Hackney is an inner-city borough of London that extends north-east from the City. It is a borough that over the years has changed a great deal, but has always been its own community in its own right. There has always been a sense of pride when telling people that you live in Hackney, and there are always plenty of people who would love the opportunity to move into the borough, and who could blame them. 

The History of Hackney

For many centuries, Hackney was a rural area just outside the capital. It was close to central London, but it wasn’t always part of the city. Back in the day, the area was rich in woodland and marshes and the few people who lived here probably worked the land to provide food for the Romans living in London. 

It is thought that the area’s name came from a Saxon settlement dating back to the 5th or 6th centuries. At this point in time, Hackney was known as Haca’sey, a name that means high ground in marshland owned by Haca who was a local Dane landowner. The first records of the area being called Hackney came about in 1198.

Hackney stayed a relatively quiet area up until the late 1700s when it’s population increased so much, it outgrew its local parish church, resulting in the need to build a new one. 

By the 20th century, Hackney, like much of the East End was more urban, industrial and commercial and it started its slow decline into poverty.

There are still plenty of buildings about that remind us all of its industrious past, and it is these buildings that play a huge part in Hackney’s charm today.

Hackney Today

Although there still remains levels of poverty through Hackney and other parts of East London, it has to be said that the area is a melting pot of culture, imagination and opportunists. I just love how you can walk the streets of Hackney of pass so much uniqueness at every corner. 

For those that don’t know Hackney too well, all you have to do is look at a map of the borough to see how many exciting places there are here. You have London Fields, Dalston, Kingsland, Lower Clapton, Victoria Village, Hackney Wick, Hackney Marshes, Stoke Newington and Hoxton, to name a few. The place is simply bursting with energy and the spirit of adventure. 

Local Businesses in Hackney

It is scary just how many businesses have opened and succeeded in Hackney over the past 20-30 years, and it is a real testament to the people who live here and their approach to life. 

For a directory of locally-based businesses in Hackney, follow this link here https://www.uksmallbusinessdirectory.co.uk/town/hackney/

Facts About Hackney

• In 1198 AD Hackney got its name from a Marsh and was referred to as the raised marsh owned by a Dane and still exists today known as Hackney Marsh! (it is rumoured that our surveyors have cups of tea in the area when they are not carrying out surveys).
• Roman roads have been found running through the area and early settlers were Anglo Saxons. In Roman times London was known as Londinium.
• It was originally made up of several tiny hamlets that acted as market areas or gardens, once a very rural community till the industrial revolution came along.
• It contains a range of housing estates that were built after the war to help house homecoming soldiers and those that had lost their houses in the Great War.

Famous people that were born, have lived, or are living in the Hackney Area

There are many famous residents and ex-residents of the Hackney area, mainly because it has been a popular place to live. Among them include the likes of Shakespeare (who travelled here regularly), Harry Enfield and of course the Kray Twins.

I hope you enjoyed my post about Hackney. As always, is you have anything to add, or it you need advice about the property market here in Hackney and the surrounding areas, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Clare Hughes

clare.hughes@exp.uk.com

07958 031122