I contributed the history section to a beautifully illustrated map of Clissold Park. The map was produced by the Clissold Park User Group and illustrated by Anna Hymas. You can buy the map in Clissold House cafe.

60 people turned up for the first ever Stoke Newington history pub quiz, which was organised by the Green Lanes N16 Traders & Residents Association (GLTRA) . Quiz Master Joey Bartram did a great job delivering the questions I had written. Hopefully we can do it again this time next year!

Inspired by a meeting I attended at William Patten School regarding a planned local heritage project, I created Sgt. Pepper-like poster summarising 60 individuals connected with Stoke Newington from the last 6 centuries. Some were born in Stoke Newington, others lived in the area for period or helped shape its architectural landscape.

You can download high quality version here. Recommended minimum print size is A3.

I had a great time presenting my research into the evolution of Stoke Newington Church Street (1847-2017) at a Nerd Nite London event in January in front of 200 people. My talk was followed by two brilliant talks about 3D printing and quantum physics! It’s a terrific event which takes place once a month. Highly recommended.

The 7th Stoke Newington History Talks event, which was held on June 6th in St Matthias Halls was one of my favourites so far. Kay Trainor, who co-founded the 3-week Stoke Newington Midsummer Festival in the 1990s talked about the festival fascinating story while Ian Castle, describe the riveting details of the German Zeppelin raid on Stoke Newington in 1915. My talk ‘Look up, look down: Spotting local history everywhere’ included examples of various relics and remnants in the built environment from coal-hole covers, boundary marker plates and bootscrapers. 

Look up, look down: Spotting local history everywhere by Amir Dotan

Reflections on the Stoke Newington Festival 1993-2001 by Kay Trainor

It was great being part of the Stoke Newington Literary Festival again and talking to a packed Gallery Hall on Edward’s Lane about Alexander Guttridge’s fascinating photos of Stoke Newington in the 1930s. Looking forward to the festival next year!

 

I was very happy to contribute an article about the campaign to save Clissold Park from development in the 1880s to the 2018 Spring edition of London Landscapes; the tri-annual newsletter of the London Parks & Gardens Trust.

65 people braved the snow on a freezing night to attend the 6th Stoke Newington History Talks event, which was held in the beautiful former New River filtration plant, now West Reservoir Centre, on the bank of the West Reservoir in Green Lanes. The event also doubled as a mini local history market with stalls representative from the Clissold Park User Group, Abney Park Trust, Hackney Society and Hackney Archives selling merchandise.

My presentation slides:

Peter Daniels’ presentation slides:

Janet Foster’s presentation slides:

 

I had a great time presenting my research into the evolution of Stoke Newington Church Street (1847-2017) at a Nerd Nite London event in January in front of 200 people. My talk was followed by two brilliant talks about 3D printing and quantum physics! It’s a terrific event which takes place once a month. Highly recommended.