Content

After COLUMBIA ROAD…

HACKNEY ROAD. Eateries

*HAGGERSTON           

HACKNEY CITY FARM      

Following the BLACK PATH. Phoenicians and drovers

The REGENTS CANAL      

BROADWAY MARKET. Eateries and shops   

LONDON FIELDS. Martello towers?

From COLUMBIA ROAD, to BROADWAY MARKET and on to HACKNEY… does that means  going from street market  to street market?

 

Let us be precise. On Saturdays, you might be willing to browse along BROADWAY MARKET. But you will not find a street market in COLUMBIA ROAD. The shops and eateries are open though. Ah… and remember that nearby BRICK LANE is becoming more busy Saturdays. On Sundays you will be in the COLUMBIA flower and plant market, but you might find boring BROADWAY MARKET… I doubt it

HAGGERSTON  (or  HACKERSTON?)

Where are you, now that you are exiting COLOMBIA ROAD, and about cross over HACKNEY ROAD?.

You are going to find a few cafés alongside  HACKNEY ROAD 

You are in HAGGERSTON, historically part of SHOREDITCH, now integrated in the LONDON BOROUGH OF HACKNEY. London’s EAST AND.

A VIKING name, appears as HERGOTESTANE, in the DB of 1086. An outlying hamlet for centuries… In 1745, known as ANGOSTONE, according to ROCQUE’s map. In the 19th c. the firm HAGGERSTONE was adopted. Precisely when the district was formed by factories and workers cottages. The REGENTS CANAL was part of the landscape.

Many terraced houses  and factories were destroyed during WW2, and they gave way to large COUNCIL ESTATES, like the HAGGERSTON or the KINGSLAND (demolished in 2013).

Now, professionals in creative industries and students live in the area. Art galleries are a common sight. And  many technological startups are based here (“HACKERSTON”!). Property prices are escalating.

What is worth seeing here? 

 

Definitely, the first sight you see, in crossing the road, is a K2 PHONE BOOTH… beside the former QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL FOR CHILDRES, a beautiful building reconverted into luxury flats. However you wil enjoy the story: MICHAEL JACKSON landed in the park, in a helicopter, in company of MICKY and MINNIE MOUSE, in order to visit the kids recovering here…

 

253-261 HACKNEY RD.

A Georgian terrace, beg. 19th c. The first floor window offset.

VIETNAMESE restaurants (and LAOTIAN and CAMBIDIAN) you will find them in KINGSLAND RD. and MARE ST.

Some cafés in the KINGSLAND ROAD  give away that there is a RUSSIAN community around.

 

HACKNEY CITY FARM

Enthusiasts of nature, inspired by the one in KENTISH TOWN, intended to offer some experience in farming to the local youth. Farming and market gardening took place, indeed, in the area. Here, from 1880 until the 1930s, brewing took over, thanks to the an availability of the ideal water (the well, although capped, is still here for you to see). Furniture and button makers were other activities that took place here. The JENKINS road haulage company, a family affair, was based here, as well). 
When the CITY FARM was first formed, in 1982, animals were kept in ST.SAVIOUR’s  garden, until the derelict lorry park was purchased.

 

Inside, the FRIZZANTE CAFÉ 

 

HAGGERSTON PARK was formed  in the 1950 where gas works (the boundary wall of the GAS LIGHT AND COKE CO., is preserved in WHISTON RD.  The gas works closed in 145)) tile manufacturing (TUILERIE ST.) and derelict housing  were. The site was was hit by a V2 in 1945.

A 6 hec. of nature and football pitches, and a long pergola walk.

In the 1980s it was extended to include the HACKNEY CITY FARM, and playing fields. A new academy was built.


To the W of the PARK,

HAGGERSTON SCHOOL was designed by ËRNO GOLDFINGER (1964-65).

 

ST.SAVIOUR’s PRIORY

Aut religious house, belonging to the SOCIETY OF ST.MARGARET. It was f., within the ANGLO-CATHOLIC movement,  by Rvd. Dr.JOHN MASON NEALE, in 1855. It is an order of women nursing th

 

To the NW of the PARK

The contemporary BRIDGE ACADEMY, in LABURNUM ST, and  the HAGGERSTON POOL, EDWARDIAN (Arch. CROSS / SPALDING, 1904) , in WHISTON RD. 

Artists studios, are based in COLUMBIA and BRUNSWICK WHARF, in a building part of the gas company. A community centre and a dance company are next to the POOL.

 


Then, alongside GOLDSMITH ROW, where you will find some eateries and convenience stores. The road becomes PRITCHARD’S ROAD

AUDREY ST

The former DEPOT is listed a Sp Int Nat Con

 

The REGENTS CANAL

A possible diversion here: fancy cycling or walking to ISLINGTON?

Alongside de CANAL or alternative route. 

Were you looking for somewhere chic, where art galleries sit next to designer outlets and organic and health products retailers?.

BROADWAY MARKET

EASTERN PROMISES(2007) and BUSTER (1988] were shot here.


A busy, noisy fruit and vegetables market, every day of the week… well, forget about it;  that was in late Victorian times. Over time, slowly, it dwindled, as happened to many other street markets in England (with the advent of a famous smallholder, Mr. COHEN, the TE of TESCO, or a Mr.MARX -no, not the philosopher, but the one who became MARKS, the partner of Mr.SPENCER)… so in the early 2000, here, the activity was limited to a couple of stands.

After a failed relaunching as a Sunday arts and crafts,  but a weekdays general market, finally in 2004 success arrived in the form of a quality food market, street food ready to eat or fresh produce to take home. And as the area has experienced a serious a process of gentrification, foodies abound and the market took off, thanks as well to the company of some adventurous visitors.

 

The area has improved greatly, it is in the process of being truly regenerated.  The streets are clean, as are the brick façades. Money has been spent.  But that gentrification has sparked debate, for example, around how the council has disposed of its commercial portfolio. Even an occupation (of no.34) took place, to bring attention to the problem of affordable housing and commercial spaces for local people.

An overseas developer bought a spirit shop, court battles sued…

Modern blocks have replaced old terraced houses.

The new yuppies are buying the new studio flats.

F.COOKE, PIE & MASH eatery has disappeared.  But GEORGE TALLETT’S fish shop is still here. THE DOVE and THE CAT & MUTTON PHs are great.

Good eateries, art galleries, art bookstores….

Fashionable!.

Enjoy the farmers market at the PRIMARY SCHOOL.

 

Alongside the street or around:

 

See some original, stone carved, side street names

 

ADA ST. WORKSHOPS

B.65-66. A MODERNIST building by Arch.YORKE ROSEMBERG MARDELL with the GLC Arcjt.Dept. to cater for the needs of small scale industries. Reinforced concrete frame, flint-lime brick cladding, stained brown timber window frames. 

 

No.36 Site of  a Victorian PH

Grand and ornamented

Pedimented first floor, blank windows, polished grey/black granite, in piers and rectangular capitals, small triangular pediments, string course first floor, plasterwork and marble, keystone at entrance.

 

DUNCAN ROAD, old sign

In case you want to divert towards VICTORIA PARK…

In MARE ST.

VICTORIA BUILDINGS

Commercial, with stucco dressings, red brick curved lintels, roof terrace concealed by parapet, Corinthian pilasters. Third floor entablature with finials on top of lower pilasters. Swags on round arch. Stucco surrounds, on central window. Pediment.

 

VICTOR WYND MUSEUM OF CURIOSITIES

 

Not far away, on the other side of the road, S of the canal

VYNER ST. ART HUB

The BLACK PATH

This is an example of one of Leighton's rare attempts at mural painting.  The work was completed for The Royal Exchange building, at a late stage in his artistic career. It was painted in spirit Fresco on canvas, which was then plastered to the wall in a special process carried out by Robertson & Co. The subject matter of the mural was fitting for one of the main sites of commerce in the UK. The fifth century BCE Greek historian Herodotus had written how the ancient Phoenicians (from what is modern day Lebanon) had sailed to Western Europe and traded with the Celtic tribes of Britain and France. 

 

Have you realised that you have  been cycling or walking, all the time in a straight line, and heading towards the NE?. Look at the map again. You are on an historical TRADEWAY linking London with the LEA VALLEY

How historical?. How old?.

According to some, the PHOENICIANS landed in would-be  BRITANNIA (and ENGLAND) and had their ships moored in what we call now the POOL OF LONDON. Well before the ROMANS!. Following these theories, those Phoenicians established trade routes along the S coast of the future BRITANNIA, and the navigable reaches of the  THAMES.

We are talking here the BRONZE AGE (3000 BC-500BC). The Mediterraneans did not have available tin deposits (to create alloy: copper and tin smelted ) so they were forced with the BARBARIANS OF THE NORTH. If this was the land of tin -BARATANAC- then  it makes sense the evolution of the name BRITAIN!.

Definitely those traders had navigated the LEA, and found there, on the Valley, pasture lands and wheat fields. From there the CELTIC settlers drove their cattle or brought their produce to London…

There is a problem: we do not have a single proof of all this, not even of the actual existence of London that far away back in time!.

The Black Path links with Old St in one direction and extends beyond Walthamstow in the other, tracing a trajectory between Shoreditch Church and the crossing of the River Lea at Clapton. Sometimes called the Porter’s Way, this was the route cattle were driven to Smithfield and the path used by smallholders taking produce to Spitalfields Market. Sometimes also called the Templars’ Way, it links the thirteenth century St Augustine’s Tower on land once owned by Knights Templar in Hackney with the Priory of St John in Clerkenwell where they had their headquarters.

No-one knows how old the Black Path is or why it has this name, but it once traversed open country before the roads existed. These days the path is black because it has a covering of asphalt.

Now you can continue reading the interesting article 

LONDON FIELDS

 

Can you imagine a a grazing spot for cattle being driven S from the HACKNEY MARSHES to the slaughterhouses of SMITHFIELD?.  Well, names like LAMB or SHEEP LANES, SHOULDER OF MUTTON & CAT PH (now, it has lost the first part) are witness to the trade. In the Middle Ages it was called plain LONDON FIELD (as recorded in 1540).

It was in the 16th c. when ROMA people lived here.  In 1529 THOMAS MORE  (his daughter lived in TOWER HOUSE) wrote about outlandyshe people, and legislation Was prepared to order them out of the country “on pain of death”.

 

Cricket tournaments are recorded here since 1802. LFCC are based at the P on the P

 

In 1932 opened the LIDO, with its 50 m. heated pool. A red brick low building, with small cubicles and colourful doors, the changing rooms housed in identical ranges… A.ROWBOTHAM and TL SMITHSON were the architects if this MODERNISTof the LCC’s 9th Lido. The GOLDEN AGE of English Lidos… 

Closed in 1988, and reopened in 2006.

 

In the SW corner, under the grass, some tarmac can be noticed: an anti-aircraft battery was installed here.

FLOWER MEADOW

Sculpture: FLOWER SELLERS

 

HOLLY STREET ESTATE

Regency

 

UNITED HOUSE

Apartment building of the year

 

Lamb Lane 

VICARAGE HOUSE to ST.MICHAEL’s and ALL ANGELS Church.

A handsome building, Early English style, unusual in early Victorian times. Designed by arch. HAKEWELL EC (known for ST.JOHN OF JERUSALEM Church). In KENTISH rag stone and yellow STOCK brick. A complex building, with several wings, multiple gable ends, tall chimneys,  double and tripartite windows, with stone dressings.

The boundary wall, as well, in Kent.rags. Gateway with stone pillars.

As the Church was destroyed during the last WW, services were held here. 

No.24. Georgian villa

Slate mansard roof , recessed central door, with a rectangular fanlight, topped with a bracked cornice.

The windows, with simple moulded architraves.

Iron railings. Original?

Nos.33-34. A pair of Georgian Italianate, semi-detached, unusually wide houses. Stuccoed pilasters, with cornice a pediment. Pitched slate roofs. Some original railings.

 

Nos 25-32. A Georgian terrace, with a parapet and a string course, uniform but partially missing. On the door and windows, double brick arches. Cast iron railings.

No. 25 has a rendered basement and GF. It is rectangular, and maybe it was build at a later date.


PUB ON THE PARK (originally QUEEN ELEANOR PH).

Opposite,

TOWER HOUSE

This was the dwelling of the ROPERS. MARGARET ROPER was de daughof THOMAS MORE. From here she would take him daily food rations, when he was prisoner in the TOWER OF LONDON.

 

You are still walking in diagonal towards the NE, alongside the BLACK PATH… here called, first, MARTELLO ST., then, HACKNEY GROVE

 

214-224 RICHMOND RD

3 pairs of semi-detached, in Victorian Italianate, with raised basements.  A full height, central recessed arch across both houses. The doors,  with side and topó lights. Around the doors, stucco surrounds. Arched windows on the 2nd floor. Decorative cornices on the bay windows. Above, wide windows with side lights.

 

 

2012. Olympic year, in Hackney

A sad anniversary, in July 2012, as the OOGG were on its way… 40 years of the MURDER of Israeli Athlets during the 1972 MUNICH OOGG. Mayor JOHNSON,  British  Olympian BEN HELFGOTT,  Mr.EFRAIM ZINGER (Chair of the Israeli Olympic Committee) and ERICK PICKLES MP, British government Secr.of State unveiled this plaque,

 

ARTHAUS had been refurbished by an Israeli developer, and owner of this workspace complex ASSAF LAZNIK. And the reason they chose this building was that they wanted the plaque to be as closed to the ATHLETS VILLAGE (now, the EAST VILLAGE, QUEEN ELIZABETH II THE OLYMPIC PARK) as possible.

 

Why not a coffee in GO UNPACKAGED?. Or an Italian meal in LARDO?. Mind your cholesterol though!.

 

 

MARTELLO. Sounds Italian!


You have left behind a couple of roads or places which carry that name… There are MARTELLO TOWERS all over the place, I mean, all over the territories that had been part of the BRITISH EMPIRE. It is a GENOESE creation, just the the flag of England (I think  that I will have to explain this better…). MALLORCA was never BRITISH. MINORCA was. Wikipedia is right most of the time though.

Why not donating to WIKIMEDIA FOUNDATION?


You were right, then  It is an Italian name! Have a look at the WIKIPEDIA articles… 

Let us carry on questioning… A defensive MARTELLO TOWER, in HACKNEY or near HACKNEY?.