On the east side of Clapton Common, between Craven Walk and Overlea Road, are two early 19th century detached villas, No 96 Clapton Common (formerly Stainforth House) and its neighbour no 98 (formerly The Woodlands).No 96 is locally listed and No 98 is Grade II listed. These two buildings are the last survivors of the villas which were built on the eastern and northern sides of Clapton Common in the Georgian era.

Today, both villas are in the ownership of the Belz Foundation which uses both properties for the purposes of a synagogue and independent school. Despite some insensitive alterations, principally carried out during the short period when planning in Hackney was decentralised to local planning committees in the 1990s, both houses contribute significantly to the historic and heritage interest of the Clapton Common Conservation Area which they overlook.

The interest is enhanced by their historical association. Stainforth House was the home of William Walsham How (d. 1897), suffragan bishop for London's East End and known variously as 'The Poor Man's Bishop' and 'The Omnibus Bishop'. The latter title came from his habit of travelling on horse buses and trams rather than private carriage, and local inhabitants became accustomed to seeing him sitting amongst them in his Bishop's regalia. He was a founder of The Waifs and Strays Society (now the Children's Society) and he established the Society's first boys home in The Woodlands, next door to his residence. How was followed at Stainforth House by Frederick Janson Hanbury, of the chemists Allen & Hanbury, who made a large collection of plants and created a fine example of a Victorian rock garden which was widely photographed. Although the slope behind was acquired for Ashtead and Lingwood roads, Stainforth House was saved on its purchase in 1909 by C. H. Turner, Bishop of Islington who lived there until 1923, while his son lived at The Woodlands.

In February 2008, architectural historian Dr Ann Robey presented to Hackney Council a report which recommended that the Clapton Common Conservation Area be extended to include 96 and 98 Clapton Common. This would have given both buildings protection from the kind of redevelopment which has been a feature of the Stamford Hill area in recent times and which have caused much public controversy

Although two years have now elapsed, Hackney Council have failed to take any action to implement Dr Robey's recommendations. Planning applications were submitted to Hackney Council by the Belz Foundation in Spring 2009 which involved the demolition of 96 Clapton Common and the construction of a huge part two-storey, part five-storey extension to Grade II listed no 98. The Clapton Conservation Areas Advisory Committee and the Clapton Terrace Residents Association were among those objecting to the proposals.

The Planning Applications went before the Council's Planning Sub-Committe on 2 December 2009. There was general alarm that the Planning Officer's report to the Planning Sub-Committee ignored the own Council's heritage policies and national policy recommendations, and that neither English Heritage nor the Hackney Society had been consulted on the proposals. Because of this, the Council's own Heritage Champion Cllr Geoff Taylor, Cllr Ian Rathbone, the Hackney Society and the Clapton Conservation Areas Advisory Committee all requested that consideration of the planning applications be deferred. Dr Robey emailed the Chair of the Planning Sub-Committee Cllr Vincent Stops telling him how important it was for the heritage of the area that 96 Clapton Common was preserved.

All this was ignored and the Planning Sub-Committee went ahead and approved the proposals.The Council's decision has set an alarming precedent for future planning applications relating to heritage buildings in Hackney and is a cause for alarm amongst those bodies concerned with the historic environment.

By Julia Lafferty

Julia is a member of the Clapton Conservation Areas Advisory Committee and the Hackney Society and a regular contributor to the magazine Hackney History published by the Friends of Hackney Archives.