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Highbury Quadrant residents, left to right, from back, Lesley Sackey, Ronit Dassa, Les Bailey, Raquel Dassa, Ted Kenny, Joyce Smith, Phyllis Manning, Edna Haynes, Rebecca Hodgson with daughter Hannah and Louise Lord |
The estate no one wants to leave
DVD project charts history of Highbury Quadrant, still home to 100 of its first tenants
IT was a model estate when it was built in 1954, so popular that it is believed up to 100 of its original residents still live there.
Now, the inhabitants of Highbury Quadrant have got together to tell the story of their neighbourhood, with the help of £10,000 in grants.
Neighbours Ronit Dassa and Louise Lord are gathering memories from the estate’s residents to create a DVD, book of memories and an exhibition. Ms Dassa, who has lived in Highbury Quadrant for 28 years, said: “We thought it would be a lovely idea to capture the stories because a lot of the residents have lived here since 1954.”
Highbury Quadrant, designed by London County Council, is set in parkland and was built around existing trees, with play areas and a community hall.
It was much celebrated within the architectural world and attracted visits by Russian officials looking to learn from its design. In 1959, Venetian artist and refugee Siegfried Charoux was commissioned to create a sculpture for the grounds. The Neighbours statue, which is grade II-listed, still stands there today and has given its name to the estate’s Tenants’ and Residents’ Association.
To make their project a reality, Ms Dassa and Ms Lord have the backing of a £1,100 grant from Islington Council’s east area committee and a £9,000 Lottery grant.
Ms Dassa said: “A lot of families moved in here in 1954. It’s important people understand what a special place this is and its history because there’s been so much community activism. On one occasion, they were petitioning for central heating but were getting nowhere until they all turned up to the council with their wet washing.
“As the younger generation talking to the older residents, we find their stories fascinating.”
Ms Lord added: “Ronit’s working on a film of people on the estate that’s going to be turned into a DVD and launched later this year. I’m going to be doing a book about people’s everyday stories and reminding people about their neighbours. These days we know lots from Facebook and MySpace but not necessarily our neighbours.”
She had just managed to interview one woman in her mid-80s before she died.
Neighbour Rebecca Hodgson said: “We’re losing the history of the place because the older residents are dying and we haven’t collected the stories. So many have lived here since 1954. There’s a phrase around here that most people leave this place feet first.”
One of the estate’s longest-standing residents, Joyce Smith, 81, said: “When this estate went up it was unique. We even had a party of Russians come over and look at it. Its recommendation is the fact that I’ve lived here for over 50 years. It’s set in natural lawns and the old trees were retained.
“To me this is not a concrete estate. I feel strongly about people being penned into places like tower blocks because it’s terribly unnatural.”
Anyone wishing to contribute memories to the project can call 07890 950 114 or 07834 526 300. |
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