The first Stoke Newington History Talks event of 2024 had a full house, generating £643 for Shakespeare Walk Adventure Playground, bringing the total raised for 13 charities in the last 14 events to £8,789. 

The event sold out in 12 hours, with 90% of the tickets purchased in the first three hours. It’s great to see such a level of interest in local history, with many regular attendees now joining the events. The event featured talks on Butterfield Green’s history, the Jolly Butchers mural by Iain Bruce, and local Victorian photography studios by Rowan Lennon.

From Houses for Votes to a Public Park – The Creation of Butterfield Green by Amir Dotan

Recording

Summary

This presentation by Amir Dotan explores the fascinating history behind the creation of Butterfield Green in Stoke Newington, tracing its evolution from Victorian housing to a public park.

Key Historical Milestones:

• The Reform Act and Albert Town (0:50 – 9:15): The area, originally part of South Hornsey, was developed into ‘Albert Town’ in the mid-19th century. This was a strategic effort by Freehold Land Societies to create new voters by building housing, following the 1832 Reform Act.
• The Need for Open Space (10:42 – 13:59): Post-war planning in 1943 identified Stoke Newington as having a significant deficit in green space, setting a target of 4 acres per 1,000 residents, a goal that remains challenging to meet today.
• Housing Redevelopment (14:18 – 17:08): While some houses were damaged during the war, the primary reason for the demolition of Victorian homes was the 1960s and 1970s housing redevelopment initiatives that aimed to improve living conditions.

The Creation of Butterfield Green (17:09 – 21:30):

• Project Planning: Emerging from the Shakespeare Walk housing action area, the park was developed in three phases throughout the early 1980s (1982–1984).
• Community Input: Local residents were instrumental in the process, choosing the name Butterfield Green in honor of the architect William Butterfield.
• Design Constraints: Due to funding cycles, the park was built in stages, leading to a compact, multi-feature design that includes a playground, ball games area, water feature, and a bandstand.

A Stroll Through History (21:54 – 38:50):

The presentation concludes with a visual journey comparing past and present, highlighting the transformation of streets like Cowper Road and Spencer Grove. Amir Dotan emphasises how the park, while small at only 6 acres, serves as a vital public amenity that encouraged overall area improvement and the upgrading of surrounding housing stock.

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Caught in Time – A snapshot of Stoke Newington Photography Studios by Rowan Lennon

Recording

Summary

This presentation by Rowan Lennon provides an engaging historical overview of the development of photography studios in Stoke Newington during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Key takeaways include:

• Early Photographic Techniques: The talk traces the evolution from early processes like Daguerreotypes and Ambrotypes (0:31-1:07) to the popular Carte de Visite (1:10) and Cabinet cards (1:36), which made photography accessible to the middle class.
• The Life of a Studio: Photography studios often emerged from other businesses, such as hairdressing (5:38). These spaces served as local hubs where people could pose against painted backdrops to project status and respectability (2:07).
• Notable Local Figures:
  • Augustus Lupson: One of the area’s earliest studio owners. The presentation details the personal tragedies and financial hardships the family faced, including his eventual decline into poverty (5:05-13:08).
  • Edgar Salomon: An example of a more prosperous studio owner who occupied a space on Stoke Newington Road for over 40 years (14:07).
  • Leah Latimer Christmas: A savvy photographer who positioned his studio strategically near the newly opened Alexandria Theatre to capitalize on local entertainment trends (18:05).
• The Shift to Mass Appeal: By the early 20th century, the introduction of affordable, handheld cameras like the Eastman Kodak Brownie (20:00) shifted photography from a specialized, wealthy pursuit to a universal hobby, forever changing how we document our lives.

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The Duchess of Devonshire and the Jolly Butchers – Uncovering a Faded Pub Artwork by Iain Bruce

Recording

Summary

This presentation by Iain Bruce explores the history and iconography of a faded Victorian pub artwork located on the the Jolly Butchers in Stoke Newington (0:22-1:07). Bruce discusses the historical significance of the panel and its depiction of the Duchess of Devonshire (Georgiana Cavendish) and the 1784 Westminster election.

Key sections of the presentation include:

• Deconstructing the Artwork: Bruce provides a detailed walkthrough of the tile panel, identifying the characters depicted, including The Duchess, the Coachman, local trade figures, and the famous ‘kissing’ scene (6:50-11:00). He notes that while the scene features a butcher, the name on the shop is actually J. Jones (5:27).
• History of the Pub: The building was originally known as the Three Jolly Butchers. Bruce traces the transition of the site through 19th-century insurance records and maps, concluding that the current building and its artwork were likely commissioned by Richard Hall during a rebuild around 1890 (11:06-15:30).
• The Politics of the 1784 Election: The panel references the canvassing activities of the Duchess of Devonshire on behalf of the Whig politician Charles James Fox. Bruce explores how the Duchess was caricatured in the press for her political involvement, specifically the scandalous rumors surrounding her exchange of kisses for votes, which became a popular satirical theme of the era (15:57-25:57).
• Social Context and Satire: The presentation highlights the gender politics of the time, explaining how the Duchess’s intelligence and political influence were often undermined by public slurs and cartoons that attacked her character and portrayed her political actions as indecent (25:57-27:25).

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Testimonials

Amir, another great history talk. I really enjoyed all the speakers. Keep them coming.

Elaine

Stoke Newington history and elections, and photography, an event designed for me!

Alex

As ever, entertaining & edifying. A fascinating evening.

Billy

Another great roundup of speakers & topics.

Breda

Another entertaining and illuminating evening. Thank you to all who make it so welcoming, enjoyable and possible. With competition for tickets getting on a par with a Taylor Swift gig … getting intense!

Peter