At the Heart of Hackney since 1967 2011 THE HACKNEY SOCIETY SPACENews and views about Hackney’s built Senvironment Issue 33 Summer 2011

Bateman’s Row By Kevin Moore

I first came across the architect couple showing this to be a finely crafted and with our praise. It also received a Hackney Soraya Khan and Patrick Theis in 1999 considered building. Design Award. when I asked them to renovate my own The corner of Bateman’s Row and French View this building at night from house. They were keen to create a kitchen Place is outside the South Shoreditch High Street, looking up towards Kingsland in the basement, but less excited about Conservation Area. I only wish there were Road. It encapsulates exactly what is the prospect of renovating an entire listed more new buildings of this quality within it. meant by a contextual building within the building. Wanting a single contractor, I existing cityscape. The building is dark took them out of the equation. Big Mistake! Of the building the RIBA said: ‘In its and solid at the bottom and lights up to a Bateman’s Row is a remarkable building response to its surroundings, its scale and floating, glazed open top. It also has solar reminiscent of a Le Corbusier villa, recalling its mix of uses, this development defines panels, a green roof and natural ventilation. that period of heroic modernism. The a vision for the future of Shoreditch. It The lucky owners also have a generous top interior with dark, deep corners, numerous provides an environment for family-living floor roof terrace. Hackney deserves more turns and small cupboard spaces hints at a within a tough urban context and an buildings of this kind. mixture of medieval and modern. apartment with qualities that you couldn’t easily find in a house … . It is a relevant Photos: (bottom right) by Philip Vile, The building is a clever mix-use develop- piece of city-making that is ordinary the others by Nick Kane ment with the architects’ own home on in its programme yet is executed with the second, third and fourth floors, with extraordinary care and judgement, taking it contents an office on the first floor. Two studio flats into the realms of the special.’ and a one-bedroom flat also occupy this 01 Bateman’s Row constrained site. The ceiling heights vary, No wonder Bateman’s Row was shortlisted 02 Building Watch: Pond House to reflect the use of the rooms. There are for the Stirling Prize. The building has been 02 Building Watch: Haggerston Baths rightly much-lauded. It first came to my a lot of ideas packed into a small building. 03 Entertainment in Hackney The cantilevered staircase provides the attention when I was a judge for the Civic 04 Hackney Society events wow factor, but flush, frameless windows, Trust Awards; the panel was unanimous glazed corners, and contrasting deep in awarding a commendation. Indeed, I 04 Noticeboard recesses accentuate the rich texture think we should have been more forthright 04 Publications Building Watch

Pond House By Bruce Eadie Dellmount Estates, the owners of listed Grade II* Pond House at 162 Lower Clapton Road, have submitted new plans for its restoration and conversion into flats. Pond House, which overlooks Clapton Pond House, irreparable damage would Pond, was built around 1800 when Clapton have been done to the historic fabric of the was a fashionable, semi-rural suburb building. Fortunately, these ill-considered of London. It was one of the finest late proposals were rejected by the Council. Georgian houses to be built in Hackney In March this year, having enlisted the and, despite a century of neglect and expertise of CMA Planning, new proposals having languished on English Heritage’s were submitted for five residential units ‘Buildings at Risk’ register for over a decade, it retains many stunning and within Pond House and the building of six original internal and external features. houses on the site of the garages. The halving of the proposed number of units In late 2008, Dellmount Estates submitted allows them to be accommodated within plans for the conversion of the house and the structure of the house, rather than the stables into ten self-contained residential house having to be pulled apart to fit in as units, with the building of an additional many units as possible. 14 flats in the grounds of Pond House on the site of derelict garages that face To convert the house to flats and build on to Mildenhall Road. The plans were on part of the garden may not be viewed with alarm by the Clapton Pond everyone’s ideal solution to the problem Neighbourhood Action Group, the Clapton of Pond House, but the new plans are Conservation Areas Advisory Committee a vast improvement on the plans and many local people who had long submitted in 2008 and will secure and appreciated the qualities of the house. By preserve the fabric of the house for the squeezing so many residential units into foreseeable future.

Haggerston Pool Restoration Victim of Spending Cuts By Liz Hughes The Council’s plans to re-open Haggerston Pool at the heart of a Health and Wellbeing Centre have stopped due to lack of funding. Despite a £5 million grant from the The current plan Government’s Department for Children, is to mothball Schools and Families, the Council has been the building to unable to raise the full amount needed preserve its fabric. for this plan, which would have seen a The Council doctor’s surgery, hydrotherapy pool, youth say they remain and sports facilities developed alongside committed in the restored swimming pool. the long term to re-opening the In a letter to Haggerston Pool Community pool: ‘Despite the decision not to progress Trust, the Council said: ‘While we were the project at present, the political will working hard to develop ambitious and and determination of the Council eventually robust plans for the redevelopment of the to restore this facility to public use has Baths, the funding gap needed to ensure not diminished.’ the future of this project was, of course, a source of concern for the Council. Haggerston Pool Community Trust commented: ‘We have been campaigning This led to a review of the Baths project for Haggerston Pool for 11 years since within the context of wider corporate its closure – it remains derelict, guarded capital projects. This process was recently 24 hours by security, as Haggerston re-opening. We would also like to see the concluded and, unfortunately, the redevel- is redeveloped and a new community building put to temporary community use, opment of the Baths project as we had is moving in. We are glad to hear that rather than mothballed, where it runs the originally intended has had to be stopped.’ the Council remains committed to its danger of being forgotten.’

02 Entertainment in Hackney Part 2 The History of the By Jascha Philipp Braun The Hackney Empire is hard to miss. Pick’ and ‘Oh, Boy!’ were Not only is it centrally located in broadcast live. Marty Wilde, Hackney, but it is designed in an eye- Cliff Richard and Maria catching way with the façade of the Callas appeared, and building dominating Mare Street. ‘Emergency Ward 10’ was filmed at the Empire. Frank Matcham (1854-1920), the well- known architect who created and Since the greatness of modernised about 150 theatres all over Matcham’s work was Britain, planned this Grade II* listed not fully recognised until complex. Completed in 1901, it was 60 years after his death, the originally used as a . Matcham’s Empire lived in the shadows in the following buildings showed high standards in years. The evident decline began in 1963 functionality and technology. The Empire when the Mecca Organisation opened a was equipped with electric lights, central bingo hall. The new owner invested little in heating and an in-built projection box – very maintenance, and the extravagance of a progressive in those days. bygone age became increasingly faded. In 1984 the Mecca Organisation decided The appeal of the red-bricked theatre to close the bingo hall because of the lies in its opulently designed interior. An high upkeep costs and offered the atmospheric play of red, green and golden Empire to Ronald Muldoon, the manager colours illuminate the exquisite stucco work. of the satirical theatre group CAST The Architectural Review writes: ‘Matcham (Cartoon Archetypical Slogan Theatre). understood the mystery and magic of the The renaissance of the building is due theatre and turned it into architecture. to Muldoon, who returned the historic The Empire closed for two years and was His imaginative genius is perhaps theatre to a dignified use. While others refurbished for £17 million by Tim Ronalds most powerfully demonstrated by the planned demolition, he had the vision to Architects. Besides the restoration of the extraordinary Hackney Empire.’ (Architectural re-establish a permanent stage – and he historical parts a modern annexe on the Review, 203 (1214), April 1998, p98.) was successful. CAST began to restore south side was added to accommodate The extraordinary place attracted extraor- and to modernise the building. On its a new theatre studio. The major improve- dinary artists. Stanley Holloway, Charlie 85th birthday, 9 December 1986, the ments included a 60-seat orchestra pit to Chaplin, Stan Laurel and theatre with its 1500 seats re-opened make possible opera performances and a appeared at the Empire – to name just a and developed into the leading centre of new backstage area. few. In the 1920s burlesque, variety, plays alternative comedy in London. The Hackney Empire is one of the few and concerts took place here. Even Louis Major renovation and reorganisation, surviving buildings designed by Matcham. Armstrong came to perform on the stage. long overdue, started in 2001 when the No one in Hackney can remember a time But the high period of the theatre ended comedian Griff Rhys Jones, who led the without this time-honoured theatre. Today with the coming of television. In 1956 restoration appeal, announced that enough the programme is as varied as the people the building was converted into Britain’s money had been collected – not least who live in the East End and ranges from first commercial television studio by ATV. because of a significant donation from Sir variety, comedy and drama, dance to Popular programmes such as ‘Take Your Alan Sugar, who grew up in Hackney. opera, pantomime and concerts.

Is local history your thing? Thanks to Kopykat for sponsoring this issue Kopykat Printing Limited The Friends of Hackney Archives You can help the Archives by joining 76 Rivington Street, London EC2A 3AY were established in 1985 to support the Friends (the annual subscription for Tel: 020 7739 2451 Fax: 020 7729 5925 the work of the borough’s Archives a UK resident is £10 for the calendar www.kopykat.co.uk Department. They have done this year, and you can download the form Kopykat based in Shoreditch specialises in by raising funds to buy material for from the website). Better still, you can company stationery and high quality marketing the collection – books, manuscripts, get directly involved. The Friends are a material, we cover onsite litho printing, digital prints, photographs, and two important registered charity run by members, and printing, copying and direct mail, environmentally we have recently been awarded Green Mark collections of theatre posters – and by in their 25th anniversary year they would accreditation and we print using vegetable publishing research into local history, welcome new faces. If you would like to based inks, without the use of alcohol in the form of booklets, DVDs and the join the committee (which meets three and deliver in an LPG vehicle. journal Hackney History (see www. or four times a year) or take part in the hackney.gov.uk/archives for more management of the Friends as an officer, details). The Friends also keep the we would love to hear from you. You kopykat Archives Department in touch with their can get in touch with the Chair, Isobel Design and Print users by funding the regular newsletter Watson, either by email (isobelwatson The Hackney Terrier. @hotmail.com) or on 07544 262034. 03 Hackney Society Events* Noticeboard Publications

From Rags-to-Riches RIBA Awards 2011 The following buildings A Cupboard Full of Coats by Yvette Saturday 16 July 2011, 11am in Hackney are among the winners of RIBA Edwards is a novel set in Hackney, Walk with John Finn Awards for architectural excellence: Hackney where the author grew up. Oneworld A walk from the City of London to Hackney Service Centre (Hopkins Architects), Hoxton Publications, £12.99. Marshes. Bring a picnic lunch. House (David Mikhail Architects) and Stoke Ghost Milk by Hackney writer Iain Sinclair Meet outside Street Station, Newington School and Sixth Form: Media is a story of incident and accident, of the Bishopsgate. Arts and Science College (Jestico + Whiles). curious meeting the bizarre. It includes an FREE to all Skinners’ Academy was opened on account of the banning of a book launch in 12 April 2011. Designed by Studio E Library. Hamish Hamilton, Under the Cranes Architects, it replaces the former Skinners’ £20.00. Tuesday 19 July 2011, 6.15pm Company’s School for Girls in Stamford Hill. Fragmented by Jeremy Worman brings (refreshments from 5.45pm) Environmental features include the recycling together short stories and sketches charting Film showing with Emma-Louise of rainwater, a seeded roof and highly a personal journey. Many sketches are set Williams and Michael Rosen insulated walls. in Hackney. Cinnamon Press, £8.99. Using the script of poet Michael Rosen’s Hoxton Square is temporarily closed for We Are Only Humans: Photographs of documentary play, Hackney Streets, ‘Under restoration. Hackney Council will improve Hackney 2001-2009 by the photographer the Cranes’ is shot on location in Hackney the drinking foundation, put in new plants, Tara Darby with text by Heidi James. The and intercut with rare archive footage. It relay the path and add more seats. photographs document the ordinary and offers a lyrical, painterly defence of the Hackney Gunners Researcher Andy everyday life of Hackney and its inhabitants. everyday, even as it raises questions about Thompson has approached the Hackney Miniature Love, £10.00 + postage (www. the process of ‘regeneration’. Director Society for information about the Hackney miniaturelovebooks.com). Emma-Louise Williams, Q&A with Emma- Garrison 152nd RGA Heavy Artillery Gillespie and I by Hackney Society Louise Williams and Michael Rosen Battery (see www.hackneygunners.co.uk). member Jane Harris is a novel set in Booking essential. Hackney Museum He is working with a neighbour whose in the late 19th century. Faber Technology + Learning Centre, 1 Reading grandfather joined the battery at Hackney and Faber, £14.99. Lane, E8. FREE to all swimming baths in October 1915. If you can help, contact [email protected]. Mr Briggs’ Hat – A Sensational Account Highlights of Haggerston of Britain’s First Railway Murder by Geffrye Museum The Heritage Lottery Kate Colquhoun tells the story of the Thursday 28 July, 6-7.30pm Fund (HLF) has awarded a grant of murder of Thomas Briggs, who lived at Talk by John Finn £518,500 to the Geffrye Museum for 5 Clapton Square, E5. The murder took Find out about the history of Haggerston as development work. The museum, to be place on 9 July 1864. Mr Briggs was the well as local characters, buildings and the known as Museum of the Home, plans to: first person to die after an attack on a train. changes to the area. create new entrances from Hoxton Station Little Brown, £16.99. Booking essential. To book your place and Kingsland Road; improve refreshment, Mr Chartwell by Homerton-based email: [email protected] or education and conference facilities; and offer Rebecca Hunt is a novel set around call 020 8356 2509. Hackney Museum public access to the library and archives. Winston Churchill’s retirement from Technology + Learning Centre, 1 Reading The Clapton Improvement Society has parliament in 1964. Fig Tree, £12.99 Lane, E8. FREE to all been formed to improve the environment, (hardback), £7.99 (paperback). well-being and education of Clapton and the Parkholme Road surrounding area. It has adopted the model Tracing Your East End Ancestors: A Saturday 15 October, 2pm rules of a community benefit cooperative Guide for Family Historians by Jane Cox describes resources for researching the Tour and will in due course seek charitable status. Currently the group is negotiating lives of people who lived in the East End This Victorian terraced house, by with Hackney Council to reopen the public or passed through the area. Pen & Sword Macdonald Wright Architects, has been toilets in Brooksby’s Walk. More information Books, £14.99. restored and remodelled to create a flexible at www.claptonimprovementsociety.org. The Canal by Lee Rourke is a novel set by home for the changing needs of a growing the Hackney/ part of the Regent’s family. Insulation, passive solar heating and Endangered Buildings The Victorian Canal. Melville House, £9.99. grey water recycling help to achieve a high Society is calling on people to nominate level of sustainability. Meet at 39 Parkholme Victorian or Edwardian buildings that are at risk in their local area. The Endangered Spaces is published by the Hackney Society. Road, E8. FREE to members, £5.00 non- Views expressed in the articles are not Buildings campaign is an effective way members necessarily those of the Society. of highlighting the plight of neglected Edited by: Monica Blake buildings. The buildings don’t have to be Please check our website for up-to- listed to be eligible, but they must have Layout by: [email protected] *date information and additional events been built or substantially restored between Contributors: Monica Blake, Jascha Philipp that are organised throughout the year. 1837 and 1914. To nominate a building, Braun, Bruce Eadie, Liz Hughes, Kevin Moore Most of our events are free to Hackney send information and digital photographs and Isobel Watson Society members and £5 to non- to Katie Gunning (Katie@victoriansociety. Photos: Jascha Philipp Braun, Nick Kane, members. For special and joint events org.uk) or to the society’s website (www. Brian Longman, Malcolm Smith and Philip Vile there may be a charge for members. victoriansociety.org.uk/topten). The deadline The Hackney Society To avoid disappointment please book for nominations is 17 July 2011. The Round Chapel, a place as some events have a limited 1d Glenarm Road, London E5 0LY St Michael and All Angels Church will number of places. be open to visitors 10am and 4pm (3pm on T: 07771 225183 To book email events@hackneysociety. Wednesdays) in 2011 on: 16, 20, 23, 30 E: [email protected] W: www.hackneysociety.org org or phone 07771 225183. July; 6, 13, 20 27 August; 3, 7, 10, 14, 17, The Hackney Society is a registered Charity (No 107459) 24 Sept; and 26 Nov. Church access is free. and Company limited by guarantee (No 04574188)