LoveEast.53

| Walk Hackney with Sean Gubbins
Contrasting ‘19s past
The Hackney Gazette’s review of the year in
December 1919 recalled local flooding, similar to the
horrendous event in north-west Hackney just a few
months ago. Unlike this year, in 1919 the floods were
due not to burst water mains but to the overflowing
River Lea. They made motor and tram traffic
impossible along parts of Lea Bridge Road and
flooded Hackney’s electricity works at Millfields.
As now, there was a housing problem in 1919.
No fewer than 3 million people lived in a state of
overcrowding; 758,000 in London. One street in
Hoxton, reported the Gazette, had 733 people living
in 29 houses, divided into 168 lettings. Innovative
Shoreditch Borough, taking advantage of recent
powers given to councils by the 1919 ‘Homes Fit
For Heroes’ Housing Act, was planning to erect 40
new flats in New North Road (St. Leonard’s Court,
recently demolished).
A sight not familiar to us 100 years on is a terrified
horse galloping down Mare Street. Just before 1919
ended a tramcar collided with, and overturned, a
horse-drawn van near Hackney Station. Extricating
itself, the horse bolted. PC Herbert Dignan (of 108,
Graham Road) dutifully tried to apprehend the
animal but was knocked down in the process and
recuperated at the German Hospital.
As the New Year approached, had a young woman
come to Hackney for a job, she might have taken
this one of many advertised in the Hackney Gazette:
daily servant in Stamford Hill at 15 shillings (75p,
or about £42 in today’s money), per week, with
two hours off per day. Had her “beau” followed her
to Hackney, he could have worked as an Ostrich
Feather apprentice at up to 17 shillings and sixpence
(17/6) per week, taking a front room in a house close
by, with use of gas ring, for 6/6 per week.
To celebrate the festive season, they might have
gone to see Noni and Horace Nathano Bros in
comedy at the Hackney Empire with Toni Hearn, the
Lazy Juggler. Or maybe she would have preferred
to see the comedy drama Men Happy Though
Married featuring Enid Bennett at the Alexandra
Cinema Theatre, Stoke Newington Road, while he
went with his mates to play billiards on 10 of the
‘finest tables’ at 134 Kingsland Road. Had they been
24 LOVEEAST
Image: Sean Gubbins
able to afford it, they could have hired a 6-seater
‘motor Landaulette’ from Coles in Southgate Road
for a Christmas outing with friends. In answer to its
appeal for funds, at this time of giving, the couple
might have spared a few pennies for the struggling
Metropolitan Hospital.
Just as the Hackney Gazette signed off its last
editorial of 1919, I too wish you, “A Happy and
Prosperous New Year. May it be abundantly realised
in the experience of all.”
Looking for something to do one weekend?
Intrigued to find out more about Hackney?
Look up walkhackney.co.uk and pick a walk
that takes your fancy. The next four are in this
edition's What's On section. I look forward to
welcoming you on one of my walks.