The 14th Stoke Newington History Talks event on December 3rd was attended by 130+ viewers on YouTube and included talks from myself, Billy Reading and Caz Richards. It was a very different experience than the usual in-person setting I got used to in the last 4 years, but it was still a great evening nonetheless. £573 was raised for the Hackney Foodbank and each talk generated interesting questions from the remote audience. And now I can start planning the next event!

Come fly with me – Exploring old aerial photos of Stoke Newington by Amir Dotan

Recording

Summary

In this presentation from Amir Dotan explores the history of Stoke Newington through a collection of rare aerial photographs dating from the early 20th century to the 1940s and beyond. He demonstrates how these images offer unique insights into the area’s urban evolution, the impact of the Second World War, and the subsequent housing developments that reshaped its streets.

Key areas and landmarks discussed:

• Clissold Park (0:56 – 12:15): Dotan examines early aerial views of the park, highlighting the Clissold House, the original course of the New River, and the historic “Rustic” Bandstand (erected in 1894). He also notes how the park was utilized for allotments during wartime.
• Woodberry Down (4:23 – 7:25): The presentation traces the transformation of this area from a semi-rural landscape of large Victorian villas in the 1930s into a major housing estate built in the post-war period (1948–1962), including the construction of one of London’s first purpose-built comprehensive schools.
• Waterworks and Filter Beds (7:29 – 10:25): The video covers the history of the nine Green Lanes filter beds and the campaign to save the nearby reservoirs, which eventually led to the preservation of the West Reservoir.
• Bomb Damage and Redevelopment (12:42 – 18:45): Using specialized bomb-damage maps, Dotan points out the destruction of local landmarks like St. Faith Church (destroyed in 1944) and the emergence of emergency water supply tanks within cleared rubble sites, which were later replaced by new housing estates like the Hawkwood Court estate.
• Lost Buildings (14:48 – 17:15; 19:24 – 21:05): The talk touches on the loss of significant structures such as Kenway Hall (demolished 1953) and the Alexandra Theatre (a Victorian-era opera house and cinema that was replaced by Alexander Court in the early 1960s).

Slides

Living in Clissold House 1986-99 by Caz Richards

Recording

Summary

In this presentation Caz Richards shares her personal experiences living in Clissold House within Clissold Park from 1986 to 1999 (0:07 – 0:15).

Key highlights from her tenure:

• Living Situation: Richards worked for the London Borough of Hackney as a gardener and zookeeper. She secured a two-bedroom flat in the Mansion for £15 a week under a license agreement, which also required her to provide nighttime security for the park and its animals (1:46 – 3:14).
• The Mansion Life: She describes the unique experience of living above a popular cafe, managed by Christine Jackson, which became a hub for the local community, hosting events, exhibitions, and softball games (8:10 – 11:09). She also recounts the challenges of break-ins and the experience of bringing a piano up the spiral staircase (4:51 – 5:20, 11:13 – 12:35).
• Park Conservation and Improvements: As a nature conservation officer, Richards was instrumental in transforming the park’s animal enclosure into a more habitat-friendly environment and establishing a “nature room” to provide educational opportunities for visitors and school children (16:40 – 17:23, 18:46 – 19:33).
• Community Impact: Richards reflects on her role in the park’s history, noting her contributions to the lottery bid that helped restore the mansion, her work with the Park User Group, and her involvement in various community festivals (12:37 – 13:40, 15:17 – 16:04).

Despite moving on from the park in 1999, Richards notes that she maintains a strong emotional connection to Clissold Park and still visits regularly, viewing her time there as a special period in her life (20:46 – 21:23).

Slides

Fire stations and fire fighting in Stoke Newington – A quick history by Billy Reading

Recording

Summary

This presentation by architectural historian Billy Reading provides a detailed look at the evolution of fire stations and firefighting methods specifically within the context of Stoke Newington. Throughout its history, Stoke Newington has utilized six different buildings as fire stations, which serve as a microcosm for the history of British firefighting.

Key phases in the history of firefighting discussed:

• The Parish/Vestry System (Medieval – 19th Century): Before professional brigades, firefighting was a communal effort centered around the parish. Equipment like buckets, ladders, and pumps were stored centrally, often in the church porch (0:31 – 3:31) or at purpose-built engine houses like the one at the site of the manorial pound in 1806 (4:47).
• Insurance Brigades (17th – 19th Century): Insurance companies provided their own fire services, often located far from Stoke Newington, necessitating the continued existence of parish-provided equipment (5:32 – 10:00). A notable local site from this era is the 1821 Engine House in Red Lion Lane (6:45 – 9:55).
• The Move to Municipal Firefighting: Following the tragic death of Captain James Braidwood—a hero of modern firefighting—at the Great Fire of Tooley Street (1861), London transitioned to a municipal fire service (13:17 – 15:00).
• Victorian and Edwardian Stations: Reading highlights the 1886 Victorian fire station on Brook Road, designed by Robert Piel in the gothic style, and its subsequent extension in 1902 in the arts and crafts style (16:27 – 18:20).
• Modernization and Current Services: The transition from horse-drawn carriages to motorized vehicles is noted (18:21 – 19:10), followed by the introduction of the 999 emergency system in 1937 (19:14 – 19:55). The talk concludes with a look at the current 1970s functionalist station and the vital role modern stations play in community outreach today (20:41 – 21:35).

Slides