Who owns this building? I pass it regularly and it looks very badly in need of attention - I tried to search for it on the Hackney Council website but just got info regarding the plaque honouring Elizabeth Fry. Is anyone doing anything about it?

Indeed, who does own this building? Other than the online petition, do the Hackney Society, or other visitors to this site have any advice or a strategy as to how to influence the saving of this historic building?

Please would you provide photographs of the exterior - especially the street frontage, in its built context - of buildings you are trying to save. Just giving views of the interior (although interesting) give one no idea of what the effect of saving - or losing - the building would be. Thanks.

I live two doors down and the place has had planning permission for about five years to be made into a Vietnamese Community Centre. The planning permission documents are on the Council's website and it looks like the person who owns is Vietnamese. The grass and weeds in the garden have been cut a couple of times and squatters have been in and out periodically but apparently they've now approached the owner who is letting them stay. It has electricity and we went to hear some live bands there recently. There was no sign of any needles that night!

I am not convinced by the story that it is a hang-out for drug users. Living close by I pused open the door a few weeks ago and there was a spontaneous arts festival in progress, organised by a small number of highly articulate and hospitable squatters. A model was being photographed, then I joined in a game of table tennis ... it was fun, and intriguing, although, yes, that's just one person's impression on one particular night. What I'd be interested to know from the Society is who owns the house, and exactly what consents are in place. Like many people, I can't help totting up what's in my bank account as I walk past, and wondering if I could buy the place. I visited last month.

Hi, I am a member of the group squatting this building and no we don't take drugs, the picture of the table was maybe to demonstrate how the building WAS being used. We are taking care of the building, understanding its importance to the local community and trying to make the most out of our time here by starting a couple of projects that are free and open to all. For example in the space pictured where drugs were being taken we now run a bicycle kitchen where you can come for free help repairing your bike every Tuesday afternoon. I just wanted to clarify that we have good intentions, and are not 'druggies' and in the short time that we have been here we have made some serious improvements to the building, preventing the spiral of degradation and neglect. If you have any concerns or comments, please come and visit!

This building has been derelict for ten years solid. Hackney Council has set aside money to renovate this property but please do not hold your breath. In theory this building does belong to HBC, but if it does not receive the financial care or TLC it requires I dare say this would very quickly become the ownership of someone else.

Dan – its not actually owned by the council but by a private landlord. You can see the latest planning application here - http://bit.ly/aajC5V and the Hackney Society's comments on the planning application – http://www.hackneysociety.org/documents/2344_195_Mare_Street.pdf

I have a clock, the face of which states: C E Carter 195 Mare St Hackney. Was this building ever occupied by a clock maker called C E Carter?

Does anyone know if i can use this place for a photoshoot? or maybe someone knows who i can ask?

Sofya, just pop over and ask the residents. They're a friendly bunch and I'm sure they won't mind :)

The site has been reposessed by Dunbar Bank; I'd talk to the squatters while they're still there if you want to do a photoshoot, as I imagine the bank will be trying to get them out.

What on earth became of the working mens' club that was there? It was a bustling club years ago. as far as I can remember from the 50s I last went there about 1978 so sad to see it look like that