Stoke Newington Church Street

Stoke Newington Church Street is a road in north London in the borough of Hackney. The road links Green Lanes (A105) in the west to Stoke Newington High Street (A10) "formerly Ermine Street," in the east. First noted in 1329, it was recorded as Newington or Newton Lane in 1403, then Church Street in 1576 and as the current name from 1937, making it now the longest street name in Greater London.

With its many attractions, the street and surrounding area is now a destination for visitors from across the world. Abney Park, an arboretum and non-conformist cemetery, has an entrance on the street as does Clissold Park. Also on the street is the municipal town hall and assembly hall of the old Borough of Stoke Newington, both now being refurbished.

There are two churches on the street, both known as Saint Mary’s. The first was built in 1563 and was partially rebuilt in the 19th Century and then again in the 1950s after heavy bomb damage during World War II. The second, newer, church is the impressive 19th Century [http://www.stmaryn16.org/ Saint Mary's New Church] with its 250-foot steeple.

The street has become famous for its large number of public houses and restaurants providing a diverse range of food, drink and entertainment. Some are widely renowned with a good reputations while others offer basic or fast food.

There are a number of licensed venues serving alcohol and hosting live music. For entertainment Ryan’s Bar and the [http://www.theauldshillelagh.co.uk/ Auld Shillelagh] have live music licences. The Daniel Defoe pub (named after a former resident) offers a good range in real ales and has a passable beer garden. For dining, the two [http://www.rasarestaurants.com/ Rasa] restaurants offer Kerala cuisine (Rasa Travancore not being vegetarian), Il Bacio and Il Bacio Express specialise in Italian cuisine and the [http://www.fox-reformed.co.uk/home.html Fox Reformed] provides a high standard of dining. Other popular places include the Spence bakers for a good range of breads, Anglo Asian and Shamsudeen for Asian cuisine.

In addition to public houses and restaurants, the street is also home to a wide range of independent shops and boutiques offering unusual craft items, jewellery, and clothes.

History

Various parts of the street have had different names in the past. On the south side and starting in the west at Green Lanes the section up to Clissold Crescent was the site of Newington Hall. The next section, occupying almost all of the street from Clissold Crescent to Clissold Road, was known as Paradise Row. A large part of Paradise Row is occupied today by Kennaway Estate, in particular Garland House (built 1953) is on the site of The Willows, while Millington House (built 1937) is on the site of Paradise House [ Hackney Archives copies of LCC plans of Kennaway Estate] . Paradise House had a long association with the Quaker community, being the birthplace of Samuel Hoare Jr and later occupied by William Allen. The abolitionist Thomas Clarkson described it as "The very first house in the country, about London, in which I was received and encouraged, in my early pursuits in the cause of the Abolition of the Slave Trade...".Life of William Allen with selections from his correspondence Vol III 1846 pg 210.] Before finally being demolished it housed Paradise House School.

East, beyond the remnants of Paradise Row (now 229-249 Stoke Newington Church Street) up to Clissold Road, was known as Glebe Place. This is now occupied by Gaskin House, Manton House, Thoresby House and Lloyd House, built by the London County Council around the same time as Millington House (all of these blocks of flats are named after former rectors of Stoke Newington ['Index', A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 8: Islington and Stoke Newington parishes (1985), pp. 226-244. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=6594. Date accessed: 13 July 2008. ] ).

The current Spensley Walk was previously Park Crescent. The section from Albion Road to Woodlea Road was Sister's Place and beyond Defoe Road were Abney Place and Langel Place [1868 Ordnance Survey Map of Stoke Newington, The Godfrey Edition.] .

Famous former residents

William Allen - Quaker abolitionist, scientist and Fellow of the Royal Society

Daniel Defoe - author [A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 8, T F T Baker, C R Elrington (Editors), A P Baggs, Diane K Bolton, Patricia E C Croot1985] .