London Borough of Hackney 93937 225388368 2008-07-13T12:24:15Z Kbthompson 1621071 /* Borough of contrasts */ gun & knife crime claim - see talk page {{ Infobox London Borough | name = London Borough of Hackney | short_name = Hackney | imagename = Image:LondonHackney.png | status = [[London borough]] | area_rank = 349th | area_km2 = 19.06 | ons_code = 00AM | adminhq = Mare Street, Hackney | ethnicity = 48.4% White, including:<br>'' 22.1% White British<br> 3.1% White Irish<br> 9.2% White non-British''<br>32.7% [[Black British]]<br>9.6% [[British Asian|South Asian]]<br>4.2% [[Mixed Race]]<br> 1.2% [[British Chinese|Chinese]] | url = [http://www.hackney.gov.uk/ LB Hackney] | leadership = Mayor & Cabinet | mayor = [[Jules Pipe]] [[CBE]] | mps = [[Diane Abbott]] <br> [[Meg Hillier]] | gla_constituency = North East London | gla_member = [[Jennette Arnold]] }} '''The London Borough of Hackney''' ({{audio|En-uk-LBHackney.ogg|pronunciation}}) is a [[London borough]] in [[East London, England|East London]], and forms part of [[inner London]]. == Borough of contrasts== Between 1999 and 2001 serious concerns were expressed about Hackney's performance as a council by the [[Audit Commission]], and many aspects of council services were failing.<ref name=audit/> This led to considerable negative press coverage that still colours perceptions of the area, but is at odds with the changing realities of the borough. In 2005, [[MORI]] identified that residents were significantly more satisfied than they had been in 2002, and in 2007 the Audit Commission showed that improvements continue to be made in council performance, with the council now achieving 'three stars', and described as 'improving strongly'<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/07_02_08_London_councils.pdf ''City's councils get top ratings'' (BBC News)] 7 February accessed 8 Feb 2008</ref>. While every ward remains among the 10% most deprived in the country, with 47% of children living in low income households, the ethnic diversity of the area creates a vibrant inner city area of [[London]]<ref name=audit>[http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/Products/CPA-CORP-ASSESS-REPORT/4EDFC845-9AD0-49BE-9840-E8033258CC58/HackneyCAREP.pdf ''Corporate Assessment Report: London Borough of Hackney'' (The Audit Commission August 2006)] accessed 4 Dec 2007</ref>. Hackney has a reputation as one of the most crime-affected London boroughs, but cooperation between local police and council has resulted in the borough experiencing a bigger drop in crime than in any other London borough in the four year period up to 2007 (28% reduction)<ref>[http://www.hackney.gov.uk/hackney-today-157-part1.pdf ''Hackney Today'' '''157''' 23 April 2007] accessed 6 June 2007</ref>. The south western tip of the borough is adjacent to the [[City of London|City]] and close to the [[Broadgate]] development. In this area some office development has taken place within the borough boundary. Also in the south west is [[Hoxton]] and [[Shoreditch]] which are central to the [[London arts scene]] and home to numerous clubs, bars, shops and restaurants, much of which is centred on [[Hoxton Square]]. The development of Shoreditch and Hoxton caused land value to increase in the area such that developers looked to other parts of the borough for development. Much of Hackney is inner-city in character and in places like [[Dalston]] large [[Council house|housing estates]] now sit side-by-side with [[gated community|gated communities]]. The historical and administrative heart of Hackney is the area roughly surrounding and extending north from Mare Street known as [[Hackney Central]]. Hackney Town Hall Square has been developed as a new 'creative quarter'. Surrounding the public square itself is the Ocean music venue, a new Library, Technology and Learning Centre, Hackney Museum and the refurbished [[Hackney Empire]]. A new town hall complex is being built behind the existing building. [[South Hackney]] abuts [[Victoria Park, East London|Victoria Park]] (which is in neighbouring [[London Borough of Tower Hamlets|Tower Hamlets]]) and terraced [[Victorian era|Victorian]] and [[Edwardian era|Edwardian]] housing stock has survived in the area. To the north of the borough is [[Clapton]], [[Stamford Hill]] and [[Stoke Newington]]. To the east is the large open space of the [[Hackney Marshes]] and the districts of [[Hackney Wick]] and [[Homerton]]. There is some declining light industry around the [[River Lea]] (the eastern boundary) and land is planned to be re-used for the [[2012 Summer Olympics]], making the area one of the Host Boroughs for the games. There are 1,300 [[listed building]]s in Hackney, including the iconic grade II* Hackney Empire, [[Tudor period|Tudor]] [[Sutton House]], and the grade I medieval [[St Augustine's Tower Hackney|St Augustine's tower]]. The Borough contains 25 [[conservation area]]s including [[Clapton Square]], and many [[Hackney parks and open spaces|urban open-spaces]] including Clapton Common and [[Clissold Park]]. Conservation areas also protect large areas of [[Georgian era|Georgian]] and [[Victorian era|Victorian housing]], and areas of industrial heritage.<ref><cite>[http://www.hackneysociety.org/ Hackney Society photographic survery] accessed 23 Jan 2007</ref> == History == [[Image:st augustines tower.jpg|thumb|[[St Augustine's Tower Hackney|St Augustine's Tower]]. Dating back to the 13th century, this is Hackney's oldest building. It is all that remains of the original medieval parish church, which was demolished in the late 18th century (September 2005)]] The borough was formed in [[1965]] from the area of the former [[metropolitan borough]]s of [[Metropolitan Borough of Hackney|Hackney]], [[Metropolitan Borough of Shoreditch|Shoreditch]] and [[Metropolitan Borough of Stoke Newington|Stoke Newington]]. The new council adopted elements of its constituents in the new coat of arms; Shoreditch by three bells from [[St Leonard's, Shoreditch|Shoreditch Church]] (recalled in the rhyme ''[[Oranges and Lemons]]''), Stoke Newington by two trees bearing fruit, and Hackney by the eight pointed cross of the principal landowners of the [[Hackney (parish)|parish]] in the middle-ages, the [[Knights Hospitaller|Order of St John of Jerusalem]]. The shield is surmounted by a representation of [[St Augustine's Tower Hackney|St Augustin's Tower]], the remains of Hackney's former parish church in the [[Hackney Central|historical centre of Hackney]]. The motto is ''Justitia turris nostra'', translated as ''Being fair is what makes us strong''<ref>Details extracted from a council information sheet - May 2007</ref>. The [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen's]] portrait hangs in the council chamber, wearing the robes of the [[Venerable Order of Saint John]]. Individual parts of the borough have a rich history. The [[Roman Britain|Roman]] road, [[Ermine Street]] forms the western edge of the borough. Much of the rest of the land was covered with open oak and hazel woodlands, with marshland around the rivers and streams that crossed the area. Hackney lay in the Catevallauni tribal territory<ref>[http://www.brickfields.org.uk/text/roman-landscape.html Roman Landscape (Brickfields Building Exploratory)] accessed 10 May 2007</ref>. The eastern boundary of the borough is formed by the [[River Lee (England)|River Lee]]. This was an ancient boundary between pre-Roman tribes, and in the Roman era, was tidal as far as [[Hackney Wick]] and continued as the boundary between the [[Historic counties of England|historic counties]] of [[Middlesex]] and [[Essex]]. In the [[Tudor era|Tudor period]] the lands of the religious order were [[Dissolution of the Monasteries|seized]] and Hackney became a retreat for nobility around [[Hackney Central]] and [[Homerton]], including [[Henry VIII]]'s palace by the [[Lower Clapton|Lee Bridge roundabout]], where [[BSix Sixth Form College|Brooke House School]] stands today<ref name=to1800><cite> [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=22694 'Hackney: Settlement and Building to c.1800', A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 10: Hackney (1995), pp. 10-4] Date accessed: 02 Oct 2006</ref>. [[Sutton House]], on Homerton High Street, is the oldest surviving dwelling in Hackney, originally built as ''Bryck Place'' for Tudor diplomat [[Ralph Sadleir|Sir Ralph Sadleir]] in 1535. The village of Hackney flourished from the Tudor to late Georgian periods as a rural retreat &ndash; brought to an end by the construction of the railway in the 1850s. Notable residents have included [[Thomas Sutton]], [[Samuel Courtauld (industrialist)|Samuel Courtauld]], [[Joseph Priestly]], a governor of the [[Bank of England]] and the founding director of the [[Honourable East India Company]]. London's first [[English Renaissance theatre|Tudor theatres]] were built in [[Shoreditch]] and the [[Gunpowder Plot]] was first exposed at nearby [[Hoxton]]<ref><cite>[http://www.parliament.uk/documents/upload/g08.pdf Houses of Parliament factsheet on event] accessed 6 Mar 2007</cite></ref>. Many grand houses stood in [[Stoke Newington]] and [[Stamford Hill]], with the latter providing a haven for Hackney's many orthodox [[Jewish people|Jewish]] residents from the 1930s. [[Alfred Hitchcock]] made many of his first films in Hoxton at the [[Gainsborough Studios]] in Poole street<ref>[http://www.hackney.gov.uk/servapps/visit/data/vi_vill4.htm Visiting Hackney] accessed 10 May 2007</ref>. After industrialisation, extensive post-war development and immigration the area is now gentrifying its large stock of Georgian and Victorian terraces and new apartments, warehouse conversions and period restorations are being built<ref>[http://www.channel4.com/4homes/ontv/best&worst/2007/Hackney-Best-Worst-One-Year-Later-2.html ''Location, Location: Best and Worse Hackney One Year On'' (Channek 4 TV)] accessed 7 Nov 2007</ref>. Despite development it is inner London's 'greenest borough' and London Transport's 'best bike borough 2006'<ref>[http://www.hackney.gov.uk/print/xc-news-april06-bestbike.htm ''Hackney wins best bike borough'' (LBH Press release, 6 April 2006)] accessed 7 Nov 2007</ref>, with 62 parks and open spaces, covering {{convert|815|acre|km2|1}}<ref>[http://www.hackney.gov.uk/cp-community-parks.htm ''Parks department'' (LB Hackney)] accessed 7 Nov 2007</ref>. [[Hackney Marshes]] play host to the largest collection of football pitches in Europe; and will be the site of part of the [[2012 Summer Olympics]]. ==Council== [[Image:hackney town hall 1.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Hackney Town Hall was built in the 1930s for the old [[Metropolitan Borough of Hackney|Metropolitan Borough]]. (October 2005)]] {{main|Politics of Hackney}} Unlike most other English local authorities, the Borough is now governed by a [[Elected mayors in the United Kingdom|directly-elected Mayor]] who is also the political leader of the council. The Mayor – currently [[Jules Pipe]] [[CBE]] – is supported by a Cabinet, Councillors and a Speaker, currently Councillor Ian Rathbone, who fulfils the civic and ceremonial duties previously undertaken by the (non-political) mayor<ref>[http://www.hackney.gov.uk/index.htm/l-mayor-cabinet-councillors/l-speaker.htm The Speaker of Hackney Council] accessed 21 May 2007</ref>. At the [[Hackney Council election 2006|Hackney Council election]] on [[4 May]], [[2006]] the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] were returned with 44 councillors, winning one seat and losing one. The [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] forms the largest opposition party on the council with nine councillors, the [[Liberal Democrats]] have three, and for only the second time a candidate from the [[Green Party of England and Wales|Green Party]] was elected<ref>[http://www.hackney.gov.uk/index.htm/l-elections-publishing-results/elections-results/ Mayor and Council Elections 2006] accessed 10 May 2007</ref>. == Demographics of Hackney == The [[United Kingdom Census 2001|2001 census]] gives Hackney a population of 202,824.<ref><cite>Statistics for ethnicity[http://www.statistics.gov.uk/STATBASE/ssdataset.asp?vlnk=8919], country of birth[http://www.statistics.gov.uk/STATBASE/ssdataset.asp?vlnk=8279], and religion[http://www.statistics.gov.uk/STATBASE/ssdataset.asp?vlnk=8288] are from the [[UK census]].</cite></ref> The population is ethnically diverse. Of the resident population, 89,490 (44%) people describe themselves as White British. 30,978 (15%) are in other White [[ethnic group]]s, 50,009 (25%) are Black or Black British, 17,414 (9%) are Asian or Asian British, 8,501 (4%) describe themselves as 'Mixed', and 6,432 (3%) as Chinese or Other. There is also a large [[Turkish people|Turkish]] population in Hackney, mainly whom are [[Turkish Cypriot]]. Turkish-speaking communities are located in all parts of the Borough, though there is a greater concentration in North and Central parts of the Borough. [[Stoke Newington]], [[Newington Green]] and [[Dalston]] have the greatest concentration of population and in particular [[Green Lanes]], running from [[Manor House]] down to Newington Green Roundabout, has a high concentration of businesses and shops. 132,931 (66%) of the resident population were born in the UK. A further 10,095 (5%) were born in other parts of Europe, and the remaining 59,798 (29%) born elsewhere in the world. The 2001 census also shows Christianity is the biggest religion in Hackney, with (44%) Christian; (18%) Muslim; (4%) Jewish; and (3%) belong to other religions. A further (19%) stated no religion, and (12%) did not state a religion. 32% of householders are owner–occupiers. ==Education==<!-- This section is linked from [[Finsbury Park]] --> {{see|List of schools in the London Borough of Hackney}} In 2002, the borough entered into a ten year contract with the ''Learning Trust'', an independent collaborative body that organises education for Hackney's 27,000 pupils in over 70 schools, nurseries and play centres. The trust was set up in response to an [[OFSTED]] report that identified failings in the then existing system<ref>[http://www.learningtrust.co.uk/about_us/history.aspx Learning Trust history] accessed 5 May 2007</ref>. Two of London's most successful City Academies are in Hackney with another two in development and plans to rebuild or renovate every other Hackney school by 2016. == Transport== Hackney is currently poorly served by London Underground services. Only one station, [[Manor House tube station|Manor House]] is located in the Borough, on its extreme north-westen fringe on the boundary with [[London Borough of Haringey|Haringey]]. [[Old Street tube station|Old Street]] sits only a few yards south-west of the Borough in [[London Borough of Islington|Islington]]. [[Transport for London]] is extending the [[East London Line]] northwards through the borough, reusing some of the abandoned line between [[Dalston Junction railway station|Dalston Junction]] and [[Broad Street station (London)|Broad Street]], with stations planned at [[Shoreditch High Street station|Shoreditch High Street]], [[Hoxton station|Hoxton]], [[Haggerston station|Haggerston]] and [[Dalston Junction railway station|Dalston Junction]]. When complete, in June 2010, the line will be handed over to [[London Overground]], who will run services from Hackney to South London. The [[North London Line]] is operated by TfL, as a part of the [[London Overground]]. The [[Lea Valley Lines]] also passes through Hackney: [[Image:Hackney sunset.jpg|thumb|right|250px|A busy sunset over Graham Road, [[Hackney Central]] (19 September 2005—3 days before the autumnal equinox)]] === London Overground === {{Nearest Over|intro='''[[North London line]]''' Travelling west to east -|Dalston Kingsland|Hackney Central|Homerton|Hackney Wick}} {{Nearest Over|intro='''[[East London Railway]]''' (opening June 2010) Travelling north to south -|Dalston Junction|Haggerston|Hoxton|Shoreditch High Street}} === Lea Valley Lines === :''Hackney stations (north to south)'' * [[Stamford Hill railway station]] * [[Stoke Newington railway station]] * [[Rectory Road railway station]] * [[Clapton railway station]] * [[Hackney Downs railway station]] * [[London Fields railway station]] == Districts and postcodes== {{see|List of districts in the London Borough of Hackney}} == Notable associated people == {{see|List of people associated with the London Borough of Hackney}} == Cultural attractions and institutions == * [[Arcola Theatre]] (Theatre performance) * [http://www.cell.org.uk/ Cell Project Space] (Studio rental and gallery) * Chat's Palace Arts Centre (Community based arts and performance) * [[The Circus Space]] (International circus school and performance space) * [http://www.clowns-international.co.uk/Our.Gallery.htm Clowns' Gallery, Museum and Archive] * [[Dalston]] Culture House (which includes the Vortex Jazz Club) * [http://www.flowerseast.com/ Flowers East] (Commercial gallery) * The [[Geffrye Museum]] (Domestic rooms through the ages, presented in an 18th century Alms House) * The [[Hackney Empire]] * [http://www.hackney.gov.uk/cm-museum The Hackney Museum] (Local history museum) * [http://www.hackney.gov.uk/index.htm/ca-archives.htm Hackney Archives] (Local archives - booking essential) * [http://www.hackneysociety.org.uk/Intro.htm The Hackney Society] * [http://www.hoxtonhall.co.uk/ Hoxton Hall] (Community centre & performance space in Victorian [[Music Hall]]) * [[INIVA]] (The Institute for New International Visual Arts) * [http://www.lux.org.uk/index.html The Lux Cinema] (Cinema closed, collection moved to Shacklewell Lane) * [http://www.riocinema.ndirect.co.uk/ The Rio Cinema] * [http://www.spacestudios.org.uk/ Space Studios] (studio space for artists, and exhibitions) * [[Sutton House]] (Heritage house and museum owned by the [[National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty|National Trust]]) * [http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/terns2/index.htm The Reservoirs Nature Society (TeRNS)] * [[Transition Gallery]] (Commercial gallery) * [http://www.victoria-miro.com/Victoria Miro] (Commercial gallery) * The [[White Cube]] (Commercial gallery) ==References== {{reflist|2}} == External links == {{commonscat|Hackney}} * [http://www.hackney.gov.uk/] Official site of Hackney council. *[http://www.hackneyconservatives.com Hackney Conservative Party] Links to Conservative Councillors, London Assembly Members and MEPs *[http://www.hackney-labour.org.uk/ Hackney Labour Party] Links to Labour Councillors, London Assembly Members and MEPs *[http://www.hackneylibdems.org.uk/ Hackney Liberal Democrats] Links to Liberal Democrat Councillors, London Assembly Members and MEP *[http://hackney.greenparty.org.uk/ Hackney Green Party] Links to Green Councillor, London Assembly Members and MEP *[http://hackneyindependent.org Hackney Independent] Link to Hackney Independent Party *[http://www.hackneyrfc.co.uk Hackney Rugby Football Club] *[http://www.hackneysociety.org/ The Hackney Society (Heritage Conservation)] *[http://hoop.ground-level.org/about Hackney Walks] *[http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/terns2/index.htm The Reservoirs Nature Society (TeRNS)] *[http://www.learningcurve.gov.uk/tudorhackney/localhistory/loch.asp Tudor Life in Hackney (National Archives)] *[http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/volmil-london/vinf/L10hackn.htm The London Regt (Hackney)] (History of the Hackney Battalion of the [[London Regiment]]) *[http://publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/08/347757.html Peace Bicyclists on Hackney High Street] {{LB Hackney}} {{London}} {{coor title dm|51|32|N|0|05|W|region:GB_type:adm1st}} [[Category:Districts of London|Hackney]] [[Category:Hackney|*]] [[Category:Turkish communities outside Turkey]] [[Category:Articles including recorded pronunciations (UK English)]] [[cs:Hackney]] [[da:Hackney (distrikt)]] [[de:London Borough of Hackney]] [[es:Hackney]] [[eo:Hackney]] [[fr:Hackney]] [[hi:हैकनी बरो]] [[it:London Borough of Hackney]] [[he:האקני (רובע)]] [[ka:ჰაკნი]] [[nl:Hackney (district)]] [[no:Hackney (distrikt)]] [[nn:London Borough of Hackney]] [[pl:London Borough of Hackney]] [[pt:Hackney]] [[ro:Hackney (burg)]] [[ru:Хэкни]] [[simple:London Borough of Hackney]] [[zh:哈克尼區]]