Frestonia

Frestonia was the name adopted for a couple of months by the squatters of Freston Road, London, when they attempted to stop a threatened eviction via secession from the United Kingdom.

Actor David Rappaport was the Foreign Minister, while playwright Heathcote Williams who occasionally visited a friend in the street, served as Ambassador to the United Kingdom.

This land crosses the boundary of London postal districts W10 (Kensal Green) and W11 (Notting Hill), and now belongs to the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

[10] The Council threatened formal eviction, so at a public meeting attended by 200 people, resident Nicholas Albery—inspired by both the 1949 Ealing comedy film Passport to Pimlico and a previous visit to Freetown Christiania in Copenhagen—suggested that they declare the street independent of the rest of the UK.

Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer Sir Geoffrey Howe wrote expressing his support, saying: "As one who had childhood enthusiasm for Napoleon of Notting Hill, I can hardly fail to be moved by your aspirations.

[12] The state adopted the Latin motto Nos Sumus Una Familia—We are All One Family—and applied to join the United Nations,[13] at the same time warning that peacekeeping troops might be needed to keep the GLC at bay.

[17][18] The Car Breaker Gallery's exhibitors included Joe Rush of the Mutoid Waste Company,[14] Julie Umerle,[19] Brett Ewins, Giles Leaman[20] and Brendan McCarthy.

Many gradually developed a shared feminist consciousness and began setting up creches, food co-ops and helping in the growing networks of women's refuges and legal advice agencies.

According to Tony Sleep, a resident photographer[29] whose online photo-journal[30] documents the history of the area, those leaving were often replaced by people with drinking and drug problems.

[citation needed] Major developments occurred in 2007 with the completion of headquarters for Monsoon Accessorize and TalkTalk (2009) at the rear of 91–121 Freston Road.