Soundsystem returns as Old Fire Station joins Open House

The Old Fire Station on Leswin Road, Stoke Newington, is opening its big red doors to the public as part of Open House Festival on Saturday 19 September.

It’s a chance to explore the interesting history of a building that went from a Victorian fire station, with horses pulling fire carts, to the much-loved community centre it is today. Opened in 1886 as a residential fire station, the station served the Stoke Newington area, housing firefighters and their families. After closing in the 1970s and local campaigning in the years that followed, the building became a community centre in 1982.

Old Fire Station trustee Natalie Silk says of the building’s history: “It’s amazing to imagine the Station’s horses galloping out of the red doors, pulling the fire carts in the 1890s, or the deep beats from the reggae sound systems that played out through the 1980s.”

Locals have worked to keep the station as an affordable community space, and today it continues to provide a home for local charities, support services, arts organisations and creative projects. “The building’s history is one of adaptation and resilience thanks to the efforts of generations of local campaigners that have worked to keep this beautiful landmark building available as an affordable community space from the 1980s till now,” she says.

Upper floors

The Open House informal tours will include upper floors that aren’t normally open to the public, and offer a chance to see some of the period quirks throughout the space. She adds: “There’s still a lot of original features for visitors to discover – from the Victorian glazed tiles of the main hall to the horse-proof yard!”

Returning for the event, having first played at the space in the 1980s, are some familiar local faces. “We are delighted to invite Jah Prophecies Soundsystem and friends back into a space that they fondly remember from Friday evenings in their youth, and we’re happy that Open House visitors and old friends will be able to experience their sounds throughout the open day.”

The hopes for the Open House day are simple. “We want visitors to immerse themselves in the sights and sounds of the space, to take in the carnival costume and look out for historical architectural details in the building itself,” says Natalie. “But we also want visitors to learn more about how the local community has worked – and occasionally fought – to keep this as a working, grassroots space which is home to organisations such as Growing Communities, Hackney Migrant Centre and SkatePal.”

Many of these organisations will be represented at the Open House event. Jamboulay Carnival Arts will be holding an upcycling and costume workshop, while Creativity in Our Hands will lead jewellery making. Visitors can find out more about the Therapy Collective, a talking therapy practice run by trans and non-binary therapists, and sneak a peek at the Firestation Darkroom. There will also be food and drink, as well as games in the yard. Open House Festival is part of a year of activity supported by the National Lottery Community Fund. Entry is free, although donations are welcome to help support the centre.

Looking out

Even if you can’t make it on the 19th, you can still get a flavour of the sounds and voices of the Old Fire Station’s history through the Mixcloud, including reminiscences from retired firefighters and other community members. These recordings are part of the Looking Out project, funded by Historic England, which has also collected memories connected to pioneering Jamboulay Carnival Arts, founded by Rubena in 1995.

“History isn’t just about stately homes and grand houses,” says Natalie. “Here in Hackney, the Old Fire Station is a glorious example of a building where our communities have created their own spaces and made their own history.”

Old Fire Station Open Day
Saturday 19 September from 12–4.30pm
The Old Fire Station Community Centre
61 Leswin Road, N16 7NX