Stoke Newington, London

 Stoke Newington History - Paradise House (later school) in Paradise Row ...

Throughout her life, Anna Letita Barbauld was actively involved in the literary and social circles of London. She was a prominent member of the Blue Stockings Society and engaged with other intellectuals and writers. Barbauld spent her later years in Stoke Newington, near London, where she continued to write and engage in literary activities. She died here on March 9, 1825. 

Mary Wollstoncraft lived in Stoke Newington, specifically near Newington Green. She moved there in the early 1780s and founded a school for girls with the help of her sisters and her friend Frances Blood.

In the 1700s, Stoke Newington was still largely rural, with open fields, farms, and large estates. It was known for its market gardens and nurseries, which supplied produce to London. The area was characterized by its greenery and open spaces, making it a pleasant retreat from the crowded city. Stoke Newington was a center for religious dissenters, including Nonconformists and Quakers. The area was known for its tolerance and became a refuge for those seeking religious freedom. This part of Stoke Newington was particularly significant as a hub for intellectuals and radicals. 

Daniel Lysons. "Stoke Newington". The Environs of London: Volume 3, County of Middlesex. (London, 1795), British History Online. Web. 4 May 2025. https://www.british-history.ac.uk/london-environs/vol3/pp280-305.

Parent Map

Echoes of Empowerment: Women’s Journey Through British Literary History-KW

Coordinates

Latitude: 51.561175000000
Longitude: -0.083492300000

Timeline of Events Associated with Stoke Newington, London

Date Event Manage
1790

A Vindication on the Rights of Men by Mary Wollstonecraft

Mary Wollstonecraft's A Vindication of the Rights of Men is a significant political pamphlet published in 1790. The pamphlet was written in response to Edmund Burke's Reflections on the Revolution in France, which defended the aristocracy and monarchy. Wollstonecraft's work was one of the first responses in a pamphlet war sparked by Burke's publication.  Wollstonecraft attacks hereditary privilege and advocates for republicanism, arguing for a society based on merit rather than birthright. Driven by Enlightenment beliefs in progress and reason, Wollstonecraft argues for the rights of middle-class working people and the importance of rationality in political and social life. Wollstonecraft uses Burke's own gendered language to critique his arguments, highlighting the ways in which societal norms and language perpetuate gender inequality.  In the 1970s, feminist scholars revisited Wollstonecraft's texts, bringing greater attention to their intellectualism and significance. A Vindication of the Rights of Men laid the groundwork for Wollstonecraft's later work, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, and contributed to the development of feminist philosophy. Wollstonecraft's A Vindication of the Rights of Men is a powerful critique of aristocracy and a passionate defense of republicanism and individual rights, making it a foundational text in both political and feminist literature. 

“A Vindication of the Rights of Men - Online Library of Liberty.” Libertyfund.org, 2019, oll.libertyfund.org/titles/wollstonecraft-a-vindication-of-the-rights-of-men.