NEW from the North London Railway Historical Society – Colin Mansell’s comprehensive biography of Edwin Henry Horne architect of Highbury and Islington and other NLR station. A great read. Available from the NLRHS:
nlrhs.org.uk
Author: RR
A few articles on Chet and Joe Okonkwo, who held court at ‘the bar’ (literally, the traffic control barrier they are leaning on in the photo) outside Highbury and Islington station in the 1980s. The most stylish guys in this part of north London, they had quite a following and still cut a dash on the occasional walk across Highbury Fields.
Chet and Joe Okonkwo Highbury and Islington 1984 Photo: Homer Sykes.
Chuka and Dubem Okonkwo who became known as Chet and Joe Okonkwo with older brother Francis (right). They had a following of local teenagers. They are the so called Islington Twins who hung out at ‘The Bar’ outside Highbury and Islington tube station. London Uk 1984.
A bunch of reminisces from posts on Lipstick Alley https://www.lipstickalley.com/threads/the-islington-twins-nigerian-british-fashion-pioneers.1117233/
From Messy Nessy: ‘The Dapper Twins’ https://www.messynessychic.com/2016/02/17/meet-the-islington-twins-double-the-dapper/
Mary Mount, writing in The Guardian: ‘ Gentlemen of the Bar’ https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2007/apr/10/fashion.features11
Let us know if you have any reminiscences of people and events at Highbury and Islington station – via the comments box.
An invaluable source of information on the North London Railway, once one of London’s busiest commuter routes.
You can subscribe to the NLRHS at their website below, including access to their meetings, research and their regular journal. The society is chaired by Jim Connor, a knowledgeable author of several books on the railway, who has kindly provided information to assist our project. A recent edition of the society’s journal features a piece by Jim on Mr Horne’s Highbury, and he is preparing a new book on the NLR’s stations.
Follow and subscribe to the NLRHS at: http://www.nlrhs.org.uk
Categories
Sister stations
Edwin Henry Horne was responsible for the house style of the North London Railway’s revamped stations in the 1860s-70s. In all he designed seven stations, along with numerous other buildings on NLR land, including several in the vicinity of Highbury and Islington.
Sadly very few survive – notably Camden Road station, Hackney Central station – where the main station building has now been converted into a nightclub. They give a good sense of the grandeur of Horne’s architecture. Also worth a look is the stationmaster’s house, which still stands next to Canonbury station.
Photographs and links to follow.
RebuildHighbury! 