal FC Museum [email protected] [email protected] 020 7619 5000, www.arsenal. British Library com 96 Euston Rd, NW1, 0330 333 Clerkenwell and Islington Friern Barnet & District 1144, customer-Services@ Guides Association Local History Society Association for the Study bl.uk 07971 296731, [email protected] www.friern-barnethistory.org. and Preservation of Roman uk. Photo archive: www. Mosaics British Museum Clockmakers’ Museum friern-barnet.com www.asprom.org Great Russell Street, WC1, 020 www.clockmakers.org/ 7323 8299, information@ museum-and-library Friends of the New River Bank of England Museum britishmuseum.org Head Threadneedle St, EC2R 8AH, Cross Bones Graveyard c/o Amwell Society 020 7601 5545, www.bankof British Postal Museum and www.crossbones.org.uk england.co.uk/museum Archive Friends of Friendless Freeling House, Phoenix Crossness Pumping Station Churches Barnet Museum and Local Place, WC1X 0DL; store at 020 8311 3711, www. www.friendsoffriendless History Society Debden, Essex, 020 7239 2570, crossness.org.uk churches.org.uk www.barnetmuseum.co.uk [email protected] Docklands History Group Geffrye Museum BBC archive British Vintage Wireless info@docklandshistory group. 136 Kingsland Road, E2 8EA, www.bbc.co.uk/archive Society org.uk 020 7739 9893, www.geffrye- [email protected] museum.org.uk Benjamin Franklin House Dictionary of Victorian Craven Street, WC2N 5NF, Brixton Windmill London/Cat’s Meat Shop Georgian Group 020 7925 1405, info@ 020 7926 6056, www. Encyclopaedia and blog, www. 6 Fitzroy Square, W1T 5DX, BenjaminFranklinHouse.org brixtonwindmill.org/ victorianlondon.org [email protected]
24 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Summer 2016 Vol 6 No 2 Grant Museum of Zoology London Canal Museum 020 3108 2052, www.ucl.ac. 12-13 New Wharf Road, N1 uk/museums/zoology 9RT, 020 7713 0836, www. canalmuseum.org.uk Gresham College Free lectures on different London Fire Brigade Museum topics, www.gresham.ac.uk 020 8555 1200, www.london- fire.gov.uk/london-fire- Greater London Industrial brigade-museum.asp Archaeology Society (GLIAS) London Lives 1690-1800 14 Mount Rd, EN4 9RL, 020 www.londonlives.org 8692 8512, www.glias.org.uk London Metropolitan Guildhall Library Archives Aldermanbury, EC2V 7HH, The Mausolea and Monuments Trust advises on the care of 40 Northampton Rd, EC1 020 7332 1868, textphone 020 funerary monuments and “how to go about rescuing one” 0HB, 020 7332 3820, ask. 7332 3803, guildhall.library@ [email protected], cityoflondon.gov.uk Hornsey Historical Society Islington Museum www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/lma The Old Schoolhouse, 136 245 St John Street, EC1V 4NB, Hackney Museum Tottenham Lane, N8 7EL, 10am-5pm, closed Weds and London & Middlesex 1 Reading Lane, E8 1GQ, hornseyhistorical.org.uk Sun, 020 7527 2837, islington. Archaeological Society www. hackney.gov.uk/ [email protected], 020 7814 5734, www.lamas. cm-museum.htm Hunterian Museum www.islington.gov.uk/ org.uk RCS, 35-43 Lincoln’s Inn museum The Hackney Society Fields, WC2, www.rcseng. London Museums of Health Round Chapel, 1d Glenarm ac.uk/museums Islington’s Lost Cinemas and Medicine Road, E5 0LY, 020 7175 1967, www.islingtonslostcinemas.com www.medicalmuseums.org [email protected] IanVisits Blog with history and other Islington Society London Museum of Water Hendon and District events. www.ianvisits.co.uk 3P Leroy, 436 Essex Road & Steam Archaeology Society London N1 3QP 020 8568 4757, www. 020 8449 7076, hadas.org.uk International Council on [email protected] waterandsteam.org.uk Monuments and Sites Heritage of London Trust www.icomos-uk.org Jewish Museum London Socialist Historians 020 7730 9472, www. www.jewishmuseum.org.uk http://londonsocialist heritageoflondon.com Imperial War Museum historians.blogspot.com Lambeth Road, SE1 6HZ, Joe Meek Society Historic Hospital Admission www.iwm.org.uk www.joemeeksociety.org London Society Records Project http://londonsociety.org.uk/ www.hharp.org/ Islington and Camden Dr Johnson’s House Cemetery 17 Gough Square, EC4, www. London Vintage Taxi Highgate Literary and High Road, East Finchley, N2 drjohnsonshouse.org Association Scientific Institution Archives 9AG, 020 7527 8804, www. www.lvta.co.uk [email protected] islington.gov.uk/ Keats House Environment/cemeteries 020 7332 3868, keatshouse@ London Transport Museum Historical Association, cityoflondon.gov.uk 020 7379 6344, www. Central London Branch Islingtonfacesblog.com ltmuseum.co.uk 020 7323 1192, www.history. Living history interviews. Lewisham Local History org.uk, [email protected] http://islingtonfacesblog.com Society London Underground www.lewishamhistory.org.uk Railway Society Historic Towns Forum Islington Local History [email protected] www.historictowns forum.org Centre Locating London’s Past Finsbury Library, 245 St John www.locatinglondon.org London Westminster & History of Harringay St, EC1V 4NB. 9.30am-8pm Middlesex Family History www.harringayonline.com/ Mon and Thurs (shuts 6pm London Archaeological Society group/historyofharringay every other Monday); Archive and Research www.lwmfhs.org.uk 9.30am-5pm Tues, Fri and Sat; Centre Online Horniman Museum closed Weds and Sun; closed Catalogue Markfield Beam Engine and 100 London Rd, SE23, 020 1pm-2pm; 020 7527 7988; http://archive. Museum 8699 1872, www.horniman. [email protected], museumoflondon.org.uk/ Markfield Park, N15, 01707 ac.uk www.islington.gov.uk/heritage laarc/catalogue/ 873628, [email protected]
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Summer 2016 Vol 6 No 2 25 Mausolea & Monuments Newcomen Society for the Royal Institute of British Theatres Trust Trust History of Engineering and Architects (RIBA) 22 Charing Cross Road, www.mmtrust.org.uk Technology 66 Portland Place, W1B 1AD, WC2H 0QL, 020 7836 8591, 020 7371 4445, office@ www.architecture.com www.theatrestrust.org.uk Marx Memorial Library newcomen.com 37a Clerkenwell Green, EC1 Science Museum Tiles and Architectural 0DU, 020 7253 1485, info@ Newington Green Action Exhibition Road, SW7 2DD. Ceramics Society marx-memorial-library.org Group www.sciencemuseum.org.uk http://tilesoc.org.uk 020 7359 6027, www. The Model Railway Club newingtongreen.org.uk Sign Design Society Transport Trust 4 Calshot St, N1 9DA www.signdesignsociety.co.uk Lambeth Rd, SE1, 020 7928 020 7837 2542, www. New River Action Group 6464, www.transporttrust.com themodelrailwayclub.org 020 8292 5987, mail@ Sir John Soane’s Museum newriver.org.uk 13 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, WC2A Twentieth Century Society Museum of Brands 3BP, www.soane.org 70 Cowcross St, EC1, 020 111-117 Lancaster Road, W11 North London Railway 7250 3857, www.c20society. 1QT, 020 7908 0880, info@ Historical Society Smithfield Trust org.uk museumofbrands.com 020 7837 2542, www.nlrhs. 70 Cowcross St, EC1, 020 org.uk 7566 0041 Union Chapel and Friends Museum of Domestic Design of the Union Chapel & Architecture (MoDA) Northview – 1930s estate Society of Genealogists Compton Avenue, N1 2XD, 020 8411 4394, www.moda. www.northview.org.uk www.sog.org.uk, 020 7251 www.unionchapel.org.uk/ mdx.ac.uk/home 8799, booking: 020 7553 3290 pages/friends.html Ocean Liner Society Museum of London wwwocean-liner-society.com Society for the Protection Victoria & Albert Museum 150 London Wall, EC2Y 5HN, of Ancient Buildings Cromwell Rd, SW7, 020 7907 020 7814 5511, info@ Pauper Lives in Georgian 37 Spital Sq, E1 6DY, 020 7377 7073, www.vam.ac.uk museumoflondon.org.uk London and Manchester 1644, www.spab.org.uk http://research.ncl.ac.uk/ V&A Museum of Childhood Museum of London pauperlives Southwark and Lambeth Cambridge Heath Road, E2 Archaeology Archaeology Society 9PA, 020 8983 5200, www. Mortimer Wheeler House, 46 Peckham Society 79 Ashridge Cres, SE18 3EA museumofchildhood.org.uk Eagle Wharf Road, N1, 020 www.peckhamsociety.org.uk 7410 2200, www.museum The Streatham Society Victorian Society oflondon archaeology.org.uk Petrie Museum of Egyptian www.streathamsociety.org.uk 020 8994 1019, www. Archaeology victoriansociety.org.uk Museum of London www. ucl.ac.uk/museums/ Stuart Low Trust Docklands petrie www.slt.org.uk Wallpaper History Society 020 7001 9844, www.museum wallpaperhistorysociety. oflondon.org.uk/docklands Prehistoric Society Rotherhithe & Bermondsey org.uk www.prehistoricsociety.org Local History Society Museum of the Order of [email protected] Walthamstow Historical St John Proceedings of the Old Society St John’s Gate, EC1M 4DA, Bailey Royal Archaeological www.walthamstow 020 7324 4005, www. www.oldbaileyonline.org Institute historicalsociety.org.uk/ museumstjohn.org.uk [email protected] Railway Correspondence Wellcome Collection Musical Museum and Travel Society Royal College of Nursing www.wellcomecollection.org 399 High Street, TW8 0DU, www.rcts.org.uk Library and Heritage Centre www.musicalmuseum.co.uk 0345 337 3368, rcn.library@ John Wesley’s House and Rescue/British rcn.org.uk Museum of Methodism National Archives Archaeological Trust 49 City Rd, EC1, www.wesleys 020 8876 3444, www. www.rescue-archaeology.org.uk Thames Discovery chapel.org.uk/museum.htm nationalarchives.gov.uk Programme Ragged School Museum Mortimer Wheeler Hse, 46 William Morris Gallery National Churches Trust 020 8980 6405, www.ragged Eagle Wharf Rd, N1, 020 7410 Forest Road, E17, 020 8496 www.nationalchurchestrust. schoolmuseum.org.uk 2207, thamesdiscovery.org 4390, www.wmgallery.org.uk org Royal Air Force Museum Theatres Trust Wilmington Square Society National Piers Society 020 8205 2266, www. 020 7836 8591, www. www.thewilmington www.piers.org.uk rafmuseum.org.uk/london theatrestrust.org.uk squaresociety.org
26 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Summer 2016 Vol 6 No 2 Islington Archaeology & History Society Events
Wednesday 15 June, 7.30pm, Islington Town Hall Wednesday 29 June, 7.30pm, Islington Town Hall
Islington Local History Centre and Brutalist Islington Museum: collecting Islington’s past, present and future history James Dunnett, Islington architect and past chair of Mark Aston, local history manager, Islington Council DoCoMoMo UK
Mark Aston, local history manager at Islington Local History A photo-tour of buildings Centre and Museum, will be talking about collecting, sharing built between 1955 and 1975 and promoting the borough’s fascinating history. He will give an in Islington, with a talk about overview of the centre and museum, and share some of the them and their architects. treasures of the collections. He will also update us about the new archive storage facility This event is held jointly with at Finsbury Library, which will bring fragmented collections the Islington Society. together, making hidden material more accessible and encouraging researchers to delve deeper into the archive. Outreach is another important feature of services and he will bring us up to date on recent and future projects that will focus upon Islington’s past. See us at summer fairs and festivals The society has a stall at local fairs over the summer, This event will be preceded by the IAHS AGM at 6.30pm including the Angel Canal Festival on Sunday 4 September, which is held by City Road Lock. Come along, say hello and pick up old maps, history books, postcards and more.
Keep an eye on our Facebook group at www.facebook.com/ groups/islingtonhistory for more details
Wednesday 21 September, 7.30pm, Islington Town Hall Islington and the International Brigade Richard Baxell, historian, author of books on the Spanish Civil War and International Brigade Memorial Trust chair
International Brigades were military units, made up of volunteers from different countries who travelled to Spain to fight in the Spanish Civil War, between 1936 and 1939.
Wednesday 19 October , 7.30pm, Islington Town Hall Six hundred years of the Old Red Lion On show at Islington Museum: this dairy cart was loaded Damien Devine, executive director, Old Red Lion Theatre with churns of milk, which was sold door to door. It was made in 1914 and was in use until 1947. Behind it is a The Old Red Lion Theatre, which opened over 30 years ago, has mangle and a 1930s kitchen. Find out about the museum transferred work off-Broadway to the West End, and Devine has and Islington’s heritage collections at our June meeting traced taverns on the site at Angel going back centuries.
The Islington Archaeology & History Society meets 10 times a year, usually at 7.30pm on the third Wednesday of the month
at Islington Town Hall, Upper Street, N1. £1 donation/free to members. Everyone welcome. www.islingtonhistory.org.uk Christy Lawrance
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Summer 2016 Vol 6 No 2 31 The Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Back page picture The restored mural at Bevin Court, Day and Night Winged Bulls, painted by Peter Yates in 1954, was unveiled in May. It draws on the coat of arms of Finsbury and includes: the winged bull of St Luke; dolphins representing St James; a pool of water referring to New River Head; the Clerks’ Well in the centre; the city walls and gate referencing the Liberty of Glasshouse; Yard and the dome of St John’s (or maybe St Paul’s); and St Luke’s tower to the left
Islington Council/Bevin Court Project