One of my key projects focuses on preserving the history of the Clissold Park preservation campaign, a pivotal moment in the area’s history. In 1886–1888, local residents and activists fought to protect Clissold Park from proposed development, rallying support from the community. To bring this important story to light, I led a crowdsourced effort to transcribe a petition that was signed by over 11,000 people, giving voice to the determination of those who fought to save the park. In addition to this, I created a dedicated website to house the full archive of the Clissold Park Preservation Committee, making the materials accessible to the public and ensuring that the efforts of these early conservationists are remembered and honoured.

The Clissold Park Campaign Archive

In December 2015, I discovered a treasure trove of about 175 documents, letters, and news clippings from the 1880s detailing the campaign to save Clissold Park, kept by the descendants of Joseph Beck, a local political figure and optician who led the effort. While existing sources offer brief mentions of the campaign, the Beck Archive provides a comprehensive, week-by-week account, often from Beck’s own perspective. I photographed all the items and created a dedicated website, clissoldparkarchive.wordpress.com, where the full archive is now accessible.

Transcribing the 1886 Petition to Save Clissold Park

In the 1880s, a passionate local campaign successfully saved Clissold Park from being developed into housing, preserving it as the last open space in Stoke Newington. The Clissold Park Preservation Committee organised a massive petition in 1886, signed by 11,000 people, which played a pivotal role in securing public funding to purchase the park. On July 24, 1889, Clissold Park opened as a public space. The petition, consisting of 412 pages, was submitted to the Metropolitan Board of Works and is now held in the London Metropolitan Archives. In 2021, I initiated a crowdsourcing project to transcribe the petition. Volunteers transcribed the signatures and addresses using Google Sheets, completing the task in 19 days, despite challenges in managing the 40 volunteers involved.