Headless! The unusual Railings Around CaledoniaN Park

Visitors to Caledonian Park who approach it from Caledonian Road will notice the railings that face Market Road and Fred White Walk. They date from 1855 when the Metropolitan Cattle Market opened on the site that later became the park. The railings were built to withstand pressure from the two-legged and four-legged creatures that thronged … Read More

CLERKENWELL & ISLINGTON GUIDES – WALKS & EVENTS December 2022

Welcome to the second Clerkenwell and Islington Guides monthly newsletter of walks and events. Although we are now getting into winter, there are still plenty of opportunities to explore an aspect of the areas history, discover some fascinating buildings, and hear stories about the characters that have walked the streets of Clerkenwell and Islington, starting … Read More

The Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art

Those who journey to Islington and make their way to Canonbury Square via Upper Street and Canonbury Lane are pleasantly surprised to find an unexpected gem on their walk. Situated at the corner of Canonbury Square and Canonbury Road is a large Georgian property which is home to the Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art. … Read More

Mr Gestetner, The Office Innovator 

Highbury New Park is a wide mid-Victorian tree-lined avenue. It effectively links two green spaces – Highbury Fields and Clissold Park. Along both sides of this lovely leafy street there are impressive villas aimed at the prosperous Victorian middle classes of that time. The houses are similar in style, but they are not exactly alike, insofar as … Read More

Why are there small parks in North Islington

Islington Guided Walks host a variety of free Health and History walks in the borough’s parks. Oonagh Gay is leading the next one on Sunday 20 November in Wray Crescent Park. Here Oonagh explains how three of Islington’s small parks came to be. There are several small parks in North Islington, in contrast to the … Read More

Daniel Defoe

Daniel Defoe  1660 – 1731. Born Cripplegate died  Ropemakers Alley, Moorfields Have you been to Bunhill Fields and seen this? This impressive memorial to famous author Daniel Defoe does him proud but did you know that originally he had a much more modest headstone? Almost 150 years after his death, as the appreciation of his story telling grew it was … Read More

Highbury and Islington Station

Highbury & Islington station serves both the Victoria Line (light blue) and London Overground (orange) and is located on what is still referred to as Highbury Corner.  But that corner was obliterated by a WW2 bomb becoming first a roundabout and today a welcome patch of open space next to the station.  After the bomb … Read More

Paradise Park and Freightliners Farm

Paradise Park is a 4.57 acre area located on Mackenzie Road in Holloway.  It is popular with families because of its children’s play area, the RSPB Sparrow Meadow, the open grass area and outdoor gym equipment, as well as Freightliners Farm. However, the area now covered by Paradise Park was the scene of one of … Read More

Amy Levy, Pioneering Author

Out on the eastern most edge of Islington, on the border with Hackney, is an area known as Mildmay and, within it, the last resting place of the ashes of a notable young poet, novelist and essayist: her name was Amy Levy.  Today, if you wish to discover where she is located, you will have … Read More