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Journal of the Archaeology & History Society

Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Vol 2 No 4 Winter 2012/13 incorporating Islington History Journal

The stars of the music hall

Collins’ Music Hall staged “noisy, colourful shows with lots of dancers”, thanks to the people in this photograph. Can you identify them?

The battle for Head l , extraordinary sound pioneer l A house of many lives l The railway palazzo and its young architect l Rebels in the south – ’s radical past l Local history projects celebrate Ironmonger Row baths and life l Your local history questions answered l Books and reviews l News and events About the society

What we do Memories, reviews, old photographs, Islington Archaeology & ideas sought… contribute to this journal History Society Committee he society arranges President lectures, walks, visits We welcome articles on local streets or buildings? Send Rt Hon Lord Smith  Tand outings about  history, memories and more them in for our tireless of the archaeology and history academic pieces. researcher Michael Reading of Islington. One page takes about 500 – and maybe other readers Vice-president We liaise with the council words, and maximum article – to answer. Mary Cosh and others in matters of length is 1,000 words. Email l See Letters, page 6 planning and development the editor for our writing Chairman to record and protect guidelines. Copyright Andrew Gardner Islington’s sites that are of We like receiving pictures, Copyright of everything in [email protected] archaeological and historical but please check that we can this journal lies with the importance. reproduce them without creator unless otherwise Secretary We also aim to document infringing anyone’s copyright. stated. While it can be Peter Fuller archaeological findings in The journal is produced in difficult to trace copyright the borough. printed and pdf form online. ownership of archive Membership and events Local historical and Deadline for the spring materials, we make every Catherine Brighty literary walks are arranged issue is 1 February. effort to do so. 8 Wynyatt Street for groups. EC1V 7HU Ever wondered…? Any questions? 020 7833 1541 Why archaeology? Do you have any queries Contact editor Christy Archaeology is not just about Islington’s history, Lawrance (details right). Treasurer about what is buried; it Philip Anderson includes structures and phlpandrsn6@ fragments that still exist,  Join us and benefit from membership btopenworld.com and the people who lived, worked and died in them. Members receive this transport, industry, politics, Committee members We are here to investigate, quarterly journal and are social change, waterways, Kathleen Frenchman learn and celebrate what is invited to 10 talks a year maps, entertainment, Peter Fuller left to us. with guest speakers. We also healthcare and crime. Michael Harper organise walks and book Non-members are always Derek Seeley Our website launches. welcome at talks – we invite Go to www.iahs.org.uk to Our talks cover a wide a £1 donation from non- Academic adviser find out more about us and range of topics including members towards the Lester Hillman, former our events. architecture, gardens, speaker’s expenses. visiting professor, London Metropolitan Business (photocopies acceptable) $ School, London Join the Islington Archaeology & History Society Metropolitan University

Membership per year is: £10 single; £12 joint at same address; concessions £6; joint Newsletter editor concessions £8; corporate £15. (Membership renewals are sent out when due.) Christy Lawrance [email protected] Name(s) ...... c/o 6 Northview Road Address ...... London N7 0QB

...... The Journal of the Islington Tel no/email (if we need to contact you) ...... Archaeology & History Society is published four times a year I/We would like single/joint/concession/joint concession/corporate membership, and enclose a cheque payable to “Islington Archeology & History Society” for ...... ISSN 2046-8245

Please return this form (photocopies acceptable) to: Islington Archaeology & History Printed by PrintSet, Society, 8 Wynyatt Street, London EC1V 7HU 15 Palmer Place, London,  N7 8DH, www.printset.co.uk

2 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2012/13 Vol 2 No 4 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society

Incorporating Islington History Journal Vol 2 No 4 Winter 2012/13

Among the rubbish lie valuable gems s the journal was going to press, councillors were due to vote on Awhether to list locally the Contents Brecknock Road estate. English Heritage has described the block, built in 1938-39, as “clearly of architectural News 4 and historical significance, being Sadler’s Wells archive goes online designed by ECP Monson in strongly Lutyens-inspired Lark in the Park wins the chance to welcome people again progressive German/continental style”. Not guilty verdict for Crippen at museum retrial, thanks to DNA evidence The 20th Century Society has made great strides in recent years, Letters and your questions 6 having at its inception been publicly Collins Music Hall, chocolate making, a football team, a Hollywood actress derided, and the architecture it is and a search for old children’s home records pledged to protect largely dismissed. How times change. The battle for New River Head 10 In fairness, there is a maxim that This site has a long story, from its water company beginnings to a struggle every generation despises the over saving historic buildings for the community architecture of the preceding one. It is interesting for one of my generation, Pioneer of sound 12 growing up in the latter part of the Joe Meek produced extraordinary from a small flat over a shop in 20th century, to observe this major Holloway Road shift in attitude taking place. Interwar housing projects, the modern A house of many lives 14 movement, Lubetkin’s Spa Green A house that was home to peace organisations and radical groups was estate and other sites are all now seen once occupied by a large family – and some of them came back to visit with due respect. There have been catastrophic The railway palazzo 16 mistakes – fewer in Islington perhaps The grandest station on the Line, and the young architect than in other inner city boroughs – who designed it and it is right to throw out some of the rubbish. Rebels in the south 18 Some buildings constructed between Clerkenwell, near the City and with plenty of open space for demonstrations, the 1950s and 1970s were designed has long been a hotbed of radicalism with the best of intentions but did not work. Sometimes this was down to Publications, bookshop and book reviews 20 shoddy materials and construction, Books to curl up with this winter, and some old maps on sale sometimes down to ideas of social engineering, sometimes because of Events  24 long-term maintenance costs. Including two local history exhibitions, on Holloway Road and Yet we should not be instantly Ironmonger Row baths dismissive of certain styles – there are gems too, and it is right to seek their Directory of societies and museums 28 protection. Details of civic, local history and archaeology societies, museums and Andrew Gardner online resources Chairman Islington Archaeology & History Society Islington Archaeology & History Society events 31

Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2012/13 Vol 2 No 4 3 news In brief Sadler’s Wells archive goes online

Walks for anniversary The Sadler’s Wells Theatre of assassinated PM archive can now be searched online, after being To mark the 250th catalogued by the Islington anniversary of the birth of Local History Centre. Spencer Perceval, IAHS Publication of the academic adviser Lester catalogue will, for the first Hillman led a new Islington time, allow researchers to walk – the Perceval view the large variety of Perambulation. Perceval was material in the collection. the only British prime The collection covers the minister to be assassinated, history of performance at and his story has many links Sadler’s Wells, the to the borough (summer performers and managers, 2012 issue, page 14). The the buildings on the site, the event also saw the launch of theatre’s many financial Islington’s Kennedy Moment, difficulties – and its use as a Sadler’s Wells, 1810: the archive goes back to the early 1700s a project to collect memories wartime air-raid shelter. of 22 November 1963, when Material dates from the international tours and The catalogue is being news of US president John F early 1700s from all six visiting productions. hosted on the Archives Hub, Kennedy’s assassination theatres that have occupied The source of much of the which also details other reached the UK. the site since 1683. These archive that predates the Islington Local History include 18th century playbills 20th century materials is Centre special collections. London Underground and Victorian pantomime unknown, although much of Visit http://islingtonblogs. celebrates 150 years scripts, building plans, it may have been collected typepad.com/sadlers-wells- administrative records, and by staff at the Finsbury archive for information on It will be 150 years in 2013 publicity and photographs. Public Library. the archive project. since the first tube train ran There are also records on The majority of the 20th l Search the online between and the theatre’s opera and century records were catalogue at http:// Farringdon on the ballet schools, as well as files received as a single deposit archiveshub.ac.uk/data/ Metropolitan Railway. To on national and from Sadler’s Wells Theatre. gb1032-s/swt celebrate this, there will be events, publications, heritage rail journeys, poster and art exhibitions, and Not guilty verdict for commemorative two-pound coins and Oyster card holders. Christian Wolmar Crippen, thanks to DNA described how London got the tube and its arrival in The jury at the retrial, after being Crippen’s wife, saying Islington in the spring 2012 hearing evidence drawn that the remains may have issue of the Journal, page 10. from modern DNA testing, been those of a man. They cleared Crippen. However, called for the case to be Demolition for historic not all members of the jury reopened. were convinced of his Prosecutor Mark Cotter exchange building innocence, and a 10-2 argued that the DNA tests The historic Fruit and Wool Dr , majority verdict of not guilty were unreliable, and that the Exchange in Spitalfields is to who was hanged in 1911 for was given. case against Crippen was be partly demolished to the of his wife, has Defence barrister John overwhelming. make way for offices and been cleared at a retrial at Cooper QC, who Crippen pleaded not shops. Tower Hamlets . represented Crippen, cited guilty at the original trial council had rejected the At his original trial, the evidence of American and was hanged in 1910. plans, but London mayor Crippen was found guilty of scientists, who had studied The jury was presided  Boris John determined they murdering Cora and burying DNA evidence on tissue over by former Lord Justice should go ahead, under her in the basement of their samples from the original Sir Anthony Hooper QC. powers granted to him in home at Hilldrop Crescent murder trial. One of the jury members 2008. The developer said the in Holloway. He had The scientists had cast was IAHS vice-president

Sadler’s Wells: Thomas Rowlandson and Charles Pugin, after John Bluck, Joseph Constantine Joseph Bluck, and Charles Pugin, after John Rowlandson Thomas Wells: Sadler’s Commons Sutherland and J Hill Harraden/Wikimedia Thomas Stadler, facade would be retained. pleaded innocent. doubt on the victim  Mary Cosh.

4 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2012/13 Vol 2 No 4 Trust set up to preserve Finsbury Health Centre Lutyens-inspired Lark in the Park wins The Finsbury Health Centre the chance to welcome people again Preservation Trust was due to be launched in the health centre on 14 December – its The Lark in the Park in architect’s Berthold has won a Lubetkin’s birthday – as the reprieve, after the council Journal was going to press. turned down an application The trust aims to raise to demolish it and replace it money for and oversee a with housing. restoration and Residents opposed the modernisation of the proposals and the planning building to “ensure that committee decided to refuse Finsbury Health Centre the plan while the building’s remains at the heart of our potential as a or cafe community, doing what it was looked into. was designed for”. Officers had recommended approval, with the support The name says it: visit the Lark in the Park – you’ll see it’s part of Pump House keeps of the design and Barnard Park; left: curved walls and windows, and brickwork details protection on appeal conservation officer. The applicants had argued Street was not viable as a Officers described the An appeal against Islington that the site on Copenhagen pub. However, officers proposed new four-storey council’s decision to reject admitted that there was no buildings as “attractive and plans to redevelop the New marketing evidence to visually interesting”, River Pump House has been support this assertion. drawing attention to their rejected by the Planning Local campaigners “distinctive oak mullion Inspectorate. pointed to the nearby finished projecting bay l See page 10 Drapers Arms, a successful windows”. pub. Its owners had applied Their report added  Gold medallist at to convert it to housing, that the pub building Ironmonger Row claiming it was not viable. contributed little to the The officer’s report for the conservation area. Ironmonger Row baths committee admitted the site Mr Dunnett, an expert  reopened after a £16.5m had a “crucial relationship on modern architecture, refurbishment, with a visit to Barnard Park”. disagreed, saying the pub from Ellie Simmonds, who Local architect James was a good example of won two gold medals at the Dunnett told the Islington interwar building design, London Paralympic Games. Tribune that the site was an inspired by Edwin Lutyens The grade II listed 1930s amenity site for the park, and probably built in  pool was used as a practice not one for housing. the 1920s. pool for divers before the 1948 London Olympics, as it was one of the deepest Another defaced cover joins Orton archive pools in London at the time. l Events, page 26; Islington’s Joe Orton archive publications, page 21 has a new addition – a defaced cover of Dorothy The Women’s Library L Sayers’ Gaudy Night, the gets new home 10th in her series about amateur detective Lord The London School of Peter Wimsey. Economics is to become the The blurb on the inner new home of the Women’s cover has been replaced by Library. The expert staff and text written by Joe Orton the collections will transfer and his partner Kenneth to LSE’s Lionel Robbins Halliwell. The pair were building in Portugal Street, jailed for six months for WC2, where it will be open defacing Islington council to the public from 2013. library books in 1962.

Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History & Society Winter 2012/13 Vol 2 No 4 5 Letters and your questions We welcome letters. Our researcher Michael Reading can answer your questions, so get in touch if you have a query about Islington, or can answer or add to anything here

Stars and the ‘unsuitable’ Michael Reading writes: shows of Collins Music Hall The London Post Office This photograph is of the street directory for 1935 stage manager, staff and shows Lege Engineering  performers at Collins’ Music as A Lege & Co Ltd Hall and includes my Meteorological Instrument great-grandfather, Henry Makers at 47 Lofting Road, Thomas Collins, who was a Islington N1. scenery artist at Collins’. I have searched through My sister and I have the listings in guessed which gentleman is Islington, but have been our ancestor, both guessing unable to find any reference the same person, but we do for this company. It may be not know for sure. that it was situated just off If anyone can put names this main road which was to the faces or date the and still is predominantly a picture, please contact me. retail street. I was born in 1944 and Can you date this photo and say who the people are? The Islington Local lived at Baalbec Road in History Centre may have Fields for 18 years. Horse bone mystery on the continent until the some information, I often stayed with my I was interested to read the arrival in of Belgian newspaper cuttings or grandmother, Eleanor Broad, account of Ambler Road in war refugees in 1914. Islington trade directories. who lived in Samuel Lewis the last journal (autumn, Roy Hidson Trust Buildings in page 16). St Thomas’s Road, Finsbury Chocolate factory Road. Our usual outings In 1829, John Ambler of Park, N4 2QJ Can you tell me anything were to , Ball’s Pond was granted an about a firm called Dunn & Lyons Corner House and Act of Parliament granting Lege Engineering Hewett, chocolate makers of the Victoria Embankment him building loans from the My father worked for Lege Road, or point Gardens but I remember her dean and chapter of St Engineering from before the me in the right direction? I taking me to Collins a Paul’s. He may have been an Second World War until its have discovered a relative couple of times. I was about ancestor of Benjamin Ambler. closure in about 1960. worked for them. nine years old and I The horse remains are not My father built tide Alan Strachan remember they were very unusual as Victorian London predictors that were 16 Primrose Hill, noisy, colourful shows with ran on horse power. During designed by Dr Doodson of Doddington, March, lots of dancers. this period was the familiar Liverpool. Lege was the only Cambridgeshire, PE15 0SU, My grandmother often sight of the itinerant seller of company that built these [email protected] told me that when she was cats’ meat, which comprised machines and one still exists young, her father would  the remains of worn-out at the Proudman Institute. Michael Reading writes: not allow her to visit Collins’ horses. Horse meat was I would like to research The London Post Office as he thought the shows  mainly eaten by people only Lege Engineering, which had street directory for 1935 not suitable. Once she two works in Islington, one does not show Dunn & managed, so she thought,  in Lofting Road and another, Hewlett in . to go in unobserved then I believe, in Upper Street. I However, the London ran home and got straight have found very little Metropolitan Archives holds into bed fully clothed.  information online. all these directories, which An irate father arrived  Are there any archives group businesses by trade. home shortly after, pulled with information on Lege? The John Johnson back the bedclothes and  Keith Spicer Collection of Printed cut off all the buttons off  Grove Cottage, Dallinghoo, Ephemera, held at the her boots. Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP13 Bodleian Library in Oxford, Linda Tyrie Horse’s jawbone: sign of the 0LR, keith.spicer@ has a reference to D&H [email protected] cats’ meat seller? globalmarinesystems.com Iceland Moss Cocoa,

6 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2012/13 Vol 2 No 4 although I do not think this won many honours, and played football for the “Poly” type of cocoa was unique to played at at least in the late 1950s and early them. May I suggest you once. The team was largely 1960s. They played on the search online using the John made up of Scottish players. same ground and were in Johnson Collection as a The team disbanded at the the League, starting point. outbreak of the Second which no longer exists. World War. They played in In my time in Islington The following is from British the Caledonian Road/ (1949-62), the ground was History Online: Pentonville Holloway area. There is a also the home pitch for Road, Survey of London: Caledonian Park in Market Islington School Boys’ volume 47: Northern Road. However, this was matches. It was probably the Clerkenwell and Pentonville laid out in the 1960s-70s only ground in Islington (2008): 339-372, www. when the former cattle (certainly before the british-history.ac.uk/report. market/slaughterhouse was amalgamation with the aspx?compid=119449 demolished. There never has Borough of Finsbury in 1964) “On the west corner with been an enclosed stand, let that had an enclosed pitch. Cynthia Street, the two alone a football ground, in knocked-about old houses Market Road. Singer of Sadler’s Wells at Nos 130–134, now minus Can you solve this puzzle? Researching material on the their single-storey shop- David Hammond (former Curragh Musical Society in additions, were formerly Islington resident) Tufnell Park FC programme: 1955, I came across a Celine part of the extensive cocoa david@hammond257. their ground is still open space Murphy, a soprano who factory of Dunn & Hewett. orangehome.co.uk became principle soprano at “Daniel Dunn, maker of David Hammond writes: Sadler’s Wells. soluble chocolate and coffee Michael Reading writes: I have attached an old Where could I find out essence, one of the first Caledonian Park is the old Tufnell Park FC programme about on her – shows she commercial occupants in Caledonian Cattle Market, sent to me by a friend, who performed in, photos or King’s Row, was based at which closed in 1963. played for Hamlet information on her career? No 9 (later No 136 Old Ordnance Survey during the 1970s. Joe Connolly Pentonville Road) from maps do not show a space It’s dated September 1920. Co Kildare Ireland. about 1833. of the same name and The ground is referred to as [email protected] “In the 1850s he went into Islington is notorious for its Tufnell Park Recreation partnership with Charles lack of open spaces, Ground. The Wikipedia Michael Reading writes: Hewett, and in the 1870s the being the entry on the London The Sadler’s Wells Theatre firm, who described only one of a reasonable size. Caledonians said their Archive is held at the themselves as the inventors I therefore contacted the ground was Caledonian Islington Local History of soluble chocolate and Ryman Isthmian Football Park; this must be an error. Centre. cocoa, took over No 138 as League, who told me that Included in the l Sadler’s Wells Theatre well. The premises were London Caledonians played programme is an advert for Archive catalogue is now enlarged and partially at the Tufnell Park Athletic a forthcoming evening online: see news, page 4 rebuilt in the 1880s and 90s, Ground. This was home to home game and it’s when an extension at Tufnell Park FC, which was obviously the London Africa and Australia nos 6-10 Cynthia Street was founded in 1907 and played Caledonians. They were I am looking for information built, to provide more space in the Isthmian and Athenian playing , another on my great-grandfather for chocolate-making, Leagues up to 1939. team who folded. They were Charles Moxey, who I packing and storage. By The Ordnance Survey map based in . believe was born in Islington about 1907 there was also a for 1912 shows the ground, There is also an advert for to a William Moxey and tea-room at no 140 for the which had a grandstand at the Northern Polytechnic Mary Ann, whose surname girls working in the factory, its south end. It was Institute (now part of is not known. and apparently for members between Huddleston Road London Metropolitan Charles died in 1931 in of the public too. and Campdale Road, both University, still in Holloway Fitzroy, Melbourne, Australia “Dunn & Hewett’s factory off Tufnell Park Road. There Road). I have a friend who and was supposedly 70 at closed about 1930.” is still a recreation ground there today. Tufnell Park football teams The Story of the London Write to [email protected], via www.iahs.org.uk or c/o I am trying to find the Caledonians Football Club 6 Northview, Tufnell Park Road, N7 0QB. Please note location of the ground is published by Yore letters may be edited. Say if you would like your email/ where London Caledonians Publications: www.yore. postal address printed, so readers can contact you football team played. They demon.co.uk. It is a Byegone were founder members of Gem reprint; the original Note: the society does not carry out family research the Isthmian League and was published in 1924.

Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History & Society Winter 2012/13 Vol 2 No 4 7 the time of his death. There of Charles’s birth certificate Michael Reading writes: possibly the best way of is a C Moxey who sailed from the General Register Using findmypast.co.uk, I getting the word out there from the Cape in 1886 to Office (ww.gro.gov.uk). This have found a death and finding more anecdotal Hobart so I believe he could will show your great-great- registered in Islington in information (editor@ have been in Africa around grandmother’s maiden 2003 for a Constance Smith. thestage.co.uk). Loads of 1880-86 before the Boer name and where Charles Death certificates will tell actors read it – one of War. This is all I know. Any was born in Islington. you the date, place and Constance Smith’s help would be gratefully If you search online for cause of death. They will contemporaries might still appreciated. “Emigration to South also tell you the date and be alive and kicking... you Tony Moxey Africa”, you will find an place of birth, occupation never know! [email protected] abundance of information, and the name of the Sarah Lawrie including passenger lists, to informant, their Actress, Northview, N7 Michael Reading writes: see whether William and qualification/relationship to The society does not usually family did go to South Africa. the deceased and their Moriatry mystery deal with family research. This will probably be time address. You can obtain a For years, as I have travelled However, taking your consuming, but hopefully copies of the death along Parkhurst Road to the great-grandfather’s death of productive and worthwhile. certificate online from the Nag’s Head, I have wondered 1931 and going backwards General Register Office at about the origin of the name 70 years to 1861, I searched www.gro.gov.uk. MoriaTRy Close, N7. Findmypast.co.uk. This was Constance Smith died on It’s niggled me and I’ve unsuccessful, but, moving 30 June at 4 Olive Court, always wondered if backwards, I found a , N1, of MoriaRTy was mistyped at Charles Moxey born in coronary artery disease. Her some time and stayed in Islington in 1856. death was registered by a use. Some years ago I I put this name in the Patricia Barnes, and the contacted Islington council 1861 census and found your qualification was “causing but they couldn’t help – I great-great-grandparents the body to be cremated” think that they’d got rid of William and Mary Ann with which is made when the their planning paperwork. five children, including Hollywood actress Constance informant is not related to Phil Richards Charles. William was born in Smith in Man in the Attic, 1953 the deceased. papanoelbenidorm@yahoo. Exeter, but Mary Ann and Nine years have passed co.uk four of the five children Constance Smith since Constance Smith died were born in Islington, the I am looking for information and it may be that the Michael Reading writes: fifth in Paddington. At the on an Irish actress who may informant has moved, but Moriatry Close seems to be date of the census, 7 April have passed away in you do have some relatively new, built after 1861, the family were living Islington in 2003. Constance information to make a start. 1985. I have no reference to at 13 Berry Place in Smith was from my home it before that date in The , London. town of Limerick and is Ann-Marie Wallis writes: Book of Islington. I then put in the name believed to have died Thank you for the The bomb damage map Moxey to search for further homeless in Islington. An information. Findmypast 1939-45 shows bomb births for 1862-71. While American researcher is certainly gives me a starting damage under the there were several births in trying to find where she is point for further research qualification ”Damaged Islington, there was only one buried. Her story is here: and I wasn’t sure what the beyond repair” for property birth in Marylebone, a Sarah, http://m.imdb.com/name/ process was to obtain death (not houses or a street)  in 1863. I then tried to find nm0807761/ . certificates in the UK. that was standing where the Moxey family on the We’ve found lots of old Moriatry Close is today. 1871 census, using the names newspaper cuttings from Sarah Lawrie writes: Moriatry Close is a private of several family members, when she visited Limerick. Spotlight (the casting gated development, and I but without success. She seemed to have directory) is accessible to the am surprised that Islington You say that Charles Moxey disappeared in the mid public – it’s been going since council no longer has records sailed from the Cape in 1886 1980s, ending up in a series the 1920s and all of how it got its name. to Hobart in Australia. Could of hospitals and hostels. professional actors will be Taking a long shot, I this be an indication that Any information would be listed there (www.spotlight. wondered if the name came sometime after 1863 (I am greatly appreciated. com). Big libraries would from Professor Moriarty, the assuming that Sarah was one Islington Local History probably have hard copies of arch enemy of Sherlock of the family) William and his Centre has no record of her. the old directories. Holmes. I made a cursory family emigrated to South There is a Genes Reunited Equity may have a publicly check of The Complete Stories Africa and Charles, now aged record. Do any readers have accessible archive (http:// of Sherlock Holmes to see if 30, emigrated in 1886 from an account with this site? www.equity.org.uk). there was any reference to South Africa to Australia? Ann-Marie Wallis Writing to the letters this part of north London

20th Century Fox/Wikimedia Commons 20th Century Fox/Wikimedia I suggest you obtain a copy [email protected] pages of The Stage is and also looked into the

8 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2012/13 Vol 2 No 4 biography of Sir Arthur 40,000 of them, many of Conan Doyle to see whether them works bands. he had ever lived or had an Sadly, many left little association with the district, information about their unfortunately both without existence, and what does success. No other streets exist is scattered between nearby refer to Conan Doyle individuals, local archives or his work. and national collections. It is possible that the Any information would be developers requested the gratefully received, including name and had their reasons. pictures or sources for Alternatively, someone at investigation. Even knowing Islington council may have a band existed is significant. been a Sherlock Holmes fan. Much of the information I I am sorry I have no have collected is freely further information. available at www.ibew.co.uk. Allanbank, now demolished: let’s hope it would survive today See the Reference section Phil Richards writes: for “Extinct Bands” and I will make a further Although the house was and even their parents. “Vintage Pictures”. attempt with Islington as granted grade II listed These documents may Gavin Holman your response has building status, this have events happening near IBEW (The Internet highlighted an area of succeeded only in delaying to the census dates of 1911, Bandsman’s Everything possible query/investigation. matters. The house was 1901, 1891 etc, and would Within), [email protected] I know that I queried demolished to make way for give addresses that you “MoriaTRy Close”; the a small block of flats. could look for on the Archaeology request planning service may have About the time when I relevant census. I am a co-author of St checked, incorrectly, for took this photograph of The As for children’s homes, I Pancras Burial Ground: “MoriaRTy Close”. Foresters, I was also involved could not find any specific Excavations for St Pancras in an attempt to prevent the homes and it may be that International, the London Lost Scottish baronial villa demolition of Wray Crescent the children were taken into Terminus of High Speed 1, You were kind enough to and Place, N4. care as part of the 2002-3, a complex publish some of my But that is another story. workhouse function. interdisciplinary study of photographs of the Leslie Blake The Islington Local History documentary and demolition of the houses and School of Law, University of Centre should be able to tell archaeological evidence. streets of north Islington, Surrey, Guildford you about any homes that During this project I was between Moray Road and intrigued by the social and Seven Sisters Road Children’s homes search historical links that have (summer 2011, page 23). I am doing research into my It may be that the emerged from the Readers might also be family, who originated from children were taken documentary research interested in this Islington. However, I am undertaken by Dr Chris photograph of Allanbank, stuck on a certain issues, into care as part of Phillpotts FSA, which later The Foresters, a house regarding grandparents not the workhouse hinges chiefly upon the at 265 Camden Road, N7, appearing on the 1911 function personal details of deceased which was designed (in the census, my grandmother people, inscribed on Scottish baronial style) by being widowed and memorial stones or well- Herbert Hodge in 1863. rumoured to have put three existed in the 19th and 20th preserved coffin plates. I took the photograph in of her children in a century, their location, and I would be delighted to or about 1973 when I was children’s home and other whether their records still receive any comments or involved in a campaign to relatives vanishing. exist and in which archive queries, as well as hear from save that house from Do you know any Islington they are held. Another IAHS members who could demolition. I was able to historian who can assist me, source is the London draw our attention to draw the attention of the especially on the aunts and Metropolitan Archives. personal connections or borough architect to the fact uncles going into homes? information that we may that this house was pictured Linda Tull Brass bands have missed. in Hugh Casson’s book, An By email Did your community once We are pleased to offer Introduction to Victorian have a brass or silver band? I copies of the book to IHAS Architecture (Arts and Michael Reading writes: am researching their history. members at a special price Technics, London, 1948). I assume you have obtained The late 19th and early of £21.00 (usually £27.95). Sir Hugh Casson wrote a birth, marriage and death 20th centuries were the Phil Emery letter in support of the certificates for your golden age for these bands. Ramboll UK, London house’s preservation. grandparents, their siblings It is said there were up to l Publications, page 23

Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History & Society Winter 2012/13 Vol 2 No 4 9 The battle for New River Head

New River Head’s pump house and windmill buildings were to be saved for the community under a planning brief. However, this brief was forgotten when the site was sold to a developer. Darian Mitchell tells the long history of the site

he New River was supply water by gravity to the built to supply fresh . drinking water to the A windmill was built to pump . This water from the Round Pond to artificial waterway, the Upper Pond, but it was not Twhich originated in Amwell in powerful enough, and horses , was completed in had to be used to transport the 1613 by Sir water instead. In 1768, the under the auspices of the New windmill was replaced by a River Company. steam engine in a purpose-built The New River Head site and engine house. its environs were the original The windmill base and the terminating point of this original engine house – although watercourse. The Round Pond, much extended over the years the company’s engineers and part of which survives today, was – together with the 19th century surveyors. In 1914, this was created to take the water coal stores, survive to this day. demolished and the Round Pond discharged from the river, but its Following the municipalisation filled in, and the Water Board’s capacity was soon exceeded and of the water supply, the New headquarters built on the site. an Outer Pond was formed, River Company was taken over The 17th century Oak Room, which became a favourite spot by the Metropolitan Water Board which had been part of the for anglers. in 1904. Back in 1612, a building original building, was relocated As demand for fresh water known as the Water House had to the new headquarters. increased, the Upper Pond was been built on the edge of the In 1744, the New River built in 1709 on the site of Round Pond and used to house a Company bought 44 acres of Claremont Square, which was on cistern and stopcocks as well as land around the New River sufficiently high ground to providing accommodation for Head. Some of this was used to develop the waterworks, as the demand for water increased and civil engineering advanced. The rest of the land was used for recreational purposes until the early 19th century when it became profitable to build housing, so the company became responsible for the architecture of a significant part of the southern area of the borough, which survives to this day. In 1989, the Metropolitan Water Board became part of . Although most operational functions have been relocated, the site is still involved in London’s water supply. The round base of the windmill Redevelopment building next to In 1987, Thames Water moved its the engine headquarters to Reading, and

, 1856; pump house and windmill: Julian Walker; Walker; , 1856; pump house and windmill: Julian News Illustrated London Claremont Square reservoir: Darrah pump house (opposite page): Peter house planned to redevelop the part of

10 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2012/13 Vol 2 No 4 the New River Head site that it no longer needed. In 1991, a planning brief was drawn up and the 1914 headquarters building and the 1938 laboratory building (both grade II listed) were converted into flats. In 1999, a second planning brief allowed new blocks of flats to be built – the Nautilus Building and the Hydra Building – and Remus House was converted from old offices. The original planning brief in 1991 made little provision for the benefit of the community, and the 1999 brief attempted to remedy this.

Public access As a requirement of planning permission, the council insisted on affordable housing being made available on the site and public access to the land around The engine house was built so water could be pumped to the reservoir on the site of Claremont the engine house and the Round Square, pictured opposite in the 1850s Pond, with a public right of way across the site from Amwell It was opposed by a number of Street to Rosebery Avenue. The inspector said the people and societies, including In addition, the planning brief development would Hugh Myddelton, a descendent stated that when the historic of the entrepreneur who created engine house and windmill base cause serious harm to the New River, because it and adjacent buildings were no a heritage asset contravened the 1999 planning longer required by Thames brief and because it was Water, they should be offered for detrimental to the historic sale to Islington council with a Unfortunately, in 2011, Thames character of the site as a whole, view to being converted into a Water – which appeared to have not just the individual buildings. heritage and educational centre forgotten about the original The application went to the with some offices and/or agreement – sold the engine planning committee and was meeting space. Importantly, they house and windmill base to a turned down. Turnhold appealed should be made accessible to the property developer, Turnhold, to the planning inspectorate and community. A sum of money for which applied to convert the the appeal was heard on this purpose was given by stores and engine house into 29 August 2012. The inspector Thames Water to the Islington houses and flats. The first refused the appeal, agreeing with Building Preservation Trust to planning application was the planning committee that hold until there was an withdrawn, but a second one serious harm would be caused to opportunity to spend it. was submitted earlier in 2012. a heritage asset, and the public benefit of the proposed development would not Friends of the New River Head outweigh the harm. Now, the Heritage of London The Amwell Society, the local civic society, was asked by the Trust is working with Islington Islington Building Preservation Trust to set up an association, the Building Preservation Trust to Friends of the New River Head, to protect its interests now and in achieve the objectives of the the future, and act as a campaigning and support group. planning brief, and will make  Membership of the friends is open to anyone who supports the the site its headquarters if it  preservation of the New River Head as a site of historic is successful. n importance to which the public should have access. l Anyone wishing to join should email Darian Mitchell on Darian Mitchell is chair of the [email protected]. Amwell Society, dariandelia@ btinternet.com

Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History & Society Winter 2012/13 Vol 2 No 4 11 Pioneer of sound Joe Meek, recognised as the greatest producer in the history of UK popular music, worked from a small flat over a Holloway Road shop. Rob Bradford tells his story

novelty records, piano music, opera, orchestral, classical and all points in between. It is worth listing just some of the artists recorded by Joe Meek at this time, as many of them were true superstars of the era: they included Kenny Ball, Chris Barber, Shirley Bassey, Acker Bilk, Petula Clark, Lonnie Donegan, Diana Dors, Edmund Hockridge, Humphrey Lyttleton, Gary Miller, Harry Secombe,  Ann Shelton, Dickie Valentine, Frankie Vaughan, Marty Wilde and Gene Vincent, to name  but a few.

alking past a “Did Joe Meek do anything Pushing to the limits 24–hour else apart from ?” he Throughout 1958 and into 1959, convenience asked. Meek had been enlisted to help store on the That makes for an excellent plan, design and fit out busy but starting point for readers who Lansdowne Studios, which was Wsometimes shabby Holloway may know nothing or very little named the House of Shattering Road, pedestrians could be about his life and work. Glass by engineers because of its forgiven for not glancing up at Meek was born in Newent in clarity of sound. It was state of the nondescript flats above. If Gloucestershire on 5 April 1929. the art and Meek, along with they did, they might briefly He arrived in London in 1954 Denis Preston, was studio wonder about the plaque and, for a short while, worked at manager/recording engineer. mounted there dedicated to “Joe Stones’ electrical store on the However, Meek was Meek, record producer…pioneer Road. Before long, he continually pushing things to the of sound recording technology was working for the BBC and limit and forever falling out with lived, worked and died here”. quickly demonstrated his those around him – which had I was once interviewed by a immense talent for recording been the case throughout the Gloucestershire local radio and editing live radio shows. latter part of the 1950s. station and was taken aback by By 1955, Joe Meek was an Matters came to a head in the presenter’s lack of knowledge. in-demand sound recording November 1959, following yet engineer for all of the major UK another blazing row with record labels of the 1950s. Preston, with Meek storming out Columbia, Decca, HMV, mid-session and a replacement Parlophone, Philips and Pye engineer having to be found. The records all vied for his services episode was deemed to be one during 1955-59. Over this period, disagreement too many and Joe he worked on an astonishing was subsequently dismissed. 1,500 or so commercially released recordings. There was nothing that he Once he was ensconced in 304, couldn’t turn his hand to – the Meek’s output was prodigious. Some tracks encompassed ballad singers, skiffle music, rock and remarkable recordings emerged roll, jazz, rhythm and blues, folk from his tiny flat-cum-studio

Joe Meek pictures: David Peters Meek pictures: David Joe 304 Holloway Road (centre) in 2012 music, country and western,

12 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2012/13 Vol 2 No 4 It was during that period that demos and rehearsal takes. Meek resolved to be his own His own roster of acts included boss and to establish both his Mike Berry, Michael Cox, Heinz, own personal recording studio the Honeycombs, Peter Jay & the and record label. Jaywalkers, John , the The rooms above the ground Outlaws, Screaming Lord Sutch floor of 304 Holloway Road, and . His most which was then Shenton’s memorable RGM hits included leather goods shop, would Tribute To Buddy Holly, Just Like become Meek’s studio during Eddie, Angela Jones, Can Can ‘62, the latter half of 1960. Wild Wind, Swingin’ Low and the He had established the three worldwide number 1 mega hits by , the Tornados’ Telstar and the Honeycombs’ Have I The Right? 304 Holloway Road is being Joe Meek at Holloway Road: as well as commercial refurbished. The new tenants equipment, he owned mixers, amplifiers and echo units would surely be both bemused that he had built by hand himself and incredulous to discover that Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple, and thereafter concentrated on Rainbow), Marc Bolan (T Rex), leasing completed master tracks David Bowie, Chas ‘n’ Dave, to the major record labels. His Georgie Fame, Jet Harris, Noddy RGM Sound imprint referred to Holder, Steve Howe (Yes), Sir his real name Robert George Tom Jones, Denny Laine (Wings), Triumph record label earlier on, Meek, Joe being a family epithet Steve Marriott (Small Faces), issuing the first releases during by which he was always known. Mitch Mitchell (Jimi Hendrix April of that year. It was Britain’s Experience), Jimmy Page (Led first successful independent label Zeppelin), Freddie Starr, Status to take on the big four labels – nce he was ensconced Quo, Rod Stewart, Ten Years After Columbia/HMV, Decca, Philips in 304, and with his and Roy Wood (Move, Wizzard) and Pye – and compete in the Oown musicians at his had all stood in their lounge and charts. disposal, Meek’s recorded output been recorded by Joe Meek. The first success was the was prodigious. Some remark- In 2012 Joe Meek has been instrumental Green Jeans (a fiery, able recordings began to emerge recognised by Mojo magazine rocked-up, raucous reworking of from his tiny flat-cum-studio, and the NME as being the most Greensleeves), which was banned with all of the recording and important figure in the history of by the BBC as being disrespectful sound production work being sound recording techniques in to the memory of Ralph done solely by him. the UK as well as the all-time Vaughan-Williams and his Although he had some greatest record producer in the Fantasia On Greensleeves commercial equipment, Joe also history of UK popular music. orchestral opus. It reached possessed a whole raft of mixers, This is quite an accolade for one number 23 in the charts. amplifiers and echo units that he man working from a tiny flat That was surpassed by Michael had built by hand himself. above a shop on the Holloway Cox’s version of Angela Jones, The effects that he achieved Road. Joe Meek’s unique which reached number 7. Had it were truly astonishing. As well achievements deserve to be not been for Triumph’s chronic as producing mainstream acknowledged. n distribution problems, it may recordings, Joe was both a l Contact the Joe Meek have gone all the way to pioneer and a master of Society via Andy Knott,  number 1. Heart-throb of the day early electronica and 89 Hardy Crescent, George Chakiris – who Joe had sound-on-sound tape Wimborne, Dorset BH21 recorded when he was part of the manipulation and effects. 2AR (please enclose SAE London cast of West Side Story In the space of seven for reply), at www.rhis. – had a minor hit with Heart of a years (until his grisly and co.uk/jmas and www.face Teenage Girl. Unfortunately, the untimely death in early 1967), book.com/thejoemeeksociety project was bedevilled by Joe produced over 700 financial and business difficulties. commercially released recordings Rob Bradford has been a member of Meek jumped ship – taking from more than 100 artists signed the Joe Meek Society since its most of the artists and the rights up to RGM. He left behind inception and is editor of The Joe to their recordings with him – nearly as many unissued tracks, Meek Society Newsletter

Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History & Society Winter 2012/13 Vol 2 No 4 13 A house of many lives

A house that was home to peace organisations and radical groups for many years had previously been occupied by a large family. Kay Stearman showed three sisters around their former home, and tells a story going back to the 1930s

t the end of May office – the building with its 2012, the Campaign ornate façade remains but the Against Arms  postal work has long departed to Trade moved from an industrial estate. Dot had 11 Goodwin Street worked in the dairy – “my first inA Finsbury Park to a more job, just a few shillings a week”. modern office in nearby Wells Terrace. I wrote a nostalgic The war years account of CAAT’s quarter of a For me, one of the most century in Goodwin Street, interesting aspects was to hear celebrating its history as the how Finsbury Park fared during home of many peace organisa- the war years. The nearby  tions and radical groups. station was a military target  That, I thought, was that. Then so was camouflaged by huge I received a message from barrage balloons. Brenda, telling me that 11 The older sisters recalled the Goodwin Street was her distinct sounds made by the childhood home and she would different types of bombs, the air love to see where the raid sirens and the scramble to Mountstephens family had lived Brenda, the first member of the Mounstephens family to the Anderson shelter at the before it was demolished. There get in touch, as a teenager in the 1960s. Her brothers’ bottom of the garden. followed another message, this workbench and the dolls’ house one of them made for Other family members lived in time from Brenda’s sister Jean, her can be seen in the background. The coal shed the neighbourhood and Dot with the same request. As it behind that was used by an old lady who lived upstairs remembered being despatched turned out, there was yet up Fonthill Road to check on her another sister – Dot – who also The rent was 11 shillings a week. grandparents after each raid. wanted to visit. The house was also the home of Meanwhile, Jean had been We talked to the new owners an old lady who lived in a room evacuated from London to and agreed a date for the three  on the top floor. Blackpool. to visit. Dot, Jean and Brenda (in At that time, Goodwin Street Goodwin Street itself escaped order from oldest to youngest) was very different from today, the bombs but nearby areas were arrived at CAAT’s new office and, when it is mainly used for access not so lucky. Dot recalled a live after a cuppa, set off to inspect to a car park for shoppers and bomb that remained on site –  Goodwin Street. Arsenal fans. It was one of the its owner charged a halfpenny  Brenda told me how she had liveliest streets in the to view it. been fascinated by the BBC neighbourhood, with a pub on Gaping holes caused by bomb series The Secret History of Our the corner, a mission hall at the damage remained untouched for Streets (as had I) and had begun end, a dairy at the back, a years after the war. Some were researching Goodwin Street on printer’s and a postal sorting documented by the young Don Google when she came across McCullin, who was born in my blog. Fonthill Road. It was one of the liveliest streets in He came to fame when his A large family in a different age photo of gang members posing The Mountstephens family had the neighbourhood, with a pub on in a derelict building was lived in Goodwin Street from the the corner, a mission hall at the published in The Observer early 1930s until they moved out Magazine. He went on to become in 1966. end, a dairy at the back, a printer’s one of the world’s greatest It was a big family – parents, and a postal sorting office photographers, famous for his

Sorting office and house: Christy Lawrance; family pictures courtesy of Mountstephens members Sorting office and house: Christy Lawrance; four brothers and three sisters. photos of soldiers and civilians

14 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2012/13 Vol 2 No 4 Left: Dot holding Brenda in 1947; centre, in the late 1950s: Brenda outside 11 Goodwin Street; Jean and her son – note the now-demolished houses and mission hall in the background; right: 11 Goodwin Street in 2012 in Vietnam, Cambodia, garden was diminished with the Bangladesh and Biafra. addition of an extension to the old house. Upstairs was pretty Although the war damage has two lower floors. Internally, the much the same, but the long disappeared, stories like hallway was narrowed to downstairs rooms and the these stand as a reminder of the increase the office space on the garden were unrecognisable. terrible effects of warfare on ground floor. On a positive note, Although we all enjoyed the visit, people’s lives – a prime reason there was no longer any need for we were sad to see the house in why CAAT exists today. an outside toilet or a coal hole. such a condition and we prefer When the three sisters viewed to remember it as we knew it. A family home no more the building, it was in a parlous “We had a nostalgic walk Just as Goodwin Street had state. All the furniture and along Fonthill Road and Stroud declined, so had no 11. The fittings had been removed and Green to . So lots of Mountstephens family lived the many imperfections and conversations along the lines of there till 1966, when their father makeshift repairs were all  ‘Do you remember this…?’, and died – all the children had too obvious. we found we had a lot of moved away by that time. Later, Brenda wrote to me: “It different memories. The building became a was a big surprise to all of us to “Thank you again for giving us printer’s shop and office. The see such a transformation in our a chance to look back on a bit of our family history.” Thank you Brenda, Dot and Jean for sharing your memories with us and restoring a small part of the history of our neighbourhood in this great city of London. n l Goodbye to Goodwin Street, Kaye Stearman’s account of CAAT’s time at 11 Goodwin Street, can be read at http://blog.caat.org. uk/2012/06/22/goodbye-to- Left: the locally goodwin-street listed disused postal sorting Kaye Stearman is media office opposite co‑ordinator at Campaign Against the house Arms Trade and a local resident

Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History & Society Winter 2012/13 Vol 2 No 4 15 The railway palazzo

The grandest station on the North London Line, at Highbury Corner, was designed by young architect Edwin Henry Horne. Jann Burrows describes his short, glittering career and his mystery disappearance

n 1872, an impres- horse-drawn vehicles racing from 1850 were replaced by sive new railway past. “buildings of a handsome and station was opened Edwin Henry Horne was at the commodious character” at Highbury time a young man of 29. He was culminating in the grandest of Corner for the born at 9 Munster Street in them all, the station known as INorth London Line. Regent’s Park on 16 April 1843, Highbury and Islington. Designed in a the 10th of 13 children of a Horne’s drawings for this last distinctive Venetian master butcher, Swithin Horne. station were exhibited in the gothic style by By the age of seven, he was Summer Exhibition of 1873 at architect Edwin a pupil at a small boarding the Royal Academy. Henry Horne, it was, school off Holloway Road. The By this time he was working with its white Suffolk school, in a tall Victorian house from 47 Old Broad Street, EC1, bricks, its elegant at 1 Eden Grove, had just 11 the address he gave when he arches, its towers and pupils in 1851, and was run by a applied for membership of the its high mansard roof, maths master named John Auld. Royal Institute of British more like an Italian Architects in 1875. He was palazzo than a elected an associate member on passenger station. The new station was 15 November, 1875. On 19 April 1873, “of a distinctive design In 1874, he was chosen from a the Illustrated London not repeated elsewhere field of 12 architects to design News carried an article the St John’s church in describing this on the railways in Dean, to seat 1,000 people. Two splendid new England” years later, in the summer of landmark in Islington, 1876, the church was “of a distinctive consecrated. design not repeated From there, Horne moved to Again, he received great elsewhere on the Park School in acclaim for his originality, with railways in Hertfordshire. “the height and breadth of the England”. At the age of 16, he was interior distinguishing it from The building articled to the architect and ordinary 19th century churches”. consisted of three civil engineer George Rowden St John’s is now a grade II listed wings, the south Burnell and served his full building, as is Horne’s London wing being the five years. Overground station at Cock Tavern, the He was engaged in his early Camden Road. centre the railway 20s by the North London The consecration ceremony, station with its Railway Company to work on six at which he was described as hotel, vast booking new passenger stations, which “a genius”, is the last official and billiard halls, were made necessary by the record we have of his career as and the north wing quadrupling of the lines to an architect. He was just 33. a block of shops. Broad Street. Apart from a Post Office Illustrating The first of these was the large directory entry listing him the article was an station at Bow, which opened in as still at 47 Old Broad Street in engraving of the March 1870, followed in 1880, there is nothing more on station in all its November that year by file about his work. grandeur, with Barnsbury and, in December, by Hackney, and Disappearance The remains of . For the next 11 years, he drops Horne’s station, next So, one by one, the old completely from sight. He to station entrance wooden buildings dating does not appear in the 1881

16 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2012/13 Vol 2 No 4 census for England. A letter from his brother written in 1885 suggests that there was family concern over him and hints at a serious problem, but we are left to guess the nature of it. In 1891, he resurfaced, living as a lodger in Dover and listed as “late architect NLR”. He lived in Dover on independent but dwindling means until his death. During those years, census records list him under three different Christian names, none of them Edwin. He died of bronchitis at 4 Church Place in Dover in August 1915.

here were two cruel twists “A distinctive design not repeated elsewhere on the railways in England”: how the Illustrated of fate after his death. London News described Highbury and Islington Station in 1873 T On 8 November 1925, a fire broke out at St John’s and finally being totally the tube station. Ealing, gutting the interior. Only demolished in 1967 to make It is to be hoped that this the walls were left standing. way for the construction of surviving fragment of the grand The spire, which came crashing the Victoria Line. Victorian building that once down into the chancel, was The poet John Betjeman wrote graced Highbury Corner will be never replaced. in glowing terms of these retained. During the blitz in October stations and raged at the way Horne is buried in St Mary’s 1940, there was extensive fire British Rail was stripping the Churchyard Dover, a peaceful damage to the station at North London Line of all its place below Dover Castle. His Highbury and Islington, glory, not bothering to repair the headstone reads: “Edwin Henry caused by incendiaries and vast and echoing stations after Horne. Formerly an architect of resulting in the loss of the the war. His cry of “God save the Broad Street.” mansard roof storey with Old North London!” went His remaining buildings are two of its turrets. unheard. his legacy. n Then, on 27 June 1944, a All that remains today of V1 flying bomb hit Highbury Horne’s masterpiece on Jann Burrows is a teacher and Corner during the lunch hour, Highbury Corner is a small artist, and the great-great niece killing 26 people and injuring part of the old facade tucked of Edwin Henry Horne. She lives a further 155. The bomb in next to the entrance of in Sydney impacted at the end of Compton terrace, destroying a number Horne’s grade II survivors: below: of houses. St John’s, Ealing; right: Camden There was devastating Road Overground Station damage to the left wing of the station, the Cock Tavern, and to several other buildings, including the bank opposite, with paper money reportedly being distributed all over Highbury Fields. After the war, some temporary repairs were carried out, but the building was never restored to its former use as a passenger station, serving as a furniture

warehouse for many years Commons Commons; Camden Road: Kake Pugh /Wikimedia Kesrouani/Wikimedia Georges Farid St John’s: Station pillar: Christy Lawrance;

Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History & Society Winter 2012/13 Vol 2 No 4 17 Rebels in the south

Clerkenwell, near the City and with plenty of open space for demonstrations, has long been a hotbed of radicalism, explains Ben Smith

lerkenwell was executed, leader Sir John always well placed Oldcastle being burnt alive for for radical agitation. his calls for reform. Close to the City of In the 16th century, Catholics London and with too sought refuge here; for many manyC open spaces, it was an of them, their end was similarly optimal spot for radicals, social- bloody. Poster to mark the fifth anniversary of Lenin’s death in 1924; Lenin lived ists and unionists, among others, in disguise in Clerkenwell in the to meet, organise and protest. ‘More pigs less parsons’: early 20th century Chartists fight for the vote The Peasants’ Revolt and early Clerkenwell became truly protest established as the hotbed of ‘Colossal stupidity’: the “When Adam delved and Eve radicalism in the 1800s, with Clerkenwell explosion span, who was then the rallies in support of suffrage and By the late 19th century, working- gentleman?” was a common unionism, and for further liberties. class people were becoming refrain during the Peasants’ In 1816 Henry “Orator” Hunt increasingly sympathetic towards Revolt of 1381. addressed a crowd of 20,000 the cause of Irish Independence. As a site of radicalism, working men and women at Spa The events of 1867 in Clerkenwell can be traced back Fields, which led to rioting Clerkenwell would shake this. to the 14th century. It was here throughout London. As a result During an attempt to free two that Wat Tyler and others of this, many of the Gag Acts imprisoned Fenians in December involved in the Peasants’ Revolt – laws that aimed to suppress 1867, four people were seen to rallied before they beheaded the mass meetings, particularly those be placing a “barrel of beer” at local prior and torched the for radical reform – were passed. the foot of the House of monastery. Tyler and countless In the 1830s and 1840s, Detention at Clerkenwell. others were to pay for the Clerkenwell become the main The explosion caused a huge rebellion with their lives. London stage for the Chartists. chasm in the wall and the In the 15th century came the Calling for universal male immediate deaths of three Christian reformers, the Lollards. suffrage and annual parliaments, people in the tenements As with the Peasants’ Revolt, they organised at Clerkenwell opposite. At least nine more prominent members were Green for many of their people died of their wounds and demonstrations and protests. more than 40 were injured. The Their slogan – “More pigs, less public was outraged. Marx parsons” – was easily understood. described the explosion as The Democratic “colossal stupidity”. Association wing marched under Mick Barrett was to hang for the banner: “Our rights his role in the attempted prison peacefully if we may, forcefully if escape at Newgate Prison on we must.” They, alongside fellow 26 May 1868 before 2,000 physical force Chartists, fought people; it was the last public many clashes with the newly execution in England. Barrett’s formed in execution, however, was very Clerkenwell, on occasion taking contentious. Many believed that to the roofs at Clerkenwell he was not involved in the failed Green to fire missiles. break-out attempt but was in Glasgow at the time. Calshot House, Priory Green Estate: This was not the end of designed by modernist architect and Clerkenwell’s Fenian activity. In

Calshot House and House of Detention: Islington Local History Centre; poster and pamphlet: Wikimedia Commons Wikimedia Calshot House and of Detention: Islington Local History Centre; poster pamphlet: communist Berthold Lubetkin 1882, a large arms cache was

18 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2012/13 Vol 2 No 4 found in St John Street and, in the late 1900s, Michael Collins, commander in chief of Eire, was thought to have worked in the Mount Pleasant Post Office on the site of the old House of Detention. It is said that, while working here, he took his 1909 oath of alliance to the Irish Republican Brotherhood.

Socialist activism Socialist organisations started to take root in the London, including in Clerkenwell, in the 1870s. Supported by rich benefactors such as John Stuart Mill and William Morris, they were able to rent buildings so had physical bases from which to grow. A former Welsh charity school at 37a Clerkenwell Green became home to the London House of Detention explosion as shown by the Illustrated London News in December 1867 Patriotic Society from 1872 until 1892. During the society’s Lenin continued to agitate for League and the Social 20-year occupation, it was revolution while in London and Democratic Federation. involved in the advancement  was visited by prominent Russian However, it was as a of republicanism and the revolutionaries, including Stalin, pamphleteer that Chatterton building of unions, alongside Martov and Trotsky, as well as became best known. His often- demanding the franchise and countless others. erratic pamphlets were mostly equality for women. Many years later, Berthold atheistic in bent. He was also an By 1892, William Morris had Lubetkin, communist and early adopter of women’s causes, secured the building for use by the modernist designer, designed a arguing against poverty-driven Twentieth Century Press. This was bust of Lenin to sit opposite his prostitution and publicising the first socialist printing press newly built Bevin Court. The contraceptive methods. on the green and responsible for sculpture now takes pride of Guy Aldred – named after Guy some of the first English place in Islington Museum. Fawkes by his mother as he was translations of Marx’s works. In born on 5 November 1886 – was 1933 – on the 50th anniversary No gods, no masters: anarchism a local anarchist who formed the of Marx’s death and in defiance in Clerkenwell Anti-Parliamentary Communist of the Nazi Party burning The history of Clerkenwell’s Federation. Aldred attended the socialist literature in Germany radicalism goes beyond workers’ Iron Infants’ School in – the building was named the parties and revolutionary Farringdon Road, later moving Marx Memorial Library. flashpoints. The parish’s to Hugh Myddelton school. A rebellious history has been former member of the Social The Russian Revolution shaped by people who remained Democratic Federation and Many of the Bolshevik organisers outside the main organisations. with ties to other local radical of the 1917 Russian Revolution Many of them were influenced groups, he became known as had connections with by or defined themselves by a convincing orator, Clerkenwell, most formally anarchist ideals; two names  proponent of free love and Lenin, or Dr Richter as his he was from Clerkenwell’s anarchist anarchist publisher. He died known while living in the area history are Dan Chatterton and penniless in Glasgow in disguised as a German doctor. Guy Aldred. October 1963. n In 1903, Lenin was in exile in Dan Chatterton was a famous l The free exhibition Rebel Britain. Harry Quelch, the Social Clerkenwell soap-box speaker Clerkenwell. A History of Dissent Dan Chatterton’s Democratic Federation editor of and self-publisher. Born to an and Radicalism is on at the penny pamphlet Justice, lent his first-floor office to artisan family in Clerkenwell in Islington Local History Centre Babies and Lenin to work on the newspaper 1820, he was to become a until 19 January 2013 Bunny Rabbits of the Russian Social Democratic Chartist and was later an active  promoted the Labour Party, Iskra – the Spark if contrary member of the Ben Smith is heritage assistant at benefits of in English. suffrage-demanding Reform Islington Local History Centre contraception

Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History & Society Winter 2012/13 Vol 2 No 4 19 Publications and bookshop

As dark evenings close in, we bring you a Terraces facing ornamental shops to grand picture gardens are included, and it palaces and the first cinema selection of books to curl up with on is illustrated with historical in a train. chilly evenings pictures and maps. Only Bricks and Mortar Criminal Islington. The Harry Walters Story of Crime and £7.99 + £1.40 p&p, IAHS Angus McBean in Islington Islington for 15 years, first in Punishment in a Victorian A tale of boyhood in the Edited by Mary Cosh, foreword Gibson Square then in Suburb 1930s and the second world by Angus McBean Colebrooke Row. Edited by Keith Sugden war, in the notorious council £4.50 + 69p £5 + £1.15 p&p, IAHS tenements know as the p&p, IAHS The Squares of Islington Rookeries were criminal Cottages in Popham Road. Well- Part II. Islington Parish ghettos, the backdrop to the It paints a memorable known and Mary Cosh murder, theft and radical picture of working class life, unusual £7.50 + £1.40 p&p, IAHS, activism described here. lives transformed by the war places from This book shows that no two This book looks at crime and the demolition of the the 1960s, squares in Islington Parish and how it was tackled, flats in 1978, which was including are the same. They range in social breakdown and influenced to some extent cinemas, style from dignified row to political history, and how by the filming there of Cathy music halls, railway gothic, from pastiche the rookeries were defeated. Come Home. churches, squares, terraces to architectural joke. and more are photographed This area Islington’s Cinemas The London Dog from the for this book. covered is & Film Studios Romans to Today These pictures serve as a the old Chris Draper The London Cat. Its Lives & reminder of Islington as it village of £5 + £1.20 p&p, Islington Times was, with gas lamps and Islington council, available from the IAHS The London Cat II trolley buses, and well with This story of Islington’s film James Dowsing known and unusual places. adjoining industry pictures every London Cat I: £3.50 + 69p Angus McBean was the areas of cinema, with opening dates, p&p; London Cat II: £4.50 + official photographer for Highbury, what was being shown and 60p p&p; London Dog: £3.50 Sadler’s Wells and the Old Canonbury, Barnsbury and ticket prices at the time. It + 69p p&p, Sunrise Press Vic theatres, and lived in the Clothworkers’ estate. includes cinemas in small From royal corgis to mutts, a statue $ that caused riots and a Publications order form (photocopies acceptable) heroic wartime poodle, The London Dog looks at a Name ...... London dog’s life over the centuries. The foreword is by Address ...... a rather dismissive cat. The two London Cat books ...... show how long London and cat history have been linked. Tel no/email (if we need to contact you about your order) ...... There are wartime cats, stylish cats, theatrical cats, Title(s)of publication Cost cathedral cats, political cats and, yes, Islington cats, with ...... plenty of feline miscellany ...... and historic pictures.

...... All books on this page can Total cost ...... be ordered using the form – for more than one item Please make cheques payable to “Islington Archaeology & History Society”; send this or for trade orders, call form (photocopies acceptable) to IAHS, 8 Wynyatt Street, London EC1V 7HU 020 7833 1541

20 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2012/13 Vol 2 No 4 Telling tales: two books and a film of oral histories from Islington

Born & Bred: Stories of baths, including the area in the 19th century. Holloway Road archaeological work, is l See Pooling the memories, Rowan Arts described in words and summer 2011 issue, page 7. Free while stocks last. Collect pictures, with those involved l For exhibitions on both from Rowan Arts, Old Fire telling their own stories. projects, see events, page 26 Station, 84 Mayton Street, N7 A section on the 6QT, 020 7607 9792, www. surrounding area looks at its storiesofhollowayroad.com/ history and industries, born-and-bred Plunging into History: Moorfields Eye Hospital, The stories of 51 people who Stories from Ironmonger Finsbury Health Centre and were born and bred in Row Baths and Beyond the Italian community London and live or work on Rowan Arts which started settling in the or near Holloway Road, Free while stocks last. Collect include recollections and from Ironmonger Row Baths, anecdotes, and explore 1-11 Ironmonger Row, EC1V Film: How to do Oral History – a Short Guide personal and local history. 3QF, and from Rowan Arts, Old Rowan Arts Those profiled include Fire Station, 84 Mayton Street, www.therowanartsproject.com/ community activists, a florist, N7 6QT, 020 7607 9792, bornandbred and a minicab company manager, www.plungingintohistory.com http://vimeo.com/49450654 a gallery curator, shopkeepers This documents the baths’ This 10-minute film says and market traders and a cultural and historical what oral history is, why it is Turner prizewinning artist importance. People who important and how to do it. It – as well as figures familiar have used the swimming describes how “regular people” make history and why to the society including baths, Turkish baths, sauna, their stories should be collected. writer Caitlin Davies and laundry and slipper baths The film was produced as part of the Born and Bred: Chris Coates, librarian of the tell their stories. Stories of Holloway Road project. TUC archive. The refurbishment of the

Historical maps and Special offer: 25% off St Pancras postcards archaeology study for society members Alan Godfrey £2.50 each + 50p p&p St Pancras and religious backgrounds, Wonder what your manor Burial Ground: and funerary practice. looked like 100 years ago? Excavations Human bones, coffins and We stock historical and old for St Pancras fittings were exceptionally Ordnance Survey maps of International, well preserved, with burial Islington and beyond, as the London clothes, coffin textiles and well as postcards. As it was: Pentonville and Terminus of even floral tributes surviving. Maps can sell out quickly, the Angel in 1871 High Speed 1, 2002–3 The accompanying CD so call 020 7833 1541 first to Phillip A Emery and Kevin includes specialist data. reserve yours. We have the and Bow: Wooldridge Coauthor Philip Emery is following in stock: 1870, 1894, 1914 This book describes the offering the book and CD Euston and Regent’s Park: results of archaeological to IAHS members at £21, a Clerkenwell, King’s Cross 1894, 1913 investigations at St Pancras 25% discount on the usual and The Angel: 1871, 1894, : 1894, 1912 burial ground in 2002-03 price of £27.95 1914 Hackney: 1870, 1893, 1913 during the St Pancras Contact: Philip Emery, Ramboll : 1913 : 1869, 1894, 1913 International works. UK, 60 Newman Street, W1T Highbury & Islington: 1874, and The City: 1895 Analysis has revealed who 3DA, 020 7631 5291, phil. 1894, 1914, Holborn, The Strand & The lived there, and their social [email protected] : 1869, 1894, City: 1873, 1914 1914 : 1894, 1912 Pentonville and The Angel: King’s Cross and St Pancras: : 1894 1914 1871 (pictured) 1871, 1893 : 1868, The West End: 1870, 1894, Finsbury Square and Circus: and Camden: 1894, 1914 1914 1873 1870, 1913 : 1872, 1914 , Spitalfields Finsbury Park and Stroud Lower Clapton: 1913, 1894, 1868, 1894 and the Bank: 1873, 1913, Green: 1894, 1912 1868 and Limehouse: 1894

Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History & Society Winter 2012/13 Vol 2 No 4 21 Cat’s Meat help with the unhealthy scholarship, Dr Shenton, of the inferno, and the social Square. conditions that the local head parliamentary and economic context of the Housing tenants endured. Their archivist, addresses them all. time, from early slum and Public efforts were in vain, even These days, we think of clearing to the controversy Health in though vestry members the village as of political reform. South included George Bernard the preserve of politicians The fire of 1834 was St Pancras Shaw. It was only with the and commentators, spin something the plotters of 1810-1910 advent of the London doctors and media moguls. 1605 could only have Stephen W Job County Council and the In earlier times, Westminster dreamed of; and they were £6.50 + £3 p&p, Camden progression away from the was – in every sense of the not the last. History Society, CHS vestries that the area was word – a village in which In constitutional terms, publications manager, Flat 13, regenerated. people like us worked and Parliament is immortal. In 13 Tavistock Place, WC1H 9SH The book is full of lived. Westminster Hall is all anthropormorphic terms, its This history of a tiny part of photographs and maps, and that structure seems to agree. south St Pancras is the result lets the reader choose remains of Andrew Gardner of diligent research through between the many reason the original contemporary newspapers why the area was called buildings; Whittington’s Treasure. A and local archives. Cat’s Meat Square. much more Celebration of Children’s The area, now mostly The book is extremely well is retained Education at the Whittington occupied by Westminster researched and a must for emotively Hospital 1950-2010 Kingway College, was part the student of social change. in the £5 + 50p p&p, Whittington of the Harrison Estate. This Peter Fuller structure of Hospital, Magdala Avenue, declined during the 19th the chambers that replaced N19 5NF, 020 7272 3070, century, turning from an The Day Parliament Burned the village, to this day www.whittington.nhs.uk, area of middle-class Down composed of opposing This aspirations into one of the Caroline Shenton benches replicating the fundraising worst slums in London. £18.99, Oxford University Press earlier choir benches of  book, Successive medical officers Accident, arson, or St Stephen’s Chapel. illustrated of health struggled for years anarchism? The Westminster The Day Parliament Burned with current and historical to persuade the St Pancras fire of 1834 raised these Down takes us through a pictures, charts the story of Vestry to relieve the questions and more. In this maze of architecture, plots hospital education told by overcrowding or at least fine work of accessible real and invented, the facts teachers and child patients.

1888 London in removed from the cosy from poverty. Whitechapel, 1600-1800. the Year of the Ripper world of crime fiction. Yet we learn there was a A Social History of an Peter Stubley Aficionados will know that degree of compassion in the Early-Modern London RRP £9.99, 1888 was the year of Jack the judiciary. Justice was not all Inner Suburb The History Ripper – what they may not about and flogging. Derek Morris Press, 01453 know is that there were Many a jury acquitted the £12.60 + £3.50 p&p, East 883300, about 150 other homicides culprit whose victim died London History Society, 42 www. in London that year. Peter following a brawl, possibly Campbell Road, E3 4DT, mail@ thehistory Stubley explores them all in because they felt the victim eastlondonhistory.org.uk. press.co.uk a narrative that roams from got what he deserved, or This book describes the lives Wet Sunday Whitechapel to Chelsea and because the cause of the of the rich and poor in the afternoons out to the suburbs. death could not be directly 17th and 18th century were not much fun for a lad Many of the homicides he attributed to the fight. suburb of Whitechapel, growing up in rural describes were adjudged to Judges, too, were surprisingly drawing on primary and Gloucestershire after WWII. be not murder but lenient at times. The secondary sources. All life is Until, that is, I discovered manslaughter and frequently sentence for manslaughter here, including residents, the crime section in the the result of drunken brawls, could be as little as three traders, brewers, sugar public library and entered a many of which involved months’ hard labour. refiners, bell founders, fascinating world of double- women. There were over It is impossible in a short military, cross, deception, deduction 10,000 public houses in review to do justice to this churches and detection. London at this time and book. It captures Victorian and Yet Peter Stubley’s alcohol was as potent a London and brings to life a chapels, the meticulously researched stimulant for violence then huge cast of victims and London book 1888 explores new as it is now. There was also villains. Hospital, territory. It provides a an underclass, with nothing John Gardner the hay fascinating and dark picture to lose, for whom beating l Book launch: IAHS events, market and of Victorian London, far and killing was a relief  page 31 more.

22 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2012/13 Vol 2 No 4 St Pancras Station The books does a London’s New River in New River Jack Simmons and Robert remarkable job in putting Maps (Vol 1, Part 1) twice, Thorne together the history and Michael F Kensey addresses £22.50, Historical Publications. images, and presenting £20, for sale in Islington the myths Available from Countryside them in an accessible way. Museum. Copies can be around the Books, www.countrysidebooks. The research is detailed, borrowed from Islington river and its co.uk, online authoritative and is libraries, and reference copies history. price £18, thoroughly referenced. read at the Islington Local The book 01635 There is enough information History Centre. The book can reproduces the first-known 43816 to satisfy railway and also be ordered from the accurate plan of the This third architecture aficionados, but author, michael.kensey@ complete course of the river, edition it is clear enough to attract ntlworld.com, 01992 307669 drawn in 1775-1809, as well covers the the general reader. You can The New River was an as mains plans, details of history of  read from start to finish or unrivalled engineering equipment and rare images. St Pancras Station and the dip into chapters. achievement when it was It includes new and Midland Grand hotel. It The first edition in 1968 built in 1609-1613 by Hugh previously unpublished runs from their grand was part of a campaign to Myddelton to supply material including that on Victorian beginnings save both buildings. The Londoners with fresh flashes, troughs, bridges, through neglect and second, in 2003, was drinking water. After 400 reservoirs, cistern houses dereliction to a restoration published shortly after it was years, although much altered, and buildings. There are to their former glory and  decided to run the Channel it still supplies around 8% of descriptions of the villages use as a magnificent Tunnel Rail Link from the capital’s water. and historic houses along international station and a St Pancras, but when the Author Michael Kensey, the waterway’s route, and hotel once again. future of the hotel was still who has archaeologically information on the New The book is beautifully in doubt. excavated the bed of the River Company. illustrated with colour and The success of the black-and-white campaign to prevent photographs, paintings, demolition marked a  The Friern that in 1923 residents asked maps and station layouts. change in officialdom’s Hospital for their railway station to Drawings of the train  approach to London’s Story be renamed so it no longer shed roof – the largest architectural heritage. David mentioned . unsupported arch of its kind This book is an essential Berguer This book, which has  in the world – are read for anyone interested in £14.99 + 120 photographs and accompanied with the these extraordinary £3 p&p, illustrations, tells the story of detailed discussions that landmarks. Highly Chaville Friern Hospital from its took place when it  recommended. Press, 148 Friern Park, N12 planning and design to its was designed. Christy Lawrance 9LU, www.chavillepress.co.uk, operation then its closure in 020 8445 7850 1993 and conversion into In the early 1800s, changes luxury flats. The treatment of England’s Schools 1962-88. The scale of in the treatment of mental people with mental illness is A Thematic Study demand for illness, together with a huge also included. Geraint Franklin, with Elain education and increase in the population of David Berguer, the Harwood, Simon Taylor & better school workhouses, where many chairman of the Friern Matthew Whitfield buildings after pauper lunatics lived, led to Barnet & District Local Free download, English the war, a the government forcing local History Society, draws on Heritage, http://research. situation authorities to open large, source material from english-heritage.org.uk/ which finds a parallel today, purpose-built lunatic comprehensive Victorian report/?15107 necessitated programmes of asylums. and later archives, the work English Heritage’s first school building and On 17 July 1851, one of includes a number of major study of late 20th collaboration between north London’s most interviews with staff, century schools looks at architects, educationists and striking buildings opened. patients and local residents. how postwar teaching ideas, administrators. The Second Although this is the construction technology and The report highlights County Pauper Lunatic history of one asylum, its architectural trends shaped many examples of Asylum, later called Colney rise and fall are typical of the how schools were built. distinctive regional Hatch Asylum then Friern many such buildings The postwar experience approaches that were Hospital, was the largest throughout the country and with prefabrication will be of developed in London and asylum in Europe, housing is therefore of interest to special interest, given the elsewhere, and how school 2,600 patients at its peak. anyone interested in the renewed interest in “flat projects were often test beds The term Colney Hatch social history of mental pack” schools in the present for innovation for small became synonymous with illness and its treatment economic climate architectural practices. mental illness, so much so over the last 160 years.

Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History & Society Winter 2012/13 Vol 2 No 4 23 What’s on Events, exhibitions, courses, walks and more. Contact details of organisers are in the directory on page 28 – events may change or need advance booking. Islington Archaeology & History Society events are listed on the inside back page

Wednesday 12 December, Monday 14 January, 1pm and Archives of the Society Wednesday, 6 February, 6pm 5.45pm Vienna and Schubert: of Friends Forwards and Backwards: Tunnelling in the 1740s ‘Death and the Maiden’ Talk by David Blake. Architecture in Inter-war Lecture by Bryan Lawton. String Quartet Free, Gresham College, England Newcomen Society, Fellows’ Lecture by Prof Christopher Barnard’s Inn Hall, Holborn Talk by Simon Thurley, chief Room, Science Museum Hogwood, with live music. executive, English Heritage. Christ Church Spitalfields, Thursday 24 January, 7.30pm Free, , Thursday 13 December, Gresham College event The Unfortunate and Gresham College event 7.30pm Ignored Locality: the Lost The History of Shoemaking Thursday 17 January, 6.30pm Squares of Stepney Thursday 7 February, 7.30pm Talk by Thomas White. Twentieth Century Society Talk by William Palin. Our Historic Narrowboat Latimer Congregational Walks and Tours Slide Show Latimer Congregational Fleet Church Hall, Ernest Street, By John East, the C20 Church Hall, Ernest Street, Talk by Alison Smedley, E1. East London History Society’s unofficial E1. East London History Historic Narrowboat Society photographer. Society Owners’ Club, on old £9/£7/£5 including a glass of working boats on inland Thursday 13 December, 7.30pm wine, 70 Cowcross St, EC1 Tuesday 29 January, 6pm waterways. Celebrating Christmas in Blue Funk and Yellow Peril £4/concessions, London Medieval London Thursday 17 January, 6pm Talk by Professor Sir Richard Canal Museum Talk by medieval historian Incest and Folk-Dancing: Evans FBA on the history of Professor Caroline Barron. Two Things to be Avoided cholera. Thursday, 7 February, 6pm £1, Burgh House, New End Talk by Professor Steve Free, Museum of London, Darkness Audible: Square, NW3 1LT. Camden Jones on how people in Gresham College event Benjamin Britten at 100 – History Society ancient and modern Early, 1913-1945 populations are related, and February, dates tbc Talk by Dr Paul Kildea with Thursday 3 January measuring relatedness from Red RF Bus Runs music. The Erewash Canal and records, surnames and DNA. RF buses to run to and from Free, Gresham College, Lanley Mill Basin Free, Gresham College, Finsbury Park, Muswell Hill Barnard’s Inn Hall, Holborn Talk by John Baylis. Barnard’s Inn Hall, Holborn and Northumberland Park. 7.30pm, £4/concessions, www.red-rf.com/rf-699,  Tuesday 12 February, 8pm London Canal Museum Thursday 17 January, 7.30pm [email protected] From Longboat to Warrior: Science in Burton Street: the Evolution of the Tuesday 8 January, 8pm Sarah Bowdich 1791-1856 Monday, 4 February, 6pm Wooden Ship The Reign of Akhenaten: Talk by Professor Mary Orr. Arithmetic by Computer Talk by Elliott Wragg, Thames Revolution or Evolution? £1, Local Studies Library, and by Human Discovery Programme Talk by Nathalie Andrews. Holborn Library, 32-38 Talk by Professor Tony Avenue House, 17 East End Avenue House, 17 East End Theobalds Rd, WC1X 8PY. Mann, to include the links Road, N3 8QE. and Road, N3 8QE. Hendon and Camden History Society. between ancient Egyptian District Archaeological District Archaeological arithmetic and today’s Society Society Friday 18 January, 8pm computers. The New Look Cutty Sark Free, Gresham College, Tuesday, 12 February, 6pm Wednesday 9 January, 1pm Talk by Jessica Lewis, curator Barnard’s Inn Hall, Holborn A Haberdashery Shop on The Art of the at Cutty Sark. London Bridge: Journal of a Underground: 150 Years of £1/free, Jubilee Hall, Tuesday, 5 February, 6pm Georgian Gentleman Re-designing London 2 Parsonage Lane, EN2. The Economics of the Very Mike Rendell Talk by Oliver Green, Enfield Archaeology Society Long Run: From Fire to Free, Museum of London, research fellow at the Finance in Two Million Years Gresham College event . Wednesday 23 January, 1pm Talk by Prof Mark Schaffer. Free, Museum of London, Quakers Living Free, Gresham College, Wednesday, 13 February, 1pm Gresham College event Adventurously: the Library Barnard’s Inn Hall, Holborn Legal Process as a Tool to

24 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2012/13 Vol 2 No 4 Rewrite History – Law, Thursday 7 March, 7.30pm Politics and History Interwar architecture in Islington: the The Old Union Canals Talk by Professor Sir Holloway Odeon, with part of Northview Talk By Mike Beech, curator, Geoffrey Nice QC. estate in the background. See Forwards Foxton Canal Museum. and Backwards, 6 February Free, Gresham College, £4/concessions, London Barnard’s Inn Hall, Holborn Canal Museum

Thursday, 14 February, 6pm Monday, 11 March, 1pm Darkness Audible: The Gordon Riots of 1780: Benjamin Britten at 100 – London in Flames, a Nation Middle, 1945-1970 in Ruins Talk by Dr Paul Kildea, with Professor Ian Haywood. music. Free, Museum of London, Free, Gresham College, Gresham College event Barnard’s Inn Hall, Holborn Tuesday 12 March Friday 15 February, 8pm The Railway Heritage Trust Greeks, Romans and Talk by Andy Savage. Byzantines: the 8pm, Avenue House, 17 East Archaeology of End Road, N3 8QE. Hendon Constantinople and District Archaeological Talk by Ian Jones, EAS. Society £1/free, Jubilee Hall, 2 Parsonage Lane, EN2. Thursday 14 March, 7.30pm Enfield Archaeology Society Allotments Society 1942-2012 15-17 February Talk by Colm Kerrigan. Liquid History Dirty Mangelwirzels to Des-Res Free, Museum of London. Latimer Congregational Weekend Talk by Linda Wilkinson. Gresham College event Church Hall, Ernest Street, Introductory archaeology Latimer Congregational E1, East London History weekend at the Thames with Church Hall, Ernest Street, Tuesday 5 March, 1pm Society Thames Discovery E1, East London History The Phantom Cup that Programme archaeologists. Society Comes and Goes: the Story Thursday, 14 March, 3pm £195, including tools and of the Holy Grail Middle Class Recruits to accommodation, Thursday 21 February. 7.30pm Talk by Dr Juliette Wood. Communism in the 1930s DigVentures, http:// Unearthing Redpath Free, Museum of London, Seminar led by Professor digventures.com/dirty- Talk by Caroline Brown on Gresham College event Nicholas Deakin CBE weekends/ 19th century fraudster. Booking required via www. £1, Burgh House, New End Wednesday, 6 March, 6pm gresham.ac.uk. Gresham Saturday 16 February, 2pm Square, NW3 1LT. Camden Coming to Terms With College, Barnard’s Inn Hall, Tibet in the World: History Society Modern Times: English Holborn Challenging the Myth of Architecture in the Tibet as a Secluded Realm Thursday, 21 February, 6pm Post-War Era Friday 15 March, 8pm Talk by Dr Sam Vanschaik. Darkness Audible: Talk by Simon Thurley, chief Old and New Finds of the £3/free, Senate House, Malet Benjamin Britten at 100 – executive, English Heritage. Coin Collection Street, WC1E 7HU. Late, 1971-1976 Museum of London, Talk by David Thorold of the Historical Association, Talk by Dr Paul Kildea Gresham College event Verulamium Museum. branch Free, Gresham College, £1/free, Jubilee Hall,  Barnard’s Inn Hall, Holborn Thursday 7 March, 1pm 2 Parsonage Lane, EN2. Sunday 17 February, 3pm Paris: Debussy and Ravel Enfield Archaeology Society Recent Archaeological Tuesday, 26 February, 6pm Talk by Prof Christopher Discoveries in The Great Unwashed Hogwood with live music 15-17 March Talk by Christopher Talk on typhus history by Christ Church Spitalfields, Liquid History Dirty Constable. Professor Sir Richard Evans. Gresham College event Weekend Goose Green Centre, Free, Museum of London, Introductory, archaeology St John’s Church, Goose Gresham College event Thursday 7 March, 6pm weekend at the Thames at Green, East Dulwich Road, Middle Class Recruits to with Thames SE22. Society Monday, 4 March, 1pm Communism in the 1930s Discovery Programme Talk by Dr James Nicholls Talk by Prof Nicholas Deakin. archaeologists. Thursday 21 February, 7.30pm An Infernal Spark: Drink, Free, Gresham College, DigVentures, details as for

Columbia Road – Addiction and Disease Barnard’s Inn Hall, Holborn 15-17 February Christy Lawrance

Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History & Society Winter 2012/13 Vol 2 No 4 25 Islington lives in words and pictures Exhibitions Opening 1 December V&A Furniture Gallery: The lives of people in Islington have been Dr Susan Weber Gallery recorded for exhibitions by Holloway arts This is the only charity Rowan Arts for local history projects. gallery in the Born and Bred tells the stories of people world devoted to born in London who live or work on or near a comprehensive Holloway Road; Plunging into History display of explores the social and cultural importance furniture, covering of Ironmonger Baths and its environs. six centuries. Born and Bred runs at the Old Fire Station Includes 1902 until the end of 2012. Opening hours are chair by Frank usually 9.30-5.30pm; call 020 7607 9792 first, 1 Lloyd Wright, in case the room is being use. shown left. Plunging into History is a long-term Free, exhibition at Ironmonger Row baths, open Victoria & during normal opening hours. Albert l There are accompanying books: see Museum publications, page 21 Until 6 January Born and Bred (1-5): 1: Mary Wash, who tells of Christmas Past: 400 years the Finsbury Park Empire; 2: Laurence Evans, volunteering in a cosy shop; 3: Samir Singh, of Seasonal Traditions in who helped set up Arsenal FC museum; English Homes 4: Chris Coates, TUC Period rooms decorated to librarian, who notes 2 show how Christmas was the area’s trades union celebrated in English history; Plunging middle-class homes. into History (5-8): Free, Geffrye Museum 5: Ernest Juby and 6: Katherine McInereney Until 6 January remember the slipper baths; 7: Mabel Ballgowns: British Glamour Crook, diving Since 1950 club pioneer; Display of over 60 ballgowns 8: Alexis Haslam, created by British designers archaeologist, on site 3 over the last 60 years for during renovation 5 royalty, Hollywood stars and other celebrities. 4 £10/concessions, Victoria  & Albert Museum

Until 6 January Ritual and Revelry: the Art of Drinking in Asia Exhibition on 2,500 years on the ritual, social and 6 religious aspects of drinking, and the spread of tea. Free, British Museum

Until 20 January 2013 Flame and Water Pots: Prehistoric Ceramic Art from Japan A display of three flame and water pots made 5,000-7,000 years ago by the Jōmon people, who made some of 7 8 the world’s oldest pottery.

1: Naomi Peck; 2: Dylan Collard; 3: Conrad Williams; 4: Deborah Brodie; 5: Conrad Williams; Williams; Brodie; 5: Conrad 4: Deborah Williams; 2: Dylan Collard; 3: Conrad 1: Naomi Peck; Mitchell Tim Amanda Cannon; 7: Ruth Corney; 8: 6: Free, British Museum

26 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2012/13 Vol 2 No 4 Until 13 January Until 28 February 2013 evidence unearthed during including a device used to Egypt in England Drugs for Pleasure, Drugs Museum of London break Enigma never before Exhibition traces the for Pain Archaeology excavations at displayed outside GCHQ. influence of the Egyptian Cigarettes for asthma, the . Free, Science Museum style on English architecture morphine for morning Includes detailed anatomical from the sphinxes of 18th sickness, cocaine for catarrh models and drawings, and 8 February to 8 September century gardens to the and heroin for bronchitis… surgical instruments. Not Extinction: Not the End of papyrus bud columns of this display explores the use suitable for children under the World? 20th century cinemas. of controlled substances in 12 or the squeamish. Exploration of the role of £4/concessions, Wellington medicine. Various charges, Museum  extinction in evolution, with Arch, English Heritage, Free, Royal Pharmaceutical of London original specimens including Apsley Way, Hyde Park Society Museum giant deer and birds. Corner, W1J 7JZ Until 4 April Various charges Natural Until 3 March 2013 Modern British Childhood History Museum Until 19 January Halfway to Paradise: the 1948-2012 Rebel Clerkenwell: a History Birth of British Rock, Exhibition of art, clothes, Until late 2013, free of Dissent and Radicalism Photographs by Harry toys, books, TV shows, film Highlights from the World of Clerkenwell has seen Hammond and photography. Sutton Hoo, AD 300–1100 activism including the Free, V&A Museum of Collections from Spain to Peasants’ Revolt, Tolpuddle Childhood the Black Sea and from Martyr protests and May North Africa to Scandinavia, Day marches, and has been Until 5 May including finds from the home to radical presses. The Bubbles and Bankruptcy: ship burial at Sutton Hoo, as display examines the events, Financial Crises in Britain well as other artefacts that groups and people that gave since 1700 reflect artistic achievements the area a radical reputation. Looks at speculative frenzy, of the period. Free, Islington Local History fraud and failure from the Free, British Museum Centre South Sea bubble to today. l Rebels in the South, page 18 It includes share certificates, Ongoing prospectuses, bank notes Marty Wilde performing on the Until 27 January Oh Boy! TV show 1958 and other objects to explain Walks led by the Fair Play: Heroes, Athletes how, why and when Clerkenwell and Islington and Princes in Islamic art Display of more than 60 financial crises have Guides Association Paintings and objects from portraits, behind the scenes happened and how society Walks on different themes. the 13th to the 21st and performance shots of has responded with prints, £6/£5, www. centuries showing polo, musicians in the 1950s and cartoons, badges and art. clerkenwellwalks.org.uk horse racing, hunting, 1960s including Roy Orbison, falconry and wrestling. Ella Fitzgerald, Cliff Richard, 7 February-26 May Behind the Scenes at the Free, British Museum Shirley Bassey, Frank Ice Age Art: Arrival of the Archaeological Archive Sinatra, Billie Holiday, Gene Modern Mind Various dates Until 27 January 2013 Vincent and the Beatles. The world’s oldest known See and handle some of the Hollywood Costume Free, Victoria & Albert sculptures, drawings and thousands of finds not on Over 100 costumes for Museum. portraits – made 10,000- public display at the London cinema characters, including 40,000 years ago – are Archaeological Archive and Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, Until 14 March 2013 presented alongside modern Research Centre. Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with Going up in Smoke works. They show scale, £5, book in advance, Museum the Wind and Holly Golightly Display on the long and perspective, volume, light of London Archaeology in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. contradictory relationship and movement, as well as £14/concessions, Victoria between pharmacy and abstraction and illusion. Film and Albert Museum tobacco. Includes cigarettes British Museum, £10/various with arsenic to relieve Sundays in January, 2pm Until 3 February respiratory conditions. Until June Free Screenings from the V&A Africa: Exploring Free, Royal Pharmaceutical Codebreaker – Alan Turing’s V&A’s National Video Hidden Histories Society Museum Life and Legacy Archive of Performance Display of around 100 Exhibition to mark the 100th Free screenings of films of objects on the V&A’s Until 14 April anniversary of the birth of live performances in Britain engagement with and Doctors, Dissection and pioneering computer from classic plays and West changing view of art and Resurrection Men scientist and wartime End hits to pantomimes, design from Africa since its Early 19th century history of codebreaker Alan Turing. On musicals and physical earliest days to the present. human dissection and the show is largest collection of theatre. No need to book.

Free, V&A Museum trade in bodies through Turing artefacts in one place, Free, V&A Museum V&A images Harry Hammond; both Wilde: London 2012; Marty ARS, NY and DACS, Chair:

Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History & Society Winter 2012/13 Vol 2 No 4 27 British Dental Association Camley Street Natural Park Directory Museum Camley Street, NW1 0PW, 64 Wimpole St, W1G 8YS, 020 020 7833 2311 7563 4549, museum@bda. Here were list history, civic, amenity and org, www.bda.org/museum The Canonbury Society archaeology societies, museums and www.canonburysociety.org. British Heritage Television uk, 1 Alwyne Place, N1 online resouces Group www.405-line.tv/ Cartoon Museum 35 Little Russell Street, If you would like your Architectural Heritage Fund British Museum WC1, 020 7580 8155, www. organisation listed here, or Alhambra House, 27-31 Great Russell Street, WC1, cartoonmuseum.org would like to write about it Rd, 020 7925 020 7323 8299, information for the journal, contact the 0199, [email protected] @britishmuseum.org City of London editor on [email protected] Archaeological Society or c/o 6 Northview, Tufnell Arsenal FC Museum British Postal Museum and [email protected] Park Road, N7 0QB 020 7619 5000, www.arsenal. Archive com Freeling House, Phoenix Clerkenwell and Islington Abney Park Trust Memorial Place, WC1X 0DL, 020 7239 Guides Association Park and Nature Reserve Association of Preservation 2570, minicom 020 7239 257, 07971 296731, info@ciga. 020 7275 7557,  Trusts [email protected] org.uk www.abney-park.org.uk Alhambra House, 27-31 Charing Cross Rd, WC2 British Postal Museum and The Clockmakers’ Museum Television 0AU, www. ukapt.org.uk, Archive Museum Store Guildhall Library, www. Group 020 7930 1629 Debden, Essex IG10 3UF, clockmakers.org/museum- Runs museum. Tony Wilding, 020 7239 2570, info@ and-library 71 Dale View Avenue, E4 Association for the Study postalheritage.org.uk 6PJ, 020 8524 0827 and Preservation of Roman Crossness Engines Trust Mosaics British Vintage Wireless The Old Works, Thames Alexandra Palace Television www.asprom.org Society Water STW, Belvedere Road, Society [email protected] SE2 9AQ, 020 8311 3711, Archives: 35 Breedon Hill Rd, Bank of England Museum www.crossness.org.uk Derby, DE23 6TH, 01332 729 Threadneedle St, EC2R 8AH, Museum 358, [email protected], www. 020 7601 5545, www.bankof Lordship Lane, N17 8NU, Docklands History Group youtube.com/aptsarchive england.co.uk/museum 020 8808 8772, museum. 020 7537 0368, info@dock [email protected] landshistorygroup.org.uk All Hallows by the Tower Barnet Museum and Local Crypt Museum History Society Burgh House & East London History Society 020 7481 2928, www.ahbtt. www.barnetmuseum.co.uk Museum 42 Campbell Road, E3 4DT, org.uk/visiting/crypt- Burgh House, New End Sq, mail@eastlondonhistory. museum/ BBC archive NW3 1LT, 020 7431 0144, org.uk www..co.uk/archive/ www.burghhouse.org.uk Amateur Geological Society index.shtml EC1 History 25 Village Road, N3 1TL Camden Civic Society www.ec1history.co.uk Bethlem Royal Hospital 020 8340 5972, morton@ The Amwell Society Archives and Museum btopenworld.com Enfield Archaeological Society 8 Cumberland Gardens, Monks Orchard Road, www.enfarchsoc.org WC1X 9AG, 020 7837 0988, , Kent, BR3 3BX, Camden History Society [email protected] 020 3228 4227, www. 020 7586 4436, www. Alexander Fleming Museum bethlemheritage.org.uk camdenhistorysociety.org St Mary’s Hospital, Praed St, Anaesthesia Heritage Centre W2 1NY, 020 3312 6528, 21 Portland Place, W1B 1PY, Archaeological Camden New Town History www.imperial.nhs.uk/about 020 7631 1650, www.aagbi. Group Group us/museumsandarchives/ org/education/heritage-centre www.bag.org.uk, Martin cowleyjohn@blueyonder. Baker: 020 8300 1752 co.uk, www. Friends of Avenue House The Angel Association camdennewtown.info 17 East End Road, N3 3QE, www.angelassociation.org.uk British Airways Heritage 020 8346 7821, www. Collection Camden Railway Heritage friendsofavenuehouse.org Apsley House www.britishairways.com/ Trust 020 7499 5676, www. travel/museum-collection/ 21 Oppidans Road, NW3 Friends of Hackney Archives apsleyhouseguide.co.uk/ public/en_gb 3AG [email protected] 43 De Beauvoir Rd, N1 5SQ

28 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2012/13 Vol 2 No 4 & District Dr Johnson’s House Local History Society 17 Gough Square, EC4, www.friernbarnethistory. www.drjohnsonshouse.org org.uk. Photo archive: www. friern-barnet.com Keats House Keats Grove, NW3 2RR,  The Foundling Museum 020 7332 3868, keatshouse@ 40 Brunswick Square, WC1, cityoflondon.gov.uk 020 7841 3600, www. foundlingmuseum.org.uk Bridge Steam Museum Green Dragon Lane, TW8, Forest Hill Society 020 8568 4757, www.kbsm. www.foresthillsociety.com org

Freud Museum The Charles Lamb Society 20 Maresfield Gdn, NW3, 020 28 Grove Lane, SE6 8ST 7435 2002, www.freud.org.uk The coin-operated Violano-Virtuoso in the Musical Museum was first sold around 1905. It was one of only two machines to play a Locating London’s Past Friends of Friendless real violin and, unusually, was driven by electricity www.locatinglondon.org Churches www.friendsoffriendless History of Hornsey Historical Society London Canal Museum churches.org.uk www.harringayonline.com/ The Old Schoolhouse, 136 12-13 New Wharf Road, N1 group/historyofharringay Lane, N8 7EL, 9RT, 020 7713 0836, www. Garden History Society hornseyhistorical.org.uk canalmuseum.org.uk 70 Cowcross Street, EC1M Heritage of London Trust 6EJ, 020 7608 2409, enquiries 34 Grosvenor Gardens, Hunterian Museum @gardenhistorysociety.org SW1W 0DH, 020 7730 9472 RCS, 35-43 Lincoln’s Inn Museum [email protected] Fields, WC2A 3PE, www. 020 8555 1200 x 39894, Geffrye Museum rcseng.ac.uk/museums [email protected]. 136 Kingsland Road, E2 8EA Hendon and District uk, www.london-fire.gov.uk/ 020 7739 9893, www. Archaeology Society Island History Trust OurMuseum.asp geffrye-museum.org.uk 020 8449 7076, secretary@ , 020 7987 6041, hadas.org.uk [email protected] London Lives 1690-1800 The Georgian Group www.londonlives.org 6 Fitzroy Square, W1T 5DX, Heritage Group Website for Islington Local History Centre [email protected] the Chartered Institution of Finsbury Library, 245 St John London Metropolitan Building Services Engineers St, EC1V 4NB. 9.30am-8pm Archives Gresham College www.hevac-heritage.org/ Mon and Thurs (shuts 6pm 40 Northampton Road, EC1 Free lectures on different every other Monday); 0HB, 020 7332 3820, ask.lma topics. www.gresham.ac.uk Heritage of London Trust 9.30am-5pm Tues, Fri and @cityoflondon.gov.uk, www. 020 7730 9472, www. Sat; closed Weds and Sun; cityoflondon.gov.uk/lma Greater London Industrial heritageoflondon.com closed 1pm-2pm; 020 7527 Archaeology Society (GLIAS) 7988; local.history@ London & Middlesex 14 Mount Rd, EN4 9RL, 020 Historical Association, islington.gov.uk, www. Archaeological Society 8692 8512, www.glias.org.uk Central London Branch islington.gov.uk/heritage 020 7814 5734, jkeily@ 020 7323 1192, www.history. museumoflondon.org.uk, Guildhall Library org.uk, [email protected] Islington Museum www.lamas.org.uk Aldermanbury, EC2V 7HH, 245 St John Street, EC1V 020 7332 1868, textphone Historic Towns Forum 4NB, 10am-5pm, closed The London Museums of 020 7332 3803, guildhall. www.historictowns forum. Weds and Sun, 020 7527 Health & Medicine [email protected] org 2837, islington. museum @ www.medicalmuseums.org islington.gov.uk, www. Hackney Museum The Honourable Artillery islington.gov.uk/museum London Socialist Historians 1 Reading Lane, E8 1GQ, Company Museum Group www.hackney.gov.uk/ City Road, EC1, 020 7382 Islington Pensioners’ Forum http://londonsocialist cm-museum.htm 1541, www.hac.org.uk 1a Providence Court, historians.blogspot.com Providence Pl, N1 0RN The Hackney Society The Horniman Museum The London Society Round Chapel, 1d Glenarm 100 London Rd, SE23, 020 Islington Society Mortimer Wheeler House, Road, E5 0LY, 07771 225183, 8699 1872, enquiry@ 35 Britannia Row, N1 8QH, 46 Eagle Wharf Road, N1, [email protected] horniman.ac.uk www.islingtonsociety.org.uk www.londonsociety.org.uk

Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2012/13 Vol 2 No 4 29 London Transport Museum The Musical Museum Royal Air Force Museum 020 7928 6464, www. Piazza, 399 High Street, TW8 0DU, 020 8205 2266, www. transporttrust.com WC2, 020 7379 6344, www. www.musicalmuseum.co.uk rafmuseum.org.uk/london ltmuseum.co.uk Twentieth Century Society The National Archives, Royal Institute of British 70 Cowcross St, EC1, 020 7250 London Underground 020 8876 3444, www. Architects (RIBA) 3857, www.c20society.org.uk Railway Society nationalarchives.gov.uk 66 Portland Place, W1B 1AD, [email protected] www.architecture.com Union Chapel and Friends The National Piers Society of the Union Chapel London Westminster & www.piers.org.uk Royal Pharmaceutical Compton Avenue, N1 2XD, Middx Family History Society Society Museum www.unionchapel.org.uk/ www.lwmfhs.org.uk Newcomen Society for the 1 High Street, SE1 pages/friends.html History of Engineering and 7JN, 020 7572 2211, www. Markfield Beam Engine and Technology rpharms.com/about- Victoria & Albert Museum Museum 020 7371 4445, office@ pharmacy/our-museum.asp Cromwell Rd, SW7, 020 Markfield Park, N15, 01707 newcomen.com 7907 7073, www.vam.ac.uk 873628, [email protected] Science Museum Action Exhibition Road, SW7 2DD. V&A Museum of Childhood Mausolea & Monuments Trust Group www.sciencemuseum.org.uk Cambridge Heath Road, E2 70 Cowcross St, EC1M, 020 7359 6027, www. 9PA, 020 8983 5200 www.mmtrust.org.uk/ newingtongreen.org.uk Smithfield Trust 70 Cowcross St, EC1, 020 7566 Victorian Society Marx Memorial Library New River Action Group 0041, [email protected] 1 Priory Gardens, W4, 020 37a Clerkenwell Green, EC1 [email protected], 8994 1019, admin@ 0DU, 020 7253 1485, info@ 020 8292 5987 Sir John Soane’s Museum victoriansociety.org.uk marx-memorial-library.org 13 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, North London Transport WC2A 3BP, www.soane.org Wallace Collection The Museum of Brands Society House, Manchester 2 Colville Mews, Lonsdale www.northlondontransport Society of Genealogists Sq, W1M, 020 7563 9500, Road, W11, 020 7908 0880, society.co.uk, [email protected] 14 Charterhouse Buildings, www.wallacecollection.org [email protected] , EC1M 7BA, Northview – a Rare Survivor 020 7251 8799, www. Wallpaper History Society Museum of Domestic Design www.northview.org.uk societyofgenealogists.com wallpaperhistorysociety.org.uk & Architecture (MoDA) 020 8411 4394, www.moda. Pauper Lives in Georgian Society for the Protection Historical mdx.ac.uk/home London of Ancient Buildings Society http://research.ncl.ac.uk/ 37 Spital Sq, E1 6DY, 020 37 Chewton Road, E17 Museum of London pauperlives 7377 1644, www.spab.org.uk 7DW, contact@walthamstow 150 , EC2Y historicalsociety.org 5HN, 020 7814 5511, info@ Petrie Museum of Egyptian Southwark and Lambeth museumoflondon.org.uk Archaeology Archaeology Society (SLAS) Museum UCL, Malet Pl, WC1, www. 79 Ashridge Crescent, SE18 38 West Hill, SW18 1RZ Museum of London ucl.ac.uk/museums/petrie wandsworthmuseum.co.uk Archaeology Society Mortimer Wheeler House,  Peckham Society www.streathamsociety.org.uk Wellcome Collection 46 Eagle Wharf Road, N1, 020 www.peckhamsociety.org.uk 183 Euston Road, NW1 2BE, 7410 2200, www.museum Royal Archaeological Institute 020 7611 2222 oflondonarchaeology.org.uk Proceedings of the [email protected] www.oldbaileyonline.org John Wesley’s House and Museum of London Thames Discovery Programme Museum of Methodism Docklands Ragged School Museum Mortimer Wheeler House, 49 City Rd, EC1, www.wesleys West India Quay, E14 4AL, 020 8980 6405, www. 46 Eagle Wharf Road, N1, chapel.org.uk/museum.htm 020 7001 9844, www. raggedschoolmuseum.org.uk 020 7566 9310, enquiries@ museum oflondon.org.uk/ thamesdiscovery.org William Morris Gallery docklands Railway Correspondence Lloyd Park, Forest Road, E17 and Travel Society Tottenham Civic Society 4PP, 020 8496 4390, www. Museum of the Order of www.rcts.org.uk www.tottenhamcivicsociety. wmgallery.org.uk St John org.uk St John’s Gate, EC1M 4DA, & Bermondsey Women’s Library 020 7253 6644, www. Local History Society Transport Trust www.londonmet.ac.uk/ museumstjohn.org.uk [email protected] Lambeth Road, SE1 7JW, thewomenslibrary

30 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Winter 2012/13 Vol 2 No 4 Islington Archaeology & History Society Events

12 December 2012 The Shadwell shams: Billy and Charleys, and fake antiquities Speaker: Philip Mernick, East London History Society 8pm, Islington Town Hall, Upper Street, London N1

“Billy and Charleys” or “Shadwell shams” were fake antiquities made by William Smith (Billy) and Charles Eaton (Charley). Between 1857 and 1870, they made thousands of fake medieval objects in lead and brass, some of which were sold to City Road dealer Thomas Eastwood. Their authenticity was queried but a court case failed to stop the forging.

Wednesday 16 January A murderography of Islington: presentation and book launch Speaker: Peter Stubley 8pm, Islington Town Hall, Upper Street, London N1

In 1888, murders by overshadowed other killings, often carried out by ordinary Londoners motivated by circumstance, anger or a desire for revenge. In 1888: London Murders in the Year of the Ripper, renowned crime journalist and Islington resident Peter Stubley examines all the known murders of this year, helping to build a picture of society.

Peter Stubley has reported on murder cases at the Old Bailey for 10 years and is the founder of the London murder map (www.murdermap.co.uk), which catalogues Victorian murders in London. He is assistant news editor at Central News.

Wednesday 20 February London Canal Museum: the first 20 years Speaker: Martin Sach, Canal Museum Trust 8pm, Islington Town Hall, Upper Street, London N1

The London Canal Museum, in Islington’s New Wharf Road, opened in 1992. It tells the story of London’s canals, and the people who have lived and worked on them. Housed in a former ice warehouse built in the 1860s for ice-cream maker Carlo Gatti, it also describes London’s ice industry.

Wednesday 20 March How far have we travelled on a green road? The Peter Powell memorial lecture Speaker: Rt Hon Lord Smith of Finsbury 8pm, Islington Town Hall, Upper Street, London N1

Chris Smith, former Islington MP, Environment Agency chairman and IAHS president, will talk on environmental matters and the progress of green issues since the 1980s.

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

vic15/Flickr on Creative Commons licence on Creative vic15/Flickr at 8pm, at Islington Town Hall, Upper Street, N1. Check our website at www.iahs.org.uk for updates

Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History & Society Winter 2012/13 Vol 2 No 4 31 The Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Back page picture This house on Camden Road, built in 1863 in the Scottish baronial style by Herbert Hodge, was demolished in the 1970s. See Letters, page 9 Leslie Blake