Free London Listings

First it was a mansion for rich merchants, then a refuge for ex-women prisoners ( the Elizabeth Fry Building) and a Working Men's Club (the New Lansdowne Club), the building on 195 Mare Street has had a long and varied past since 1699, year of its construction. Despite being a historically significant building, it stands now a long time neglected.

But what next? Recently it has been taken over by a bank, do we trust it to be preserved, or for the opinions of the community surrounding it to be taken into consideration? This is the second oldest house in Hackney and a Grade II listed building, it is an ideal community resource and its conservation should be definite but it is in a vulnerable situation. As most of us know, luxury flats will always be more appealing and profitable to the banks than community spaces.

We are a group of diverse people: workers, students, artists, activists originating from lots of different parts of the world. We began occupying the New Lansdowne Club (left empty for years) not only to house ourselves but with the building's protection in mind and an aim to set up free community events. Now our time is coming to an end. At present the building's future is in the hands of Dunbar Bank. But this is not yet written in the history books so let's get together as people who care about the building to see what future we can create for 195 Mare Street. But let's also get together as people who care about reclaiming community spaces from the gentrification process, the money making speculation business and the enclosure of our lives and spaces!

AN OPEN WEEKEND : 23rd - 25th July 2010

Come for a weekend of sharing stories about the building's past, ideas for the building's future and practical campaigning techniques for building a community of resistance. Bring your own ideas, stories, information or just come with open ears!

PAST // Friday 23rd July from 6pm - A celebration of the Past of 195 Mare St! We will have some exhibition of photos of the building at various stages of its life, and we will show some movies shot inside the building. Come with your own photos/objects/memories or experiences of the place to share with each other. We will also screen The Krays (1990), at about 8pm, a film about the famous East end gangsters!

PRESENT & FUTURE // Saturday 24th July from 2pm - info on ongoing campaigns in Hackney, open meeting and theatre play.

FUTURE // Sunday 25th July from 1pm - Resistance FreeSchool