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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => London & Middlesex Lookup Requests => London and Middlesex => England => London & Middlesex Completed Lookup Requests => Topic started by: suzivegemite on Thursday 07 March 13 03:27 GMT (UK)
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Hi
I'm researching London ancestors from Australia and am wondering if anyone can give me some background on the Pickering Street Dwellings at Islington. What exactly are/were they? I'm guessing they were used to house the poor. I did some research on the Peabody buildings and could find heaps but have come up short for the Pickering Street Dwellings, were they similar ?
I hope I posted this in the right spot, soz (sorry) if I didn't
Thanks
S
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Hi
I had a quick look at the London Metropolitan Archives catalogue but couldn't see anything obvious so my best suggestion would be to contact Islington Local Studies Library here
http://www.islington.gov.uk/islington/history-heritage/heritage_lhc/Pages/contactlhc.aspx
Dawn
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Thankyou very much
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Here are extracts from Charles Booth's notebook about Pickering Street as he found it in 1897:
http://booth.lse.ac.uk/notebooks/b348/jpg/107.html
http://booth.lse.ac.uk/notebooks/b348/jpg/110.html
Background here in case you are not familiar with the (wonderful!) Charles Booth archive:
http://booth.lse.ac.uk/static/a/index.html
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Thankyou so much for the links.
I had never heard of the Charles Booth Archive. I can find information about just about every street my ancestors lived in, at the time they lived there, how remarkable. ;D
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From 'Streets with a story: Islington' by Eric Willatts:
'Pickering Street, Essex Road (1847)
In 1970 the street only contained Pickering Street Dwellings which were there as early as 1890 and these disappear by 1971. In 1956 nos 11 to 19 were condemned as unfit for habitation.
Named after Edward Rowland Pickering (1778-1859) of Stone buildings, Chancery Lane'
Mean_genie
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Thank you. I'm getting some terrific information
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*********COMPLETED WITH THANKS***********
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hi s i was interested to read of your research into Pickering st dwellings i until 1969/70 lived in these houses.They were beautiful red brick with lots of windows in the flats and to the stairwells We lived on the top floor of the first block in the street three flats per block as far as i can remember .On the ground floor to the entrance of the street was a little shop selling sweets, milk , fags and papers
Our flat had a coal fire bed rm for dad and mum a living rm bed rm for me and my brother the kitchen was small with a toilet at the back of it .There was no hot running water sept for that heated on the cooker in a pot or kettle.Having mentioned the lack of modern facilities it was always a lovely place to live warm and cosy especially at christmas .Our rent was about ten shillings and six pence 65p in current money.
The street had a great sense of community with most of the kids going to the school at the bottom end of pickering called Charles Lamb ages five- eleven we all played in the street at that time there was quite a lot of derelict buildings to explore and hide .We were the last family to leave the street as they were pulled down in 1970ish i remember those last few months as a ten and half year old looking at all the empty houses and not wanting to leave.
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What a lovely reminiscence and first-hand perspective.
Welcome to Rootchat, DelDec :)
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I lived in Pickering Street, Islington from 1951 - 1967 at number 34 V with my Mum - Doris (Doll) & my Dad George plus my younger brother Tony my name is Paul Lomas, anyone who knew me please do contact me, it was a bit like Peabody buildings with cobbled streets in the early days with gas street lighting, lots of other children & we were always playing out in the streets & back yard.
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Hi Paul just read your message about your time in Pickering St.
I lived at 22c mum Dolldad Fred and older brother Robert (Andrews) lived there 51/2--1969 last in the street to go me and bob both went Charles Lamb infants and juniors I think your in one of bobs school photos at Sayers Croft school trip ?i have many memories but no photos of the street weren't allowed to touch the camera in those days !Cheers Derek Andrews
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Hi Derek
Paul should receive an email notification tht you have posted and hopefully come back soon.
Dawn
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Hi Derek
Great to hear from you, wow! Your brother Robert (Bob) was one of our friends in Pickering Street back in the good old days & we all used to play out together, Bob I think is more my brothers Tony's age but I could be wrong, If my memory serves me well your flat was at the top of the street near 'Fred's' shop which would would all purchase our sweets & drinks from, Bob would remember my dads large van which we all use to sit in the back of plus playing in the back yard with my group, I have lots of names of the other kids in the street but can't seem to remember yourself. I am now 63 & live in Ruislip in Middlesex my brother Tony lives in Nazeing in Essex & my Mum is still around being 86, please do send Bob my best regards & hope that you are all keeping well & if would be great to hear more from you guys about the old days.
All the best
Paul
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Nice story Derek & just how I remember it, bonfire night was also a great time with the bonfire normally at the bottom of the street, kids would collect wood, old beds etc for months, I also went to Charles Lamb School as well as my brother Tony, penny for the guy made us a lot of money to buy fireworks & sweets, also Saturday morning pictures in Essex Road was another treat,
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Hi Paul & Derek
Now that you both have sufficient posts, you can use the personal message system to chat off-forum.
http://www.rootschat.com/help/pms.php
Dawn
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Evening Paul yeah properly was bob as I am (only)57 I live in Hertford and Bob in Devon mums still with us at 91 .
I'll forward your message to Bob I know he'll be iinterested!
I have a few school photos many names and the bonfire nights ! well can you imagine that happening nowadays .
I'll get some things together and contact you again--if you have or know of any photos I'd love to see them ?cheers Derek