I’m a local historian dedicated to uncovering the captivating history of Stoke Newington; an ancient parish and former Metropolitan Borough that was abolished in 1965 when it was merged with the Metropolitan Boroughs of Shoreditch and Hackney to create the London Borough of Hackney. Since settling here in 2002, I have immersed myself in the exploration of this area’s past, and my journey began in earnest in 2011.
Amir Dotan
Upcoming events
- 12 May 2024, 3pm in Sutton House – Talk at the Hackney History Festival (Tickets go on sale soon)
- 7-9 June 2024 – Talk at the Stoke Newington Literary Festival (Details to be confirmed)
- July 2024 – Stoke Newington History Talks 22 (Details to be confirmed)
Image gallery
Latest blog updates
The 10th edition of of my annual Church Street Shopfront Photo Survey
I’m pleased to share the 10th edition of my annual Church Street shopfronts photo survey, which documents the ever-changing street once a year. You can access a hi-res version here and the previous editions are available here. Nearly half the businesses in Stoke Newington Church Street have changed since the first photo survey back in 2015 (46%). It may sound like a significant turnover, but my research into the history of commercial properties on Stoke Newington Church Street since the 19th century has revealed that since the 1890s, on average, every 8.5 years, the turnover rate has been 53% (median average). Therefore, the change since 2015 is, in fact, below the historical average.
Making an appearance in a Japanese tourist TV programme
On Saturday, 7th April, I had the pleasure of taking part in the filming of a Japanese tourist TV programme. The programme covered Hackney, and I was invited to take part in the segment about Stoke Newington. During an interview in Stoke Newington Church Street, on a bustling early evening, I talked about various topics. These included the different waves of change the area has seen over the years, the history of certain shops in the street, people’s attitudes towards the word ‘Stokey’, and much more.
Showcasing old photos of Stoke Newington in collaboration with Oakwood Estate Agents
I’m constantly looking for new ways to celebrate and share the vibrant history of Stoke Newington, aiming to captivate the interest of those who may not yet be familiar with the area’s rich past. In an exciting development, I’m thrilled to unveil a collaborative venture with Oakwood Estate Agents, an initiative designed to bring the community closer to the heritage that defines Stoke Newington. Our collaboration involves the presentation of historical images of Stoke Newington prominently displayed in the windows of Oakwood Estate Agents. This visual journey through time will serve as a compelling window into the bygone eras of the area, allowing passers-by to connect with the captivating transformations that have shaped Stoke Newington.
07.03.2024 – Stoke Newington History Talks 21
The first Stoke Newington History Talks event of 2024 had a full house, generating £643 for Shakespeare Walk Adventure Playground, bringing the total raised for 13 charities in the last 14 events to £8,789. The event sold out in 12 hours, with 90% of the tickets purchased in the first three hours. It’s great to see such a level of interest in local history, with many regular attendees now joining the events. The event featured talks on Butterfield Green’s history, the Jolly Butchers mural by Iain Bruce, and local Victorian photography studios by Rowan Lennon.
New video interview: I loved living in Stoke Newington
I had the pleasure of sitting down with Greta Tregar, aged 92, and her daughter Janice Shemmings, 70, and hear about their lives in Stoke Newington from the 1930s till the early 1970s when they left the area. In this 13min footage, both fondly reminisce about their experiences in Stoke Newington, sharing cherished memories from their years spent living in the area.
16.11.2023 – Stoke Newington History Talks 20
The 20th Stoke Newington History Talks event, which also marked the 7 year anniversary since the first event in 2016, was a great evening with 100 people in attendance and fascinating talks by Sue Doe and Breda Corish. Ticket sales from the event raised £678 for Sandbrook Community Playgroup, bringing the total raised for 11 charities in the last 13 events to £8,146. Recordings of the three talks will be posted soon. The next event is scheduled for early March 2024.
Recordings of the three talks, as well as the slides and a few photos are available in the ‘Continue Reading’ link below.
Bomb Sites, Public Baths & Gentrification – My Interview with Betty and Jeff Manning
In the third instalment of my video interview series, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Betty and Jeff Manning, lifelong residents of Stoke Newington. In this captivating 14-minute interview, they talk about their formative years in Stoke Newington during the post-World War II era, offering a glimpse into a time when communal public baths were a weekly ritual, and enduring the ‘3 Day Week’ of the 1970s was a reality. This interview is a treasure trove of social history, and I’m both thrilled and appreciative that they allowed me to capture our conversation on video and share it with the world.
From Cottages to Carpark – My interview with Marilyn Ward
On July 25th 2023, I interviewed Marilyn Ward who grew up in the 1950s-70s in a small cul-de-sac named Aldam Place, which was behind Stoke Newington Church Street where Wilmer Place carpark is today. In the interview that was conducted in the carpark, Marilyn Ward brings Aldam Place to life and describes where the cottages were and also where was the tomb of John Wilmer, who lived in a grand house in the High Street adjacent to Aldam Place and famously instructed that he should be buried with a string attached to a bell in the house, in case he was accidentally buried alive.
Survey of Stoke Newington’s 52 heritage street signs
I created an interactive Google Map that marks the location of 52 heritage street signs in the former Borough of Stoke Newington. I define ‘heritage’ in this context according to the sign’s historical context, age or rarity. Often it’s a combination of all those factors. Old, often faded and discoloured street signs are at risk of being removed. and replaced with a modern alternative. I hope this survey will raises awareness of these historical artefacts so they can be protected and in some cases restored.
13.07.2023 – Stoke Newington History Talks 19
Close to 100 people attended the 19th Stoke Newington History Talks event in St Matthias Halls to hear about the transformation of the ‘Castle’ Pumping Station into a climbing centre, the lives of three social campaigners who were imprisoned for their actions and are buried in Abney Park Cemetery and finally, to catch a glimpse of a treasure trove of print material from the 1930s-50’s that was salvaged from a former local print shop.
The Last House Standing – My interview with Marc Caucutt
On July 5th 2023, I had the pleasure of meeting Marc Caucutt, who grew up in 33 Cowper Road, to interview him about the demolition of the street in the late 1970s as part of the development of Butterfield Green. Over 100 Victorian houses, that were occupied, were pulled down to make way for a new public park. In the 15min interview, Marc reflects about his childhood in the 60s and 70s and the difficult period as the east side of the street was demolished and his family home was the last one standing in the street in 1982.
03.06.2023 – Stoke Newington Literary Festival
I had a great time giving a talk at this year’s Stoke Newington Literary Festival in the historic Mildmay Club. 175 people was my biggest audience to date! My talk covered various aspects of Stoke Newington’s rich history using 10 eBay finds. From the story of the Town Hall to a Jewish confectionary works, High St businesses in 1982, the Church St library and much more!
25.05.2023 – Stoke Newington History drop-in session no. 3
It was great meeting people on May 25th who came to Revere the Residence in Stoke Newington Church Street to get their local history questions answered by Nick Perry, Richard Young, Rachel Tobyn and I. As with the first and second sessions, we were presented with a wide range of interesting questions from the history of St Mary’s Lodge in Lordship Road to whether the Hackney Brook runs under the railway line in Rectory Road!
20.04.2023 – Stoke Newington History Talks no. 18
90 people attended the 18th Stoke Newington History Talks event in St Matthias Halls and it was a great evening with talks about local ghost stories, the area’s pre-historic past and rare archeological finds and my talk about local history items I got on eBay.
15.03.2023 – Nerd Nite talk: The Segregated Pub
I had a great time giving a talk at Nerd Nite London titled ‘The Segregated Pub – A History of Class and Gender-based Drinking’. It was my 3rd Nerd Nite talk and it was good being back in a packed Backyard Comedy Club in Bethnal Green.
12.12.2022 – Stoke Newington History Talks no. 17
80 people braved the icy pavements and cold evening to gather in St Matthias Halls for the 17th Stoke Newington History Talks event on Dec 12th. It was great to be back hosting an in-person for the first time since the pandemic and seeing many familiar faces. The event sold out in less than 24 hours, which was amazing.
30.11.2022 – Interview with Liam Davis on Shoreditch Radio
I was invited to talk to Liam Davis about Stoke Newington’s history on his online radio show on Shoreditch Radio. We touched on a variety of topics during a 30min chat such as municipal boundaries, gentrification and Abney Park. You can listen to it here from 28:34min.
22.11.2022 – Stoke Newington History Pop-up #2
The second Stoke Newington History Pop-Up event was held on November 22nd and it was a pleasure meeting people who came to see Nick Perry, Rachel Tobyn and Richard Young and myself to ask us local history questions. From a couple that moved into the area and wanted to learn about the history of their street to a woman who wanted to know the history of the nursery building where she’s working. It was great fun and hopefully we’ll do it again in a the spring.
Local history adviser on BBC’s Antique Roadshow
I helped the director and researcher of BBC’s Antique Roadshow with their research into the history of Clissold Park as part of the filming of three episodes there, which is taking place on July 10th. The first of three episodes filmed in the park was aired on October 9th. The other two episodes will be aired in 2023.
4.10.2022 – Private talk to CAMRA’s London Pubs Group
On October 4th 2022 I had the pleasure of giving a talk to members of CAMRA’s London Pubs Group about Stoke Newington’s lost pubs. It was an extended version of the first part of my recent talk in the Stoke Newington Literary Festival about Stoke Newington’s ‘ghost’ pubs and cinemas. By the way, have you tried my free self-guided walk ‘Stoke Newington’s Lost Pubs’ yet?
01.08.2022 – Interview for Hackney Social Audio podcast
I was interviewed for Hackney Social Audio and talked about my Stoke Newington history hobby. It was good fun and a chance to reflect on the last 9 years since I started this account. You can listen to the interview here from 7:26min into the episode.
05.06.2022 – Stoke Newington Literary Festival talk
On Sunday, June 5th I gave a talk as part of the Stoke Newington Literary Festival about some of Stoke Newington’s lost pubs and cinemas. It was great being in front of an audience for the first time since early March 2020 in the historic Mildmay Club in Newington Green.
Stoke Newington History 