I had an idea of setting out some history of this road in the then, wasteland of Hackney, between the Grand Union Canal and London Fields.
The history has not actually been written yet, as I have no real leads on when the road became a small part of the underground counter-culture. All my leads so far were residing in the road from 1981 when it had already been set up as squatted accomodation.
I would not like to hazzard a guess to how long the road had been active with squats or who was the first person to bust open a door, before the brightly coloured haired visionaries took over the street in the early 1980’s.
I am hoping that some passing comments on this post may start to give me a more detailed view of what I will have to write. For now, a few bits of mail from folk (in no particular order) who were there in the early 1980’s to jog your memories.
J.C. (Treasurer of Co-Op/sometime soundman and security at gigs):
I got there in 1982, so don’t know too much about the early history. I thought the Mob/Zounds crew would be able to help more with that. Or maybe even Hugh, but not sure how much him and the Tibetan hippies would actually be able to remember, or if it would be accurate.
OK – When I got there, co-op was more or less set up. Main culprits were Richard, number 70 I think, a guy up at number 106 whose name I can’t remember and Elizabeth.
The ´face´ for the street was definitely Richard – I think he was going out with Fiona at the time, so again, Hugh might know more about him. He convinced me to become ´administrator´ and later secretary/treasurer /general dogsbody!
I think Patchwork ran several houses, but were (gently) persuaded to hand them over to us! Six houses (at the bottom) were knocked down for road, but this was balanced by 4 ´derelicts´ being brought back into commission.
Loads of money wasted by council (as usual) during repairs. There was a rolling program of repairs to bring all houses to some sort of standard, but some houses were worse after renovation than before.
Josef Porter (Zounds/The Mob/Blyth Power):
The real story happened before we moved in – I heard some of the old hippies squatting there before us hid Astrid Proll from the Baader Meinhof Gang, and other such madness. We just picked up their leftovers. Steve Lake might know more, and you need to find Dave Morris A.K.A. Dave the Anarchist Postman, who predates us all. He was the one in the McLibel case.
Dave Morris:
Well I was squatting in 64 Brougham Rd from 1974-1980. I was a postman in Islington. The house was very run down, with an old outside toilet and a sink for a kitchen. But we decorated the inside with posters, murals, press cuttings and inspiring slogans etc.
I shared the place with Alan, a really decent and quiet young bloke who became an alcoholic in the late 1970s. Alan once got nicked when drunk at a train station wearing my post office jacket and wheeling about a post office trolley with bags of letters on it. This led to a raid on the house and some laughable police hysteria about him and me being in an anarchist train robbers gang… I testified in court that I had known nothing about it (and that probably nor did Alan), but he still got 6 months suspended (Mentioned in Albert Meltzer’s autobiography). After I left I think he went downhill, and last I heard he tragically got run over by a bus.
The other bloke we shared with was Des Kelly from Ireland who I recall was writing a book… I have a mad photo of him trying to ride his bike UP our staircase. I did bump into him in Hackney 15 years later but cant remember what he was doing them.
Spanish Elizabeth was next door I think. Zounds folks moved into my place or next door after I left. I vaguely recall a guy (Bruce?) living at No 66 who did animation and who told me he was working on an amazing path-breaking new film called ‘Star Wars’.. it didn’t sound to me like it would get anywhere with a crap name like that…
There was a very strong Broadway Market Squatters Association (with maybe 50+ homes in it from the area) which met regularly for mutual solidarity and campaigning. I remember we decided to boycott an amnesty offered by the GLC (London Authority) to squatters if we would accept licenses… the Association saw it as a sell out and divide and rule – we were all pretty militant and independent. But eventually many did accept licenses and then formed housing co-ops in order to keep together and survive.
There were lots of radical feminists in the area, many squatting – I admired them a lot. Some were involved in the Women In Manual Trades group. Former german urban guerrilla Astrid Proll did apparently spend some time in the area and many people in the area helped form the Friends of Astrid Proll to campaign for her after she was arrested.
I think a building which had been squatted at the south end of the street sometime in the early 70s became a collectively run playcentre..
There was a revolutionary socialist guy who was a tenant in the tower block at that end of the street and had had some run ins with NF fascists.. I vaguely remember getting involved in anti-fascist stuff in the area, painting out nazi slogans etc…
There was a good community, with squatters, tenants, feminists, anarchists and all age groups and nationalities all mixing and getting along pretty well.
There was famous graffiti on a wall at the end of the street by the market which survived for over 10 years: ‘Broadway Market is not a sinking ship – its a submarine.’ It has been restored in recent years, but unfortunately gentrified a lot. It was amazing to go back there last year after decades away and visit Tony’s cafe which had been there when I was there I think, been evicted in order to be ponced up, and then re-occupied as a high profile squatted political centre opposing gentrification in the area (by some anarchists and ‘Hackney Independent’ activists.. see the Hackney Independent website for full info on this).
John:
I remember the Mob had a house there and they lived next door to Andy from Null and Void (I think the bass player lived there too who’s name if I remember rightly was Mark) and Steve from Yeovil (long dreadlocks).
Rob Vex, Rob Challice, Paul (Faction, This Bitter Lesson and Christie) and J.C. lived at 96 Brougham Road.
Next door was Spanish Elisabeth (who was an old school revolutionary/anarchist type from Spain-hence the name) she later ended up having a kid with J.C. and I lost touch with him.
Neal (original guitarist of Blyth Power) also lived on Brougham Rd with his Mum and his sister Liz (great people) but I’m not sure of the exact number.
I also remember Tim Hutton (ex Mob drummer before Josef and ex-Zounds) living somewhere on Brougham Road great guy and amazing musician.
That’s about all I remember about Brougham Road. It was quite hippyish and if I remember rightly the whole street was squatted, or at least that one side of it was. There was on old bus station on one end and Broadway market on the other and it was a five minute walk to a 24 hour bagel shop.
I think the Ukrainian Mountaine Troupe were part of the hippy bus convoy crew that lived in the bus station, which at one point I lived next door to, very briefly as they had a tendency to break into the local squats and steal stuff. After I lost my radio/cassette and Kelvin lost some stuff, it seemed like time to move.
Mark Wilson (The Mob):
The Mob were living in a rented house in Seend in Wiltshire and we bought a bus to tour on. When we got it ready we took it for a test drive to visit Josef who was living in Brougham Road.
The next morning a guy walked out of number 74 and asked us if we wanted to buy the house for £40. This was the amount he had spent on getting water on and changing the Yale lock. Yale locks have a big place in the history of squatting!!
Sylvianne (pictured in Friends of the Puppies in photo gallery) lived next door at number 72. Number 76 was inhabited by some radical feminists who disliked us and most other people intensely. Spanish Elizabeth who was involved in the Centro Iberico lived up the other end, possible number 94.
There were many interesting characters such as New Zealand Andy the mechanic who would take copious amounts of mind bending drugs and stay up all night fixing trucks. My personal favorite and life long inspiration was Ray who was a cockney wide boy with loads of kids. We would often get work with him fixing transit vans and old Ford Capri’s outside his house. We were best known for tipping cars on their sides to change the gearboxes to the horror of their owners.
The oven in number 74 was permanently turned on and the whole street would use it to cook bread – we had a special arrangement with the electric bill.
Sara, Liz Rosie, Neil, and Chris lived up in the number 90’s After I left the street, number 74 became a den of skag for a while with Guy, Max, Mark H, and Glen from Weymouth I believe.
The bus garage was squatted after we arrived by members of the Peace Convoy including my sister Jen. We were a bit pissed as we seemed to get the blame for the invasion having just landed in a bus.
The Tibetans were living temporarily in the street on or around the same time.
Rob Challice (Faction/All The Madmen Records):
Sara, Liz, Neil and co lived at number 94
Sara and Liz lived for a while round the corner to the right of the bus garage entrance.
I remember that it was somebody from number 102/104, Spanish Elizabeth, JC and a couple of other organized heads who made the push to get the houses into a housing association.
We were proud of our house, number 96, and the street. We made plenty of home (and garden) improvements. J.C. was always responsible for gas, electric and such amenities.
I regularly explain to people who have no experience of squats that actually in some squats the standard of accommodation was higher than some rented accommodation that I’ve seen, and I imagine better than much student accommodation on offer.
Ray and family were in the number 60’s I think. ‘Diamond geezer’ he was.
J.C. took over 96 Brougham Road. Paul, Rob (Vex) and I joined him in 1981. I was 17.
I ran 96 Tapes and WOT Distribution from number 96 from 1982/1983 onwards.
I can’t remember many break-ins at our house I moved out approx 1985/1986
Val Puppy (Kill Your Pet Puppy contributor):
The Tibetan Ukrainian Mountain Troupe was around when I was living at number 66. Various members of whom run the kids’ field at Glastonbury now (including Tibetan Tony and Wandering Will), They promote it as a free festival within the larger festival.
Photographs from the collections of Val and Penguin
Taken during summer solstice.
Probably not taken during summer solstice (Janet H collection)
Caitlin
August 15, 2010 at 5:18 pmThis site is quite a surreal find i must say… i lived on brougham road, number 66, from about 1977/8 to 1983-ish i’d guess.
we had the only indoor plumbing on the street (my dad’s a builder) and loads of people used to come in for a bath. i was seven when we moved to queensbridge road. my brother and me used to play in the bus garage all the time and come home covered in oil and wonder how mum knew where we;d been – duh.
You lot were the background characters to my early childhood ! Its mainly only the other kids from the street that i remember, of course. Though i wouldnt be surprised if i’ve met half of you at things with my ‘rents over the years.
mickey speccy
August 24, 2010 at 7:00 pmi lived at 64 brougham rd with me cousin theckla and dead kev, timmy townmouse and chris, in 1984, then again when they moved to number 88 (after 64 was demolished) with my girlfriend amber in 1986, love to know what happened to dead kev, tim and chris,and punky paul and carrot from derricote street…and thanx to you penguin for allowing this to happen xxx
ds paul
October 8, 2010 at 11:34 pmalso later on was the time of the seven kevins and 2000 dirty squatters formed on brougham road
Mark
October 21, 2010 at 4:22 pmHi
Sorry to say but the last I heard Dead Kev had died, not sure whether it was an OD or Aids that finally got him.
ian Varnes
January 15, 2011 at 10:14 amHi
I lived on the road as kid with my mum, Conchita, Curtis (Mob), Phil and Kath. They were all involved in setting up the Osbourn Co-op back then. We all still keep in contact Syvian, Mark and the rest. My step my Fiona was part of the feminist movement that set up a woman only Co-op opposite the London Fields. Willpost more when I remember. I found memories growing up there and feel lucky.
Buzz
March 8, 2011 at 7:20 amIts hard to cook dinner with 2000 DS Going for it in your basement!!! I lived in 74 and 76 for about 6 years in about 1986, met a few of the people mentioned here. Quite a diverse bunch from the Dykes at one end, Sonny and his wife in the middle, and the Punks at the end not to mention Jane and Hughs caravan park!
pat
March 14, 2011 at 10:25 ami used to go to the hell crew parties. i was wondering if any of the old crew were still about? you out there alien? i remember the home brew!
i was a young punk who they loved because i dislocated my elbow at an eatshit gig.
luggy
March 14, 2011 at 11:07 amAlien’s still about & well, he’s a tube station manager these days! Still drumming, saw him play with Coitus a few weeks ago. He also plays with Dirty Love & Mush
More Hell Crew discussion here:
https://killyourpetpuppy.co.uk/news/?p=868
Brougham Road, E8 | The Radical History of Hackney
March 16, 2011 at 2:55 pm[…] Some nice insights into the history of the anarchist and punk squatters who lived on the road in the 70s, 80s and 90s over at Kill Your Pet Puppy. […]
slyme68
March 17, 2011 at 6:47 pmpat, that’s not you of marquess estate is it? mate, if that’s you then i often wonder where you went… it’s simon, southgate rd, ashwin street etc etc… if it’s you then Penguin can let you have my email (i’m still sorry about chucking that glass at chat’s palace…)
Haze
September 8, 2011 at 1:12 pmso glad I found this, like going home, I have some pictures of the bus garage and one of Brougham Road, will post them.
Jenny
September 9, 2011 at 6:37 pmBelgium Sally, Hello my name is Jenny and I am Trish’s daughter, I would have been only young when we all last saw each other. please contact me jennylovelock24@hotmail.com
Thecla
September 14, 2011 at 10:53 amRecently been blasted back to those ‘heady daze’ in Brougham Road…My interest in the ‘majik of herbs’ still remains, as I am embarking on a BSc in Herbal Medicine at Lincoln Uni…great to see that Hippy Nigel is about…anything on Townmouse or Punky Paul(a Diamond amonst Geezers)…Love-Peace-Unity-Thecla xxxx contact me on Facebook…xxx
luggy
November 27, 2011 at 12:16 pmWe get a namecheck on this page about squats in the London Fields area including Brougham Rd:
http://www.alphabetthreat.co.uk/pasttense/hackneywalk.html
Ricki
August 17, 2012 at 11:35 amThe photo taken of the two girls waving by the buses is me Ricki and Katy, myself and my partner Jolly Jay squatted no 66 and we also discovered the bus garage and came to an arrangement with the council. The troupe came a little while later.
Elaine
October 5, 2013 at 3:42 pmJeez memory joggers! Shocked to see that 88 sold for £781,500 last year.
John Eden
November 15, 2013 at 1:43 pmSoon to be a novel!
Brougham Road, 1982 (A Novel Extract) by Gary Budden
http://www.thecadaverine.com/?p=7699
AL Puppy
November 15, 2013 at 6:29 pmThanks John, this looks very interesting.
AL Puppy
November 15, 2013 at 6:39 pmFrom Gary Budden’s novel
“They were sitting round David’s salvaged wooden kitchen table. A pot of good coffee, now half-drunk, sat as a centrepiece, whilst a variety of flyers and activist literature were spread out in haphazard manner. A gig flyer advertising two bands, The Mob and Zounds, caught Andy’s eye. An avid follower of the output of Crass records, he had his copy of ‘No Doves Fly Here’ buried in his collection of records, currently interred in a cardboard box in the back of the camper.”
http://www.thecadaverine.com/?p=7699
vincent
September 21, 2014 at 8:42 pmi was born around broadway market and the bus garages and the streets round them are in so many of my memories.i knew a guy in one of the coaches in brougham rd think he called himself bamboo if that was his name.
Sonja Bunker
February 10, 2015 at 12:41 pmHa Ha Yeah ,, 2000DS first ever rehearsal was in the basement of 74. I was There!!! what a claim to fame if ever there was one!! My daughter Alice was born in the front room at 74 on a sunny saturday morning after I flew back from a Kevin’sTour of Ireland ! There are loads of old photos. will dig ’em out and post ’em up someday.. WE had a real nice community there for a while, the old ladies from the Home at the end of the road would stop in for tea in the trailer, sweet !!! I lived in 74 and also on the street in a couple of trailers and a couple of busses too ! All around 87 -90
Sylviane Decroliere
February 25, 2017 at 11:56 amHi
A lot to say about Brougham Rd and it’s inhabitants pre-the Mob moving in next door. Some photos as well. I would rather record it rather than write it. Penguin, remember that meeting we were supposed to have? You have my email address now.
Love to all
Sylviane
Jan H
April 29, 2017 at 12:51 pmYou have used my photos and not credited moi.
Penguin • Post Author •
April 30, 2017 at 9:12 amWhich ones are yours Jan? The bottom one is not from Val’s or my collection so I presume that one would be yours. I will credit it right now.
Harvey Smith
June 19, 2017 at 11:31 amI have some old photos of Brougham road too , also our ragtag cricket team on Hackney Marshes… (J.C, Hugh , AndyB, Haldor, GeneratorJ, Hilaire , Jack etc) From 1986ish. Would love to get back in touch with anyone from that era
passer by
July 15, 2017 at 4:49 pmSisterhood and Squatting in the 1970s: Feminism, Housing and Urban Change in Hackney
https://academic.oup.com/hwj/article/83/1/79/3862507/Sisterhood-and-Squatting-in-the-1970s-Feminism#
Thought this might be interesting
Sean Sweeney
July 19, 2017 at 3:57 pmA quick hello from me – and thanks for the excellent memories. I was just a brief resident of No. 74 (before it became a skag den!) – lived with Andy Ash and Wolfen. Next door were Sylvianne and Helen (hi Sylvianne!).
15 years ago I did some work with a Play Association in Tower Hamlets and my boss at the time was living in 74 – she couldn’t believe she’d paid 200k+ for somewhere I’d lived in for free…
It’s tricky to describe that off-road festival vibe to anyone who wasn’t there. The photos (esp the street views) do it pretty well, though.
Thanks again folks!
SB (Sean) Sweeney
Author of Facing the Strange
Frida
November 9, 2017 at 8:37 pmGrew up and still live on BR. Deeply moved and proud to read this.
Love from-
‘Spanish Elizabeth’ & J.C.’s kid, aka Frida (and my son, Ethan)
Betty Von Fury
May 24, 2020 at 12:49 amAnyone got info on number 96? I heard Jef Antcliffe and Andy Leach from D&V were there in early 80’s trying to get more info…
Annie Smith
August 6, 2020 at 2:30 amMy Nanny owned 106 Brougham rd 1941/ 1970s and my Auntie owned 102 Brougham rd. All of my Daddys childhood memories come from here. I also remember visiting as a child. Wonderful Christmas memories ?
Greg
August 10, 2020 at 1:05 pmI lived in Brougham road for a year or two from around ’83. I knew some of the convoy folk from the bus station, as well as Sara, Neil, Chris, Liz and Rosy from 94. I converted Belgian Sallies bus into the home it became. I’d love to get some photos of that bus. I also had a big yellow ex GPO FG that I converted. I had a J type Bedford for a while also. I bought an old mollicroft trailer from Rick, and when some Irish travellers moved onto the green at the end of the road, I moved onto it with them. I renovated the trailer, and then Bamboo did a fantastic job painting it up in showman’s colours. There were a lot of South Africans there who had a band. I’d take their gear to gigs for them sometimes with my J-type. I also lived for a while with Min in one of the houses. Summertimes I’d travel with the convoy, and come back every week or two to get my giro from Sara and the kids place. Other people I remember from there are Wolfen, there was a couple with a Horsebox called Pegasus. It was a great street full of great people, so many good times there.
warren
April 22, 2021 at 2:49 pmHi, my name is warren, I lived at bus garage on brougham rd between 1981-1983.. my mum was dylis (silver moon) have lost contact with everyone but would love to hear from anyone who remembers me. I was 13 then… now im hoping to get back in touch with people and im 50! warren.davies36@gmail.com
Larry
December 6, 2023 at 12:21 pmI use to go to Brougham Rd to see Dave & Andy, plus neil a few doors along, I knew dave & andy & I knew Kev & Thecla Rip,
Also got on with NZ andy & his chilum.
What great times