You’ll find on my website about my neighborhood – www.newingtongreen.org – a local history section. I recently discovered a book in the Islington library which details the origins and history of each street done as a retirement project by the reference librarian of Islington’s central library. The book is Streets With a Story by Eric Willats published 1988 by the Islington Local History Education Trust but as far as I know out of print.
I discovered that Poet’s Road (on which I live) is named after Samuel Rogers (who lived at the corner of Ferntower and Newington Green Road). There’s also a connection with Sir John Masefield – the poet laureate from 1930 to 1967 (best known for “I must down to the seas again for the call of the running tide/Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied”) after whom Masefield Court on this street was named
I also learned that the estate near me was built on the site of Dalston Synagogue not during WWII (when as I had heard a bomb dropped on it) but in 1967. I guess it had simply fallen into disuse by that point – I would be interested to hear if anyone else knows anything about it (or anything about Poet’s Road or the history Newington Green area not already mentioned on the website).
go and see Mike Ashpole in Ashpole’s angling shop in Green Lanes. He’s lived here all his life and has a few books and things as well as knowing what old-timers are left here
Comment by greg — 17 June 2003 @ 9:39 am
My grandfather lived and worked at the Dalston Synagogue, I believe as caretaker. I have a very ornate mounted certificate that was presented to my grandparents in 1921 on the occasion of their 25th wedding anniversary by the Synagogue committee (the certificate mentions a cheque, but the amount is unspecified ). I don’t know what dates they were there from and to, but my father spent at least some of his childhood there.
Comment by H J Lowe — 6 April 2004 @ 10:09 pm