I’m a local historian and heritage advocate focused on Stoke Newington’s history, working to research, document, and share the story of this ancient parish in north London, first recorded in 1086. It was a Metropolitan London Borough from 1900 until 1965, when it merged into the newly formed London Borough of Hackney. I moved to Stoke Newington in 2002, and since 2012, I have been sharing local history content daily on social media and giving talks, including a regular event I’ve run since 2016.
Background
I’ve been fascinated by history from a young age, driven by natural curiosity and childhood aspirations of becoming an archaeologist. I was also very artistic, and this creative passion ultimately guided my professional career, which spans 25 years in app and web design. Alongside my work, local history has remained a deeply rewarding personal pursuit. Since 2011, when I discovered the 1820 book The History and Antiquities of the Parish of Stoke Newington, my interest in the area’s rich heritage has grown into a profound passion. As my interest in Stoke Newington’s history grew, I started collecting books, maps, and digital copies of any old photos of the area I could find.
Spreading the Passion for Local History
In 2012, I decided to share my newfound interest online by creating a Facebook page where I’d post old photos, historical facts about Stoke Newington, anecdotes, and more. In 2013, I started sharing updates on X (previously Twitter) as well and in 2019 opened an Instagram account.
The popularity of these social media channels has been very rewarding, and seeing the level of interest in a topic I initially thought would only attract a very small number of people has been great. In August 2025, my Facebook page reached the milestone of 1,000,000 views, and my Instagram account now averages 250,000 views per month. (Since the summer of 2025, I’ve been sharing content daily on both Instagram and Facebook, while significantly reducing my activity on X.)
My YouTube channel features recordings of my talks, including those delivered by guest speakers who have participated in my events. You can also find presentation slides from my talks, as well as those from many guest speakers, on Slideshare.
Research and Discovery
My research into the depths of Stoke Newington’s rich heritage takes me to archives, online resources, books, and private collections, allowing me to collect and share fascinating materials that bring the past to life. Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to meet many people who have shared their personal memories and experiences with me, as well as like-minded individuals also interested in Stoke Newington’s history who significantly contributed to my research. Among them were the late Stoke Newington historian Derek Baker and Nick Perry, a passionate champion of heritage conservation, who sadly passed away in 2024.
Projects and Initiatives
Making Stoke Newington’s history more accessible and engaging has been a key focus of my work. To bring the area’s rich heritage to life, I’ve undertaken several projects and initiatives that allow residents and visitors to connect with the past in meaningful ways:
- Now and then photo comparisons: I create visual comparisons by blending historical photos with recent ones, showcasing how the area has changed over time.
- Preserving the history of the Clissold Park preservation campaign: To shed light on the efforts to save Clissold Park from development in 1886–88, I led a crowdsourced transcription of a petition signed by 12,000 people. Additionally, I created a dedicated website to house the archive of the Clissold Park Preservation Committee.
- Exploring Stoke Newington Church Street’s commercial history: I’ve researched and documented Stoke Newington Church Street’s shops since 1847 through four projects: a detailed property survey, a book listing the businesses at every shop over time, Windows Into the Past plaques in shop windows, and an annual photo survey of shopfronts.
- Survey of Stoke Newington’s heritage street signs – I surveyed 52 heritage street signs in the former Borough of Stoke Newington, focusing on those with historical significance, age, or rarity, to raise awareness and encourage their preservation and, in some cases, restoration.
- Memory collection through video interviews: I’ve recorded interviews with residents to preserve their personal stories and experiences of growing up and living in Stoke Newington.
- Stoke Newington History Drop-In Sessions: I organised drop-in sessions (Session one, two, three) with the late Nick Perry, Richard Young, and Rachel Tobyn, where people were invited to come and have their local history questions answered.
Advocating for Local Heritage
Preserving and protecting Stoke Newington’s history is central to my work, and I have undertaken several initiatives to safeguard the area’s heritage:
- Restoring heritage street signs: I successfully campaigned for Hackney Council to protect and restore old street signs bearing the name of the former Borough of Stoke Newington.
- Honouring Joseph Beck’s legacy: I advocated for the installation of a heritage plaque at the site of Joseph Beck’s house, recognising his role as the chief campaigner who saved Clissold Park from development.
- Restoring the 1930 Foundation Stone of Lordship South Estate: After noticing the defacement of this important piece of Stoke Newington’s council housing history, I worked with local councillors and tenant management officers to ensure its restoration.
- Preserving Victorian tiles at 117 Stoke Newington Church Street: When decorative Victorian tiles were uncovered during refurbishment, I prompted the shop’s owners to integrate the tiles into the interior design, ensuring this historical feature remained visible.
Restoration of a defaced 1930 Foundation Stone
Media
Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to have my work and projects featured in various media outlets, showcasing Stoke Newington’s rich history and the initiatives I’ve undertaken to promote and preserve it. These include print articles, radio and podcast interviews, television appearances, and online coverage.
Notable highlights include being featured in the Evening Standard, Hackney Gazette, and Financial Times; serving as a local history adviser on BBC’s Antiques Roadshow and Sky Arts’ Landscape Artist of the Year; and appearing on BBC’s Boring Talks podcast to discuss Victorian coalhole covers. I’ve also been interviewed on BBC London News in 2018 and 2024, BBC Radio London, and Shoreditch Radio, and have written or been featured in articles for local publications such as N16Life, Hackney Post, and Hackney Citizen.
Events
I enjoy sharing my interest in Stoke Newington’s history through talks at both public and private events. Over the years, I’ve been invited to speak by a diverse range of groups, including the London Pubs Group, the Green Lanes N16 Traders & Residents Association, Friends of Hackney Archives, the Hackney Society, Hackney History Festival, the East London History Society, and the London Parks & Gardens Trust Research Group, to name just a few. I have also given multiple talks at regular events such as the Stoke Newington Literary Festival and Nerd Nite London.
In 2016, I launched ‘Stoke Newington History Talks‘; a recurring event held every four months featuring three local history talks—one by me and two by guest speakers. The event has grown in popularity, with tickets often selling out within a day. Join the mailing list to be notified about upcoming events.
Contact
Get in touch if you have memories of Stoke Newington you’d like to share, old photographs or documents related to the area, or if you’d like to invite me to give a talk. You’re also welcome to reach out with any questions about the history of Stoke Newington.
Amir Dotan
Stoke Newington History 