The letter about Stapleton Hall is written by Gillian Tindall, author of far and away the best book I've read about London local history - 'The Fields Beneath' (about Kentish Town, published 1977). New edition coming out soon. Inspiring read.

It's encouraging to hear she is getting her teeth into Stapleton Hall.

An odd coincidence too. Part of her Kentish Town book that sticks in my mind is a passage on the historic Assembly House pub (top of Kentish Town Road), which had one unusual historic feature - an ancient marble-top table, dating I think from about the 1760s or 1770s, which had belonged to the pub for two centuries. It was known as something like 'Mr Jones's' table. When I used the pub in the 1980s it was still there and screwed to the wall to stop it being stolen.

I went back to the Assembly House recently and the antique table is nowhere to be seen. Apparently it was sold off in the 1990s by some rapacious landlord. The coincidence here is that the pub was then taken over by some Australians. And the name of the company? Larrikin Inns (also owners of the The Larrik, aka Stapleton Tavern).

I am Gillian Tindall, and I have signed up to this website because I am currently in search of someone/more than one person/ who recalls Stapleton Hall when it was the Conservation Association premises (ie. earlier than the mid-1980s). I should be happy to meet in person any one who can produce memories of the club when it was a going concern, and particularly pleased if I can find someone connected with the club who was around in 1962 when the Association managed to buy the freehold of the premises to stop it being pulled down.
Anyone with genuine info could email me on rglansdown@yahoo.co.uk

@Gillian Tindall.

I can remember Stapleton Hall as the Conservative Club from '76 onwards until it's sale in approx '86.

It was a very down-at-heel address with no sign or notice board that I can recall. It had a badly lit muddy car park on one side which was alwyas full of vans and pick=up trucks as it was frequented for the most part by builders and labourers at all hours of the day. There was a modern prefab extension to the side which housed two full size snoker tables. It was basically a drinking club with no official events that I recall and definitely not open to all-comers. Also Sir Hugh Rossi MP at that time was almost certainly never there [ infamous for campaigning in his open top Morgan ] The local Tories had a separate property in Crouch End on Tottenham Lane just before junction with Ferme Park Rd.which served as committee rooms etc.

It's now The Stapleton again, have you been asleep for the past 6 months? ;-)

You live around the corner, but for six months you haven’t noticed the complete inside-and-out refurbishment, change of signs, and the fact that it now actually has punters!?

Entertainment is still rather occasional and sporadic. It’s lovely inside though, the staff are very friendly and competent, the food splendid and beer range more than acceptable. A revelation. Go, tonight.

Gardener Joe, it might not be Stroud Green Road.   Might it be somewhere up Stapleton Hall Road way?  Maybe they are still there somewhere.

GardenerJoe, my architect friend is curious about that picture. The architect on the picture is different to the one listed. Also, what's it doing in a magazine dedicated to Irish architecture?