https://savingclissoldpark.com Clissold Park, the jewel at the heart of Stoke Newington wouldn’t exist if it hadn’t been for a passionate local campaign in the 1880s to save to then private estate from development. As the last remaining open space in the area, the prospect of losing it to the “jerry builder” prompted concerned local residents to mobilise and lobby various bodies to raise the funds to purchase the park for the public. The story of the turbulent campaign can now be told for the first time in vivid and dramatic detail through the recent discovery of press clippings, letters and maps, all kept by Joseph Beck, the chief campaigner and faithfully preserved by his family for over 127 years.

1. How Clissold Park was Saved by the Public, for the Public
Amir Dotan
twitter.com/HistoryOfStokey
SavingClissoldPark.com

3. The extraordinary archive in the attic

4. 175 items
The extraordinary archive in the attic

5. This is Stoke Newington

6. This is Clissold Park

7. This is Clissold Park

8. Photo by twitter.com/DroneN16
This is Clissold Park

9. Photo by twitter.com/DroneN16
This is Clissold Park

10. Photo by twitter.com/DroneN16
This is Clissold Park

11. This is Clissold Park

12. 1741

14. 1790

15. 1790
Photo taken 1876

16. Abney House
Fleetwood House
Daniel Defoe’s house
Paradise House
Paradise House
191 High Street
Not your typical Stoke Newington mansion
109 Church Street

17. 1791

18. 1798
Photo taken 1876
MORTGAGED

19. 1800

20. 1804

21. 1811

23. 1821

25. 1829

26. 1835

27. 1865

28. 1877

31. 1882

32. 1882
OPEN ON
WEEKENDS!

33. 1884
“Do you think any of the public bodies competent to purchase
would be likely to listen to any proposition - say for the leasehold
and house and grounds - a total of about 35 acres comprising the
river and all the beautiful trees; the residue of say 19 acres being
retained by me for building purposes? What public bodies are
competent?”

34. 1886

37. The Victorian Open Spaces Movement
John Stuart Mill
(1806–1873)
Lord Eversley
(1831–1928)
William Morris
(1834–1896)
Sir Robert Hunter
(1844–1913)
Octavia Hill
(1838–1912)
Canon Rawnsley
(1851–1920)
Lord Brabazon
(1841–1929)

38. ‘The lungs of the metropolis’
Open Spaces

40. “We need to
preserve the few remaining
spots as breathing spaces for the
inhabitants of our overcrowded
streets and teeming
alleys.”

41. Joseph Beck CC
Barton House, Albion Road, Stoke Newington
Optical & Microscope Manufacturer
Chairman of the Coal, Corn and Finance Committee of the Corporation of London
Member of the Court of Common Council
Stoke Newington Vestry
Chairman of the Clissold Park Preservation Committee
Governor of St. Thomas’ Hospital
A member of the Council of the City of Guilds Institute
A member of the Thames Conservancy Board
Her Majesty’s Lieutenant for the City of London
Representatives of the Corporation on the governing bodies of the City Parochial Charities
Representatives of the Corporation of London on the River Lean Conservancy
Traveller & Mountaineer
Cyclist

43. John Howard
(1726–1790)
Founder of the
prison reform movement
William Allen
(1770–1843)
Quaker, abolitionist,
pioneer of girls' education
James Stephen
(1758–1832)
Slavery abolitionist
Samuel Morley MP
(1809–1886)
Philanthropist and abolitionist
George William Alexander
(1802–1890)
Quaker, Founding Treasurer of
the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society
Samuel Hoare Jr
(1751–1825)
Quaker and abolitionist
Anna Laetitia Barbauld
(1743– 1825)
Poet, essayist, abolitionist
James William Freshfield
(1774– 1864)
Politician, abolitionist
Stoke Newington, Social reform & Equality

44. Quakers, social welfare and environmental activism
1926 - Quakers begin the Allotment
Gardens for the Unemployed
scheme in South Wales
The Cadburys were concerned with the health and
fitness of their workforce and incorporated park and
recreation areas into Bournville village (1890s)

45. Charles Booth’s Poverty Map - 1898

47. Mobilising the troops

49. £95,000 providing the purchase was completed by September 29th 1886
The clock was ticking
4% annual interest till completion = £3,800

52. Ask the Metropolitan Board of Works to purchase the park
Plan A - Mid 1886

53. Parish of
St. Mary Stoke
Newington
(Within the
metropolis)Parish of
South Hornsey
(Outside the metropolis)
Half the park was outside the Metropolitan area (i.e. the metropolis)
Problem

54. Hackney District
Board of Works
Islington
Clissold
Park
Ask the Metropolitan Board of Works to contribute half of the amount: £50,000
Plan B - Late 1886

55. Clissold
Park
Ask the Charity Commissioners to contribute the other half: £47,500
Plan B - Late 1886
* The Charity Commissioners contributed £50,000 towards the purchase of Hampstead Heath

57. 400 pages 30 signatures per page 120 meter long
The Petition

61. 2. Feb 1st 1887
3. Feb 7th 1887
1. Jan 31st 1887
4. May 5th 1887
5. May 13th 1887
7. Jul 14th 1887
8. Jul 16th 1887
9. Jul 19th 1887
6. May 17th 1887

63. HackneyIslington
Clissold
Park
The Metropolitan Board of Works would only contribute £25,000
Problem

64. In 1887, at the age of 58, Joseph Beck underwent a very painful
and serious operation for cancer of the tongue. The cancerous part
of the tongue was removed. Joseph had to learn to speak again
almost from scratch.

65. Ask local parishes to contribute the rest
Plan C - Late 1887

66. The Islington Vestry was prepared to eventually contribute only £2,500
Problem

68. 1 farthing = 1⁄960 Pound Sterling

69. 50 year loan

75. Considering alternatives

76. Ask Hackney to contribute £5,000
Plan D - Mid 1888

78. £5,000 interest was due
Problem

79. Happy ending

84. 125 years later…