#frestonia

70’s squat in Frestonia

“and it shines to illuminate the distance, illustrate the difference between you and me”

Outside the Bramley Arms

I pass the People’s Hall when me & the Juha crew rehearse at Pirate Studios in Notting Hill, and took this photo as reminder to look up what it’s history is. Turns out, it’s history is rad! It’s the result Frestonia, aka the Free and Independent Republic of Frestonia. This was a group of squatters, artists, musicians, and activists who lived on Freston Road and decided Freston Road would secede from the United Kingdom. Frestonia has its own postage stamps that were honoured by the General Post Office. They passport stamps for “tourists.” The Clash recorded ‘Combat Rock’ at the People’s Hall, where Motörhead also rehearsed. Their Latin motto was “Nos Sumus Una Familia” - “ We Are One Family.” The moral of the story is: if you see a building and it makes you wonder, take a photo to remind yourself about looking it up; in an idle moment of scrolling through photos, you might find its reminder opens up a magnificent history. #Frestonia #PeoplesHall NottingHill #squats #squatting #squatters #secession #theclash #motorhead #motörhead #housingcooperative #davidrappaport #heathcotewilliams @frestoniangallery @piratestudios (at Frestonia) https://www.instagram.com/p/B9pDil4DX5K/?igshid=cnggtve2kf8h

Who remembers the independent republic of Frestonia, a country surrounded by England? 

I just hold my head up high and feel the rain

Head Noël from Freesti and our emperor-president!