Chats Palace to mark centenary of building

Homerton Library opening, 1913

It will soon be one hundred years since the opening of the building that is now Chats Palace, and a raft of activities and events are planned to mark the building’s centenary.

The imposing building was a hotbed for community activity during the late 1970s and 80s, but for more than half its life it was a public library.

Designed by Sir Thomas Edwin Cooper and paid for by the philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, the entire building was built from scratch in just nine months – speedy even by today’s standards.

But with the opening of a new library on Homerton High Street in 1974, the building became defunct until taken over by the organisers of the old Hackney Marsh Fun Festival.

It soon grew into a community resource, with a pensioners group, weekend schooling, and carnival committee all operating out of the building. By 1977 it had become known as Chats Palace.

Teresa Hareduke, who has been involved with Chats since the early years, remembers a time during the GLC [Greater London Council] years when it used to employ 20 members of staff.

“It had an extensive programme of dance, drama and music workshops for all ages,” she said. “It did community pantomimes and a whole series of community drama projects.”

In the 1980s, Chats was the focus for protests about the Poll Tax and the demise of the GLC, whilst in the 1990s it became better known as a music and stand up comedy venue.

Manager of Chats, Candy Horsbrugh is putting the finishing touches to a programme of celebrations marking the centenary at the end of May, which so far includes live music and an exhibition of silk screen prints taken from the art centre’s archives.

“It will be a free night for the community, and the idea is to have some music in the venue and for people to come, have a drink and look at the pictures,” she said.

Trustee Jacquetta May hopes the celebrations will encourage more local people to discover Chats.

“Chats is re-growing and beginning to flourish again,” she said.

Chats Palace is looking for volunteers to help with its archive.

For more information visit What is Chat’s Palace or email fragilearchivists@gmail.com.

Chats Palace
42-44 Brooksby’s Walk
Hackney
E9 6DF