A feature was published today on the Hackney Post website about my funding application, currently under review, to restore nine historic street signs. The application, submitted on behalf of the Hackney Society, outlines a proposed collaboration with Hackney Council. The council would handle the technical restoration, while the Hackney Society and I would lead the community outreach, aiming to raise awareness, understanding and appreciation of the restored signs and their historical importance.
A few years ago, I conducted a survey of Stoke Newington’s historic street signs, focusing primarily on their age and distinctive features, such as whether they display the name of the former Borough of Stoke Newington. Signs bearing this name are especially significant, as they offer a direct link to the area’s civic history and are rarer than those without the borough’s name.
For several years, I campaigned for Hackney Council to abandon its policy of removing and destroying historic signs deemed unfit for purpose due to their condition. These advocacy efforts were ultimately successful. Once protection was secured, I shifted focus to restoration. With support from a few local councillors, I was able to get the council to restore four signs in summer 2024. This latest funding bid aims to complete the project by restoring the nine remaining signs I believe are worth preserving.
Here are previous articles about my long-running effort to protect and restore Stoke Newington’s historic street signs:
- 12.09.2019 – Hackney Gazette: ‘Old road signs should be protected’ – Stoke Newington historian
- 14.08.2020 – Signs of relief as streetwise campaigners win preservation promise from Hackney council
In April 2021 I gave a talk about Stoke Newington’s historic street signs as part of the 15th Stoke Newington History Talks event. You can watch a 20min version or an extended 40min version to learn more about these important historical artefacts.
Stoke Newington History 