Access All Areas EC1 Echo How Our Area Could Be Better Equipped to Improve Disabled People’S Lives

EC1 ECHO JUNE/JULY 2021 N 10 FREE

NEWS FEATURES HISTORY EC1Echo.co.uk A Clerkenwell resident A new school of drawing Colin O’Brien’s @EC1Echo has started London’s first is set to open on photographs show EC1 outdoor chess club Exmouth Market as it once was EC1Echo@ /EC1Echo P 5 P 5 P 10–11 peelinstitute.org.uk Clerkenwell resident and junior doctor Grace Spence Green tells Access all areas EC1 Echo how our area could be better equipped to improve disabled people’s lives

BY OLIVER BENNETT advocate Katie Pennick posted a video on Twitter showing there was ince she became a wheel- no room for her to move in Soho chair user after a spinal because of pavement tables. You injury following an incident either get forced onto the road or in 2018, Grace Spence you’re constantly waiting for people Green has been thrust to move.” Sinto the forefront of disablement Does Grace find people talk over activism. For many years a Clerken- her head? “All the time,” she says, well resident, her experience has adding that when she’s with her obviously changed – but at the same boyfriend some people ask him time, Grace has continued to pursue questions about her. “But I think her life as before, working as a junior that comes from a real discomfort, doctor in a central London hospital. as well as lack of knowledge and a In doing so, Grace has a clear fear about saying the wrong thing.” vantage point on how areas such as Clerkenwell could be improved – sometimes in small ways – and how “We are all businesses should go beyond box ticking for the disabled, and how we could all adjust our mindsets. disabled at “With buildings and venues that are supposedly accessible, it often some point appears as if they didn’t actually ask a disabled person,” says Grace. in our lives” “It can be as basic as foot pedals in the wheelchair-accessible toi- In an area with historic architec- let – or stopping that toilet from ture like Clerkenwell, it’s inevitable becoming a storeroom.” Entrances that some buildings are not dis- – even of just one step – can be abled friendly. “For example, my confounding, and a mere wooden parents’ old house is completely ramp can make all the difference. inaccessible to me,” says Grace. “It’s usually the little fixes that are “But when I came out of hospital the best, and it shows that someone I looked for a flat here and found has obviously understood.” that few were accessible, even As social distancing has changed modern places.” Even when she the way we socialise, with outdoor did find one, the sole lift stopped chairs and tables, we might expect working. “For months, I had either there to be more room for wheelchair be carried up three flights of stairs, access to cafes and restaurants. “For or drag myself up with the wheel- me there are pros and cons,” says chair.” She now lives in a place with Grace. “It’s true that being outside two lifts but finds it frustrating Junior doctor Grace Spence Green has become a disabled advocate is a kind of bonus. But there are that the onus was on her to move. difficulties – for example, disability Continued on Page-9 EC1 ECHO NO.10 N 10 NEWS 2 JUNE / JULY Raise repair issues 2021 Residents in properties managed by Islington Council’s PFI partner have been invited to raise repair concerns before homes handed back to council 1st June 31st July BY ED SHERIDAN, the time the council takes over Window-related works are the their help in this.” The Council’s LOCAL DEMOCRACY REPORTER Third Third will stay in the fund. most common problem and will independent surveying consul- Quarter Quarter Programme manager Saf Khan cost £70,535 in total, with 398 tants Ridge recently reported that 58% / 0.52 51% / 0.49 slington Council is urging said: “We wanted to get into as individual works required at 270 the properties are being handed tenants of homes managed many basement flats as we pos- homes, with windows missing back to the Council in better than by its PFI partner Partners sibly could as we know there are restrictors, stays, locks, catches, average condition, with among EC1 Echo is the for Improvement in Isling- concerns around damp particu- handles and draught seals. the lowest proportion of catch-up area's free community Iton to raise damp or disrepair larly in street properties.” Damp was discovered in 265 repairs they have ever seen. newspaper. We issues before the handback of Islington homes, with “We have worked in partner- publish bi-monthly thousands of properties to the holds two “In the Council’s Islington plan- ship with the Council throughout and distribute 7,500 Town Hall in April next year. contracts ning to hold the contract and we will continue free copies of each Partners, who have long been with Partners. survey, broken on to its reim- to work together to ensure a the topic of debate at Town Hall While PFI2 bursement smooth transition of service for issue – and we will meetings over satisfaction rates is set to end windows, damp and cash for a cou- residents, in April 2022. This continue to do so of its residents, are required to in April, PFI roofing issues account ple of months date was agreed in 2006 as part during the ongoing carry out repairs ahead of the 1 is a 30-year after Partners of the original contract, so the public health crisis. end of the 16-year contract. contract end- for 59 per cent make a repair PFI2 project will end when it was A council survey has identified ing in 2033. of problems” job in this area, always intended to. Publisher £466,000 worth of work to be In the Coun- to make sure “We are pleased that through David Floyd done, but due to the pandemic cil’s survey, broken windows, the problem does not recur. the PFI project the Council has was only able to access 1,254 of damp and roofing issues account A spokesperson from Partners been able to retain ownership Editor the 2,778 properties. for 59 per cent of problems, but said: “We encourage residents of thousands of homes in street Oliver Bennett The value of these repairs will surveyors also found cracked to report repairs as we have properties, which in 2006 were Designer be held by the borough in a ceilings and walls, broken boilers, throughout the first 15 years of the desperately in need of invest- Jonathan Duncan retention fund until all are com- missing wash basins, damaged PFI2 contract including in every ment and are being handed back Head of Operations pleted and signed off. The cost floors and front entrance doors, quarterly residents’ newsletter. in good condition.” of any repairs not completed by and more. We’d like to thank residents for Additional reporting by EC1 Echo Paige Ballmi Engagement Manager Penny Dampier Mount Pleasant Contributors still growing Chris Walker, Ed Sheridan, Life cycle Lara Muller, James he housing developer Richards, Jean, Pierre Taylor Wimpey has put Orban, Philip Tsaras, LTN debate still firing up the borough forward proposals to Anastasia Georgousis, T slington Council is aiming everyone to travel, exercise and “I feel that the LTNs are anti- increase the number of flats Colin O’Brien courtesy Jan to provide an evidence play,” said Cllr Rowena Cham- democratic,” says Martyn Perks, in its Postmark development O’Brien, Mark Aston, Nick base for low-traffic pion, Islington Council’s Exec- who stood as an independent in Mount Pleasant. The rise in Andrew, Juliana Lottmann, networks (LTNs) in the utive Member for Environment against Labour’s Valerie Boss- numbers to 34 additional flats Al Tyers, Elena Vardon, borough – under the banner of and Transport. man-Quarshie in the recent is based on a claim that mar- Johnny Burns, Janet I Dowling, Joe Trotter people-friendly streets. The monitoring report from the Bunhill by-election. “The work ket demand has changed from Clerkenwell Green neighbour- Clerkenwell Green neighbour- at the Old Street roundabout has larger to smaller flats and that hood’s “mid-trial monitoring hood, which was introduced in created masses of congestion.” the earlier flats made “ineffi- CONTACT reports” claim to show that September 2020, shows that Ms Bossman-Quarshie, who cient use of the space.” local people have enjoyed sig- numbers of vehicles speeding won the by-election, said: In angry scenes on a Zoom call Email nificantly reduced traffic and less fell by 73 per cent on internal “Islington Council has been with the developer, Ed Denison, [email protected] speeding in both areas. Traffic roads, but shows that traffic on implementing people-friendly housing campaigner, university Post on local roads in Clerkenwell boundary streets professor and representative of 7–11 Coppermill Lane, Green fell by 34 per cent. roads rose by schemes the Mount Pleasant Association Walthamstow E17 7HA “I feel that the LTNs The monitoring process is 22 per cent, across the claimed that this would “increase part of the council’s intro- an increase are anti-democratic” borough to the transient population” by ADVERTISING duction of people-friendly attributed to make our encouraging smaller living units. streets as 18-month trials to factors such as the work on the streets safer and encourage “You need a broad mix of ten- Contact Klaudia Kiss: help create a healthier borough nearby Old Street roundabout, more active travel, such as ants to sustain make a long-term Call 020 8521 7956 by encouraging walking and Smithfield Market and at Far- walking and cycling”. community and this no extra Email cycling, as part of the council’s ringdon Station, as well as the “While we are looking into amenities,” said Denison. [email protected] ambition to create a net-zero introduction of the neighbour- where we can make our streets Taylor Wimpey said that the carbon borough by 2030. ing Amwell people-friendly more people-friendly across the changes will “help deliver more EC1 Echo is a member of IMPRESS: The Independent Monitor of The “These monitoring reports streets neighbourhood. borough, the Council currently homes in the Borough, both Press. For more information on the EC1 Echo’s complaints policy and show that the trials are helping Islington Council has intro- does not have any plans to affordable and open market” and how to make a complaint visit: EC1Echo.co.uk/complaints to reduce traffic, creating streets duced seven people-friendly implement further changes in that no population increase is where it is easier and safer for streets neighbourhood trials. Bunhill at the moment.” expected as a result of its redesign. June/July 2021 NEWS 3 Food market stays in Cowcross Street Permission granted for another three years, reports Ed Sheridan, Local Democracy Reporter street food market we feel the vehicles change the works installed over the past 18 in Farringdon has character of the market, are months, including additional received permission detrimental to the quality of lighting in all alleyways leading to from Islington Coun- this particular open space, and and from the market’s location at Acil to operate for a further three if there were to be 13 stalls, 13 Cowcross Yard, which it is hoped years, in the face of continued vehicles here, it would just end will reduce anti-social behaviour. opposition from neighbours liv- up looking like a car park.” Council officers pointed out ing near Cowcross Street. They added: “If you walk down Cowcross Street has been The market will be run by spe- the street now, you see shop a market area for centuries. cialist food operator Urban Food after shop has closed unfortu- Smithfield Market was in exis- Fest, which now has separate nately because of the situation tence by 1123, along with a sep- permission to use its own power we have been in, so why are we arate cow market after which supply – potentially avoiding the now allowing a situation where Cowcross Street is named. need for noisy generators. more people would be able to Committee chair Angela Pick- Objectors had sought to curb come in their vans to the area, nell said: “It seems to me that the market’s operation on the set up a stall and take away from we have vans coming and going basis of noise issues, the size more permanent locations on whatever happens. I’m not sure of food trucks “impacting the Cowcross Street?” the issue of whether it is local Cowcross Street appearance of the area”, and A representative for the appli- people or not in the market is a concerns of anti-social behaviour. cants, real estate company “In terms of the shops closing – citing security concerns. planning concern. One, representing several flats Newsteer, said: “We had a competition is not a planning con- Quizzed on the council’s pow- “I don’t think that is some- in a neighbouring building, said: consultation event with neigh- sideration, so regrettably I do not ers to resolve this dispute, town thing we can concern ourselves “The main issue we have had bours in November and the think that is a matter for debate.” hall officers said its use was a with, but as they are likely to be is the noise complaint which response we had at that event Denmark House residents private civil matter in which coming by van anyway I don’t has been acknowledged now was very positive. All of those addressing the recent planning they are unable to interfere, and think the distance is something regarding the use of standalone power supply elements can committee meeting stressed that therefore it is beyond the control we can really consider. temporary generators. serve every single one of the they “vehemently objected” to of councillors to make a ruling. “The ability to use clean elec- “The objection here is to the market, so there will be no stall the use of the alleyway beneath Newsteer also pointed to a trical power rather than genera- vehicles in particular, because that cannot access this supply. Denmark House by the market, number of public improvement tors is a definite move forward.” Advertisement

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CLAREMONT SQUARE CLERKENWELL GREEN WHARFDALE ROAD The reservoir around which Claremont Square was constructed dates back An absolutely fabulous Showroom with retail unit is available for long Located on a quiet road, a stone’s throw from Kings Cross St Pancras to the 18th Century. While it’s no longer in use it does provide a centre term lease in one of London’s hidden gems, namely Clerkenwell Green. International, Google Headquarters and the Regents Canal is this quite piece for the exceptional Grade II listed Georgian buildings that surround it. Previously used as an architects’ office, this prime commercial property charming one bedroom garden flat set on the lower ground floor of this One of the remaining terraced freeholds is now offered for sale chain free. offers circa 850 sq ft split equally across two floors. Period terraced house which would make a superb pied-a-terre. £2,300,000 guide price P.O.A. £575,000 guide price

Fine & Country Islington International offices Tel: +44 (0)207 2781710 Offices in over 300 locations Email: [email protected] worldwide EC1 ECHO NO.10 NEWS 4 A Greek classic revival Inner The much-loved Kolossi Grill is being space revived for a new generation of diners race hen the Kolossi Grill on Rosebery Avenue shut Start-up Clerkenwell up shop last year, it was considered a sad loss – Health is pioneering the use Wand another sacrifice to Covid-19. The proprietor Harry Nicola had hosted the of psychedelics in therapy Greek Cypriot restaurant for many years, and it had been a beacon of the district n innovative mental- since its foundation in 1966, when there health company has were few restaurants in the area. started on Clerkenwell Now barrister and businessman David Road, claiming to be the Lonsdale has taken a ten-year lease on firstA such company in the country the Kolossi, and is currently converting to design and manage clinical trials it into a modern Greek restaurant. for customers developing psychedelic “We want to keep the name and the compounds such as MDMA, LSD, Greek food, as that’s what it’s known for,” dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and says David, who also owns and runs the psilocybin mushrooms for conditions Sekforde pub in Sekforde Street. “But we such as depression, anxiety and PTSD will modernise the menu and bring in some (post-traumatic stress disorder). of the best Greek wines.” With breakfasts Says CEO Tom McDonald, Clerkenwell and chairs and tables outside, he hopes to Health is a “clinical research organisation attract those attracted to Exmouth Market helping drug manufacturers to get their and theatre-goers from Sadler’s Wells. drugs to the market. It will be managed by George Matthews “Globally there are approximately and Tom Raffe, pictured. 100 companies in the space – but we The Kolossi was once a haunt of jour- are the only one focussed exclusively nalists from The Guardian when it was on delivering clinical trials.” on Farringdon Road, and known by As research and interest grows expense-account diners as the “Colossal across the world in alternative health Bill” or the “Colostomy”. It also hosted therapies, this family of drugs is being belly dancers. There are no plans to investigated for a range of conditions. revive those years, and the folksy inte- “In combination with talking rior with its plastic ivy is being cleaned therapies, psychedelics allow people out, but the frontage, with its trademark to create new thought patterns,” pediment, pillars and Hellenic script will says McDonald. “In the mental probably remain. “It’s a local landmark, health sphere, they would change after all” says David. The new Kolossi the need for SSRIs and other Rosebery Avenue’s Kolossi Grill is being revived Grill will open this summer. commonly prescribed antidepressants.” Clerkenwell Health is soon to be running clinical trials that aim to provide hopes is that it will “ignite local busi- an evidence base for NICE (The nesses” with a mix of entrepreneurship, National Institute for Health and Care), mentoring, accelerators, collaborations psychiatrists and eventually GPs as well Office politics and meetings with social purpose. as manufacturers. It is also seeking to Better Space has backing from City Uni- run its own clinics in four to five years, in versity of London’s City Ventures project facilities which will be “custom-designed Back to work – with a purpose from The Business School and has also to enhance the patient’s experience”, and ith Covid work from dents. With 74 desks over two floors of been supported by Islington Council. will feature “preparatory and integration home guidance due the Ray Building in Farringdon Road, Visit betterspace.london sessions” from trained therapists. to be lifted on June it’s already about 60 per cent occupied At present psychedelics are illegal 21, the hope is that with a lot of interest in the remainder. and cannot be approved or endorsed. Wcentral London workspaces will be “We’re seeking different kinds of busi- “There’s still a stigma against them,” repopulated. And on that very day, Bet- nesses,” says CEO Simon Magness, says McDonald. “But in the US and ter Space London – a new co-working who says they have a selection of people Canada there’s a lot of investment and space in the Ray Building, Farringdon from tech recyclers to fledgling food more of these drugs will be approved for Road – opens its doors to the public. and drink businesses. “There will be prescription. There are positive trials in As well as being a brand new ven- CICs (community interest companies) psilocybin and MDMA (more commonly ture, Better Space has an objective – to and charities too – any impact-driven known as Ecstasy). Used responsibly in provide a place for businesses with rather than profit-driven business.” tandem with talking therapies, and in social and environmental impact at With its own door, and rents pegged the right setting, psychedelic medicines their core – and to incubate ideas and at about 80 per cent of normal market are at a turning point.” businesses, particularly from local resi- prices, Magness says that one of the Visit: clerkenwellhealth.com June/July 2021 NEWS FEATURE 5

she could make it into a business. “There isn’t really a local bak- Summer knights ery as such.” She attended food hygiene and preparation classes, and as her domestic oven wasn’t Clerkenwell resident James Richards has started enough to bake in scale, now has a special baking oven from Rack- what he claims is London’s first outdoor chess club master with double the capacity. s lockdown comes to an end, some EC1 residents are “Covid turned my looking beyond pub and park visits to mingle again with life upside down” theirA fellow Londoners. While desperately trying to cure his boredom during Lara’s new business means quarantine, and inspired by Netflix hit Rising up that she has to get up early but The Queen’s Gambit, I took to playing One of the effects of she’s already breaking even, and chess with strangers online. Although branching out from her core it rekindled my love for the game, the lockdown has been sourdough and pastries into online format was missing a crucial part to turn an opera pizza. “I will sing all my life as it’s of what makes the game great – the singer into a baker my calling,” she says, “but baking chance to meet and chat to a fast friend. is the way out of lockdown.” Coming out of lockdown, I created ike others during the FourCorner – London’s first outdoor long Covid lockdown, chess club. Free and open-to-all, the local woman Lara Muller club aims to encourage players of all found her work as an creeds, ages and abilities to gather in Lopera singer drying up. London’s underutilised public spaces. Rather than sit on her laurels, You can catch us and other club regulars Lara decided to turn a new pas- every Saturday in St John’s Square from sion into a business – baking 12pm until 3pm, whatever the weather. If bread and pastries. you’d like to keep in touch with updates “Covid turned my life upside about the club, follow it @FourCorner on down,” says Lara. “I started bak- Instagram or directly by email to James ing and enjoyed the results. Visit larasbakery.co.uk at [email protected]. After a while, Lara thought that Email [email protected] Advertisement EC1 ECHO NO.10 FEATURES 6 Full stop? Free Word’s Clerke nwell base has closed – but may continue in another form he Free Word Centre, known for housing organisations devoted to literature and free Texpression closed at the end of May. Housed in a building once occupied by The Guardian on Farringdon Road, owned by 2007 Fritt Ord, a Norwegian philanthropic organisation, the Centre opened in 2009 with eight organisations. Hosting events, a lecture theatre and a café as well as offices, it became a cultural lodestone in Clerken- well and the Arts Council supported the running costs. The Free Word Centre claimed to be the “world’s first centre for literature and free expression,” dedi- cated to the transforming power of words. Among the organisations represented at Free Word were Article 19, English PEN, The Reading Agency, Report- ers without Borders and The Time to draw the line Arvon Foundation. On Twitter, Daniel Gorman, A space attached to the Holy Redeemer church is to director of English PEN, said: become a new art school studio devoted to drawing “It will be hugely missed and

his summer two Islington Prices for classes will be “as affordable as and observe – it’s all about heightening women will be mobilising possible”. Their key offering is a four-day the powers of looking.” This will not be EC1’s artists, old and new. Luci course but the pair are also hoping to offer done in an academic way, with a “right and Eyers and Antje Southern have many other slots including open drawing wrong” way of drawing. As Luci says: “We securedT rooms above the church hall in session on Mondays and early morning are non–judgemental and non-hierarchical.” Dog days Holy Redeemer on Exmouth Market for “pre-work” classes, early evening “pre- Classes will be open to everyone with their new venture – a micro-art school pub” classes and whole morning “drawing different levels of experience. “We want to based around the art of drawing. clubs” on Saturdays, with forays into Spa be intergenerational,” says Luci. “Exmouth Local dog-owne r Philip Tsaras says that his dog helped him The rooms, which are being refurbished Park. The school is due to start on 21 June. Market has such a great range of residents for the Drawing Studio, which is from different walks of life and the through the pan demic – and introduces his canine calendar to be called Eye to Pencil, have market brings this all together.” ne of the more unex- lots of natural light and old panel- “There’s no good and bad As to those many people who pected results of the ling, and have hitherto been used decided at school that they “can’t coronavirus lockdown for drama classes and yoga among drawing here, it will be draw”, Antje and Luci hope to has been the huge other pursuits. Luci and Antje make them think again. Oincrease in dog ownership. I have have taken it on for a long lease to about enabling people to be “There’s no good and bad draw- paired with my dear Cockerpoo pursue their long-held ambition ing here,” says Luci. “It will be hearing dog Barley for almost four of creating the studio, where they more confident” about enabling people to be more years and pre-lockdown it was will be running courses. confident and open about drawing quite rare for us to come across Says Antje, an art historian who has The pair emphasise that it is not just how – inviting them to see how drawing many dogs in St James’s Park, worked at auction house Christie’s Edu- to draw academically still lives and models, connects us to the world.” With guest which Barley views very much as cation Department and at the Royal but to “take drawing apart”, as Luci puts it. speakers from different spheres – Luci his own back garden. All this has Drawing School in Shoreditch: “We “Many people use drawing,” she says. “It’s and Antje have already set up lectures changed over the last year. want this to be an interdisciplinary a way of making you think and a process from an engineer, a designer and a com- Pre-lockdown he was the only school for everyone who is interested that will help your life in different ways.” poser, talking about how they use drawing dog living on the Peabody Estate, in drawing and it as a meeting place to So the school will not invite its students to to think things through – the art school where I live, as the terms of my draw together.” Luci, a painter, website make the perfect depiction of a vase of flow- hopes to get us all to pick up our pencils lease only had provision for assis- designer and teacher at Turps Art School ers, say, but rather to enable their sense of and look at the world anew. tance dogs. However Peabody is to work alongside Antje in the room seeing and interpretation of the world. Trust changed their rules at the and they will also offer online classes. “It’s not about making finished prod- The Drawing Studio, Eye to Pencil, end of 2019 and now allow up to 1st Floor, 26 Exmouth Market, EC1 At any time there will be a maximum of ucts,” adds Antje. “What we’re doing is Instagram @eyetopencil website two dogs per household, in recog- 12 students, with long tables and a sink. inviting people to slow down, take notice Visit eyetopencil.art nition of the mental health benefits June/July 2021 7 FEATURE

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l y Free Word’s Clerke nwell base has closed – but may continue in another form n I’m very hopeful they get support to continue their crucial work amplifying underrepre- sented voices.” “It will be hugely missed and I’m very hopeful they get support to continue Little Italy their crucual work” and my ghosts The Paris-based Belgian author The loss has been felt by the literary and journalistic Jean-Pierre Orban talks about the world but while the building inspiration for his Clerkenwell-based is being sold the organisations book, The Ends of Stories within are set to continue, and it may not be the end for the have travelled and lived in many countries, Free Word as an entity. A state- but I have not explored any other city in the ment on Free Word’s social world as much as London. Between 1994 media says: “We are currently and 2001, when I lived here I walked, cycled in talks with Arts Council and took public transport around the capital England who have expressed Ifrom west to east, north to south – as if to find the an interest in helping us con- shadows of a history that was close to me. tinue to deliver our vital work I found these shadows in and around Exmouth of amplifying underrepre- Market and Clerkenwell Road. I am Franco-Belgian, sented voices.” born of an Italian mother whose family emigrated to Belgium in the 1920s. In this neighbourhood, once called Little Italy, the houses, schools, churches and people told a story that intersected with that of my own family: the warmth and the dramas of a community, the tenacity of ordinary people – but also the drift of fascism between the two world wars Dog days and, for Italians in London and the UK, the sinking of the Arandora Star [sunk in June 1940 by a German U-boat transporting Italian and German civilians to Local dog-owne r Philip Tsaras says that his dog helped him Canada] in the porch of St Peter’s Church, a bas- relief that reminded me of its horror and absurdity. through the pan demic – and introduces his canine calendar I spent years immersing myself in the archives of owning a dog. According to Barley, we noticed, at least in Dogs certainly bring people about London’s Italian community and the a 2016 study, pet ownership is France and Switzerland, that local together. For the last few years, neighbourhood, in documents and in the press from estimated to save the NHS up to authorities are more dog-con- my partner and I have produced before and during the World War II, and created the £2.45bn annually as pet owners scious there as they provide free a desk calendar as a gift for our character of Vera who lives in Little Italy, is seduced make 15 per cent fewer visits to dog waste bag dispensers in parks friends and family, usually using by Mussolini’s fiery speeches and ends up losing her their GP. Reportedly pet owners and on some of the streets. Per- photographs of the local area, but father in the waters that engulfed the Arandora Star. are also 60 per cent more likely haps this is a service we should this year we decided the dogs of I was so immersed in my characters, in their stories, to get to know people in their also look into providing. EC1 should be our theme. We that they became real. In the 2000s, after years of area whom they had not known asked various local dog owners writing and before concluding my manuscript, I before and are also more likely to to submit their photos if they searched Clerkenwell for someone who had lived develop stronger community ties would like to be included and through what I was writing about and found, thanks and help others locally. the response was huge. In fact, to Backhill Online, a lady who was exactly the same I have certainly found this to be we had more dogs than we had age as my heroine and who had experienced most of true and I have met more peo- months and choice was extremely the episodes I had written about. That was magical! ple from around my area since hard. It also proved to be by far I could then finally write the words “The End”. having Barley than I did in the the most popular calendar we But it wasn’t the end, it was the beginning of a whole previous 30 years that I have ever produced, and we had new story, that of the book. It has won a number of have lived here. Indeed Barley is to keep ordering extra copies as awards and been translated into several languages very popular and has become an contributors kept purchasing including now in English – back to the country and expert at eliciting treats from var- them for their friends and family. neighbourhood where it originated. ious establishments on his walks. The Dogs of EC1 calendar could The Ends of Stories can be purchased from Travelling through Europe with well be here to stay. www.francisboutle.co.uk Jeremy Leslie outside magCulture Credit Dunja Opalko 8

years ago. And I like it here. It’s a little peaceful triangle even though you’re right in the middle of London.” In an age when social media and streaming services dominate our lives, many have heralded the death of print. At magCulture though, there’s a feeling that people want to move away from the screen and read something in print. “Digital has empowered print,” says Jeremy. “None of the magazines we stock, nor us as a business, could survive without the web. New publishers can reach a market they wouldn’t have been able to get to, and sell directly.” Both the magCulture store and its online journal have brought together a community of likeminded magazine enthusiasts – an aspect Jeremy believes is inherent to magazines. “What the new generation of independent magazines is achieving is going back to what magazines always were – focused, niche, community-based projects which pull people with similar interests together to share and develop their passions.” The shop stocks over 600 magazines based on themes including mental health, cheese, architecture, vinyl records, plants and board games, to name but a few. Enthusiasm and expertise shines through these publications. Read the small print “It’s fascinating, having that little window into that world,” says Jeremy. “Even if it’s not a topic I’m personally interested The country’s finest magazine in, I’m interested in a bunch of obsessives getting together and telling me about it. We’ve got 600 shop is based in Clerkenwell windows into 600 little worlds.” More than just a store, BY ANASTASIA GEORGOUSIS deserved to have a really magCulture is trying to inspire good shop and realised that the next generation of magazine n a parade on somebody was going to do it, makers, featuring online St John Street, and it wasn’t going to be good interviews with magazine creators alongside a enough. So I thought I’d better and hosting masterclasses laundrette, Nisa London do it first.” with experts to help people local and takeaway So why Clerkenwell? Jeremy launch their own magazine. restaurant sits deserved to have explains that the location was Jeremy is also be a judge on the magCulture – a almost accidental – he was newly launched Clerkenwell Ihidden treasure trove of a really good searching for a space that could Community Photography independent magazines. be a retail space alongside an Competition (see page-9). Founder Jeremy Leslie has over magazine shop office and studio – but it was What will he be looking out 30 years’ experience in the serendipity. “It’s next door for? “I really like this area and magazine industry and in 2003 to City University, which has there’s all sorts of opportunities wrote a book called magCulture, one of the biggest journalism to record it: lots to recall, stories, which turned into a blog and schools with a very strong MA and very distinct local areas and subsequently a shop in 2015. course, and Clerkenwell is the histories. It’s a great source of “I was travelling abroad to heart of the old printing world,” material and I’m fascinated to attend conferences and I’d find says Jeremy. “We’re near St see what people enter.” these amazing magazine shops John’s Gate where the first magCulture can be found at 270 St. in Berlin and Amsterdam,” says magazine was produced – The John Street or by visiting their Jeremy. “I thought London Gentleman’s Magazine about 250 relaunched website magculture.com Continued from Page-1

As to the wider area, it’s a mixed- 9 bag. “Sadler’s Wells theatre is EC1 ECHO O Privy chamber brilliant for accessibility, and I love N .10 Exmouth Market,” she says. But the area’s streets, cobbles, bollards, June/July Campaigners for the Clerkenwell Green toilets uneven pavements and high kerbs 2021 can be, she says, “really challeng- are calling on Islington Council to preserve ing, as are those places where trees have broken up the pavement. It and open the historic underground facility forces you onto the road.” For Grace a key problem is that ast month, a prank- “the difficulties seem to be all ster drew attention to on me. Disablement is seen as an Clerkenwell Green’s individual rather than a commu- disused and hoarded- nity matter and there’s a lack of up toilets in novel fash- awareness of how disabled people Lion – by putting up fake art captions. move, how they live, how they In one, it labels the hoardings top interact with others.” Disabled be as an artwork called Black on design is often considered spe- Green and says that rather than be cial and separate, which Grace an ‘eyesore’, it has become ‘part of thinks is about seeing disabled the environment itself’. people as a minority – although The artist, who wishes to remain their numbers are much higher anonymous, has serious intent. “The than we normally think at about toilets have been shut and hoarded 20 per cent of the UK population. for years,” he says. “Although I’m “Everyone, at some point in joking, there’s a serious point their lives, is going to be disabled there. The other day, I heard a film in some form or another – and crew complaining about the hoard- fittings, marble slips, Italian tessel- lavatories are historic,” she adds. we could all become disabled,” ing. It is an eyesore.” lated flooring and pine panelling.” “Jennings was a pioneer who she says. “We should look after Now veteran campaigner Ann These contents are now said to be also made underground public people, not because we’re scared, Pembroke is also calling for the in storage, adds Pembroke, but the lavatories at the Hyde Park Exhi- or because we think disabled historic underground toilets to be wooden palisade around the site for bition of the 1850s.” people need help, but because opened. Pembroke, the founder two years, cuts off views of the 18th The toilets have long been a fix- we’re looking after the whole of the Clerkenwell Green Pres- century Old Sessions house, now ture at the Green, with the ‘lib- community.” Think of ageing, ervation Society, wants the toilets a venue. Worse, Pembroke says erty cap’ placed on their central she says, and how the agenda is to be restored and the hoardings there was an attempt to pour cement post during Mayday celebrations. turning against age segregation. removed so that they can be down the Victorian tiled steps, with Previous, the toilets had been “It’s a huge problem because if revealed in their historic glory. a view to preventing access. on the market for conversion but you segregate disabled people “These public lavatories were made It’s a shame, says Pembroke, hadn’t sold. Islington Council you don’t learn about their lived by the designer George Jennings in as the Society’s approach to acknowledges that the hoardings experiences - they’re kind of seen F the 19th century,” says Pembroke. Islington Council has led to have been in place for almost two as the ‘other’.” This isn’t driven “I’ve been shown around inside four new heritage-style benches years, and they are there for protec- by “malicious intent”, she says, and saw brass plumbing, porcelain placed beside the toilets. “The tion of the site but are “temporary”. more “a lack of awareness of how disabled people live”. Sometimes people can be under- E mining without meaning to be. “In hospital I’ve been called the ‘patient’ when I’m in full scrubs,” Snap and crackle says Grace. “I also find it difficult to say ‘no, thanks’ to offers of help. It’s A Last call for the Clerkenwell Photography Competition meant well, but sometimes people say it over and over, as if they’ve he Clerkenwell and about, but now restrictions decided they know my needs bet- Photography Com- have eased, entrants are starting ter than I do. Then, if you show petition – backed by to capture the diverse range of irritation, you’re seen as bitter, T The Peel’s Con- people who live or work here. angry and ungrateful.” It’s better, nected Commu- Get snapping but remember she says, when people just say “I’m Tnity’ programme in conjunction that it’s important and polite to here if you need anything.” with the EC1 Echo – is moving always ask permission, especially What would you say to a local along apace with an exhibition if the shot may end up on a web- authority like Islington? “They just due this summer. One of its aims site or in an exhibition. need to have more disabled rep- U is to see how different people Find out more about the resentation, people who can talk see the same area. Recent entries Clerkenwell Photography Com- to those in power.” And the large include two bus shots on Rose- petition and sign up at www. design and architectural commu- bery Avenue, one by a young clerkenwellphotography.com Vari- nity in Clerkenwell can put their person, the other by a photog- ous prizes include the main £100 thinking caps on, too. “It’s about R rapher just short of the oldest prize – so join up – soon we will finding creative solutions and col- category. In one week we had be announcing the venue for the laboration – while acknowledging separate three nature shots taken prize-giving and the exhibition. that disabled people live fulfill- in Wilmington Square, entered ing, rich lives too, and want to do by three different members of the same things as everyone else. E the same family, the youngest Prayas Gurung, ‘Drunk Dial’ There’s been lots of great work – nine years old, and a photo of has been popular too, from old but a lot more to do.” a fox taken by a 73 year old in buildings to new. Lockdown Wynatt Street. Architecture has meant fewer people are out S Eye level Colin O’Brien’s photographs are a superb window on Clerkenwell’s past

“I’m fascinated by the ordinary”

Winnie Leinweber taking Hazel to a birthday party in her party dress, Clerkenwell Road (1956) lthough many of the 11 buildings and roads in them EC1 ECHO are familiar, Colin O’Brien’s NO.9 photographs of Clerkenwell are like looking into a lost April/May world. Sooty, war-ravaged 2021 and undeveloped, the A district as depicted in his photographs is very different in tone from the shiny Clerkenwell of today with its tech companies and coffee shops. Which is one of the many reasons why O’Brien’s photographs are now so feted: as historical documents as well as great photographic compositions. When O’Brien was born in 1940 he lived in Northampton Street, then his family moved to Victoria Dwellings, at the junction of Clerkenwell Road and Farringdon Road – now the site of a modern block housing and a branch of Pret a Manger. The Dwellings, as they were known, still housed many of the Italian residents that made up this “Little Italy”, and were A then surrounded by bomb sites and derelict buildings. As O’Brien put it in the book London Life (Spitalfields Life, 2015): “For us children, these sites became our playgrounds with many exciting adventures to be had”. That joyful atmosphere of “playing out” shines from his R early pictures. Helped by his uncle William, a taxi driver and amateur photographer, O’Brien developed the habit of taking photographs, first with a Box Brownie camera. He took the photograph for T which he’s perhaps best known – of his pals Raymond Scallionne and Razi Tuffano with a car in Hatton Garden – at the precocious age of eight and continued photography all his life. Some of his early pictures of his father S Edward, who worked at Mount Pleasant post office, and his mother, Edith, show the straitened conditions that people lived. As O’Brien developed his art, his work moved onto themes: fairgrounds, panoramas, the Traveller community. After his family moved to Michael Cliffe House, O’Brien used the & block’s vantage point for panoramic shots of St Paul’s Cathedral, and went on to take pictures of London at work entirely in black and white. An O’Brien photograph of the nocturnal city was used on the cover of the novel Alfie by Bill Raymond Scallione and Joe Bacuzzi, friends of O’Brien’s, posing on Hatton Garden. Naughton (1966), the film of which subsequently O’Brien was eight years old at the time (1948) used locations in Exmouth Market. A Carmelite nun C sweeps dirt into Now O’Brien, who died in 2016, is properly the gutter on acclaimed as one of the great London Clerkenwell Road photographers alongside Bert Hardy and (late 1950s) Bill Brandt, and one of the great chroniclers of London in the 1950s. Although he U moved to Hackney with his wife Jan, and took photographs of Soho, the Elephant and Castle among other subjects, a huge number of photographs in his archive are of the Clerkenwell area, a place he always considered home. Never lured by advertising L or celebrity photography, he remained an uncompromising observer of everyday life. “I’m fascinated by the ordinary,” said O’Brien. “Famous people and T famous things just “I’m fascinated by don’t interest me. The ordinary is of as much importance as the extraordinary.” U the ordinary” As to whether he’d have wanted the old Clerkenwell back – his attitude was that there was no point in that. In 2014 he said “London is a great cosmopolitan city that is always R evolving, always changing.” That will be as true for post-pandemic Clerkenwell as it was for O’Brien’s early years in the post-war era. To find out more, visit colinobrien.co.uk

Remember to keep an eye on our photography The junction of Clerkenwell and Farringdon Road on the day of the Italian E competition, see page-9 procession in honour of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (early 1950s) EC1 ECHO NO.10 HISTORY 12 Penny gaffs and picture palaces As cinemas reopen, Mark Aston looks at the pioneering history of cinemas in our area

ollowing months of closure, once again cinema-goers can sit back, popcorn at the ready, and enjoy the latest movie magic. On our very own doorstep, the EC1 area was among one of the first places in the country to embrace the new medium of moving pictures. So, in celebration, we look back at the district’s cinematic pioneers, penny gaffs and picture houses.

Angel cinema, Islington Pioneers successful British film, which featured of 1909 which forced public cinemas High Street, 1950s F Islington was the birthplace of the ‘Father Paul’s friend Henry Short outside to become licensed by local councils of British Cinema’, Robert William Paul the home of Birt Acres in Barnet, due to fire risk. As a result, cinemas (1869-1943). Born off Liverpool Road, he North London. Paul achieved screen began to rival music halls. The Avenue attended Finsbury Technical College and projection the following year with his initially seated 574 on benches, with began making electrical equipment at 44 ‘Theatrograph’, the first commercially 66 standing, later reduced to 376 and Hatton Garden, EC1 (‘Kinetic House’ produced 35mm film projector to shared the building with two print- stands on the site). It was here that Paul, be constructed in Britain. ing companies and included subtitled assisted by photographer Birt Acres, Films first appeared at music halls, screenings for the Italian community. designed and manufactured the ‘Paul- theatres and travelling booths, and Its closure was probably due to nearby Acres Cinematograph Camera’ which in were silent and very short. Sadler’s Sadler’s Wells Theatre opening as a March 1895 was used to shoot the first Wells Theatre, quick off the mark, full-time cinema. By 1915, 64 Rosebery included Robert Paul and his ‘Theatro- Avenue had reverted to industrial use graph’ in its variety programme for 12 and the building survives today. December 1896, advertised as “Paul’s In the few years or so before the First Sadler’s Wells Theatre, Perfect Palpitating Promethean Photo- World War, nearly all of the cinemas Rosebery Avenue, 1907. It graphs … a superb, brilliant and electri- in the EC1/Finsbury area had opened. was presenting film as early fying entertainment specially adapted Among the earliest were virtually next as 1896, becoming a full- time cinema in 1914 to cheers the toiling millions.” The to one another in Pentonville Road: Mayor of Finsbury reopened Sadler’s Wells the theatre as a cinema in Sep- tember 1914, with box office receipts that day donated to First World War relief fund. Unfortunately, the cinema was not a great success and the venture closed the following year.

Penny Gaffs But Sadler’s Wells was not the only picture house in Rosebery Avenue. At Flyer announcing number 64, the Avenue Picture Palace films for was established in 1910. Neither a pur- EC1’s Italian pose-built cinema or shop conversion, community at the Avenue Picture it was the ground floor in a multi-pur- Palace, Rosebery pose factory, doubtless trying to Avenue, 1910 cash-in on the Cinematograph Act June/July 2021

HISTORY 13 Send in the clown Flyer announcing the opening of the People’s the People’s announcing the opening of Flyer 1913 Street, Skinner the Rio), (later, Palace Picture

650 and boasted “the latest and most perfectly projected pictures in the World”, as well as tip-up armchairs and being “perfectly heated and ventilated!” The Playhouse enjoyed a good run until it closed in October 1955 as the Rio – having been the Globe since 1920 – with In his ’Sticks in the Smoke’ a striking dome and semi-circular por- tico. During its final years it was known project, artist Nick Andrew as a ‘flea-pit’, showing B-movies and researches and draws re-runs. One customer described it as London’s gardens and parks. having a stiflingly humid one-storey, barn-like interior and during intervals Here, he visits Joseph Grimaldi the attendant would “spray some con- Park where lies Clerkenwell’s coction of water and scent into the air.” The last film it screened wasDown Three pioneering showman... Dark Streets (1954), a US thriller. Two months after the Skinner Street he dusty, straight rise of cinema opened, Finsbury’s most luxu- Pentonville Road brings one rious picture house opened which, said to Joseph Grimaldi Park. Iron the King’s Cross Cinema and the Islington Daily Gazette of March 1913, railed, it occupies the former to gold; the tragi-mask frowns down at the the Cosy Corner Picture Play- was “a temple beautiful in the realm of churchyardT of St James’s, built in 1788 grave, choked with drooping plants and house at numbers 246 and 234 picture palaces.” With its 100ft-tower, to serve the newly laid-out suburb of weeds. Grimaldi lived in this area for most respectively, which both opened the 1,938-capacity Angel Picture The- Pentonville. Grimaldi Park House stands of his life, best-known and celebrated for in 1911. The King’s Cross Cinema atre offered a new movie-going experi- in the footprint of the original chapel, its developing the role of the white-faced clown. (later, the Cinema de Luxe) was a ence, with an exclusive front entrance at façade catches the warming autumn sun, I set up to draw where I can just glimpse converted ‘shop cinema’ with 180 7 Islington High Street for circle patrons scribbled across by shadows from the trees. the grave through a gap in the wall. It’s a seats, run as cheaply as possible only, and a stalls entrance on White I push open the stiff gate into a shady warm morning but gusty bursts of breeze and not well regarded. By 1914, Lion Street. Plush, with marble floors, rectangular area and weave along the shady rattle the lime tree foliage and send scatters it had been converted to a rifle ornate brass, deep carpets and stained- paths between rust-leafed chestnut and of maple, lime and plane leaves across the range, but closed in 1915, one of glass windows, films were accompanied plane trees. Ancient gravestones, inscriptions grass. Cascades of virginia creeper drape many cinemas to close during by the Angel Orchestra and an in-house eroded, stacked like ill-matched teeth against the stone walls, as red as a passing bus, a World War I. The 270-seat ‘Cosy’, organ. Unlike others, the Angel survived the walls, separate this quiet tree-cast area traffic light – or a clown’s nose. was another ‘shop cinema’ that the silent years and on 29 July 1929 from the bright and active sports courts and managed to survive beyond the presented Al Jolson in The Singing Fool the children’s playground beyond. "Grimaldi lived in this war, finally closing in 1926. (1928), his follow up to The Jazz Singer The park is named after the famous (1927), itself the first feature to feature actor, comic performer and dancer, Joseph area for most of his life” Picture Palaces a music score, lip-synchronous sing- Grimaldi (1778–1837) his grave enclosed with The Cosy’s demise may have been ing and speech. Becoming the Odeon curlicued railings. A pair of tragi- comedy The leaf-strewn length of this segment caused by competition from the in 1963, the ‘temple beautiful’ finally masks hang at the foot. The comic mask grins erupts in grassy bulges like giant comparatively luxurious pur- closed in March 1972 with Burke and up at the dappled sunshine turning leaves underground bubbles ready to burst out of pose-built King’s Cross Cinema Hare (1972) and the former entrance is the lawn. A dad and young daughter run up that opened opposite in 1920. now a Starbucks coffee shop. and over the hummocks. There are happy Originally planned for opening in One last picture palace deserves squeals from the little girl as they race back 1913 (but halted due to the war), it mention. Although not in EC1 this down. Buses, lorries, vans, cars growl as lasted considerably longer than the outstanding survivor is Islington’s, they start and stop on the Pentonville Road. Cosy, only closing in 1993 (as the and one of Britain’s, oldest surviving Bright coloured rectangles flickering left to Scala), following an illegal screening picture houses – The Empress Electric right behind the trees. of Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Theatre (1913), later the Rex (1951), Orange (1971) and other financial and now Upper Street’s Everyman Extracted from Nick’s ’Sticks in the Smoke’ drawing blog which began in January 2016. Nick regularly difficulties. It is now a music and Screen on the Green (1970). While the visits, researches and draws public gardens and nightclub venue and snooker hall. atmosphere of the old picture houses parks in London and has illustrated ‘Bloomsbury’s EC1’s first purpose-built movie can never be truly recaptured, with its Squares and Gardens’ written by Susan Jellis and recently published by The Association of house was the People’s Picture intimate size and comfortable seats, Bloomsbury Squares and Gardens. To see more: Playhouse at 12-15 Skinner Street. the Screen may offer the nearest thing Visit nickandrewdrawingprojects.wordpress.com/ This opened in January 1913, seated to that golden age of the silver screen. sticks-in-the-smoke EC1 ECHO NO.10 COMMUNITY 14 The real ‘Blitz kids’ During the pandemic this local history group made a film about their experiences in Fins bury during the war years and its aftermath espite being locked down for most of last year St Luke’s Community History Group found a way to stay Din contact – by making a film. The resultant film,After the War: Finsbury Stories, was produced by the group of about 20, among them several octogenarians who remember the war. Among the memories were ones from member Irene, who was in the tragedy at Wenlock Brewery off City Road which became an air raid shelter by night, and which took a during the Blitz when the brewery’s refrigeration plant leaked ammonia gas, with many casualties. “It was kept not publicised and quite secret,” says Irene, in the film. “They all grew up here and live here still,” says Polly Mann, convenor of the group. “Some of the group were refugees, and others remembered playing in the bombsite Grillz and thrills that became the Barbican. Some of their memories were quite horrific.” Goldsmiths mentoring scheme The film also includes the members’ recollections of Finsbury as a stand-alone borough – which is unearthing local talent was discontinued in 1965 – and student has been mentored with a view to one day opening up “The industry would really improve innovative housing and health at Goldsmiths as part of a his own jewellery shop. “I want to by having new people filter through projects such as Pine Street’s programme to bring new change the industry,” he says. “It has it,” said Ben. “The hardest thing in talent into the jewellery been the same for generations.” this industry is getting your foot in business.A Mohamud Sheikh Abukar, Ben was delighted to mentor Moha- the door. It’s trust-based. You need 18, who has always wanted to work mud. “So many talented people had to get your face known and I learnt a in the industry, has been mentored helped me out in the past,” he said. lot about the logistics of my indus- Learning to reconnect by jeweller Ben Hawkins, who in turn “It’s a culture that gets passed down try from mentoring Mo – about how learned alongside a working jeweller. and after I did a foundation year at hard it is to get in. I feel lucky to “From when I was young, I have been in the right place After a year of lockdown, two Barbican always knew I wanted to get at the right time.” into business, but I didn’t “The industry would The project was part of the know which industry,” said Culture Mile Learning Men- residents are aiming to reconnect the community Mohamud. “My neighbour really improve by having toring Programme. Manager ate Willoughby and was a manager for a jewellery Rosemara Mather-Lupton Juliana Lottmann, two shop. I remember him showing new people filter through” matches young Londoners residents of the Barbican me two watches and, just by who have faced barriers with are united in the desire to holding them, he could tell which was Goldsmiths, and a year in industry mentors from their chosen profes- Kre-connect and nurture a stronger real and which was fake! I thought, I had a bench next to a prestigious sions. “Mo was fascinated by jewellery sense of community after lockdown. ‘maybe I can do that’.” maker and I learnt from him.” He design but had a limited understand- Kate is an actor/writer, whose After college, Mohamud bided his found Mohamud “really impressive. ing of the possible routes in,” she says. work with grassroots initiatives time for a while and then met Ben, He was really clear about what he “We spoke to Goldsmiths, one of our #Emilymatters and #SheMatters who became his way into Goldsmiths. wanted to do and was interested in Culture Mile Learning partners, and draws on the powerful Suffragette “I was over the moon,” he says. “Gold- the commercial side of it – buying they suggested Ben as a mentor. The legacy, using drama and creativity smiths is a very prestigious place and and selling, which is a huge indus- relationship has been a rich learning to help empower women and young I thought it might be very formal.” try. His goal was to have his own experience for both of them with the people to use their voice and be With Ben’s assistance, he researched shop and help out other people like outcomes far exceeding the initial heard. She is collaborating with designers who made chains and grillz him.” When lockdown lifted Ben and goals of the programme.” Juliana on a series of interactive (teeth decorations), then tried out his Mohamud came into the workshop pop-up events in and around the skills with great results. for a day and took moulds of each For more information on the mentoring City and Clerkenwell. programme, contact Rosemara His plan is now to start a jewellery other’s teeth to make grillz, then went Mather-Lupton at RMatherLupton@ Juliana started a kindness stone course and gain work experience, around Hatton Garden. museumoflondon.org.uk community in gardens and parks June/July 2021 15 COLUMN The real ‘Blitz kids’ Tech’s not all bad and can During the pandemic this local history group made a film about their help us to connect says experiences in Fins bury during the war years and its aftermath local therapist Al Tyers only stream. There were losses: some clients felt it wasn’t right, that they couldn’t connect as

l meaningfully. For some clients, T

y e their home situation was the very r s reason they needed counselling in the first place. I’ve done sessions online with people who are in their cars or in the park, trying to make things work, to offer something that is good enough. Does it fit exactly with the old fashioned classic ideal? No. Does lerkenwell, like no it work and help people? Yes. other place I have lived Necessity might have been the or worked, blends mother of invention (it’s always the old with the new. mothers, isn’t it?) but clients and CI have lived here since 2004 and therapists alike have now had a Finsbury Health Centre, catering to happening once again in the area. Joseph work here as a psychotherapist: I taste of a world where people can what group member, David Hyams Trotter (whose father was Mayor of the old love to walk from my consulting get support and a space to talk that recalls as “the second most densely borough) discussing the huge new buildings on room in Coldbath Square to the can be more immediate and more populated borough in London” with City Road, said “It’s unbelievable that ordinary St John Priory flower garden, or flexible, that can be lower-cost, 12,000 residents only 200 of whom had people can’t afford to live here any more.” to Smithfield, knowing that people and hopefully more inclusive. baths at home in the 1920s. Chris Smith, The film, which was produced with have been coming there to trade It also encourages us to think now Lord Smith of Finsbury, is also in support from the Heritage Lottery Fund, for maybe a thousand years. That about what else tech could bring. the film talking about the role of Finsbury can be seen on YouTube. Meanwhile Polly takes me past furniture designers, Lots of us might already be famil- Council, discussing the Health Centre: is currently seeking a special screening bike engineers, iar with heart- “The architect, [Berthold] Lubetkin, had for the community in July. If anyone digital agencies, rate watches or this fundamental philosophy about all is interested in seeing the film at the post-production “How can you step-counters, his work that nothing was too good for screening – or offering a cinema for the houses… we’ve replace that human and wearable ordinary people.” purpose – please get in touch with Polly got a history tech is already The group reflected on the huge changes Mann at [email protected] here of history, connection, that in use that could but also of being physical being there relay heart rate, at the cutting skin perspira- edge. A couple with someone” tion, and sleep of hundred years cycles to moni- Learning to reconnect ago it might have been watches tor, or predict, panic and PTSD- and musical instruments being type episodes. Online sessions made by craftspeople here, now could become augmented reality: After a year of lockdown, two Barbican it is software and tech start-ups. an on-screen recreation of the Therapy, however, has tended therapy room and the therapist, or to regard itself, perhaps a bit a virtual reality consulting room. residents are aiming to reconnect the community loftily, as being future-proof: two Science fiction, and the more and creates events for kids and adults, humans sitting in a room. Talking. out-there behavioural scientists, around mindfulness, meditation, and Listening. Recognisable, in pro- have been considering whether a mental health. She also leads local cess if not necessarily in values or robot could provide psychother- groups with St Luke’s and LAWRS (Latin thinking, from Sigmund Freud’s apy since at least the 1960s. You’d American Women’s Rights Services). time – although I don’t know hope that a therapybot might not Together, Kate and Juliana are running of any therapist who smokes a replace a human counsellor just multiple projects in the area, including cigar while seeing their clients. yet, but among the many lessons free mindfulness groups, a playgroup to Therapists rhetorically asked: we have learned since March support parents with children born during how can you replace that human 2020 is that connection, even the Covid lockdown, as well as creating connection, that physical being if it looks different to what we stories that celebrate the people of this there with someone? Well, since had thought, is something we all part of London and their neighbours. March 2020, when the first lock- need and deserve. In Clerkenwell, A partnership with the Barbican Library down took hold, we have found I am sure we are as well-placed is coming soon and will help bring more out: by meeting with people for as anywhere to hold true to our events and workshops to residents. online therapy. foundations while meeting the Partnerships with St Luke’s, The Peel What was once a niche or maybe future with optimism. Institute and other community centres a service that might be offered if Al Tyers is a psychotherapist in are also in the making. Keep in touch at a client was on holiday became Clerkenwell and online: altyers https://linktr.ee/Re_Connect not just the mainstream but the therapy.com EC1 ECHO NO.10 COMMUNITY 16 A student from the YES Outdoors workshop for young people Take care of your physical health Moving your body, exercising and seeking medical attention in case of pain, are ways to prevent and relieve physical aches before they become chronic. Annie from Islington and Clerkenwell Chiropractic and Complementary Health Clinics and her team are “encouraging people to prioritise their health and their wellbeing and to come and visit [them] for any back and neck and shoulder problems.”

Take care of your mental health The Stress Management Society has put together a series of free resources to practice mindfulness, available at stress.org.uk. “The key thing is giving people the tools, skills and confidence to be able to start taking control of their experience,” said Neil Shah. Based on Rosebery Avenue, the charity Body & Soul has been mobilising to bring a community response to the coronavirus pandemic. One of their initiatives, MindSET, provides digital resources for young people in psychological distress, available at bodyand soulcharity.org/mindset. Mind how you go Frontline staff and family can also book crisis counselling As lockdown abates we appointments with one of their should remain vigilant trained therapists. Take care of those around you about our mental health Reconnecting with the community and restoring those ties lost in virtual encounters is crucial. Children and teenagers By Elena Vardon in particular have suffered from the lack of development he easing of lockdown restrictions has lifted opportunities. Islington Giving some spirits but the effects of prolonged stay raised £35k by mid-May to at home directives may have caused longer- support young people and lasting mental health scars. Raising awareness respond to increasing needs in Taround the triggers and coping mechanisms for stress the borough. The funding will and anxiety is more prominent than ever. be awarded through the Young According to a study conducted by the Stress Grant Makers programme, Management Society, 65 per cent of adults in the UK through which 15 young people have felt more stressed under Covid-19 restrictions than aged between 16 and 23 meet in pre-pandemic times. Its founder and chief de-stressing every week and choose in officer Neil Shah told EC1 Echo that in fact “we have which local groups and projects a secondary pandemic, a mental health one.” to support (see picture). Anu “The lack of connection, the lack of certainty, the lack Liisanantti from Islington of control we have in our situation is causing people Giving said, “It’s so important to experience a lot of stress and anxiety, which in turn to engage and involve the is affecting their mental health. If you don’t get the young people themselves in support, poor mental health can become mental illness.” “We have a secondary developing this area of work.” Taking steps to mitigate the damage that the coronavirus For more information: pandemic has caused at a personal and collective level. pandemic, a mental Visit islingtongiving.org.uk Educating people to retake control, certainty and Visit bodyandsoulcharity.org reconnect with others can be the way forward. health one” Visit clerkenwellislingtonclinics.co.uk June/July 2021 CULTURE MILE 17 to create memes with a hashtag Moor Lane Community Garden describing how they have been feeling Featured in Wallpaper* magazine’s at this significant moment in history. list of best architectural gardens Using a webcam, viewers can put around the world, Moor Lane themselves at the centre of the Community Garden continues artwork as the students’ memes to flourish in its pop-up home. take the shape of the viewer’s face, Most recently, Culture Mile allowing them to move around and launched a new poetry commission interact with the various artworks within the garden itself. like a digital mirror. Written by Kit Finnie, a portrait of you in a garden, now appears “The #Mood project gave across eight panels as part of the urban garden’s structure. In order students an outlet to create to develop the poem, Kit hosted during the pandemic” eight poetry and writing workshops for multiple community groups Stuart designed the piece in and organisations in the local area, collaboration with two groups of together with Guildhall School students, from both primary and students, resulting in a series of secondary schools, who attended poems written by local residents. an online workshop. During the As well as writing the poem, workshops, the students learnt about Kit facilitated eight poetry and what it is like to be a professional writing workshops, alongside media artist and created their own Guildhall School students, for digital drawings of the ‘memeverse’, residents and community groups which later informed the final design. in the local area. These explored Stuart Batchelor said, “The #Mood various themes including community project gave students an outlet to and coping, home and boundaries, create during the pandemic and sound and silence, and surprise and highlighted the importance of art delight. These workshops helped adapting to global circumstances. generate ideas for the final poem It turned something isolating into a alongside poetry written by the positive, social and creative experience.” workshop participants. You can find out more about the You can read, listen to, or view the #Mellow – a project and view the final artwork final poem as part of a short film on meme created by a school on Culture Mile’s website. the Culture Mile website, where you student for Stuart Batchelor, the artist who designed can also read the community poems #Mood the interactive artwork for #Mood by the workshop participants. Courtesy of Credit Matthew Kaltenborn Culture Mile

To find out more about the above projects and to explore what’s happening in and around Culture Mile, simply visit www.culturemile.london Creativity in or follow @CultureMileLDN on social media the Culture

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Poet Kit Finnie in Moor Lane ulture Mile is the City of digital and hand drawn memes created Community Garden Credit © Em Davis/Culture Mile London’s cultural district, by school students to represent their stretching from Farringdon feelings during the pandemic. to Moorgate. Led by the Created by Stuart Batchelor and CCity of London Corporation, with produced by Aphra Shemza from the Barbican, Guildhall School of Art in Flux, #Mood combines unique Music & Drama, London Symphony digital and hand drawn artworks Orchestra and the Museum of by students from City of London London, its five core partners work and City of London Academies together on creating a vibrant, Trust schools with Stuart’s bespoke creative area in the north-west universe and interactive graphics. corner of the Square Mile. Ella James (Head of Faculty, Art Design Technology – City of London #Mood Academy Highbury Grove) inspired Last month, to coincide with Mental the idea, which encouraged students Health Awareness Week, Culture to explore past and present art, Mile launched #Mood – an interactive taking inspiration from artists such and collaborative artwork made up of as Andy Warhol and Barbara Kruger, EC1 ECHO NO.10

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Barbican Making EXHIBITS LGBTQ SOCIAL history Jean Dubuffet: Brutal Beauty Pride of Place: Celebrating Singalong Until 22 August Islington’s LGBTQ+ Heritage Every second Tuesday Barbican Centre, EC2Y 8DS 21 June – 18 September of the month, 6pm Johnny Burns Various events An exhibition celebrating French An online singalong with professional Myddleton Street artist Jean Dubuffet (1901–1985), Pride of Place uncovers and celebrates pianist and Clerkenwell resident, Gisela. EC1 one of the most provocative voices places of LGBTQ heritage across Email [email protected] for the link. in postwar modern art. England, ranging from the frontiers Free am a local resident who of Roman Britain to the gay pubs and Visit peelinstitute.org.uk £5–£18 clubs that remain important in our Call 020 7837 6082 received a delivered copy Call 020 7638 4141 lives today. l, la Visit barbican.org.uk of EC1 Echo. This was the wal ter a on dd Visit islingtonspride.com I nd it The Betsey Book Quiz first I have seen of the paper o io L n July 20, 6.30–9.30pm and I thoroughly enjoyed the How We Live Now: Reimagining read and its fine layout. The Spaces with Matrix Feminist Design Co-operative London’s only monthly book quiz! historic features were partic- Until 23 December MUSIC £2 entry, maximum team ularly fascinating as well as size five. Prizes to be won! how our community is chang- Work by radical 1980s feminist LSO St Luke’s Friday Call 020 7253 4285 ing (in a good way) during this architecture cooperative Matrix. Lunchtime Concerts Visit thebetsey.com horrid pandemic. Would it be Free 11 June, 18 June, 16 July possible to safely pick up (or Call 020 7638 4141 Fabric London Brooching The Subject 77A Charterhouse St EC1 receive) past copies of the Visit barbican.org.uk Until 30 June, 9am–5pm paper? I would love to read Make the most of your lunch break Wish You Were Here: them. Online is fine, but you 151 Years of British Postcards and enjoy a free, 45-minute informal can’t beat a print (better for so quiet. In either direction, the Until 2 January 2022 concert at LSO St Luke’s the eyes too!) London Wall walk will eventu- The Postal Museum, 15-20 Visit lso.co.uk/lso-st-lukes.html ally take you to the Museum of Phoenix Place WC1X 0DA Editor’s note: All back issues London where you can find out Celebrating Neckerchief Rock Celebrating the 151st anniversary of – The Sound, The Clothes, of EC1 Echo are available for more about what you have seen. the British postcard and its iconic role download at ec1echo.co.uk A longer version of Janet’s The People in connecting people for more than a June 6, 3–10pm walk is online at www.ec1echo. century and a half. 56 Farringdon Road EC1R 3BL co.uk. If you want to follow the £16 (with entry walk, the links below are useful to the museum) An evening of music & chat with Robert Walking the • archaeology-travel.com/travel- Call 0300 0300 700 Elms & Danny George Wilson reports/the-london-wall-walk Visit postalmuseum.org Tickets £30, includes pandemic • londonmymind.com/london- “Kuschty Pie” & Mash wall-walk Call 020 7253 4285 Janet Dowling EC1 Visit thebetsey.com WALKS Come Down And Meet The ike most, I’ve done a Folks with Big Steve Arlene lot of local walks during Past and Tunnel Walks June 27, 5–9:30pm Various dates: 15:00–18:30 56 Farringdon Road EC1R 3BL L the lockdowns. Rather 15-20 Phoenix Place WC1X 0DA whimsically we found part of present Live music and DJ on the last Sunday the London Wall and decided The Postal Museum is opening up the of each month 100-year-old Mail Rail tunnels for an ondon wal L l Joe Trotter exclusive underground walking tour Free (donation requested) that will allow you to discover one of Call 020 7253 4285 Goswell Road EC1 Visit thebetsey.com London’s best-kept secrets. Goldsmith’s Centre has reopened, ’m writing to let you know how £55 per person Francesca Dego and it’s possible to go and see ‘The Call 0300 0300 700 much I enjoy your paper. I’ve Francesca Leonardi Brooch Unpinned’, an exhibition Visit postalmuseum.org that celebrates the art of the lived in EC1 all my life and love 2 June, 7–11pm I Fidelio Orchestra Café, brooch. A selection from the to keep up to date with all the local Clerkenwell and Islington Clerkenwell Road EC1 Goldsmiths’ Company’s jewellery news. It is so important to know Guides’ Festival of Walks collection traces the evolution what is going on in your local area. Saturday 19 until Sunday 27 June Francesca Dego is the acclaimed London- of contemporary brooch design I deliver copies of the paper based italian violinist. Join her with her – art that you can wear. Dora Clerkenwell’s monastic quarter will long-standing duo partner Francesca to friends less able to get out Thornton, the curator of the explore the area outside the City of Leonardi for an eclectic programme. and everybody looks forward London, the influence of Henry VIII exhibition was partly inspired From £15 to follow it as far as it would to their copy. and how Clerkenwell got its name. by a single brooch – Lady Hale’s Visit fideliorchestracafe.com take us. It was a gorgeously My favourite section is the Other walks include the Spa Field diamanté spider. “It sparked a sunny day; the reflection cre- local history story -there are so Riots, Black Islington, Sadlers Wells, global conversation,” she says. Radical Islington Walks will either be Leonard Elschenbroich Power, authority, and wealth – ated the illusion of an ocean many great stories to share and and Alexei Grynyuk 1.5 hours or 45 mins including some and the wearable art. behind St Paul’s. I hope that your paper continues at lunchtime. 17 June, 7–11pm Fidelio Orchestra Café, Call 020 7566 7650 The line of the wall, with its to bring them to local people. Full length walks £6 Clerkenwell Road EC1 Visit goldsmiths-centre.org foundations especially well Shorter walks £5 preserved, remains intact after We accept letters of up to Reduced rates Brahms’ cello sonatas played by Leonard 1700 years. You will need to 200 words from people and Elschenbroich and Alexei Grynyuk. Because of possible Covid-19 organisations in the area. Submit during the Festival weave in and out a bit. Some- restrictions, dates and times your letter by Tuesday 20th July: Visit islingtonguidedwalks.com/ From £15 might change, so please check times we felt like we were in Email [email protected] our-walks/ Visit thebetsey.com with the venue first. someone’s back garden; it was June/July 2021

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