You may have noticed that the name of Cassland Road Gardens was taken down in December 2020 and replaced with a welcome sign. This was the first action taken by the Review, Rename, Reclaim project, which is the name given to Hackney Council’s review into the legacies of African enslavement history and colonialism in Hackney.
In June 2020, Hackney Council announced the Review, Rename, Reclaim project which gives us all an opportunity to rethink the names of spaces where communities live, learn, work and play to ensure they appropriately reflect our diverse community and represent the values that the borough stands for.
Since then, members of the Council’s Culture, Heritage and Consultation Teams have been working with a community steering group made up of local historians, community leaders, educationalists, and young people, to identify the names of people who profited from slavery and colonialism and remain memorialised in our public spaces.
Sir John Cass was highlighted as one of a number of symbols that have very strong and active associations with African enslavement.
We are carrying out a public consultation to give people the opportunity to decide on the new name for the Gardens and ask local residents their views on renaming streets, buildings and public spaces in Hackney.
Next Steps
The final name chosen by residents will be announced this Spring through Hackney Today and via the Council website. The new name will also be displayed in the Gardens.
An information sharing session for local residents about the consultation where you can learn more about the review and renaming work we are doing, the history of John Cass and the Gardens, as well as ask questions.
An information sharing session for local residents about the consultation where you can learn more about the review and renaming work we are doing, the history of John Cass and the Gardens, as well as ask questions.
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