The 21st November 2019 marks the 60th anniversary of the commandeering of 5 Caledonian Road by Peace News and Housmans. Both organisations are in fact older than this – Peace News began publishing in 1936 and Housmans began trading in 1945 – but since 1959 we have made our home here in King’s Cross.
This home has been shared by a myriad of campaigning groups in the offices above. Current residents include War Resisters International, Campaign Against Climate Change, No Sweat, Forces Watch, Oromo Relief Association, and Federation of Iraqi Refugees among others.
Over the course of the next 12 months we will be celebrating this anniversary by creating a multimedia history project, based on the building’s past and present. We will also be hosting a national campaigning conference called ‘Our Power Is Real’ , that aims to bring together a range of campaigning groups, from local to national.
There’ll be lots more info on all these goings-on in the near future, but for now we would love it if you would raise a proverbial glass to Peace House and all who have sailed in her! It is cheering to know that despite all the other problems we face, that at least this building continues to thrive, and work hard in its mission of bringing about a more peaceful and just world.
There’s a short history of Housmans available to read here: https://housmans.com/history/
