Celebrating Hackney’s past, shaping its future – since 1967

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Hackney Society Wikithon: Editing History

“Anyone can edit – you just have to know how to do it, which is the challenge,” said our instructor at the Hackney Society Wikithon this September at Hackney Archives. The event brought together locals eager to learn the basics of Wikipedia editing and, ultimately, improve the representation of women

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NLWA Big Yellow Grabber

A day out: Where does Hackney’s waste go?

On 3 September 2025, Hackney Society members hopped on buses, trains, and bikes and headed to the North London Waste Authority’s (NLWA) EcoPark in Enfield–Edmonton – the site where Hackney’s waste is reduced, reused, and recycled. The EcoPark has recently undergone a £1.5bn transformation, replacing outdated 1970s infrastructure with modern

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Edith Watson

Why didn’t you scream? Because you needed that breath to fight…

These were the words of Edith Watson (1888-1966), a suffragist, journalist, campaigner, and one of the first women in Britain to wear a police uniform – someone English Heritage overlooked for “not being famous enough.”Hackney-bornEdith was born in the Hackney Union workhouse to a single mother – a domestic servant.

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Spogomi: Litter-Picking Goes Competitive. Photo Sean Pollock

Hackney Hosts International Spogomi: Litter-Picking Goes Competitive

Hackney Marshes played host to a unique international event at the end of July: the UK edition of the Spogomi World Cup, a competitive litter-picking tournament that combines environmental action with athletic intensity. Spogomi—short for “sport-gomi” (gomi meaning rubbish in Japanese)—originated in Japan and has grown into a global phenomenon.

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Hackney-Substation-visit

Behind the Wires: A Rare Look Inside Substation

On 19 July, members of the Hackney Society were given a behind-the-scenes tour of the Millfields substation in Lower Clapton—an area usually closed to the public. Hosted by National Grid, the visit offered a unique glimpse into the infrastructure that keeps London’s lights on. Attendees received a crash course in

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