Discover the secrets of Fitzrovia with our 2016 festival

Posted on 08/06/2016 by Editors
Hand-drawn map of Fitzrovia.

Map concept and design by JNF Tatham cargocollective.com/jnftatham.

There’s a lot going on in Fitzrovia. Its history is packed full of surprises but also the area is changing fast as property developers rip down buildings, erect glass, steel, pre-laid brick facades, and pastiche Georgian frontages.

Our community festival takes an overview of the changing landscape and tells the story of this inner city neighbourhood from the point of view of those who live here.

Please see our events page and enjoy our hand-drawn map to help you get around. Festival will run from Saturday 18 to Saturday 25 June 2016. More information in the coming weeks.

Fitzrovia Festival is a non-commercial celebration of the neighbourhood’s life and history organised by the Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Association.

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Planned events for Fitzrovia Festival 2016

Posted on 04/04/2016 by Editors

Provisional dates for Fitzrovia Festival 2016 are: Saturday 18 to Saturday 25 June.

Street scene in Fitzrovia, London, 1970s or 1980s.Planned events included an exhibition of old photographs, books about the neighbourhood, and a series of guided walks exploring the the past present and future of the neighbourhood and what’s left of it.

“London…. A grim, yet burdened and plaintive sound — the dim roar of traffic in the Tottenham Court Road — the far thunder of trams where the Hampstead Road began — the yelling of children in Warren Street near by….” (The Midnight Bell, by Patrick Hamilton).

Fitzrovia Festival is a non-commercial celebration of the neighbourhood’s life and history through literature, exhibitions, guided walks and other community events. The first Fitzrovia Festival was held in June 1973.

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The Derwent Dystopia: guided walk

Posted on 23/06/2015 by Editors

A guided trek around the neighbourhood to see how it is changing — and not for the better.

Derwent London CCTV.

The Derwent London Dystopia awaits you all. They’ll be watching us.

Join this walk which looks at how the buildings, residential community and whole neighbourhood is undergoing rapid change. Find out about the influence of property developers (not just Derwent) Crossrail, dodgy councils, parasites, public relations companies and even a few who should know better.  Continue reading →

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See Red Women’s Workshop: exhibition and discussion

Posted on 23/06/2015 by Editors

The See Red Women’s Workshop was formed in Camden in the 1970s to produce poster artworks to combat negative images of women in advertising and the media.

Graphic art poster.

Capitalism also depends on domestic labour. Red Women’s Workshop. Source: seeredwomensworkshop.wordpress.com

There will be an exhibition of rare posters produced by the collective between 1974 and 1983, and a discussion led by two of the founders of the group, one of whom lives in Fitzrovia.  Continue reading →

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A pub crawl through history: Guided walk

Posted on 20/06/2015 by Editors

Local author Mike Pentelow and editor of Fitzrovia News will lead a guided visit to five of Fitzrovia’s historic hostelries stopping off in each one to have a some liquid refreshment and to talk about the pubs’ local and historical significance.

Pub night scene.

Author Mike Pentelow will lead a guided walk to visit some of Fitzrovia’s famous pubs.

Mike Pentelow is editor of Fitzrovia News. He is also the co-author of A Pub Crawl Through History: The Ultimate Boozers’ Who’s Who, and Freedom Pass London: Make the Most of Your Travel Pass – 25 Special Days Out. Both books written with Peter Arkell. Continue reading →

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The Anarchist Free School in Fitzrovia: guided walk

Posted on 17/06/2015 by Editors

Author Lydia Syson will lead a 60-minute guided walk and talk about the life of her great-great grandmother Nannie Dryhurst, a teacher at the International School — an anarchist free school — set up in Fitzroy Square in the late nineteenth century by French anarchist and Communard Louise Michel.

Front of building.

Prime central London property is theft! The anarchist International School was founded by Louise Michel at 19 Fitzroy Square in the later 19th century. Next door was another anarchist household. (This is probably the wrong building. See editorial footnote.)

“My great-great grandmother Nannie Dryhurst volunteered there with her lover, the war correspondent Henry Nevinson. Discovering this, and the fact that Louise Michel spent her last years in my own neighbourhood of East Dulwich, led me to write my new novel Liberty’s Fire, which was published in May. The book is set during the Paris Commune but the final scene takes place in Fitzrovia,” says author Lydia Syson.  Continue reading →

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Discovering the Secrets of Fitzrovia: guided walk

Posted on 12/06/2015 by Editors

Local resident Peter Twist of Camden Tour Guides Association will lead a walk through the hidden corners of this fascinating part of London.

18th century street.

Off the beaten track. Colville Place is one of many hidden gems to discover.

A compelling mix of the great and the good, the sublime to the ever so slightly ridiculous. Fascinating little alleyways and half hidden mews among its many gems, as well as a grand Georgian square, ending at a famous pub.

Discovering the Secrets of Fitzrovia: A guided walk and talk — 6.30pm Friday 19 June 2015, Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Centre, 39 Tottenham Street, Fitzrovia, London W1T 4RX. Free.

Man standing below BT Tower.

Peter Twist of Camden Tour Guides Association talks to a group of walkers about the history of the BT Tower.

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Community activism in Fitzrovia – 1970-1985: Talk and presentation

Posted on 12/06/2015 by Editors

Nick Bailey, long time resident and author of a book about Fitzrovia, will give a visual presentation looking at important sites of community activism, the struggle for housing and open space.

Street of buildings partly demolished.

Stephen Street in the early 1970s before demolition.

Bailey will talk about the Tottenham Street Tenants Association, the first survey of housing in Fitzrovia, formation of the Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Association and conversion of number 39 Tottenham Street, as well as campaigns and battles around the Warren playground, declaration of Housing Action Areas and Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs).

Part of the 40th anniversary of the Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Association.

6.30pm Tuesday 16 June 2015, at Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, 20 Tottenham Street, London W1T 4RF.

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Fitzrovia and the music industry: guided walk

Posted on 09/06/2015 by Editors

A 90-minute guided walk to visit buildings and places in Fitzrovia which have a connection with the music industry.

Black and white photo of Jimi Hendrix.

Are you experienced with Fitzrovia’s musical heritage? Jimi Hendrix photographed in early 1967 by Gered Mankowitz. Source Wikimedia Commons.

The walk will start with a brief introduction to Fitzrovia and the music industry before moving on to stop outside the sites of famous concerts, shops, recording studios, and former homes of recording artists and their mentors..

From 1960s psychedelia to the Spice Girls, the tour will include 50 years of sex, drugs and rock and roll in Fitzrovia.

Fitzrovia and the Music Industry: Guided walk — 6.30pm Monday 15 June 2015. Meet outside Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Centre, 39 Tottenham Street, London W1T 4RX. Free.

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Fitzrovia Women’s Community Art: Exhibition and Sale

Posted on 26/05/2015 by Editors

Fitzrovia Women’s Community Art: Exhibition and Sale — 6.00pm to 8.00pm weekdays from Wednesday 3 June to Friday 12 June.

Embroidery of man with a bird.

Man with bird on hand. Hand-stitched embroidery 88cm X 140cm. Photo: Sogand Bahram.

Textiles of quilts and other art and craftworks made by women at the Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Centre will be on display.

The artworks were made by a mixed group of women who attended the needlework and art classes as part of community development projects organised by the Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Association. The works span more than two decades of creative projects.

Some of the items were inspired by British Museum exhibitions and embrace Bangladeshi and British culture.

There will be an auction or sale of selected artworks during the exhibition to fundraise for future community development projects.

6.00pm to 8.00pm weekdays from Wednesday 3 June to Friday 12 June. Private view (but everyone welcome) 6pm Thursday 4 June. Free exhibition: Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Centre, 39 Tottenham Street, Fitzrovia, London W1T 4RX.

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