Blackstock Road

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Blackstock Road is a major road in north London running from Seven Sisters Road south westerly to Highbury Park. It runs along the border between the London Borough of Hackney and the London Borough of Islington.

1 Facilities
2 Transport
3 History
4 Other Blackstock Roads
5 External links
6 References

[edit] Facilities

Blackstock Road hosts a diverse array of independent shops, cafes and restaurants. At its south end there are a number of public houses, while at the north end there are Algerian Cafés, with many restaurants and shops running along its length up towards Highbury Park. Pubs en route include the Blackstock, the Kings Head, the Arsenal Tavern, the Woodbine, the Gunners and the Bank of Friendship.

Blackstock Road has managed to maintain its village-like community spirit through not hosting any major supermarkets or any of the chain stores which characterize "clone town" Britain.

The Algerian community has a massive presence on the road with no less than 39 Algerian owned businesses. Some of the most prominent figures to frequent the area also come from that community; these include:

Lounis Ghazali: World famous poet/vagabond, often described as the Baudelaire of the 21st century.
Nadjib Mekdia aka Djahmoune: a notorious sportsman and world class fencer.
Essaid Haddadou: known by many as Ami Said or Uncle Said; dynamic and highly successful businessman.
Mustapha Ouahchia or Ben Ouahchia: Hermit and spiritual leader of the community
His Most Sublime Highness Benaissa Ghouali: the 17th Agha Khan of the Most secret order of Aissaoua; healer and witch doctor of the community.
Hakim El Souri: Alternative medic, philanthropist and enthusiast of dentistry, responsible for the dental health of the community.
Mario: Professor Emeritus of Aberdeen University; accused by some of being involved in the North Korean Nuclear Programme.
Paulus Broughtinimus: Infamous football player; mathematical genius and hairiest man in N4.
Dr.Mohammed Sekkoum: Veterinary; treating all the above mentionned.

[edit] Transport

Blackstock Road is very well served by public transport. There are four bus services running along it, the 19, 4, 236 and 106, reaching out to Battersea, Waterloo or Archway, Hackney Wick and Whitechapel respectively. Blackstock Road is also in close proximity to Finsbury Park station at its northern end, providing easy access to the Victoria Line and Piccadilly Line. Arsenal station on Gillespie Road is within five minutes walk of the southern end of Blackstock Road.

[edit] History

The Hackney Brook flowed through the south westerly end of Blackstock Road from its source in Holloway before emptying into the River Lea at Hackney Wick. Rumour has it that the pub the 'Bank of Friendship' is so named because the people of Highbury used to wave at the folk of Stoke Newington across the river. This is mentioned in the book The Ground Water Diaries by Tim Bradford.

Blackstock Road's original name was Boarded River Lane when it was still a dirt track.

The river that used to run into Blackstock Road (when it wasn't a road) originated near Newington Green, cutting across Highbury Vale, over where Wilberforce Road, Queen's Drive and Finsbury Park Road now are. On the river in the 18th century was a renowned hostelry known as the Eel Pie House, serving pies (presumably with eels in) that had been fished out of the river. The pie houses' location is thought to have been located on the spot where no.57 Wilberforce Road now stands (according to the Encyclopedia of London).