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Hackney is located in the north east part of Central London. Its neighboring and surrounding areas include Newham, Camden, Haringey, Redbridge, Islington, and Barnet. Developed and merged in 1965, The Borough of Hackney is made up of smaller districts such as Dalston, Shoreditch, Clapton, and Hackney Wick.
The design of residential streets in this area made them wonderful spots that are good for activities. Currently, these streets are 20mph zones with physical implementation, and the majority are in controlled parking areas. A lot of streets have point road closures that minimize rat-running, making them more suitable for pedestrians, cyclists, and people who use these roads for play. A lot of them are now lined with trees and recently renovated paving. All are maintained, and cleaning the streets is one of the best in London.
The town centers in Hackney are much easier and more enticing for leisure strolls. There are wide and reconstructed pavements in Stoke Newington Church Street, Shoreditch, Hackney Central, and Dalston. The pedestrian crossings are not staggered, and miles of guard railing were discarded. The street furniture’s location was placed to lessen obstruction.
The origin of the Hackney N1 name is engulfed in mystery. One plausible theory is that the name derives from the Old English “Haka’s island”, Haka was a notable resident of the area. In 1231, the name was spelled as Hakney and as Hakeneye in 1294.
In the Iron Age, the Catuvellauni tribe inhabited the area. This is one of the major Celtic tribes that lived here before the Roman invasion. Three Roman burial stone coffins along with Roman coins were found here.
London Fields park in Hackney N1 was first mentioned in a document in 1540. The remains of an anti-aircraft battery from World War II are still visible in the southern part of the park. A bomb shelter was built near the tennis courts.
Actor Michael Caine attended Hackney Downs School. Actor Michael Fassbender lives in the area. Idris Elba and Colin Firth are other famous residents. Filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock also has ties with the area. Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain hails from Hackney N1.