Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Vol 1 No 4 Winter 2011/12 incorporating Islington History Journal
The fight for Finsbury Health Centre
How patients and residents worked to keep it as a place for community healthcare
Las Vegas weddings in Georgian London l An armchair cruise down the Fleet river l The company that brought TV into living rooms l Christmas at Beale’s emporium on Holloway Road l A corner garden on Upper Street l Growing up in a tenement in the 1930s l Four pages of winter reading l Your local history questions answered l News and events About the society
What we do Memories, reviews, old photographs, Islington Archaeology & ideas sought… contribute to this journal History Society Committee he society arranges President lectures, walks, visits We welcome contributions, streets or buildings? Send Rt Hon Lord Smith Tand outings about including articles on local them in for our tireless of Finsbury the archaeology and history history, memories and more researcher Michael Reading of Islington. academic pieces. – and maybe other readers Vice-president We liaise with the council Each page takes about 500 – to answer. Mary Cosh and others in matters of words, and maximum article l See Letters, page 6 planning and development length is 1,000 words. Email Chairman and acting to record and protect the editor for a copy of our Copyright secretary Islington’s sites that are of writing guidelines. Copyright of everything in Andrew Gardner archaeological and historical We like receiving pictures, this journal lies with the [email protected] importance. but please check that we can creator unless otherwise We also aim to document reproduce them without stated. While it can be difficult Membership and events archaeological findings in infringing anyone’s copyright. to trace copyright ownership Catherine Brighty the borough. Deadline for the spring of archive materials, we 8 Wynyatt Street Local historical and issue is 1 February. make every effort to do so. London literary walks are arranged EC1V 7HU for groups. Ever wondered…? Any questions? 020 7833 1541 Do you have any queries Contact editor Christy Why archaeology? about Islington’s history, Lawrance (details right). Treasurer Archaeology is not just Philip Anderson about what is buried; it phlpandrsn6@ includes structures and Join us and benefit from membership btopenworld.com fragments that still exist, and the people who lived, Members receive this building restoration, Committee members worked and died in them. journal and are invited to entertainment, health and Kathleen Frenchman We are here to investigate, 10 talks a year with guest health services, and crime. Peter Fuller learn and celebrate what is speakers and other events. Members also receive Michael Harper left to us. We run a wide range of the journal four times Derek Seeley talks, with topics including a year. Our website architecture, gardens, Non-members are always Academic adviser Go to www.iahs.org.uk to transport, industry, politics, welcome at talks – we invite Lester Hillman, former find out more about us and social change, London’s a £1 donation towards the visiting professor, London our events. waterways, map-making, speaker’s expenses. Metropolitan Business School, London (photocopies acceptable) $ Metropolitan University Join the Islington Archaeology & History Society Newsletter editor Membership per year is: £10 single; £12 joint at same address; concessions £6; joint Christy Lawrance concessions £8; corporate £15 [email protected] c/o 6 Northview Name(s) ...... Tufnell Park Road London N7 0QB Address ......
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Cover picture: Finsbury Health Centre by Gordon Cullen, courtesy of John Allan Gordon Cullen, courtesy of John Health Centre by picture: Finsbury Cover London EC1N 7RJ
2 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2011/12 Vol 1 No 4 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society
Incorporating Islington History Journal Vol 1 No 4 Winter 2011/12
Tales of the course of the Fleet river
he Fleet river, which once ran along much of Islington’s Contents Twestern boundary, has long disappeared under roads and pave- ments. Place names remind us of it News 4 and you can still hear it gurgling Modernist gem saved from redevelopment through gratings in a couple of places. Joe Orton’s defaced books go on show In 2012, the society is planning walks Heritage centre plans stall Pump House conversion into flats along the Fleet’s route, taking in the sights, sounds and smells along the way. Letters and your questions 6 A printing firm in Cross Street, a nursing home and a pub family Marriage, Las Vegas style The Fleet gave its name to the The fight for Finsbury Health Centre 8 notorious prison and to the A determined campaign to stop the sale of Lubektin’s masterpiece also-notorious Fleet marriages. The area around the prison was the TV firm boxes clever 10 Las Vegas of its day. Couples could just The Islington firm that made the first televisions turn up and get married, without having to go through the processes Christmas at Beale’s 12 approved by the government and the North London descends on the Holloway store for some excessive shopping church. These weddings were extremely popular – the journal looks at why. The Last Vegas of Georgian London 14 Why couples headed for the Fleet prison area to get married Star of Upper Street As we went to press, English Heritage The garden on the corner 16 announced it is to erect a blue plaque How a small garden on Upper Street came to be to commemorate Gracie Fields, one of the 20th century’s biggest stars. Her A Stroud Green Road day out 18 first home in London was 72a Upper A 1940s coach trip for the workers Street, a flat above a sweet shop. She later moved to a 28-room mansion. Recognise a name? 18 Names on coffin plates from Islington Green burial ground A pioneer beyond TV November saw the 75th anniversary of Islington’s western shores 19 television broadcasting as we know it, An armchair cruise down the Fleet river with much attention paid to Alexandra Palace. Yet it was Islington firm AC Tenement tales 20 Cossor that brought TV to the masses, A first-hand account of growing up near Essex Road in the 1930s as the first firm to manufacture TV sets. The Cossor family firms were also Publications and bookshop 22 pioneers in x-ray tubes, medical devices, radar and air traffic control. Events 26 They deserve to be better known. Directory of societies and museums 29 Christy Lawrance Editor Islington Archaeology & History Society events 31
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2011/12 Vol 1 No 4 3 news In brief Modernist 1930s enclave preserved
US slaves and owners Northview estate in Tufnell database opens up Park Road was saved from a A database of slaves and “hideous” redevelopment in slave owners has been set September, after councillors up by the Virginia Historical rejected plans to build an Society in the US. Unknown extra storey on top of its No Longer can be searched larger block, against officers’ at http://unknownnolonger. recommendations. vahistorical.org. Northview, built in 1938 to a village green design, is Discuss your work in nearly intact and retains progress online many original deco features. Northview: all stepped parapets and Crittall stair windows would Objecting at the planning have been destroyed; below: deco banisters with papyrus motifs A website where historians committee meeting, resident can share and comment on Ben Porter described the UK, the UK branch of the columnist, works in progress has been proposal as “a bland storey of international modern wrote: established. The History cement and glass that takes architecture organisation, “Altering and Working Papers Project can no account of Northview’s said the proposed storey enlarging this be accessed at https://libtool. understated elegance”. was “hideous”. He described interesting ulib.iupui.edu/wordpress. Had the storey been given its “crudity and inelegance” 1930s enclave consent, deco parapets, and added that it would seems Scottish Roman shoe original Crittall windows make the courtyard feel unnecessary collection unearthed and art deco banisters with oppressive. He called and certainly undesirable.” papyrus motifs would have Northview “a pleasant and The story received About 60 pairs of sandals been damaged or destroyed largely unaltered example of extensive coverage in the and shoes that belonged to altogether. 1930s popular modernism”. Islington Tribune. Residents Roman soldiers have been Modern architecture Gavin Stamp, trustee of were supported by local unearthed at a supermarket expert James Dunnett RIBA, the 20th Century Society politicians. building site in Camelon, co-chair of DOCOMOMO- and Private Eye architecture l www.northview.org.uk Scotland, National Geographic reported. The cache is one of the largest of Historic Finsbury name must not Biggest Roman baths in its type found in Scotland. be lost, says Islington South MP south London found Councils call for tougher Ruins of a Roman bath scrap metal regulation house have been found on Emily Thornberry MP land on Borough High Metal thieves who steal from described Finsbury’s radical Street being redeveloped for churches, railway lines and past and its politicians at a the Thameslink rail war memorials are being recent meeting of the programme. helped by outdated scrap Islington Archaeology & The ruins are believed to metal industry regulations, History Society. be one of the biggest Roman the Local Government The Islington South MP finds in south London. The Association has said. It has also circulated maps bath house appears to called for councils to have showing proposed include a cold plunge bath more powers over how constituency boundary and hot rooms warmed by scrap metal dealers operate, changes and discussed underfloor heating. including making sellers and whether the name Finsbury Emily Thornberry: radical Substantial walls thought their vehicles easier to trace. should be retained in the history must not be forgotten to be from to predecessors new constituency name. of St Thomas’ hospital have Temple of Mithras to She described Finsbury’s and three wards from also been unearthed. return to Roman home radical image as being very Camden to the constituency different from the City of and naming it City of The Temple of Mithras is London’s, conjuring up London and Islington South. being put into temporary images of people feasting off Ms Thornberry has since storage before being rebuilt gold plates. written to the Boundary more faithfully and returned The Boundary Commission saying that her to its original Roman Commission has proposed constituency should retain
Network Rail Network location in Walbrook Square. adding the City of London the “Finsbury” name.
4 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2011/12 Vol 1 No 4 Excavations to start at Modernist 1930s enclave preserved Turnmill building Orton’s defaced books go on show
Works are due to start at the The sister of playwright Joe as wallpaper for their flat. Turnmill building at Orton opened an exhibition They were caught in 1962 63 Clerkenwell Road. The of his famously defaced and, after pleading guilty to site is within the precinct of library books at the Islington theft and malicious damage, St John’s Priory – part of the Museum in October. were each sentenced to six precinct wall have may Leonie Orton-Barnett months. Orton found his survived. The 1887 building described Joe as “kind and time in prison inspirational will be demolished and gentle” and “very caring”, at to his writing career. replaced with a six-storey the launch of Malicious He went on to become a office block. Damage: the Life and Crimes successful playwright, but of Joe Orton and Kenneth his life was cut short when Archaeology museum Halliwell in Islington. Leonie Orton-Barnett: “Joe was he was murdered in 1967 by becomes a company This is the first time that very kind and gentle” Halliwell in a fit of jealousy. all the surviving covers are After the court case, the The Museum of London being displayed together. his typewriter and flyers and covers were locked in a Archaeology is no longer Also on show are his diaries, programmes for his plays. librarian’s drawer and part of the Museum of When living in Noel Road, largely forgotten. As Orton’s London. It became a Orton and his partner reputation grew, the books separate company on Kenneth Halliwell became famous. 1 November 2011, run by a “doctored” library books to Rosemary Doyle, Islington board of trustees. It will protest at what they saw as Council’s head of library and retain the same name and “endless shelves of rubbish” heritage services, said: address. MOLA and the in Islington’s libraries. After “There is an irony that the Museum of London will adding pictures and texts to damaged book covers that continue to work together. the books, the pair would caused such trouble are now return them anonymously on display in Islington.”n Early humans in England then stand back and observe l See Borrowed Books to knew Neanderthals the reaction of readers. Guerilla Artwork by Mark The couple also stole over Aston, autumn issue, Dating a fragment of upper 1,600 coloured pictures from page 20 jaw with three teeth from At the opening night art books, which they used l Events, page 27 Devon has confirmed that early humans lived alongside Neanderthals. The jawbone Heritage centre plans stop Pump House conversion is 41,500-44,200 years old, not 35,000 years old as previously thought. It The historic Pump House in The historic site is at the He added that the predates other evidence for Clerkenwell has had a end of the New River, which Islington Building early humans in Western reprieve from plans to turn brought fresh water to Preservation Trust held Europe, which goes back to it into luxury flats and London in 1613. £100,000 for a heritage centre 39,000-41,000 years ago. The commercial space. Clerkenwell councillor and the Heritage of London research was published in Planners were George Allan described the Trust was believed to be Nature in November. recommending that consent saga as a “monumental keen to take on the project. l http://tinyurl.com/3j26hfy be given to redevelop the cock-up” and “a tale of greed The planning application grade II listed building but and incompetence” to the was “in connection with Archaeology awards their report failed to mention Islington Tribune. various alterations and open for entries it had been earmarked for a He said earlier: “The extensions to the buildings heritage centre. planners have issued a report known as the engine/pump Entries are being invited for Islington council has saying that because the last house and adjacent the British Archaeological allowed other buildings on planning brief is 12 years old, building”. Awards. These must relate the Thames Water site to be they do not consider that It said: “Notable works to work done since February converted into flats over the permission can be refused include the formation of 2010 and be submitted by past 20 years on condition for the application’s failure to lower ground floor and rear the end of 29 February 2012. that the Pump House would provide for a heritage centre extensions to single storey Contact administrator Sarah become a heritage centre. …. I think the Islington southern building erection, Howell, tel: 01992 554962, After this information came planners forgot about all the insertion of a new floor email: robertkilntrust@ to light, the application was agreements and are now too within southern building, btconnect.com, www.britarch. withdrawn from the planning embarrassed to admit they various fenestration ac.uk/awards/baa2012.html. committee’s agenda. have made a major blunder.” alterations to the buildings.”
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History & Society Winter 2011/12 Vol 1 No 4 5 Letters and your questions We welcome letters. Our researcher Michael Reading can answer your questions, so get in touch if you have a query or can answer or add to anything mentioned here
Printer of Cross Street Ltd who occupied the or 119 Essex Rd as they were (Hawes Street is nearby). I am researching publisher/ ground floor, now the Frame around that time? The original inn, printer RE King & Co Ltd, Factory. Other separate 5. What happened to the nicknamed Job’s House, was which was at 20 Cross Street businesses have and still do pub and the family after destroyed by fire in 1829. during 1912-22. occupy the upper floors.” Alfred died? His wife, Anne, Another building was The Islington Local History I imagine that RE King & died in 1898. erected and stood there until Centre has no photographs Co occupied the upper floors 6. Are there any Pascalls in the night of 8 March 1941 of the building then, and no between 1912 and 1922. the area? when a bomb fell on it, archives of the firm, which I have two rather battered killing 19 people and seems to have disappeared. Two family pubs Victorian silver pint tankards injuring many others. It had Can you possibly help me My great-grandfather, Alfred from the pub, engraved with only a ground floor for many with anything please? Pascall (1852-1901) is the pub’s name, that were years until it was rebuilt to I bought a copy of your described in the 1901 census presumably taken after what you see today. excellent 53 Cross Street. Many as the manager (tavern) of Alfred died and before the I will now deal with your thanks for publishing this. the Rotherfield Arms in pub was sold or taken back six questions. Professor John Spiers. Rotherfield Street and living by a brewery. 1. The Rotherfield Arms was Via email at 119 Essex Rd with five of Graham Pascall at 38 Shepperton Road, his sons – Alfred John Via email where Rotherfield Street Michael Reading writes: (1883-1960), Arthur Edwin joins Shepperton Road; one In 2005, I completed a booklet (1884-1915, killed in WW1), Michael Reading writes: side of the building is in entitled Cross Street, a history Henry J (1887-1963), Thomas You are right that 140 Rotherfield Street and the of one of the oldest streets in Frederick (1893 – last heard Rotherfield Street was a pub; other in Shepperton Road. It the borough. I lodged two of in a nursing home in the Duke of Clarence built it is almost opposite the old copies at the Islington Local 1980) and his twin brother in 1861-62 and it was the Shepperton Road School. It History Centre. Robert Reginald (1893-1974). only pub in Rotherfield Street. is now private housing. In the booklet, I make two There were three other Shepperton Road School 2. To find out whether your references to no 20 Cross children – George (1890- was opened in 1879 by the relative owned the pub, ask Street: “No 20, now the 1968), my grandfather who School Board of London and the Land Registry if any Frame Factory, is an obvious was at the Licensed closed in 1957. It was conveyance of the property industrial building and was Victuallers school with a replaced by Rotherfield has taken place in his name. built in the late 1890s and sister, Annie Ellen (1888?-?) Street Primary School, which 3. Try the London and South occupied initially by John and another girl (Cissie? the is approximately in the East Licensed Victuallers Wright Thomas Jun Co, a youngest child?) who does centre of Rotherfield Street. Association, 22 High Street, pattern card manufacturer. It not appear on either census The pub at 119 Essex Road Colliers Wood, SW19 2BH, was also given the name of but is in a family photograph was named The Embassy in tel: 020 8540 1275. Leslie Works. taken around 1897-98. the last 15 years and was 4. There may be photographs “It is the tallest building in The building (no 140?) on formerly the Thatched House. of the Rotherfield Arms and the street, with five floors, Rotherfield Street near Essex An inn has stood on this site the Thatched House at the and has been occupied at Road might have been a since the early 18th century. London Metropolitan various times by different pub. Nearby is Shepperton It was once kept by the Archives. businesses, including several Road school, which Arthur father of William Hawes MD The Islington Local in multiple occupation, attended. The Embassy pub (1738-1808) the founder of History Centre holds bomb which continues today. at 119 Essex Road looks the Royal Humane Society. damage reports for 1940-45 “The substantial ground modern. and an air raid album, which floor/basement had served I would like to know if you contains a photograph of the as a foundry at one time in can help me with: Thatched House just after if the past.” 1. Where was the pub? An inn has stood on was bombed. There is a short The booklet includes 2. Did he own it? the site of the The description: “High Explosive photographs, some historic 3. Was he the chairman of Embassy in Essex bomb through the window of and others taken by myself. the Licensed Victuallers’ first floor of the Public House, A 2005 photograph of no 20 Association for London? Road since the early demolishing the Public and is captioned: “The former 4. Do you know of any 18th century Private Bars, and penetrating foundry of Opperman Gears photographs of the pub and/ the basement. Road in front
6 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2011/12 Vol 1 No 4 partially blocked. Partial I had been christened in a Building necessary.” congregational church and, The www.deadpubs.co.uk as each congregation varies, website has a photograph of it was not possible to be the Rotherfield Arms as it is sure that the baptism had now. Follow the links. followed all the correct 5. The Rotherfield Arms was procedures. probably open until 20 years I was therefore ago but, like many pubs, it (re-)baptised “conditionally”. has closed due to the The priest said: “If thou hast decline in business and not been baptised before I social changes in Islington baptise thee ….” Conditional in particular. Family history baptism is very rare and I research is outside the scope have never met anyone else of the society’s help. who has gone through it. 6. A rather crude method of A small survivor: the former Rotherfield Arms is now residential I have often wondered checking where people live what God would have done is looking at the telephone Thatched House, even years your relative lived in if I had been baptised twice. directory. However, many though the family were Islington. These directories, Eternal damnation? Thunder people are not listed. living above it in 1901. dating from 1800, can be and lightning? On a personal note, I used Perhaps an enquiry to the inspected at the London Beverley Charles Rowe to live in a block of flats in Licenced Victuallers Metropolitan Archives. Camden Mews, NW1 9DB Halton Road, some 50 yards Association could put an 2. Cloudesley Place is very from the Thatched House. In end to all my speculation. near to the former London Dawson’s City Road store 1941, my mother and I were Fever Hospital in Liverpool Dr Charles Jenkins asked for evacuated but my father Seeking a nursing home Road. This hospital was information on Dawson’s stayed, and was waiting to A family member lived in merged with the Royal Free department store in our last be called up into the RAF. Islington in Arlington Way Hospital in 1948 and closed issue (autumn, page 7). On the night of 8 March and Clousby Place (I think some years later. George Goodwin responds: with the air raids going on, this should have been The original buildings have I do recall Dawson’s store as he came down from our Cloudesley Place) and been converted to homes, a child. It was located at the fourth-floor flat and stood in worked at the “Middleton but its archives are available junction of New North Road the doorway, ducking down Nursing Home”. and may be the place to look and City Road. when the bomb landed. He I can find no reference to a for the nurses’ home. I remember that we had a then rushed over to the pub, Middleton or Myddleton The archives are at: The collector call to our house probably being one of the Nursing Home. If this Hoo, 17 Lyndhurst Gardens, for his weekly dues. (If my first to arrive and helped person’s home address was NW3 5NU, tel: 020 7794 memory serves me right, his with trying to extract people incorrect, she may have 0692, email: archive. name was Mr Sleep.) from the debris. worked at a nurses’ home [email protected]. The One of my favourite rather than a nursing home. archivist is Ms Vicky Rea. experiences of Dawson’s Graham Pascall writes: I have been in contact services was getting new On looking again the 1901 with the folks at the A rare conditional baptism black boots for school. The census, I saw Alfred Pascall Islington History Centre but Further to George first thing my father did was is described as a tavern they have been unable to Goodwin’s letter (autumn, to put studs on the soles manager and his son Arthur find a solution. page 6), you certainly have and “Blakey’s” on the tips or Edwin (16) as a tavern Could any of your to be baptised before you heels to save wear and tear. barman, both living at 119 members or records shed can be confirmed but, as I think the store was still Essex Rd and working at some light on this mystery? most people are christened functioning in the late 1950s home. He may have managed Rod Jones as a child – or used to be – or even the early 1960s. (I the Thatched House. By email that is not often a problem. could be wrong though!) The Deadpubs record for The Anglican church is I hope this helps in some the Thatched House does Michael Reading writes: very liberal about what small way. not mention Alfred by Like the Islington Local baptisms it recognises but George Goodwin (an old name. Chamberlain and History Centre, I have when I was confirmed there north London lad) Harwood, who took over in searched all the sources I was a problem. By email 1899, may have employed have but without success. him as manager when he I offer two rather tenuous left the Rotherfield Arms. suggestions. Write to us at [email protected], via www.iahs.org.uk My father and grandfather, 1. Middleton Nursing Home or c/o 6 Northview, Tufnell Park Road, London N7 0QB. to my knowledge, never may be listed in the index to If you would like your email or post address printed so mentioned any business trades and professions in the other readers can contact you directly, let us know connection with the Post Office directories for the Commons Munro/Creative Ewan
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History & Society Winter 2011/12 Vol 1 No 4 7 A press release was sent out in March 2008. A small paragraph appeared in the Islington Gazette but inspired little response. Then, in August, after a series of spreads in the Islington Tribune about the imminent closure and people’s memories of Finsbury Health Centre, three local residents, all patients at FHC, got together to petition the secretary of state for health for its refurbishment and preservation as a health centre. The next few months were a real lesson in how bureaucracy works in a time of market fundamentalism. None of us really knew much about how the NHS was run locally. The key body we had to contend with was Islington The fight for Finsbury primary care trust (PCT), a quango that had replaced the local statutory health authority Health Centre and community health councils. It was made up of the great and good who could be trusted not to question the bureaucrats Barb Jacobson describes how patients and residents battled too deeply. the bureaucrats to stop the sale of Lubetkin’s icon and prove Digging out facts and figures it was fit for healthcare more than 70 years after it was built The PCT that autumn held a consultation that did not include an option to keep services at insbury Health Centre It is – as was proved by the Finsbury Health Centre. We on Pine Street, EC1, campaign to save it from closure made various Freedom of famously designed by and private sell-off – a building Information requests for key facts Berthold Lubetkin and that has inspired enduring that were missing: the 2002 built in 1938, has the affection on the part of the plans; the actual cost of Fdistinction of being one of the surrounding community. It refurbishing the building (as first public health centres represents an ideal of what opposed to rental under private Light and bright: offering free services. An inspira- promotes good public healthcare. finance initiative plans described “Entrance hall tion for the NHS, it is a model of flooded with The building has been sorely below); and maps showing good health building design that light through bashed about over the course of where patients who used the is still studied by architects wall of glass its existence, first by war and various services at FHC lived. around the world. bricks” then by the NHS. It has stood In November, the campaign entirely neglected over the past organised the most well-attended 17 years, since a partial meeting during the entire restoration in 1995. consultation, where more than Plans were drawn up in 2002 100 patients, health workers, to refurbish the centre local trade union representatives, completely under New Labour’s architects and conservation public-private LIFT programme experts quizzed the head of the when suddenly, after six years’ PCT and her trusty minion. work – as long as it had taken to All we were told, besides a list be fund, design and build the of the many defects for which original building – the local the NHS was itself responsible, primary care trust that owns the was that the building was not “fit grade I listed centre decided to for 21st century healthcare”. move all services out and sell it We were told that it would be to the highest bidder. too expensive to rent after
8 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2011/12 Vol 1 No 4 refurbishment. This was because, Right: natural under the private finance light all day, initiative policy current at the unlike in a Victorian time, this would involve another building; company not only doing the below: efficient refurbishment but also taking layout, with no over ownership and management stairs for of the building, on a loan that patients to climb the NHS would effectively be and all offices paying back over 25 years. on one level on The audience agreed that this the first floor form of 21st-century finance was “unfit for purpose”, and pointed out several other options, including the formation of a community trust to oversee fundraising and refurbishment. The PCT has remained blind to this option until very recently. Meanwhile, the PCT board Despite the board’s decision to being formed to raise funds to voted to sell the health centre in ignore the council’s thoroughly refurbish and update the building January 2009 and, in a brave considered advice, in January fully and, if necessary, take over move, Islington council’s health 2011, they admitted that services ownership and management. It and wellbeing scrutiny at Finsbury Health Centre had to has already identified several committee decided to refer the remain where they were. likely sources for capital grants. matter to the secretary of state for They sold the neighbouring Some buildings in a city, health less than two weeks later. Pine Street building to the charity especially those built for that runs the Michael Palin community benefit, become the The next few months Stammering Centre and used the equivalent of mountains or rivers funds recouped to do emergency in a natural landscape. They are were a real lesson in repairs ordered by English part of the identity of the place how bureaucracy works Heritage, plus some decoration – when they are removed from and works required to improve public use, damaged or in a time of market infection control, as well as demolished, a community loses fundamentalism reorganisation of the extra space an important connection not resulting from the Michael Palin only to its past but also to its centre move. These were due to hopes for the future. After claims by the PCT that be finished in November. When it was built, Finsbury there “wasstillroomfor Health Centre must have looked negotiation”, the matter came Looking ahead as if it had landed from outer back to the council. Later, the The building’s future is still space among the drab and filthy PCT was shown to have had no uncertain, however. The Health terraces surrounding it. Finsbury intention to budge. and Social Care Bill going through borough council went to some Under Councillor Martin parliament abolishes PCTs but effort, commissioning the lovely Klute’s leadership, the health and gives little thought to what cartoons by Gordon Cullen wellbeing scrutiny committee happens to their NHS property. shown here to explain the undertook an eight-month The Finsbury Health Centre building’s radical design. review of the evidence, which Building Preservation Trust is Over four generations, it has concluded in March 2010 that the become part of the landscape. It PCT should agree not to sell and and the surrounding community consider other funding options. deserve to see Finsbury Health After a five-month delay excused Centre again live up to Lubetkin’s by the general election, the PCT favourite motto: “Nothing is too decided to ignore the committee. good for ordinary people.” n Wider events took over, l For information on Finsbury however. With cuts after the Health Centre Building election both to the PCT and to Preservation Trust and details of funds for NHS buildings, an meetings, see www.savefhc.org.uk. alternative brand-new South Islington Health Centre that the Barb Jacobson is founding member PCT had planned to show the of the Campaign to Save Finsbury
secretary of state was shelved. Health Centre Allan Commons; Gordon Cullen cartoons, 1938, courtesy of John Main picture: Justinc/Wikimedia
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History & Society Winter 2011/12 Vol 1 No 4 9 Campbell-Swinton, fellow of the Royal Society on 29 January TV firm boxes clever 1896. This tube is in the Science Museum (Early Technology). In 1908, Mr Campbell-Swinton Television as we know it began 75 years ago – an Islington foresaw how these tubes could firm first brought sets into the nation’s living rooms and was become television. Writing in scientific journal Nature, he a pioneer in many other areas. By Christy Lawrance described how “distant electric vision” could be achieved by using a cathode ray tube as both transmitter and receiver. he first UK company company, also in Farringdon In 1901, the BMJ described to sell TV sets to the Road, to make equipment for how a thermostat made by “Mr public was AC Cossor radios, which were soon to AC Cossor of Farringdon Road” of Clerkenwell. Alfred become commonplace in the regulated the temperature of Charles Cossor had home (Grace’s Guide; Raytheon). paraffin wax baths, even though Tworked at his father’s firm, Frank took over the scientific the author had been “informed which was renowned for its glassware company. This moved by instrument makers that an high-quality x-ray and cathode in 1917 to the Accoson Works in electrical regulator was an ray tubes, so it was only natural Vale Road, near Manor House, impossibility” (Steen, 1901) he went on to design cathode ray then to Harlow in 2007. A fourth During the first world war, tubes for televisions. generation Cossor, Adrian, joined Alfred Charles junior’s firm was His firm was an innovator in this firm in 1966 (Accoson). one of the first to make valves in cathode ray oscilloscope and quantity for the war effort valve technology, and had a How x-rays led to TV (Grace’s Guide). major role in the second world The demand for his high-quality In 1918, his company moved to war, making receivers for the x-ray tubes “overwhelmed” Mr Highbury Grove. It started world’s first radar defence system. Cossor senior, who seemed to be producing kits for building radios, the “only man able to make as well as selling other electrical Family firms satisfactory tubes”, Windsor equipment. It launched its highly In 1859, his father, also called Magazine reported in 1896. There Alfred Charles Cossor, set up a was a waiting list for his tubes, company in Farringdon Road even though, at 25 shillings Viewers could watch wonders such that made scientific glassware. It (£1.25), they cost far more than was a pioneer in the manufacture the 18d (7½p) charged for as a burning building and a of x-ray and cathode ray tubes. mass-produced retail tubes. galloping horse artillery, and were Alfred Charles joined him in A Cossor tube was used in the 1875, then younger son Frank in first public demonstration of promised they would not miss a 1885 (Accoson; Grace’s Guide). x-rays to the Royal Photographic “naughty look” at the music hall Alfred set up his own Society by Alan Archibald
Pioneering broadcast from the heights of north London
BBC camera n 2 November 1936, the is increased,” said the BBC press in Alexandra BBC began the world’s release. Palace TV first regular high- The BBC had already carried studio O definition television service from out experimental transmissions Alexandra Palace. from Alexandra Palace, including “From the large bay windows for the Radiolympia exhibition of the offices below the aerial, in London (Baily, 1950). nearly all London can be taken By the mid 1930s, there had in at a glance. The importance of been over 50 proposals for height in this context cannot be television, from 11 countries. overemphasised … the range of Not everyone was impressed. the ultra short waves used for The Daily Telegraph sniffed: television is extended as the ‘’Novelty appeal will soon pass. height of the transmitting aerial What then?’’ (O’Connor, 1986).
10 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2011/12 Vol 1 No 4 successful Melody Maker radio in 1927 (Raytheon). You can still find these for sale on eBay. By 1937, the firm had bases in Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Dublin, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield. Cossor remained a leader in oscilloscope development, introducing a dual beam version (Grace’s Guide).
Television In 1936, Cossor become the first company in the UK to sell a television set (Grace’s Guide; AC Cossor junior (standing) in the Farringdon Road workshop in 1896 with Raytheon). his chief assistant, William Underhill Hilliar. The two young workers appear There were no televisions on to be assembling an induction coil. The picture shows small x-ray tubes, as the market but a few people had well as gas torches, foot-operated bellows, glass tubing and tools. The wall made their own, following behind Cossor is decorated with Gaiety Girls postcards. The photo was instructions in a hobbies taken by Charles W Gamble for the Windsor Magazine magazine (Baily, 1950). In a 1937 brochure, Cossor Television – The Annihilation of warning of the Luftwaffe in Highbury became part of the Distance, the company describes (Grace’s Guide; Raytheon). London Metropolitan University itself as the “largest self- Only two men were entrusted and was renamed Ladbroke contained Radio manufacturers with the full details of the radar House. Many of its interior art in the British Empire”. project – Dr JM Dodds at deco furnishings remain (TUC Brochure illustrations show a Metrovicks and Mr LAH Bedford Archive). family clustered around a huge at Cossor (BBC Archive). The Cossor name has long TV, watching wonders such as After the war, AC Cossor disappeared from household the roof falling in on burning introduced the first radar systems radios and TVs, but the firm’s building, a horse artillery for air traffic control and continued products survive. The BBC galloping across the screen and to produce radios and TVs. reported in 2010 of a Huw sporting events. An opera from Finney in Maidenhead, who Sadler’s Wells is shown, with a Industrial unrest says: “I still use a 1929 Cossor to promise that viewers will not The period after the war saw listen to Radio 4 … I have miss a “naughty look” or much workers’ unrest, and displayed it in the kitchen.” n “wagging eye” at the music hall. Cossor did not escape this. In The brochure explains how 1945, 2,293 strikes were recorded References and main sources Accoson www.accoson.com cathode ray tubes work, and by the TUC – the highest number Baily K (1950) Here’s Television: a Personal shows men and women at work to that time – and 2,205 were Account of Television’s Early Days. In: TV in the firm’s factory (Early recorded in 1946 (TUC Archive). History, www.televisionheaven.co.uk Television Museum). Young women at the Highbury BBC Archive BBC PM programme, 8 July 2010 factory went on strike for a 2d TFT Baker, CR Elrington (eds), AP Baggs, Radar in and after the war per hour pay rise. The strike was DK Bolton, Patricia EC Croot (1985) Cossor had a major historical called off and hailed as a victory A History of the County of Middlesex: role in radar during the second for bringing women’s demands to Volume 8: Islington and Stoke Newington Parishes. British History Online. world war. public attention (Glasgow Herald; The British Society for the History of In 1935, the Daventry TUC Archive). In the same year, Radiology (2009) The Invisible Light; no 30 experiment, which used Cossor an unofficial strike followed the Early Technology, www.earlytech.com cathode ray tubes, found radio suspension and dismissal of shop Early Television Museum, www. earlytelevision.org waves could be used to detect stewards (University of Warwick). Glasgow Herald, 22 March 1946 aircraft. The Radio Detection and Grace’s Guide – the Best of British Ranging system – better known Leaving Islington Engineering 1750-1960s as radar – was highly secret EMI acquired control of Cossor O’Connor JJ (1986) New York Times; 17 November (Grace’s Guide; Raytheon). in 1949, and Cossor sold the Raytheon, raytheon.com Cossor made the receiving rights to use its name for home Steen RH (1901) An electro-thermal units and displays for Chain radios and TVs to Philips in 1958. paraffin bath. BMJ; 2: 1733 Home Radar, the first operational In 1958, it left Islington for TUC Archive, London Metropolitan University, www.unionhistory.info radar system in the world, which Harlow, and was acquired by University of Warwick gave the RAF 20 minutes’ Raytheon in 1961. Cossor House Windsor Magazine
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History & Society Winter 2011/12 Vol 1 No 4 11 Christmas at Beale’s
The whole of north London seemed to descend on Beale’s store in Holloway with money to burn on Christmas eve, recalls John Beale, the store founder’s grandson
eale’s had always Beale’s staff fancy tins of biscuits and Christmas cake bases, then come into its own at bought from shortbreads from Huntley and lighter fruit cakes and madeiras. Christmas. To a large Mansell, Hunt Palmer, MacFarlane Laing, Peak Later would come the swiss rolls extent, it lived for Catty & Co well Frean and others. which were set on thin oblong Christmas, far more ahead of In August, samples of dried silver cake boards and decorated Christmas Bso than was good for its health. fruits began to arrive by every with chocolate fudge, holly Its wares were regarded as post from Mincing Lane pickets, robins, and mottoes, as expensive but, at Christmastime, merchants. After careful “Yuletide Logs”. These were a one could afford the best. inspection for quality, price and must in most customers’ homes. It was exciting and enjoyable cleanliness (for stalks and stones By October, the chocolate for all, even for the staff who were often included free, department would be in full worked almost until they especially from Persia and swing. A regular order of up to dropped, for little if any overtime Turkey), contracts would be one 1,000 one-pound boxes of pay. It was uneconomic because placed for currants, sultanas, chocolates, given by the directors each family stocked up with such raisins and cut peel for the of Ever-Ready Batteries to their an absurd quantity of food and making of our own mincemeat, staff, added to the pressure on drink that trade was virtually at a Christmas puddings and fruit this small department. standstill for weeks after. cakes. And woe betide us if we It was all very small beer, of In the mid-1930s, Christmas forgot to order pudding basins, course, compared with modern was the main event in the cloths and wrappers, in four large-scale factory production. Holloway calendar. No sooner sizes, at the same time. But no one working at Holloway was Easter over than the at Christmas could have thought Christmas crackers and novelties Planning for the frenzy of it as such – certainly not the had to be ordered from Tom Everything was so ridiculously poor storeman man-handling Smith’s, Sparagnapane’s and complicated – so many shapes some 20 tons of raw materials in other suppliers, for the Bazaar and sizes and varieties of goods, a day, with the harassed despatch which was held in the Grand so many items to be ordered, manager driving an equally Hall during the week before received, checked, sorted, stored, massive outflow of manufactured Christmas. requisitioned, transferred, goods through the same yard in charged, used and finally sold. the opposite direction. Fancy and ‘free’ goods Only the cheapness of labour Mechanical aids to the man- Next we would visit Messrs made it possible at all and, in the handling were minimal. Though Mansell, Hunt and Catty, and end, it could only be marginally the 140lb bags of flour were other showrooms, to select small profitable at best. pulled up tediously on an china figures of Father Detailed plans were made old-fashioned chain hoist, they Christmas, snowmen, eskimos early for Christmas production in had to be carried to the correct on sleighs, miniature houses, the bakeries. Dundee cakes dump on a man’s shoulders. In churches and castles, together would be baked in the last week earlier days, incredibly, a sack of with holly pickets, robins, of November, followed by flour weighing 280lbs was coloured paper frills (with tartan carried by one man. patterns for shortbreads and As the last days arrived, the Dundee cakes), silver cake The piles of chocolate boxes and regular staff, augmented by a boards and cardboard boxes in the gaily coloured crackers began host of extras in the shape of different shapes and sizes for the housewives, country cousins, city Christmas cakes. to disappear from the Grand Hall, clerks and students, worked Fancy picture boxes, ribbons, which was enlivened (questionably) steadily to the final frenzy of gold thread and wrapping papers Christmas Eve, when the whole were needed for our own by a three-piece orchestra playing of north London seemed to chocolates and, in early summer, mournfully in a corner descend upon us with money in huge orders would be placed for its pocket.
12 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2011/12 Vol 1 No 4 We had always specialised in fresh cream cakes and cream moulds, and the last 24 hours Eadsf fd d ad daf ds daf were given to the filling and decoration of these – hoping and daf afh? praying that the weather would not turn warm and muggy, for the cold stores could not accommodate a quarter of the production. Customers would come from miles around to buy our strawberry and vanilla creams, “S and Vs” as we called them, made from fresh dairy cream, calves’ foot jelly, vanilla from the pod and our own strawberry puree. In the meat department, fine white turkeys and geese, many with prize-winning rosettes on their gorgeous breasts, hung on every inch of rail. In an outbuilding at the rear, a party of old-timers, half buried in feathers, sat plucking and gutting the poultry, bullied both lemon slices, Chinese figs, candied Hot work in with fatigue, as well he might, by the head butcher with his peel, crystallised ginger, jars of Beale’s bakery: utter chaos would have ensued. waiting queue of customers stem ginger and other dainties. queues for One despaired that the sorters and by the despatch manager Down in the basement, coffee holiday bread and roundsmen could ever get it desperately trying to catch the roasting was taking place, adding built up early on cleared in time. Christmas eve last van to Tottenham. Another its own distinctive aroma – But somehow, by 10 o’clock on butcher churned out endless though once or twice the roaster Christmas Eve, all but a handful strings of pork sausages on a must have nodded off awhile, of baskets, where the customer cumbersome hand-turned until the smell of burnt coffee had not been at home, had been machine. beans sent the manager flying safely delivered. And, in those The fruit and vegetable down the stairs to wake the far-off conscientious days, it was department had stocked up well culprit up. a point of honour not to let a with fancy packs of figs, dates, customer down. Even the muscatels and almonds, walnuts, Packed with customers directors would set out on chestnuts and boxes of tangerines The piles of chocolate boxes and Christmas morning to deliver the wrapped in silver paper. Yellow the gaily coloured crackers began last mislaid order, or perhaps to and white chrysanthemums and to disappear from the Bazaar in satisfy some late-ordering Christmas roses added to the the Grand Hall. This was a Scrooge with his turkey. show. Out of sight but of no less comparatively quiet area Yet, with all its economic importance were the more that had to be enlivened foolishness, I still look back with humble King Edward potatoes (questionably) by a three-piece pride to the old store as it and the Brussels sprouts. orchestra playing mournfully in appeared at Christmas. I can The grocers made up several a corner. recall with pleasure the fairytale hundred parcels of groceries for Down in the store, queues for atmosphere of the decorated the Mayor to distribute to the the holiday bread built up early windows and counters, piled poor of Islington. They consisted on Christmas Eve and, by 10 high with good things ready for of humdrum packets of rice, o’clock, the whole ground floor the onslaught of happy children prunes, sugar, tea and the like, would be packed solid. I myself and their parents. From the and supplied practically at cost. would be on my feet from point of view of service to the Even so, I remember that the rice morning till night, rushing madly public, perhaps they were our was of less than our usual quality from top to bottom of the finest hours. n to get down to the required six-storey building. price. It could hardly be The task of our faithful Many thanks to Andrew Beale – described as festive fare. despatch manager, Mr Norton, William’s great-great grandson – for On display for more affluent approached nightmare allowing us to reproduce this extract Islingtonians were familiar round proportions on the night before from Minding Our Own Business,
boxes of Metz fruits, orange and Christmas Eve. Had he collapsed his history of Beale’s of Holloway Beales Hotels
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History & Society Winter 2011/12 Vol 1 No 4 13 Las Vegas in Georgian London
Couples wishing to marry quickly or secretly used to head for the taverns, coffee shops and houses around the Fleet prison. At one time, these Fleet marriages ended up accounting for more than half of the weddings in London. By Christy Lawrance
he area around the Many taverns marriages. However, these laws Fleet prison has been had their own applied only to areas under the called the “Las Vegas marriage jurisdiction of a diocese bishop. of its day” (page 19). certificates: this This inadvertently gave a near Couples wishing to 1727 wedding monopoly to areas outside the was held at the be wed quickly could find bishop’s control – such as prisons. T “Hand and Pen numerous inns and other and Golden Pott Jailed clergy who had been establishments where a parson at the Ditch dismissed or were in debt had would marry them on the same Side” nothing to lose by conducting day.y The could marry in secret, clandestine marriages (BMD). as banns did not have to be read The Fleet prison had its own in a church beforehand. chapel, where non-prisoners It was, paradoxically, a law to could be married clandestinely stop irregular marriages in with “degraded” clergy performing prisons that brought this about. the ceremony (Thornbury, 1878). Fleet prisoners could live in the London marriage majority area outside the jail, as long as Over half of London weddings or to validate claims on an they paid the prison-keeper for and possibly 15% of all marriages inheritance (BMD; People in loss of earnings. This area was in England were celebrated in the Place). Soldiers and sailors may called the Liberty of the Fleet or Fleet by the 1740s (UK National not have been home for long the Rules of the Fleet. Some Archives; BMD Registers). The enough to have banns read. prisoners – including jailed Report of the Commission into While some Fleet marriages clergy – continued with their Marriage Law of 1868 estimated were for criminal or fraudulent occupations (HFHS). that, in the first half of the 18th purposes, the vast majority had In 1711, the government century, one-third of all marriages the aim of making a normal passed laws to stop clandestine were clandestine (BMD). lasting union (Herts Family marriage in prisons (BMD). Fleet marriages were held History Society). Soon, demand sprung up for every day and night of the year. Although irregular, these quick and convenient irregular The whole process could take marriages were legal and marriages – speedily supplied by less than 15 minutes (Georgian registers were used as evidence clergymen living in the Rules. London); one John Mottram in court (Jeaffreson). married more than 2,200 couples Marriage houses in one year (Jeaffreson, 1873). How Fleet marriages arose Clergy living in the Rules were The main reason for wanting a Parliament had brought in able to set up shop in any clandestine marriage was cost several laws to prevent irregular building in the area (UKNA). (BMD). Public marriage was very expensive, with a festival lasting several days; parents probably preferred to give the money to The Fleet registers the young couple (Ashton, 1888). The Fleet registers record more than Some entries are duplicated and some Couples did not need to pay for a 200,000 marriages (and some baptisms) forged (UKNA); surnames could be marriage licence and were performedn i the Rules of the Fleet and withheld or false (Ashton; BMD). afforded some degree of privacy, elsewhere between 1667 and 1754 Registers were bought, sold and avoiding a communal wedding. (UK National Archives). inherited, and had value as legal (UKNA; People in Place). Unlike most parish registers, they evidence. Around 1783, a Mr Benjamin Other reasons included not often give the groom’s occupation and Panton bought 500-600 of these books needing parental consent, occasionally the bride’s, plus marital from a Mrs Olive, which weighed more pregnancy, requiring a backdated status and where they lived (HFHS). than a ton (Ashton). ceremony to legitimise offspring,
14 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2011/12 Vol 1 No 4 They kept registers and employed “touters” to attract customers (Thornbury, 1878). Touters, women and men, assumed that anyone walking around the area, especially a couple, wanted a marriage; many touters picked the pockets of those they approached (Jeaffreson). Fleet weddings were commonly held in taverns that had their own “chapel”. They also took place in coffee houses, private homes and shops – one couple from Hertfordshire were married in a coffin-plate makers’ (HFHS). Some inns specialised in weddings and had their own marriage certificates printed up. Signs showing a joined female and male hand advertised “Marriages performed within” (Pennant, 1790). The Hand and Pen sign irregular marriages for couples Victorian marriage, threatened to hang attracted so many couples to one who did not wish to be married depiction of himself from his loom if she did house that its competitors in a fake chapel in a tavern. It is Fleet Marriages: not marry him. The widow, adopted the name (Jeaffreson). certain that Lincoln’s Inn Chapel the ceremony wanting to prevent “murder”, Fleet parsons often worked in was a “lawless chapel”, as they could take agreed and had a second Fleet partnership with the inn-keepers were called. Weddings here were 15 minutes marriage to him. Back home, of the taverns where they lived. popular with Fleet pastors – a the butcher found them in bed. A room in the tavern would be barrister wanting a clandestine A “quarrel ensued” and she set up as a chapel, with the marriage would pay well decided on the butcher (Ashton). inn-keeper acting as clerk. (Jeaffreson). Financial arrangements varied. The last Fleet weddings The inn-keepers sold food and Unusual marriages Lord Hardwicke’s Marriage Act drink to the bridal party, and There are records of women put Fleet marriages to an end on received the clerk’s fee and a trying to marry each other – 26 March 1754. Breaking the law small sum for the use of the some were suspected and could be punished by 14 years’ chapel. The parson received a fee refused (Ashton). transportation. for carrying out the ceremony, In January 1742, two couples, Couples wishing to marry in often passing a percentage of who had been married “upwards secret had to travel to Scotland, this to the inn-keeper. of 12 years”, swapped spouses, especially Gretna Green, the Isle Some keepers of marriage “and the same Day, to the of Man and the Channel Islands. houses ran the whole business, Content of all Parties … and in People flocked to the Fleet employing a chaplain who the Evening had an Entertainment to get married until the last received a salary of £20-£30 a together” (Ashton). minute. One register alone year plus board and lodging. The Whitehall Evening Post on records 217 weddings taking The more prosperous Fleet 24 July 1739 reported on a woman place on 25 March. n parsons held weddings in their who married a soldier in the References and sources own lodgings or houses. They morning at the Bull and Garter. Ashton J (1888) The Fleet: its River, Prison, and Marriages. New kept registers and accounts, In the afternoon she returned to York: Scribner and Welford sometimes annotating diaries marry a butcher, but the parson BMD Registers. Guide to BMD Registers. RG7. and ledgers with stories, and who had married her in the www.bmdregisters.co.uk Georgian London. www.georgianlondon.com maintained friendly and lucrative morning refused, “which put her Hertfordshire Family History Society (inc: Parker J (1999) Fleet arrangements with West End to the Trouble of going a few Marriages of Hertfordshire People to 1754). wwwhertfhs.org.uk hotel-keepers (Jeaffreson). Doors further, to another Parson, Jeaffreson JC (1873) Brides and Bridals. Volumes 1 and 2. Fleet parsons would attend who had no Scruple” (Ashton). London: Hurst & Blackett People in Place. The Institute of Historical Research, London mansions in the West End, or In October 1739, a widow Pennant T. Account of London in the 1790s. In: Georgian London travel 20 or 30 miles into the “dispensed her favours” between a Thorley Archive. Thorley’s Fleet Marriages country for clandestine weddings butcher and a weaver. She married UK National Archives. Nonconformists. 4. Fleet Registers: in taverns, manor houses or the butcher at the Fleet, then they Clandestine Marriages and Baptisms in London 1667-1754. www.nationalarchives.gov.uk churches (Jeaffreson). returned to their separate homes. Walter Thornbury (1878) The Fleet Prison, Old and New
Several genuine chapels held The weaver, hearing about her London. www.british-history.ac.uk Artist unknown. Robert Chambers (1869) Book of Days.
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History & Society Winter 2011/12 Vol 1 No 4 15 High Street and Upper Street were in their heyday, being both fashionable and populous. Gillingwater always emphasised his Paris experience. He extolled the quality of his celebrated electric hair-drier and recommended his Kalydor mixture that would remove freckles and sunburn and make the complexion beautiful. Victorian ladies were especially careful to keep out of the sun, for a suntan was the mark of the labouring classes. While the demolition and road widening was taking place, two brothers named Gardiner, tailors from Glasgow who ran a business in Aldgate selling tweeds and A garden in a corner tartans, negotiated and bought the whole site of nos 156-168. They had an impressive Ten years ago, a garden was opened on an Upper Street four-storey block built, with considerable Victorian corner. Michael Reading tells the story of how it came to be architectural ornamentation. The there and what was there before new building was divided into 10 units and numbered 159-168, with the numbers 157 and 158 being dispensed with. The he small garden on Tavern (now The Famous Cock) Gardiners kept eight units for Above: the the corner of Upper at Highbury Corner. In October garden last themselves, where they began Street and Barnsbury 1859, the east side from north to summer; below: trading as The Scotch House, Street can easily be south was renumbered, starting Gillingwater’s and let nos 167 and 168. The missed. with no 260 on the corner of stylish store Scotch House went on to TMeasuring no more than 21ft Upper Street and Canonbury in Upper Street and 51ft in Lane, and continuing Barnsbury Street on the site of southwards to the Angel. what was no 168 Upper Street, it The site of the garden, one of is comparatively new, having 13 properties, was no 140 at the been created and opened in the end of nos 127-140. This line of year 2002. What was there buildings was renumbered in before? And why a garden? 1857 to become nos 156-168. To answer the first question, it In 1883, the Metropolitan is necessary to go back to the Street Improvement Act was 18th century. At that time, Upper passed and there was an Street was slowly spreading immediate request by the northwards, in a series of rows Islington vestry to widen Upper and terraces, and lines of shops Street from Islington Green to and courts being built, with Barnsbury Street to a width of different names and numbered 60ft. However, this meant that independently. many houses – including nos The Metropolitan Board of 156-168 – had to be demolished. Works (the forerunner of the No 168 Upper Street was the London County Council) decided elegant establishment of one to abolish this confusing array of William Gillingwater, who traded names and numbers and bring as a hair-cutter, wig-maker and some order to the street. From perfumier, who had opened this June 1857, the west side of Upper shop in 1840. He had originally Street was renumbered, south to been in Long Lane, Smithfield, north, from no 1 at Liverpool in the 1830s then in Goswell Road to No 259, the Old Cock Road. By the 1840s, Islington
16 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2011/12 Vol 1 No 4 become world famous with notable stores in Knightsbridge and Regent Street, until the business merged with Burberry in 2001. In 1910, the Gardiners left Upper Street and were succeeded by Edward Grove who ran a clothing business until 1916. The London Co-operative Society then took over nos 159-165, later extending into nos 166-167. It occupied the whole row with the exception of Boots the Chemists at the end in no 168. During a second world war air raid on the night of 4 November 1940, two high-explosive bombs fell on the corner, demolishing no 168 apart from the front section but leaving no 167 behind the hoarding. virtually intact. In due course, the Plants introduced to the site whole of no 168 was taken down included star jasmine and the end wall adjoining no (Trachelospermum jasminoides), 167 closed and rendered with black bamboo (Phyllostachys cement. All that remained was a nigra), coneflower (Rudbeckia bomb site which would disappear foldstrum), elephants’ ears behind a wooden hoarding for (Bergenia cordifolia), hollyhock the rest of the century. (Alcea rosea), smoke bush The London Co-operative (Cotinus coggygria), Red Robin Society stayed until 1973 when it photinia (Photinia x fraseri), Above left: moved away and the property skimmia (Skimmia japonica), 1940s bomb was taken over by the Islington spindleberry (Euonymus japonica) damage; above: council, housing five or more and fatsia (Fatsia japonica). the garden in 2009; right: departments. In June 2008, the Because of its size, the early days in lease expired and Islington Greenspace division wisely 2004 council left the building. To date, decided that the garden should the building stands empty. remain locked and no facilities It is almost 65 years since the provided for visitors, so the second world war ended and plants would flourish. signs of it have disappeared. A sign at the site says it is New streets, houses and estates called Barnsbury Street Corner. have arisen from the rubble. The garden has slowly matured Since the second world war and is now a tribute to the skill ended, the council has gradually and sensitive selective planting made the borough greener. This by Greenspace. It also seems be has including new open spaces remarkably free from casual litter – including “pocket parks” such and rubbish being dumped over as this one – and planting trees the low iron railings. in streets which have never had There have been plans to them before. extend the building over the should be applauded for their In due course, the council’s garden site but these have come imagination and skill in bringing Greenspace division turned its to nothing so far. As we went to this about. n attention to the small area (very press, plans for the terrace obvious from the town hall mainly concern turning offices Michael Reading is the Islington opposite) on the corner of into shops and exclude the Archaeology & History Society’s Barnsbury Street. A budget of garden site. researcher £8,000 was set for a woodland So the existence of the garden Reference planting. The logs and chipping may continue for longer. Its Reading M (2009) The Garden on to create the path came from creation has been worthwhile, as the Corner. A Brief Description and cutting down saplings that had it has enhanced the local History is available at the Islington
grown wild over the years environment, and Greenspace local history library Reading; Christy Lawrance Islington council; Michael
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History & Society Winter 2011/12 Vol 1 No 4 17 A Stroud Green Road day out
The picture on the back page was kindly sent in by Mrs Doris Evelyn Lea (née McDonald) of Lindfield, West Sussex. She also provided the photographs of how the Andover area used to look for our summer issue. She writes: “Some readers may remember the shops in Stroud Green Road (on the Islington side of the boundary) as they were during the last war. I worked as a shop assistant in Fines (the grocers) regular customers whom I had schools, housing and more. Go which afterwards became Victor served the day before or to whom to www.locallocalhistory.co.uk, Value and then Tesco. we had delivered groceries were click on Main Menu and you’ll “I enclose a photograph of the now dead. Nevertheless, all the see Islington Studies on the left. shop assistants and business folk shops swept up and opened that of the Stroud Green Road, same afternoon.” Plaque for canal heroine assembling for a coach trip to Maidenhead shortly after the A very local history site Crystal Hale has been honoured end of the war. (I am wearing a with an Islington green plaque, polka dot dress near the middle Essays on parts of Islington are which was unveiled at the Angel of that photograph.) included on the Local Local Festival in September. “I have a vivid memory of History website, set up by Jack She led the campaign to stop arriving for work during that Whitehead. He says Local Local British Waterways filling in the war, only to find glass all over History concerns “the histories of canal at City Road Basin for Stroud Green Road because the extremely small areas, sometimes redevelopment. She also houses opposite the shops had of only a few dozen streets, but all founded the Islington Boat Club, been destroyed by a land mine. put into a much wider context”. the Angel Community Canal Then I realised that some or our The Islington essays cover Boat Trust and the Angel Festival.
Islington burials: do you recognise any names?
Hundreds of coffin plates have been recovered from the Islington Green burial ground. The names and addresses are provided by Derek Seeley of the Museum of London Archaeology, an IAHS committee member. If you recognise and would like to see any of them, contact him at [email protected]
Polley Henry male 1829 iron Polwin? Alice Gabriel female 1851 iron 4 Dec 4 Grove Cottages, Barnsbury Grove Poole Ann female 1829 iron Poole Frances Eliza female 1838 iron 25 Nov Middlesex Hospital (Eliza) Pope Mary female 1846 iron 21 Oct Winchester Street, Pentonville Porter (Mar)y female 1840 iron 17 Nov 3 Nelson Terrace, City Road Porter Elizabeth Sarah female 1844 iron 20 Aug Northampton Street, Islington Porter Henry William male 1851 iron 2 Jan 23 Vittoria Street, Pentonville Potter Mary Ann Batson female 1829 iron Potter Richard male 1818 iron Pottinger Eliza female 1844 iron 24 Apr 66 Hermitage Place, St John Street Road Pottinger (Dixson) Elizabeth female 1840 iron 25 Jul 20 Camden Street, Islington Pratt Martha female 1851 iron Pratt Robert male 1848 iron 12 Mar Bookbinders Asylum, Ballspond Road Pratt John male 1849 iron 28 Sep 2 Penton Grove, Pentonville Pratten Elizabeth female 1845 iron 20 Apr 18 Little Payne Street, White Conduit Fields
18 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2011/12 Vol 1 No 4 Islington’s western shores
Lester Hillman, former coxswain and waterways expert, sauna in the house where Coleridge once lived has landed steers an armchair cruise down the Fleet river, charting model Kate Moss in hot water a course from the past to the future about geological impacts. New megaprojects for a sewage tunnel under the Thames and a river park walkway downstream 37lb carp, Kate drifting up, the Fleet announces from Blackfriars have Moss’s sauna, dodgy its presence with place names implications for London’s rivers. marriage certificates like Turnmill Street. The New and mysterious River may be more familiar but it Fleet footed rumblings in Lloyd is the Fleet that feeds the Clerk’s Guided walks along the Fleet are BakerA Street all surfaced in Well that defines Clerkenwell. being considered. Walking from Islington Town Hall during a Later in the armchair cruise, the heady heights of Highgate to Two views of presentation about the Fleet River. the ancient tidal stretches below the tidal Thames at Blackfriars the Fleet: The October meeting of the Holborn were navigated, but lighthouse; iron can take four or five hours. Two Islington Archaeology & History nobody got seasick. conduit for the walks might be sensible, with the Society saw Lester Hillman plot It was comforting to recall that Lighthouse offering a natural Fleet under St Bemrose and Son Derby: a course downstream from almost a millennium ago Pancras station divide. So keep an eye out for Highgate to Blackfriars, from the Clerkenwell was dispensing opportunities to walk on water. n safe anchorage of Upper Street. Fleetside healthcare packages. In l Why did Lester Hillman call an Around 30 people joined the the 12th century, priory hospitals area by the Fleet the “Las Vegas cruise down this half-forgotten such as St John’s and St Mary’s of its day”? See page 14 watercourse on Islington’s Nunnery and later Charterhouse western border. were tending to the sick, many Lester Hillman is academic adviser arriving by way of the Thames to the Islington Archaeology & St Pancras en Seine and Fleet Hythe. History Society It may be the Fleet in Camden or the River of Wells in Islington Big plans and a big fish The Midland Railway: Its Rise and Progress. Its Rise and Progress. The Midland Railway: – but the French have christened London’s rivers are in the news, the area around the International with the Wandle and Thames Station St Pancras en Seine. topping the cleanliness league, At the end of Pentonville Road although after his epic swim at a bend in the Fleet, the David Walliams might not agree. Lighthouse has for more than a In September, a 37lb mirror carp century offered navigational was caught in the upper reaches reassurance and certainly no one of the Fleet. present on the cruise could recall Recently, Lord Chris Smith, a single shipwreck at King’s Cross. IAHS president, who heads the Hidden from view, but here Environment Agency, has been and there just audible and with a commenting on Fleet flood risks.
distinctive aroma occasionally In Highgate, a new basement views of the Fleet: Mr J Doe/ Commons; two Commons/Wikimedia www.mikepeel.net/Creative Lighthouse: Mike Peel, FS (1874) Williams Commons; St Pancras: Creative
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History & Society Winter 2011/12 Vol 1 No 4 19 Tenement tales
Harry Walters describes life as a boy in the 1930s in the Cottages, a row of neglected tenements near Essex Road
y street was smell of cats and on the wall was Popham Street a large sign saying “No Hawkers, in Islington; I No Circulars, No Ball Games”, was born there all of which were totally ignored. My Popham The stairs were not solid, but MStreet, the old Popham Street, slabs of concrete on iron was demolished a number of supports. Often one of the slabs years back. would become dislodged and a It was never lacking in fame knock would be heard two or and notoriety. Stories about the three hundred times a day before area grew and grew, some things it was fixed. This usually meant a true, some untrue and others very long wait, since repair jobs exaggerated. were put off by the landlord until On entering the arches one was welcomed by the smell It was a pretty unremarkable the very last minute. of cats and a large sign saying No Hawkers, No place and made up mostly of You learned to live with such Circulars, No Ball Games, which was totally ignored flats. These flats, which took up background noises and almost the whole of the left hand sometimes the voices of people side of the street going down coming out of the pubs, “Mind hen I was young the from the Essex Road end of that bloody step”, at times also stairs were scrubbed Islington, have been described in some off beat singing. “Shush, Wby a couple of very many ways: pigsties, barns, dust you’ll wake up the whole bloody stout maiden ladies. The two holes etc. What at first appeared flats.” “Who cares, liven up the sisters, who lived in the block, to be one very large block of flats place a bit.” Trips and giggles, were paid by the owners. Both was in fact four separate blocks, grunts and groans as they made ladies had huge legs and enor- each with its own entrance. their way to their own front door. mous posteriors, which would The dirty brick walls, covered The flats had three storeys. The wobble vigorously as they in years of grime, crumbling in balconies formed the perimeter. scrubbed away. Their huge legs parts, had always seemed old. Each balcony had railings about with elasticated bloomers were a There was very much need of six inches apart. Over the years a sight to behold by anyone repair after years and years of number of small children had to ascending the stairs when they total neglect. The pointing on the have the help of the Fire Brigade were being cleaned. brickwork was always falling to release their heads. Children The women went about their away from the walls in large always enjoyed watching the task with great determination. pieces. Green moss filled some dramas of the firemen at work, If you wished to walk up while of the broken brickwork at the and it gave the mothers time for their work was in progress, base of the buildings. a good “chin wag”. adults would get a dirty look, The balconies were a delight while kids risked getting the Strange names for many people who stayed flannel swiped across their legs. The best thing about the flats around talking, late into the was their names. All called night during the summer cottages – Edinburgh, Cornwall, months, sitting on the stairs and he flats to many were like Queens and Albany. One cannot drinking endless cups of tea. prisons; it would hardly be a imagine where the names had Tsurprise to anyone to be told come from, as they bore no that this was the reason that they resemblance to cottages at all. had been built. They were old, and Each of the four entrances was The street bookmakers did a good always looked so even when I was large and square, and the stairs young. The designer must have stood on either side of the trade, especially if boots or shoes had one idea in his mind – to arches. On entering the arches were needed urgently for a child pack as many people as possible one was always welcomed by the into the smallest area possible.
20 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2011/12 Vol 1 No 4 When work was done it was to be more reason to gamble. usually on the cheap and The street bookmakers did a slapdash. Consequently there good trade, especially if boots or was very little real improvement, shoes were needed urgently for a or changes made. child. People realised that their Pipes, drains and gutters small investment it would hardly leaked, stairs were loose and the alter their lives even if they won. woodwork rotten. The chimneys But in some cases a small win were always causing trouble; in would save a great deal of worry. parts you could see daylight For some, gambling was a through them, where the rust habit, and would govern the had taken its toll. When a amount of alcohol that would be chimney caught alight, which consumed during the week. Those was often, the sooty choking that did drink in many cases were smell would creep into every flat. Some family parties would go on all night, and probably simply trying to escape the worry People would quickly rush to continue after a dozy day into the next evening of just getting from day to day. In close their doors and windows. some cases it governed if a meal Others would hurry and gather lines tangled. If a chimney went would get to the table. Many the washing from the lines. up when the washing was out, family rows came from this and In the scullery by the sink was up would go the tenants’ shouting, crying and slammed a small door which, when tempers as well. doors were far from uncommon. opened, was for the disposal of rubbish. When the next-door neighbour opened their door at he street bookmakers uring this time families the same time as ours the time of would do business under would gather together day could be passed. Tthe arches leading into Dmuch more than they do My father liked having a bit of various blocks, with one “dogging” today: grandparents, aunts and fun with the people next door, and out (looking out) for the police uncles would join together for would often tap on their side of while Mr and Mrs Smith would celebrations at Christmas and the door and, when they opened be putting their tanner each-way New Year. Food would be a joint it, he would squirt water on them. on the hoped-for winner. venture. Drink would in most They in turn would do the same, It was amusing to see the instances be brown ale, or bitter, and the joke never lost its appeal. lengths they would go to in those and may be whisky or gin. Most days to get a bet on. Of course other drinks were unheard of. street bookmaking was illegal. It Family singsongs round the onday was the main would be as though some piano could be heard from many washing day. I say clandestine motive was afoot as homes. Some parties would go M“main” because seldom they made their way to the man on all night, and probably was there a day when lines of in the large stetson hat to stake continue again after a dozy day washing of every shape, size and their fortune. They would then into the next evening. colour were not hung from wait patiently around for the I can remember on one balcony to balcony like flags. next edition of the newspapers occasion a long line doing the All hell broke loose when it and look hungrily down the back hokey cokey outside my brothers’ rained. People would rush in all column for the latest results. and sisters’ houses, and stopping directions to bring in the Sometimes a small crowd would at the no 30 bus stop at St Paul’s washing, often getting several assemble at the Half Moon public Road on one New Year’s night. house at the top of the street Some of these family parties where a lady in a large flowered continued in the same vein year apron would be taking the money in and year out, family members as fast as she could the moment having “their own number” (song the papers were delivered to her. or monologue) which would be Betting was a way of life for some. repeated at each party. n The alleys and entrances made it easy for the police to approach All text and photographs from Only Bricks and Mortar from any angle, so while the by Harry Walters “Bookie” was taking money, or This book paints a memorable picture of lives before, paying out, his eyes were during and after the war, with vivid descriptions of the constantly looking over his blitz. It also describes the filming of Cathy Come Home customers’ heads in case of a at the Cottages and their demolition in 1978. Seldom was there a day when lines surprise visitor. A constant feeling Only Bricks and Mortar costs £7.99 + £1.15 p&p of washing of every shape, size and of nervousness was in the air. from the Islington Archaeology & History Society. Order colour, were not hung out like flags. In those days, there did seem form on page 24.
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History & Society Winter 2011/12 Vol 1 No 4 21 Publications and bookshop
Not much beats curling up with a book The Building That on a cold winter’s evening, so we bring Lived Twice Alec Forshaw you four pages of publications This books tells the story of how the Royal Agricultural Hall went from a Angus McBean in Islington Wells and the Old Vic major exhibition Edited by Mary Cosh, foreword theatre, and photographed venue to dereliction by Angus McBean stars including Ivor Novello, to a major conference These pictures, taken by Laurence Olivier and Vivien and trade centre. leading theatrical Leigh. The book contains photographer Angus £4.50 + 60p p&p, published wonderful historical McBean, show how the by the Islington Archaeology photographs and bills borough looked in the & History Society (order form advertising events from the Victorian wonder, author early 1960s. and more IAHS publications Aggie’s early days. As well as Alec Forshaw describes how Well-known and unusual overleaf) Smithfield livestock shows, the main hall “resembled places, including houses, it was host to balls, sporting one of the great railway interiors, cinemas, music events, horse and dog shows termini, with five rows of halls, churches, squares and (including Cruft’s), circuses cattle stalls replacing the terraces are shown. and all manner of trade lines of trains, and with An imposing yet ornate shows. pedestrians thronging the 1870 entrance, topped by a In the 1970s, the Victorian platforms in between”. lion and unicorn, leads to hall was neglected and A planner with Islington a vinegar factory. Light was facing demolition. Local council at the time, Mr by gas lamps and transport campaigners demanded Forshaw went on to become by trolley bus. that the building should be its conservation officer. Angus McBean lived in saved. It was rescued by The book marks the Islington for 15 years, first in local shopfitter Sam Morris Business Design Centre’s Gibson Square then in who turned it into a centre 25th anniversary. Colebrooke Row. that now attracts half a £20, published by The Business He was the official millions visitors a year. Design Centre, book@business photographer for Sadler’s Clearly appreciating designcentre.co.uk
Vacant Historic Buildings. An precautionary measures and preserve historic buildings. Owner’s Guide to Temporary active management. It provides step-by-step Uses, Maintenance and It applies to all types of advice on the main Mothballing heritage buildings, protected procedures and includes This aims to help owners to or not. It explains what to do case studies, specimen reduce the risks facing when a building is about to letters, notices, schedules empty buildings through be vacated, and how to look and agreements that local after those that have been authorities can use. vacant for some time. While aimed at local The guide argues that authorities, this guidance owners will benefit by could help societies in maintaining their buildings’ discussion over neglected value and increasing the buildings with councils. chances of bringing them back into permanent use. Both these documents can be properties in good repair. downloaded free from English Stopping The Rot. A Guide Local authorities can, Heritage’s website at english- To Enforcement Action To however, act to secure repair heritage.org.uk. For different Save Historic Buildings when a building is being formats, tel: 01793 414878, Owners of listed buildings allowed to deteriorate. fax: 01793 414926 or email: are under no statutory This guide sets out tools customers@english-heritage. obligation to maintain their that councils can use to help org.uk
22 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2011/12 Vol 1 No 4 A Vision of Middlesex Janet Owen and John Hinshelwood Recognise this inn? This is how the Archway Tavern looked in 1873, with a double-decker, horse-drawn bus about to head off to Holloway. The photograph is one of 120 taken in the 19th and early 20th centuries for the North Middlesex Photographic Society’s survey and record of Middlesex in a book published to mark the 40th anniversary of Hornsey Historical Society. Long-vanished scenes show Crouch End, Hampstead, Highgate, horse grazes has long since terminus of several routes Edmonton, Enfield, Hornsey, Palmers Green, disappeared under houses. perhaps because drivers, Stroud Green, Tottenham, Information about the other transport workers and Wood Green. Churches, locations as well as the and horses would have been fine houses and cottages all photographers are provided. able to stop there to eat feature. So we know the picture and drink. Alexandra Palace is above was taken by AG £15 plus £2.50 p&p, published instantly recognisable – Lawson, the names of the by the Hornsey Historical even after a fire – but the roads that met here, and Society, tel: 020 8348 8429, field on which a stocky that Archway became the www.hornseyhistorical.org.uk
St Pancras Burial Ground: Islington’s Cinemas & Film projection room and excavations for St Pancras Studios auditorium before and after International, the London Chris Draper war damage. For its opening terminus of High Speed 1, This book tells the story of night in 1938, broadcast by 2002–3 Islington’s film and cinema the BBC via its tower, 2s 6d Phillip A Emery and Kevin industry. Every cinema is tickets were changing hands Wooldridge pictured, with details of for 15s and £1. This volume describes the opening dates, what was On a happy note, the results of archaeological being shown and ticket Savoy on Holloway Road, investigations at St Pancras prices at the time. vacant when this book came burial ground in 2002-03 The guide runs from out, is now the Coronet pub, during the construction of cinemas in shops – such as and retains its cinema feel. St Pancras International. the one in a terraced house £5 + £1.20 p&p, published by Analysis has revealed the next to the Finsbury Park London Borough of Islington, type of people who lived Astoria – to grand picture available from the IAHS there, their social and palaces and the first cinema religious backgrounds, and includes specialist data and in a train. Cinema events funerary practice. catalogues as well as tables described include a Human bones, wooden and figures. “phantoscopical exhibition”. coffins and metal fittings We intend to run more on Advertisements for were exceptionally well this research in a future issue. cinema equipment and staff preserved, with burial £27.95, 225pp + CD, uniforms are reproduced. clothes, textile coffin linings published by Gifford, The old Astoria is a star of and covers, and even floral hardback, available from the the book, with black and tributes surviving. The Museum of London white and colour pictures of survival of legible coffin Archaeology (see Directory, its Andalucian Village. plates has allowed many page 29) and Oxbow Books, Another star is the burials to be matched to 10 Hythe Bridge Street, Oxford, Gaumont – now the documents. OX1 2EW, tel: 01865 241249, Holloway Odeon – with An accompanying CD www.oxbowbooks.com images of its Wurlitzer,
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History & Society Winter 2011/12 Vol 1 No 4 23 Britain in Old Photographs: appearance of fashionable 53 Cross Street. Biography Islington shops on Holloway Road of a House Islington: the Second and the replacement of horse Mary Cosh and Martin King, Selection trams with electric trams. photographs by Pauline Lord Gavin Smith £12.99 + 1.25 p&p, published This traces the history of The two books show how by The History Press, available 53 Cross Street from 1785 Islington has changed from the IAHS when it was built, to gaining through old photographs a floor and losing half its and postcards. Text gives back garden for St Mary’s detail to each picture. church hall, through various The first collection begins types of occupation and in the 1860s and 1870s. ownership. Roads are busy with Martin King, who moved horse-buses, motor-buses, here in 1990, uncovered trains and the occasional many original features, motor-car. Children play in including paintwork of 1785. the streets, and architecture By the time he left Cross The Squares of Islington is on a human scale. Street, he had a remarkably Part II. Islington Parish The second collection complete record of the decor Mary Cosh shows changes over the past of the house from its This book shows that no century in transport, building date onwards. two squares in the Islington architecture and industry, A must for anyone Parish are the same. They from the introduction of interested in historic decor. range in style from dignified street lamps to the £20 + £1.75 p&p, hardback, row to railway Gothick, to published by the Islington pastiche to architectural joke; Archaeology & History Society terraces facing ornamental Historical maps and gardens are included. postcards Books shown with p&p This area covered is the Alan Godfrey can be ordered from the old village of Islington with Wonder what Highbury & society. Fill in the form – adjoining areas of Highbury, Islington looked like in 1871 if you want more than one Canonbury, Barnsbury and or Holloway in 1914? We item, call us on 020 7833 the Clothworkers’ estate. stock historical maps of 1541 for a discount on p&p The book is illustrated with Islington and further afield historical pictures and maps. and a range of postcards. For trade orders, call for £7.50 + £1.20 p&p, published Call us for details. information and rates by the IAHS £2.50 each + 50p p&p
Publications order form (photocopies acceptable)
Name ...... Criminal Islington. The Story Address ...... of Crime and Punishment in a Victorian Suburb ...... Edited by Keith Sugden Rookeries were criminal Tel no/email (if we need to contact you about your order) ...... ghettos, the backdrop to the murder, theft and radical Title(s)of publication Cost activism, with dense escape routes where no policeman ...... would follow...... This book looks at crime and how it was tackled, ...... social breakdown and political history, and how Total cost ...... the rookeries were eventually defeated. Please make cheques payable to “Islington Archaeology & History Society”; send this £5 + £1.15 p&p, published by form (photocopies acceptable) to IAHS, 8 Wynyatt Street, London EC1V 7HU the Islington Archaeology & History Society
24 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2011/12 Vol 1 No 4 The Lovers of Pound Hill Camden History Review 35 Little Italy. The Story of Mavis Cheek This review London’s Italian Quarter Archaeology has been made looks at Tudor Allen the stuff of popular comic why So many fiction by best-sellling Queen’s Italians author Mavis Cheek. Square lived With her long boots and attracted between frothy pink skirt, the hospitals in Holborn, charismatic young Molly the 19th Farringdon Bonner is far from the public century, early 18th century Road and perception of archaeologists. religious controversy, Gray’s Inn Road in the 19th She turns up at the sleepy Vivienne Haigh-Wood (Mrs century that the area was country village of Lufferton TS Eliot), actor John Pritt called Little Italy. Boney, determined to Harley, the Cumberland This publication tells tales discover the truth about a Basin allotments – exhibits of “ice cream, organ grinders slightly obscene figure called from its show adorn the and monkeys, hokey-pokey the Gnome cut into a nearby cover – and John Sperni, men [ice cream sellers], hill. No one knows the to archaeologists and visited mayor of St Pancras 1937-38. murder, gangsters and origins of the figure with his sites, telling her local paper Sperni, a fascist sympathiser, spectacular processions”. all-too-obvious appendage this was “one of the nicest is mentioned in Little Italy Call for price, published by – he is assumed to be ways to write a book I know”. (right) for being interned Camden Local Studies and fertility figure, much to at This makes the book within a few years of being Archive Centre least one character’s distress. satisfying on an intellectual mayor. The review draws on Ms Bonner’s arrival and level as well as being highly his MI5 records, examines The London Dog from the mysterious work has an entertaining. his internment in the light of Romans to Today enormous effect on the cast The unveiling of the government policy and gives The London Cat. Its Lives of village characters. With a archaeological finding is made an insight into Sperni as & Times light and thoughtful touch, as gripping as the stories of both man and politician. The London Cat II this is a true village satire. the villagers with a mythical £5.95 + £1 p&p, Camden James Dowsing A lot of research is deftly figure on their doorsteps. History Society, www. From Buckingham Palace’s woven in. The author talked £12.99, Hutchinson London camdenhistory society.org royal corgis to the mutts of Battersea, a statue that caused riots and a heroic wartime Under the Wires at Tally Ho services not only made poodle, The London Dog looks David Berguer travelling to work easier at a London dog’s life over The title of this book is very but also opened up the the centuries. The foreword apt, as can be seen by the countryside to Londoners. is by a rather dismissive cat. photograph below taken at The rapid growth and The two London Cat Nag’s Head in Holloway. decline of pirate bus booklets show how London This book looks at the operators which added and cat history have long effect of transport on a north colour and excitement to been intertwined – paw London suburb in the 20th the streets of London – prints can be seen in roof century, examined from the an important but often tiles of the Museum of point of view of residents forgotten aspect of transport London. and transport staff. It and in the 1920s – is considered. Cats are everywhere – on will appeal to anyone Trams were replaced by the London Underground interested in social history. trolleybuses in the late and in theatres. There are The introduction of electric 1930s, which were quieter wartime cats, stylish cats, trams in 1905 had a dramatic and faster. They, in turn, cathedral cats, political cats effect on people’s lives: became obsolete and chairman of Friern Barnet and, yes, Islington cats. cheap, regular and frequent vanished in 1962. & District Local History There is plenty of London Eight Society, contains over 90 feline miscellany amid the compre- photographs (not his one historic pictures. hensive on the left, though) and London Cat I: £3.50 + appendices illustrations, many not 60p p&p; give details published before. London Cat II: of the £12.99, 127pp, The History £4.50 + vehicles and Press, The Mill, Brimscombe 60p p&p; their routes. Port, Stroud, Gloucestershire, London Dog: The book, GL5 2QG, www.thehistory £3.50 + written press.co.uk, or from www. 60p p&p. by the amazon.co.uk Sunrise Press
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History & Society Winter 2011/12 Vol 1 No 4 25 What’s on Events, exhibitions, courses, walks and more. Contact details of organisers are in the directory on page 29 – events may need advance booking. Islington Archaeology & History Society events are listed on the inside back page
Sunday 11 December Wednesday 14 December 2012 Thursday 12 January Markfield Beam Engine and A Medieval Christmas Tale How Britain Dug for Victory Museum Open Day Event on life in Medieval Thursday 5 January 2012 in the Second World War 11am-4pm, free, Markfield London. The Suez Canal Talk by Dan Smith. Road, N15 4RB, 01707 2–3pm, free, London Talk by Dr Roger Squires. 7.30pm, Latimer Church 873628, [email protected], Metropolitan Archives, book 7.30pm, £4/concessions, Hall, Ernest Street, E1. East www.mbeam.org on 020 7332 3820, www. London Canal Museum, London History Society, cityoflondon.gov.uk/lma 020 7713 0836, www. 020 8980 5672, www. Tuesday 13 December canalmuseum.org.uk eastlondonhistory.org.uk Organic Matter, Meteorites Wednesday 14 December and Life in the Solar System London Letters (1712-13) of Tuesday 10 January Saturday 14 January Talk by Professor Mark Samuel Molyneux, later MP Merchant Taylors’ Dinner Walking the Roman Wall Sephton, Imperial College. 7.00pm, £1/free, Charlie from the 18th Century £10/£8/£6, Museum of 7.30pm, The Parlour, Ratchford Centre, NW1. Dr Anne Saunders. London, 020 7001 9844, St Margaret’s United Reform Camden History Society, 8pm, Avenue House, 17 East www. museumoflondon.org. Church, Victoria Avenue, N3. 020 7586 4436, www. End Road, N3 8QE. Hendon uk/events Amateur Geological Society camdenhistorysociety.org and District Archaeological Society, 020 8449 7076, Sunday 15 January Tuesday 13 December Wednesday 14 December hadas.org.uk Writers and Artists in Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s Christmas Special: Islington First Project Frankincense, Myrrh, Holly Wednesday 11 January Walk led by Clerkenwell & Talk by Robert Hulse. and Ivy In Medicine and Images from the North Islington Guides Association. 7.30pm, £3, Northaw Village Folklore Middlesex Photographic £6/£5, meet 11am, Angel Hall, EN6 4NW. Cuffley Talk by Julie Wakefield. Society tube, www.ciga.org.uk Industrial Heritage Society, 7.45pm, £1.50, Time & Talents Talk by Janet Owen. www.cihs.org.uk Centre, The Old Mortuary, 8pm, £1, Union Church Hall, Tuesday 17 January 2012 St Mary Church Street, SE16. Ferme Park Road and Navigating Hidden London Tuesday 13 December 2011 Rotherhithe & Bermondsey Weston Park, N8, Hornsey Talk by Matt Brown, Thomas Layton’s Artificial Local History Group Historical Society, www. Londonist editor, and David Curiosities: Oceanic hornseyhistorical.org.uk Long, author of Hidden City: Collections of an “Old Thursday 15 December The Secret Alleys, Courts and World Type” Roman Fort Visit Thursday 12 January Yards of London’s Square Mile. Talk by Glynn Davis, Museum Tour of underground remains. Victorian Sunday Schools 6.30pm-8pm, £8/£6, London of London, and Catherine 2-2.30pm and 3-3.30pm, free, Talk by Chris Pond. Transport Museum, www. Elliott, British Museum. Museum of London, 020 2.30pm, Vestry House ltmuseum.co.uk 6.30pm, Museum of 7001 9844, www.museum Museum, Vestry Road, E17, London. Organised by oflondon.org.uk/events Walthamstow Historical Tuesday 17 January 2012 London and Middlesex Society, walthamstowwalks Mapping Roman London: Archaeological Society, Saturday 17 December @mz48.myzen.co.uk, www. from Site Context to Town lamas.org.uk Victorian Parlour Musician walthamstowhistorical Plan 1–5pm, Keats House society.org.uk Talk by Julian Hill, Museum Wednesday 14 December 020 7332 3868, www.keats Alexandra Park, Past and house.cityoflondon.gov.uk Present Research course Talk by Mark Evison Monday 19 December Starts Wednesday 11 January (10 weeks) 8pm, £1, Union Church Hall, Way out West – West Mysteries of London: Researching the Metropolitan Past corner of Ferme Park Road London in archive film Research and analyse original documents and objects and Weston Park, N8. 1-4pm, free, drop in, London from the Museum of London, the Guidhall Library and Hornsey Historical Society, Metropolitan Archives, 020 the London Metropolitan Archive www.hornseyhistorical. 7332 3820, www. £90/£15, Museum of London; to book, call 020 7608 2753 org.uk cityoflondon.gov.uk/lma
26 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2011/12 Vol 1 No 4 of London Archaeology. 6.30pm, Museum of Malicious Damage: the Life and Crimes London. Organised by of Joe Orton and Kenneth Halliwell in London and Middlesex Archaeological Society, Islington lamas.org.uk Until Saturday 21 January, free Wednesday 19 January The Garrett Ladies of This exhibition tells the Gower Street, Designers story of the creative and Talk by Elizabeth Crawford. mischievous talents of 7.30pm, £1/free, Camden playwright Joe Orton and History Society, 020 7586 his partner Kenneth 4436, www.camden Halliwell when they lived in historysociety.org Islington. For the first time, it shows all the surviving doctored book covers, as well as Friday 20 January other material reflecting their lives and work. Roman Fort Visit Tour of underground remains. Islington Museum, 245 John Street, London EC1V 4NB 2-2.30pm and 3-3.30pm, free, 020 7527 2837, [email protected] Museum of London, 020 7001 9844, www.museum See talks listed here on 9 February and news, page 5 oflondon.org.uk/events
Monday 23 January Talk by Dr Chris Pond Thursday 16 February Middlesex Archaeological Dickens on Screen 8pm, £1, Union Church Hall, The Reconstruction of the Society, lamas.org.uk How Dickens’ words became corner of Ferme Park Road Stepney Area in the Post film. Event held with the BBC. and Weston Park, N8. Second World War Period 1 March 2012 £6/£4/£3, Museum of Hornsey Historical Society, Talk by Samantha L Bird. Highlights of 26 years of London, 020 7001 9844, www.hornseyhistorical. 7.30pm, Latimer Church Kingdom Tours WW Cruises www.museumoflondon.org. org.uk Hall, Ernest Street, E1. East Talk by Brian and Velma uk/events London History Society, Kirton. Thursday 9 February 2012, 020 8980 5672, www. 7.30pm, £4/concessions, Wednesday 25 January Connecting Conversations eastlondonhistory.org.uk London Canal Museum, Meet the Expert John Lahr, author of Prick Up 020 7713 0836, www. Rose Briskman, conservation Your Ears: the Biography of Joe Wednesday 16 February canalmuseum.org.uk for Dickens and London. Orton talks to Don Campbell. Charles Dickens and the Free, Museum of London, 7-8.30pm, £8/4, Islington Cleveland Street Workhouse Thursday 1 March 020 7001 9844, www.museum Museum Talk by Ruth Richardson Stepney Green Since the oflondon.org.uk/events 7.30pm, £1/free. Camden Great Fire Thursday 9 February History Society, 020 7586 Talk by Isobel Watson. Wednesday 25 January By Horse and Trap around 4436, www.camdenhistory 7.30pm, Latimer Church The History of Numbers Leyton and Leytonstone society.org Hall, Ernest Street, E1, Talk by Dr Stan Gilks Talk by David Boote. East London History Society, 7.45pm, £2, St John’s Church 7.30pm, Trinity United Wednesday 22 February 020 8980 5672, www. Hall, Friern Barnet Lane, Reformed Church hall, The Arts Depot eastlondonhistory.org.uk Friern Barnet & District Local 58 Orford Road, E17 9QU. Talk by Keith Martin History Society, 020 8368 8314, Walthamstow Historical 7.45pm, £2, St John’s Thursday 8 March friernbarnethistory.org.uk Society, walthamstowwalks Church Hall, Friern Barnet The Lea Valley before the @mz48.myzen.co.uk, www. Lane. Friern Barnet & Romans Thursday 2 February walthamstowhistorical District Local History Talk by Ian Heritage. An Evening of Old society.org.uk Society, 020 8368 8314, 7.30pm, Trinity United Waterway Videos friernbarnethistory.org.uk Reformed Church hall, 58 With David Tucker Tuesday 14 February Orford Road, London E17 7.30pm, £4 (+ concessions), The Medieval Cellars of Tuesday 28 February 9QU, Walthamstow London Canal Museum Winchelsea Reconstructing Nonsuch: Historical Society, 020 7713 0836, www. Dr Richard Comotto Evidence, Elevations, and a walthamstowwalks@mz48. canalmuseum.org.uk 8pm, Avenue House, 17 East Model myzen.co.uk, www.waltham End Road, N3 8QE, Hendon Professor Martin Biddle, stowhistoricalsociety.org.uk Wednesday 8 February and District Archaeological Hertford College, Oxford. From Mean Streets to Society, 020 8449 7076, 6.30pm, Museum of Tuesday 13 March Epping Forest hadas.org.uk London. London and It’s All in the Bones
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History & Society Winter 2011/12 Vol 1 No 4 27 Talk by Jelena Bekvalac. architecture c1922-1935. 8pm, Avenue House, 17 East Royal Academy of Arts, 020 End Road, N3 8QE. Hendon 7300 8000, royalacademy. and District Archaeological org.uk Society, 020 8449 7076, hadas.org.uk Until 29 January 2012 William Morris: Story, Wednesday 14 March Memory, Myth A New Story of Hornsey Two Temple Place. Talk by John Hinshelwood. 020 7836 3715, info@ 8pm, £1, Union Church Hall, twotempleplace.org corner of Ferme Park Road and Weston Park, N8. Until 5 February Hornsey Historical Society, Your 2012 www.hornseyhistorical.org.uk Photographs the Olympic Park site development. 13 March 2012 Exhibitions Until 8 January 2012 Free, Museum of London Jimmy Garlick, the Hokusai’s Great Wave Mummified Man of Until 23 December A rare chance to see the Until10 June St James Garlickhythe Mapping the London Blitz British Museum’s Dickens and London Talk by Ellis Charles Pike, Free, London Metropolitan impression of c1831 print by Exhibition of artefacts, honorary verger of St James Archives, 020 7332 3820, Katsushika Hokusai, above. manuscripts and displays to Garlickhythe. www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/lma Free, British Museum, mark the 200th anniversary 6.30pm, Museum of 020 7323 8299, www. of Charles Dickens’ birth London. London and Until 31 December britishmuseum.org and show places and Middlesex Archaeological Separation and Silence: subjects that inspired him. Society, lamas.org.uk Wandsworth Prison Until 22 January 2012 Various charges, Museum of Exhibition on prison’s history. Building the Revolution: London, 020 7001 9844, Wednesday 15 March £3/£2. Wandsworth Museum, Soviet Art and Architecture www.museumoflondon.org. The History and wandsworthmuseum.co.uk Russian avant-garde uk/dickens Significance of the Mary Ward Settlement Talk by Karen Butti. Archizines Cathedral and the eye- Preston Is My Paris uses 7.30pm, £1/free, Camden Until Wednesday popping Egyptian Hall at newsprint to be accessible History Society, 020 7586 14 December, free Harrods, painted a mural for and affordable. It celebrates 4436, www.camdenhistory Islington Green School that Preston Bus Station with society.org was listed in 2008. Finsbury photographs that take as Archizines showcases 60 Health Centre is praised for much interest in the people Regular events magazines, fanzines and embodying the 1930s passing through as in the journals from around the attention to “clean air, architecture. Fridays 16 December, 6, 13, 20 globe that offer an abundant light, logic, For one editor, print is all and 27 January; and Saturday alternative to the function [and] modernity”. about escaping the “tyranny 17 December and 21 January mainstream architectural The gloriously titled Evil of the present”while Behind the scenes at the press. If they have common People in Modernist Homes another says: “You can’t Archaeological Archive aims, these are to bring in Popular Films looks at the keep and treasure a blog.” Tours and object handling at comment and criticism into association of evil characters Review by Ben Porter London Archaeological everyday life, and wave the and events with modern Archive and Research Centre flag for print in a digital age. buildings and, generally, Architectural Association at Mortimer Wheeler House. Nothing here is under on the relationship between School of Architecture, 36 11am and 2pm, £5, book in glass. Pick a favourite, take cinema and architecture. Bedford Square, WC1B 3ES advance on 020 7001 9844, a stool, and enjoy. Many publications look 10am-7pm Monday-Friday, www.museumof london.org. The creators of Criticat ahead. Kerb19 (Melbourne) 9am-5pm Saturday, 020 7887 uk/events (Paris) say that to critique sees the city developing 4000, www.aaschool.ac.uk, architecture is to review “the through biotechnology into www.archizines. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and world that builds it”. an interactive organism. com Saturdays (check for dates) Islington appears twice in Too Much (Tokyo) focuses, Historic Almshouse open the Modernist (Manchester). understandably, on Film baddies live Tours of restored 18th century William Mitchell, a former “relocating, shelter-building in modernist almshouse, £2.50/free, 11am, Tomorrow’s World presenter and […] new ideal cities”. homes – one 12pm, 2pm and 3pm. Geffrye who created the great doors Print is celebrated in a publication Museum, 020 7739 9893, of Liverpool Metropolitan variety of forms and styles. examines why www.geffrye-museum.org.uk
28 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2011/12 Vol 1 No 4 Directory
He were list local history, civic, amenity and archaeology societies and a few museums. Most societies publish newsletters and organise events
Check opening times before Camden Railway Heritage Freud Museum The Horniman Museum visiting. If you would like Trust 020 7435 2002, 100 London Road, SE23 anything listed or updated www.crht1837.org www.freud.org.uk 3PQ, free, 020 8699 1872, here, email [email protected] [email protected] Camley Street Natural Park Friends of Friendless Churches Abney Park Trust Memorial NW1 0PW, 020 7833 2311 www.friendsoffriendless Hornsey Historical Society Park and Nature Reserve churches.org.uk The Old Schoolhouse, 136 020 7275 7557, The Canonbury Society Tottenham Lane, N8 7EL, www.abney-park.org.uk www.canonburysociety.org.uk Geffrye Museum hornseyhistorical.org.uk 020 7739 9893, www. Alexandra Palace Television The Cartoon Museum geffrye-museum.org.uk Hunterian Museum Group 35 Little Russell Street, Royal College of Surgeons 020 8524 082, apts.org.uk WC1, 020 7580 8155, www. The Georgian Group of England, 35-43 Lincoln’s cartoonmuseum.org 6 Fitzroy Square, W1T 5DX, Inn Fields, WC2A 3PE, Amateur Geological Society 0871 750 2936, info@ www.rcseng.ac.uk/museums 25 Village Road, N3 1TL City of London georgiangroup.org.uk Archaeological Society Inland Waterways The Amwell Society [email protected] Greater London Industrial Association 020 7837 0988, info@ Archaeology Society (GLIAS) North-east London branch, amwellsociety.org Clerkenwell and Islington 14 Mount Road, EN4 9RL, [email protected] Guides Association 020 8692 8512, secretary@ Bexley Archaeological Group 07971 296731, [email protected] glias.org.uk Island History Trust [email protected], 020 7987 6041, eve@ www.bag.org.uk The Clockmakers’ Museum Guildhall Library islandhistory.org.uk www.clockmakers.org/ Aldermanbury, EC2V 7HH, British Postal Museum and museum-and-library 020 7332 1868, textphone Islington Local History Archive 020 7332 3803, guildhall. Centre Freeling House, Phoenix Docklands History Group [email protected] Finsbury Library, 245 St John Place, WC1, 020 7239 2570, 020 7537 0368, info@ St, EC1V 4NB. 9.30am-8pm www.postalheritage.org.uk docklandshistorygroup.org.uk Hackney Museum Monday and Thursday (shuts 1 Reading Lane, E8 1GQ, 6pm every other Monday); British Vintage Wireless East London History Society www.hackney.gov.uk/ 9.30am-5pm Tues, Friday and Society www.eastlondonhistory.org.uk cm-museum.htm Saturday; closed Wednesday [email protected] and Sunday; closed 1pm- EC1 History The Hackney Society 2pm; 020 7527 7988; local. Bruce Castle museum www.ec1history.co.uk Round Chapel, 1d Glenarm [email protected] Lordship Lane, N17 8NU, Road, E5 0LY, 07771 225183, free, 020 8808 8772, museum. Forest Hill Society [email protected] Islington Museum [email protected] www.foresthillsociety.com 245 St John Street, EC1V Hendon and District 4NB, 10am-5pm, closed Camden Civic Society Friends of Hackney Archives Archaeology Society Wednesday and Sunday, 020 8340 5972, morton@ 43 De Beauvoir Road, N1 5SQ [email protected], 020 7527 2837, islington. btopenworld.com www.hadas.org.uk [email protected] Friern Barnet & District Camden History Society Local History Society Heritage of London Trust Islington Society 020 7586 4436, www. www.friernbarnethistory.org. 0207 730 9472, www. 35 Britannia Row, N1 8QH, camdenhistorysociety.org uk; www.friern-barnet.com heritageoflondon.com www.islingtonsociety.org.uk
Camden New Town History The Foundling Museum Historical Association, Dr Johnson’s House Group 40 Brunswick Square, WC1, Central London Branch 17 Gough Square, EC4A [email protected], 020 7841 3600, www. 020 7323 1192, www.history. 3DE, 020 7353 3745, www. www.camdennewtown.info foundlingmuseum.org.uk org.uk, [email protected] drjohnsonshouse.org
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History & Society Winter 2011/12 Vol 1 No 4 29 Keats House Mausolea & Monuments Trust University College London, Thames Discovery Keats Grove, NW3 2RR, 020 70 Cowcross Street, EC1M Malet Place, WC1 7JG, www. Programme 7332 3868, keatshouse@ 6EJ, 020 7608 1441, ucl.ac.uk/museums/petrie Mortimer Wheeler House, cityoflondon.gov.uk [email protected] 46 Eagle Wharf Road, N1, The Peckham Society 020 7566 9310, enquiries@ Kew Bridge Steam Museum Marx Memorial Library 67 Gordon Road, SE15 2AF, thamesdiscovery.org Green Dragon Lane, TW8, 020 37a Clerkenwell Green, EC1 www.peckhamsociety.org.uk 8568 4757, www.kbsm.org 0DU, 020 7253 1485, info@ Tottenham Civic Society marx-memorial-library.org Railway Correspondence www.tottenhamcivicsociety. Labour and Wait Brush and Travel Society org.uk Museum The Museum of Brands www.rcts.org.uk Small museum in hardware 2 Colville Mews, Lonsdale The Transport Trust store, 85 Redchurch Street, Road, W11, 020 7908 0880, Ragged School Museum Lambeth Road, SE1 7JW, E2. www.labourandwait.co.uk [email protected] 46-50 Copperfield Road, E3 020 7928 6464, www. 4RR, 020 8980 6405, www. transporttrust.com The Charles Lamb Society Museum of London raggedschoolmuseum.org.uk 28 Grove Lane, SE6 8ST 150 London Wall, EC2Y Two Temple Place 5HN, 020 7814 5511, www. Rescue – the British 2 Temple Place, WC2R 3BD, London Canal Museum museumoflondon.org.uk Archaeological Trust 7836 3715, info@ 12-13 New Wharf Road, N1 www.rescue-archaeology. twotempleplace.org 9RT, 020 7713 0836, www. Museum of London org.uk canalmuseum.org.uk Archaeology Union Chapel: Friends of Mortimer Wheeler House, The Smithfield Trust the Union Chapel London Metropolitan 46 Eagle Wharf Road, N1 70 Cowcross Street, EC1M Union Chapel, Compton Archives 7ED, 020 7410 2200, www. 6EJ, 020 7566 0041, Avenue, N1 2XD, www. 40 Northampton Road, EC1 museumoflondon [email protected] unionchapel.org.uk/pages/ 0HB, 020 7332 3820, ask.lma archaeology.org.uk friends.html @cityoflondon.gov.uk, www. Sir John Soane’s Museum cityoflondon.gov.uk/lma Museum of London 13 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, WC2, V&A Museum of Childhood Docklands www.soane.org Free, Cambridge Heath London & Middlesex West India Quay, E14 4AL, Road, E2 9PA, 020 8983 5200 Archaeological Society 020 7001 9844, www.museum Spencer House 020 7814 5734, jkeily@ oflondon.org.uk/Docklands 27 St James’s Place SW1, The Victorian Society museumoflondon.org.uk, 020 7499 8620, www. 1 Priory Gardens, W4, www.lamas.org.uk Museum of the Order of spencerhouse.co.uk 020 8994 1019, admin@ St John victoriansociety.org.uk The London Museums of St John’s Gate, EC1M 4DA, Society for the Protection Health & Medicine 020 7253 6644, www. of Ancient Buildings The Wallace Collection www.medicalmuseums.org museumstjohn.org.uk 37 Spital Square, E1 6DY, 020 Hertford House, Manchester 7377 1644, www.spab.org.uk Square, W1M 6BN, free, 020 London Socialist Historians The Musical Museum 7563 9500, www. Group 399 High Street, TW8 0DU, Southwark and Lambeth wallacecollection.org http://londonsocialist www.musicalmuseum.co.uk Archaeology Society (SLAS) historians.blogspot.com 79 Ashridge Crescent, SE18 Walthamstow Historical The National Archives, Society The London Society Kew, 020 8876 3444, www. Sutton House 37 Chewton Road, E17 Mortimer Wheeler House, nationalarchives.gov.uk 2 & 4 Homerton High 7DW, contact@walthamstow 46 Eagle Wharf Road, N1 7ED, Street, E9, 020 8986 2264, historical society.org www.londonsociety.org.uk The National Piers Society www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ www.piers.org.uk main/w-suttonhouse Wandsworth Museum London Transport Museum 38 West Hill, SW18 1RZ Covent Garden Piazza, Newington Green Action Rotherhithe & Bermondsey wandsworthmuseum.co.uk WC2E 7BB, 020 7379 6344, Group Local History Society www.ltmuseum.co.uk 020 7359 6027, www. [email protected] Wellcome Collection newingtongreen.org.uk 183 Euston Road, NW1 2BE, London Transport Museum Royal Archaeological Institute 020 7611 2222 Friends New River Action Group Burlington House, Piccadilly, www.ltmuseum.co.uk/friends 24 Lavender Road, EN2 0ST, W1 0BE, admin@ John Wesley’s House and 020 8363 7187 royalarchinst.org Museum of Methodism Markfield Beam Engine 49 City Road, EC1, free, Markfield Road, N15, 01707 Petrie Museum of Egyptian The Streatham Society www.wesleyschapel. org.uk/ 873628, [email protected] Archaeology www.streathamsociety.org.uk museum.htm
30 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2011/12 Vol 1 No 4 Islington Archaeology & History Society Events
Wednesday 14 December 2011 Scotland Yard’s first cases Joan Lock 8pm, Islington Town Hall, Upper Street, London N1
Joan Lock, a former police officer, will be talking about her new book, Scotland Yard’s First Cases, which is due out at the end of November. She is the author of 11 non-fiction police/ crime books, including Dreadful Deeds and Awful Murders: Scotland Yard’s First Detectives 1829-1878 and books on the history of British women police officers, a subject on which she is an authority. She has also written radio plays.
When Scotland Yard’s first detective branch was set up in 1842, the favoured murder weapon was the cut-throat razor. Large households, with servants and lodgers as well as families, complicated many a case.
As far as forensic detection was concerned, there was no way of telling if blood or hair came from a person or an animal, and photography was too new to help with identification. Fingerprinting was 50 years away and DNA profiling another 100 after that.
Joan Lock’s book includes classic cases such as the First Railway Murder, and weaves in developments like the electric telegraph against a background of authentic Victorian police procedure.
Wednesday 18 January 2012 My Family on the Western Front Doug Kirby 8pm, Islington Town Hall, Upper Street, London N1 The Islington Archaeology & History William Warby, Doug Kirby’s great-uncle, was born and bred in Islington. He enlisted into a territorial battalion, training at Richmond Park and East Sheen before Society is looking for a arriving in France in June 1916. Secretary Drawing on several years’ research, this talk on William Warby and his involvement in the Great War draws on information from the battalion war diaries, photographs and primary source evidence kept by the family for many years. The secretary will help with the society’s organisation Doug Kirby will also discuss how he carried out the research. and smooth running, and give the chairman an occasional push where necessary.
Final details for meetings for 15 February and 21 March are being firmed up – If you are interested or please check the society’s website at www.iahs.org.uk would like further information, please contact chairman Andy Gardner on [email protected].
The Islington Archaeology & History Society meets 10 times a year, on the third www.iahs.org.uk Wednesday of each month at 8pm, at Islington Town Hall, Upper Street, N1
Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History & Society Winter 2011/12 Vol 1 No 4 31 The Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Back page picture The workers of Stroud Green Road about to go on a day out in the 1940s. See page 20