The renaming of Cassland Road Gardens, E9

 As part of Hackney Council’s work to reckon with the past, they’ve launched a project called Review, Rename, Reclaim. It’s a collaboration between the council and community leaders, cultural experts, historians, teachers and young people: they’re coming together to ensure that Hackney’s public spaces are more representative of the communities that call this borough home. 

Back in December, the sign for Cassland Road Gardens E9 was removed. Cassland Road Gardens was named after Sir John Cass, the director of the Royal African Company, who made profits from the enslavement of African people in the 16th and 17th centuries. The sign can now be viewed in Hackney Museum as an educational artefact.

On the 21st July the Council will vote on a new name for the street. Residents have suggested names of local activists and residents and the shortlist is as follows:

🧑🏾 Ralph Adolphus Straker
🧑🏾 Frank Owuasa
🧑🏾 SJ Celestine Edwards
👩🏾 Kathleen ‘Kit’ Crowley

Read more about the shortlisted candidates.

By the way, our money’s on Hackney Wick girl Kit Crowley! Kit, born 1918, lived on the Gasgoyne Estate, worked on the railways during the Second World war and then spent 32 years as a role model to the children of the Windrush generation while working at Wentworth Nursery. To hear from Kit herself, check out this 2013 interview on YouTube by local filmmaker Derek Smith.