I lived in Hackney from september 1996 for ten months, right on the main street. I shared a two bedroom flat (well, maisonette) with a work colleague.

The coolest part was it's location: above a 24-hour bagel shop, and slap-bang next to the Hackney Empire theatre, a leading comedy venue. There I saw such notables as Douglas Adams, Will Self, and Mark Lamarr and met Frank Skinner

However, it wasn't that close to useful things like things like supermarkets and tube stations.

The flat itself was basic, but well maintained, and acceptably furnished. This may have been due in no small part to the previous tenants being the landlord's daughter and her fiance.

Hack"ney (?), n.; pl. Hackneys (#). [OE. haceney, hacenay; cf. F. haquen'ee a pacing horse, an ambling nag, OF. also haquen'ee, Sp. hacanea, OSp. facanea, D. hakkenei, also OF. haque horse, Sp. haca, OSp. faca; perh akin to E. hack to cut, and orig. meaning, a jolting horse. Cf. Hack a horse, Nag.]

1.

A horse for riding or driving; a nag; a pony.

Chaucer.

2.

A horse or pony kept for hire.

3.

A carriage kept for hire; a hack; a hackney coach.

4.

A hired drudge; a hireling; a prostitute.

 

© Webster 1913.

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Hack"ney, a.

Let out for hire; devoted to common use; hence, much used; trite; mean; as, hackney coaches; hackney authors.

"Hackney tongue."

Roscommon.

<-- also hackneyed -->

 

© Webster 1913.

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Hack"ney, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Hackneyed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Hackneying.]

1.

To devote to common or frequent use, as a horse or carriage; to wear out in common service; to make trite or commonplace; as, a hackneyed metaphor or quotation.

Had I lavish of my presence been, So common-hackneyed in the eyes of men. Shak.

2.

To carry in a hackney coach.

Cowper.

 

© Webster 1913.