Thank you to everyone who came to the 27th Stoke Newington History Talks at St Matthias Halls. As always, it sold out quickly and was packed. Alexandra Taylor spoke on the 1910–1912 attempt to ban rollerskating on pavements, a dispute with the London County Council that reached Winston Churchill and even the King. Jay Derrick shared findings from documents discovered in the Mildmay Club roof. My talk explored Paradise Row, once home to abolitionists, scientists and bankers, many of them Quakers. The event raised £678 for Hackney Giving.

Paradise Row: A Corner of Old Stoke Newington by Amir Dotan

Recording

Summary

This talk by Amir Dotan explores the history of Paradise Row, a picturesque and affluent section of Church Street in Stoke Newington (0:13). The presentation pays homage to a lecture given by local historian Francis W. Baxter 102 years earlier (1:21).

Key takeaways:

• Architectural Identity: Paradise Row consisted of unique, large houses that, in the 18th and 19th centuries, overlooked the New River and open land that later became Clissold Park (2:33 – 6:51).
• The Quaker Colony: The row was home to a tight-knit community of affluent Quakers, including prominent bankers, scientists, and abolitionists who were deeply interconnected through business, marriage, and shared social causes (7:50 – 8:45).
• Notable Residents: Residents included figures like the Tyler brothers (geologist and anthropologist) (12:15), Samuel Hoare Jr. (abolitionist and banker) (16:46), and Joseph Jackson Lister (inventor of the achromatic microscope lens) (20:08).
• Decline and Transformation: By the 20th century, the large mansions became difficult to maintain as private residences and were repurposed into schools, offices, and factories (10:26). Most were eventually demolished in the 1930s and 1950s for road widening and the construction of council housing, such as the Kennaway Estate (3:56 – 9:56).

Featured Houses (10:04 – 27:12):

1. The Grange: A nine-bedroom house, home to the Tyler brothers (10:21).
2. Stoke House: Notable for its asymmetric design, altered after the demolition of the adjacent Ivy House (13:12).
3. Paradise House: An important site for education and a hub for prominent Quaker families (15:35).
4. Vincent House: The residence of Joseph Jackson Lister (19:13).
5. Warick House: Later used as the War Relief Toy Works (21:37).
6. The Willows: The most impressive mansion with 19 bedrooms, built by George William Alexander as a refuge for political refugees and those escaping slavery (23:17 – 25:00).

Slides

The Mildmay Club Archives: Tales from the Attic, 1888 to the Present Day by Jay Derrick

Recording

Summary

This talk by Jay Derrick explores the fascinating history of the Mildmay Club—a historic working men’s club in Newington Green—and the ongoing project to document its extensive archives.

Key Highlights of the Mildmay Club:

• Foundation & Evolution: Established in 1888 as the Mildmay Radical Club, it provided a space for social, political, and recreational activities (2:12-2:38). The current grade II-listed building has been its home since 1900 (3:31-3:46).
• Historical Role: Beyond leisure, the club served as a vital social security hub before the welfare state, managing benevolent funds and supporting members through various political and social challenges (6:59-7:45).
• Recent Archive Discoveries: During roof refurbishments, large quantities of records—including minute books, playbills, and correspondence—were discovered in the building’s eaves (1:03-1:17). The Archive Group is currently working to catalogue these 200+ boxes of material (11:36-12:05).

Research & Ongoing Work:

• Political History: The club has a rich legacy of radical activism, including involvement in anti-war protests during the Second Boer War (20:23-21:55).
• Entertainment: The club hosted an incredible array of performances, with playbills documenting daily shows throughout the 20th century (13:00-13:48).
• Preservation Challenges: The group faces hurdles in reading complex historical handwriting, digitizing records, and interpreting the club’s role in significant events like the World Wars and the struggle for women’s rights (18:40-20:00, 24:04-24:50).

Jay concludes by encouraging the public to visit the club, attend events, or engage with their ongoing documentation efforts to help preserve this slice of local history (10:32-10:45).

Slides

The Objectionable Pastime: The Stoke Newington Rollerskating Byelaw of 1910 by Alexandra Taylor

Recording

Summary

This presentation explores the quirky historical saga of the Stoke Newington roller skating byelaw of 1910, a two-year conflict between local council members and the national government. Speaker Alexandra Taylor details how a nationwide roller skating craze—led by youngsters who were often viewed as a public nuisance—sparked a bureaucratic battle involving the Home Office, the Privy Council, and even Winston Churchill.

Key highlights of the presentation:

• The Roller Skating Craze (3:16-4:17): Roller skating became a massive phenomenon by 1910, with 500 indoor rinks across the UK employing 17,000 people. It was particularly popular among young women, which caused consternation among local authorities.
• The Battle of the Byelaw (5:45-14:15): Stoke Newington Borough Council attempted to ban roller skating on public footways in 1910. The proposal met resistance from the Home Office and Winston Churchill, who served as Home Secretary at the time. Despite repeated attempts by the council to refine the byelaw, the conflict escalated to the Privy Council.
• Social Dynamics and Power (16:15-18:47): The debate reflected deeper societal issues of the Edwardian era, including class tensions (working-class skaters vs. the wealthy in motor cars), the clash between local and national authority, and the moral panic surrounding “tearaway youngsters.”
• The Outcome (14:15-14:50): The saga ultimately ended with an ironic conclusion: the roller skating craze faded as cinema took its place, and there is no record of anyone ever being successfully prosecuted under the proposed byelaw.

Alexandra Taylor concludes by noting how this 1910 conflict mirrors modern-day debates regarding the use of pavements by people on wheels, such as e-bike riders and other modern commuters.

Slides