(Daniel Defoe, Blue Plaque, Stoke Newington Church Street London)
Famous Residents of Stoke Newington
Stoke Newington has long been associated with great social reformers. James Stephen who fought for the abolition of slavery is buried in St Mary’s Old Church and William Allen, a prominent Victorian philanthropist was at the forefront of girls education in the late 18th and 19th centuries.
It got us interested in other famous people who have lived in the area. There is a blue plaque on the side of the property on the corner of Church Street and Defoe Road to commemorate Daniel Defoe who lived at a property on this site and wrote Treasure Island.
Edgar Alan Poe is commemorated on a building on Church Street where he attended Manor School while his parents visited the UK.
Mark Bolan one of the most prominent ‘Glam rock’ stars was born and educated in the area, so too ‘Buster Bloodvessel’, the front man of ‘80’s Ska band Bad Manners.
Britain’s first black woman MP, Diane Abbot lived and still represents the area.
Current celebrities include stand up comedians Stewart Lee and Bridget Christie, DJ Nick Grimshaw and the late George Alagiah who lived and sadly recently died after living for many years with his family in the area.
To learn more about Stoke Newington, visit our Discover Stoke Newington Page or Stoke Newington Wikipedia page.