Stoke Newington History Talks 24

Join us for the 24th Stoke Newington History Talks event; an evening of three talks about Stoke Newington's history from different perspectives organised by local historian Amir Dotan (X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Bluesky). To date, there have been 44 guest speakers and 69 talks since 2016, a testament to the area’s fascinating history.

The event will be held in St Matthias Halls, Wordsworth Road N16 8DD. Each talk is 25min followed by 5min Q&A. There'll be a 10min break between each talk and a bar with a selection of beer and wine.

Doors open no sooner than 7:00 PM to ensure the venue is prepared for your optimal experience.

Tickets are £7 with the proceeds going to charity. This time, proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to the Abney Park Trust; a small volunteer-run charity working in partnership with Hackney Council to bring Abney Park to life through events and walks so people can benefit and learn about the park’s history, unique wildlife, biodiversity and rich cultural heritage. The last 16 events raised £10,079 for charitable causes (List of the charities available here).

Join the mailing list to know about upcoming Stoke Newington History Talks events.

A list of all the talks since 2016, with links to slides and recordings (recordings are available for most talks since 2020), is available here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-Xm-TN6VYCpS3XpVlD8q2pg4lUXhAB0IX5HJJmC6s4Q/edit?usp=sharing

While fierce battles raged across Europe during WW1, a different kind of conflict unfolded just outside this event’s venue, in Belgrade Road. This dispute centred on the renaming of Wiesbaden Road, a tranquil Victorian side street in Stoke Newington, driven by the anti-German sentiment of the time. Lasting nearly two years, the disagreement saw Stoke Newington Borough Council fiercely resisting the London County Council’s decision to rename the street Belgrade Road. The local council passionately advocated for an alternative name and refused to comply with the LCC’s order. This talk explores the heated dispute between two local authorities that transformed a quiet suburban street into a headline-grabbing controversy, drawing attention both nationally and in Germany.

Amir Dotan () has been deeply interested in the history of Stoke Newington since 2011 and shares his discoveries on , , , . He started '' in 2016.

In this talk, local authority boundary expert Tom Hilverkus will explore the history of South Hornsey, a once-independent local authority incorporated into the newly created Metropolitan Borough of Stoke Newington in 1900. While the name “South Hornsey” is largely forgotten today, it was once a separate entity, with its boundary line running just behind the venue hosting this event. South Hornsey included parts of Stoke Newington’s southern areas, half of Clissold Park, and the area south of Finsbury Park. South Hornsey also had its own Town Hall in Milton Grove, from which the footpath “Town Hall Approach” takes its name. Tom will explain how South Hornsey’s story is closely tied to Stoke Newington’s development, reflecting the changing boundaries and local governance of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This talk will shed light on the history of this forgotten local authority and its influence on the area we know today.

Tom Hilverkus and wider history of local government areas in Inner London since 2010.

Join Tom Walker, Chair of the Abney Park Trust, as he takes you through the £5m restoration of Abney Park, completed in 2024. This landmark project has revitalised one of Stoke Newington’s most significant historical and green spaces, blending conservation, community, and culture. Tom will share the journey behind this ambitious endeavour from the Trust’s perspective, explaining the extensive works undertaken, including the renovation of the Grade II listed chapel, the creation of step-free access, and the introduction of a new cafe, community room, and workshops at the park’s main entrance. This talk will explore the vision and challenges behind the restoration, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, The National Lottery Community Fund, Hackney Council, and supported by Abney Park Trust, highlighting the lasting impact on both the environment and the people of Stoke Newington, as well as visitors from further afield.

Tom Walker is the Executive Director of People, Policy, Economy and Public Health in Essex County Council. He has lived in Stoke Newington for over twenty years and joined the Board in 2018 and became Chair in 2020.

• "Loved your street signs talk last night. In fact all the presenters were great. Thank you so much for your dedication and energy in setting these evenings up." (Graeme)
• "That was a wonderful evening last night. You said it would be special and it was. That chap James talking about electricity he is a star! How can anyone make substations sound interesting. Brilliant. And Mark was just great too. So relaxed and cool and calm. To think that Stokey looked like that at the time I was spending time there. I do not remember anything … we just used to go to the pubs and hear music. No cameras with us of course." (Rachel)
• "Thank you Amir for the wonderful talk tonight. It was all so interesting! Mark and James were great too so please pass on thanks to them for sharing. Look forward to the next one." (Amanda)
• "We thoroughly enjoyed your last gig, we were treated to so much information – too much for my aged brain to retain, so I’m looking forward to seeing the video of the event to refresh my memory." (Alan)
• "Many thanks again for an excellent event. You and your guests help us enjoy and appreciate our common local history and urban landscape in massively entertaining ways." (Julio)

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More videos are available here: https://www.youtube.com/@historyofstokey3342/videos

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

St Matthias Halls, Wordsworth Road, London, United Kingdom