Stoke Newington History
@HistoryOfStokey
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Amir Dotan - Uncovering and sharing Stoke Newington's rich history. Contact:
Stoke Newington, London
Joined July 2009
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Get your free printed copy of “The History of Every Shop in Stoke Newington Church Street” from:
Instagym (203 SN High St)
Gino’s Barbershop (9 SN Church St)
Nook (153 SN Church St)
Made in Little France (163 SN Church St)
More coming!
(one copy per person, please)
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Built in 1658, 52-55 Newington Green in neighbouring Islington are the oldest surviving terraced houses in London.
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COMPLETED! My survey of Stoke Newington coalhole covers. I checked every Victorian house in every street in the boundaries of the former borough of Stoke Newington (More interesting than it sounds). Found 76 different ones and I estimate about 600 overall. A2 poster now available
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Person running after me down the street: “Why are you taking a photo of my front door?!”
Me: “I’m documenting ‘ghost’ Mezuzahs on doorposts, which are remnant of former Jewish residents. It contains a piece of parchment. Here are the photos I took.”
Person: “Ah. Hmm. Ok. Cool”
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ON THIS DAY in 1948 Nye Bevan launched the NHS. The John Scott Health Centre in Woodberry Down, Stoke Newington was the first purpose-built NHS health centre in Britain. It was built in 1952.
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Built in 1658, 52-55 Newington Green in neighbouring Islington is the oldest surviving London Terrace.
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I just printed and placed pointers to the grave of James Stephen in St Mary’s old churchyard. He was a leading abolitionist lawyer who drafted the Slave Trade Act 1807; an Act of Parliament prohibiting the slave trade in the British Empire.
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10 years ago today I decided to start a Twitter account dedicated to my exploration of Stoke Newington’s rich history. I didn’t expect it’ll keep me THIS busy and attract so many people to follow the geeky local history updates over the the course of a decade. Thanks everyone!
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Church Street was widened several times in the early 20th century to accommodate increasing traffic. It resulted in the loss of front gardens and forecourts, pavement space and the demolition of two pubs (that were rebuilt). Today, it’s the pavement that’s being widened.
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The Clissold Park miniature railway in the 1950s
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1899 - Suffragettes outside Stoke Newington Station
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9 years ago today I started this Twitter account to share my interest in Stoke Newington’s rich, colourful history. It’s enabled me to learn and discover something new almost every day and share my interest with so many people. I didn’t expect it’ll keep me busy for this long! :)
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#OTD
8 years ago I started this account. I didn’t expect more than a handful of people to follow daily, nerdy updates about Stoke Newington’s history. 7,300+ followers, 25,600+ tweets and 16 events later I’m glad to report I was wrong! Thanks everyone.
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The Vortex Jazz bar in Stoke Newington Church Street in 1990 where Nando’s is now.
Photo by Derek Baker.
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Relieved to hear this morning that the new cafe at 170 Stoke Newington High St is retaining the 100+ year old decorative wall tiles that were uncovered when the previous tenant renovated the site. It was a butcher in the early 20th century.
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The Clissold Park Miniature Railway. There were also tracks next to the paddling pool that were used originally.
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You wouldn’t think it’s the same building...but it is.
109 Stoke Newington Church Street in 1844
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WE DID IT! It took 40 amazing volunteers 19 days to transcirbe the 11,000-strong petition from 1886 to save Clissold Park. It’s astonishing to read now thousands of names across hundreds of streets. Entire streets in some cases! You can view it here:
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The Manor House pub in Stoke Newington (Green Lanes/Seven Sisters Rd) was a popular music venue in the 1960s.
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[THREAD] Alan Denney’s photos of Stoke Newington in the late 70s-early 80s
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The late Marc Bolan would have been 71 today. His family lived at 25a Stoke Newington Common till he was 15. Two photos of him in the common with friends.
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When there was a kite repair shop in Stoke Newington Church Street in the 80s
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I’m writing a self-guided walk exploring Stoke Newington’s historic street furniture (35 stops): gas lampposts, coalhole covers, gunposts, manhole covers, street signs, drinking trough, boundary markers, post boxes, red phone box, drain covers, drinking fountains and much more!
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1949 - Clissold House, Clissold Park, Stoke Newington
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The Horse and Groom pub (renamed The Auld Shillelagh in 1991), 105 Stoke Newington Church Street.
Photo by Derek Baker
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In case you ever wondered what’s inside the Electricity Sub-Station in Wordsworth Road by Butterfield Green. Not much it seems. (
@realnickperry
)
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In the late 80s Sinéad O'Connor lived in neighbouring Clapton in 10 Cedra Court, Cazenove Road N16.
Kindly provided by
@HilaryKAlexTech
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The Shakespeare pub back in the day. Allen Road, Stoke Newington. Built in 1858 as part of the Albert Town development, it’s the oldest pub building in Stoke Newington.
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Favourite name from today's stroll in Abney Park Cemetery: Charles Henry Fox Box
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1893 - An Elephant Hunt in Clissold Park (“Refreshed by a draught of water from the New River at Stoke Newington”)
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15 year old Mark Feld (aka Marc Bolan of T. Rex) in 1962 (right) near his childhood home, 25 Stoke Newington Common.
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The Shakespeare, 57 Allen Road, Stoke Newington. Built in 1858 and still going strong.
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15 year old Mark Feld on the right (later Marc Bolan) with friends near his childhood home at 25 Stoke Newington Common
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Stoke Newington coal hole covers - survey to date. Fascinating to see how a simple object with a very basic function, which people walk over daily was still so decorative with each foundry having its own unique design.
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A number of ‘ghost’ driveways that likely used to lead to small factories during Stoke Newington’s industrial heyday in the early-mid 20th century. There were 200+ factories and workshops in Stoke Newington at one point.
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Manor House, Stoke Newington looking east down Seven Sisters Road. Note the tram shelter.
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1938 - Stoke Newington balloon factory. In the 1930’s the Stoke Newington balloon factory was run by Ena Spencer, great grand-daughter of British pioneer balloonist Edward Spencer. The Spencer Brothers' balloon company was based in Abney Mews, Stoke Newington (N16 0AJ)
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Stoke Newington’s oldest road sign (Manor Road).
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The Rochester Castle was repainted recently. The 3rd Wetherspoon to open, the oldest surviving Wetherspoon pub in the country.
Renowned music venue in the 70s:
Gary Numan
Bad Manners
The Jam
The Police
XTC
Dire Straits
Adam and the ants
Bill Bragg
Riff Raff
..Played there
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1937 communist plan for life in Stoke Newington - There is mention of lack of parks and the 'mean and narrow' streets south of Church Street. There's also concern over the menace of Fascism which 'always tries to hide its aim by creating racial hatred.' (Courtesy of Andrew Ray)
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Then & Now: Holland House, Newington Green/Albion Road, Stoke Newington
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Stoke Newington High Street looking north. Brooke Road on the right, The Rochester Castle pub on the left.
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Just spotted a 2nd ‘Penfold Postbox’ in Stoke Newington on the corner of King’s Crescent and Queen’s Drive. Apparently there are only 60 nationwide. John Wornham Penfold (1828-1909), surveyor and architect, designed the hexagonal pillar box which was installed between 1866-79
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73A bus making its way towards Stoke Newington c. 1935
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DONE! Finished restoring this beautiful 1930s ‘Borough of Stoke Newington’ street sign I got for Christmas. Very satisfying experience! Street signs with ‘Borough of SN’ were only placed along the borough boundaries. Only 17 are still around, most of which are discoloured.
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Amy Winehouse filmed the music video for her hit single ‘Back to Black’ in Abney Park Cemetery. The other scenes were also filmed in Stoke Newington in a house in Chesholm Road and in Gibson Gardens. Her parents grew up in Rectory Road, N16.
Remembering Amy Jade Winehouse, who would have turned 40 today.
📷 From the video to Back to Black, Abney Park Cemetery. Phil Griffin / Universal.
#AmyForever
#OnThisDay
@NewWaveAndPunk
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It’s back!! There are only 138 original ‘Penfolds’ hexagonal red pillar boxes in the country. 2 are in Stoke Newington. John Wornham Penfold designed the hexagonal pillar box which was installed between 1866-79.
@HistoryOfStokey
It’s back! Our much loved Walford Rd pillar box in use again. Thanks
@RoyalMail
, who took the broken top away to repair.
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The iconic 73 bus in Stoke Newington Church St in 1992
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Literally speechless this morning to unwrap this beautiful and rare late 1930s ‘Borough of Stoke Newington’ King’s Crescent, N4 street sign. I was gutted to miss out on it on eBay a few weeks ago, which made this even more special!
Now to get white, red and black paint!
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1902 - The proposed 'Piccadilly, City and North East London' Tube line included a Tube Station in Stoke Newington Church Street. The plan was rejected.
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Simply astonishing. The original 12,000-strong petition from 1886 to save Clissold Park. First outing in 130 years?
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The Shakespeare pub, Allen Road, Stoke Newington. Built in 1858 and originally one of four pubs along the once busy street, which had many shops along both sides. It is the oldest pub building in Stoke Newington, though not the oldest pub site i.e. older pubs were rebuilt later.
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I’d seen this plaque on 3 Blackstock Road but could never make out the writing as it’s so high. Had no idea till a few minutes ago when
@LynRennick
pointed it out to me. The plaque was unveiled in 2018. I think it would have been better if it was closer to street level.
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The Rochester Castle pub is recorded from 1721. Originally called the Green Dragon. Acquired in 1801 by Richard Payne of Rochester. 3rd Wetherspoon to open, oldest surviving. XTC, The Police, The Jam, Dire Straits, Billy Bragg and many others played there in the 70’s.
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My entire collection of old photos and drawings of Stoke Newington (5,500 items!) is available on Flickr
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Great to see the old Vogue cinema sign back in its place following renovation of the building. It’s painted red now. The cinema opened in 1910 (460 seats) and closed 21st June 1958. It stood derelict for 42 years before the building was converted to a restaurant and flats.
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Ghost sign reveal taking place in 4 Albion Parade!
‘Win her affection with A.1. Confections’
(
@ghostsigns
@realnickperry
)
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Vortex Jazz Bar, Stoke Newington Church St, 2003. Photo by Karim Derrick.
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Clissold House, Clissold Park, Stoke Newington
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The miniature railway, Clissold Park, Stoke Newington c. 1955
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Map: Stoke Newington trams in the early 1930s
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First, you start noticing coalhole covers and get intrigued by their history and fascinated by their ornate designs.Then, you photograph them to compile a local visual catalogue. Before you know it you have three in your back garden. Latest addition to the collection on the left.
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Double milestone! 20,000 tweets and 6,000 followers. Wow. I could not have imagined when I started this account in late 2013 that such a geeky hobby will generate this much interest. It’s great to be able to share my passion with so many people around the world. Thanks everyone!
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The 73 bus from Stoke Newington to Kensington. It used to go all the way to Hounslow. The 73 bus route is 103 years old.
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Like peeling an onion: 3 layers of shop fascia signs in Stoke Newington Station
(
@ghostsigns
)
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Stoke Newington Church Street in 1997. Totem record shop on the right.
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A double spread in the
@hackneygazette
about my survey of Stoke Newington coal hole covers. Thanks
@samgelder
! Download an A2-size poster here:
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From an email I just got: “I am 87. In 1956, as an architectural student, I produced a study of what had been some of the villages that made up modern London, including a chapter on Stoke Newington, with a few photos I took at the time, and some drawings I made.”
Stay tuned!
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DONE! My 7th annual photo-survey of Stoke Newington Church Street. 117 photos. A third of the businesses have changed since the first survey I carried out in 2015.
View the previous six editions here:
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Joseph Jackson Lister (1786-1869), inventor of the modern microscope is buried in Stoke Newington. His headstone can be found along others in the carpark of the Stoke Newington Seventh Day Adventist Church in Yoakley Road, originally the local Quaker burial ground till the 50s.
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Ornate Victorian bootscraper, Sanford Lane off Stoke Newington High Street
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When Church Street was renamed Stoke Newington Church Street in 1937 it became the longest street name in London. In fact, it was so long they had to use two separate street signs to fit the name as I noticed a few days ago.
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8,000 followers! Wow. It’s great to be able to share my interest in Stoke Newington’s history with so many people. I used to think it’s a very niche subject! :) Thanks everyone.
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Traffic island at Manor House, Stoke Newington
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Golden Dragon Fish & Chip Shop, 115 Stoke Newington Church St is closing this week. It has been a fried fish shop continuously since 1910 under 7 different owners:
- Nathan Hyman
- Harry Coren
- Joseph Green
- William Marvin
- Michael Chistou
- Costas Augousti
- Golden Dragon
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29.8.1912 - Funeral procession of William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army entering Abney Park Cemetery. 5,000 Salvationists in uniform marched through the City from the Army’s headquarters in Queen Victoria St to the cemetery via Stoke Newington High Street.
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Just came across a terrific collection of high-res photos from 1972 on Flickr (). It’s great to zoom in and see the details of the shops and streetscape. Here’s Stoke Newington Church St. Note the mast on the roof of the Sea Cadets building!
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Then & Now: The Astra Cinema, Stoke Newington Road
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The boating lake, Clissold Park, Stoke Newington
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The Clissold Road Swimming Baths, which stood where the Clissold Leisure Centre is today. Designed by Hobden and Porri who also designed the Church Street WW1 Memorial Hall. Opened in 1930. Demolished 1997.
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[THREAD] Tom Uprichard just shared with me this AMAZING photo-survey of Stoke Newington Church Street he carried out in 2001. It includes 53 photos. Here they are!!
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The former Stoke Newington Civil Defence Headquarter building in Lordship Terrace next to the Town Hall. There’s a disused Cold War bunker behind it. Andy Wells filmed a detailed tour inside it. Well worth watching!
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The legendary Vortex Jazz Bar in Stoke Newington Church Street. It closed in 2004 and later reopened in Dalston. The building was pulled down and Nando’s was built on the site.
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