Sutton House on Homerton High Street

It’s easy to forget that Hackney has its very own National Trust property. In fact, the woman in the gift shop was saying that the main problem Sutton House on Homerton High Street faces is that it doesn’t get the visitors, because no one seems to know where it is. And in a classic computer-says-no catch-22, Hackney Council won’t provide better signposting because it doesn’t get enough visitors.

Built in 1535 by a mate of Thomas Cromwell’s, it has been home to merchants, squatters and Huguenot weavers, and has the sort of rich, hushed atmosphere you’d expect of a building that’s seen people come and go for the almost 500 years.

I hadn’t been back for a few years, and then last Saturday I happened to be near it when my baby had fallen asleep. This is a cue to immediately head to the nearest available seat or patch of grass and pull out whatever I’m reading (at the moment it’s a choice between Cloud Atlas, Drop City, Birthday Letters and Watching The English, so  I went to the café there, noting the magic words ‘cream tea’ on a sign out the front. You don’t have to pay the £3 entrance fee to visit the beautiful café, which has a timber-panelled room lined with books, a sunny conservatory and an outdoor patio.

There I found homemade scones, still warm, and, even better, a second-hand bookshop. There are a few around Hackney – Oxfam on Kingsland Road, as well as the little charity shop in Hackney Central are both worth a look. This one is particularly good – I found not just last year’s bestselling novels, but fondue cookbooks from the seventies, Doctor Spock, old cloth-bound volumes, newer releases like Henning Mankel and TC Boyle, what appears to be a retired psychologist’s entire library, plus obscure poetry, gardening, travel and plenty more. An unexpected treasure on Homerton High Street.

PS Just found out about a new book group at Sutton House: Here’s the info…

We are delighted to announce a new book group - Book Brunchers, at the beautiful National Trust property, Sutton House in Hackney, London. Built in 1535, Sutton House is at the heart of Hackney and offers a wide range of affordable & free arts events.

Book Brunchers will launch in Adult Learners Week on Thursday May 19th 2011, 11am-12pm and we will celebrate with local author Daniel Kramb who will read from his novel.

The group is free to attend and is open to any adults who would like to join!

We will meet every month on the third Thursday, 11am-12pm in the cosy cafe & second hand book shop at Sutton House (until November).

 

Sutton House opens on Thursdays to Sundays from 12-5pm. 2 and 4 Homerton High Street, Hackney, London E9 6JQ
Telephone: 020 8986 2264