Stroud Green in London, England, is a suburb adjacent to Finsbury Park in the northern part of Greater London. While most of the area (east and north) is in the London Borough of Haringey, a very small part (west and south) is in the London Borough of Islington. The A1201 Stroud Green Road (running WNW-ESE) not only forms the boundary between the two boroughs but is also the area's principal thoroughfare and a busy local shopping street, with many popular restaurants and bars.
The Stroud Green Road (the A1201) also represents a border between the ancient ecclesiastical parishes of Islington and Hornsey. At one time, this part of Hornsey parish, and thus Stroud Green, stretched into what is now Hackney, following the present-day Blackstock Road as far as the junction with Mountgrove Road, all beyond the Seven Sisters Road (created 1832) that today forms Stroud Green's eastern boundary. Here in that former part of Stroud Green was the site of the Eel Pie House, a tavern on the New River (approximately the site of Number 41 Wilberforce Road. When this was demolished in the 1870s another inn, now the Arsenal Tavern took on the name) See p.6 of Stokes, Malcolm (2008) 'The Boundaries of South Hornsey' in Bulletin of the Hornsey Historical Society No 49. . pp. 2-8. then the New River ran above ground at this point. This was originally in a wooden, lead-lined aqueduct - known locally as the Boarded River - but eventually that wooden construction was replaced by a raised earth embankment, atop which the river ran. Nowadays the New River runs underground in this area.
Records for Stroud Green date back to the start of the 15th century, but today it seems that nothing remains as physical evidence of Stroud Green's distant past, and the area is now dominated by housing that dates from the late-nineteenth century. Destruction of some parts of Stroud Green was caused by aerial bombing during the Second World War,See BombSight database, https://bombsight.org and this led to the creation, by the then Hornsey Borough Council, of several zones of public housing. Since 2003 much of Stroud Green has been designated as a conservation area under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, defining the areas as: "the triangular area enclosed by Stroud Green Road and the Haringey/Islington border to the south and west, Mount View Road to the north, and the railway line to the east" (see the full rationale below: Twenty-first-century appreciation). This geographical zone seems to mirror the area referred to as Stroud Green throughout the Victoria County History of Middlesex (1980), which, unless otherwise indicated, is used as the basis for much of the historical data provided here.
Toponymy In 1407 this once empty southeastern corner of Hornsey parish was called Strode, which is formed from the Old English 'stōd' and means 'marshy ground covered with brushwood'. It is recorded as Stowde Grene in 1546, the 'grene' suffix is Middle English and means 'village green'. Stroud Green brook flowed from Islington across the southern tip of the area.'Hornsey, including Highgate: Introduction' in A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 6: Friern Barnet, Finchley, Hornsey with Highgate (1980), pp. 101-103. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=22515. Date accessed: 22 March 2008.
Land ownership
The records are sparse. In 1811 it was said that Stroud Green, which lies to the North-west of the situation formerly occupied by the Boarded River,This is a reference to the New River, then in a wooden viaduct at this point. See: New River. is a long piece of common land belonging to the copyholders of Highbury Manor.Nelson, John (1811) The history, topography and antiquities of the parish of St. Mary Islington in the county of Middlesex : including bibliographical sketches of the most eminent and remarkable persons who have been born, or have resided there London : Printed for the author by John Nichols As this article will show, details do exist of some named 'owners', but it is not entirely clear to the legal layman the exact status of their possession.
In the 16th century, part of Stroud Green was owned by John Draper (d. 1576), brewer of London. At his death in 1576 John Draper's estate consisted of between Stroud Green Road and Brownswood (the area around present-day Brownswood Road, south of Finsbury Park) and between the latter and Green Lanes. It was held variously by his heirs, presumably his sons in 1577, descending by his eldest son Thomas (d.1612), to the latter's sons Thomas (d. 1631), Robert (d.1642), and Roger. In 1636 it was held jointly by Thomas's widow Lady (Sarah) Kemp, Robert, and Roger and by 1656 by Roger alone. It was apparently among the lands that he devised to his brother Robert's son Thomas (d.1703), later a baronet, who apparently alienated it.
Sir William Paul of Bray (Berks.), Bt. (d. 1686), owned . This portion of Stroud Green was then held by his widow, who married Sir Formedon Penystone, Bt., c.1709, and it passed under Sir William's will to the Paul family. It was presumably among the property inherited from William Paul before 1727 by his daughter Catherine, wife of Sir William Stapleton, 4th Baronet (d. 1740), which apparently then descended to her son Sir Thomas Stapleton, Bt. (d. 1781). By 1796, however, the western portion of was held by a Mr. Lucas, who was succeeded in 1808 by John Lucas, who was the owner in 1822. It belonged to a William Lucas in 1823 and was enfranchised for James Lucas in 1856. It was owned by Joseph Lucas between 1861 and 1876 and was finally built over by 1880.'Hornsey, including Highgate: Growth before the mid-19th century' in A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 6: Friern Barnet, Finchley, Hornsey with Highgate (1980), pp. 107-111. URL: https://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=22517. Date accessed: 22 March 2008.
The Corporation of Stroud Green 18th-century London newspapers record details of a group known as the Corporation of Stroud Green.
On Monday the Ancient Corporation of Stroud Green held the annual feast at Mr. Dobney's near the New-river-head, at which were present upwards of two hundred members; after which Mr Kelly of Chancery-lane was elected Mayor for the year ensuing, and an elegant entertainment was provided on the occasion.
(Gazetteer and New Daily Advertiser (London) Thursday 2 August 1764; Issue 11 042)
Other newspaper reports show that such so-called Corporations were not unusual at this time, and indeed formed something of an informal regional network, for in 1754 the following item was reported in the London press:
Last Monday evening the Mayor, Sheriffs and Aldermen of Stroud Green paid their annual Visit to the Mayor, Sheriffs and Aldermen of Kentish Town, at their Council-Chamber at the Bell in Little Shire-lane, near Temple Bar; when the Healths of his Majesty, and all the Royal family, were drank, under a triple Discharge of their Canon, and the night was concluded with the greatest Demonstrations of joy and Friendship by the Gentlemen of both of the loyal Corporations.
(Public Advertiser (London) Wednesday 20 November 1754; Issue 6259)
Their purpose seems to have been (at least in part) an annual beating of bounds relating to the establishment of property ownership. Thus, the Corporation may be a manifestation of the copyholders of Highbury Manor (already mentioned). The establishment of property rights, even today, is an important and serious matter for those concerned, but in Stroud Green it seems that its undertaking was (occasionally) not without a funny side, as is apparent from an account of the following year's meeting:
On Monday last, according to annual Custom, the Mayor, and Aldermen of the respectable Corporation of Stroud Green held their Court of Conservancy at Stapleton Hall (the capital Mansion on what is humorously called their Estate) near Mount Pleasant, where a sumptuous Repast was prepared for their reception of their present Sheriffs. After Dinner several loyal Healths were drank, and the Hall resounded with the names of Granby and Pitt. The whole was conducted with all [reasonable] Decorum; but what contributed in a great Measure to damp their Satisfaction was the lnebriety of his Worship's Sword-Bearer, who having imbibed large Drenches of Claret and Hock, was rendered unfit to scale the Gates and Stiles belonging to their Grounds, which, in a formal Procession, they yearly Survey, and by tumbling over Neck and Heels, unhappily lost the Insigne of his Office, viz. a Gold Sword about four inches long, of no inconsiderable Value.
(Public Advertiser (London) Friday 5 July 1765; Issue 9624)
Whatever the Corporation's official tasks might have been, they always seem to have had a good time: On Monday last the mayor, aldermen and recorder of Stroud Green, assisted by the sheriffs, held a court of conservancy, according to ancient custom, at the Green Man on Stroud Green, known by the name of Stapleton Hall, where an elegant entertainment was provided by the mayor, and many loyal toasts were drank in honour of his Majesty's birthday. After dinner they returned to their mansion house, the Crown, in the lower-street, Islington, and the evening concluded with a ball, and every demonstration of joy suitable to the happy occasion.
(Middlesex Journal or Chronicle of Liberty (London) Tuesday 6 June 1769; Issue 29)
The last evidence of the Corporation (at least in newspaper sources) shows that c.1775-76 the organisation was meeting at the London Spaw tavern in Clerkenwell, followed by an evening at the nearby Sadlers Wells theatre.Such newspapers references can be found in the British Library's online database of 17th- and 18th-century newspapers <https://gale.cengage.com/DigitalCollections/> The move was probably the result of the sale of the Green Man tavern at Stapleton Hall in August 1769, when it seems to have reverted to use as a farm house. (See Stapleton Hall in the section Interesting Buildings, below)
The Corporation's badge
The Victoria and Albert Museum, London, owns an enamelled badge of The Corporation, dated 1773, showing St George slaying the dragon.The V&A's Stroud Green badge was discussed on the chat-board StroudGreen.Org in a thread started on 2 November 2010 by contributor krappyrubsnif, who kindly posted images there. See Local discussion: The Ancient Corporation of Stroud Green. Photocall tonight! Party? <http://www.stroudgreen.org/discussion/2412/>, accessed 6 December 2010. Krappyrubsnuiff posted two further images there on 7 November 2010.
The Corporation's Song
The Song for the Ancient Corporation of Stroud Green appears in Fraternal Melody a song book of 1773, by a certain William Riley Fraternal melody. Consisting of original odes, cantatas, and songs, for the use of the most ancient and honorable fraternity of free and accepted masons. The most noble Order of Bucks. The honorable Order of select Albions. The Honorable Lumber Troop. The Ancient Corporation of Stroud-Green. The Ancient Family of Leeches. The Worthy Court of Do-Right. The Free and Easy Counsellors under the Cauliflower, &c. &c. &c. Adapted to the most celebrated ballad tunes; and illustrated with Annotations, and Anecdotes of some of the Orders. To which is added, an ode, In Honor of the laudable Institution of the Protestant Charity-Schools. By William Riley, member of the several societies. With a list of subscribers [Author: William Riley, (1724/5-1784)]. London : printed for the author, in Great James Street, Bedford Row, Holborn, MDCCLXXIII. . [Source: Bodleian Library, Oxford. ESTC Number: T184510]. also containing, among many others, 'A Song for the Corporation of Grays inn Lane', and 'An Ode for the Corporation of Southwark'.