The People’s Story of Woodberry Down

“A project to help uncover and celebrate the history of the Woodberry Down Estate over the past 60 years.”

http://woodberrydownpeoplesstory.org/

Contents so far include some great photos of residents in the 1950s, an open invitation to attend their “Memory Shop” and share experiences of living on the estate.

In May, a Guardian feature on the recent radical transformation of Woodberry Down entitled “The truth about gentrification: regeneration or con trick?” produced a very defensive response from the council.

The People’s Story of Woodberry Down is being run by Woodberry Down Community Organisation “in partnership with Eastside Community Heritage, Manor House Development, Genesis Housing Association, Berkeley Group and Hackney Council.” So it will be interesting to see how critical of the council, housing associations and regeneration process the project will be.

10th Sept – Resistance to World War One: Radical History Network meeting

Radical History Network meeting: Resistance to World War One

In the build up to the first world war and throughout the war years there were strikes and industrial disputes, anti-war campaigns, conscientious objections and mutinies. These are the stories of resistance to the war that the official commemorations will not tell you.

What can we learn from those inspirational struggles which might help us to oppose and prevent the obscene wars for profit and power throughout the world which governments and military blocs are continuing to wage 100 years after the so-called ‘war to end all wars’?

Wednesday 10th September, 7:30pm
Wood Green Social Club, 3 Stuart Crescent, N22 5NJ
(off the High Rd, near Wood Green tube)

Speakers:

Nick Heath (Anarchist Federation) “Resistance to World War One”

Jennifer Bell (Hornsey Historical Society / Haringey First World War Peace Forum) “We will not fight! – Conscientious objectors in North London”

PLUS: Discussion on all aspects of local (NE London) resistance to the war as well as the wider national and international context.

http://radicalhistorynetwork.blogspot.co.uk/

Sound Kitchen: Britain’s first recording studio for women

The image above was posted on the Bishopsgate Institute facebook page.

This snippet in The Wire magazine (March 1987) reveals that the studio was underneath the Rio Cinema:

“Sound Kitchen” is a fairly common name for a studio, so it’s hard to find out more. Leave a comment or drop me an email if you used the studio, or have more information!

(thanks once again to Neil Transpontine for the tip off)

I’d encourage everyone to support The Rio (I’m a member) – local independent cinemas are a rare and special thing in 2014. They regularly show films that will be of interest to readers of this blog (for example “Breaking Ground” about the London Irish Women’s Centre in Stoke Newington).

I’d also suggest people to boycott Hackney Picturehouse as part of the campaign for workers at The Ritzy in Brixton to be paid the living wage.