Stoke Newington’s surviving historic street signs are small but important pieces of local heritage. Among the most significant are the cast iron signs from the 1930s that still bear the name of the former Borough of Stoke Newington, a reminder that this was once a separate metropolitan borough before becoming part of Hackney in 1965.

These signs matter because they preserve local history in the street itself. They are not replicas or decorative references to the past, but original elements of the public realm that have survived for decades. At a time when so much historic detail has disappeared from the built environment, they remain rare and direct links to Stoke Newington’s civic past.

For many years, however, these signs were vulnerable to loss. Once they became faded or hard to read, they risked being treated simply as worn-out street furniture rather than historic artefacts worth preserving. That approach was made clear in a 2020 email from a council officer, which stated that “the duty must take precedence over the nature of the plates, be they old or otherwise”, and confirmed that removed street name plates had been “broken and recycled on removal”.

Documenting What Survived

My work on this began with research and documentation. I became interested in Stoke Newington’s old street signs as surviving traces of the former borough and started recording those that remained.

By 2019, I had carried out a survey of old street signs in Stoke Newington and publicly called for them to be protected . That work later developed into a fuller inventory of 52 heritage street signs in the former Borough of Stoke Newington, covering several categories and recording their condition, rarity and historical context.

To support the case for protection, I also created a mapped record and assembled photographic evidence and condition data, so that the surviving signs could be considered as a documented group rather than as isolated pieces of street furniture.

Challenging Their Loss

The issue became more urgent when it became clear that old signs judged no longer fit for purpose could be removed and destroyed. In 2020, after I raised concerns about disappearing heritage signs, I received confirmation from Hackney Council that removed signs were being destroyed rather than retained.

I argued that this approach failed to distinguish between ordinary replacement and the loss of historically significant signs. In response, I pressed for restoration rather than removal, pointing out that the surviving 1930s signs were rare, historically meaningful and in many cases capable of refurbishment rather than destruction.

This was an important stage in the campaign. The issue was no longer just one of documentation, but of trying to change how these signs were understood and treated.

Building Support

Progress was slow and at times frustrating, but the case gradually gained support. The late Nick Perry played an important part in helping push the issue forward, recognising that the routine loss of these signs meant the erosion of Stoke Newington’s built heritage.

Later in 2020, the council confirmed that heritage street signs were considered a valuable historical resource, that future removals should not take place without consultation, and that options for refurbishment would be explored .

That did not immediately produce a restoration programme, but it marked a shift. The principle had been established that these signs had heritage value and should not simply be treated as disposable infrastructure.

Turning Research into Action

From that point, the effort moved from principle to delivery. I continued to refine the survey, identify the signs most in need of intervention and provide supporting material that could help make restoration possible.

By 2023 and 2024, discussions had become more focused on practical steps. These included which signs should be prioritised, how older cast iron signs could be restored, and what kind of specialist work might be needed. One of the difficulties was that these signs are not always straightforward to deal with. Some can be repainted in place, but older cast iron examples may need careful removal and specialist refurbishment, with the risk of damage during the process.

There were also delays, pauses and the usual complications of council processes. But the work kept moving. A meeting in May 2024 appears to have helped turn the discussion into a practical plan for delivery.

The First Restorations

The first major result came in 2024, when four heritage street signs were restored and reinstalled after a long campaign and sustained follow-up work.

The restored signs are at:

• Belgrade Road / Stoke Newington Road
• Dynevor Road / Stoke Newington High Street
• Green Lanes / Stoke Newington Church Street
• Stoke Newington High Street / Dynevor Road

Shortly before their return, missing signs in Belgrade Road and Dynevor Road were confirmed to have been removed for refurbishment, with reinstallation expected by the end of August 2024. Their restoration, followed by the wider September 2024 announcement, showed that this work could be done and that these signs could be preserved in the street rather than lost.

This was a significant milestone. It proved that patient advocacy, backed by research and documentation, could lead to practical conservation rather than simply recording what had disappeared.

The Work is Ongoing

The restoration of four signs was an important first step, but other historic signs in Stoke Newington remain in poor condition and still need protection and restoration.

I continue to push for a wider and more consistent approach, so that these signs are recognised as part of Stoke Newington’s historic streetscape rather than treated as expendable street furniture. The aim is not just to save a small number of individual examples, but to help ensure that the remaining surviving signs are properly considered, maintained and, where needed, restored.

Acknowledgement

This work has been helped by support from the late Nick Perry, local councillors, in particular Richard Lufkin and Mete Coban, and council officers who recognised the importance of protecting these signs and helped move the restoration effort forward.

Related Talk

This recorded talk provides an overview of the surviving historic street signs in Stoke Newington, outlining their classification, the different types that survive, and what they reveal about the area’s history. It was presented at the 15th Stoke Newington History Talks event on 6 April 2021. Two versions are included below: a short version and an extended version.