A friend introduced me to geocaching during 2021 (one of the best gifts I've ever had) and immediately I checked for a cache at historical Newington Green and was astonished to find there was nothing. So I thought it was time to rectify that.
Formerly a village on the outskirts of London, it was far enough from the City to be free of its laws and restrictions, and consequently attracted non-conformists and radical thinkers, some of whom formed "dissenting academies" as a substitute for the established universites which refused to teach those outside the Anglican Church.
There's history on all sides of the Green. Henry VIII had a house on the south side in the 16th century which he used when hunting in the area. You can still see houses (numbers 52-55) dating from 1658 on the west side - Newington Green Action Group claims this as London's oldest suriving brick terrace. To the north you will find the Unitarian Church, the oldest non-conformist church still in operation in London. National Lottery funding has enabled restoration and the provision of guided (subject to covid restrictions...) and virtual tours, so you can see for yourself the pew formerly used by Mary Wollstonecraft, among other things.
Mary Wollstonecraft has been described as "the first feminist writer", with 'A Vindication of the Rights of Women' her most famous work, in which she argued for the education of women. She put her ideals into practice by establishing a school for girls on the east side of the Green - there's a plaque near the site.
Maggi Hambling was commissioned to produce 'A statue for Mary Wollstonecraft', following a decade-long fundraising campaign by the Mary on the Green group. The work was added to the square in November 2020 and has proved controversial - be sure to take a look to decide for yourself, and feel free to add your thoughts in your log.
There's a good timeline opposite the cafe on the west side, if you'd like to learn more about the comings and goings in the area.
Congratulations to FTF Debs54
Buses: 21, 73, 141, 236, 341 and 476.