Sutton House Society Newsletter
October 2002
For all interested in the past, present and future of Sutton House, Hackney
This newletter is also available in Acrobat PDF format. Click here to view it.
Thursday 24th October 2002 at 7.30 pm in the Great Chamber of Sutton House
‘Who was William Shakespeare ?
A talk by Brian Hicks, Chairman of the De Vere Society
Edward de Vere. Earl of Oxford
The members of the De Vere Society believe that the plays of William Shakespeare were actually written by Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford who lived at Brooke House, Hackney and was buried in Hackney Church. Come and hear the argument and make up your own mind !
Tickets cost £2.00 (free to Sutton House Society Members)
followed by an optional buffet at £8.00 (must be booked by 18th October).
Book with Mike Gray, 16b Clapton Passage, Hackney, E5 8HS.
Tel. 020-8525 9672. Email
mikeg@hollyvillas.fslife.co.uk
The June edition of the Sutton House Society Newsletter arrived earlier today. As always I found it very interesting and congratulate the Society.
I have known for years of the Earl of Oxford alias Shakespeare theory and have often wondered what would have been – if only it was true! Instead of ‘come to visit England and see Stratford upon Avon’ we could have had ‘come to the East End and visit Hackney upon the Lea’ or something of the like. As a long-time collector of Hackney I try to keep up with the literature emanating from the borough. I have the works of ’Arold Pinter, and something from Kops. What happens if De Vere actually wrote Macbeth? Does that now mean that I have to collect folio editions?? My mind boggles at the frightening possibilities. Having opted out of the classics and literature stream at Hackney Downs (Grocers) School it now seems that if we don’t watch it I shall have to start with Puck an’ all that. Best wishes Melvyn
You will have noticed the damage to the front wall at Sutton House. The damage was done in two separate incidents.
The first accident took place on 2nd June. A car drove into the eastern part of the front wall at speed at 6.00 a.m. It seems that the car was in a race with another one, coming down Homerton High Street from Lower Clapton Road, and misjudged the bend in the road. Although the driver looked very badly hurt, he did survive and is now out of hospital, as is the passenger. The car belonged to the driver’s girlfriend and the police have not been able to establish insurance details for the car.
The second accident took place on 6th August at 5.10 a.m. This time a car came through the western part of the wall. The car had been stolen and was being chased by the police at speed. The driver and the passenger had just been caught burgling a house and stole the car to make their escape.
After seeking quotes for the repair work and completing the insurance claims, the repairs to the wall will begin soon. At the moment it looks like Sutton House will have to pay the first £1,000 of each repair as attempts to secure insurance details for the cars that did the damage have proved unsuccessful. £1,000 is the excess on the National Trust’s insurance policy.
I’m in touch with Transport for London – responsible for the road (a red route) and the pavement. It won’t be possible to introduce speed bumps or any traffic-calming measures along Homerton High Street as it is a bus route and the route to the hospital. However, it might be possible to treat the road with an anti-skid surface. The bollards outside the wall also need replacing.
We have a new Volunteer Co-ordinator & Supporter Fundraiser starting work on 10th September. Her name is Emily Mealey, and you may have met her in her capacity as a volunteer at Sutton House. We look forward to welcoming her to her role of recruiting new helpers and working with our existing team of fantastic volunteers.
N.B. Sutton House Society AGM 21st November 2002 in Sutton House 7.30 pm
Sutton House Society, 16B Clapton Passage, E5 8HS – 7th October 2002