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On the night of 13/14 October 1940 the local people
of Stoke Newington had gone to their air raid shelters as the German airforce attacked the
East End of London. Many people took shelter that night in the basement of Four Per Cent
Industrial Dwellings Society at Coronation Avenue, 157-61 Stoke Newington Road.
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84 Stoke Newington Church Street
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A large high explosive bomb landed on the five storey building totally demolishing the
building on top of the basement. The water main burst and flooded the basement while fires
raged in the remains. Despite heroic efforts to clear a way through the debris, one
hundred and seventy-three men, women and children lost their lives in this one event. This
was the highest single loss of life right across the boroughs of Stoke Newington, Hackney
and Shoreditch during World War Two.
Shortly after the bombing, the Hackney Gazette reported the event but could not release
details because of censorship reasons. It reported, 'On Friday the King and Queen...paid
an informal visit to an area where there had been casualties owing to a bomb demolishing a
block of tenements underneath which was a shelter.
Accompanied by the Mayor, their Majesties quietly toured the neighbourhood to inspect war
damage. Arriving at the damaged flats, they watched the rescue and demolition workers and
men of the Pioneer Corps at work, and chatted with relatives of raid victims and several
of the flat dwellers. The crowd sang "God Save the King". Both King and Queen
expressed their heartfelt sympathy for those who had become casualties and their thanks to
all who had helped in rescue work.'
The Borough of Stoke Newington erected the monument in Abney Cemetery in honour of those
who lost their lives. In the Borough of Stoke Newington during the war 204 people were
killed and identified, 6 presumed dead, 10 killed and unidentified, and over 1000 injured.
So what's in a name? We all tend to take street names for granted
but each in its own way marks a particular person or an event in time. Here are a few
local examples.
Abney Gardens and Abney Park Terrace Sir Thomas Abney who became Lord
of the Manor of Stoke Newington in 1700.
Albion Road The use of Albion in naming streets became very popular
around the country and reflected the wave of patriotism which followed Napoleon's threat
to invade Britain.
Barbauld Road Anna Letitia Barbauld was a well-known member of the
Stoke Newington literary circle in the late 18th / early 19th century.
Burma Road Honours the formation of Burma as a single province within
the British Empire in 1886.
Clissold Crescent / Road The Rev. Augustus Clissold, curate of St
Mary's. Clissold Crescent was formerly known as Park Lane.
Defoe Road The road runs through what used to be the grounds of Daniel
Defoe's house. |
Edwards Lane Job Edwards was the 18th Century builder
of Church Row. This row of houses was demolished to provide space for Stoke Newington
TownHall.
Manor Road Marks the northern boundary of what was the Manor of Stoke
Newington.
Northwold Road Commemorates the village of Northwold in Norfolk, which
was the country home of Lady Amhurst of Hackney.
Palatine Road In memory of properties which had housed the Palatine
Refugees in 1709.
Queen Elizabeth's Walk It is believed that Queen Elizabeth I visited
the Manor House and used to walk through the grounds of the house into the fields beyond.
Town Hall Approach Connects Albion Road to Milton Grove, where the
first Stoke Newington Town Hall was built.
Many of the roads to the south of Church Street honour poets and writers including
Milton(Grove), Shakespeare(Walk) and Wordsworth (Road). Wordsworth Road was formerly known
as Cut Throat Lane when it existed as part of a footpath from Newington to Shacklewell. |
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