The Shops of Somers Town: Walk April 2017

Sainsbury's at the corner of Churchway and Chalton street.

Here are some photos from our walk with the Somers Town History Club. The walk took place at the beginning of April and was led by George Sharp, a local resident who shared his fantastic memories of all of the shops that used to stand on Chalton Street during his youth in the 1940s, 1950s… Continue reading The Shops of Somers Town: Walk April 2017

Welcome to 2017

Postcard with then and now - Polygon then and Oakshott Court today.

We launched (again) for our second year 2017 with a great storytelling event – each postcard brought to life through a personal story behind the photo – some real details about life in old Somers Town, and a description of our new film project for 2017 with the START Festival film. Here’s a few photos of the event…

A great party – and history postcards

Awaiting the answers.

The History Club’s first Christmas party went very well with a quiz, a raffle, mulled wine and singalong. And a set of postcards available to commemorate our first year. The winning team pipped the post with a thorough knowledge of old pubs – guess who? No, not Roger Robinson – but locals Dave and Alan. Prizes… Continue reading A great party – and history postcards

Quiz night soon!

It’s coming soon….Pit your wits against our finest quiz master…with Somers Town questions from all our events this year at our Christmas knees up on Wednesday the 7th December 2016. NEWS: We have produced a set of commemorative postcards about each of the events this year – you can get your hands on the pack… Continue reading Quiz night soon!

Published
Categorised as Event

A funereal Halloween

The real meaning and origin of Halloween, ‘Hallow tide’, its pagan origins, links in Day of the dead, funerals and the movement of graves was covered in November’s event. With a quiz, an enlightening talk by warden Racheal from Old St Pancras Church, and a history from Andrew from Levertons, the longstanding family of local undertakers to Princess… Continue reading A funereal Halloween

Squatting event a success

This week’s talk on housing and squatting in Somers Town was thought-provoking – thanks to Esther Leslie’s meticulous research we had rare archival material, Pathe films of post-war squatting, all of which gave context to what happened here. There were first-hand accounts by those who squatted here – in fact, two ex-squatters were reunited after 30 years.… Continue reading Squatting event a success

Rare accounts of rent strike

Our event on the rent strike brought stories from those who experienced it first hand – always fascinating but, in this case, spell-binding as we heard about barricades, battles and bottles being thrown, and police with batons attacking protestors. A film was shown for the first time with recordings of the protestors, including Cllr Roger Robinson,… Continue reading Rare accounts of rent strike

Published
Categorised as Talk

Next event: Rent strike

It’s the 31st and Cllr Roger Robinson will be telling his story of the St Pancras Rent Strike! be there… Basil Jellicoe Community Hall 6pm Wednesday 31 August 2016

Literary talk a success!

Frankenstein, Shelley and Literary friends on the 3rd August was our best attended event and the sun came out! Thanks to the thrilling accounts from tour guide Lester Hillman, social historian Deborah Lanvin and academic Esther Leslie, we learnt that body snatching, radical thought, women’s rights had their origins right here in Somers Town – and… Continue reading Literary talk a success!