The Hunter memorial organ at St Mellitus is one small part of Stroud Green’s rich and ecclectic history. To celebrate it we’ve teamed up with Islington Guided Walks to create two podtours. The first is a walking tour that delves into N4’s diverse musical heritage; the second – a cycling tour, but also possible to take on foot – reveals, through some of the stories of the soldiers commemorated by the organ, what the area was like at the time of the First World War.
Both are designed to be taken on location as guided walks / a cycle ride, but they also work as documentaries you can listen to, and follow on a map, from the comfort of your home.
GREAT TO PEDAL! STROUD GREEN AT THE TIME OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR
A group of archive volunteers have been researching the stories of the soldiers commemorated by the memorial organ at St Mellitus. Through these stories, this podtour will transport you back to Stroud Green at the time of the First World War. Designed to be taken on two wheels, the tour can also be walked. Pace yourself, the route is quite hilly! During the tour, you will:
- visit the home addresses of some of the soldiers commemorated by the organ and find out about their lives and military service;
- learn about the area’s reputation as a hotbed for conscientious objection;
- hear from Chris Taft, Head of Collections at the Postal Museum, about an enormous, temporary sorting office built to cope with the extra mail sent during the war.
If you are cycling or walking with us, take a screengrab on your mobile of the map in the photo gallery below, download the podtour and head to the corner of Upper Tollington Park and Stroud Green Road, opposite Nando’s, where Oonagh Gay and Paul Sinclair of Islington Guided Walks are waiting to tell you all about Stroud Green at the time of the First World War.
You can download the podcast by clicking here
It is also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts (iTunes)
TAKE A WALKING TOUR OF STROUD GREEN’S MUSICAL HERITAGE
Focusing on the musical heritage of the African-Caribbean, Greek Cypriot and Irish communities in the area, you will:
- visit the site of a piano factory, a former music hall and studios belonging to the oldest independent record label in the world;
- hear about ‘jelly mould’ cinema organs and some of the memorable performances at Finsbury Park’s iconic Rainbow Theatre;
- local residents – Sarah White of the George Padmore Institute; Alice Georgeou, whose father ran a cafe on Hornsey Road; and Geri Caulfield who saw The Pogues play at the now demolished Sir George Robey pub – also share their musical memories.
If you are walking with us, take a screengrab on your mobile of the map in the photo gallery below, download the podtour and head to St Mellitus Church on the corner of Tollington Park and Evershot Road, where Oonagh Gay and Susan Hahn of Islington Guided Walks are waiting to tell you all about N4’s fascinating musical past.
You can download the podcast by clicking here
It is also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts (iTunes)
