The 26th Stoke Newington History Talks took place on Thursday 30 October 2025 at St Matthias Halls. Nigel Smith gave a fascinating talk based on a trove of archival documents, revealing the day-to-day running, bureaucracy and social history of the Savoy Cinema on Stoke Newington Road. Neil Martinson shared his experiences photographing Stoke Newington since the 1960s, reflecting on how the area has changed and showing recent images alongside those taken over forty years ago. My talk explored old shop signs briefly uncovered when modern signage is removed, revealing personal and family stories behind several such discoveries in the area.
The event raised £638 for MamaSuze, donated in memory of Annabel Rook, MamaSuze co-founder and local resident.
Ghost Shop Signs: Accidental Finds, Briefly Revealing Lost Shops by Amir Dotan
Recording
Slides
Past Memories and a New World: Photographs of Stoke Newington from the 70s, 80s and Today by Neil Martinson
Recording
Slides
Secrets from the Savoy Cinema, Stoke Newington Road by Nigel Smith
Stoke Newington History 