Islington L-R

The introduction can be found here

First published 1986: Islington Local History Education Trust
Digital edition (revised) 2017: Islington Heritage Service


Islington A-D
Islington E-K
Islington L-R (this page)
Islington S-Z


LACKINGTON STREET
Before 1936 CROSS STREET (1827). Re-numbered 1875. Named after James Lackington (1746-1815), a once
celebrated bookseller. His shop to be the largest and most extensive in London at the time, was at the corner of
Finsbury Pavement and Finsbury Square.
LADBROKE HOUSE, Highbury Grove
Rename in 1964 of the former ‘Cossor House’, 62-66 Highbury Grove.
LADY MARGARET ROAD,
(Boundary Road, the rest in Camden).
Not in local directories until 1889, when nos. 72-114 and 89-123.
Built on the estate of St. John’s College, Cambridge. The college acquired the estate, mostly in Kentish Town in 1637
under the will of a William Piatt.
LADY MARGARET TERRACE, Tufnell Park Road (1882)
By 1885 nos. 227-229 Tufnell Park Road.
LAFITTE HOUSE, New Orleans Estate
Lafitte, Louisiana, is named after Jean Lafitte (also spelt Laffitte) who died c.1825, who fought heroically in defence
of New Orleans in the War of 1812.
LAGONIER HOUSE, Ironmonger Row
Named after Jean, Comte de Ligonier (16801770), Governor of the French Hospital, 1748. This was established in
Pest House Lane 1716, moved to Victoria Park in 1866.
LAIRS CLOSE, Shearing Estate (1979) Named after the cattle lairs of the former Caledonian Market.
LAMBERT HOUSE, New Orleans Walk (1974)
LAMBERT STREET
Name first used 1891. ”
Before then, nos. 1-7 Maria Terrace. Nos. 2-16 were 1856-60,1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 Melinda Cottage, Alpha Cottages.
1855, Phoenix Cottages, 1,2 and 6 Alpha Cottages. Phoenix Cottages dated from 1850; after 1891 nos. 2-16 Lambert
Street. See also MARIA TERRACE’
LAMBFOLD HOUSE, York Way (1968) In memory of the sheep pens of the former Metropolitan Cattle Market, 1855-
1939.
LAMB’S BUILDINGS, Bunhill Row (1769-70)
And Dyehouse Buildings. After 1896 Lamb’s Passage.
St. JOSEPH’S RC Church. Originally 1856. Present church, 1901. St. Joseph’s School ceased in 1976.
HERALD HOUSE since 1980.
LAMB’S MEWS, Colebrooke Row (1981/2)
See under Duncan Terrace re Charles and Mary Lamb.
LAMB’S PASSAGE, EC1. Lamb’s Buildings, (1769/70)
Before 1813 Great Swordbearers’ Alley. Before 1896, parts of Lamb’s Buildings and Dyehouse Buildings. Renumbered
1896.
Named after Thomas Lamb, overseer of the Poor.
Jacob Yallowly and Samuel Whitbread lived nearby to Lamb’s Passage.
Thomas Lamb, the overseer of the poor who lived in the passage 1754 until 1813, was a buckram stiffener.
CITY & EAST LONDON COLLEGE c. 1965/8 (City College for Further Education).
SHIRE HOUSE c.1982. St. Joseph’s Presbytery.
LAMBTON ROAD (1870)
See also PARK VILLAS.
Some nos. not older than 1882-1884 period.
LAMPETER STREET, Shepperton Road
(c.1874-1978)
Not there after then.
LAMPSON HOUSE, Warrender Road (1983/4)
LANDFEAR VILLAS
In the 1852 directory. By 1874 nos. 18 and 20 ALBION ROAD.
LANDOR COURT, Arundel Grove (1968)
Walter Savage Landor (1775-1864), poet and writer of ‘Imaginary Conversations’.
LANDSEER COURT, Sussex Way (1956)
LANDSEER ROAD
First in the 1853 directory, but in the 1852 rate book.
Name changed to Landseer Road throughout 1875, this to include Stanley Road which dates from 1855.
Landseer Villas dated from 1853. Sir Edwin Henry Landseer, RA (1802-1873), in the 19th century considered the
foremost European animal painter.
William Ostler Dick of the Engineering and Stores Association (Postal Engineers) lived 1904-10 at 24 Landseer Road.
ARUNDEL LODGE 1964.
LANG HOUSE, Ward Road (1962)
Named after Cosmo Gordon Lang (18641945), Scottish born Archbishop of Canterbury 1928-1941/2.
LANGDON COURT, City Road (1961)
LANGDON ROAD
After 1937 BREDGAR ROAD’ Before 1868 Bredgar Terrace, Belgrave Road. First called Langdon Road in the 1882
Islington directory.
LANSDOWNE COTTAGES’, Lower Road (1844)
By 1866 nos. 316-340 Essex Road.
LANSDOWNE PLACE (1824)
By 1871 nos. 399-407 Holloway Road.
LANSDOWNE TERRACE, Caledonian Road (1846)
By 1863 nos. 61-97 (The Talbot) Caledonian Road.
LANSDOWNE TERRACE
Between Duncan Place and Black Horse Yard. In rate books from 1848 to 1854.
LARCH CLOSE, N19 (1983/4)
LARCH MEWS
With effect from 1981 part of the Hargrave Park development.
LARCHFIELD HOUSE, Highbury Estate,
Highbury New Park (1955)
LARCHMORE COURT, Kingsdown Road (1967)
LAUREL CLOSE
Part of the Hargrave Park development with effect from 1981.
LAUREL COTTAGES, Holloway
Between Elizabeth Cottages and Prospect Terrace,
In 1833-6 rate books.
LAVENDON HOUSE, Upper Street (1970)
Rebuilding 1983.
LAVINA GROVE, Kings Cross, N1 (1846)
Last in the 1965 register of electors.
BETHEL CHAPEL, opened 1865 by Joseph Thrift. Last in the 1965 register of electors.
LAWRENCE PLACE (Delhi/Outram Estate) (1980)
LAYCOCK MANSIONS (1925/6)
Demolished 1978/9.
LAYCOCK STREET
Before 1914 WILSON STREET (from 1837).
FLIGHT’S YARD (after Thomas Flight landowner) c.1848.
Laycock Street is named after’ Laycock’s Farm & Cattle Lairs’ started as early as 1720. Charles Laycock, Jnr. who died
in 1777 was one of ‘the greatest goose-feeders and wholesale poulterers in the kingdom.’ Richard Laycock who died
in 1834 was the proprietor of one of the largest dairies in the country. Thomas Flight then took over as landowner.
Over 500 acres were farmed around Liverpool Road and Upper Street and it certainly stretched as far as what is now
Islington Park Street. There were 10 bulls and around 500 milking cows. In 1852 one John Nichols was proprietor,
milk was 4d per quart and fresh cream three shillings.
Between 1900 and 1914 Laycock’s former dairy was owned by Hislop & Sons who also had the Nyn Farm Dairy, 44
Park Street. From 1886 and in the 1890’s the LGOC had a coach factory between Flight’s Yard and Park Street.
LAYCOCK JUNIOR MIXED SCHOOL was built 1915/16 as Laycock Street School. Re-organised 1927-32. In 1939 the
Junior Mixed and Infants were in Laycock Street. Re-organised 1947-51 as Laycock Primary and re-organised again
for Junior Mixed and Infants c.1971. Since 1982 the building has been used as Iselden Teachers’ Centre and Media
Resources Building. The school murals on the outside walls from 1975-77 attracted the notice of the art world.
The street contains the ILEA Language Centre and LAYCOCK GREEN, a public open space opened in1977 by Marie
Betteridge, former Parliamentary Communist candidate and a well-known tenants’ leader and local resident and
campaigner.
‘Transenna Works’ are the headquarters of the old-established firm of Tidmarsh & Sons, window and sun blind,
curtain and shutter manufacturers. As early as 1832/4 there was a Charles Tidmarsh, carpenter, at No. 8 Queen
Street and in 1843 William Tidmarsh, carver and guilder, at 24 Park Street.
LAYCOCK MANSIONS 1925,demolished 1978/9.
LAYTON ROAD (1852)
Before 1938 Liverpool Street.
Named after John Layton, who lived at 6 Thornhill Road and who died in 1883 after over 30 years’ service as VESTRY
CLERK to the Vestry of the Parish of St. Mary Islington.
LAZAR WALK, Andover Estate, N7 (1978)
LECONFIELD ROAD (1875/7)
Name chosen by Henry W. Rydon of Dells Farm, Beresford Road, who in 1b73 applied to the former Metropolitan
Board of Works. Leconfield is in the East Riding of Yorkshire. SHIPLAKE COURT, 1961.
LEE’S COURT, Elder Walk
In ratebooks, not directories, 1845-1855.
LEES COURT, Highcroft Road, N19 (1981 /2)
LEE HOUSE, Brecknock Road (1939 rebuilding)
South west part renamed Paterson House, Carleton Road, 1984.
LEGARD ROAD (1886)
Contains the Legard Family & Day Centre.
Submitted by a contributor (2017): The London School Of Puppetry (LSP) occupies 2 Legard Road and, upon opening
in 1987, it was the only school of puppetry in London. LSP also has a school in Derby. Until 2015, Peter Bedford
Housing Association (PBHA) owned and occupied Legard Works in Legard Road. The works, a joinery and wood
workshop, was created as part of the PBHA, providers of supportive housing for vulnerable individuals and people
who have suffered social isolation.
See HIGHBURY PARK, National Children’s Home.
For Cream Hall see under RIVERSDALE ROAD.
LEGION CLOSE, Offord Road (1972)
Site of the former Territorial Army Centre, Offord Road.N1.
LEIGH ROAD
From 1852-69 Highbury Park South.
Contains ‘Belfiore Lodge’, no. 29, from 1901-5 home of the parents of Leslie Henson (1891-1957), comedian and
musical comedy star, who wrote of his childhood days ‘Our grandest house was “Belfiore Lodge”. It had a tower with
a flagstaff, stables and a really lovely garden.’ From 1898-1900 he lived at no. 66 Aberdeen Road and from 1908-
1916 members of the family were at no. 12 Highbury New Park.
Roy Hidson in the Autumn 1985 The Illustrated Islington History Journal gives some account of his childhood days in
Highbury and also of how the young Leslie, ‘his schooldays over’, joined an amateur dramatic group and appeared in
‘Aladdin’ at the Wortley Hall, Finsbury Park, then situated opposite Barclay’s Bank.
CHRIST CHURCH HALL was opened in 1881.
BEECHCROFT COURT, Hamilton Park 1968.
ETON HOUSE (q.v.) 1938 (On its site was The Manor Hose, see under AUBERT). JACK WALKER COURT (q.v.) “1976.
ROSEDALE COURT 1977.
LEISTON HOUSE, Gillespie Road (Gillespie Estate) (1971)
Leiston (Leiston-cum-Sizewell) is in Suffolk.
LEITH HOUSE (Hilldrop Estate), Hilldrop Road (1952).
LEMSTER TERRACE (c.1870)
Part of James Street. By 1874 nos. 16-28 Frome Street.
LENNOX HOUSE, Durham Road (1976)
LENNOX ROAD (c.1870) In 1870 named after Thane Lennox in Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’. Hence also ‘Thane Villas’.
Since 1952 contained the Elim Pentecostal Church which in 1977 moved to the New Court (Elim Pentecostal) Church,
Regina Road.
The present ILEA Poole’s Park Primary school had on its site a Board School from as early as 1876 until 1908; the
original building was demolished in 1938. Then by September 1939 the present building was ready for opening but
was not used until 1946. Additions were made to the building in 1949 and in 1970.
LENTON TERRACE, N4 (1983/4)
LEO YARD
Was there in 1737. Before 1936 Red Lion Yard.
LEONARD STREET
Only nos. 1-23 and 2-16 Islington, the rest Hackney (Shoreditch). Before 1884 Tabernacle Row.
Robert W. Paul, pioneer of cinema projection (1895) showed his moving pictures at Finsbury Technical College, 20
February 1896. Finsbury Technical College (City & Guilds of London Institute), 1883-1926 was the first technical
college in London.
LESLEY STREET, Roman Road (c.1870)
Scheduled for demolition 1972.
LEVER BUILDINGS, Lever Street (1878)
Converted by the LBI, 1984.
LEVER STREET, EC1 (1861)
Formerly WELLINGTON STREET, 1809, JOHN’S ROW (1808/9), WEST PLACE (1809).
ST ‘LUKE’S LIBRARY, architect: Dr. Carl L. Franck, ARIBA, opened 10th of November 1962, by the author Michael
Gilbert.
The PLEYDELLL ESTATE (on the site of Galway Street). Designed by Messrs Emberton Franck & Tardrew, dates from
1959-61.
Duke of Wellington Public House, before c.1958 The Bull’s Head, Wellington Street, there in 1833.
CHADWORTH HOUSE 1906, LEVER BUILDINGS 1878 (converted, 1984), GUINNESS COURT 1976 (formerly on the site,
Guinness Trust Buildings, 1890-1975).
LEVERINGTON STREET
Before 1879 Wood Street North (1834). Gone by 1968.
LEVISON WAY, St. John’s Way (1979)
Sir Leon Levison (1881-1936) was first President of the International Hebrew Christian Alliance and Founder of the
Palestine Jews’ Relief Fund, besides being an author, editor and pamphleteer.
LEWIS BUILDINGS
See SAMUEL LEWIS BUILDINGS
LEXFIELD HOUSE, Highbury New Park (1974) .
LEYDEN MANSIONS, Warltersville Road (1931)
Sir Frank Leyden Sargent (1871-1940) was Mayor, 1930-1, Alderman 1928-34 and an Islington Councillor from 1920.
LEYSIAN MISSION
See CITY ROAD.
LIBERIA ROAD
The name was chosen for the Trustees of the late Edwin Robinson to the Metropolitan Board of Works in October
1889, being plots of land developed by H. Baylis, a builder.
Not in directories until 1891. Like Calabria Road, after one of the provinces of the Roman Empire.
LIDYARD ROAD
Paved in 1886. First in 1887 directories.
LIGONIER STREET (1830)
For origin of name under LAGONIER HOUSE.
LILIAN BAYLIS HOUSE, Canonbury Park South (1953)
Lilian Mary Baylis (1874-1937) in 1898 founded the Old Vic Theatre and was from 1931 manager of Sadler’s Wells
Theatre. Due to her initiative the Royal Ballet Company was founded by Dame Ninette de Valois, CH, DBE.
LILLIE HOUSE, Fieldway Crescent (1959)
See Fieldway Crescent.
LILLONGSTON HOUSE, Hornsey Road (1970)”
LIMES, The. Highbury Grove (1969)
LINCOLN HOUSE, Astey’s Row (1897)
LINCOLN HOUSE, Dartmouth Park Hill (1900)
LINCOLN TERRACE, Tufnell Park Road (1882)
By 1885 nos. 231-249 Tufnell Park Road.
LINDEN VILLAS (1854-64)
Later 229-251 Camden Road.
LINDEN WALK (Hargrave Park development) (1981)
LINDSEY MEWS, Ecclesbourne Road. N1 (1976)
LINTON STREET (1848-9)
St. Phillips, Arlington Square, consecrated January 1857, was built 1855, architect: Alexander Dick Gough, in an
ornate Norman style and had seats for 1100.
It was deconsecrated in October 1953 and used for a time as a cardboard store. Fire destroyed part of the building in
October 1954. The parish merged with that of St. James, Prebend Street. Arbon Court is on its site.
ARBON COURT, 1958.
LION COURT, Copenhagen Street (1964) LION STREET
See LYON STREET 1849 to 1968.
LISMORE WALK, Marquess Estate (1977/8)
LISTER MEWS (1861-71)
In 1871 occupied by toy manufacturers and cab proprietors.
Still on 1894 map, but access barred.
LITCHFIELD TERRACE (Queensland Road area)
In 1846-55 rate books.
LITTLE BALTIC STREET 1821
After 1937 BALTIC PASSAGE.
LITTLE BRIDE STREET (1854)
By 1867 part of BRIDE STREET.
LITTLE CROSS STREET (1819)
After 1937 included in SHILLINGFORD STREET.
LITTLE CUMMING STREET (1845)
After 1937 included in FIFE TERRACE (q.v.).
LITTLE MITCHELL STREET
See MITCHELL STREET.
LITTLE NELSON STREET (1888)
Little Nelson Street, High Street. After 1888 part of MURTON STREET.
LITTLE PIERREPOINT PLACE
In rate books 1853-4.
LITTLE PIERREPOINT ROW
In rate books 1847-52.
LITTLE ST. JOHN’S WOOD VILLAS,
Blackstock Lane (1844) In ratebooks, 1844-55.
LITTLE SAFFRON HILL (Holborn)
After 1937 HERBAL HILL. The name St. Peter’s Terrace abolished and the street renumbered 1911/12.
LITTLE SUTTON STREET
Formerly Little Swan Alley (in 1666). Re-numbered in 1905. After 1937 NORTH- BURGH STREET.
LITTLE WARNER STREET
So called by 1735: In the 17th century Warner Street. After 1877 WARNER STREET.
LITTLE WILLIAM STREET (1837)
Also known on the 1861 Index to the Census as William Street North. By 1876 PEMBROKE STREET.
LIVERPOOL BUILDINGS, Station Road (1883)
Last on the 1974 register of electors.
LIVERPOOL COTTAGES, Bride Street.
In ratebooks 1831-51.
LIVERPOOL ROAD
(Formerly the BACK ROAD (q.v.).
See also PARADISE ROW, Liverpool Road (now 489-549 Liverpool Road)
On a map of 1822 as Liverpool Road and Back Road. By 1829 known as the Liverpool Road. In 1868 the Vestry decided ‘that the Liverpool Road be so-called from the Upper Street to Holloway Road and the houses re-numbered alternately’.
The road is believed to be named after the statesman, Robert Banks Jenkinson, second Earl of Liverpool (1770-1828),
Prime Minister 1812-1827.
The names Clements Buildings and Mount Row were abolished in 1869.
Before 1869 it was remarkable, even for then, for the number of subsidiary names, e.g.: Bride, Ann’s, Braford,
Manchester Park, Barnsbury, Barnsbury Park, King Edward, Wellington, Strahan, Cloudesley, Elizabeth, Liverpool and Paradise Terraces, Nowells Buildings, Felix, Seymour, Morgans, Park, Park Place West, Chapel and Trinidad Places, Mount Row, Albion Villas and Cottages, Felix Cottages and Lowther Cottages.
Nos. 59-81 from 1811-1869 Strahan Terrace, 82-124 from c.1834-1869 Trinidad Place, 83-199 from 1819-1866
Cloudesley Terrace, 126-1 34 from 1834-1869 Ann’s Terrace, 136-178 from 1805-1866 Felix Place, 178-198 from
1809/10-1869 Felix Cottages, 201–287 from 1817-1869 Felix Terrace, 200-262 from 1833-1869 Manchester Terrace,
289-327 from 18221869 Park Terrace, 298-328 from 1838-1869 Barnsbury Villas, 329-339 from 1826-1869 Barnsbury
Terrace, 330-336 Albion Cottages, from 1822-31 Oldfield Cottages, 338-344 from 1841-1869 Albion Villas, 341-345
from 1824/7-1869 Barnsbury Terrace, 347-379 from 1822/5-1869 Park Place West, 397-441 from 1837-1869
Liverpool Terrace, 443-461 from 1825 to 1869 Bride Terrace, 495-503 from 1770-1838 Paradise Row, from 1838-
1869 Paradise Terrace, 533- 557 from 1839 to 1869 Lowther Cottages, 473-535 before 1870 Paradise Terrace from
1840.
The twin towers of the great ROYAL AGRICULTURAL HALL still front the Liverpool Road. Lord Berners on behalf of the
Smithfield Club who had found their ‘Baker Street Bazaar’ too small for their cattle shows, laid its foundation stone
on the 5th November 1861. The architect was Frederick Peck of Maidstone. The building occupied almost two acres
with a main hall 384×284 sq. ft., a glazed roof 75 ft. high and 125 ft. span and galleries 30 ft. wide. It was the
‘Olympia and Earls Court’ of North London with early motor cycle and cycle shows, Cruft’s Dog Show, the Royal
Military Tournament (before it moved to Olympia in 19061, missionary exhibitions, musical recitals, dairy shows,
trade fairs, balls, mule and donkey shows, revivalist meetings, walking matches, circuses and the ‘World’s Fair’ and in
even the year 1870 a bull-fight.
Walter Richard Sickert and Therese Lessore used to love the circuses and a collection of some of the programmes
that they saved is at the Central Library.
On the outbreak of the Second World War it closed and in 1943 the Mount Pleasant Inland and Foreign Parcels
Offices moved to the Agricultural Hall and occupied the whole of the Hall with over 1000 staff and over 150 Customs
& Excise personnel. The Overseas Parcels division of the GPO stayed on until its move to Canning Town in 1971.
Since remaining empty the property was purchased by a property speculator, then the Council. Then, in 1983, Sam
Morris, Chairman of City Industrial Ltd. put forward designs for it to be a design and trade centre. This was to have
120 showrooms, a main exhibition hall and a car park. This plan the Council accepted for it to be opened as a
Business Design Centre in 1986.
From 1971-1983 there were a number of plans for it. It was mooted to be a skating rink, military tank centre, home
for the ‘Overlord’ tapestry, a ‘Dickensland’ centre, to name but a few. Others were a motorcycle track, swimming
bath and a crafts centre.
By 1885 the prefix ROYAL had been added because of the number of Royal visits. The offices of the Royal Agricultural
Hall were in Barford Street. The Minor Hall was re-named the St. Mary’s Hall in 1867. Some account books and other
records, including some catalogues, are at the library.
See also UPPER STREET re the Gaumont (Blue Hall Cinema).
There was a horse tramway in the Liverpool Road, closed to traffic 19th of July 1913 and by 1920 the tracks had been
removed.
The WESLEYAN METHODIST CHAPEL, near the Agricultural Hall, originally opened April 14th, 1826and re-opened in
1844 largely owing to the generosity of Chubb, the lock-manufacturer. Fire destroyed it in 1848 but it opened
November 8th, 1849.
The architect was James Wilson, FSA and there were 1129 sittings. It closed 1st August 1929 and stood by the Royal
Agricultural Hall until 1932. The congregation moved to the Central Hall, Drayton Park.
The Annexe to the Royal Free Hospital, (Gray’s Inn Road) was originally the London Fever Hospital ‘not only the single
hospital of its kind in London, but probably the best of its kind in Europe’. Its foundation stone was laid by the Earl of
Devon; architect: Charles Fowler. In 1949 it became an Annexe to the Royal Free Hospital and within recent years the
Liverpool Road Hospital. Camden & Islington Area Health Authority (Teaching), later Islington Disablement
Association and recently empty and unused.
PALMER PLACE METHODIST CHURCH (Islington Central Methodist Church) seats 170 and opened on the 29th June
1963, The ceremony was by none other than Lord Soper (Rev. Donald Soper, MA) who, from 1930-36 was the
Minister at Drayton Park (q.v.).
The ‘George’ public house, 57 Liverpool Road, corner of Ritchie Street, was there as early as 1817, The ‘Adam & Eve’,
Paradise Terrace, there in 1827, ‘The White Horse’, ‘Adelaide’, ‘Duchess of Kent’ and ‘Prince Regent’ public houses
were there as early as 1843, the ‘King’s Arms’, Park Place, was there in 1832.
The RE.G.ISTRY OFFICE COMMUNITY ROOMS, 281 Liverpool Road (corner of Barnsbury Street) on the site of this
building was in 1777 erected a large brick edifice, the PARISH WORKHOUSE, on land left by the Will of a Mrs. Amey
Hill, which was enlarged in 1802. It had then a spacious garden.
It ceased to be used as a Workhouse in 1872 and from then on until 1892 the present building was the Board of
Guardians. District Relieving Offices, Vaccination and Labour Bureau. Part of the old 18th century facade still
remained as part of the later structure.
From 1892 to 1969 it was used as the Supt. Registrar Births, Deaths and Marriages. This office then moved to the
former Town Hall (Finsbury) buildings in Skinner Street.
The ST. MARY MAGDALENE CHURCH OF ENGLAND School (ILEA Primary School) was descended from the school
adjacent to the Parish Church, Upper Street, founded in 1710. The schools were in 1815 transferred to the present
site. Known as the Chapel of Ease school (Islington Parochial Schools) it practised the Madras system of education
(hence the name of the nearby Madras Place).
On October 7th/8th 1940 a bomb destroyed the schools and the surrounding area.
On 27th October, 1953. Rt. Hon. Florence Horsbrugh, CBE, MP laid the foundation stone of the present building,
officially opened 16 December 1954 by the Rt. Rev. Joost de Blank, MA, Hon. CF, then Bishop of Stepney and later to
be the Archbishop of Cape Town. The architects were Norman & Dowbarn. The unique door handles depicting
squirrels were carved out of mahogany by Willie Soukoup. It is a voluntary aided C of E primary school, junior mixed
and infants.
ALBERT MANSIONS 1908 (re-habilitated 1977), BARWORTH COURT 1959, BIRKENHEAD HOUSE 1947, DAVOCH
LODGE 1961, LIVERPOOL HOUSE 1947, MERSEY HOUSE 1947, OLIVE COURT 1965 (q.v.), PUGIN COURT 1976 (q.v.),
SAMUEL LEWIS BUILDINGS 1910 (q.v.), STAR LINER COURT 1962, WYNN COURT 1962.
Robert Seymour (1797-1836) shot himself with a fowling-piece in the garden of 16 Park Place West (this became
377-379 Liverpool Road) on 20 April 1836. As a young man he took rooms in Canonbury Tower, later lived at no. 8
Church Row, Upper Street, then King Street and finally Park Place West. The inquest was held at the ‘King’s Arms’
and he was buried in the graveyard of St. Mary Magdalene, Chapel- of-Ease, the tombstone being in the crypt.
Robert Seymour was a talented artist and illustrated some works by Dickens, including seven plates for the Pickwick
Papers.
James Stockton who died, aged 72, in 1938, lived at 424 Liverpool Road. He was one of the best-known owners and
racers of trotting horses in the country, driving ‘Brown Jack’ fourteen times to victory in the 1905/6 season.
Jane Tryphoena Stephens (c. 1813-1896) is said to have kept a tobacconist’s shop at 39 Liverpool Road before her
appearance at the Olympic Theatre, 8 February 1840. From this date she became a celebrated actress at Sadler’s
Wells, the Lyceum, Adelphi, Criterion, Court and other theatres in London and the provinces.
LIZARD STREET, EC1 (1812-1813)
Built on land belonging to the Ironmonger’s Co. whose arms are supported by two salamanders, in popular
vernacular ‘lizards’.
In 1813 Griffith Davies (1788-1853) (see also JAMES STREET) mathematician, hired a house, no. 8, where he lived
until 1815 with his first wife who died in 1836. In 1815 he removed to Bartholomew Square and in 1816 to Cannon
Street.
LLEWELLYN HOUSE (Tremlett Estate),
Poynings Road (1968)
LLOYD BAKER STREET
Originally BAKER STREET and before 1937, Upper Baker Street and Lower Baker Street (both 1826).
Baker Street was ‘erected 1823 and subsequent years’; the higher portion was called Upper Baker Street. It was part
of the Baker Estate like Lloyd Square and Street, named after Thomas John Lloyd Baker (1777-1841), magistrate and
deputy-lieutenant of Gloucestershire and a high sheriff in 1824 whose family in the 19th century owned this Finsbury
land. The architects of the Lloyd Baker Estate from 1819 to c. 1850 were John Booth and his son, John.
The ‘Union Tavern’ was there as early as 1832 and had pleasant tea gardens to its rear. Formerly on the site was the
‘Bull in the Pound’, ‘a public-house of low repute, the resort of thieves and vicious characters.’!
The LLOYD BAKER STREET FLATS date from the 1931-4 period.
LLOYD SQUARE
Begun 1818. Erected by c.1828.
Designed by John Booth and his son, John.
The Rev. William Lloyd Baker of South Hill, Gloucestershire, married Mary, the daughter of the Rev. John Lloyd,
Rector of Ryton, Durham, a descendant of Dr. Lloyd, Bishop of St. Asaph, Lichfield, Coventry and Worcester. His only
son was Thomas John Lloyd Baker (see LLOYD BAKER STREET).
The SPA FIELDS NEW CHURCH, corner of Wharton Street and Lloyd Square, was erected in 1883 for the former
Exmouth Street congregation. Gone between 1936 and 1939.
No. 13, the YWCA (Alexandra Club), architect: Ernest Newton. Built 1880-2 for the Society of Sisters of Bethany. They
were there until 1966.
No. 21, home of Denis Arundell, OBE, writer, producer, actor and the historian of Sadler’s Wells.
Diana Poulton, luteist and authority on John Dowland, lived c. 1942-7 at 24 Lloyd Square.
LLOYD STREET
Part of the district of the parish of St. Philip’s Clerkenwell, which district was formed in January 1840. St. Philip’s has
been for years part of the parish of the Church of the Holy Redeemer, Exmouth Market (see GRANVILLE SQUARE).
CABLE HOUSE 1951-2.
LLOYDS ROW (1813)
Named after Lloyd Baker. In Lloyd’s Row was the proprietor’s house of the former Islington Spa with a coping stone
‘Islington Spa or New Tunbridge Wells’. See under SPA GREEN.
LOCKHART CLOSE (Caledonian Estate),
Roman Way (1977)
John Gibson Lockhart (1794-1854) was a celebrated Scottish author and editor, now chiefly remembered for his Life
of Sir Walter Scott, published in 7 volumes, 1837-8.
LOCK’S GARDENS, Northampton Row. (1810)
There till c.1945.
LODGE, The, Kingsbury Road (1977)
LOFTING ROAD
From 1819-1897 JOHN STREET (& Upper John Street), Barnsbury Central portion not completed till the 1860s.
From 1974 ‘that part of Lofting Road between Hemingford and Caledonian roads re-named ‘BRIDGEMAN ROAD.
John Street, Barnsbury was in 1898 renamed after John Lofting, born in Holland c.1659 who settled in London as a
merchant and a manufacturer of fire-engines, becoming naturalised by Letters Patent in 1688. In 1695 he set up a
workshop at Youngs Wells, where about 140 gross of thimbles per week were turned out, made of Prince Rupert’s
metal (brass). Lofting died in 1742 at Great Marlow, Bucks.
The eastern section of Lofting Road was demolished in the late 1960s between Thornhill and Liverpool roads. Rebuilt
by Kenneth Pring & Associates for Barnsbury Housing Association. Received a Department of the Environment Good
Housing Commendation 1977.
In 1982 a new housing development took place in the re-named BRIDGEMAN ROAD (see under Bridgeman for
origin).
The NORTH LONDON SYNAGOGUE had its foundation stone laid 24 December 1867 by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild. Architect: H. H. Collins. Italian in building style. Demolished in 1960. BARNES COURT on the site 1963 (q.v.).
LONDON MASONIC CENTRE
See Clerkenwell Green.
London Street
LONGLEY HOUSE Tufnell Park Road 11975)
LONG’S BUILDINGS. Whitecross Street (1723)
Gone before 1912
LONSDALE PLACE
Before 1937, from 1812 Prospect Place. Liverpool Road.
LONSDALE SQUARE (c.1838)
Laid out in 1838 on land then owned by the Drapers’ Co. This land was known in the 17th century as ‘Gosseyfield’
and was being used in 1818 as a cattle pen The architect of the Square was Richard Cromwell Carpenter (1812-
1855).district surveyor for East Islington. It first appears as partially occupied in the Xmas 1842 rate books. An
unusual feature of the houses are that the halls are architecturally lit by groups of quatrefoils instead of fanlights
over the front doors. Drawings for the square were exhibited at the 1841 Royal Academy.
In 1960 the Council acquired the Lonsdale Square public gardens.
On 18th of March. 1873, aged 77, died William Harvey at 48 Lonsdale Square, a ‘surgeon in London and Hon. Supt. of
Islington Reformatory’. He wrote many articles under the pseudonym ‘Aleph’ in the City Press and was the author of
London Scenes and London People (1863) and The Old City and its highways and byways (1865).
LORAINE COTTAGES. Annette Road (c.1891)
LORAINE MANSIONS, Widdenham Road (1904)
Re-habilitated, 1975.
LORAINE PLACE Built 1832
Later 323-373 Holloway Road West, then in 1936 replaced by Cairns House, Loraine Estate, first occupied 1937.
LORAINE ROAD
First in the 1863 directory.
LOREBURN HOUSE, Holloway Road (1936)
LORENZO STREET, WC1
Before c.1895. Re-numbered 1900. YORK STREET, 1829.
LORN TERRACE, Mildmay Park (1855)
By 1869, 49-83 Mildmay Park.
LOUGH ROAD
From 1886-1937 Wellington Road, before then Wellington Road/Avenue and 1854 and before, Pack Horse Lane.
Named after the Rt. Hon. Thomas Lough (1850-1922), from 1905-8 Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of
Education, MP for West Islington 1892-1918. He was a Liberal MP. He was also an Irishman who from 1907 became
HM Lieut., for Co. Cavan.
DORINDA LODGE was officially opened in 1967 by Sir Eric Fletcher, MP for East Islington (later Lord Fletcher), having
been occupied since September 1966. This was Islington’s third specially designed new building under the 1948 NA
Act for the retired.
LOVE WALK (1859) Later Paradise Road.
Fronting Green Lanes, High New Park Estate.
LOUISE WHITE HOUSE. Hazellville Road (1977)
Named after Mrs. Louise White, wife of the late Cllr. Arthur Edward White, Mayor, 1967/8, to whom she was
Mayoress.
LOWER ASHBY STREET (1820) After 1935 WYCLIF STREET.
LOWER BAKER STREET (1826) Re-named Lloyd Baker Street after 1937.
LOWER CHADWELL STREET (1828)
LOWER COPENHAGEN STREET
From 1845-8 Caroline Place, later 61-129 Copenhagen Street.
LOWER ISLINGTON TERRACE. Park Street
In rate books 1826 and in the 1866 directory. By 1870 nos. 40-116 Cloudesley Road.
LOWER PARK STREET. Highbury In the 1855 rate book.
LOWER QUEEN STREET (1824)
By 1974 nos. 23-53 and 42-74 Queensberry Street, Essex Road.
LOWER QUEEN’S ROW, Pentonville Road
Name abolished 1857.
LOWER ROAD and LOWER STREET
Even in Elizabethan times there were the Upper Street and the Lower Road.
LOWER ROAD
LOWER STREET
See ESSEX ROAD.
The former ISLINGTON CATTLE MARKET whose front principal entrance was in the Lower Road near Annette’s
Crescent (later 246-294 Essex Road) was projected by a John Perkins of Blechingley, Surrey and commenced in
November 1833, opening in April, 1836, but closed for want of business after a short time. However, it occupied
nearly 15 acres of ground and could accommodate 40,000 sheep, 7000 head of cattle, 500 calves and 1000 pigs. By
1855 the great Metropolitan Cattle Market (Caledonian Market) had entirely eclipsed it. See CALEDONIAN ROAD.
LOWER TERRACE
Appears in the 1771 rate books and may well have been there in 1735. On 1792 and 1806 maps.
After c.1863 nos.83-103 Essex Road.
LOWER WOOD STREET, Vineyard Walk (1848)
After 1869 NORTHAMPTON ROAD.
LOWMAN ROAD
In the 1870 directory as Lowman’s Road.
LOWNDES LODGE, Whitehall Park (1972)
LOWNDES PLACE, Holloway (1829)
By 1866 nos.114-128 Holloway Road.
LOWTHER COTTAGES (1839)
By 1870 nos. 533-557 Liverpool Road.
LOWTHER ROAD (1887/8)
In 1983 was announced the Lowther Road Ecological Garden, with a pond, tree nursery, wildflowers, sand dune and
wood piles.
LUARD STREET (1846)
Gone by 1966.
LUCERNE ROAD
In 1885 Harmattan Road (6 houses only). Changed to Lucerne Road by 1886 when there were nos. 42-78 and 4
houses.
In the 1920s and early 1930s no.48 Lucerne Road was the home of Fred Montague, Lord Amwell of Islington, CBE
(1876-1966),MP for West Islington, 1923-31, 1935-1947, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Air, 1929-31,
Pari. Sec. Minister of Transport, 1940-1, Pari. Sec. Minister of Aircraft Production, 1941-2. He was an Alderman of
Islington Council, 1919-1925 and Chairman of the Lighting, Public Health and Town Hall Committees.
LUDLOW STREET
Before 1895 Cross Street and Willow Row. Partly closed, 1937.
LUNDY WALK (Marquess Estate) (1974)
LYDGATE HOUSE, Matthias Road (Mayville Estate) (1953)
Like other flats on this estate, of a literary connection; named after John Lydgate, (1370-1451) poet and ‘disciple’ of
Chaucer.
LYGOE HOUSE, Hornsey Lane (1968)
See Hornsey Lane Estate.
LYNDON COURT, Kelvin Road (1982)
LYNGHAM COURT, Holly Park (1963)
LYNTON LODGE, Highbury Grove (1963) Lynton is in Devon.
LYON STREET (1849) Gone by 1968.
LYSANDER GROVE (1885) Lysander was an Athenian, in love with Hermia, in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s
Dream.
M
MABERLEY PLACE, Balls Pond Road (1838)
By 1855 Maberley Terrace. By 1866 nos.39- 47 Balls Pond Road. The MABERLEY INDEPENDENT CHAPEL 1826 was by
1896 the EARLHAM HALL. The DE BEAUVOIR PRIMARY SCHOOL is on the site.
MACCLESFIELD HOUSE, King Square Estate (1963)
MACCLESFIELD PLACE (1823)
MACCLESFIELD STREET City Gardens (qv) (1823)
By 1940 MACCLESFIELD ROAD.
MACCLESFIELD TERRACE (c.1826)
Since 1910 MORELAND STREET, City Road.
MACDONALD ROAD. N19
Before 1938 BRUNSWICK ROAD 1851. In 1975 there was only the ‘Brunswick’ public house left,
MACKENZIE ROAD
Before 1938 St. James’ Road, dating from 1841. See also ST. JAMES’S ROAD.
Named after the Rev. William Bell Mackenzie, MA, from 1838-1870, Vicar of the former St. James’s Church,
Chillingworth Road.
In August 2017 a World Ward Two memorial panel was installed by the northern entrance to Paradise Park on
Mackenzie Road. It reads:
Mackenzie Road V2 rocket missile attack (1944)
Paradise Park is located on the site of a tragic loss of life during the Second World War (1939-45).
At 9.26pm on 26 December 1944, an enemy V2 rocket missile exploded at the junction of Mackenzie and
Chalfont Roads. Over 340 people were casualties of this wartime attack, which included 73 deaths and 86
suffering from severe injuries. 20 buildings were destroyed or damaged beyond repair. One of these was
the Prince of Wales public house at 144 Mackenzie Road, where many of the casualties occurred.
The rocket was launched from Belgium towards London and took less than 20 minutes to reach this
location. It hit without warning, causing a crater 9 metres wide and 4.5 metres deep. Water pipes and gas
mains were cut and the local sewer system broken. The crater quickly filled up with water and basements of
nearby houses were flooded and escaping gas caught fire in numerous places. The evening was extremely
foggy and thick smoke from several fires made visibility more difficult, hindering the already hazardous
rescue efforts.
The traumatic impact of this attack was felt by many survivors. Some families suffered significant losses of
life or homes. One family living opposite the Prince of Wales public house lost seven children and another
family, celebrating an engagement, lost five of its members.
BRIGHTWELL COURT 1979, BROOKE LODGE 1961.
St. James’s Mansions, 1902. By 1976 these have disappeared from the registers of electors.
MACREADY PLACE (c.1911-1952)
Between Holloway Road and Warlters Road, alongside the former Marlborough Theatre.
William Charles Macready (1793-1873) was one of the finest tragedians of his day, last appearing in 1851 in
Macbeth, he also rescued Shakespearean actors’ texts from Restoration alterations.
MADRAS PLACE (1819-20)
The St. Mary Magdalene Church Schools (Islington Parochial Schools) were originally users of the ‘Madras’ system of
education. See LIVERPOOL ROAD.
MAGDALA ROAD (c. 1882) Until 1971.
MAIDEN LANE
Anciently LONGWICH LANE, Long Hedge Lane, late 16th century Maiden Lane as early as 1735 until 1852. 1853-1938
YORK ROAD, since 1938 YORK WAY.
Maiden Lane features in Chapter V of Charles Dickens’s Our Mutual Friend.
Maiden Lane Station opened 1st July 1887. Closed to passengers, 1st January 1917.
Maiden Lane Bridge, Regent’s Canal, c.1850. Note fine cast ironwork,
Maiden Lane Service Reservoir (New River Company) 1855. Engineer: William Chadwell Mylne, FRS.
MALLORY BUILDINGS, St. John Street (1906)
Converted, 1974, into self-contained flats.. Buried in the Priory Church of St. John of Jerusalem, brethren and knights
of St. John, were John Mallory and an esquire, Simon Mallory.
MALLOW STREET, EC1
Named after the Mallow Field. There in 1567.
Before 1908 JAMES STREET, dating from 1810-11.
MALTA STREET (1812-13) Before 1890 QUEEN STREET.
Named after the connection of the Knights Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem and their possessions in the Island of
Malta.
CRAYLE HOUSE (Percival Estate) 1960, PARTRIDGE COURT (Percival Estate) 1976.
MALVERN TERRACE
From 1836-1852 Malvern Cottages.
MANCHESTER BUILDINGS, (1839) Holloway Road
By 1866 nos.187-201 Holloway Road.
MANCHESTER MANSIONS, Sunnyside Road (1921)
Rehabilitated 1980.
Alderman Sir W.E.Manchester, JP, was a director of the Express Dairy Company (1869-1956). An Alderman of IBC,
1909-19, 1922-1934, Mayor, 1929-30. Lady Manchester (1874-1953) was in 1925 the first woman to win a council
by-election.
MANCHESTER TERRACE, Liverpool Road (1833)
After 1868 nos. 200-262 Liverpool Road.
No.11 was designed by Cubitt for G.Smith, nurseryman.
MANDEVILLE HOUSES; Liverpool Road Built 1923/4. Extension opened by the Rt. Rev. Dr. A.F.Winnington-lngram,
PC, KCVO, DD, Bishop of London, 23rd October 1934. Architect: E.C.P.Monson, FRIBA. Pulled down, 1980.
MANGER ROAD (Shearling Estate) (1979/80)
A ‘manger’ used for cattle. Memories of the former Metropolitan Cattle Market (Caledonian Market), 1855-1939.
See CALEDONIAN ROAD.
MANHATTAN MANSIONS, Holloway Road (1894-1978)
MANNEBY PRIOR, Calshot Street (Priors Estate) (1973)
Robert de Manneby was in 1251 and 1262 a Prior of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem in England.
MANNING HOUSE, Fieldway Crescent See FIELDWAY CRESCENT.
MANNINGFORD CLOSE, EC1 (1975) MIDWAY HOUSE 1976/7.
Manningford is in the Upavon district of Wilts. On the Earlstoke Estate, commemorating Erlestoke Park, Wilts, home
of Maria Smith, wife of Charles, Baron Wilmington, 1st Marquess of Northampton (1760-1828), the daughter of
Joshua Smith, MP for Devizes.
MANOR COTTAGES, Upper Holloway (1846) By 1886 nos.562 and 564 Holloway Road.
MANOR GARDENS
Before 1897 Manor Road, dating from 1841. Manor Villas 1843.
Manor Road cut through to Devonshire Road in 1898, with the loss of nos.42, 43 and 44 Devonshire Road.
Up to 1912 Manor Gardens included Manor Villas.
For the Royal Northern Hospital, see under HOLLOWAY ROAD, apart from the ST. DAVID’S WING in Manor Gardens,
designed by L.G.Pearson of Messrs. Adam, Holden & Pearson, architects. Built 1929-31.
Officially opened 29th July 1931, the Wing was visited on 20 November 1931 by the Prince of Wales (later King
Edward VIII) as the President of the hospital. The building was finished by 1935. The inspiration of this Wing was the
idea and part financing of Sir Howell Jones Williams, DLJP, Deputy Chairman of the LCC in 1921 and a representative
for 27 years for South Islington on the LCC. He died at 163 Camden Road, aged 80, 13th August 1939. The three
floors of the Wing were named after his sons, Ifor, Trevor and Meyrick. His portrait by W.R.Brearley hangs in the
entrance hall.
The NORTH ISLINGTON WELFARE CENTRE AND SCHOOL FOR MOTHERS was originally opened in 1913 at the
Presbyterian Mission Hall, Elthorne Road. By 1915 they had leased 9 Manor Gardens and by 1918 nos.6-7. On 28th
February 1928 the Duchess of York (now the Queen Mother) opened the new buildings. The Centre was designed by
Arthur Keen, FRIBA and is now the well-known MANOR GARDENS CENTRE.
The GPO POST OFFICE TRAINING CENTRE was originally the Post Office Money Order Department, which was there
as early as 1912. In 1986 part of the building is Manor Gardens Islington Enterprise Ltd., 10-18 Manor Gardens,
shared by a number of firms and business enterprises
The NORTH BRANCH LIBRARY of Islington Libraries (architect: Henry T.Hare, FRIBA, also the architect of the Central
Library) was officially opened 20th September 1906, by Alderman H.Mills, JP. Part of the cost came from the fund of
Andrew Carne.g.ie. Before its opening the Rev. Robert Spears (1825-1899) had collected a lot of books for the
reading room of the Highgate Hill Unitarian Church of which he was the Minister from 1885-1899 and the first floor
of the North branch was to his memory as from 5th February to the 30th April 1906 the Church reading room was
open to the public and subsequently 14,000 books were presented to the public libraries.
During the First World War the Central and North Library halls were used as recruiting stations and rooms and halls
at the Central, North and West Libraries were used by the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Families Association and the War
Relief Committee.
In 1916 the War Office applied for the North branch to be used as a military hospital annexe to the Royal Northern
Hospital and from 23rd August was opened by the Rt. Hon. Lord Islington, PC, GCMG,DSO. For three and a half years
it gave surgical and medical treatment to 1045 men. It re-opened 29th January 1921 by Cllr. E.H.King, JP, then
Mayor.
MANOR MANSIONS Holloway Road (1907)
MANOR PLACE, Holloway Road (1851-2) By 1886 nos.568-598 Holloway Road.
MANORFIELD CLOSE (Palmers Estate), Fulbrook Road (1980)
MANTELL STREET, N1
Before 1910, Sermon Lane (1829) and White Conduit Place (1811). The area was known as the ‘Mantells’ and was in
Henry 11’s reign given to the Order of St. John of Jerusalem. Mantell was a corruption of Mandeville. Geoffrey de
Mandeville held land in Islington, Also in Henry VIII’s time, John Mantell was an Islington butcher.
Part in 1986 named TOLPUDDLE STREET, see COPENHAGEN STREET for explanation.
MARCELLUS ROAD (1882) Demolished 1972.
Was off Hornsey Road Baths. Most probably named after’ an Officer’ in Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
MARGARET BONDFIELD HOUSE, Hilldrop Crescent (1954)
See HILLDROP CRESCENT.
MARGARET McMILLAN HOUSE, Hazellville Road
On the 1945 register of electors.
Margaret McMillan, CH, CBE (d.1931), educational pioneer of school health and of physical education. In 1904 drew
up the first scheme for a health centre or school clinic. Founded the first open-air nursery school.
MARGARET STREET (and Upper Margaret Street (1821)
Since 1937 MARGERY STREET.
The Board Schools were opened 2nd September 1877 and was there, north of Margaret Street in 1906.
MARGERY FRY COURT, Tufnell Park Road (1958)
Sara Margery Fry, JP, MA (1874-1958) was Principal of Somerville College, Oxford, 1926-31, Honorary Secretary of
the Howard League for Penal Reform, 1919-1926 and a former Governor of the BBC, 1937-9. She was outstanding in
her work for the Quakers’ War Victims Relief Mission in France, 1915-1917.
MARGERY STREET, WC1
Before 1937, Margaret Street, 1821. Nos.74-86 re-numbered 1897. Spencer, Lord Compton, 2nd Marquess of
Northampton, in 1816 married Margaret MacLean Clephane (hence Clephane Road) descended from the Douglases
of Kirkness.
The ‘New Merlin’s Cave’ public house (c.1918/22) stands a little to the north of the ‘Merlin’s Cave’, Rosoman Street,
built c.1735 and possessing large gardens and a skittle ground. The gardens were built over c.1833.
In 1816 about 20,000 people assembled in Spa Fields and in this neighbourhood and were addressed by Henry Hunt,
MP and other Radical Reformers, seeking relief for distressed tradesmen, manufacturers and mariners.
BAGNIGGE HOUSE 1931, CHARLES SIMMONS HOUSE 1936, EARLOM HOUSE 1931, GREENAWAY HOUSE 1931,
GWYNNE HOUSE 1931, RICEYMAN HOUSE 1931, ST. ANNE’S HOUSE 1931 rebuilding 1982,ST. HELENA HOUSE 1931,
ST. PHILIP HOUSE 1931,SPRING HOUSE 1931, WILLIAM MARTIN COURT (LBI home for the retired so-named in 1968).
MARIA TERRACE (1848)
After 1891 nos.1-13 LAMBERT STREET.
MARIE CURIE HOUSE, Canonbury Park South (1954)
MARKET BUILDINGS. Charterhouse Lane
Name abandoned, 1886. Gone by before 1912.
MARKET ESTATE
See Caledonian Road.
MARKET ROAD
The south east entrance to the former Metropolitan Cattle Market (1855) was from the 5th May 1876 to be called
MARKET ROAD.
At each corner of the square forming the Market was a large hotel for the use of drovers and/or anyone visiting or
using the Market,
The Lion Hotel, the Lamb Tavern and the White Horse Hotel are still functioning though the Black Bull has not
functioned for many years. All dated from 1855.
Mr. Norris, the keeper of the ‘The Lamb’ allowed the MCC to use his ground as a practice cricket ground from 1863-
1869.
In 1958 an ornamental garden was laid out in Market Road and flood-lighting was installed in 1960; this became by
the 1970/1 period CALEDONIAN PARK. The ‘Astro-Turf Football Pitch’ was officially opened on the 17th September
1980 by Ron Greenwood, manager of the England team. Also present was Cllr. Jim Evans, Mayor and Mrs. Evans. This
was the second made of weatherproof artificial turf; the first pitch was laid in 1971, then a pioneer in this field!
On 24th April 1984, a sycamore tree with an inscribed plate was planted by Ray Buckton (NUR), TUC Congress
Secretary, with Norman Willis, the TUC Deputy Secretary and Robert Garland on behalf of the Electricians’ Union, to
celebrate the meeting in Copenhagen Fields in 1834 protesting against the savage sentence passed on the Tolpuddle
Martyrs, see under COPENHAGEN STREET.
MARKET STREET (1823) After 1873 Brunswick Close; a skin market for the sale of sheep skins was here from 1 760
until 1815, when it was removed. A fire in the market in January 1840 caused loss of life.
MARKET STREET
On the 1861 census, not in the 1860 directory; the south side was completed, 1863. Since 1938 WHEELWRIGHT
STREET.
MARKET TERRACE (1855) Market Terrace then consisted of the ‘Balmoral Castle’ public house, three small
businesses and Caledonian Road Presbyterian Church (see ST. MATTHEW’S CHURCH under Caledonian Road).
After 1877 became nos. 429-451 Caledonian Road.
At the corner of Market Road and the Caledonian Road was opened on the 3rd April. 1870, by Primitive Methodists,
Caledonian Road Methodist Chapel. It was restored and a ‘New Room’ added in 1953.
MARLBOROUGH ROAD, Essex Road (1855) By 1877/8 ECCLESBOURNE ROAD.
MARLBOROUGH ROAD, Upper Holloway (c. 1867/9)
1874 directories give only nos. 1-29 and 2-30.
MARLBOROUGH TERRACE, Holloway Road (c. 1867/9)
By 1886 nos. 688-706 Holloway Road.
Named after John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough (1650-1722), the victor of the battles of Blenheim (1704),
Ramillies (1706), Oudenarde (1708) and Malplaquet (1709).
BLENHEIM COURT 1970, CONSTABLE HOUSE 1965.
Marie Carmichael Stopes, DSch.Phd, FLS, FGS.FRSL (1880-1958) founded, with her husband Humphrey Verdon Roe,
airman and inventor (d. 1949) at 61 Marlborough Road the MOTHERS’ CLINIC FOR CONSTRUCTIVE BIRTH CONTROL
1921-1925. This then moved to 108 Whitfield Street, W1 and the Marlborough Road Clinic was taken over by the
Birth Control and Advisory Bureau. Actress and writer Pauline Devaney unveiled a plaque in the presence of the
Mayor, Cllr. Mrs Marjorie Ogilvy — Webb and Cllr. Jan Whelan in May 1985.
MARQUESS GROVE, Canonbury.
The 1870 directory shows nos. 2-8. Disappeared by 1971.
MARQUESS ROAD (1853)
In 1863 all subsidiary names were abolished and it was decided ‘that the Marquess Road, including St. Paul’s Grove,
be called Marquess Road throughout’.
Called so, because situated on the estate of the Marquess of Northampton.
SICKERT COURT (1948) was on the site of the former studio of Walter Richard Sickert RA (1860-1942) in Southey
Villa, 15 Quadrant Road, which he occupied from c. 1927-1931.
The MARQUESS ESTATE was officially opened 7th March, 1975, by the then Prime Minister, The Rt.Hon. Sir Harold
Wilson, OBE, MP. He was greeted by Cllr. Jack Walker, JP, Mayor and also toured the Estate and New River Walk. The
architects were Messrs. Darbourne and Darke.
ALDERNEY HOUSE 1959, FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE HOUSE 1954, GUERNSEY HOUSE 1959, HERM HOUSE 1958, HILARY
HOUSE 1954, JERSEY HOUSE 1959, JETHOU HOUSE 1959, MARQUESS HOUSE 1964,SARK HOUSE 1959,SICKERT
COURT 1948.
Flats comprising the Marquess Estate: ARRAN WALK 1973, BARDSEY WALK 1977, BUTE WALK 1974.CALDY WALK
1973/7, CARDIGAN WALK 1977, CROWLINE WALK 1975/7, GULLAND WALK 1975/7, HANDA WALK 1975/6, ISLAY
WALK 1973, LISMORE WALK 1977/8 LUNDY WALK 1974, MULL WALK 1977/9, ORONSAY WALK 1974/6, RAMSEY
WALK 1976/9, RATHLIN WALK 1974, RONA WALK 1978, SCARBA WALK 1974/6, SHEPPEYWALK 1976,SHUNA WALK
1975 SKOMER WALK 1974/7,TARANSAY WALK 1975, UPPER BARDSEY WALK 1977, UPPER CALDY WALK 1974, UPPER
GULLAND WALK 1974/7, UPPER HANDA WALK 1975/7, UPPER LISMORE WALK 1977, UPPER RAMSEY WALK 1978,
UPPER SHEPPEY WALK 1975/6, WALNEY WALK 1977.
MARQUESS TERRACE
Between Canonbury Terrace and Canonbury Square in the rate books. In rate books 1827 to 1835.
MARRIOTT ROAD (1869-70) In 1870 only nos. 1,3 and 7.
Named after Charles Marriott, a builder, who lived at No. 7.
Built up further by 1889, e.g.. 1-49 and 242.
For Tollington Park School see under TOLLINGTON PARK.
MARTINEAU ROAD (1879/80) In 1882 nos. 1 to 7 only.
Named after Harriett Martineau (18021876), celebrated author, traveller, journalist and novelist. Travelled in Egypt
and Palestine 1846-7 and in the USA, 1834-6.
A relative was Richard Martineau who in 1828 became a junior partner in Whitbread’s Brewery. Harriett visited his
wife for a three weeks stay in 1834 and wrote whilst there.
MARTOCK HOUSE, Upper Street (1970)
Martock House is named after Martock, Somerset, 7 miles north west of Yeovil.
MARY McARTHUR HOUSE, Hazellville Road, N19. (1939)
Mary McArthur (1880-1921), trades union organiser, was a great fighter for women workers and for the underprivileged.
She was also a friend of the late Queen Mary with whom she worked for the ‘Queen’s Work for Women
Fund’.
Her work is commemorated in the Mary McArthur House for Working Women and the Mary McArthur Educational
Trust which provides scholarships for working women.
MARY STREET. N.1 (1850)
MARYLAND WALK (Popham Estate) (1974)
MARYLEBONE STREET, (c. 1869-1904) From 1905 until 1968 CARVILLE STREET.
MASEFIELD COURT,
Poets Road (1952) Names after Sir John Masefield (1878-1967), OM, Poet, playwright and novelist and Poet Laureate
from 1930 until 1967.
MASON BRADBEAR COURT, St Paul’s Road (1956)
Named after ex-Alderman William Mason Bradbear, who died aged 79 on the 15th July, 1956 and who lived for
many years at Priory Cottage, St. Paul’s Road. He was first elected to the Council in 1906 and became an Alderman in
1922, serving on the Council until 1928 and was from 1923-4, Housing Committee Chairman. He was also VicePresident
of the former Islington Antiquarian and Historical Society and a Trustee of Islington United Charities.
Harry North way Brad bear (1880-1917), senior staff artist to Messrs. Cadbury Brothers was a member of the family.
MASON’S PLACE, Central Street
From c. 1808-1835 Grove Place. 1836 MASON PLACE.
MATHON PLACE, Richmond Road (1839)
Before 1867, part of Richmond Road, now Richmond Avenue.
Mathon Rural is west of Great Malvern, with Mathon Court, a seat.
MATILDA PLACE, Holloway.
In the rate books, 1831-1855. Entered under The Grove, also known as Georges Grove.
MATILDA STREET
Appeared in Christmas 1845 as Matilda Place but in 1847 as Matilda Street, but after 1938 incorporated the former
RICHMOND STREET.
Named after Matilda, the wife of George Thornhill see THORNHILL.
MATTHIAS ROAD
Partly in Hackney.
See also NORFOLK PLACE. See KEPPEL ROW re H Keat and Sons. In 1831 Coach & Horses Lane, which was there in the
18th Century.
Before 1882 incorporated Matthias Road, Keppel Row and Place, Matthias Place, Pleasant Row and Norfolk Place.
Matthias Road Board School opened in 1884, enlarged 1893. Rebuilt in the 1930’s, almost destroyed in the Second
World War. Building opened in 1951 with Newington Green Junior Mixed and Infants in separate schools.
From 1958-71 the headmaster of Newington Green Primary School was the late Alderman David Gwyn Jones, CBE,
who was the headmaster of Ambler School, Blackstock Road 1950-1958. He died aged 76 in 1982. He was Mayor in
1946 and Leader of the Council almost continuously until he retired in 1972.
A ‘Coach & Horses’ public house is listed in rate books under Newington Green as early as 1804.
BRONTE HOUSE 1953, GAY HOUSE 1 1956, CONGREVE HOUSE 1949, LYDGATE HOUSE 1953, CONRAD HOUSE 1968,
PATMORE HOUSE 1949, EMERSON HOUSE 1952, SEWELL HOUSE 1956, SKELTON HOUSE 1952, WALLER HOUSE 1956.
MAVOR HOUSE, Carne.g.ie Street (Barnsbury Estate) (1953)
William Fordyce Mavor (1758-1837), LLD, was a prolific writer, poet and a compiler of educational works and ten
times Mayor of Woodstock, Oxon. He is chiefly remembered for his English Spelling Book (1801) which passed
through numerous editions and was still in use in schools in the 1920s. He also invented a system of shorthand.
MAYGOOD HOUSE, Maygood Street (1932)
MAYGOOD STREET
From 1823-1890, Edward Street, Barnsbury Road.
For Vittoria Primary School see HALF MOON CRESCENT.
MAYTON STREET (1872/3) The Fire Station at the corner of Hertslet Road was opened by Mr. S.J. G. Hoare, Chairman
of the LCC Fire Brigade Committee, 23rd October, 1908.
Flats over the fire-station have since 1981 been called Old Fire Station, 84 Mayton Street.
HOOD COURT 1964.
MAYVILLE STREET c. 1871) Woodville Road, N.16 area.
In the 1965 register of electors, only No. 5 remained. Not in 1956 register.
McCALL HOUSE, Tufnell Park Road (Tufnell Estate) (1948)
Named after the Rev. William McCall, MA, Vicar of St. George’s, Tufnell Park from its consecration in 1867 until his
death in 1881. He was also an active speaker for the Protestant Alliance.
MclNDOE COURT, Rotherfield Street (1960)
Sir Archibald Hector Mclndoe (1900-1960), CBE,MSC,FRCS, New Zealand plastic surgeon was Chief Assistant at the
plastic surgery unit, St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, 1930-1934, then plastic surgeon and consultant plastic surgeon to
the RAF. He was best known for his work during the Second World War and also at the Queen Victoria Hospital,
Maxillo-Facial Unit, East Grinstead.
McMORRAN HOUSE, Parkhurst Road (1968)
Donald Hanks McMorran (1904-1965), RA, FSA,FRIBA. (1904-1965) was the architect of housing estates at Islington,
Hampstead, Poplar, Sydenham, Richmond and Dorking and many courts, police stations and public buildings in
London and the UK.
MEAKIN HOUSE (Ringcross Estate), Georges Road
See GEORGES ROAD.
MEDCALF PLACE (1820)
By the time of the 1881 Census, METC.ALF PLACE.
Thomas Medcalf of Seward Street owned a small field. His brother Robert in 1818 obtained the lease and built by
1820 the houses.
MEDINA COTTAGES (1843)
By 1874 nos. 160-176 Seven Sisters Road.
MEDINA COURT, Seven Sisters Road (1956)
MEDINA GROVE (1864/5)
MEDINA LODGE, Medina Road (1958)
MEDINA PLACE (1848)
By 1874 part of Seven Sisters Road. The
‘Bedford Arms’ became No. 154.
MEDINA ROAD
Nos. 3 and 6 only in the 1863 Directory.
From the Arabic ‘al-Madinah’, the city of the apostle, a sacred city of Hejaz, Saudi Arabia. A centre of religious
learning with the tomb of Mohammed in its main mosque. Onetime playground for the wealthy.
The Employment Exchange has been there since 1934,
MEDINA LODGE 1958.
MELCHESTER HOUSE, Wedmore Street
(Wedmore Estate) (1904) Modernised 1971.
Melchester was Salisbury in Thomas Hardy’s Far from the Madding Crowd and in his novel, Jude the Obscure.
MELGUND ROAD (1886) Named after the ruined Melgund Castle, Forfarshire, near Brechin. It gave the title of
Viscount in 1813 to the Earl of Minto.
BAKER HOUSE 1959 (q.v.)
MELVILLE PLACE
See NORTHDOWN STREET.
MELVILLE STREET
Formerly NORFOLK STREET from 1825 to 1937.
Lord Melville (Mr. Secretary Dundas) visited the observatory and manor house at Highbury when the latter was
owned by Lt. Col. Alexander Aubert, FRS. See AUBERT ROAD.
MELVILLE TERRACE (1846)
After 1863, nos. 70-104 Caledonian Road.
MELYN CLOSE (Brecknock/Anson Estate),
Anson Road (1972)
Melyn is Neath, Glamorganshire.
MEMEL COURT
See BULL COURT, before 1936.
MEMEL STREET (1811)
Named after the Baltic timber port. HATFIELD HOUSE 1962.
MENTONE ROAD (1883)
Nos. 2-4 only. Last in the 1959 register of electors.
MERCERS PLACE, Holloway (1847)
In the rate books, 1847-1855 (only three houses).
Archway Road, north of the former Whittington College.
MERCERS ROAD
On a large scale map of 1869.
The name was approved in 1877 and a Directory for 1878 only shows a Friends Meeting House and two houses.
The Mercer’s Company owned six acres, two roods and thirty-nine perches at Holloway in 1806. They erected and
managed the former Whittington College Almshouses erected between 1820 and 1824 and demolished in 1967, the
occupants moving to Felstead, Sussex.
On the site of Collingwood House used to be a Friends Meeting House from c. 1863. From 1835 until then was WACE
COTTAGE. Two water-colours of 1854 by C.H. Matthews shows it with fine proportions and a garden with striking
topiary. The Hackney Brook rises near here, crosses Holloway Road near Tufnell Park Road, then to Lowman Road,
north east to Gillespie Road, on to Mountgrove Road.
Members of the Scottish pop-rock band The Marmalade lived in Mercers Road in the late 1960s. They had a number
one hit with their cover of The Beatles’ Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, which topped the UK chart in January 1969.
MERCERS TERRACE, Archway Road (1845)
By 1903 nos. 16-20 Archway Road.
MERCHON HOUSE (Brecknock/Anson Estate), Anson Road (1972)
MEREDITH HOUSE, Boleyn Road (1950) George Meredith, O.M. (1828-1909), novelist and poet.
MEREDITH STREET (1824/5) Now covered by the Finsbury Estate.
‘So named from a Mr. Meredith, who jointly with Mr. Whiskin, leased the ground for a term of years from the
Skinner’s Company for building purposes.’ Skinner Street was under the title Clerk’s Close in 1754 conveyed to the
Skinner’s Company under the surviving trustees of John Meredith who left a Will 16th April, 1630.
MERLIN PLACE, Spa Fields See MERLIN STREET.
MERLIN STREET
Before 1928 Merlin’s Place 1825.
Finished 1928. Named after the New Merlin’s Cave public house.
The Merlin’s Cave, Rosoman Street was a tavern standing in the fields near the New River Head possessing large
gardens and a skittle ground. It was built about 1735 and was much patronised, but the gardens were built over
about 1833. The NEW MERLINS CAVE stood a little to the north of the old . situation. See also MARGERY STREET.
The MERLIN STREET BATHS were opened 3rd May 1933 by the Rt. Hon. Sir H. Kingsley Wood, MP, PostmasterGeneral.
Architect: Kenneth M.B. Cross, MA, FRIBA.
In Merlin Street on 24 June 1894 an old lady of 80 surnamed Roberts was burnt to death.
CHARLES ROWAN HOUSE 1930.
MERRYWEATHER COURT, Poynings Road (1968)
Moses Merryweather (1791-1872) and his eldest son Richard Moses (1839-1877) were inventors and pioneers of fire
engines. The famous London manual engine was shown at the 1851 Great Exhibition.
MERSEY HOUSE (Mersey Estate), Liverpool Road (1947)
MESSITER HOUSE, Charlotte Terrace (1956)
Dr. Husband Messiter, a once eminent physician, died at Islington in 1785.
METC.ALF PLACE
Before the 1881 Census Medcalf Place. 1820.
METHLEY HOUSE, (Andover Estate), Andover Row (1934)
Modernised in 1974.
Methley Junction, W. Riding of Yorkshire (LNE and LMS railways) was seven miles south east of Leeds.
METROPOLITAN BENEFIT SOCIETY’S ALMSHOUSES
See under BALLS POND ROAD.
Metropolitan Cattle Market, 1855 see CALEDONIAN ROAD under Caledonian Market.
MEWS LODGE, Sotheby Road (1983/4)
MEXICAN TERRACE and Mews, Caledonian Road (1848)
By 1889 nos. 5-35 Albion Street and by 1938 BALFE STREET.
MICHAEL CLIFFE HOUSE, Skinner Street (Finsbury Estate) (1968) Alderman Michael Cliffe.MP (1904-1964) was from
1958 MP for Shoreditch and Finsbury, Mayor of Finsbury 1956/7.
MIDDLE HOUSE, The. 13 Canonbury Lane (1983/4)
MIDDLE ROW, Elder Walk (1829) Between Churchill Place and Cottage Place. Still on the 1881 Census.
MIDDLE ROW, Goswell Road.
There as Rotten Row in 1728; Middle Row in 1855.
By 1912 CRESCENT ROW.
MIDDLESEX STREET (1864/5) After 1938 ALSEN PLACE.
MIDDLETON GROVE
Before 1938 MIDDLETON ROAD.
MIDDLETON PLACE, Balls Pond In the rate books from 1841-1854.
MIDDLETON ROAD
Appearing as Middleton Street in an 1855 rate book.
After 1938 MIDDLETON GROVE. Includes Middleton Road Mews. George Truefitt, FRIBA (1824-1902) lived from
1860-1866 at No. 1 Middleton Road and from 1870-1893 at ‘Fernbank’, Carleton Road. He was Surveyor to the
Tufnell Estates and designed many of the villas there. Before him John Shaw (18031870) architect also of the
Holloway Hall, opened in 1872.
MIDWAY HOUSE, Manningford Close (Earlstoke Estate) (1976/7)
MILBROCOURT, Anson Road (1965)
MILDMAY AVENUE (1871)
Including Mildmay Works, Woodland Cottages and Yard.
MILDMAY COURT, Mildmay Park (1936)
MILDMAY GROVE (1875/6)
But before 1877 known as North Grove, North Grove East, South Grove, South Grove East and South Grove West,
e.g.., 61 Mildmay Grove was 13 North Grove East, No. 12 was 15 South Grove West.
See also MILDMAY PARK, KING HENRY’S WALK.
ST. JUDE’S CHURCH, Mildmay Park, architect: Alexander Dick Gough, 1855.
The Central Library contains a fine ‘occasional book’ with contemporary poems and illustrations belonging formerly
to the Rev. Daniel Bell Hankin, vicar from August 1875 until 1904.
For St. Jude’s C of E Primary School see KING HENRY’S WALK.
Perhaps the most famous vicar was the Rev. William Pennefather, BA (1816-1873) who became incumbent at St.
Jude’s in 1864 and there and at Barnet he held conferences on missionary enterprise until his death.
The large MILDMAY CONFERENCE HALL seating 2,500 people, was situated between Mildmay Park and Newington
Green Road. It was finished in 1870,closed in 1954 and demolished by July 1959.
The Mildmay Movement or Movement for World Evangelisation had its Founder’s Lodge at the Mildmay Centre,
Mildmay Park. The adjoining DEACONESS HOUSE was built 1871. These conferences on missionary enterprise gave
rise to many permanent organisations for home and foreign mission work.
The Deaconesses with their white head-dresses were a distinctive sight around the streets and the medical and home mission work was active and well-known.
The Rev. Pennefather was also celebrated as a hymnologist. The hymn ‘Jesus, stand among us …’ is one of his that
has survived well.
In 1920 was still standing in the gardens of the Mildmay Park Conference Hall a mulberry tree, obviously of ancient
vintage and of giant proportions, the stem girthing at 3ft and 5ft from ground level, 6ft 4in and 6ft 8in respectively,
the branch spread being 60ft and the height 30ft. By 1963 only a quarter of the ancient giant remained.
The MILDMAY MISSION TO THE JEWS was at 79 Mildmay Road and was founded in 1876 by the Rev. John Wilkinson,
from which time it flourished.
MILDMAY PARK (1853-4)
See also NORTH GROVE. MILDMAY
GROVE and KING HENRY’S WALK.
Included Clarendon Villas and Terrace, Kelso and Lorn Terraces, until 1868/70. Sir Henry Mildmay, (died c.1664) was
Revenue Commissioner, 1645-1652. He was present at the trial of Charles I and was a member of State councils from
1649-52. He married Ann Haliday who died in 1656,she was the daughter and heiress of Alderman William Haliday,
mercer of London. See also HUNGERFORD ROAD.
In a survey of 1611 he held an old house on the south side of Newington Green (later to become the former Mildmay
Nurses’ Home on the site) with an orchard and a piece of pasture ground behind called The Park’, an area of 44 acres
whose southernmost boundary extended almost to Balls Pond. By this marriage these estates passed to the Mildmay
family. Hence Mildmay Park, Avenue, Street etc.
MILDMAY PARK WESLEYAN METHODIST CHAPEL with sittings for 1100 date from 1862. Its foundation stone was laid
by Mr. Lycett, later to become Sir Francis Lycett (1803-1880) who lived at 18 Highbury Grove, was a member of the
Finsbury Division, London School Board, a Sheriff of London and Middlesex, 1866/7. William Lamplough . and
S.D.Waddy (afterwards Judge Waddy) were devoted business men who founded this Chapel. In 1878 Lady Lycett and
Mrs. Lancelot Smith laid the foundation stones of the Lecture Hall and the Sunday School buildings at the rear of the
chapel. In 1973 fifty firemen and ten fire engines tackled the fire which destroyed the by then derelict chapel used as
a Warehouse.
In 1886 Solomon Haim Andrade opened a SYNAGOGUE at 39 Mildmay Park. This closed in 1937.
MILDMAY PARK STATION. Opened 1st January 1880. Closed 1st October 1934,
MILDMAY LIBRARY. The library, designed by C.M.Cowney, was opened 3rd April, 1954 by the late Wilfred Pickles,
with his wife Mabel in attendance. In 1984 the library closed and has been rebuilt as a library and day centre.
In 1981 Caroline Thorpe and Mick Harrison painted an outside mural on the gable end wall which butts on to the
library depicting historical scenes and links with the Newington Green area.
HADLEIGH HOUSE 1976, HEXHAM LODGE 1966, MILDMAY COURT 1936, PENNEFATHER HOUSE. This home for the
retired opened in August 1976. For the origin of the name see under MILDMAY PAR K.
MILDMAY PLACE, Balls Pond (1830) By 1866 nos.108-124 Balls Pond Road.
MILDMAY ROAD (1861-2)
By 1867 Mildmay Villas and other subsidiary names were abolished and the road renumbered throughout.
The Woodville Arms, like Woodville Road, first appears in the 1866 Directory. Elizabeth Woodville, daughter of Earl
Rivers, was the Queen of Edward IV.
MILDMAY ROW, (6 Newington Green) Mentioned in a Deed of 1854 John Chubb to Lady Mildmay. Not in directories.
MILDMAY STREET
A new street in 1854, yet in a directory for 1871 and not in the one for 1870.
MILDMAY VILLAS (1853)
By 1870 nos. 1, 5 and 11 King Henry’s Walk.
MILLFIELD, (Six Acres Estate),
Lennox Road, Pooles Park (1969)
MILLFIELD PLACE, nr. Leconfield Road (1868) Hackney.
MILLS BUILDINGS, off Arundel Grove
On an 1871 OS Map.
MILNER PLACE
Before 1938 MILNER STREET (1840).
After 1847 part of Milner Street was incorporated in Milner Square e.g.., no. 8 Milner Street by 1851 became no. 50
Milner Square, which later was not numbered in 1847.
At no. 7 is the Registered Chapel of the Pallotine Sisters (Sisters of the Catholic Apostolate).
At no. 7 lived the father of Hanslip Fletcher, George Rutter Fletcher, FSA, solicitor Hanslip was artist, illustrator, and
topographical draughtsman who died aged 80 in 1955. G.R. Fletcher lived at no. 7 from 1877 to 1905. Hanslip was
born in 1874 and christened in Islington. Before 1877, Thomas Hanslip, surgeon, lived at no.7. Hanslip Fletcher’s
mother was a Miss Hanslip before her marriage.
MILNER SQUARE (1841) See also MILNER PLACE (before 1848). Commenced 1827. Houses on the east side not
leased until 1840. Work not started on the West side until 1846. Builder: William Spencer Dove of Messrs. Dove
Brothers.
Architect of the square: Alexander Dick Gough (1804-1871) whose partner from 1836-1848 was Robert Lewis
Roumieu (1814-1877) with whom he exhibited 19 works at the RA from 1837-1849. They designed the Islington
Literary & Scientific Institution See ALMEIDA STREET and WATERLOO TERRACE.
The ground landlord of the square was Thomas Milner Gibson (see GIBSON SQUARE). When built, the square was a
range of 25 houses on each side of the road, the 17 central ones being upon a raised terrace with railed gardens in
front.
In 1977 the 46 houses were converted into flats and in the presence of Councillor Bert Stanfield, Mayor, Peter Shore,
Environment Minister, on 26th September, 1977, cut the tape to this new era in the square’s history, the completion
of its £2Vi million restoration scheme.
In 1984 was authorised a development of shops, offices and dwellings at the SE corner of Barnsbury Street and
Milner Square.
Alexander Kennedy Isbister, MA.LLB (1822-1883),educational writer, died 28 May 1883 at no. 20. He became second
master at Islington Proprietary School (East Islington) in 1849 and master 1850-55. Headmaster of the Jews’ College,
Finsbury Square, 1855-8 and Master of the Stationers’ Company School 1858-1882. He was Dean of the College of
Preceptors from 1872 to his death and the author of many school books.
MILTON GROVE (1868-9)
Since 1877 COMUS ROAD (q.v.).
MILTON COURT, Moor Lane.
Before 1936 Crown Court. Was there in 1890.
MILTON’S COURT, Milton’s Yard (1849)
MILTON PLACE, High Street (1843)
By 1878 nos. 1-5 Camden Passage, Islington Green.
MILTON PLACE, Holloway (off Upper George’s Place) (1843) On 1851 Census and in rate books, 1843-1855. Not in
directories.
Mrs Elizabeth Foster, grand-daughter of the poet John Milton, kept a chandler’s shop at Lower Holloway and died 9
May 1754 aged 66.
MILTON STREET (1830)
Nos. 85-95 only, the rest City of London.
Formerly, from as early as the 13th cent century, GRUB STREET, a kind of avenue in the early 17th century occupied
by fletcher’s, stringers and bowyers. Named after a carpenter and builder who owned the building lease. Later the
famous Grub Street of literary hacks and starving poets.
MILTON’S YARD, Cloudesley Square (1849)
Milton Yard Ragged School was opened in 1856 and enlarged in 1862; it had at one time a penny bank and a lending
library, open in the evenings only. In 1871 nos. 164B and 120G were there.
MINERVA LODGE. (Westbourne Estate) (1977)
Sheltered housing, 42 Roman Way.
MINERVA PLACE, Barnsbury (1837)
By 1869 nos. 37-45 Thorn hi 11 Road.
MINERVA PLACE, Strouds Vale, Kings Cross (1852)
In rate books, not directories, 1852-1855.
MINERVA TERRACE, Minerva Place (1827)
By 1869 nos. 68-86 Thornhill Road.
The ‘William the Fourth’ public house, 12 Minerva Terrace was there in 1853 and was at the corner of Bewdley
Street.
MINGARD WALK (1977)
Named after Walter Vere Mingard, author of The Story of Islington and Finsbury (1915) who lived c. 1902 at 29
Richmond Road (now Avenue).
DIBDIN HOUSE 1977.
MIRANDA ROAD
Before 1878 Albert Place and Albert Road, c. 1859/60.
Re-named and re-numbered Miranda Road throughout 1878/9.
Named like Prospero Road, after a Shakespeare character in The Tempest.
MITCHELL HOUSE, College Cross (1951)
Named after the late Councillor William John Mitchell who died in 1947., He was a Councillor for Barnsbury ward,
1919-1931 and 1934-1945 and deputy Mayor 193840.
MITCHELL STREET, EC1
Was there in 1723. Before 1877, part was Great and Little Mitchell Streets.
Built on land bequeathed to the Ironmonger’s Company in 1527 by Thomas Mitchell or Michell, ironmonger and
citizen. ROBY HOUSE 1962.
MITCHISON ROAD
Before 1939 Norfolk Road c. 1861/2.
In 1842 one of the Trustees of the Parish of St. Mary Islington was Henry Mitchison.
MITFORD ROAD (1852) And Mitford Row 1853.
In 1878 there were also Deans Cottages, no. 2 being occupied by a Mrs. Dean. 1852 rate books show a Mitford Road
East and a Mitford Road West. It is shown as Mitford Road in the 1882 directory and not previous local ones.
Mary Russell Mitford (1787-1855) author and writer of Our Village, visited Charles and Mary Lamb at Colebrooke
Cottage.
MITRE COURT (1820)
By 1938 130A Upper Street.
MITRE COURT, St. John Street
On the 1871 Census. After 1936 Crozier Court. Gone by 1974.
MOELWYN HUGHES COURT , Hilldrop Lane (q.v.) (1958)
MOLTON HOUSE, Charlotte Terrace (Barnsbury Estate (1955)
MONKSFIELD (Six Acres Estate), Pooles Park (1969)
MONNERY ROAD (1887)
MONROE HOUSE, New Orleans Walk (New Orleans Estate) (1973)
MONSELL ROAD
From 1845-1871 Kings Road, Seven Sisters Road.
In 1871 William Lee asked on behalf of the British Land Company Ltd for the name to be altered. John Samuel
Bewley Monsell, BA, LLD (1845-1871) was a prolific Victorian hymn writer of whom ‘Fight the good fight!’ is the best
known today. DEEPDALE (1964)
MONTAGUE COURT, Cornelia Street (1953)
MONTAGUE PLACE, Seven Sisters Road (1844)
By 1874 nos. 117-119 Seven Sisters Road.
MONTAGUE PLACE, River Terrace (1841)
By 1866 nos. 19A-31 Colebrooke Row.
MONTDORE HOUSE, Highgate Hill (1981/2)
MONTEM STREET (1883)
There are Montem roads at Lewisham and New Malden and a Montem Lane at Slough, Bucks. Derived from the
Latin, ‘ad montem’ = to the hill. There was a Montem Festival at Eton College up to 1844. The scholars went in fancy
costumes in procession to ‘Salt Hill’, a mound near Slough and collected money from by-standers. The money
collected was applied to defray the expenses of the Senior Colleger (‘Captain of the Montem’) at Kings – College,
Cambridge.
The Montem Street Schools (London School Board) opened on the 21st June, 1886, i.e. the Boys’ School, the Girls on
7th May, 1901. Moved to the former Upper Hornsey Road School building by 1957. The former Headmistress
(appointed as such in 1967) was Cllr. Miss Janet Woodhall, who from 1956 represented Lower Holloway Ward and
was a former Chairman of the Libraries’ Committee. A 60ft. mural by John Wragg and Ian Reynolds was designed and
executed for the school playground in 1968. The building was converted by John Harvey 1969-1972.
MONTPELIER ROAD
By 1938 RICKTHORNE ROAD. On a map of 1869.V
MONTROSE VILLAS (1855)
By 1878 nos. 420-426 Caledonian Road.
MOON STREET (1825/6)
From 1825-8 Slades Places is nearby.
MOOR LANE
Part of nos. 45,47-63 and 40-50, rest City of London.
As More Street in the 14th century. On the site of Moorfields. The old ‘moor’ or ‘more’ outside the City walls. Before
1896 Type Street (c.1789).
MOORFIELDS EYE HOSPITAL
The Royal London Ophthalmic Hospital.
The first of its kind in England. First it was The London Dispensary for Curing Diseases of the Eye and Ear’,
Charterhouse Square 1805. With more and more work it moved to Eldon Street as the ‘London Ophthalmic
Infirmary’, architect: Sir Robert Smirke, 1821/2, until 1836 when its name was changed. In 1894 the present site was
obtained and the new building opened in 1899 since when much rebuilding and reconstruction has been effected.
MOORGREEN HOUSE, Wynyatt Street (Earlstoke Estate), EC1 (1976)
MORA STREET, EC1 c. 1809
Formerly before 1936 NELSON STREET, c. 1809.
Commemorates the prebend of Mora (The Moor) a part of Finsbury belonging to St. Pauls Cathedral. It included
Cayton
Street and the area bounded S. by Lever Street, N. City Road and W. Central Street. These prebends of the Canons of
St. Pauls are pre-Conquest.
GAMBIA HOUSE 1970.
MORAY ROAD (1867)
In 1874 included Upper Moray Road and
Moray Road East. By 1882 Moray Road.
An ancient province of Scotland. Moray Firth is on the north east coast. Probably like Birnam Road, of Shakespearean
association. Thomas Dunbar, the 2nd Earl of Moray or Murray, was made prisoner at Holmedon (Henry IV Pt. 1, Act
1, Scene 1). ”
ST. MARK’S VILLAS, Tollington Park date from c. 1855.
WAYMOUTH VILLAS (1897).
MORELAND STREET (1885)
Re-numbered 1910. Before 1910, Macclesfield Place, 1823, Macclesfield Terrace, 1826. From c. 1809 CHARLES
STREET, City Road.
John Moreland was a builder and bricklayer in Goswell Street in 1805; in 1814 John and Richard Moreland were
bricklayers and copper setters at 18 Old Street and the firm was still there in 1843 as J.R. and J. Moreland. R.
Moreland, millwrights and engineers were at 149 Old Street. Joseph Moreland represented St. Luke’s Parish on the
Met. Board of Works in 1855. Two Morelands served on St. Luke’s Vestry when the street was so-named.
The King’s Arms public house formerly at 19 Charles Street was there in 1833.
The FINSBURY MISSION, Moreland Street is an inter-denominational mission of the Shaftesbury Society. In 1944 the
Great Arthur Street Mission and the Fox & Knot in 1958. Both date back well over 100 years and fed and clothed the
poor of the streets of Victorian Finsbury.
MORELAND STREET, Seven Sisters Road, c. 1869/70.
After 1838 WOODFALL ROAD, Seven Sisters Road.
MORGAN MANSIONS, Morgan Road, Holloway 1901/2.
Re-habilitated 1976/8.
MORGAN’S COTTAGES, Brooksby Street (1824).
MORGANS PLACE, Liverpool Road (1818)
By 1869 nos. 281 -285 Liverpool Road.
MORGANS YARD, Liverpool Road
In the 1838 and 1839 rate books.
MORLAND MEWS (1975)
Re-name of GIRTON MEWS.
MORLAND TERRACE (1844)
Including Flower’s Buildings, 1841.
By 1874 Highbury Hill Park. By after 1874/5 DRAYTON PARK.
George Morland (1763-1804) towards the end of the year 1800, celebrated landscape artist, remained for several
months at the Barley Mow inn ‘on the west side of Frog Lane’ where he sketched aspects of rural life and also
imbibed deeply of alcoholic refreshment.
MORRIS HOUSE, Brecknock Road (1939)
MORRIS PLACE (1981/2)
New industrial development units, of Stroud Green Road.
MORTON ROAD N1 (1865)
MOSTYN LODGE, Aberdeen Park (1964)
Mostyn is 3 1/4 miles north west of Holywell, Flintshire, Mostyn Hall being the seat of Lord Mostyn.
MOTTS LANE (1845)
Re-named WALL STREET 1868.
MOULSFORD HOUSE, Rowstock Gardens (Camden Estate) (1963)
Moulsford, Berks. 3 1/2 miles south of Wallingford.
MOUNT MILLS
See SEWARD STREET.
MOUNT PLEASANT, John Street (1846)
From 1897 part of BARNSBURY TERRACE.
MOUNT PLEASANT, WC1
Part of Borough of Camden. Farringdon Road, EC1.
Before 1875 Baynes Row (c.1737) and Dorrington Street (1720).
Originally a swampy site, ‘Gardeners’ Fields’.
Messrs. Baynes & Warner c. 1720 demised the ground to Thos. Dorrington to build the Apple Tree’ public house at
the south east corner. The old inn was much frequented by discharged prisoners from the Middlesex House of
Correction, Coldbath Fields, 17941886. In the top room were a pair of handcuffs fastened to wires as bell-pulls.
Thomas Topham, the Islington strong man, was the landlord for a time. See under ST. ALBAN’S PLACE.
On June 1st 1887,a night parcel coach drawn by four horses commenced running.
After then, the ground was taken over by the Post Office and the first of the buildings erected in 1889-90, extended
in 1900. More buildings followed in 1926 and by 1929 the last of the old prison buildings was removed to make way
for the new building covering
254 acres opened on 2 November 1934 by the Duke and Duchess of York. It was of steel with reinforced concrete
floors and walls. Built by J. Garrard & Sons of Manchester.
Underground over 800 driverless trains passed daily through Mount Pleasant Station. The Sorting Office was 2 1/2
acres in extent, the Parcel section of over 3 acres was destroyed by enemy bombs June 1943.
Formerly open fields above the Fleet river, an attempt to grow grapes on the western slopes is alleged to have been
made. It was thus in 1752 and in 1765, hence VINEYARD WALK. This failed and the fields became a playground and
pleasure ground for the City of London inhabitants, hence ‘Mont Plaisance’.
This was originally a lane leading to a hug* mound of refuse and cinders at the junction with Gray’s Inn Road. After
1812 this was said to have been the ‘Mount Pleasant’ heap transported to Moscow as building material after the city
required reconstruction after Napoleon’s unsuccessful attempts and it became a funeral pyre to his ambitions.
In the 1860’s Mount Pleasant was a very slummy and overcrowded area.
Mr, and Mrs. Smallweed in Chapter 21 of Charles Dicken’s Bleak House ‘vegetated with their children’ in Mount
Pleasant.
MOUNT PLEASANT CRESCENT
Boundary, rest in Haringey. Before 1939 Mount Pleasant Road 1878.
STAPLETON PARADE 1900.
At Japan House (see JAPAN CRESCENT] the parish boundary line made an angle, proceeded eastwards for a short
distance then turned north ‘reaching an eminence called Mount Pleasant’. This is marked on a map of 1835. In 1842
this was ‘a beautiful eminence… whereon stand one or two genteel villas, from which the views of the adjacent
country and the metropolis are most delightful and uninterrupted’.
MOUNT PLEASANT ROAD, Crouch Hill (1878)
Stapleton Parade 1900.
MOUNTFORD HOUSE, Britton Street, EC1 (1984)
MOUNTFORD CRESCENT (1841/2)
Barnsbury Square (q.v.) the ‘detached houses and gardens on the south, west and north sides thereof’ (called the
Mountford Estate) occupy the ground of what was the Reed Moat Field in which was a moated site, so described in
1756. The line of the moat was still visible in 1826 when Mount- ford House was built. This moated site was by 18th
century tradition handed down to the 19th century alleged to have been the remaining earthworks of a former
Roman camp.
MOUNTFORD TERRACE, Barnsbury Square (1844)
MOUNTGROVE ROAD
Before 1870 Gypsey Lane. Renamed 7th January 1870 by order of the former Metropolitan Board of Works. A
boundary road, the rest being in Hackney.
MOUNT MILLS, Goswell Road, EC1
The first mount had a windmill, then a Mount of Calvary Chapel, demolished after 1533and replaced by another mill.
A breastwork and battery was alleged to have been there, according to some sources, in 1642. Plague victims were
buried here, 1665. A rubbish heap was levelled c.1750.
MOUNTVIEW ROAD
On a large scale 1869/70 OS with no houses in it.
BuiIt up and occupied by 1891/2.
VIDEO COURT 1967.
MOWATT CLOSE (Elthorne Estate), N19 (1980)
Named after Sir Francis Mowatt, GCB, PC (1837-1919), an Alderman of Islington Borough Council, 1904-7.
MULBERRY COURT (Brunswick Close Estate), St John St. (1962)
Probably because mulberry trees were here. On the site of the Hugh Myddelton School, before the Middlesex House
of Correction and Detention was erected was from c.1742-52 a free pleasure garden, the MULBERRY GARDEN.
Concerts, firework displays and a skittle alley were provided and the Clerkenwell Volunteers drilled in the grounds.
MULICERN ROAD.N19 (1880-1)
Not named as such in an 1878 directory.
Formerly Clarendon Villas, Mulkern Terrace, Elizabeth Villas, Rydon Villas and Dorset Villas (between 1857 and
1878).
MULL WALK (Marquess Estate) (1977/9)
MURIEL STREET
From 1844-76 CATHERINE STREET (1844/5). Little Catherine Street, Rodney Street North (1826-75).
Subsidiary names abolished January 1876.
Between Muriel Street and Colebrooke Row is the 960 yard long Islington Tunnel of the Regent’s Canal.
PREEDY HOUSE (Home for the Retired) 1966 (q.v.).
Murton Street, EC1
MYDDELTON BUILDINGS
Improved Industrial Dwellings Company. Six o:~reys.
Built in 1882 on ground beside the Philharmonic Theatre. The entrance and gateway were still there in 1972.
MYDDELTON FLATS as they were then, last on the 1968 register of electors.
MYDDELTON MEWS
After 1905 CLAREMONT CLOSE.
MYDDELTON PASSAGE, EC1
(c.1830 period)
WORTHINGTON HOUSE 1952. BENYON HOUSE 1963/4. Both New River Estate.
MYDDELTON SQUARE (1827)
Named after Sir Hugh Myddelton. See ISLINGTON GREEN.
ST. MARK’S CHURCH was erected 1827 from the design of William Chadwell Mylne, architect and surveyor to the
New River Company, who gave the site. Badly damaged in the Second World War. A new East window whose central
theme is the Ascension has panels of the Lion of St. Mark; a scene in Sir Hugh Myddelton’s life; Dame Alice Owen and
her school; the Angel Inn and Sadler’s Wells, as well as the arms of the City of London, Sir Hugh Myddelton, those of
the former Metropolitan Borough’ of Finsbury and the Royal arms. Unveiled in May 1962.
At no.5 resided Thomas John Dibdin (1771-1841), actor, dramatist, prompter and joint stage manager at Sadler’s
Wells Theatre, for which he wrote operas and dramas. His father was Charles Dibdin (1745-1814), the celebrated
song writer and dramatist, author of Tom Bowling. T. J. Dibdin’s godfather was David Garrick.
A plaque is to Fenner Brockway (Lord Brockway) who from 1908-10 lived at no.60; he was born in 1888 and died in
1988.
Edward Ballard, Islington’s first MOH and a pioneer of its health and sanitary reform lived at no.42.
At no.30 lived the Rev. Jabez Bunting, DD, (1779-1858). He was received in to the Ministry in 1799 and in 1803 and in
1813 stationed in London, finally in 1833 at the Wesleyan headquarters. He held office as the Senior Secretary of the
Missionary Society in 1833, President of the Theological Institute, 1834-58. Known as the ‘second founder of
Methodism’. He died at 30 Myddelton Square, 30th June 1858 and is buried behind Wesley’s Chapel. A
commemorative plaque to Bunting can be seen at 30 Myddleton Square.
On the 20th of March 1986 the Rev. C. Hughes Smith, 1986 President of the Methodist Conference unveiled a plaque
on the front of no.30 in the presence of Cllr. Mrs. Marjorie Ogilvy-Webb, Mayor.
In flat no.4,5 Myddelton Square, lived from 1965-9 B.S.Johnson (1933-73), poet and novelist.
Guido Philipp Schmitt (1834-1922), portrait painter, was in 1869 at no.9.
At no.39 lived Stanley Lees Giffard, LL D (c.1790-1858), barrister, writer, journalist, Biblical scholar, book-co I lector
and critic. In 1857 he moved to Folkestone and died there 6th November 1858. Edward Hughes, RA (1832-1908),a
portrait painter, son of George Hughes, also a portrait painter, was born 14th September 1832 in Myddelton Square
and died at 52 Gower Street.
Dr. Richard Garnett CB, Keeper of Books, British Museum (1835-1906), lived in the square.
MYDDELTON STREET (1813-14)
A field on which the south of side of Myddelton Street is built is shown on old maps as the ‘Welshfield’. At
Whitsuntide a Welsh or Gooseberry Fair was held, even as early as 1744. It moved from Spa Fields to Barnet.
At the corner of Myddelton Street in 1862 was ‘Myddelton House’, then a new building, taken over as the office of
the Clerkenwell News, which before then had been issued from 35 Lower Rosoman Street.
Sir George Buchanan, BA, MD, FRCP, FRS (1831-95), eminent physician and pioneer of sanitary reform was the son of
a doctor, George Adam Buchanan, in general medical practice at 50 Myddelton Street, Spa Fields and not Myddelton
Square as stated in the DNB. He was chairman of the Royal Commission on Tuberculosis and a famous consulting
physician until 1868 at the London Fever Hospital.
HUGH MYDDELTON JUNIOR SCHOOL (ILEA): opened 1893. Rebuilt.
New buildings opened by Robert Dougall 2nd July 1971.
‘Royal Mail’ public house 1973/4.
MYDDELTON TERRACE
Built up from 1817 onwards.
Renamed CLAREMONT SQUARE 1825/6 (q.v.).
Was the residence of Mr. Brownlow in Charles Dickens’ novel Oliver Twist.
Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881) great Scottish essayist, historian and writer, lived for a few weeks in 1824.
Edward Irving (1792-1834) founder of the ‘Irvingite’ or Catholic Apostolic Church, lived at no.4, the same address as
Carlyle. A Commemorative plaque to Irving is located at 3 Claremont Square.
George Cruikshank (1792-1878), engraver, black and white artist and caricaturist, resided in Clerkenwell from 1823-
49, first c.1836 at 23 Myddelton Terrace and later in Amwell Street. A commemorative plaque recording
Cruikshank’s former home is located at 69-71 Amwell Street.
MYLNE STREET (1830)
So named because William Chadwell Mylne, FRS, FRIBA (1781-1863), the second son of Robert Mylne, was Surveyor
to the New River Company. He was an engineer and architect and designed St. Mark’s Church, also Myddelton
Square, Amwell, Ingelbert and River streets and also Clerkenwell Parochial Charity Schools, Amwell Street.
Robert Mylne (1734-1811) was an architect and engineer from 1770 to 1811 to the New River Company. He
designed 1760-9 Blackfriars Bridge, demolished in 1868, among many other bridges and public buildings and works.
Robert William Mylne (1817-90) was an architect and geologist.
MYRTLE COTTAGES, Rotherfield Street (1840)
By 1863 nos.45-59 Rotherfield Street.
MYRTLE STREET
The name HUR LOCK STREET (q.v.) approved in 1880, but does not appear in Islington directories until 1910.
Myrtle Street dates from 1846.
N
NAILOUR STREET (1859/60)
Disappeared by 1972.
NAISH COURT, Pembroke Street (1951/4)
Architects: Messrs.E.C.P.Monson, FRIBA, 1970.
Named after George Bryant Naish, Mayor 1936/7, for 22 years an Alderman and Councillor and for 10 years
Chairman of the Assessment Committee for Islington. He represented West Islington on the LCC for 21 years and was
secretary, for many years, of West Islington Labour Party and was a member of the London Society of Compositors.
Naish Court Community Centre, Caledonian Road, opened in 1954 by Alderman Mrs .Jessie Barnes has in its hall a
motto, ‘Non tibi, non mihi, sed nobis’. The ceremony was attended at the age of 80 by ex-Councillor G.B. Naish, then
living at Ruislip.
NAPIER TERRACE, Wellington Street, Upper Street (1851)
Sir Charles James Napier (1782-1853), general and statesman, took a leading part with Wellington in the Spanish
Peninsular War of 1808 to 1818. In 1841 he was sent to India. His brother, Sir William Francis Patrick Napier (1785-
1860) wrote the classic History of the War in the Peninsular, 6 vols, 1828-40.
NAVER HOUSE, Sutton Dwellings, Upper Street (1970)
NELSON PASSAGE, Mora Street
Designated as ‘Passage to Nelson Street’ 1818; there, undesignated 1817 and earlier.
NELSON’S PASSAGE, Great Arthur Street (c.1809)
After 1912, ARTHUR PASSAGE.
NELSON PLACE. Holloway Road (1845)
Nelson Place, Ronalds Road, pulled down, February and March 1890.
NELSON PLACE, City Road (1806-7)
The St. Matthew’s Schools were formerly here up to 1952, opposite Nelson Cottages.
NELSON STREET, City Road (1801-2)
After 1936, MORA STREET.
NELSON TERRACE. City Road (1801-2)
Named after Horatio, Viscount Nelson (1758-1805), the victor of Trafalgar (1805).
NEPTUNE HOUSE, (Mayville Estate), King Henry Street (1962)
NETHERLAND PLACE, Kings Cross. Caledonian Road (1846)
A small group of houses off Caledonia Street. Not in street directories.
NETHERLEIGH CLOSE, Hornsey Lane (1971)
NEVILLE TERRACE, Hornsey Road (c.1856-9)
After 1874 nos.47-171 Hornsey Road. No.171, now 147 was from c.1853to 1874 called ‘Tyrolese Cottage’.
NEWCASTLE STREET (c.1800)
Since 1893 SCOTSWOOD STREET.
NEWCASTLE PLACE
After 1939 incorporated in CLERKENWELL CLOSE.
Named after the former suburban residence of the Duke of Newcastle, this home was there until c.1793, when
houses were erected. The Duke’s soldiers were nicknamed, ‘Newcastle’s Lambs’. William Cavendish, the 1st Duke of
Newcastle (15921676) was a supporter of Charles I.
Here, Comoys, the briar pipe manufacturers, started business in 1879, moving to Rosebery Avenue in 1913 and in
1937 to Pentonville Road.
NEW CHARLES STREET, City Road, EC1 (1897)
Formerly James Street.
NEW COLLEGE MEWS, College Cross (1976) See COLLEGE CROSS.
Contains a replica of a former Victorian Turkish bath which was on the site.
NEW COTTAGES, Maiden Lane (1845)
In the rate books 1845 to 1855.
NEW COURT
Part of Great Arthur Street before 1896.
NEWHALL STREET, Frog Lane (1845)
Disappeared by 1968.
NEW NORFOLK STREET, Lower Road 1825)
By 1878 nos. 2-20 Ecclesbourne Road and St. Matthews Schools, (before 1854 St. Paul’s Infant Schools), also New
Norfolk Terrace (1825).
NEW NORTH ROAD
See also KING STREET, Lower Road and Russell Place.
Built by local Act of Parliament 52 Geo III cap. 154 (1812) from 1812-13 as a new route northwards between Old
Street and Highbury. This commenced its route ‘at the end of Hopping Lane’ over the Regent’s Canal to Hoxton
(Haberdasher’s Walk).
From Elizabethan times there had been a way over the Prebendal manor fields called GREAT COLEMANS with a
bridge. This area had to be kept in repair by its tenants. This area also in the early and up to the middle of the 19th
century had a lot of stone archery marks or rovers.
Nos. 138-176 (even) were built for Richard Field, printer and commission agent, 1846-7, by Messrs. Robson 81 Estall
and William Bear.
Nos. 138-180 were WILTON TERRACE 1847.
By 45 Wilton Square, inside the ruins of a former Welsh Chapel was in 1961, with Austin Williams as Warden,
founded the St. Martin of Tours Rehabilitation Centre, a Catholic run hostel for ‘down and outs’ and wanderers.
The ‘Kenilworth public house at 286 New North Road (before 1865 King Street, Lower Road) was there in 1851; in
1958 a new building was opened on the site of the former.
The ‘North Pole’ public house, like no. 180, dates from 1863.
Before 1865, various parts, e.g.: Wilton Terrace, Russell Place, Shepperton Place East.
Nos. 1-32 Russell Place after 1865 became nos. 223-285 New North Road, nos. 204-226 were nos. 1-7 Shepperton
Place East (18281865), nos 217,219 and 221 are c. 1870.
See also SHEPPERTON COTTAGES, SHEPPERTON PLACE.
BENTHAM COURT commenced in June 1946 (q.v.).
NEW NORTH ROAD COTTAGES (King Street Terrace)
In rate books 1824-1835.
NEW ORLEANS WALK, Sunnyside Road (1973)
ARKANSAS HOUSE 1974.BAYON HOUSE 1972, FAYETVILLE HOUSE 1972, IBERIA HOUSE 1973,
LAFITTE HOUSE 1974, LAMBERT HOUSE 1974, MONROE HOUSE 1973, ORPHEUS HOUSE 1972, PAKENHAM HOUSE
1972, SHELBOURNE HOUSE 1974. SHREVEPORT HOUSE 1972.
NEW RIVER COURT, Petherton Road (1956)
NEW RIVER WALK (1954) Plans of C.N. Cowney, Borough Engineer & Surveyor. Landscape architect: F.W. Vanstone
of Vanstone of Much Hadham.
Opened 29 May 1954 by the Rt. Hon. Herbert Morrison, CH,MP.
The idea of the Walk was to have a ‘green finger’ pointing through the Borough and to some extent following the
course of the New River.
NEW ROAD, Battle Bridge.
Formed by local Act of Parliament 29 George II 1756.
Vigorously supported by the Duke of Grafton. The ‘New road from Paddington to Islington intersecting the hamlet of
Battle Bridge’ (King’s Cross).
Marylebone-Euston-Pentonville and City roads.
NEW STREET (c. 1740)
After 1936 CASLON STREET.
NEW TERRACE, Colebrooke Row.
Built 1791. By James Taylor, architect (c. 1765-1846), later nos. 50-68 DUNCAN TERRACE.
NEW WHARF ROAD, Kings Cross
See WHARF ROAD, NEW.
NEWBERY HOUSE, Northampton Street (Newberry Estate) (1978)
John Newbery (1713-1767),children’s author, lived in rooms in Canonbury Tower.
NEWBURY LODGE, Hamilton Park West (1963)
NEWCOMBE HOUSE, Aberdeen Park (1953)
The Newcombe Estate was opened 17 July 1952 by Lady Cynthia Colville. The Misses Bertha and Mabel Newcombe
left Hackney& Highbury Housing Association a legacy.
NEWINGTON COURT, Collins Road (1970)
NEWINGTON CRESCENT, Balls Pond
There as early as 1796.
On Dent’s large scale terrier map of 1806. In rate books to 1855 and in 1854 and 1855
Islington directories. Now part of Newington Green Road.
NEWINGTON GREEN
In 1445 some prosperous Londoners lived in this hamlet. In 1664 it had 27 taxable households. It was first railed in in
1742, until 1745 being almost entirely covered with elm trees.
See also KING HENRY’S WALK (for Bishop’s Place), BALLS POND ROAD, MILDMAY PARK, MILDMAY GROVE.
Rate books for 1729 show 18 houses and for 1746, by 1782 also nos. 49 and 69.
Nos. 9 and 10 Newington Green, demolished by 1962 were up to 1948 the Mildmay Memorial Nurses’ Home and
before then, from 1883 when it opened, the Mildmay Cottage Hospital. The Nursing branches were a few doors
away in Mildmay Road, the Nurses’ Home and Deaconess House.
Nos. 9 and 10 Newington Green formerly had stone eagles at their entrance. On the site Henry VIII was alleged to
have had a hunting lodge. In 1611 a house there is mentioned in a Survey as the property of Alderman William
Haliday (see Mildmay Park). HATHERSAGE COURT is on the site.
The ‘Eagle House’ was before the 1885 period Mildmay House boarding school at the beginning of the century.
‘Hathersage’ has been on the site since 1970.
Nos. 52-55 Newington Green, although having modern shop fronts, date from the mid-17th century and are of
architectural importance, dating from c. 1658.
THE GREEN about 1660-70 became a place where Nonconformist clergy settled because of the Act of Uniformity
(1662) Famous Academies included Charles Morton’s 1667-1696, at which were educated John Dunton.the
bookseller, Samuel Wesley, Daniel Defoe and his fellow school fellow Timothy Crust (1656-97) Presbyterian minister
and author, Theopilus Gale (16651705) and also Jonathan Grew (1626-1711).
The UNITARIAN CHAPEL was built originally in 1708. The Rev. Richard Price (1723-91) was a former Minister. He
supported the French Revolution and the American War of Independence. See also REES STREET re. the Chapel. Price
was also a philosopher, mathematician and political writer. He lived in the Green from 1758 (probably at no. 54) and
is buried in Bunhill Fields. He was Minister of the Chapel 1758-1770.
Dr. Andrew Pritchard (1790-1870) a leading authority on the microscope was a prominent member of the Chapel as
also was Samuel Rogers (1763-1865) the banker-poet, who lived in a large house, later called ‘Gloucester House’ at
the corner of what is now Ferntower and Newington Green Roads. This was replaced 1882/3 by nos. 56-61
Newington Green. He entertained many literary personages there and there was much ‘table talk’. His poems
included ‘Italy’ and ‘The Pleasures of Memory’; His poem, ‘A Wish’ is still well remembered. Samuel Rogers Bank was
built in the 18th century and was to the west of nos. 52-55 Newington Green.
Sir Thomas Halton who died in 1726 lived in a large house on the Green later occupied by Samuel Harris, an East
India merchant, later by his son-in-law Daniel Radford.
Ann Laetitia Barbauld (1743-1825), the daughter of John Aikin, DD, was a once well-known writer and poetess. Her
husband the Rev. Rochemont Barbauld, was the Minister at the Chapel 1802-1808, when he died by drowning in the
New River. In 1839 Thomas Cromwell, FSA, (1792-1870) became the Minister until 1864. He wrote Walks through
Islington (1835) A history and description of the parish of Clerkenwell (1828) (of which he was Clerk to the Parish)
and in 1825 a history of Colchester.
Mary Wollstonecraft (1759-1797) from 1784-6 ran a girls’ school at Newington Green with her sister Eliza. She had
stayed before then in Upper Street, with her friend, Fanny Blood. Mary was a champion of women’s rights and her
husband was William Godwin the Elder (1756-1836), philosopher, political economist and novelist. Their daughter
was Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (1797-1851), the second wife of Percy Bysshe Shelley the poet. She wrote
Frankenstein, published in 1818 and edited Shelley’s works, 183940.
James Burgh (1714-1775) from 1748 kept an Academy at the south east corner of the Green. He retired in 1771 and
went to live at Colebrooke Row where he died. See also BURGH STREET.
William Hone (1780-1842), author and bookseller, whose Every Day Book (1826-7) and Table Book (1827-8) are still
remembered, lived in the house formerly occupied by Dr. Richard Price at Newington Green.
Vicesimus Knox, MA, DD (1752-1821) remembered once for his ‘Elegant Extracts’ (1789) and other writings was born
8 Dec. 1752 at the Green, as also was George Gaskin (1751 -1829), see also G ASK IN STREET.
Alexander Gilchrist (1828-1861) was born at Newington Green. He commenced a life of William Blake, completed by
his wife Anne. He was a friend of the Rossetti’s and lived next door to Thomas Carlyle in Chelsea.
Joseph Towers, LLD (1737-1799) was a co-adjutor and fore-noon preacher at Newington Green to Richard Price. He
was a biographer, editor of lengthy biographical works and a dissenting minister at Highgate and elsewhere.
John Tutchin (16617-1707) Whig pamphleteer and poet, took part in Monmouth’s Rebellion (1685). He was an ally
with, but one who also frequently quarrelled with, Daniel Defoe. When aged 25 he married Elizabeth Hicks, aged 22
of Newington Green at St. John’s, Coleman Street. She was the daughter of John Hicks or Hickes, a Presbyterian
minister and after her husband’s death kept a girls’ school at Newington Green and in 1710 ‘at the Nag’s Head,
Highgate, with good accommodation for lodgers’.
The ALLIANCE CLUB was before Feb., 1964 the CHINA INLAND MISSION, chiefly remembered for the work of James
Hudson Taylor (1832-1905). He moved to no. 6 Pyrland Road to live in 1872. He and his wife were pioneer
missionaries to China. See also PYRLAND ROAD. The Mission was founded at Brighton in 1865; its London Council
was founded at Pyrland Road in 1872 by J.H. Taylor; his wife’s maiden name was Maria Dyer.
The GREEN was taken over by the Vestry from the Metropolitan Board of Works Dec. 18th, 1874. From 1888-1889
the whole was re-numbered, e.g.: nos. 36-50 became by 1889 41-61.
HATHERSAGE COURT 1970 (on the site of 2-11 Newington Green).
NEWINGTON GREEN SCHOOL is the third to be built on the site. The first was built in the 19th century; this was
demolished and another built before 1939. This was destroyed by a V2 rocket and the present building is the third.
See also MATTHIAS ROAD.
NEWINGTON GREEN MANSIONS, Green Lanes. 1910. Re-habilitated 1979-81.
NEWINGTON GREEN ROAD
See also NEWINGTON CRESCENT.
Before 1865 and from 1851 NEWINGTON ROAD.
P. 249 of the Vestry Minute Book 19 May 1865 reads: ‘the line of road between St. Paul’s Church, Balls Pond and
Newington Green (commonly called Newington Road) be re-named Newington Green Road and the houses
numbered alternately.’ Re-numbering also took place after 1869.
NEWINGTON GREEN Station opened in 1858 on the east side of Newington Green Road.
The ‘Weaver’s Arms’ was there as early as 1827.
The ‘Alma Tavern’ was at 5 Newington Road in 1866.
BESANT COURT 1954, JOHN KENNEDY COURT 1965.
NEWINGTON VILLAS (1846)
In the rate books until 1855. Near Edwards Place and Compton Street.
NEWLAND COURT (St. Luke’s Estate). Old Street (1969)
NICHOLAY COTTAGES
In 1884 entered under Duncombe Road. By 1885 nos. 81-83 Duncombe Road.
NICHOLAY ROAD (c. 1884)
In the 1884 Directory. Included Sambrook Cottages, Nicholay Terrace, Grove Place, Myrtle Cottages, St. Stephen’s
Terrace and Marion Villas.
John Augustus Nicholay was furrier to HM Queen Victoria and to the royal family at 82 Oxford Street until his death
20 Nov. 1873, aged 75.
He is buried (Grave H3) in the churchyard of St. Mary Magdalene. In 1864 he was one of the patrons of the North
London Working Classes’ Industrial Exhibition at the Agricultural Hall and represented the Society of Arts there.
He was a member of the St. Marylebone Met. Board of Works from 1856 to 1873. He did some stuffed tigers for the
Kensington Museum (now the British Museum Natural History).
NICHOLLS FIELD WALK, Hillmarton Road (1982)
On St. Mary’s Church Development.
Named after John Nicholl who succeeded the Laycocks and in 1848 was a cowkeeper and occupier of the fields on
the site of Hillmarton Road and area.
NIGHTINGALE COTTAGES, Hornsey Road (1845)
South of the ‘Nightingale Inn’. In the rate books until 1855.
NIGHTINGALE ROAD, Seven Sisters Road (c. 1866)
In the 1866 directory only nos. 1 & 2shown. Soon changed to FONTHILL ROAD.
NOEL ROAD (1841)
Before 1938 NOEL STREET and HANOVER STREET (q.v.).
In 1860 nos. 1 -28 were owned by James Rhodes, builder of no. 6, Baron Street, Pentonville.
Named after Noel Thornhill. A Captain Noel Thornhill, nephew of Arthur John Thornhill, died in 1955, aged 73.
The road was re-numbered after 1938, examples being as follows: 55-61 were 2-8 Hanover Street (c. 1847/8) before
1938,65-85 were 10-32 Hanover Street (1848-9) 89-105 were 36-52 Hanover Street (1848-9), 56-74 were 1-19
Hanover Street, 19 was 44 Noel Street.
HANOVER PRIMARY SCHOOL opened in 1877 as Hanover Street Board School. There was a new building in 1936,
after subsidence caused by the Canal. Junior Mixed and Infants c. 1966. Since 1983 it has had a Children’s Theatre
Group.
George Gissing (1857-1903),novelist, from 1879-80 lived at no. 5 Hanover Street now 60 Noel Road. A great
sympathiser with the poor, he depicted the sombre side of the social life of Victorian London.
From 1925-6 Walter Richard Sickert had rooms at 56 Noel Street (now 54 Noel Road), overlooking the Regent’s
Canal, hence the etching and painting ‘The Hanging Gardens of Islington’ and ‘Fading Memories of Walter Scott’.
Lionel Hale (1909-1977), novelist, dramatist, journalist and broadcaster lived at 44 Canonbury Square and then in
later years at 76 Noel Road. His widow, Mrs. Crystal Hale, the eldest daughter of A.P. Herbert (Sir A.P. Herbert)
founded in 1970 the Islington Boat Club.
Carrie’s War (1973) author and rail safety campaigner Nina Bawden, who wrote more than 40 children’s and adults’
books, lived for 36 years (1976-2012) at 22 Noel Road. She was regarded as one of the few modern novelists to write
successfully for adults and children, and often based her stories on her personal experiences. The author was
honoured with an Islington People’s Plaque at the address in 2015.
John ‘Joe’ Kingsley Orton (1933-67), playwright, shared flat 4 at 25 Noel Road with Kenneth Halliwell (1926-67) from
1960-1967; in 1962 the two were prosecuted for wilfully damaging books from Islington public libraries, each serving
four months of a six month sentence for malicious damage and theft. Over 1600 plates were taken and used for
‘montages’ and to decorate parts of the flat. On the morning of 9 August 1967 Halliwell beat Orton to death and
then overdosed himself. Orton’s ‘black comedy’ and their tragic deaths are now well known. A commemorative
plaque to Joe Orton was affixed to his former residence by Islington Council.
The ‘Island Queen’ public house was there as early as 1848. From 1857 to 1889 it was licensed for music and
dancing.
NOLL HOUSE, Corker Walk, Andover Estate, 1979.
NORCOMBE HOUSE, (Wedmore Estate).
Wedmore Street (1904) Modernised 1970.
Norcombe Hill, between Dorchester and Bridport, Dorset features in Thomas Hardy’s Far from the Madding Crowd.
NORFOLK COURT, Norfolk Street, (1844)
NORFOLK GARDENS, Norfolk Street (1847)
NORFOLK PLACE, Essex Road (c. 1810)
By 1870 nos. 174-196 Essex Road.
The ‘Three Brewers’ public house was there as early as 1832.
NORFOLK PLACE, Matthias Road (1845)
NORFOLK ROAD (c. 1861/2)
After 1938 MITCHISON ROAD.
NORFOLK SQUARE (1844)
Near Concord Buildings, New Norfolk Street, In rate books 1844-1855, not in local directories.
NORFOLK STREET (1825)
After 1938 MELVILLE STREET.
Alexander Aubert was visited by ‘Mr. Secretary Dundas’, afterwards Lord Melville, the contemporary of William Pitt.
NORMAN HOUSE, Aberdeen Park (1959)
See ABERDEEN PARK.
NORMAN STREET, EC1 (c. 1779-80) Built on land leased to William Norman, bricklayer, in 1759 by the Ironmonger’s
Company. After 1869 part became HELMET ROW.
Contains the ‘Layton Arms’ public house. Was there in 1855 and the £350,000 Finsbury Leisure Centre, a recreational
and sports centre for people of all ages, officially opened on 16 December 1975 by the Rt. Hon. Denis Howell, MP,
then Secretary of State for Sport and Recreation.
BURNHILL HOUSE 1974.
NORMANS’ BUILDINGS, Mitchell Street.
Were there in 1766, Closing Order, 1922, Demolished 1973/4.
NORTH AVENUE, N1 (1845)
NORTH COTTAGES, Compton Place
In the 1852 rate books.
NORTH GROVE, Mildmay Park (1862-73)
After 1874 MILDMAY PARK.
NORTH PLACE
Near the Back Road, now the Liverpool Road. In 1810-11 rate books.
NORTH PLACE, Balls Pond Road (1838)
By 1866 nos. 233-261 Balls Pond Road.
NORTH ROAD, Caledonian Road (c.1879-80)
In the 1882 directory are listed: Parfitt & Denham, pianoforte mfrs; Star Brush Co; The Lamb Tavern; Drovers’
Benevolent Society; Green & Savage, American organ works; The Lion Tavern; and other commercial occupants.
The former DROVERS’ HALL (part of the original Metropolitan Cattle Market, Caledonian Market, 1855). This known
as the Drovers’ Hall and Asylum was designed by Lamder and Bedells, 1873. Since the 1970’s it has been the Drovers’
Day Centre for the Elderly.
The former ST. LUKE’S MISSION HALL was demolished in 1972 to make way for the opening in 1976 (Oct.) of the ST.
FRANCIS CHURCH CENTRE. At the opening service were the Bishop of Stepney, the Archdeacon of Hackney and the
Rural Dean of Islington.
North Road contains part of the York Way Estate, Market Estate, besides the Hanover Trading Estate, Omnibus
Workshops and United House and Freedex House.
CLOCKTOWER PLACE 1967, HAWBERRY HOUSE (sheltered housing) 1975, KERRY HOUSE 1968, SOUTH DOWN HOUSE
1968, TAMWORTH HOUSE 1967/8.
NORTH STREET, Strouds Vale (1839-40) See NORTHDOWN STREET.
NORTH VIEW, Tufnell Park Road (1938)
NORTH VILLA, Windsor Road
First so described in the 1898 directory.
NORTH WALL QUARTERS, 111-113 Roman Way
There in 1945, but first so described in the 1964 register of electors.
NORTHAMPTON BUILDINGS, Rosoman Street (1890-2)
Opened 5 Sept 1890. Artizans’ dwellings. Two-storeyed terraced houses with stucco dressings. There until 1979.
NORTHAMPTON BUILDINGS, Rosoman Street (1780)
Holden’s Directory was sold and issued from no. 8 in 1805.
NORTHAMPTON GROVE (1862)
In the 1870 directory. Two-storeyed Italian-ate styled villas.
NORTHAMPTON HALL, Bunhill Row (1964)
NORTHAMPTON PARK
Only five houses in Christmas, 1840. By 1849 seventeen houses. Re-numbered alternately in 1865. Also some parts
built from 1853 to 1863. The present no. 16 was before 1865 no. 14 and no. 6 was no. 19.
The Rev. Philip Reynolds, former pastor of the Providence Baptist Chapel, Highbury Place from 1880-1900 had a
daughter who wrote a book called Loaves and Fishes. This was published in 1900 and proved highly contentious. As a
result, the Pastor, her father resigned and 40 congregation members left with him. Bessie Reynolds married Herbert
James Pullen, builder and contractor, of Grosvenor Road.
PARK COTTAGE c.1874, PULBRO LODGE c.1870, STANTON LODGE c.1870.
NORTHAMPTON PLACE, Canonbury (1828)
By 1866 nos. 31-57 Canonbury Road.
NORTHAMPTON PLACE, EC1
Name Abolished 1866, see ST. JOHN STREET.
NORTHAMPTON PLACE, Upper Holloway (1850)
By 1866 nos. 647-663 Holloway Road.
NORTHAMPTON ROAD, EC1
Here, on the corner, was the Red Lion Tavern, in 1730 the New Red Lion Cockpit. Re-numbered 1869; before, Lower
Wood Street.
Since 1983 housed the GLC Record Office and History Library, taken over in 1986 by the Corporation of the City of
London.
NORTHAMPTON ROW, Holloway Road (c.1815)
By 1866 nos. 209-255 Holloway Road.
NORTHAMPTON SQUARE, EC1
Laid out 1802-3.
Presented to the Vestry by the Marquess of Northampton,8 July, 1886.
At no. 35 were the premises of the British Horological Institute, founded in 1853 in St. John’s Square, but moved to
no. 35 by before 1880. By special permission of the Astronomer Royal a time-current was conveyed to the premises
and signals received twice daily from Greenwich Observatory. In 1978 the Institute moved to Upton Hall, Newark.
The Square contains the entrance to the CITY UNIVERSITY, formerly the Northampton College of Advanced
Technology from 1896 until the City University, 1966. The University is on the site of the ancient Manor of
Clerkenwell resided in by various members of the Northampton family until the 17th century. One Earl resided there
in 1677. It became a private asylum, then a girls’ school, then c. 1866 the Manor House School (a boys’ school). In
1898 the Northampton Polytechnic Institute (architect: E.W. Mountford who designed the Old Bailey and Battersea
Polytechnic) was opened on a site presented by the Marquess of Northampton: Extensive rebuilding has occurred
since the Second World War. See also SEBASTIAN STREET. The Lord Mayor of London is Chancellor of the University
and the City backs the Library and the School of Business Studies. Gresham College works in close liaison with the
City University, together working for a University open to all and bringing together science and human values.
James Clarke Hook, RA (1819-1907) was born at 27 Northampton Square 21 November 1819 and educated at the
North London Grammar School. He was a painter of English coastal scenery praised by John Ruskin and painted
genre, poetical and historical subjects and also portraits and was a marine painter.
George Baxter (1804-1867), inventor of oil colour picture printing (‘Baxter prints’) lived in 1830 at 29 King Square and
in 1835 in Charterhouse Square. He carried on his business at 11 &12 Northampton Square from 1843 to 1860 and in
1866 at 20 R Richmond Terrace. 1870,44 Richmond Road. A plaque reads GEORGE BAXTER, artist and craftsman,
born 1804, died 1867, lived here 1844-60. House and others demolished 1967, for extensions to City University.
NORTHAMPTON STREET, N1 (1825)
From 1895, W. Danemann & Company, the well-known piano manufacturers had premises, originally numbered no.
2.
NORTHAMPTON STREET, Pentonville.
In the 18th century WOOD’S CLOSE (q.v.).
Northampton Street from the early 19th century until 1939, when re-named AGDON STREET.
NORTHAMPTON TERRACE, Lower Road (1824)
By 1866 nos. 207-229 Essex Road.
NORTHAMPTON TERRACE, Compton Road (1850)
After 1868 nos. 39-59 Compton Road.
NORTHBURGH STREET
Before 1937 LITTLE SUTTON STREET, originally Little Swan Alley in 1666. Re-numbered 1905.
NORTHBURY HOUSE, Florence Street (1962)
NORTHCHURCH ROAD
Boundary road, Hackney and Islington.
Before 1937 Church Road and Church Road West. Before 1864 Alma Terrace, Pembroke Terrace.
e.g.. 173 Northchurch Road was before 1937 106 Church Road West. DE BEAUVOIR COURT 1938.
NORTHDOWN STREET
Before 1906 NORTH STREET, Pentonville 1839-40.
Also c.1845 to 1893 Upper North Street. Included Melville Place in an 185 2directory and up to 1889. It included in
1854 and 1860 ‘Star & Garter Yard’ in Upper North Street.
In 1845 three properties, in 1849 five and more by 1852. By 1860 it also included Commercial Place.
POLLARD HOUSES 1968.
NORTHOLME ROAD (1889)
The road is laid out on the Holm Estate. The Vestry Minutes for January 1890 describe an application from the LCC
for ‘permission to form new streets on the North Holm and South Holm Estates, Highbury and to widen Highbury
Park and Newington turning.’ The road is described first as North Holm, then North Holme Road.
North Holme is near Helmsley, North Riding of Yorkshire.
ST. JOAN OFARC SCHOOL (RC primary, ILEA) opened at 66-70 Highbury Park as a War emergency school. The new
school building opened on 2 Sept 1963 with an annexe in Aberdeen Park. In 1965 the school was blessed and visited
by Cardinal John Heenan, Archbishop of Westminster. The old building was demolished for a playground.
The Rev. Joseph Parker, DD (1830-1902), see HIGHBURY NEW PARK.
He lived in 1866 at a house in Highbury Park he called ‘North Holme’. The sites of Northolme Road, Sotheby Road
and Ardilaun Road were on part of the grounds of his house.
For A.E. Hickman-Smith, FRSA, see HIGHBURY QUADRANT.
NORTHUMBERLAND HOUSE, Highbury Crescent (c.1899)
NORTHWEST PLACE (Chapel Market) Before 1936 WEST PLACE.
NORTON LODGE, Harecourt Road (1967)
NORWAY STREET, EC1 (c.1811) See TIMBER STREET.
NOTTINGHAM PLACE, Holloway Road (1834)
By 1866 nos.240-248 Holloway Road.
NOWELL’S BUILDINGS (1790)
By 1870 nos.2-28 Liverpool Road.
NYTON CLOSE (Fairbridge/Elthorne Estate) (1981)
Nyton is in West Sussex.
O
OAKDALE COURT, Fortnam Road (1963)
OAKLEY CRESCENT, City Road (c.1888)
Before the Second World War contained the vicarage of the bombed church of St. Matthew’s, City Road (1848-
1952). The site, after 1952, was ear-marked for housing.
ST. PETER’S HOUSE (so described in 1954) was before, St. Matthew’s Vicarage. LANGDON COURT 1961.
OAKLEY ROAD, Southgate Road (c.1865-6) Contains the Margaret Cole Residential Home for the Elderly.
This was named after Dame Margaret Isabel Cole, DBE, author and lecturer (1892-1980), who, in 1918 married
G.D.H. Cole (died 1959). She was an LCC Alderman from 1952-63 and prominent in ILEA and its Committees. A
novelist as well as a Fabian Socialist.
SWAN HOUSE 1966.
OCKENDON ROAD (1860-3)
In the 1871 Census as ‘Manor of Hackney’. North and South Ockendon are near Romford, Essex.
Eileen Broster, the concert pianist, daughter of Horace A.C. and Selina Isabel Broster was born in 1935 at 71
Ockendon Road. She was educated at Canonbury Road School and Highbury Hill High School and lived at 11 Grange
Grove until 1958.
ODDY’S ROW, Islington Green (1732) By 1860 nos.68-74 Upper Street.
Named after the family of Philip Oddy, buried in the parish churchyard of St. Mary Islington, died 14 January, 1738,
aged 87.
OFFORD PLACE, Offord Road (1853)
In the 1853-1855 rate books.
OFFORD ROAD
Before 1863 Offord Terrace (c.1850), Albany Road (1826), Barnsbury Park (1819-25), Belitha Terrace (1844).
See also YORK PLACE, Barnsbury. Name altered to OFFORD ROAD throughout and re-numbered February 1863.
Named after Offord & Buckden, Offord Cluny and Offord D’Arcy, Huntingdonshire. Squire George Thornhill (c.1793-
1852) was MP for Huntingdon County from 1837 to 1852 and one of his sons was the Rector of Offord D’Arcy.
Nos. 107-133 were before 1865 nos.1-9 and Albany House, no.109 was no.8 Albany Road, nos.81 -105 were nos.1 -2
Albany Cottages, Aldhous Terrace and nos.1 -11 Aldhous Terrace, Barnsbury Park.
No.120 was before 1863 no.11 Belitha Terrace.
The ‘Prince Alfred’ was there in 1860 and the ‘Royal Oak’ c.1864/5.
The former OFFORD ROAD CONGRE.G.ATIONAL CHAPEL (Architects: Sanders & Bedells) was opened in April 1857
and closed in 1918. c.1920 it merged with Arundel Square Chapel. By 1981 the building had become used as a
warehouse.
It was once well-known in the days of the Rev. Edwin Paxton Hood (1820-1885) who was at Offord Road from 1857,
preacher and author and John Pulsford. It continued as a Chapel until c.1934.
H. Hawksworth of the Pocket Book & Leather Case Makers’ Union lived at no.45 Offord Road from 1885-1910.
AVON HOUSE 1900 re-habilitated 1979, COLNE HOUSE 1895 re-habilitated 1979, BUCKLAND HOUSE 1901 rehabilitated
1979, BURES HOUSE 1895 re-habilitated 1979.
LORD BRITTEN (E. Benjamin Britten) (1913-76) lived 1966-70 at no.99 as did Sir Peter Pears.
OFFORD STREET (c.1869-70)
OFFORD TERRACE, Caledonian Road (1850)
By 1863 nos. 388-398 Caledonian Road and a coal merchant’s railway station.
OLD FIRE STATION, Mayton Street See MAYTON STREET.
OLD STREET
From Goswell Road to City Road on the north side and to Singer street on the south side is in Islington. Rest is in
Hackney.
Part of the south side called Pump Row, the name abolished 1870-1.
Formerly included c.1793 Cumming Place before 1859, Old Street Road and George Buildings before 1871.
As its name implies, of antiquity. Called Ealde Street from Old English ‘ealde’. Thought to have been part of ‘Icknield
Street’, a Roman road connecting the eastern counties (inhabited by the Iceni) with London. The street led in the
16th century eastwards to Finsbury Fields. ‘The old highway from Aldersgate for the north east part of England
before Bishopsgate was built’.
c.1560 the western end of Old Street was called Rotten Row; at the east end, at the south corner, were the Dog
Houses. In a field on the north side was the Pest House.
ST. LUKE’S HOSPITAL FOR LUNATICS was originally situated in the Foundry and was founded as a Hospital in 1750.
However, a new building designed by George Dance the Younger was looked upon as a model of its kind and opened
in 1787 after five years of building.
Samuel Foart Simmons (1750-1813), MDFRS was a physician there from 1781 to 1811 and attended George III when
insane in 1803 and 1811. He edited the ‘London Medical Journal’ and was also at one time at FISHER HOUSE see
ESSEX ROAD.
St. Luke’s Hospital was sold to the Bank of England and became their Printing Works in April 1917, was altered 1917-
20 and was demolished in 1963. On its site is a sixteen storey office block, ST. LUKE’S ESTATE, with shops and Council
dwellings.
Parallel with St. Luke’s Churchyard is an open space called locally TOFFEE PARK since the 1930’s.
ST. LUKE’S PAROCHIAL SCHOOL (The Telfer School) was established in Golden Lane but moved to Old Street in 1870.
The two statues of a boy and girl of the time of William and Mary came from the Greycoat Schools, Golden Lane. The
building was for sale in 1976 and the statues were transferred to the 1978 St. Luke’s Primary School, Radnor Street.
ST. LUKE’S with St. Mary Charterhouse and St. Paul Clerkenwell: St. Luke’s Church was begun in 1727 and finished in
1733 and is by Nicholas Hawksmoor and John James, architects. The steeple is in the form of an obelisk and the
weather-vane a dragon. Its apocryphal resemblance to a louse gave it years ago the local nickname of ‘Lousy St.
Luke’s’.
The organist from 1844-1864 was Henry Smart (1813) who during the last fifteen years of his life was almost blind;
he was well- known for his organ music and was also, besides being a composer himself, the nephew of Sir George
Smart, composer.
The organist from 1874-1885 was Charles William Pearce, Mus.Doc, MA, FRCO a writer and authority on organs.
In December 1959 the Church closed and the furniture was removed to St. Giles Cripplegate. All that now remains is
the spire and walls. The tombstones have been removed.
In the churchyard was buried William Caslon the Elder (1692-1766), type founder who opened his first workshop in
Helmet Row, moved to Ironmonger Row and with his son in 1778 in Chiswell Street; Thomas Allen (1803-1833)
topographer, antiquary and historian; George Dance the Elder (in 1768). Mark Catesby (c.1679-1749) FRS, naturalist,
writer, traveller and botanist died at this house in Old Street. William Caslon was commemorated with a plaque
(now missing) at 21-23 Chiswell Street.
THE VICARAGE in Helmet Row dates from 1774.
The granite obelisk at the junction of City Road and East Street (just off Old Street) was erected in 1876 by the
former Metropolitan Board of Works.
More & Co’s Brewery was bought by Messrs. Watney’s in 1888.
Nos.262-264 Old Street, the ‘Lord Nelson Public House’, formerly in Pump Row, was there in 1833.
At 49 Old Street was the juvenile theatrical print warehouse of W.G. Webb (1820-1890) for 31 years until 1880 a rival
to Pollocks of 73 Hoxton Street.
The TOWN HALL of the former Metropolitan Borough of Shoreditch in Old Street is by C.A. Long, extended by W.G.
Hunt in 1902. It is west of St. Leonard’s Church, Shoreditch.
Bovril Ltd were from 1897 until 1968 at nos.148-166 Old Street. The building was demolished in the 1970’s.
OLD STREET MAGISTRATES’ COURT was formerly Worship Street Police Court. Closed as such 20 May 1906 and
opened on 18th as Old Street Magistrates’ Court. The Court and Police Station Buildings have been attributed to
John Dixon Butler FRIBA, Police Surveyor and Architect, 1885-1920.
The freehold interests of the Court were purchased between December 1900 and June 1903 and comprised the sites
of houses in Old Street and in Hoxton Street and property owned by the Weavers & Porters Almshouses, then
described as a timber yard and almshouses.
The Court was enlivened by the wit of such former magistrates as Neil McElligot.
OLD ST. POLICE COURT 1903. The Police Station was occupied on the 8th January 1906.
OLD STREET STATION (Northern Line) 14th February 1904. Closed 1975, re-opened 16th June 1976.
The Finsbury Library, 245 St. John Street holds the Old Street Turnpike Trust Minutes 1753-1778 and 1799-1826.
George Psalmanazar (1679-1763), a literary imposter who pretended to be a native of Formosa and a ‘Japanese
Christian’ was also a fine herbalist. He was much admired by Dr. Samuel Johnson with whom he used to dine in a
tavern in Old Street.
ANCHOR HOUSE 1963, BARTHOLOMEW COURT 1975, COPE HOUSE 1976, GODFREY HOUSE 1969, NEWLAND COURT
1969, PATERSON COURT 1969, PRIESTLEY HOUSE, Anchor Yard 1964, ROYLEY HOUSE 1931, VICKERY COURT, Mitchell
Street 1975, WEN LAKE HOUSE, Central Street 1964, YOUNG’S BUILDINGS 1785.
OLD PARADISE ROW, Islington Green Believed to have been built by a Major Ryan recorded as having in 1693 taken
the waters at Bath and benefiting from this.
The houses were then called Major Ryan’s Walk. On a map of 1793 and certainly there in 1819.
Alleged to have been where Alexander Cruden, DD (1699-1770) resided before he moved to Camden Passage, where
he died.
OLD WELLINGTON STREET
See WELLINGTON STREET, Holloway.
OLDERSHAW ROAD
From c.1862 until 1937 WARNER STREET (q.v.).
Named after Robert Oldershaw, Vestry Clerk who died in 1838 and his son who held office from 1838 to 1851.
OLDFIELDS COTTAGES (1822-1831) By 1831 Albion Cottages, after 1866 nos.330- 336 LIVERPOOL ROAD.
Named after Thomas Oldfield who lived in one.
OLDHAM PLACE, Coppice Row (1823-4)
Name abandoned 1863 for Farringdon Road.
OLIVE COURT, Liverpool Road (1965)
Alderman Percy Olive, JP was in 1934 elected an Islington councillor for St. Mary’s Ward and represented it until
1952. He was an Alderman 1938-1949, Mayor 1941 -1943 and retired in 1953. He died in Devonshire in 1961. For
many years he was the Chairman of the Libraries’ Committee.
OLIVE HOUSE, Canonbury Park South (1954)
Police flats.
OLIVER’S YARD, City Road
First so named in rate books, 1842. Before then rates were paid by G. and J. Oliver. Name approved by LCC 1897.
OLORON PLACE, Back Road (1845)
Printed in later directories as Oloram!
By 1878 nos.85-97 Boleyn Road. Oloron-St. Marie, south of Pau, France, is now an industrial town, but was once of
medieval aspect.
OME.G.A COTTAGES, Hornsey Road East (c.1834)
By 1886 nos.466-468 Hornsey Road.
OME.G.A PLACE, Caledonian Road (1984)
Formerly ALPHA PLACE, before 1938 then re-named Omega Place.
ONGAR HOUSE (Dovercourt Estate), Baxter Road (1966) Ongar is in Essex.
ORCHARD GROVE (1823-5 to 1870)
From 1870-1914 Orchard Street, by 1914 WAKEHAM STREET.
ORKNEY HOUSE (Bemerton Estate),
Bemerton Street (1970)
ORLEANS ROAD, N19
First in the 1882 directory.
ORLESTON MEWS (1939) Re-name of Union Mews.
ORLESTON ROAD
From 1839 to 1891 UNION ROAD.
Ham Street and Orlestone are near Ashford, Kent.
ORMOND ROAD
In the 1866 directory are Ormond House, Mayfield House and nos.1 and 2.
ORONSAY WALK (Marquess Estate) (19746)
Oronsay is in Argyllshire.
ORPHEUS HOUSE (New Orleans Estate),
New Orleans Walk (1972)
ORPINGLEY ROAD (1878) Demolished 1972.
ORWELL COURT, Petherton Road (1956)
Named after George Orwell (Eric Blair) (1903-50), see CANONBURY SQUARE.
OSBORNS PLACE, Frog Lane (1845)
In the rate books to 1845, not in local directories.
OTLEY HOUSE (Otley Estate). Gillespie Road (1971)
OUTRAM PLACE (Delhi/Outram Estate),
Outram Street (1981-2)
OUTRAM STREET
Nos-1-8 in the 1861 Census.
Named after General Sir James Outram (1803-1863) who, with Havelock, relieved Lucknow.
OWEN HOUSE, Brecknock Road (1939)
OWEN’S COURT, Goswell Road (1808)
OWEN’S PLACE, Goswell Road (now Owen’s Row) (1808)
OWEN’S ROW, EC1 (1775)
OWEN STREET (1828)
The Row and Street occupy the site of the Hermitage Field.
Dame Alice Owen who died in 1613 founded the school and almshouses (removed 1840 from St. John Street Road)
in Clerkenwell in gratitude for her life being saved when as a young woman Alice Wilkes she was nearly killed by
archers when one of their arrows accidentally passed through the crown of her hat, when they were practising
archery in the fields. The Schools are on the site of the fields. She married Sir Thomas Owen and after his death
founded the School and Almshouses. A new school was built in 1840 and new almshouses opened in 1841 (Architect:
George Tattersall (1817-1849). In 1878 the school divided into one for boys and one for girls.
In 1886 the Girls’ School was built and the almshouses demolished to make room for the boys’ playground.
In 1962 the first phase of Dame Alice Owen’s School for Girls took place.
However, in 1976 OWENS SCHOOL moved to Potters Bar. The buildings have since 1981, been a College of
accountancy.
OXFORD ROAD (1852)
After 1938 ELIZABETH AVENUE. Re-numbered 1874-8.
OXFORD STREET, New North Road (1844) After 1874 entered as Oxford Road, New North Road. After 1938
ELIZABETH AVENUE, see also WILLIAM STREET. New North Road (1828) for nos.3-15 and 2.20.
OXFORD TERRACE, Holloway Road (1845) By 1886 nos.525-531 Holloway Road.
OXFORD TERRACE, St. Peters Street (1854)
OXNEY VILLAS Upper Holloway See SWEET HOME ROAD.
P
PACK HORSE LANE
See also Wellington Road.
A map of 1854 shows the present Lough Road as Pack Horse Lane. Originally used as a bridle way, then for the
conveyance of wares by packmen.
PACKENHAM HOUSE, New Orleans Walk (1972)
See PAKENHAM HOUSE.
PACKINGTON ESTATE
Between Basire Street and Arlington Square.
The Packington Estate consisted of Packington Street, Bevan Street, Linton Street, St Paul’s Place and Street, Prebend
Street, Rector Street, the southern part of Union Square, Arlington Street (now part of Arlington Avenue), Ann Street
(after 1911 Bevan Street), Dame Street and Arlington Square.
John Hebb acted as contractor for several builders and the work was completed by 1861.
Harry Moncrieff, architect, was commissioned to design blocks of flats for the Islington Council’s £2,000,000
Packington Estate re-development scheme.
The Estate was purchased in 1963 from private developers to whom it had been sold in 1960 by the City Parochial
Foundation.
The Cumming Estate and the Cumming Memorial Hall (corner of Prebend Street (q.v.) (1966) were in memory of the
late William James (‘Nutty’) Cumming (1871-1945) for 48 years an Officer in the 58th London Corp of the Boys
Brigade, 45 of them as Captain, 1902-45 and as a Lieutenant in 1897. They used to meet at the Union Chapel and
formerly at Britannia Row Congregational Church.
PADDINGTON STREET, Seven Sisters Road (c.1856-7)
This up to 1938, then until 1968 BIGGERSTAFF STREET.
PAGET STREET
Before 1936 BREWER STREET 1829-30.
Sir James Paget (1814-1899) Surgeon in 1841 to the Friend Street Clinic (q.v.) Surgeon-extraordinary to Queen
Victoria from 1858 and a surgeon and pathologist.
Robert Paget was Vestry Clerk to the Parish of Clerkenwell from 1856 until 1892. He met his death on 28th June
1892 at Farringdon Street railway station, falling between moving carriages and the platform. His son took over the
office of Clerk until 1898 when he died. Robert Paget’s son was Sidney Edward Paget (1860-1908), illustrator of some
of the Sherlock Holmes stories, artist to the Illustrated London News, The Graphic, The Sphere, etc.., born at 60
Pentonville Road. A brother Walter Stanley Paget was also an artist and illustrator.
PAKENHAM HOUSE (New Orleans Estate), New Orleans Walk (1972).
PAKEMAN STREET
In the 1873 Vestry Minutes and in the 1877 Islington directory. Not on the 1871 Census.
The Pakeman family, once well-known local tailors, lived in Islington. Application for sanction of formation was made
on behalf of Messrs. Pakeman and a Mrs. Enkel.
William and Robert Pakeman were tailors, the first from about 1852 to 1860 at 2 Esther Place and Robert c. 1866-70
at 4 Railway Place and from 1871 to 1904 at 266 later 270 Holloway Road.
PAKEMAN PRIMARY SCHOOL (ILEA) was before 1951 called the Pakeman Street School, formerly a Board School, first
appearing in the 1888 Islington directory. It was built in 1875 by Mr. Enkel Pakeman. Re-organised in 1889 for Junior
Mixed and Infants and in 1971.
PALMER COURT,
Palmer Street In rate books 1846-1854.
PALMER GARDENS, Palmer Street, Holloway (1945)
PALMER HOUSE, Warrender Road, N19 (1961)
PALMER MEWS, Palmer Street (1934)
PALMER PLACE, Holloway, N7 (1821)
The ISLINGTON CENTRAL METHODIST CHURCH was opened 29 June 1963 by Mr. Lancelot Sidney Smith late
Chairman of J. Smith & Sons (Clerkenwell) Ltd., metal merchants, who died aged 86 in 1965. He was for 30 years a
voluntary worker at the former Albany Mission, Albany Place (q.v.) The modern church to seat 170 replaces former
Methodist chapels at Liverpool Road and Drayton Park as well as the Albany Mission.
Since 1976/7 it has housed the Islington Bus Company started in 1972 in Manor Gardens. So called because it ran a
brightly painted double decker bus as one of its many aspects of social service to the community.
WIDNES HOUSE (Mersey Estate) 1962. Widnes is South West Lanes, on the River Mersey.
MORGAN MANSIONS, Morgan Road 1901/2. Re-habilitated 1976/8.
PALMER STREET, Holloway Road (1843)
In rate books and on a map of 1877. After then RINGCROFT STREET.
PALMER TERRACE (c.1815)
Built on a field near Ring Cross, land belonging to the Governors of Christ’s Hospital. It was named after a Mr.
Palmer, a former Treasurer to the Hospital.
By 1866 145 to 185 etc.. Holloway Road.
PALMERSTON FLATS, City Garden Row.
Formerly Palmerston Buildings.
Improved Industrial Dwellings Co. Chairman: Alderman Waterlow, architect: Mr. Banks. Opened 23 July 1866.
Disappeared after 1962.
PALMERSTON ROAD (c. 1869/70)
After 1912 PLAYFORD ROAD. Named after Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston, (1784-1865), Prime
Minister, February 1855 to February 1858 and from 1859 to November 1865.
PALYN HOUSE (Pleydell Estate) Radnor Street EC1 (1960)
PAMLION COURT, Crouch Hill (1967)
PANGBOURNE HOUSE (Camden Estate), Rowstock Gardens (1964)
PANMURE CLOSE
Northern most section of Leigh Road and the barrier north of the narrow portion of Leigh Road.
Re-named Panmure Close with effect from 3 January 1983.
Part of Hamilton Park was originally Panmure Terrace before 1875. JACK WALKER COURT 1976, ROSEDALE COURT
1977.
PANMURE TERRACE, Hamilton Place
In the 1860 directory. After 1875 part of Hamilton Road, now Hamilton Park.
PAPWORTH GARDENS, (Ring Cross Estate) (1958)
PARADE, Edward Street
In the rate books 1825-1836.
PARADE, The,
Stroud Green Road 1913-1915 as Jackson’s Buildings. By 1919 included a Floral Hall.
PARADISE COURT,
Lower Street In ratebooks 1817 and 1818.
PARADISE COURT, 3 Essex Road In electoral registers as early as 1890.
PARADISE COURT, St. Peter Street (1842)
In rate books up to 1854 only.
PARADISE HOUSE, Dorset Place
In ratebooks 1829to 1854.
PARADISE PASSAGE (c.1887)
Not on a large scale 1869 map or on the 1881 Census.
PARADISE PLACE, off Frog Lane (c.1807)
PARADISE PLACE (c.1792)
After 1890 DIBDEN STREET. After 1938 CLERE PLACE, Tabernacle Street.
PARADISE ROAD (1859)
Formerly called Love Walk, Highbury New Park Estate, fronting Green Lanes after 1938 COLLINS ROAD.
PARADISE ROW (also Old Paradise Row)
On a map of 1793. There in 1770 when Alexander Cruden died, see Old Paradise Row.
By 1876 part of ISLINGTON GREEN. Charles Whittingham [1767-1840), founder of the Chiswick Press, Tooks Court,
c.1798/9 became the tenant of a private residence at 9 Paradise Row. He printed ‘Gray’s Poems’ in 1799. He paid for
the education at the Rev. Dr. John Evans Academy, Islington, of his nephew, Chas. Whittingham the Younger (1795-
1876).
PARADISE ROW, Liverpool Road
On 1835 and 1841 maps; in rate books until 1852.
Nos. 491-541 Liverpool Road, then Crown Mansions, from 1908-1977 on site.
Submitted by contributors (2017): Paradise Row (Back Road, later Liverpool Road) was built by Pocock and Harrison
from 1766 onwards; a ‘terrace of 31 houses’ far away from other houses at the north of the Back Road was
developed prior to that of Barnsbury.
Submitted by contributors (2017): The first resident (and his family) for four years of 23 Paradise Row on the former
Back Road (now Liverpool Road) was Peter Paillou, an eminent Huguenot bird-artist who illustrated and handcoloured
the noteworthy The British Zoology written by Thomas Pennant – the first published book to attempt to
show, through description and illustration in colour, all known British species. It was published in 1766 for the
benefit of Welsh orphans in Clerkenwell but, unfortunately, was so costly to produce that no profit benefit was ever
seen!
Submitted by contributors AB & GB (2017): BACKGROUND TO HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF PARADISE ROW
(NOW KNOWN AS 489-549 LIVERPOOL ROAD)
“The Liverpool Road . . . . was formerly called the Back Road; and, about 1794, contained only Paradise or Paradise
Row, Park Place, and a few straggling houses”.
“History of Islington” John Lewis 1842.
“In 1766-7 Joseph Pocock and Daniel Harrison started to build Paradise Row, a terrace of 31 houses, near the north
end of the Back Road, far from other building at Pentonville and built long before Barnsbury was begun; it remained
isolated c.1800”
Source:- GLC Historic Building Division: “A History of the County of Middlesex – Volume 8 – Islington & Stoke
Newington Parishes” Pub. 1985.
Paradise Row was originally a terrace of 31 houses, constructed between the mid-1760’s and the mid-1780’s. The
current condition of the original unified, but non-uniform terrace, still reveals the disparate hands and fashions that
produced it. There are now only 16 of the original buildings, some only in façade, that have survived into the 21st
Century, and 250 years since their first construction.
DETAILS OF DESTRUCTION:
489 The Adam & Eve P.H. was rebuilt circa 1880;
491/493 Commercial redevelopment 1930;
495/497/499/501 Despite their listing, demolished under CPO and GLC slum clearance programme 1973;
505/507 Industrial redevelopment 1920;
525/527 Rebuilt circa 1890;
543/545/547/549 Became Crown Mansions in nineteenth century; subsequently demolished as unfit habitations in
1973;
In 1972 in a report to the Planning and Development Committee, the Borough Planning Officer commented on
523/541 Liverpool Road:
“This terrace is of a lesser architectural quality” April 11th
.
The terrace was under threat of Compulsory Purchase Order, demolition and redevelopment for a period of over
eight years.
Definition of “a terrace” –
“One of a row of houses joined by party walls” – Oxford English D’ictionary.
A TERRACE DOES NOT REQUIRE ITS CONSTITUENT BUILDINGS TO:
a) Conform to a repeated pattern;
b) Be part of a coherent overall concept;
c) Follow the same architectural definitions.
Andrew Byrne in “London’s Georgian Houses” (1986) explains this is a common error of judgement.
“The terrace is a traditional urban form which can be seen when London was a cramped city built of
timbered houses”.
The London Terrace divides into two basic categories: uniform and non-uniform:
UNIFORM TERRACES are found in Georgian times to be either:
a) ASTYLAR . . . c.f. Manchester Terrace, Wellington Terrace and Cloudesley Terrace (all found along
Liverpool Road); or
b) PALACE – FRONTED . . . c.f. Gibson Square.
NON-UNIFORM TERRACES are not so common, but as well as the example that was Paradise Row (489-549 Liverpool
Road), a later, less distinctive but more complete example may be seen in Islington in Tysoe Street. One of the best
Inner London examples is found in Spitalfields, in Fournier Street.
To quote Byrne:
“The non-uniform terrace was not the ideal Georgian town planning effect that the uniform terrace became.
It generally arose through the ground landlord granting small plots of varying size to different builders, with the
result that a loose mix of terrace houses was built”.
It produced a “rich mix” of interpretations in an individual vein, especially noticeable through particular features
such as:
a) House widths;
b) Contrasting door-cases and external decoration;
c) C0 no apparent policy of window or parapet alignment between the various houses.
The background to these building enterprises virtually guaranteed that every house was unique in its execution.
Where non-uniform terraces are concerned, there have been many separate individuals from the eighteenth century
building trade who rented a plot of land speculatively on an 80 or 90 year lease. They then used their network of
trade contacts to create a house, usually paying through their own contribution of services to each other’s
constructions.
“The builders work jointly, one doing his share of business in the other’s house, according to their several subordinate
professions.”
“A Complete Body of Architecture” Isaac Ware 1756.
These builders were not involved in large scale projects although, with financial success for some, such as Thomas
Cubitt, they could move onto greater ventures.
“The typical small speculative builder in the later eighteenth century was content to run up pairs, small groups or just
one-off houses.”
“London: The Art of Georgian Building” – Dan Cruickshank 1972.
This individuality reflected the fact that such tentative co-operatives could not be sure of finding a buyer and wished
to catch the eye of a potential purchaser without involving too much additional cost. It was very much the exterior
that was put up for sale, with the idea that the equipping of the interior could occur when the new owner’s taste and
purse were known.
“The majority of house-hunters, however, bought their houses, half-built, in the speculative marked. The masterbuilder
would create the carcase of a house – simply a brick shell with floors and roof – and offer it for sale.”
“Georgian London” Sir John Summerson rev. edition 1975.
This all goes to explain why Paradise Row has never been a contiguous terrace of houses at any stage of its history
and why, even today, the considerable differences between the separate houses are evident to the casual observer.
From their rear elevations it can be seen that 489, 511, 513, 515, 525 and 527 are all five-storey constructions.
511/513/515 are all original houses and all have employed a mansard roof approach, a style that was common even
two centuries ago as can be confirmed by numerous contemporary models. These rear elevations, as might be
expected (the Georgians were never particularly concerned about what the eye should not see, even when they
were creating one of their uniform terraces), display absolute variegation in their patterns. Not only do they boast a
variety of rear additions, they also lack any regularity of window placements, parapet wall heights, coping course
angles, drainage and plumbing pipe arrangements, as well as extrusive chimney stacks.
The front elevations, so often the representation of conformity in the Georgian period, are similarly distinguished by
individualism. To emphasise this point I include a commentary on the facades of all the sixteen surviving houses that
were part of the original Row.
503 arched window heads on upper ground floor/first floor cast iron balcony/enriched door case.
509 arched doorway/gauged red brick window heads/one ground floor window.
511 the same/but parapet wall height not continuous and two ground floor windows.
513 enriched door-case/different parapet height and window proportions.
515 totally individual front elevation/Venetian windows on ground and first floors/parapet wall 4’ higher than
neighbours.
517 three bay lay-out/windowed as for double bay/gauged red brick first floor arches/flattened 2nd floor window
heads.
519 wooden facsimile rustication on ground floor/pedimented door-case.
521 enriched arched doorcase/bright red brick used in window arches on ground and first floors/three bays wide
and with windows in each.
523 unusually high door-case/parapet wall raised again/Venetian window upper ground floor/London stock bricks
throughout.
529/531 gauged red brick all window heads/new parapet wall level/identical door-cases and brackets/jumble
brickwork bondings.
533 yelllow stock window arches/rounded head to lower ground floor window/separate window alignment and
dimensions/regular Flemish bond yellow stock brickwork/acanthus console brackets at door-case.
535 lower parapet level/gauged red brick window heads/smaller windows in pairs on all floors/English bond
brickwork.
537 pedimented ornamental door-case/single window lower ground floor level/different pinker stock bricks
used/neatly fine bonding.
539 different heights of windows and parapet/very long first floor windows/twin windows on upper ground floor.
541 short first floor windows/one window on upper ground/stucco effect on ground floor level.
(N.B. Between 533/535/537/539/541 there can be seen five separate colours of brick used in the first floor window
heads. No two houses employ the same colour).
These houses were never part of a cohesive ‘design and build’ scheme, which is reflected in their construction
timespan:
In 1772 ten of the thirty-one eventual dwellings were constructed for occupation.
In 1774 twenty houses were at this stage.
In 1776 twenty-six had reached this stage.
By 1779 three of the thirty-one had still not been constructed.
INFORMATION AVAILABLE FROM “Poors Rates Books : St.Mary’s, Islington” original documents kept at Islington Local
History Centre (Finsbury Library).
PARADISE STREET (1791)
After 1938 CLERE STREET.
PARADISE TERRACE, Liverpool Road (1938)
By 1870 nos. 473-535 Liverpool Road.
PARCELL’S COURT. High Street (1838)
Was near Rufford’s Buildings. In rate books until 1854.
PARDON STREET
Before 1936 CLARK STREET c.1819.
Named after the Pardon churchyard and chapel bought in 1349 for internments of the Black Death and place for the
pardons of their souls. Said to have had 200 bodies a day! In the 16th century a place for felons and suicides.
PARK CHURCH HOUSE, Grosvenor Avenue
See GROSVENOR AVENUE (1955)
PARK COTTAGE, Northampton Park (c.1872/3)
PARK HOUSE, 55 Highbury Park (1910) PARK LANE,
After 1807 part of Park Street, Liverpool Road. On an 1806 map as Park Lane. See Park STREET.
PARK LANE, Liverpool Road (1821) After 1863 nos. 187-193 Offord Road.
PARK PLACE, Highbury (18401
Including Southall and Towy Villas, Park Terrace and St. John’s Terrace. But on a map of 1828.
From 1889 CONEWOOD STREET, Highbury Vale and 23-61 Highbury Park, etc..
PARK PLACE, Liverpool Road (Back Road) (c.1794)
By 1870 nos. 264-294 Liverpool Road.
PARK PLACE WEST, Back Road (1821)
After 1866 nos. 347-379 Liverpool Road.
Edward Litt Lauran Blanchard (1820-1889) son of William Blanchard, comedian, was a once well-known
miscellaneous writer and journalist, but still remembered, chiefly for his pantomime scripts. He also wrote several
guides to London and Bradshaw’s illustrated railway guides. For 37 years he supplied the Drury Lane pantomimes
and was a former theatrical critic to the Sunday Times, and to the Observer and the Daily Telegraph. In January 1849
he rented rooms at Brunswick Place, Barnsbury, but on 10 July 1849 moved to No. 20 Park Place West. Here he
wrote for the Morning Advertiser and also Recollections of the White Conduit House. He used to frequent this and
also the Highbury Barn. For Robert Seymour see under LIVERPOOL ROAD.
PARK ROAD, Camden Road (1842)
After 1876 PARKHURST ROAD.
PARK ROW (1807/8)
After 1810 PARK STREET (q.v.)
PARK STREET
Since 1937 ISLINGTON PARK STREET.
Originally Kettle Lane, then Stewards Lane, Park Lane c. 1806/7, then Park Street 1808 to 1937.
See ISLINGTON PARK STREET re Mary Hays and other matters.
PARK TERRACE, Highbury (1829/30)
Completed by 1841.
By 1877 nos. 23-61 Highbury Park.
PARK TERRACE, Liverpool Road (1821-22)
By 1870 nos. 289-327 Liverpool Road.
PARK VIEW, Collins Road (1954)
PARK VILLAS, Park Road, Holloway (1841)
Until 1884 as Park Villas, Lambton Road. From 1885 nos. 2-8 and 14 Lambton Road.
PARKER COURT, Basire Street (1955)
PARKFIELD STREET (1844)
PARKHURST ROAD
So-called from 1876, before then, from 1842 PARK ROAD, Florence Terrace, Park Villas and other subsidiary parts.
Re-numbered after 1876. In the 1878, not the 1877 Islington Directory as Parkhurst Road. 1877 Park Road.
On the site of the Athenaeum Service Station was the CAMDEN ROAD ATHENAEUM. See CAMDEN ROAD.
HOLLOWAY PRISON. Modelled on the lines of Warwick Castle; it had the once prominent replica of Caesar’s Tower.
The Prison was erected between 1848 and 1852. It was designed by J. Bunning, architect of the Metropolitan Cattle
Market. Until 1903 it was a Model Prison or ‘House of Correction’ for both men and women for the City and County
of London. It accommodated c. 288 men, 56 women and 56 juveniles. After 1903, women only.
Oscar Wilde was imprisoned here on remand 6 April to the 25 May 1895 where he was visited by ‘Bosie’ (Lord Alfred
Douglas). He entered Pentonville Prison on the 27 May and remained there until 4 July, being transferred to
Wandsworth. He spent one night in Pentonville in May 1897.
W.T. Stead, author of the controversial ‘The Maiden Tribute of Modern Babylon’ (1885) was a prisoner in Holloway.
He had campaigned against prostitution in the Pall Mall Gazette.
On 15 December 1913 dynamite was used in an attempt to draw attention to imprisoned suffragettes. Sylvia and
Emmeline Pankhurst, Lady Constance Lytton, and others were some of the many who were detained there.
The ‘last woman to be hanged’ Ruth Ellis was a prisoner; also Christine Keeler.
During the Second World War the prison was used for 18B detainees. Two of these were Sir Oswald and Lady
Mosley.
Since 1970 new buildings and improvements to the prison have been made.
‘THE HOLLOWAY CASTLE’ Public House at 392 Camden Road is named after the prison.
The HOLLOWAY ARCADE since 1930 has been on the site of the former ‘pretty little Parkhurst Theatre’. The latter
opened on 26 May 1890 built by Messrs. Driver & Perfect and later became the PARKHURST HALL.
Ben Greet and H.J. Wilde were directors when it re-opened in 1898. In that year Fred Russell, Harry Randall and Kate
James were some of the performers there. For a time, c.1909 it was run as a cinema. In the early 1930’s it closed
down. Whist drives used to be held there and free fights broke out over the prizes!
THE MORGAN SCHOOL OF DANCING was founded in 1880 by Albert J. Morgan and they had dancing classes at the
Wellington and Myddleton Halls in Upper Street. Then for many years the School has been at Parkhurst Road and
has taught three generations to dance.
The PRINCE EDWARD was there in 1852. A public house at 6 West Terrace, Park Road. Older local people still know it
as ‘Fishwick’s’ because in 1882 the proprietors were C. Fish wick & Co!
From 1874 to 1971 at the south east corner not far from the former Camden Road Athenaeum was the New
Jerusalem SWEDENBORGIAN CHURCH, which later became ISLINGTON BOYS’ CLUB from 1972 to 1983 celebrated for
its sports and youth activities, particularly boxing and was visited on several occasions by HRH the Duke of
Edinburgh. For earlier history see HAZELLVILLE ROAD.
Nos.65-69 now houses 217 London Fields Squadron of the Royal Engineers (V), 23 Cadet Squadron RE,9F Islington
Squadron ATC and an Army Careers Office. The TA DRILL HALL has been well used since the 1950’s.
BARNESBURY HOUSE 1967-8, BUNNING HOUSE 1970, CRAYFORD HOUSE 1970, FAIRWEATHER HOUSE 1966, HILTON
HOUSE 1964, HOLBROOKE COURT 1974, McMORRAN HOUSE 1968, PARKHURST COURT 1936, WHITBY COURT 1975.
PARMOOR COURT (Stafford Cripps Estate), Gee Street (1953)
PAROLLES ROAD (1887)
Parolles was a follower of Count Bertram in Shakespeare’s All’s Well that Ends Well.
PARTINGTON CLOSE (1978) Partington is in Cheshire, four miles north west of Altrincham.
PARTRIDGE COURT, Malta Street, EC1 (1976)
A home for the retired.
The Partridge family were connected with the parish of St. James, Clerkenwell as monuments and also Pink’s history
of Clerkenwell testify.
PASSING ALLEY, St. John’s Lane On J. Rocque’s map of 1738 as PISSING ALLEY.
Blocked by a German airship bomb 18th of December 1917. See under ST.JOHN’S LANE for origin.
PATERSON COURT, Peerless Street
(St.Luke’s Estate) (1969)
Named after William Paterson (c.1658-1719).
The original proposer and director with Michael Godfrey and others of the Bank of
England.
PATERSON HOUSE, Carleton Road (1984)
PATMORE HOUSE (Mayville Estate), Matthias Road (1949)
Coventry K.D.Patmore (1823-96) was a poet and also became an assistant librarian in 1896 at the British Museum
Library. His ‘novel in verse’ The Angel in the House (1863) was once a household word.
PATON STREET, Central Street
Before 1885 ROSE STREET. There in 1738.
John Stafford Paton, CB (1821-89) was a General in the Indian Army.
Mary Ann Paton (1802-64) singer, pianist and harpist, first appeared on stage at the age of eight. For many years she
was the leading English soprano of her day. In 1820 she appeared at Sadler’s Wells Theatre in Goody Two Shoes. She
married Lord W. Pitt Lennox in 1824 and they divorced in 1831, after what was then a sensational divorce case. Her
second husband was Joseph Wood, a leading tenor.
PATRICK COMAN HOUSE (Finsbury Estate), Skinner Street (1968) Patrick Coman was the elder brother of the late
Alderman A.J. Coman. He was a founder member of Finsbury Labour Party and for many years Leader of the Council.
The late Alderman Arthur James Coman, his brother, died aged 73 in 1975. He was first elected to Finsbury Council in
1945 and was Mayor 1955-6 and Leader until 1963. In March 1965 he was elected a Freeman of the Borough. He was
Mayor of Islington 1966-7 and a member of its Council until 1974. His wife, Elsie, Mayoress, died in 1967.
PAUL STREET,EC2
Before 1896 Victoria Chambers. There in 1833. Nos. 1-45 only, the rest Hackney. Renumbered 1896.
PAULS PLACE
In 1839 rate book. Later St. Paul’s Place. PAULS TERRACE
In 1839 rate book. Later St. Paul’s Terrace.
PAUNTLEY HOUSE, Pauntley Street (1938) On the site of houses in Pauntley Street, demolished in 1935, including
Clarence Cottage.
PAUNTLEY STREET (1912)
The houses, including Clarence Cottage, were demolished in 1935 and the street does not appear in registers of
electors again until October 1938 when Pauntley House occupied the site.
Pauntley, a Gloucestershire village, was the birthplace of the famous ‘Dick’ Whittington (Sir Richard Whittington)
c.1358.
Henfield Close and nos.16-58 Pauntley Street comprise the Miranda Estate dating from 1977.
PAVELEY HOUSE (Priory Green Estate), Collier Street (1951)
Richard de Paveley was Prior of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem in 1318 and in 1321. John de Paveley was Prior of
the Order of England in 1355 and 1371, He was an Admiral of one of the King’s fleets in the 49th year of the reign of
Edward III in 1377.

Payne House, dating from 1937, is part of the Barnsbury Estate.
Payne Street, dating from 1837, was Cave Street between 1938 to 1949 when it disappeared. It did not, for some reason, appear in street directories between 1852 and 1885.
PEABODY TERRACE, Farringdon Road (1964)
On the site of Block 6 of Peabody Buildings, Farringdon Road 1882.
PEABODY BUILDINGS (Peabody House and Peabody Square, Greenman Street) Built March 1866 on the site of
Ward’s Place, ancient buildings demolished in 1800. Peabody Buildings were designed by H.A.Darbishire.
George Peabody (1795-1869) was the second son and third child of Thomas Peabody of Danvers, Massachusetts.
From 1837 until his death he lived in London and from 1843 was a merchant banker. In 1862 he gave £150,000 for
the poor of London and altogether VA million from which dwellings for the ‘working classes’ were erected. I n 1862
the Peabody Trust was formed. PEABODY BUILDINGS were four blocks, comprising 155 tenements with
accommodation for over 650 persons.
Other dwellings were in Dibden Street, Essex Road.
Peabody dwellings are as follows: BAIRD STREET 1882, BANNER STREET 1956-7, CHEQUER STREET 1882, DUFFERIN
STREET 1882, ERROL STREET 1882, FARRINGDON LANE (Peabody Terrace, 1964) – on the site of the 1882 Block 6,
Farringdon Road, ROSCOE STREET 1882 (1957 and 1972 Peabody Court), GUEST STREET 1882, WHITECROSS STREET,
EC1 1883.
PEABODY TOWER (Golden Lane Estate), Golden Lane (1957)
PEARCE HOUSE, Junction Road (1963)
PEARFIELD HOUSE (Highbury Estate),
Highbury New Park (1948)
PEARTREE STREET, Goswell Road About 1727 there was a Pear Tree Court, Farringdon Road.
Renumbered 1888. The area was very slummy in the 1860s.
ST.PAUL’S CHURCH was begun in 1874 but the parish was formed in 1865. Bombed in Second World War.
The Revd Armine Styleman Herring, MA, was the vicar until his death on the 5th June 1896. He formed the
Clerkenwell Emigration Club for the ‘worthy poor’, particularly to Canada. For nearly 40 years he worked amidst the
poor of London.
PECKETT SQUARE. Highbury Grange (Addington Estate) Formerly Addington Mansions, 1922. Modernisation be.g.an
in 1977 and lasted until 1980/1.
Named after a George Peckett who lived at no.10 (now 6 Aberdeen Park) and represented the area on the Vestry
1861-66 and was also on the Committee for the establishment of Finsbury Park.
PEDLARS’ WAY (Shearling Estate) (1980)
These were 80 mobile homes erected on a site between North and Market roads. The name commemorates the Rag
Fair and pedlars’ pitches of the old Caledonian Market. See CALEDONIAN ROAD.
PEERLESS BUILDINGS, Peerless Street (1877)
Improved Industrial Dwellings Company.
PEERLESS STREET (c.1792)
Peerless Row and Pool Terrace abandoned as terms, 1869.
Named after a former spring which overflowed and formed a dangerous pond, called locally ‘perilous pond’ because
a number of youths were drowned in it.
In 1743 one William Kemp cleaned it out and converted it into an outdoor swimming pool, 170 x 100ft. The name
was then changed to PEERLESS POOL. As well as the open air pool, a cold bath was installed in a nearby building and
a fish-pond stocked with carp and tench ‘for the use of those subscribers who admire the amusement of angling’.
About 1811 building in the grounds started, but the actual pool remained open until 1869 and the site was built
over.
The Pool was behind St.Luke’s Hospital between Baldwin Street and City Road. Radsworth Street was in 1870 on the
site of the Peerless Pool bath.
PE.G.ASUS HOUSE (1965-7)
Rename of nos.116-120 Golden Lane, EC1
(commercial premises).
PELDON WALK (Popham Estate), N1 (1973)
Peldon is in Essex, five miles south of Colchester.
PEMBERTON GARDENS
Before 1895 Pemberton Road, Villas and Gardens.
Renamed and renumbered October 1895.
See also WARSAW VILLAS.
In 1874 were nos. 1-3 and 5-10 only, but by 1878 also nos.29, 30, 31 and 32, also shown as part of Pemberton Road.
Pemberton Gardens and Road are on the 1871 Census. The land was owned by the Corporation of the Sons of the
Clergy.
One of the eight freeholders of the Manor of Highbury was Sir James Pemberton, goldsmith, Lord Mayor of London
in 1611. He died aged 68 in 1613 and was a benefactor to Christ’s Hospital and to the livery company of Goldsmiths.
On the erection of the ‘new church at Highgate’ in 1832 one of the monuments taken down was that of Sir Francis
Pemberton, Chief Justice of both benches in the time of Charles 11 who resided in the neighbourhood of Highgate
and this monument was removed to Cambridge.
ST.JOHN’S CHURCH, Pemberton Gardens. Architect: Charles Barry (afterwards Sir Charles), the architect of the House
of Commons. The foundation stone was laid on the 3rd May 1826 and the church consecrated on the 2nd July 1828
by Archbishop Howley, then Bishop of London. It was a new parish created in 1830. The Vestry was added in 1877
and the Church Room was erected in 1874.
The second incumbent was the Rev. Henry Venn, BD (1796-1873) Vicar from 1834 to 1846 and Hon. Secretary to the
Church Missionary Society, 1841 -73. He was also the author of sermons, pamphlets and memoirs and became a
Prebendary of St. Paul’s Cathedral, his tomb being in the crypt.
The parish ceased in 1978 and was merged with that of St. Peter’s, Dartmouth Park Hill.
The St. John’s C.of E. Primary School and 1-2 School Cottages were in 1977 integrated as a Social Services office, 1a
Pemberton Gardens. The St. John’s National Schools were also designed by Barry.
For St. John’s Gymnasium, see under HOLLOWAY ROAD.
The school originated in Hornsey Lane in 1828 for girls and infants. The school designed by Barry, opened in 1831,
was extended in 1858 and 1867. It was reorganised in 1945. A new school was built on the site of nos. 14-30
Pemberton Gardens by 1967 and a nursery unit added in 1977.
Kate Greenaway’s father John Greenaway bought the lease of no.11 Pemberton Gardens and the family lived there
from 1880-85.
In 1874 there were nos.1 -9 and nos.15, 16 and 17 Pemberton Road, St. John’s National School and nos.1-3 and 5-10
Pemberton Gardens. By 1896 there was renumbering and the whole of Pemberton Road and Villas became
PEMBERTON GARDENS.
CHURCH GARTH 1966. ST.JOHN’S PARK MANSIONS 1899-1900, SYCAMORE COURT 1967.
PEMBERTON TERRACE (1870) Built up by 1874-6.
PEMBROKE COTTAGES, Caledonian Road (1847-8)
By 1863 nos.216-268 Caledonian Road.
PEMBROKE STREET
From c.1859 to 1860until 1873 William Street North and Little William Street (1837).
Here before 1861 was the ELIATHAH CHAPEL, originally a ‘Trinity Chapel’ of Particular Baptists (Battle Bridge
Meeting). About 1773 or later they met near the south end of Maiden Lane until 1824 when the premises were
converted into a private house ‘on the erection of a larger edifice in Liverpool Street, New Road.’ From c. 1861 to
1883 it was a Baptist Chapel, in connection with the old Islington Chapel. By 1875 it was known as Pembroke Street
Baptist Chapel. From 1891 to 1903 it was the PEMBROKE HALL and from 1904 to 1948 occupied by ‘The Brethren’.
During 1946-7 compulsory purchase was made by the Council of a number of derelict or semi-derelict properties and
by 1950 the first instalment of a huge housing project be.g.an.
NAISH COURT 1951 to 1954 and 1970.
PEMBROKE TERRACE, Caledonian Road (1848)
After 1860 nos.195-235 Caledonian Road including Twyford Villa, Pembroke Villa (1844).
PENDERYN WAY, Carleton Road (1973)
Penderyn is not far from Brecon in the Aberdare district of Wales.
PENFIELDS HOUSE, York Way (1968)
Reminiscent of the sheep and cattle pens of the pre-War Caledonian Market.
PENN ROAD
Before 1912 PENN ROAD VILLAS c.1862/3. Contains St. Luke’s Vicarage.
At the age of 10 Stanford Robinson, the BBC conductor, lived in Penn Road Villas. Later he attended the Stationers’
Co. School when the family moved to Hornsey. HAMMON HOUSE 1971.
PENNEFATHER HOUSE, Mildmay Park (1977)
See MILDMAY GROVE for the origin.
PENNYBANK CHAMBERS (1879) 3-33 Clerkenwell Road and 33-35 St. John’s Square.
Built as part of a block housing the National Penny Bank, founded in 1875 by Sir G.C.T. Bartley, later MP for North
Islington. The bank went into liquidation 24th of August, 1914. The Chambers were re-habilitated 1977/8 for use as
craft workshops and retail outlets. From this date is the Pennybank Gallery see ST. JOHN’S SQUARE.
PENRHOS HOUSE (Williamson Street Estate),
Williamson Street (1972) There are several places of this name in parts of Wales, Anglesey and Herefordshire.
PENSIONERS COURT, Charter house Square (1957)
PENTON GROVE
On a large scale 1871 Ordnance Survey map. Dobney Court abolished 1912. Contained the School Board buildings of
the London School Board White Lion School.
PENTON HOUSE (O.M. Richards Estate),
Done.g.al Street (1965)
PENTON PLACE c.1776) Before 1780 Lower Mantles.
After 1936 PENTON RISE. Re-numbered 1905. Described as ‘a wide thoroughfare leading from Pentonville Road in an
oblique direction into the Bagnigge Wells road and to that part of it formerly known as the ‘Bagnigge Wash’ over the
grounds of Henry Penton, Esq. It was only 103 yards in length.
Joseph Grimaldi (1779-1837), the great Clown, took a six-roomed house here in the early part of 1794 and in 1797
removed to Penton Street.
Mr. Guppy in Charles Dickens’s novel Bleak House lived at 87 Penton Place.
The former SIR PHILIP MAGNUS SCHOOL (I LEA) named after Sir Philip Magnus 1842-1933, was formerly the Vernon
School Kings Cross Road. Since 1982 it has been an annexe to Highbury Grove School.
In 1901 at no.29 was the Society for the Relief of Poor Pious Clergy run by the Rev. Stewart Dixon, MA.
PENTON RESIDENCES, Risinghill Street (1885)
On large scale OS maps of 1894/6 and of 1952. Not there after then.
PENTON RISE
Before 1936 Penton Place.
PENTON STREET
‘The oldest houses in this thoroughfare were erected about the year 1773.’
First numbered in 1793 and the numbers changed in 1814.
DOBNEY’S TEA GARDENS. As early as 1668 ‘Prospect House’ was at the south east corner of Penton Street. About
1718 it had bowling greens and the proprietor was a Mr. d’Aubigny; when Dobney was the proprietor (the name
d’Aubigny became known locally as Dobney) a Mr. Johnson became famous for his equestrian displays when he
became the proprietor engaging those noted for their horsemanship to perform. In 1770 the Rev. John Davis took
over Prospect House for a boarding house but it soon re-opened as the Jubilee Tea Gardens. Houses were by 1790
built over part of the grounds and the whole enterprise had gone by 1810.
Busby’s Folly with its tea-gardens and bowling-green was in existence as early as 1664 named after one Christopher
Busby or Busbee who kept the ‘White Lyon’.
By the 1760’sit was called ‘Penny’s Folly’, Islington New Road and in 1769 a Mr. Zucker, a ‘high German’ exhibited his
Learned Little Horse.
About 1780 was built on the site the Belvedere Tavern and Tea Gardens. This had in the early 19th century a
bowling-green, gardens and a racket court, It was pulled down in 1876 and rebuilt as the Belvedere Public House, 96-
98 Pentonville Road.
St. Silas’s, Penton Street 1863. Designed by Samuel Sanders Teulon of Craig’s Court, Charing Cross (1812-1873) and
was consecrated by the Bishop of London 16th July 1867. From 1863-7 it was known as Christ Church, Pentonville.
The Vicar for 30 years from 1906 was Fr. Turner Baker whose verses appeared regularly in the parish magazine and
became well-known as a poet in North London. During the Second World War the Vicarage was taken over to house
homeless families.
From 1947 until 1953 the Vicar was Fr. C. Edwyn Young who in 1970 published No Fun Like Work his pastoral
autobiography. In this he recalled how in 1949 he was Chaplain to Collins’s Music Hall with a chapter ‘Comics and
Chorus Girls’.
In 1960 the Church became ‘St. Silas with All Saints’. For Fr. Preedy see under PREEDY HOUSE.
The ‘Salmon & Compasses’ public house existed as far back as 1832 and had music- hall in 1861. No.7 Penton Street
was for many years as early as 1871 used by the 39th, later to become the 21st Middlesex Rifles.
‘Prospect House’ was as early as 1669, at the south east corner of Penton Street so- called, because of its fine views
over London.
At no.15 is the Metropolitan Police Public Carriage Office and Lost Property Office. Taxi-Drivers are also catered for
at no.32 with the ‘Knowledge of London Taxi-Drivers’ School.’
Crocker & Cope were publishers at 28 Penton Street c.1868.
Joseph Grimaldi (1779-1837), clown, lived at no.37 Penton Street for some time after his marriage to Maria Hughes,
eldest daughter of the manager of Sadler’s Wells Theatre on 11th May 1799 at St. George’s, Hanover Square.
Penton Street was then a ‘kind of northern (North London) Belgravia, the Regent’s Park of the City Road.’
The ELIZABETH GAR RETT ANDERSON SCHOOL (Penton site) was formed in 1984 by the amalgamation of the
Barnsbury and Starcross schools.
HARVEST LODGE 1963,HAYWARD HOUSE 1984.
A commemorative plaque was unveiled in February 2010 to the African National Congress , which had its
headquarters at 28 Penton Street between 1978 and 1994.
PENTONVILLE COTTAGES (June 1854)
Later MARKET STREET and after 1938 1-11 Wheelwright Street.
PENTONVILLE PRISON (1840-2) Designed by Major J. Jebb, HM Surveyor General of Prisons as a ‘Model Prison’. The
first stone was laid 10th April 1840 by the Marquis of Normanby, then Secretary of State for the Home Department.
The prison was first occupied 21st December 1842.
The portcullis entrance gateway was designed by Charles, later Sir Charles, Barry. The Prison was originally on the
‘separate system’ so that no prisoner should communicate with another.
The graveyard of the prison is a small triangular plot in a corner of the precincts which has housed the bodies of all
those executed there since 1868. They include Haigh, Christie, Bywaters, Kennedy, Crippen, Marwood, Seddon (all
three of whom lived in Islington), William Joyce (the ‘Lord Haw- Haw’ of War time German radio propaganda to
Britain) and Roger Casement.
The Council’s Libraries have since 1946-7 deposited books as part of the Prison Library service (as they also do at
Holloway) and since 1946 HM Commissioner of Prisons reports have made favourable comment on this scheme.
THE DRIVE, first so designated 1959.
PENTONVILLE ROAD
Formerly NEW ROAD and Pentonville Hill with subsidiary names until 1857. Part renumbered, 1886. Part Borough of
Camden.
The area on either side of the road was developed by HENRY PENTON from c.1773.
The road was formed by local Act of Parliament 29 Geo. 11 1756, from the ‘Yorkshire Stingo’ (Paddington to
Islington). After some objection, particularly from the Duke of Bedford, it commenced by being known as the ‘New
Road from Islington to Battle Bridge.’ A clause in the Act forbade the erection of buildings within 50 ft. from the
road, so long gardens were made in front of all houses on either side. Later on this clause was to be broken!
The road extended from the Angel Inn to King’s Cross. In 1857 the Metropolitan Board of Works abolished the
separate place-names for parts of the road re-naming it Pentonville Road, Euston Road and Marylebone Road.
On July 4th, 1829 George Shillibeer commenced London’s first horse omnibus service from the ‘Yorkshire Stingo’ to
the Bank.
PENTONVILLE is derived from the estate of Henry Penton to whom there is a monument in the Church of St. James
and St John with St. Peter, Clerkenwell Green and to which church the Penton family were great benefactors from its
inception.
ST. JAMES, Pentonville Road was designed by Aaron Hurst (1762-1799) and was built in 1787. He himself was buried
in the Church which was intended as a Nonconformist Chapel. He also designed Winchester Place,1788, designs for
which were on show at the Royal Academy (later to be 58-92 Pentonville Road, between Penton and Baron streets.
In 1789 the Chapel was purchased by the Trustees of St. James, Clerkenwell for use as a Chapel of Ease and Bishop
Beilby Porteous consecrated it in June 1791.1 n 1854 it became the Parish Church of the newly constituted parish of
St. James, Pentonville. On July 6th 1897 Capt. F.T. Penton opened the churchyard as a public garden.
Alterations were made to the Church in 1933.
Richard Parkes Bonington (1801-1828), landscape painter, was buried there and his body afterwards removed to Kensal Green.
Joseph Grimaldi (1779-1837), one of our greatest clowns, had his gravestone by that of Charles Dibdin the Younger
(1768-1833), proprietor and acting-manager of Sadler’s Wells Theatre for which he wrote songs and marvellous
spectacles. Lord Bernard Miles in 1985 urged the Council’s Recreation Committee to make a permanent memorial to
the great clown. The PARK in Pentonville Road named after him opened in 1985 as JOSEPH GRIMALDI PARK.
When ST. JAMES’S CHURCH was demolished the gravestone of Grimaldi was removed for safe keeping.
Francis Linley (1774-1800), blind from birth, was a composer and organist at St. James from early in 1790. He
married a blind lady of considerable fortune and purchased a music-selling business in Holborn. This failed and his
wife deserted him so he went to America but in 1799 returned to England and settled in Doncaster. He wrote songs,
keyboard pieces, an organ tutor and flute duets.
Thomas Uwins (1782-1857), book illustrator and miniature portrait painter was born at Hermes Hill in Pentonville.
John Masey Wright (1777-1866), book illustrator and water-colourist was also born in Pentonville.
The premises of the Medici Society, fine art publishers, was from 1860 to 1938 G. Betjemann & Sons, dressing-case
makers, ornamental mounters. The family firm, founded in 1820, made expensive objects in its Islington workshops.
The late Poet Laureate’s grandfather John lived from 1874 to 1878 at 329 Holloway Road and from 1882 to 1897 at
13 Compton Terrace.
George Vincent Betjemann c.1902 was at 36 Pentonville Road and 13 Northampton Park and in the 1874 directory
we find Gilbert Betjemann at 16 Charlotte Street. George William Betjemann, 36 and 38 Pentonville Road was a
Vestryman 1871-2 and 1888-90. John Betjemann was at no.36 in 1869-70 and 1887-8.
The late Sir John recalled his childhood days visiting Islington in his autobiographical poem, ‘Summoned by Bells’
(1960).
The CLAREMONT HALL was formerly used up to 1963 as premises by the Central Congregational Mission. Before
1902 it was the Claremont Chapel opened 1st October 1819 to accommodate 1500 and was erected for the use of
‘Independent or Congregational dissenters’ by Thomas Wilson of Highbury. After 1902 it was also used as an
Assembly Hall and for business premises.
See also WHITE LION STREET.
The WELSH TABERNACLE was opened in 1847. All services are conducted in Welsh. Since March 1973 the Institute of
Race Relations has had its library at nos.247-249 Pentonville Road.
In Winchester Place (nos.58-92 Pentonville Road) lived at no.16 (later re-numbered no.64) Thomas Cooke (The
Islington Miser) for about fifteen years up to 1806. He was buried 30th August 1811 aged 85 and the local gossips
and housewives pelted his grave with rotten cabbage-stalks as he was nick-named ‘Cabbage Cooke’ because of his
mean disposition and his love of eating cabbages. The various escapades of his parsimony make very amusing
reading. He left a huge fortune and the reputation of seldom doing a good turn to anyone.
See also WHITE LION STREET.
At 260 is the headquarters of SOGAT (Society of Graphical and Allied Trades) and at 195 the BRITISH STANDARDS
INSTITUTION.
The LONDON FEMALE PENITENTIARY was founded in 1807 in Blackfriars Road.
From 1807 to 1884 it was at Cumming House, later 166 Pentonville Road. At 191 High Street, Stoke Newington, from
1884 until c.1915.
A famous painting of Pentonville Road, now in the Museum of London, is by John O’Connor, RI,RHA (1830-1889)
‘Pentonville at Sunset’ (1881) showing the distant spires and towers of St. Pancras station and a horse- bus
proceeding along the road.
Isaac Robert Cruikshank (1798-1856), artist and brother of George Cruikshank, died 13 March 1856 at 206
Pentonville Road.
George Jacob Holyoake (1817-1906) author, journalist and lecturer and founder of Secularism. He wrote the History
of Co-operation in England (1875) and 60 Years of an Agitator’s Life (1892). He lived at one time on the premises of
Alfred Marsh, brush- maker, 62 Pentonville Road and his daughter married a Marsh, the grandfather of the pre- 1939
owner of the business.
Sidney Edward Paget (1860-1908), painter and illustrator, was born 4 October 1860 at no.60 Pentonville Road.
Walter Paget, painter, and he shared a studio in the 1880’s at 19 Lloyd Square. His oil on canvas ‘Lancelot and Elaine’
was exhibited at the 1891 Royal Academy. His father was Robert Paget. See also under PAGET STREET.
James Pascal I, whose ‘Statement of Charitable bequests’ was published at Clerkenwell in 1851 lived at 135
Pentonville Road. For nearly forty years he ‘laboured for the interests of the parish of Clerkenwell’ and took part in
its parish government from 1827. He died at his house on 10th January 1864 aged 78. Besides his services to the
Vestry he was trustee and treasurer to the Guardian Board.
For the ‘Belvedere’, 96-98 Pentonville Road see under PENTON STREET John William Cherry (1824-1889) selfeducated
pianist and composer lived at no.204 Pentonville Road.
See also ANGEL CENTRE.
PERCIVAL STREET, EC1
Originally Perceval Street. Partly re-numbered 1913.
Erected 1802-3 as part of the Estate of the Marquess of Northampton. Named after the Rt.Hon. Spencer Perceval
(1762-1812), Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1807 and Prime Minister in 1809. He was shot dead in 1812 in the
lobby of the House of Commons by John Bellingham, a man with a grievance. There is a monument to Spencer
Perceval in Westminster Abbey by Sir Richard Westmacott, which strikingly re-enacts the assassination in marble.
The ‘Shakespeare’s Head’ has been there for many years and in 1742 the public were entertained with refreshments
and all kinds of music with the harpsichord placed so that all should benefit from hearing it.
EARNSHAW HOUSE 1949, GRIMTHORPE HOUSE 1952, HAROLD LASKI HOUSE 1952,TOMPION HOUSE 1948.
PERCY CIRCUS (1842)
For origin of name see under GREAT PERCY STREET.
On 30 January 1819 a brutal prize fight took place in the fields later to become Percy Circus.
HOLFORD GARDEN, originally a public bowling green opened 12th July 1934 by Cllr. George Tripp, JP, Mayor of
Finsbury.
F. Barnard, artist, lived at 18 Percy Circus in 1869.
V.I.U. LENIN (1870-1924), founder of the USSR, lived at 16 Percy Circus for a short time in 1905. He stayed there
during the Third Congress of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party. The house is demolished but the plaque is
incorporated as part of the Royal Scot Hotel, 100 Kings Cross Road (q.v.).
PERCY SQUARE (c.1851)
After 1906 part of VERNON SQUARE.
PERE.G.RINE HOUSE (City Road Estate),
Hall Street, EC1 (1971)
PERKINS PLACE
In the 1822 rate book, near Pleasant Row, Kingsland Common.
PERTH HOUSE (Bemerton Estate), Bemerton Street (1963)
PEST HOUSE ROW
House Row was there in 1725. Here from 1716 to 1866was the French Hospital (La Providence) arising out of a
bequest of £1000 from M. de Gatigny, Master of the Buck Hounds to William III for those of Huguenot descent. It
later moved to Victoria Park in 1866, then Rochester, then Horsham.
Pest House Row was later James Place, then by 1896 BATH STREET.
PETERS LANE, St. John street
Was in Tudor times St. Peter’s Lane. Had an inn called ‘St. Peter’s Key’.
PETHERTON HOUSE, Petherton Road (1930)
PETHERTON ROAD (1930)
NEW RIVER COURT 1956, ORWELLCOURT 1956, PETHERTON HOUSE 1930.
PETHERTON ROAD
In 1855 Henry Rydon sold two pieces of land bordering the channel of the New River to the New River Company who
put up iron railings.
The New River was formerly open here and used by anglers.
Petherton Road was laid out 1869 to 1871 with a carriage way on either side. Rydon’s two pieces of land were
covered over as part of a final route for Prince Edward (later Edward VII) as a carriage road to the White House,
Clissold Park. Partly in HACKNEY.
Building be.g.an 1870. Nos.2 to 10 were completed by 1872. The 1874 Islington directory shows nos.2-8, Argyle
House, nos.12-24 and nos.1,9,11,25,31 to 35,39 and 41. The eastern side was completed by 1880.
In the Annual Report of the Vestry for 1881 it is noted, ‘among those new streets PETHERTON ROAD may be pointed
out as one of the noblest in this or any part of the Metropolis.’
Henry Rydon came from Somerset and N. and S. Petherton are in Somerset!
At no.80 the HIGHBURY MICROSCOPICAL & SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY met from 1888 to 1893. Its President was Richard
Moreland, MICE.FGS of no.4 Highbury Quadrant. Its Minute Books are in the Central Library.
The road was bombed in September and October 1940, January 1941 and February 1944. In July 1944 a flying bomb
hit that part between the junctions with Leconfield and Poets Road. 11 houses were destroyed and the blast did
much damage.
PHELPS’COTTAGE (1838)
Opposite the end of Duncan Street to 355/357 Upper Street, see below.
PHELPS YARD, Islington High Street c.1811
Charles Phelps lived there.
PHILIP PLACE, Wakley Street
Before 1936 Sidney Place 1807.
PHILLIPS HOUSE, Brecknock Road (1939)
PHOEBE PLACE, Holloway Road (1830)
By 1871 nos.254 and 256 Holloway Road.
PHOENIX COTTAGES (1850)
After 1891 nos.2-26 Lambert Street (q.v.).
PHOENIX PLACE, Mount Pleasant (1831)
In the 1860’s saw-mills were here. Half in Camden.
PICKARD STREET, EC1 (City Road) On the 1851 Census,
Site of an Orphan Working School founded by the Rev. Pickard which in 1847 moved to Maitland Park, Hampstead.
PICKAXE STREET
See GOSWELL STREET.
PICKBURN PLACE
Formerly Douglas Place, Northampton Road (1855/6).
The name was changed in 1936 to commemorate Pickburn’s Printing Works, proprietors of Clerkenwell’s first
newspaper and of W.J. Pinks history of Clerkenwell. The Place was there up to the 1958/60 period.
PICKERING PLACE, Lower Street (1846)
By 1866 nos.92-106 Essex Road.
PICKERING STREET, Essex Road (1847)
In 1970 the street only contained Pickering Street Dwellings which were there as early as 1890 and these disappear
by 1971. In 1956 nos.11 to 19 were condemned as unfit for habitation.
Named after Edward Rowland Pickering (1778-1859) of Stone Buildings, Chancery Lane.
PICKLED E.G.G WALK
A place of ‘low amusements’ in the 17th century.
Half way up the street was the ‘Pickled E.g. Tavern’. Its proprietor from Dorset brought with him a recipe for pickling
e.g.gs and his customers sampled these. Near to the tavern was a cockpit, frequented at times by Charles the
Second.
In May 1774 the name was changed to Crawford Place and Bath Row, after 1905 CRAWFORD PASSAGE, Topham
Street, EC1.
PICTON VILLAS, Camden Road
Four properties in the 1852 directory under Camden Road. By 1869 nos.10 to 11 Cathcart Hill.
Named after Sir Thomas Picton (1758-1815) former administrator of Trinidad. Served in the Peninsular War under
Wellington. Commanded a division at Quatre Bras, but was shot whilst leading a charge at Waterloo.
The public house at nos.2 to 4 Wharfdale Road is named after him.
PIERREPOINT ARCADE
16 shops erected on the site of nos.1 -6 Pierrepoint Row.
PIERREPOINT PLACE, High Street
There from 1847 to 1855, then Pierrepoint Terrace from c.1859 to 1877. From 1878 nos.7 to 15 Camden Passage.
PIERREPOINT RENTS (1815)
PIERREPOINT ROW
On a map of 1735.
In 1718 one John Pierpoint owned a mansion on what later became Pierrepoint Row. The Row contained as early as
1804 a public house called ‘The Gun’, 18 Pierrepoint Row. By 1834 its name had been changed to ‘The Duke of
Sussex’. This later became ‘Payton’s Music Shop and Practice Rooms’, 106 Islington High Street. Since the 1970s this
has been famous for its cuisine as FREDERICK’S RESTAURANT, aptly named after HRH Prince Augustus Frederick,
Duke of Sussex.
By 1878 Pierrepoint Row became 2 to 14 Camden Passage and 100 to 122 High Street.
PIERREPOINT TERRACE, High Street
The name given from about 1859 to 1877 to the former Pierrepoint Place (1847), by 1878 100-122 High Street and 2-
14 Camden Passage.
PILGRIM WAY (1975) Two new access ways at the Hillside Development. 81 new dwellings. Pilgrim Way (2-48 and 1
t-1 13) were built in 1976.
PINE CLOSE (1981)
Part of the Hargrave Park development.
PINE GROVE, Tollington Park (1891) Disappeared by 1948, when in 1947 only no.1 left.
PINE HOUSE, 315 Holloway Road, formerly 23 Holloway Place.
From 1848 to 1890 occupied by Sir James Tyler who laid the foundation stone of what became the Islington
Industrial Home, Copenhagen Street.
By 1905 it became Holloway College and 1915, Pine House Academy.
PINE STREET
Before 1877 WOOD STREET and LOWER WOOD STREET (q.v.).
“Wood Street in the City was so called because firewood and timber was sold there. There was in the Middle Ages a
market in Cheapside. Wordsworth’s famous ‘The Reverie of Poor Susan’ is based on this corner.
The FINSBURY HEALTH CENTRE of reinforced concrete and glass, some of its outside walls being glass bricks, was
designed by Berthold Lubetkin, on behalf of Messrs Tecton. It was opened the 21st of October 1938 by the Rt.Hon.
Lord Horder, GCVO, MD, FRCP. The old building was a pioneer of design.
The old Finsbury Maternity & Child Welfare Centre (architect: E. Stanley, MA, FRIBA) was opened on 4th April 1927
by the Marchioness of Northampton.
PINKS ROW, Lever Street (1828)
PIPER CLOSE, N7 (1969)
Named after William Edwin Piper of 36 Quernmore Road, who was, with Frederick George Watkinson of 25 Prah
Road, two of the six Councillors representing Thornhill Ward in Islington’s first Metropolitan Borough Council, 1900-
1.
PISSING ALLEY
See PASSING ALLEY.
PITFIELD HOUSE (Highbury Estate),
Highbury New Park (1948)
PLATINA STREET, Tabernacle Street (1816-17)
From the old name of platinum.

Playford Road, N4

CLIFTON COURT 1968.
PLAYHOUSE YARD
There in 1733. Renumbered 1895. After 1937 FORTUNE STREET.
PLEASANT BUILDINGS, Vale Royal Nos.6-27, roadway and courtyard acquired by LCC compulsory purchase order
1959.
PLEASANT PLACE, Pentonville (1857)
Name abolished.
PLEASANT PLACE, Holloway (1830)
Renumbered 1864 nos.222-234 Holloway Road.
PLEASANT PLACE, Halton Cross, N1 (1826)
BAMPTON HOUSE 1902 rehabilitated 1981, CATTON HOUSE 1902 rehabilitated 1981, DAWLISH HOUSE 1976,
TIVERTON HOUSE 1977, TUFNELL HOUSE 1902 rehabilitated 1976.
PLEASANT ROW, Holloway Road (1817)
Holloway Road, left hand by 1866 nos.51- 79 Holloway Road. Holloway Road right hand by 1871 nos.378-402
Holloway Road.
PLEASANT ROW,
Opposite Astey’s Buildings, Built 1761 -2 by John Astey.
PLEASANT ROW, Matthias Road
There in 1805.
PLEASANT ROW,
Halton Cross, Canonbury (c.1807)
Still in directories 1900 to 1905.
PLEASANTS ROW, Motts Lane (1845)
Motts Lane renamed Wall Street, 1868.
PLESHEY ROAD
From c.1860 to 1938 UNION ROAD, Tufnell Park.
Pleshey, Essex, not far from Chelmsford, has its church living as a gift from John Joliffe Tufnell and the Tufnell family
which had much connection with this part of Essex county.
BRECKNOCK ESTATE 1939.
PLEYDELLL ESTATE, Galway Street (1959-61)
Architects: Messrs. Emberton, Franck & Tardrew. Named after the Earls of Radnor, Pleydelll-Bouverie, governors of
the French Hospital. See RADNOR STREET.
PLIMSOLL ROAD
Formerly Templeton Road. Name approved 1871.
Included formerly Florence, Albion and Lome Terraces. From 1881 Plimsoll Road. Former names abolished, 1883/4.
Like Plimsoll Street, Poplar, named after Samuel Plimsoll (1824-98) of the ‘Plimsoll Line’ and 1876 Merchant Shipping
Act.
POCOCK’S FIELDS
Shown as such in the 1834 rate books. On the 1851 Census. Later covered by Bride and Ellington Streets.
See under BRIDE STREET for origin of the name.
POETS ROAD (1873-8) Extended to Ferntower Road by J. Edmondson, terrace on the north side built by 1883. Rest
built up and Dalston Synagogue added in 1885.
Renumbered 1894-5. Name chosen by Henry Rydon who in 1873 applied to the Metropolitan Board of Works.
Samuel Rogers had his house at the corner of Ferntower and Newington Green Roads. See under NEWINGTON
GREEN.
MASEFIELD COURT 1952. The Synagogue was there until 1967
POLLARD CLOSE, Holloway Road, N7
See HOLLOWAY PLACE re ‘the Pollards’.
POLLARD HOUSES, Northdown Street (1895)
A George Pollard had an estate in the St. James, Clerkenwell, area.
POLLINGTON VILLAS, Holloway Road (1851)
In an 1863 directory, but disappeared after then.
PONDER STREET
Before 1938 CUMBERLAND STREET (c.1869/70).
See also under ROMAN ROAD re Caledonian Road Station. Contained St. Clement’s School (St. Clement’s National
School), by 1955 for Junior Mixed and Infants. Closed between 1972 and 1974. Stephen Ponder, nicknamed ‘Father
Ponder’ was treasurer of the Highbury Society which used to meet at the Highbury Barn, originally a friendly society
of Protestant dissenters who used to bowl a ball of ivory along to beguile their walks along the local roads! He died
aged 71 on the 8th May 1816.
PONDFIELD HOUSE (Highbury Estate), Highbury New Park (1948)
POOLE’S PARK (1864)
Built on the ‘Six Acres’ owned in 1848 by Lady Caroline Harcourt.
In the 1866 directory as nos.1-4 Poole’s Terrace.
There were several ‘Pooles’ in the Seven Sisters Road area.
For Poole’s Park Primary School see LENNOX ROAD.
ST. ANNE’S CHURCH, Poole’s Park (architect: Alexander Dick Gough 1870). Built of brick in the Romanesque style, the
last church designed by him. He died before it was completed. In 1877 H.R.Gough completed the tower and spire.
The Church closed by 1954 and in 1965 an Order in Council was gazetted for its demolition. After 1954 the parish
merged with that of St. Mark’s, Tolling- ton Park.
Charles Williams (1886-1945), poet, biographer and novelist, was baptised there, Charles Walter Stansby 7
November 1886; he was born 20 September. The family occupied three rooms on the first floor of 3 Spencer Road,
now Caedmon Road. Charles attended St. Mary Magdalene’s Infant School. The family moved to St. Albans by 1894.
By 1968 a vast council estate SIX ACRES was being built.
These are all 1969, vis: Brookfield, Churn- field, Dellafield, Fallowfieid, Fyfield, Honey- field, Millfield, Monksfield and
Stonefield.
POOLES PLACE, Frog Lane. (1845)
In 1845-55 rate books, not directories.
POPHAM PLACE, Popham Street
In 1845-55 rate books, but not local directories.
POPHAM ROAD
Renamed Popham Road in 1872. Before then FROG LANE, New Norfolk Street, Popham Terrace, South Place and the
Terrace.
FROG LANE was there as early as 1729. CHARLES LAMB PRIMARY SCHOOL was built as Angler’s Gardens Board
School, 1875, renamed Popham Road in 1903. Junior Mixed and Infants departments opened in 1914 in a new
building. Reorganised 1932 to 1936. Renamed Charles Lamb Primary c. 1949. Old building replaced 1972, Junior
Mixed and Infants and Nursery.
George Morland (1763-1804) for a few months c. 1800 lived at the BARLEY MOW former public house on the site of
31 Popham Road, a descendant of the 18th century one. Here Morland painted, sketched, drew rustic scenes,
harness, etc.. and also plentifully imbibed.
BIRDBROOK HOUSE 1976.
POPHAM STREET (1811)
Named as Popham Street in the Lamp and Watch Minutes, December 1815 when a new lamp was erected. Formerly
Elder Walk, Popham Terrace, Somerset Place, Churchill Place and Popham Street.
At no. 6 Canonbury Place, over the doorway were the arms of Sir Walter Dennys of Gloucestershire who died in
1505. It is believed the arms may have been placed there after 1610 by one of the Compton family. The fourth
quarter contained the arms of Popham. Colonel Alexander Popham was an occupant of the ancient Manor house of
Stoke Newington.
After 1821 Popham Street in the rate books. Not in local directories 1852 to 1855, yet on maps of 1855 and 1863.
POPHAM TERRACE, Frog Lane (1811) Still in 1861 and 1871 Census returns.
At no.8 lived John Thomas Smith (1766-1833), topographical draughtsman and antiquary, in 1816 appointed Keeper
of Prints and Drawings at the British Museum. Author of Nollekens and his Times and the delightfully entitled A Book
for a Rainy Day. the first was published in 1828, the latter posthumously in 1845. This contained anecdotes of many
famous and eccentric characters recalled by the author between the years 1766 and 1833.
PORTERS PLACE, Holloway Road (1812)
By 1866 nos. 42 to 50 Holloway Road.
PORTLAND PLACE (1826)
By 1866 nos. 1 to 27 and 2 to 52 Canonbury Road.
PORT ROYAL PLACE (1847)
After 1873 Brunswick Close.
PORT ROYAL PLACE
Last in the 1947 register of electors.
According to her biographer, but not on the Census, John and Matilda Wood, the parents of Marie Lloyd, lived at no.
1. Her father got Marie her first job at the Grecian, Shepherdess Walk, where he was employed at one time as a
waiter.
POUNDS PASSAGE, Ratcliffe Row, St. Luke’s.
Before 1888 Pounds Place.
On Horwood’s map of 1800 and on 1841 Census. Pounds Place in 1846, after 1888 Pounds Passage. Lever Street.
POWELLS PLACE, Back Road (1845)
In rate books to 1855, but not in local directories.
POYNDER COURT, Camden Road, N7 (1973)
Thomas Poynder owned a lot of land in Islington. From 1814 to the 1845 period Thos. Poynder and W. Hobson were
lime merchants and brick and tile dealers. In their brick fields ‘east of the Lower Road’ a gigantic fossil skeleton of a
mastodon was discovered in the common red clay.
POYNINGS ROAD, N19 (1886/7)
First appears in the 1889 Islington directory.
Sir Edward Poynings (1459-1521) was Lord-Deputy of Ireland and an important leader in his period. Thomas, Baron
Poynings, who died in 1545 and the whole family played permanent parts in the Wars against France and in the
politics of the period.
Dartmouth Park Hill GARDENS on the site of the Metropolitan Water Board reservoir was opened in August 1972 by
Cllr. Mrs Patsy Bradbury, then Mayor of Islington.
AVELING HOUSE 1968, BRENNAND COURT 1967, FELL HOUSE 1968, LLEWELLYN HOUSE 1968, MERRY- WEATHER
COURT 1968.
PRAH ROAD
In 1877 there were nos. 2,6, 8 and Highbury College.
In 1873 G.A. Henty, writer of boys’ stories and a traveller met H.M, Stanley, the famous explorer, accompanying him
in a steam launch up the River Prah in Western Ghana.
JACK ASHLEY SCHOOL (ILEA) originally the Jack Ashley School for the Deaf set up in 1976; formerly the Edward Seguin
School c. 1963 to 1975 as a Secondary School for the ESN. Also here is Iseldon Teachers’ Centre and since 1980 the
Unity Association, to bring local black people together.
PREBEND STREET. New North Road (1852) The ‘Prebend Field’ was left by Lady Packing-ton to Prebend Square. In
1946 the Council acquired the freehold of the Square from the London & Manchester Assurance Co. Ltd. The
Prebend Manor dates from c. 1065 when William the Conqueror restored to the Canons of St. Paul’s land of about
100 acres. There is a prebendary stall in St. Paul’s Cathedral, the eleventh on the north side of the choir.
The ‘Giles’ public house had its first pint pulled in November 1973 by he after whom it was named, Carl Giles, the
cartoonist, in the presence of Cllr. and Mrs. Harry Reid, Mayor and Mayoress of Islington. Carl Ronald Giles was
brought up in the Angel area, where his father had a shop and he went to Barnsbury Park School, but left aged 14.
The ‘Duchess of Kent’ public house was there as early as 1860.
The CUMMING MEMORIAL HALL (north east corner of Packington and Prebend Streets) dates from 1966 and was the
HQ of the 58th London Co. of the Boys’ Brigade. See PACKINGTON STREET for the origin of the name.
ISLINGTON GREEN SCHOOL’S main teaching block and House block date from 1965. There is also a refurbished 1908
building. The school has a roll of over 900. Opened 1886 as QUEEN’S HEAD STREET Board School. Reorganised 1911
and 1932 to 1936. Reorganised 1947 to 1951 as TUDOR SECONDARY SCHOOL for boys and girls. Senior Mixed 1954
then as Islington Green Comprehensive 1965, the Tudor Girls’ School block being demolished 1963-4.
At 75 Prebend Street is the ROSEMARY SPECIAL SCHOOL and Training Centre for ESN children which has been there
since 1966 and was opened by Lord Taylor of Harlow for 112 pupils.
ST. JAMES THE APOSTLE 1873/5 was commenced as a replacement of Lambe’s Chapel, Monkswell Street, City,
demolished in 1872. Its architect was Frederick William Porter, architect to the Clothworkers’ Co. About 1960 a road
widening scheme deprived it of its graveyard. William Lambe was a Clothworker.
The Church was consecrated 4 May 1875 but in 1978 was declared redundant and made part of St. Mary’s and St.
Stephen’s parishes.
The MISSION HALL, nos. 37 and 39 Britannia Row had been used since 1908 but sold by 1974.
ISELDON HOUSE 1948.
PREEDY HOUSE, Muriel Street (1966)
Named after Father Tiverton Preedy who died 26th April 1928, the much-loved ‘sporting priest’ and amateur boxer
and boxing promoter. He was the priest/missioner of All Saints Mission, White Lion Street from 1897 to his death. In
1906 he put up a boxing ring in the crypt. The Mission was started by the congregation of All Saints, Margaret Street,
in the West End, but closed in 1956 and merged with St. Silas’s, Penton Street.
On the day of his funeral at Islington Cemetery, Finchley, not a stall was put out in Chapel Market. Preedy also
founded in 1900 the Ashdown Athletic Club. In 1924 eight of the 12 members of the British Olympic team were from
that club.
In 1926 Father Preedy was made a Prebendary of St. Paul’s Cathedral. He would chastise any man ill-treating his wife
or children and tackle husbands coming out of or entering local pubs for their wage packets and housekeeping
money for their penny-pinching wives and children.
PRECINCT, The, Highbury Terrace (1965)
PREMIER HOUSE, Waterloo Terrace. Before c. 1965 called Premier Buildings. Was there in 1890.
PRESIDENT STREET (1820)
By 1828 also President Street East and President Street West. These continued until . 1879.
PRICE HOUSE (Cumming Estate), Windsor Street (1950)
PRICE’S YARD, Copenhagen Street (c.1847)
PRICHARD COURT, Georges Road (1973)
PRIDEAUX HOUSE (New River Estate), Prideaux Place (1931)
PRIDEAUX PLACE, WC1 (1843)
Before 1935 Upper Vernon Street. Prospect Row was renamed Done.g.al Row.
Built on land belonging to the New River Company. Arthur R. Prideaux became a director in 1889, Deputy Governor
of the Company 1912-20 and Governor 1920-32.
Prideaux House is the home of Catherine Griffiths, Mayor of Finsbury 1960 and a Freeman of the Borough.
PRIESTLY HOUSE, Anchor Yard, Old Street (Wenlake Estate) (1964)
PRIMROSE YARD, St. James’s Road (c.1902)
PRINCE EDWARD STREET (1846)
By 1890 ELTON STREET, disappeared by 1968.
PRINCE’S RETREAT
In rate books 1834 to 1838 (by Devonshire Street).
PRINCE’S STREET (1808) After 1890 VALETTA STREET.
PRINCE’S TERRACE, Caledonian Road (1848)
By 1863 nos.270 to 342 Caledonian Road.
Frederick William Lillywhite, cricketer (1792-1854) with his sons John and Frederick, kept a shop for the sale of
cricket gear at 10 Princes Terrace, Caledonian Road, where he died of cholera, 21st August 1854.
PRIOR BOLTON STREET, N1 (1960)
Prior Bolton died in 1532. He was the last of the priors of St. Bartholomew, West Smithfield. His country residence
was Canonbury House, which then had extensive grounds and a fish pond, one rood and 30 poles in size. This must
have covered the present Canonbury Place and Alwyne Villas. The pond was filled in and built over by the southern
ends of Compton Street and St. Mary’s Grove.
In the garden of 4 Alwyne Villas, an octagonal garden-house bears his ‘rebus’, the sign of a bolt and tun, a punning
device on the surname Bolton.
PRIORS, The, Estate (1973) Manneby Prior, Henley Prior, Hales Prior. Opened 8th December 1973 by Cllr. Harry Reid.
PRIORY GREEN ESTATE (1951 and 1957)
Designed by Berthold Lubetkin, then of Skinner, Bailey and Lubetkin.
PRIORY VILLAS, Canonbury Park South (1845)
By 1866 nos. 50 to 64 Canonbury Park South.
Samuel Lewis, Jr. died at 1 Priory Villas, 4 May 1862, the author of The History and Topography of the Parish of St
Mary Islington (1842), Islington as it was and as it is (1854), and The Book of English Rivers (1855).
PROSPECT COTTAGES, Prospect Row, Balls Pond.
In the 1874 directory are nos. 1, 2 and 3. After 1914 part of Haliday Walk.
PROSPECT COTTAGES, Thornhill Road (1824)
By 1870 nos. 38 to 60 Thornhill Road.
PROSPECT HOUSE, Done.g.al Street (O.M. Richards Estate) (1965)
PROSPECT PLACE, Liverpool Road (1811-12)
After 1937 Lonsdale Place.
PROSPECT PLACE, Balls Pond Road (1826)
By 1866 nos. 175 to 191 Balls Pond Road.
PROSPECT ROW, Done.g.al Street.
Renamed Done.g.al Row with effect from 1936.
PROSPECT ROW, Keppel Row In 1841 and 1842 rate books.
PROSPECT ROW, Balls Pond (c. 1865/6)
By 1914 part of Haliday Walk.
PROSPECT TERRACE, Holloway (1827)
By 1886 nos. 543-555 Holloway Road.
PROSPERO ROAD ((1885/6)
In the 1885 directory are nos. 2,4 and 6 and nos. 1,3,5,7 and 9 only.
Named after Prospero in Shakespeare’s The Tempest.
PROVENCE STREET (1851)
Before 1915 GROSVENOR STREET. Ceased by 1964.
PROVIDENCE ROW, Park Road (1829)
By 1870 nos.85-115 Cloudesley Road.
PROVIDENCE PLACE, Lower Street (1839)
In rate books to 1854. Not in local directories.
Providence Hall, a Baptist Chapel there until 1888. Registered by Independent Baptists, 1900. Closed 1912.
PUGIN COURT, 285 Liverpool Road (1976)
August Charles Pugin (1762-1832) initiated the revival of the Gothic Movement. He married in February 1802 at St.
Mary’s Parish Church Catherine Welby. He lived in Islington from 1799 to 1818. Both he and his wife were buried in
the family vault in the church-yard of St. Mary Islington. His views of Islington were published in 1818. Their son,
A.W.N. Pugin (1812-1852) was responsible for the tracery and decorative work in the interior of the Houses of
Parliament.
PULBRO’ LODGE, Northampton Park (1912)
First described as Pulbro’ House in the 1912 no. 5 Polling District Ward 10 East Division register of electors.
PULLENS PLACE (1836)
By 1878 nos. 80 to 82 High Street.
PULLENS ROW (1801-2)
By 1878 nos. 84 to 98 Islington High Street.
Also spelt PULLINS PLACE or PULLINS ROW.
This was opposite to the present ‘The Mall’ (former LCC tramway power station, see under The Galleries under
Islington High Street) on the east side of the High Street opposite Duncan Street.
Named after the family of Pullin. Samuel Pullin was in 1754 and earlier one of the Overseers of the Poor. Near Pullins
Row c. 1841 -2 was an extensive grass farm for cows and a dairy farm then run by a Mr. Chapman who in 1839
purchased it from Mr. Rhodes, but for many years carried on by the Pullin family. Samuel Pullin kept from three to
four hundred cows.
At no. 7 Pullins Row lived the Rev. John Evans ,LLD, MA (1767-1827) who had a seminary at Islington and was also a
voluminous and once well-known theological writer.
PULLINS ROW
See PULLENS
PULTENEY STREET (1822)
Disappeared by 1971.
PULTENEY TERRACE (1823)
Sir John de Pulteney (d. 1349) was a member of the Drapers’ Co. and Mayor of London in 1331,1332, 1334 and 1337.
The extension to Barnsbury Park open space was opened in 1975 and the whole park renamed BARNARD PARK.
A plaque, donated by the Starliners Variety Co., was unveiled 5th July 1975 by Cllr. Albert Baker. Cllr. George Barnard
who died aged 73 in 1974 was a Councillor 1953 to 1968 and in 1971 and was Mayor 1963-4 and Deputy Mayor
1964-5. He founded the Starliners Variety Co. and was an active worker for the NSPCC, the Royal British Legion and
was a Governor of Sadler’s Wells Theatre.
A.G. and R.H. Fuller. The Rev. A.G. Fuller PULTENEY TERRACE WEST In rate books 1829 to 1844.
PUMP ROW (c. 1802)
Part of the south side of Old Street. Name abolished 1870/1.
PYRLAND ROAD, Newington Green (c. 1867/9)
Pyrland Hall is two miles north of Taunton, Somerset. Henry Rydon who chose the name for Petherton Road came
from Taunton.
James Hudson Taylor (1832-1905) founded the China Inland Mission at Brighton in 1865. He moved on 6 August
1872 to live at no. 6 Pyrland Road. A commemorative plaque to Taylor can be seen at 6 Pyrland Road.
See under NEWINGTON GREEN. China Inland Mission.
Q
QUADRANT ESTATE
The huge Quadrant Estate of the LCC 1948 to 1954 was prepared by the Housing Division of the LCC under the
direction of two architects, Robert H. Matthew, CBE and his successor Sir John Martin, MA, Whitfield Lewis being the
principal Housing Architect.
In September 1959 Sir Isaac Hayward, then LCC Leader, unveiled a sculpture ‘The Neighbours’ by Siegfried Charoux,
RA, born in Vienna in 1896 but who became a British subject in 1945. This was judged the best work in sculpture in
the Royal Academy’s Summer Exhibition. His work ‘The Judge’ is at the Royal Courts of Justice and other works are at
the Tate Gallery, Festival Hall, Cambridge, Hull, Liverpool and many other places.
QUADRANT ROAD (1850-1)
In Quadrant Road in the 1860’s was Canonbury House School conducted by the Revd lived at ‘Southey Villa’. Here
lived W.S.P. Fuller, a student at the Working Men’s College, mentioned in a letter from Dante Gabriel Rossetti to
Ford Madox Brown dated 14 January 1862, as wanting higher praise for his art work than he deserved!
Here W.R. Sickert and his third wife, Therese Lessore, lived from c. 1928 to 1931 at ‘Southey Villa’, 15 Quadrant
Road.
Herbert Edward Story Campbell (1843-1904) the great ‘Herbert Campbell’, died 19 July 1904 of ataxia, at 28
Quadrant Road, a result of his horse and carriage starting, the jolting making him partially paralysed.
He had made his first appearance in London at the old Grecian Theatre, City Road, in 1873. In 1878 he was at ‘Gatti’s’
in Jack and the Beanstalk. The team of Dan Leno and Herbert Campbell made Drury Lane pantomimes famous. Dense
crowds watched his funeral cortege leave Quadrant Road.
The Rev. Joseph Parker, D.D. (1830-1902), Minister of the City Temple, Holborn Viaduct, former Chairman of the
Congregational Union and twice of the London Congregational Union and Board, was also a preacher and writer who
produced The People’s Bible in 25 volumes and the 750,000 worded The Pulpit Bible. He lived in 1872 at ‘The
Rosstrappe’, 16 Quadrant Road.
See also HIGHBURY PARK and NORTH- OLME ROAD.
By 1950 there were no residents in Quadrant Road and in 1954 it was partially added to MARQUESS ROAD.
The Quadrant Estate has obliterated its existence as a road.
QUAKER COURT, Banner Street (Quaker Estate) (1965)
QUAKERS GARDENS
See VINEYARD.
QUEEN ELIZABETH COURT, Dove Road (1983)
QUEEN ELIZABETH’S WALK, Highbury Fields (1977)
See HIGHBURY FIELDS.
QUEEN MARGARET’S COURT, Queen Margaret’s Grove (1959)
QUEEN MARGARET’S GROVE (1863)
This was only named by association with King Henry’s Walk (q.v.). Margaret was sister to Henry VIII and was Queen
of Scotland, her husband James IV of Scotland dying at the Battle of Flodden, 1513. She married the Earl of Angus in
1514 and both came to England. Her daughter Lady Margaret Lennox is supposed to have lived in Hackney.
QUEEN MARGARET’S COURT 1959, WELLS COURT 1952.
QUEEN STREET (1812-13)
After 1890 MALTA STREET.
QUEENS ARMS BUILDINGS (c. 1855)
Corporation of the City of London.
After 1915 Queens Mansions, North Road. Last on the 1971 register of electors.
QUEENS COTTAGES (c. 1883-90 period) Designed by a Mr. Worley. Last occupied 1970, gone by 1971.
QUEENS HEAD LANE
After 1860 to 1866, QUEENS HEAD STREET.
In rate books as early as 1807. On 1806 map, the land being owned by the Clothworkers’ Co.
In 1739 also called Boone’s Lane, but on 1735 map and originally called Almshouse Lane.
A roll of the Prebend Manor 14 April 1739 says Jeffery, the son of Stephen Boone, buried 31 July 1625.
On the east side of the lane were Heath’s Almshouses founded by John Heath in 1640 and built in 1649 ‘for decayed
members of the Clothworkers’ Company’. By 1818 Heath’s Almshouses had become ruinous so the inhabitants were
moved to new almshouses in Lambe’s Chapel Court, Monk well Street, City. Heath’s Almshouses were demolished in
1826. By 1856 the site had become built upon.
On the west side of the lane were (later to be nos. 65-79 Queens Head Street, the corner of Essex Road) DAVIS’S
ALMSHOUSES. These were erected in 1794 by Jane Davis in pursuance of the Will of her deceased husband John
Davis, an Islington carpenter.
The Almshouses were bombed on 19 and 20 October and 6th and 7 November 1940. They were still derelict in 1946
but were pulled down. On their site, between 63 and 81 Queens Head Street is a garden, privately organised by the
inhabitants of the street.
In October 1968 Mr. R.A. Reid presented to the Libraries an oval oil portrait of Mrs. Jane Davis, size 12″ by 9 1/2″ as
she was in 1794 inscribed on reverse, ‘This portrait of Mrs. Jane Davis who founded and endowed these Almshouses
was presented by the Trustees of the Charity by Mr. John Powell of Cross Street, Islington A.D. 1810. (The Rev.
George Strahan, D.D., Vicar of Islington; Mr. Edward Martin; Mr. Thomas Green; trustees). This picture not to be
removed from the Almshouses.’
Messrs. Dove Bros, had in their custody this portrait prior to 1968.
QUEENS HEAD STREET
By Order of the Vestry Minutes 4 May 1866 it was decided ‘Queens Head Lane to be named Queens Head Street, the
names of subsidiary places to be abolished’.
However, Queens Head Street did appear as such in the rate book 1860-1, yet Queens Head Lane in an 1860
directory and in one for 1863.
In 1866 there was renumbering, e.g.: nos. 1 -12 Elizabeth Terrace became 84-62 Queens Head Street.
By 1870 the former Queens Terrace, Queens Head Lane had become 45 to 63 Queens Head Street. The former St.
Thomas’s Terrace became nos. 2 to 60 Queens Head Street.
The OLD QUEENS HEAD, Queens Head Row, Lower Street, now 44 Essex Road, corner of Queens Head Street, was
before it was pulled down in October 1829 ‘one of the most perfect of ancient domestic architecture in the vicinity
of London … a strong wood and plaster building of three lofty stories’. It had a carved and oak-panelled wainscoted
parlour; by 1725 it had become the Queens Head Inn.
Like the ‘Old Pied Bull’ Upper Street (corner of Theberton Street),this hostelry was linked with the name of Sir Walter
Raleigh, hence nearby Raleigh Street. He may have used it or granted it a licence, but whatever the truth may be it
was certainly there as a building in Queen Elizabeth I’s time.
In 1795 an Islington parish official used two pieces of the base of the Whittington Stone for a pavement outside the
entrance to the Old Queen’s Head I
At a house adjoining this inn resided John Rivington (1720-1792) who was a bookseller of ‘considerable eminence’ in
St. Paul’s Churchyard and in 1760 became publisher to the SPCK (Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge); he
became a master of the Stationers Co. The whole family were well- known as printers, publishers or stationers. John
Rivington, a printer in St. John’s Square died 28 June 1785. Henry became Clerk to the Stationers’ Co., Robert,
captain of an East Indiaman, the ‘Kent’. He met with ‘a glorious death in October 1800 whilst bravely defending his
ship against the attack of a French frigate of far superior force.’
In the same house died Joseph White on 1 June 1810,an eminent numismatist and naturalist.
The RAM & TEAZLE public house was there in 1860.
At the south east end of Queens Head Lane was an academy for boys conducted by the Rev. Anthony Crole (1740-
1803). He later became a well-known preacher ending as Minister of Founders Hall from 1797 until his death in
1803.
A day scholar at that school for six years was Thomas Uwins (1782-1857), see HERMES HILL.
Much of Queens Head Street is now covered by the site of Islington Green School and other buildings.
In 1893 was the Queens Head Street School (School Board for London), see under PREBEND STREET.
In November 1940 and in 1941 there were bomb incidents near Raleigh Street and the school yard.
RALEIGH MEWS 1969.
QUEENS HEAD ROW
In 1855 rate book.
By 1866. part of Queens Head Street.
QUEENS MANSIONS, Anson Road (1904)
In 1979 only no. 1 remained. Gone by 1980.
QUEENS MANSIONS, North Road.
See QUEENS ARMS BUILDINGS.
QUEENS PLACE, Queen Street (1829)
See QUEEN STREET.
QUEENS PLACE, Victoria Road (1843)
By 1866 nos. 205 to 207 Holloway Road.
QUEENS ROAD, Hornsey Road (1845)
In 1872 renamed QUEENSLAND ROAD.
QUEENS ROW, New Road, Pentonville
Built 1773 by Henry Hurle.
Name abolished 1857, See also VICTORIA PLACE.
John Henning (1771-1851), modeller of wax figures and sculptor of the frieze of Marble Arch, Hyde Park Corner, had
his business at 19 Queens Row.
QUEENS ROW, Windsor Road
In rate books 1845 to 1854 only.
QUEENSLAND ROAD
In 1872 the new name of Queens Road, Hornsey Road (1845).
In May 1963 Lord Chandos formally opened the new REMPLOY factory for the disabled which replaced the
company’s original Holloway premises in Ashbrook Road. Remploy Ltd was set up by the Government in 1945.
In 1957 the LCC wanted to acquire by compulsory purchase order about 4 1/2 acres near Queensland Road for slum
clearance.
QUEENS TERRACE, Camden Road (1854)
In 1854 Queens Terrace, York Road.
By 1879-80 nos. 155 to 181 York Road.
QUEENS TERRACE, Penton Street (1852)
By 1866 nos. 2 to 14 Barnsbury Road.
QUEENSBURY STREET (c. 1863)
But see QUEEN STREET originally c. 1807. In 1871 Upper and Lower Queen Street,
Concord Buildings, Lindsey Cottages, Norfolk Gardens.
By 1874 QUEENSBURY STREET.
QUEMERFORD ROAD
In December 1911 the Council approved an Order of the LCC to rename ‘the street leading out of Stock Orchard
Crescent’.
This part of Widdenham Road (1906) was named Quemerford Road, after Quemerford, a village near Calne, West
Wiltshire. Like Hillmarton and Beacon Hill, names chosen by the property owner.
Some numbers in the street did not appear till 1933 to 1934.
Like Biddestone, Stock Orchard, Widdenham, Wiltshire names see BIDDESTONE ROAD.
QUICK STREET (c. 1864/6)
Before 1937 GORDON STREET.
See Hornsey Row re John Quick.
QUINNS BUILDINGS, Popham Street (1876)
Demolished 1969.
RADFORD HOUSE, George’s Road (Ringcross Estate) (1927) Modernised 1974.
Named after Sir George Heynes Radford (1851-1927), MP for East Islington from 1918-22. A timber merchant and a
Royal Flying Corps pilot in the First World War.
RADNOR HOUSE, Radnor Street (Pleydelll Estate) (1961) RADNOR STREET, Bath Street 1813-14. The Earls of Radnor,
the family name being Pleydelll-Bouverie, were Governors of the French Hospital or Hospice, Pest House Lane, part
of whose estate included Bath Street. This hospital was founded after the death in 1708 of M. de Gatigny ‘for the
relief of distressed French Protestants.’ In 1716 a piece of ground in Old Street was purchased from the Ironmonger’s
Co. and a lease of adjoining land (including Bath Street) taken from the City of London. In 1718George I granted a
Charter of Incorporation with the Earl of Galway as a Governor. By 1760 additional buildings were erected but closed
in 1866. However, by 1864-66 a new building, designed by R.L.Roumieu, himself descended from a Huguenot family
of Languedoc, was erected in about 3 acres of pleasure grounds and a Chapel put up at Victoria Park, Hackney. It was
like an almshouse for 40 men and 20 women, some descendants of Spitalfields weavers and others of Huguenot or
French Protestant descent. The almshouse ‘La Providence’ is at Rochester.
See also under PEST HOUSE ROW.
The Radnor Street Sunday School was established in Golden Lane in 1798 and transferred to Radnor Street 1819. A
Day
School started there in 1837, a Ragged School in 1868. The Wesleyan School was 1882, GRAYSON HOUSE is named
after a former Sunday School superintendent see Grayson.
ST. LUKE’S PRIMARY SCHOOL 1978. Contains statues from the St. Luke’s Parochial School building, for sale, 1976. See
OLD STREET.
The PLEYDELLL ESTATE designed by Messrs. Emberton, Franck and Tardrew was erected 1959-61.
GALWAY HOUSE 1961, GASTIGNY HOUSE 1960, GRAYSON HOUSE 1961, PALYN HOUSE 1960, RADNOR HOUSE 1961.
RADSWORTH STREET, Baldwin Street, EC1 (1870)
On the site of the Peerless Pool bath.
Closing order 1929, gone by after 1959.
R
RAG STREET
Former upper portion in continuation of Coppice Row, Hockley-in-the-Hole, prior to 1774.
So-called because it had a number of rag and marine store dealers.
Closed 1929 for dwellings when it became RAY STREET.
RAGLAN TERRACE, Hamilton Place,
Hamilton Road (c.1860-3)
Nos.2 to 36C. 1875/6 after 1938 HAMILTON PARK.
RAHERE HOUSE, King Square Estate (1963)
RAHERE STREET, Goswell Road (1820-1)
Cleared 1961. The King Square Estate is on its site.
Rahere, who died 1144 founded St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, was its first Master until 1137 and obtained a royal
charter for it in 1133. He was a prebendary of St. Pauls. His canopied tomb is a feature of St. Bartholomew’s,
Smithfield.
RAILWAY PLACE, Back Road, Balls Pond (1871)
By 1878 nos. 41 to 47 BOLEYN ROAD.
RAILWAY PLACE, Holloway Road (1852)
By 1871 nos. 258 to 278 Holloway Road.
RAILWAY STREET
Before 1871 Edward Street, Kings Cross (1845).
Last in the 1964 register of electors when only nos.2 and 7 left.
RAINFORD HOUSE, Andover Row (1934)
Andover Estate, modernised in 1973.
Rainford is 4 miles north west of St. Helens, Lancs.
RALEIGH MEWS, Queens Head Street (1969)
RALEIGH STREET
Before 1909 ST. THOMAS’S STREET 1850.
For the connection with Sir Walter Raleigh see QUEENS HEAD STREET and also under Upper Street The Old Pied Bull.
RALEIGH VILLAS. Canonbury (1848)
By 1866 nos.6 to 20 Canonbury Park North.
RAMSEY COURT, St. Johns Villas (1956)
RAMSEY WALK (Marquess Estate) (1976/9)
Ramsey is in the Isle of Man, the port for the N. of the island and 13m north of Douglas.
RAND HOUSE, Highbury New Park (1971)
RANDALLS COTTAGES (1845)
Off Maiden Lane, by the Tile Kilns.
In rate books 1845 to 1855. On the Census for 1861, 1871 and 1881.
RANDALLS YARD (1868)
The Vestry Minutes 20th March 1868 refer to
‘a new street called and known as Randall’s Yard’.
RANDELL TERRACE, York Road. (From 1874)
Contained ‘Randell & Evans’ tile kilns. By 1882 nos.150 to 196 York Road. Randells Tile Kilns were from 1828 to 1876
in Islington, commemorated by Randells Road and Tileyard Road.
As early as before 1775 they were off the Bagnigge Wells Road. A second kiln was added in 1780. Nos.44 to 60 Kings
Cross Road are near the old site. A large map of 1808 by T. Horner shows their Clerkenwell location.
RANDELLS ROAD
First as such in the Islington directory for 1884.
Named after Randell & Evans tile kilns, Randells Road contains the PAGET MEMORIAL HALL, originally the Paget
Memorial Mission Hall opened 20th May, 1911 by HRH the Duchess of Albany. The Hall was built by the late Lord
Blythswood (created 2nd Baron Blythswood in 1892). He was the Revd Sholto Douglas Campbell, MA and in 1889
married Lord Alfred Paget’s daughter, Violet. Violet Paget died in 1908 but from 1887 to 1889, before her marriage
held a Bible class in the vicinity and was a Mildmay Deaconess. One of the former pupils in her class wrote a letter of
sympathy to the widower. He bought the land on which stood a tin hut in which her classes had been held and
erected the Hall to his wife’s memory. Its interior is of carved oak and includes a china Minton breakfast set in a
carved cabinet, a
In June 1927 the Hall was bequeathed to the London City Mission.
RATCLIFF COURT
See RATCLIFFE TERRACE.
RATCLIFF GROVE, Lever Street.
Radcliffe Layer in 1763. By 1785 Radcliffe Mount. Before 1861 Ratcliff Row, said to be named after Ratcliff Moffatt, a
farmer in the 18th century. In 1861 became part of Lever Street.
RATCLIFF ROW, St. Luke’s
See above. Name abolished 1861, became part of Lever Street.
RATCLIFFE TERRACE, Goswell Street (1818-19)
Originally Ratcliff Court. 1818. Terrace by 1819. Name abolished 1861.
RATHLIN WALK (Marquess Estate) (1974)
Rathlin is off Fair Head, Co. Antrim (Rathlin Island).
RAWSTORNE BUILDINGS (1886)
Brewers’ Co. Model Dwellings.
RAWSTORNE PLACE (1797)
RAWSTORNE STREET (1789-90) Numbering changes in 1797, 1808 and in 1827.
Built by Thomas Rawstorne, a brickmaker of Owens Row on land left c. 1773 to the Trustees of Owens Schools.
BREWERS BUILDINGS 1882. Re-habilitated in 1981, .
A Plymouth Brethren Meeting House was here 1834 to 1840. Later at No.48 were from c.1866 to 1890 ST. MAR KS
NATIONAL SCHOOLS.
The AMATEUR THEATRE, Rawstorne Street, was in the early part of the 19th century a private theatre. Samuel
Phelps, then working as a journalist is supposed to have opened there in 1825 as an amateur and was for about five
years one of the principal members, associated with Douglas W. Jerrold (1803-1857), writer, and W.E. Love (1806-
1867) one of our greatest English ventriloquists. Both were associated with Sadler’s Wells Theatre.
RAY STREET
See also RAG STREET and COWCROSS STREET.
Re-numbered in 1935. A great deal of the street was pulled down 1856 to 1857 when its original direction was
slightly altered and it was raised to a higher level.
It was in the 17th century known as HOCKLEY-IN-THE-HOLE because lying in a hole or valley’ it was over-run by the
Fleet River in rainy seasons and the adjoining land was marshy. In 1661 there were twenty-one houses rated to the
poor.
In 1717 Ned Ward the poet wrote: ‘.. . all the stinks that rise together From Hockley Hole in sultry weather.’
On the site of RAY STREET is supposed to have been a mill. In 1774 the name was changed to Ray Street from the
former Hockley-in-the-Hole and Town’s End Lane or RAG STREET (q.v.).
On the site of the ‘Coach & Horses Inn’ which was there in 1811 was a tea garden as well as a bear garden used for
bear-baiting. There was also cock fighting. Also discovered in the ‘Coach & Horses’ was a leather portmanteau with
the initials ‘R. Turpin’ , which may have belonged to Richard Turpin or ‘Dick Turpin’ the famous highwayman! There
was at one time a vaulted passage to the Fleet, which desperadoes could have used as an escape route!
King George IV had been to a cock fight at Hockley in the Hole. See under COWCROSS STREET re The Castle Tavern.
At no.2 Ray Street there was in the 19th century ‘a broken iron pump let into the front wall of a dilapidated
tenement’. It had been placed there in 1800 for public use. In the late 18th century a well was probably sunk to
connect.: It was re-discovered in 1924 when excavating nos.14to 16 Farringdon Road.
The Well was in existence as early as 1174 and Clerkenwell owed its name to it.
Here the ancient company of Parish Clerks used to meet annually for the performance of miracle and mystery plays.
The water of the well flowed through a retaining wall of the Nunnery of St. Mary, on the site of St. James’s,
Clerkenwell Green. The Nunnery was founded by Jordan de Briset c.1100 but was suppressed in 1539 by Henry VIII.
James, Earl of Northampton had in 1673 donated the Well for the use of the parish of St. James poor.
By the middle of the 19th century the Vestry closed the Well as it had become polluted.
Access to the Well at 14 to 16 Farringdon Lane and an historical exhibit on its past can be arranged by contacting the
Finsbury Library, 245 St. John Street and enquiry made as to when it is open at certain viewing hours.
On 26th May 1985 with the support of the New Statesman the Well was re-furbished and re-opened. Mr. J. Tuffley,
Master of the Worshipful Company of Parish Clerks spoke and there was a miracle play, Noah’s Floods in the crypt by
the villagers of Long Crendon, Bucks.
On the west side of Ray Street was formerly the paupers’ burial ground which in 1763 was enclosed by a wall and
consecrated for burials, but its use was discontinued by the late 1850’s as the Clerkenwell Commissioners required
the ground for building and improvement schemes.
Samuel Rousseau (1763-1820) printer and linguist lived in Ray Street.
See under RED LION YARD re the race horse ‘Eclipse’ and its owner.
RAY WALK, Alsen Road (Andover Estate) (1977)
RAYNOR PLACE (New North Road Estate) (1981)
RECTOR STREET (1853)
Before 1937 UNION STREET.
By association the word ‘Rector’. On land part of the prebendal manor.
See under PREBEND STREET.
RED BULL YARD
After 1778 WOODBRIDGE STREET.
After the Red Bull Theatre, an inn yard converted to a playhouse in the reign of Elizabeth I. Probably closed c. 1663.
RED CAP LANE
There in 1848. Later ELTHORNE ROAD.
In 1866 the Birkbeck Freehold Land Society offered £200 to the Vestry to put the lane in proper order. Still in the
1871 Census, but not in the one for 1881.
See HOLLOWAY ROAD ‘Mother Red Cap’.
RED LION ALLEY
There in 1577.
RED LION PASSAGE
Re-named Red Lion Passage by 1938.
RED LION STREET
Built for the wealthier class of persons c.1715-19 by Simon Michell, a wealthy magistrate, who died aged 74 in 1750.
On the site of Bocher Close, afterwards Garden Alleys in Elizabethan times.
After 1937 re-named BRITTON STREET. At no.22 lived Mrs. Caroline Austin who died in 1857 aged 105.
Alfred Bartholomew (1801-1845) English architect, was born in Red Lion Street.
At no.14 Red Lion Street lived in 1787 John Trusler (1735-1820) who assumed the distinction LL.D and was the first to
publish from 62 Wardour Street sermons in script characters for the use of clergy who were either unable or
unwilling to compose their own! His father was the proprietor of Marylebone Gardens and his sister made rich seed
and plum cakes ‘so much admired by the nobility and gentry for use there.’
Trusler published and wrote books on etiquette, farriery, gardening, farming and ‘the way to be rich and
respectable’, etc.. He published over 25 separate works. He might be described as a literary compiler, bookseller and
‘eccentric divine’. His The Honours of the Table appeared in 1788.
RED LION YARD
There in 1737.
Re-named LEO YARD after 1936. It was the Red Lion carriage and stable yard, the mews for the carriages of Red Lion
Street.
The famous race-horse ‘Eclipse’ was owned by William Wildman, then by Colonel Dennis O’Kelly and later by his
brother Philip O’Kelly. The Colonel lived on the last side of RAY STREET looking towards Clerkenwell Green. ‘Eclipse’
died in 1789 aged 26 having ‘won more matches than any other racer known and never was beaten’.
REDFORD WALK (Popham Estate) (1973)
REDINGTON HOUSE (Priory Green Estate),
Collier Street (1951)
Buried in the Priory Church of St. John of Jerusalem among ‘brethren and knights of the Order of St. John’, ‘the
murdered Prior Sir Robert Hales (1381) was succeeded by Brother John Redington appointed in 1385 Admiral of the
King’s Western Fleet. He practically rebuilt the Church with its great bell tower before his death in 1399.
REDMOND HOUSE (Barnsbury Estate),
Carne.g.ie Street (1954)
The Connoisseur of 4th March 1756 advertised a fine auricula raised by Mr. William Redmond at Islington named
‘The Triumph’ at half-a-guinea each plant.
REDWOOD COURT, Sunnyside Road (1968)
REES STREET
Before 1938 HALE STREET 1850.
The Rev. Dr. Thomas Rees (1777-1864) (see also NEWINGTON GREEN under the Unitarian Chapel) was in 1807
appointed afternoon preacher at the Unitarian Chapel, Newington Green, then Minister from 1808 to 1813. He was
a celebrated preacher and writer and a trustee of the Dr. Williams Library & Foundation.
REFORM PLACE, nr. Cowheel Alley, Whitecross Street
There 1743.
REGENT COTTAGES, Regent Terrace (1830)
In the 1861,1871 and 1881 Census returns, but not in Islington directories as such.
RE.G.ENT STREET, Rodney Street (1828)
Started in 1828 with only six properties. Mentioned in the 1849 street list as being opposite Windsor Place, City
Road.
RE.G.ENT TERRACE, Thornhill Street (1828-9)
By 1896 FIFE TERRACE.
At no.9 died Pierce E.g.an the Elder (1772-1849) sporting journalist and veteran historian of the Ring, famous for his
Boxiana: or Sketches of Ancient and Modern Pugilism and of Life in London.
RE.G.INA ROAD (c.1859-60)
In an 1860 Islington directory under Tollington Park, with nos.1,5,7,8,14and 19 only.
In 1961 New Court Congregational Chapel moved from Tollington Park and was rebuilt, the architect being John
Diamond. Closed 1976. Since 1977 has contained the New Court Elim Pentecostal Church. It has opened a school for
7 to 11 year olds at this New Court Centre since 1981.
SALTDEAN, no.2 Regina Road (1978).
REGINA VILLAS, Tollington Park
On 1851 Census and in 1852 directory.
Houses were there c.1845 (see rate books under Tollington Park).
But nos.2-7 Regina Villas became after 1874 nos.89 to 101 Tollington Park.
REMINGTON STREET, City Road (1846-7)
Before 1903 part of a Ward of St, Luke’s, Old Street. After1902 appears in the Islington directories.
REYNOLDS HOUSE, Corbyn Street (1963)
Gerry Reynolds died aged 41 in June 1969. He was MP for Islington North 1958 to 1969, Labour Party local
government officer 1952-8, member for Acton Borough Council 1949 to 1965 and Mayor of Acton 1961 -2 and
Chairman of the London Borough of Ealing, 1964-5. He contested Worthing in 1951 and was Parliamentary UnderSecretary
for Defence, 1964-5, Minister of Defence for the Army 1965-7 and for Administration 1967 to 1969.
RHEIDOL TERRACE (1847)
The river Rheidol flows into Cardigan Bay, near Aberystwyth.
RHODES COTTAGES, Baldwin Terrace
In rate books 1845 to 1851. On 1871 Census.
RHODES STREET (c. 1870)
In 1881-2 incorporated Wellington Street, Holloway (renumbered in 1867) and Old Wellington Street; e.g. 47 to 59
Rhodes Street were Hollingsworth Street North, in 1877 nos. 11 to 17 Old Wellington Street, St. James’s Road.
In 1870 were nos. 1 to 12,14 and 16 Old Wellington Street. 1 to 10 Hollingsworth Street North.
Named after Samuel Rhodes who besides his extensive farm had large brick and tile works at Dalston. His son
William Rhodes was also a cowkeeper on a large scale in Islington. Rhodes Farm near Pullins Row had from four to
six hundred cows!
Samuel Rhodes was the great-grandfather of CECIL JOHN RHODES (1853-1902), ‘Cecil Rhodes’, the pioneer
statesman of South Africa, whose London agent was Henry Donaldson, FAI, who died in 1903. But the street is really
named after a celebrated name among Islington farmers or land and property owners like Laycock, Pullen or Rydon.
RICEYMAN HOUSE (Margery Estate), Margery Street (1931)
Named after the novel Riceyman Steps featuring the second-hand bookshop of ‘Mr. Earlforward’ by Arnold Bennett
(1867-1931), Riceyman Steps or Plum Pudding Steps still exist, off the Kings Cross Road.
RICHARD STREET, White Conduit Street
There 1808-9.
After 1938 RITCHIE STREET. Named after the Christian name of Richard Cloudesley.
RICHMOND AVENUE
Before 1938 RICHMOND ROAD (q.v.).
RICHMOND CRESCENT (1854)
Will Anderson artist lived at no. 21 from 1879 to 1887.
Edwin Paxton Hood (1820-1885), Pastor in 1857 at Offord Road Chapel and a well- known preacher lived at 18
Richmond Crescent and later at 50 Hillmarton Road.
RICHMOND GROVE, Richmond Road (1846)
By 1890-1 SHEEN GROVE.
RICHMOND GROVE
See also WAKELIN HOUSE, Sebbon Street.
RICHMOND GROVE, Halton Street (1845)
CANONBURY COURT 1948, DENTON HOUSE 1938, CHADSTON HOUSE 1936/7, WHISTON HOUSE 1937/8.
RICHMOND PLACE, Park Road (1847)
After 1897 THANE VILLAS.
RICHMOND ROAD (1841)
Since 1938 RICHMOND AVENUE.
In 1866 the houses were renumbered alternately.
After 1867-70 subsidiary names were abolished such as Mathon Place, Richmond Villas, Gainford Place and
Richmond Terrace (e.g.: 12 Richmond Terrace became by 1870 52 Richmond Road).
After 1891 St. George’s and Stonefield terraces became part of Richmond Road (since 1938 Richmond Avenue).
On each side of numbers 46 to 72 the entrance steps are flanked by graven sphinxes which have attracted the
interest of such celebrated photographers as Bill Brandt and Angus McBean or artists like Geoffrey S. Fletcher, Ann
Usborne, Susan Benson or Sydney Arrobus. This terrace was built by William Dennis.
The period 1839 to 1841 was one in which Britain was much concerned with Egypt. In 1840 England, Russia, Austria
and Prussia undertook to expel the forces of lbrahim Pasha from Syria. A succession of victories and the capture of
Acre induced them to quit Syria. These sphinxes were ‘motifs’ of this period.
RICHMOND ROW (Barnsbury Row) (1846) By 1847 became RICHMOND PLACE.
RICHMOND STREET (1848)
After 1937 renamed MATILDA STREET.
RICHMOND STREET, Finsbury
On J. Rocque’s 1738 map. In 1758/9 ratebook.
After 1937 SHENE STREET. Gone after 1970.
RICHMOND TERRACE (1841-2)
By 1870 part of Richmond Avenue
RICHMOND TERRACE, Halton Street (1842)
By 1866 nos. 49 to 65 Halton Road.
Admiral Sir Percy Moreton Scott (1853-1924) was the son of Montagu Scott, solicitor and Laura Kezia Snelling. He
was born 10 July 1853 at 8 Richmond Terrace, Canonbury Square. He was a pioneer of naval gunnery, of inestimable
service in World War I, both for his expertise and in the anti-aircraft defence of London.
RICHMOND TERRACE. Park Road (1840)
In rate books 1840 to 1855. Not in directories, only Richmond Place, Park Road.
RICHMOND VILLAS, Richmond Road (1854)
After 1867-70 incorporated in Richmond Road.
RICHMOND VILLAS, Seven Sisters Road (1845)
After 1897 THANE VILLAS.
Lumb Stocks (1812-92) portrait artist, line engraver and miniaturist died at no. 9, 28 April 1892. Father of Arthur
Stocks, see Georges Road.
RICKTHORNE ROAD
Before 1938 MONTPE LIER ROAD c. 1869.
Lord Wentworth by a lease of May 1564 rented Canonbury House and Tower to William Ricthorne (Rickthorne). He
married Anne, daughter of John Quarles of London, merchant and died at Canonbury, aged 54, in 1582.
RIDGE, The, Downham Road, (1967)
RIDGEWELL CLOSE (1980) HERONGATE HOUSE 1978.
Ridgewell is in Essex, 514 miles south east of Haverhill. It is on the site of a Roman settlement.
RINGCROFT STREET (1875-77)
FORMBY COURT 1976.
RING CROSS
A Roman division mark was a ring and a cross. See also HOLLOWAY for possible origin.
RING CROSS appears in rate books as early as 1807 but the name was dropped in the 1820’s for Lower Holloway.
The RING CROSS ESTATE (LCC) 1930-35.
Covered part of Georges Road, James Street, Charlotte Place, Bratton Street, Hope Place and Milton Place.
RING CROSS COUNTY PRIMARY SCHOOL, Eden Grove, with infant school in Chillingworth Road (formerly housed with
Barnsbury Boys School) opened in June 1954. The opening was performed by Marcus Morris, then editor of The
Eagle and The Girl. The school made headlines in the national press in December 1968 when Mrs Yvonne Connolly
from Jamaica was appointed headmistress of the infants’ school, ‘London’s first West Indian headmistress’.
Opened in 1931 as Hope Street Council School. Renamed Ring Cross in 1936. Ring Cross Junior School opened at
Eden Grove, reorganised 1977-80, Junior Mixed and Infants.
RINGMER GARDENS (Bavaria Estate) (1978-9)
Ringmer is in Sussex. 2 1/2 miles north east of Lewes.
RIPPLEVALE GROVE
Before 1921 Albion Grove, 1836, Albion Grove West, Grove Villas and Grove Cottages.
In 1868 Albion Grove and Albion Grove West were named Albion Grove throughout. To avoid confusion with Albion
Grove, Stoke Newington.in 1921 the name was altered to RIPPLEVALE GROVE, in memory of Sir John French, Earl of
Ypres (1852-1925), born in Ripple Vale, Ripple, Kent and a leading figure of the 1914-18 War, well- remembered in
1921. See also ALBION GROVE.
RISINGHILL STREET (1880)
Formerly John Street, Pentonville (1811), Hermes Hill (18th century), Providence Terrace and Royal Terrace.
The GLC WYNFORD ROAD ESTATE has since 1973 covered a lot of the area.
STARCROSS SCHOOL opened c. 1946 as a small secondary school of under 300 pupils in Camden. In September 1965
it moved to Risinghill Street and by 1976 catered for 1300 girls.
From October 1983 it has amalgamated with Barnsbury School for Girls, Barnsbury Park to form the ELIZABETH
GARRETT ANDERSON SCHOOL, off Penton Street, N1, a County School for Girls aged 11 to 19 with a roll of over 1300
pupils.
The street contains the Holloway Institute and the I LEA Islington Adult Education Institute.
RITCHIE HOUSE (Hornsey Rise Estate),
Hazellville Road (1980)
RITCHIE STREET
From c. 1808 to 1937 RICHARD STREET.
Renamed Ritchie Street 19 July 1937 possibly after Sir James William Ritchie, M BE (1902-1937) and his family. He
was former Commandant of D Division of the Metropolitan Special Constabulary Reserve.
It contains the PENTON PRIMARY SCHOOL (ILEA). Opened 1891 as Richard Street Board School. Renamed Penton
Primary for Junior Mixed and Infants, 1971,
RITSON HOUSE (Barnsbury Estate),
Carne.g.ie Street (1954)
Isaac Ritson (1761-89) died ‘after a short and irregular life’ after a few weeks illness in an obscure lodging in Islington
aged only 27.
He became a teacher at Carlisle when only aged 16. He published a translation of Homer’s ‘Hymn to Venus’ and
several other pieces. ‘A young man of very considerable literary talents.’
RIVER LANE, Lower Street (1811)
In the 1860 rate book and directories for 1863 and 1866. In 1860 there were only three houses listed, one of which
was called ‘Bleak House’. By 1870 nos.1, 3 and 5 St. Peter’s Street.
RIVER LANE, St. Peter’s Street (c.1840)
By 1870 nos.18 to 92 ST. PETER’S STREET.
RIVER PLACE (1829)
From 1829 to 1937 RIVER STREET, Essex Road. Contained Cambridge Cottages.
RIVER STREET (1829)
After 1937 RIVER PLACE.
RIVER STREET CONGRE.G.ATIONAL CHURCH had its foundation stone laid on 18th July 1863. However, it fell into
disuse and c.1908 was the RIVERS HALL. (Rivers Electric Theatre) where the management gave away oranges to
children and the elderly to encourage attendance! By 1931 it was a cracker makers works, then tile makers, then toy
manufacturers until c.1965.
RIVER STREET, EC1 (1828)
RIVER STREET, York Road (1847) By 1891 TIBER STREET, last in the 1949 register of electors, then becoming part of
York Way Court.
RIVER TERRACE
First entry in the rate books as such is 1806-7. From 1798-9 the same properties appear under DUNCAN PLACE.
The Scotch Church, River Terrace (Kirk of Scotland) was opened on 4th December 1834.
From 1827 to 1834 the congregation had met in Chadwell Street (later Zion Baptist Chapel) Angel Baptist Church. By
1843 it had become the Scotch Free Church and by 1860 the English Presbyterian Church, known until 1920 as
Islington Presbyterian Church, Colebrook Row. It closed for public worship in 1923. Councillor A.J. Rogers, JP, then
Mayor of Islington, was present at the unveiling of a stone tablet on the former ALBERMARLE HALL, Colebrooke Row
by Dr. S.W. Carruthers, MD.Ph.D on the 17th October, 1952.
In November 1908 an Industrial Exhibition and Sale of Work was opened by Sir Henry Robson with a Shadowgraph
exhibition and a concert by ‘The Coons’.
One of its most famous incumbents from 1862 to 1891 was the Rev. J. Thai Davidson, MA, a ‘Billy Graham’ style
preacher who drew large audiences for his services at the Agricultural Hall and was also the inspirer of the
Wilmington Mission. He died in 1904, a celebrated preacher and orator.
WIDFORD HOUSE (1966) is on the site of the Albermarle Hall.
In October 1952 Miss Kelly, Archivist to the Presbyterian Historical Society placed the account books, ledgers and
other Church records on permanent loan to the library’s local history collection.
RIVER TERRACE NORTH (1839)
After 1864 the ‘North’ was dropped and the houses re-numbered consecutively throughout.
RIVERS TERRACE, Kings Cross (1846) On the 1881 Census as RIVER TERRACE, York Road.
By 1882 nos.96-142 York Road.
RIVERSDALE ROAD
A boundary road, partly in Hackney, before 1878, in Hackney.
On a large scale map of 1869. A substantial brick building from the Charles II period was CREAM HALL. About the
1818 period this was called Cream Hall Farm, Highbury Wood.
It was then a grass farm, supplying London milk dealers, hence its name. In 1780 George Hickman a cow keeper of
Wells Row was connected with it and in 1783 Eliza Kirby who lived in Duvals Lane. It was used as a private residence
even in 1835 and stood on a site at the apex of Riversdale Road and near 227 Blackstock Road. It was sold for
building by the early 1880’s forming the site of Legard Road.
RIVERSDENE, Highbury Quadrant (1968)
ROADS PLACE, N19 (1905)
Between 400 and 402 Hornsey Road. Last in the 1968 register of electors.
ROADS TERRACE (c.1864-5)
By 1886 nos.398-406 Hornsey Road.
ROBERTS GARDENS, Popham Street (1845)
In rate books 1845 to 1855.
ROBERTS PLACE, Bowling Green Lane (1830-1)
Made a public thoroughfare 12th December 1883.
ROBERTS ROW, St. Paul’s Street (1838)
In the rate books until 1855, on the 1861 Census as Roberts Row, Newington Road.
ROBINSON COURT, St. Mary’s Path (1939)
George H. Robinson, born in 1869 was for fifteen years an Islington Councillor and since 1922 represented Tollington
ward until 1937. He was a former Vice-Chairman of the Housing Committee and the Islington Board of Governors
and a builder and contractor, retiring in 1928. The firm was George Robinson Holloway) Ltd. He died aged 87 in 1956.
ROBY HOUSE (Wenlake Estate),
Mitchell Street, EC1 (1963)
Roby is a district of Merseyside, east of Liverpool.
ROBY STREET, Old Street, Finsbury
Before 1885 BALDWIN STREET 1811-13. Disappeared between 1958 and 1963.
ROCHESTER PLACE, Highgate
On the Censuses. The 1881 Census has it as Rochester Place, Archway Road. In rate books 1845 to 1855.
ROCK COTTAGES, Balls Pond Road
In 1852 rate book.
ROCK STREET, N4
Before 1878 GRANGE ROAD, Seven Sisters Road.
Contained the Islington office of the Invalid Children’s Aid Association.
ROCLIFFE STREET
Mentioned in 1858.
In the 1863 Islington directory. On 1861 Census.
Nos.1-10 Graham Terrace (1871) were incorporated into Rocliffe Street, being by 1886 nos.2 to 26. The street was
re-numbered in 1884.
In August 1953 died Angelo Tommaso who was in the news at the age of 84 in 1949. In 1880 he left Cassino, Italy, to
make barrel-organs or ‘hurdy-gurdies’. In 1949 he was still repairing them and hiring them out for 5s. a day.
Giuseppe Chiappa came to London in the early 1850’s and founded a factory in Clerkenwell. His grandson Victor was
still running the business in the 1950’s.
Chiappa Ltd., organ builders, are at Eyre Street Hill, Camden, between Clerkenwell Road and Warner Street.
RODEN STREET (c.1877)
Roden is in Shropshire, 6 miles north east of Shrewsbury.
RODING HOUSE, Charlotte Terrace (Barnsbury Estate)
Opened 3rd November 1936. The river Roding is in Essex.
RODNEY HOUSE (OM Richards Estate),
Done.g.al Street (1964)
RODNEY PLACE, Thornhill Street (1832)
On 1861,1871 and 1881 Censuses.
RODNEY RESIDENCES. Rodney Street (1885)
Gone between 1946 and 1949.
RODNEY STREET, Pentonviile
On Clerkenwell map of 1805. Re-numbered 1892.
Named after George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney (1719-1792), English admiral celebrated for his victory over
the French and Spanish near Saints Island, off Dominica, 12 April 1782. In July 1759 he had also bombarded Le Havre
and destroyed a flotilla designed for the invasion of England.
James Mill (1773-1836), utilitarian philosopher wrote for the Edinburgh Review 1808-12 and was a great
promulgator of Benthamism in England, one of the founders of London University. In 1818 was published his great
History of India and in 1821 Elements of Political Economy. He married Harriet Burrow in 1805 and they settled at 12
Rodney Terrace, Pentonville until 1810. The house belonged to his mother-in-law, a widow, whose late husband
started a lunatic asylum at Hoxton. He then moved to Newington Green, but by 1814 was at no. 1 Queen Square
(later no.40 Queen Anne’s Gate). He used to walk from Pentonville to Westminster to dine and talk with the great
writer in jurisprudence Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832).
John Stuart Mill (1806-1873), philosopher and economist, son of James Mill, was born 20th May 1806 at 12 Rodney
Terrace, later no.13, then no.39 Rodney Street. He was educated entirely by his father and before the age of
fourteen had studied the classics, logic, political economy, history, general literature and mathematics.
His Logic was published 1843, Political Economy 1848 and On Liberty 1859, The Subjection of Women 1869.
The house was demolished in 1957. John Stenhouse, chemist (1809-1880) lived from c.1863 to 1878 at no.17 Rodney
Street.
He was chemical lecturer at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital 1851 -7, Assayer to the Mint, 1865-70, a founder member of
the Chemical Society, discovered beterocinol and invented charcoal air-filters and respirators. He was a patentee of
many items and published chemical papers.
RODNEY STREET NORTH (1826)
By November 1874 it was to form part of Catherine Street and later by 1876 MURIEL STREET.
RODNEY TERRACE
See Rodney Street.
ROFFE’S or COCK LANE
Early 17th century ‘The Crown’ inn was here. Later TOLLINGTON WAY.
ROLLIT HOUSE (Ringcross Estate),
Hornsey Road (1927-8)
Named after Sir Albert Kaye Rollit (1842-1922) MP for Islington South 1886-1906 and Mayor of Hull 1883 and 1888.
ROLLIT STREET
So named since 1927.
Before then BRAND STREET which was there 1829-30.
ROMAN ROAD (1847)
Since 1938 ROMAN WAY.
Re-numbered and subsidiary names abolished 1874.
e.g.., Bennet’s Cottages, St. James’s Terrace, Montrose Terrace, Roman Terrace.
The ‘City of Rome’ public house was built by Charles Thompson and William Crosswell in 1853.
Pentonville Prison was erected 1840-2, see under PENTONVILLE PRISON.
More re-numbering of Roman Way took place 1975 e.g.., 119-123 became 149-153.
CALEDONIAN ROAD & BARNSBURY STATION. Opened 10th June 1852 with the idea of dealing with the traffic of the
proposed Metropolitan Cattle Market. It was rebuilt some distance to the east and named BARNSBURY Station 21st
November 1870. When a new entrance in Caledonian Road opened 22nd May 1893 it was re-named Caledonian
Road & Barnsbury. This entrance closed 1920; station entrance by Ponder Street.
ROMAN TERRACE (1851)
By 1866 nos. 1-33 Roman Road.
William Hendry Stowell, DD (1800-1858) was head of Rotherham College from 1834 to October 1850 and a pioneer
in 1848 of the missions to working men. His History of the Puritans was published in 1847. He died at 10 Roman
Road, Barnsbury 2nd January 1858 and was the author of a number of historical and theological works, some for the
RTS
CAISTER HOUSE 1973, MINERVA LODGE 1977.
ROMFORD HOUSE (Dovercourt Estate),
Baxter Road (1966) Romford is in Essex
ROMILLY ROAD
In the 1877 directory, nos. 2,4j9,and 11 only.
John Romilly, 1st Baron Romilly (1802-1874), MA, QC was Master of the Rolls from 1851 to 1873 and was the son of
Sir Samuel Romilly (1757-1818) KC, law reformer and abolitionist.
RONA WALK (Marquess Estate) (1978)
Rona is an island in Inverness-shire.
RONALDS ROAD
In the 1888 directory only nos.13 to 21 and 25 (odd).
Named after Sir Francis Ronalds (1788-1873) who was, with Wheatstone, one of the pioneers of the electric
telegraph. The name was suggested by a Mr. M.C. Sharpe who for years had lived at Highbury Terrace. Sir Francis’s
father Francis Ronalds took over no.1 Highbury Terrace in 1796 and died in 1806. The new road had run alongside
no.1 and the first electric wires ran from a coach-house of no.1 to a cottage in the immediate neighbourhood.
CRESCENT MANSIONS 1930-1, HIGHBURY CRESCENT ROOMS 1929.
ROPEMAKER STREET, EC1
Part Finsbury, part City of London. Originally Ropemakers’ Alley, Moorfields. Re-numbered in 1892 and 1908. Name
first recorded in 1672. A street lived in by ropemakers..
Daniel Defoe (1661-1731) author of Robinson Crusoe and Journal of the Plague Year died in his lodgings here and is
buried in Bunhill Fields.
ROSA ALBA MEWS, Kelross Road (1899)
Italian or Latin for White Rose.
ROSCOE STREET, EC1
Formerly before 1883 COLEMAN STREET. Re-numbered in 1895. At no.21 was the Society of Friends Meeting House,
acquired 1661. This Bunhill Meeting House, associated with George Fox, Quaker Court.
The Meeting House was added to many times. In 1840 a School was built and in 1881 Memorial Buildings ,destroyed
1940 to 1944 except for the caretaker’s cottage. The Burial Ground, acquired 1661, re-named QUAKER GARDEN was
closed for interments in 1855. In the recreation ground lies George Fox (1624-1691), founder of the Society of
Friends, commemorated by a small stone, put up in 1855.
ROSCOE STREET is probably so named after a trustee of the Peabody Donation Fund.
QUAKER COURT 1965, BANNER HOUSE 1956-7, PEABODY BUILDINGS 1957, PEABODY COURT 1972, ST. LUKE’S
HOUSE (Church Centre) 1981, SHAFTESBURY HOUSE 1978.
The Peabody Donation Fund erected 1956/7 of the Roscoe Street Estate Peabody Court and Tower (Court comp.
1972), St. Mary’s Tower, Fortune Street, Fortune House and Banner Street blocks.
ROSE & CROWN COURT
On Censuses from 1841 to 1871. At the back of what was 38a Islington High Street. In 1611 and in 1665 there was
mention of a ‘Rose & Crown’ inn at Islington. On a large scale 1871 Ordnance Survey map. A rough area in the 1870’s
and in 1875 the 13 houses were decreed unfit for habitation.
ROSE COURT, Turnmill Street
There as Rose Alley in 1677. Re-named Rose Passage 1936.
ROSE COTTAGES, St. Peter’s Street (1853)
By 1870 nos.91 to 93 St. Peter’s Street.
ROSE PLACE, Frog Lane (1847)
No.1 Frog Lane was in 1870 ‘The Rose’ public house, later re-numbered 15 Popham Road. In rate books 1847 to
1855.
ROSE STREET
There in 1738. After 1885 PATON STREET.
ROSE VILLAS, Canonbury Park West (1851)
After 1867 nos.8,10 and 12 Grange Road, Canonbury (q.v.).
ROSEBERY AVENUE
See also SPA GREEN.
Parts were formerly St. John’s Terrace, Myddelton Place, Garnault Place, John Street, Mount Pleasant etc.. 1889 to
1892. Partly re-numbered in 1903.
Named after the great Liberal politician Archibald Philip Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery (1847-1929), Foreign
Secretary to the government of W.E. Gladstone in 1886 and 1892-4. He became Premier in March 1894 as 1st Lord of
the Treasury and President of the Council but resigned in June 1895. He is now best known for his horses having won
the Derby 1894-5 and in 1905, for his biographies and other writings and for his wide interest in the turf.
This important thoroughfare was built 1889 to connect Islington and Finsbury with Holborn. It was named in 1889
when Lord Rosebery was first Chairman of the LCC who opened the 1st and 3rd portions.
The first portion was opened in 1890 and the third and last, 1892. The Open Space and fountain were opened 7th
February 1899 by Arthur Millward, JP, Chairman of the Clerkenwell Vestry. Spa Green was opened 31st July 1895.
The offices of the Metropolitan Water Board (now the Thames Water Authority) opened 27th May 1920 at a cost of
£300,000. From 1902 the MWB was constituted to take over from the former eight metropolitan water companies,
one of which was the New River Company.
The building was designed by Austen Hall, FRIBA and is on the site of the New River Head. To this under the auspices
of Sir Hugh Myddelton and his engineers the waters of the New River from Amwell and Chadwell in Hertfordshire
were brought in 1613, when a great ceremonial of drums and trumpets in the presence of the Lord Mayor of London
took place.
The Oak Room contains some fine carved friezes and panelling and a mantelpiece with an elaborate heraldic ceiling.
Some of the carving is ascribed to Grinling Gibbons and the ceiling to Henry Cooke (1642-1700). Before its use as
New River Company offices this part of the buildings is reputed to have been the residence of John Grene, Clerk to
the Company 1667 to 1697.
The Research Building to the north east by Howard Robertson dates from 1938.
SADLER’S WELLS THEATRE near the junction with St. John Street originated with Sadler’s Music House at some time
before 1683 in the garden of which a Mr. Sadler discovered a chalybeate spring.
This was later used in the theatre for aquatic spectacles and is still there but covered over.
From 1844 to 1862 Samuel Phelps (1804-1878) its patentee and manager made it famous and produced 34
Shakespeare plays here.
Arthur Wing Pinero’s Trelawney of the Wells (1898) affectionately calls to mind its ambiance.
The theatre closed in 1915. From September 1914 it had become a cinema. The theatre was rebuilt, due mainly to
the efforts of the great Lilian M. Baylis (1874-1937) and re-opened 6th January 1931. It was designed by F.G.M.
Chancellor and built under architects Frank Matcham & Co. The theatre became celebrated not only for Shakespeare
but for drama, ballet and opera and in 1963 became the temporary home of the National Theatre.
During the Second World War when it was closed it was used as a rest centre for bombed- out families, but reopened
7th June 1945.
Devotees cannot do better than read the scholarly The Story of Sadler’s Wells, 1683-1964 by Dennis Arundell
published in 1965.
The former Finsbury Town Hall 1895 was designed in the Renaissance style by C. Evans Vaughan, FRIBA and opened
by the Earl of Rosebery 14th June 1895 with an annexe added to the building in 1899. It has for some years now
been used by the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages for the district. Records are there since the 19th century.
The SPA GREEN ESTATE was designed by Berthold Lubetkin of Messrs. Tecton. The completion ceremony was
performed 29th April 1949 by the late Rt. Hon. Herbert Morrison, MP (later Lord Morrison of Lambeth). It consisted
of Tunbridge, Sadler and Wells houses comprising 129 flats. See also SPA GREEN.
The 1914-18 War Memorial for Finsbury is at SPA GREEN GARDENS open space, opened 1899 taken over by FBC
1933 and improved 1947.
The Memorial has a winged figure representing Peace and Victory standing on a plinth by Thomas Rudge the
sculptor. Inset were bronze panels showing the Finsbury Rifles In action at Gaza, the HAC at the crossing of the Piave,
Italy and local men taking part in the naval raid on Zeebrugge.
Second World War dates were added to this memorial, but the Finsbury memorial for the dead of the 1939-45 War
is the Sports Centre near Stirling Corner, Barnet bye-pass, 38 acres opened 6th May 1955 by H RH the Duke of
Edinburgh.
See also under SPA GREEN. The Wellington Arms Public House was there in 1833.
BARNSTAPLE MANSIONS 1892 (rev. 1926), BIDEFORD MANSIONS 1892, BRAUNTON MANSIONS 1892, GREENWOOD
HOUSE 1954,SADLER HOUSE, Spa Green Estate 1949/50, WELLS HOUSE, Spa Green Estate 1949.
DEACON’S MUSIC HALL, formerly the Sir Hugh Myddelton public house, Myddelton Place, opened 14th December
1861, named after its manager and licensee James Deacon who died aged 68 in 1871. The licensee from 1884 to
1891 was the Fire Brigade chief Capt. H.E. Davis who died in 1933 aged 91. The music hall was demolished for the
construction of Rosebery Avenue.
ROSEBERRY VILLAS, Tufnell Park West
In the 1855 rate books and the 1860 directory. By 1870 nos.120 to 170 Brecknock Road.
ROSEBERRY VILLAS, York Road See YORK ROAD.
ROSEDALE COURT, Panmure Close, Leigh Road (1977)
ROSELEIGH AVENUE (1890-1)
ROSEMARY COTTAGES, Shepperton Cottages, New North Road (1838)
By 1874 nos.79-89 Shepperton Road.
ROSEMARY STREET, Shepperton Road
In the 1882 directory there were 23 houses plus the Rosemary Mission Hall. Not in the 1878 directory or 1881
Census.
With Penally Place demolished for the extension to the Rosemary Gardens.
ROSEMARY GARDENS (then about 2 ¾ acres between Southgate Road and Shepperton Road) were opened in June
1960 by Edwin Bayliss, a member of the LCC for East Islington.
In 1976 extension to the Gardens took place making this open space just over 6 ¾ acres.
In 1983 colourful murals were executed by artists for a space by the tennis courts.
The Rosemary Branch public house at no. 2 Shepperton Road was there in 1721 but seems to have been closed
between 1730 and 1751. Another inn was erected on the site in 1783 and this not too far distant from the original
one bearing the same sign.
Erected in 1786 and 1792, for many years landmarks were the windmills of the former white lead works of
Champion, Druce & Co., Southgate Road. The bases that remained had become bomb-damaged by 1945 by a V2
rocket and by 1950 only the circular foundations were exposed to view. Even by 1842 they were used only as storehouses
and the sails had by then gone.
The mills were replaced by steam power in 1830 but were, with their five sails with revolving ‘gnomons’ or turrets a
distinctive part of the landscape of Islington Fields as this part was called. They were put up by Walker & Co., iron
masters, of Rotherham, Yorkshire and connected with the house of Walkers, Maltby & Co., Upper Thames Street.
Julius Caesar Ibbetson’s water colour of 1795 showing them as they were was exhibited in July 1981 at the Museum
of London.
A pond of about an acre was there in the earlier years of the 19th century used for skating in winter and occasional
summer boating.
In the 1830’s it was the ‘Islington Vauxhall’ covering nearly three acres with ‘elevated terrace walks’, Dutch pin,
racquet and skittle grounds, a large assembly room or concert room, private parlours, coffee and dining-rooms and
‘a well-warmed and ventilated billiard room.’ 4000 people often came there in the evenings and tight-rope walking
and balloon ascents were made from the grounds. There was an equestrian theatre which burned down in 1883. The
tavern was licensed for music and dancing until 1887.
ROSOMAN’S BUILDINGS (c.1770)
By 1878 nos.19-24 Islington Green.
Built on land belonging to Thomas Rosoman of Clerkenwell between 1758 and 1762.
ROSOMAN MEWS, Northampton Road, EC1 (1827)
Re-numbered 1907. Demolished September 1934.
ROSOMAN PLACE, EC1 (c.1936-9)
ROSOMAN STREET
See also BRITTON STREET.
Upper Rosoman Street abolished and the premises re-numbered in 1877. The portion from Rosebery Avenue to
Amwell Street in 1936 incorporated with and numbered in Amwell Street.
Rosoman Street was originally a footpath over the fields called BRIDEWELL WALK as it led past the former
Clerkenwell Bridewell built 1615 and pulled down in 1804 ‘a House of Correction for rogues and vagabonds of
Middlesex ‘
About 1756 the great Thomas Rosoman who was the proprietor and reigning king of Sadler’s Wells Theatre from
1747 to 1771 was by trade a builder, c.1756 he built Rosoman Row, a range of good houses on the west side of the
Bridewell Walk. The east side followed and by 1774 it was called Rosoman Street.
The MERLIN’S CAVE was a tavern standing in the fields with large gardens and a skittle ground and was built about
1735. The gardens were built over in 1833.
The NEW MERLIN ‘S CAVE , Margery Street, WC1 is a little to the north of the old tavern site. See also WILMINGTON
SQUARE.
The ENGLISH GROTTO or GROTTO GARDENS stood at the north-east corner of Lower Rosoman Street and was in
existence about 1760, in 1769 being advertised as Jackson’s Grand Grotto Gardens & Gold and Silver Fish Repository.
This continued in Jackson’s possession until about 1780. Some remains persisted until c.1800 in the garden of the
house no.35, Lower Rosoman Street.
At this address the CLERKENWELL NEWS was printed from 1855 to 1862. The Gardens were famous for water
spectacles and for firework displays.
The LONDON SPA, see EXMOUTH MARKET.
The NEW WELLS. From 1730 to 1750 dancing, music and pantomime were held. In 1752 it became a Methodist
Tabernacle, demolished c.1756.
The NORTHAMPTON TABERNACLE, Rosoman Street (October 1835) had as its architect John Blyth. See also
CHADWELL STREET, Providence Chapel.
Richard Earlom (1743-1822) mezzotint engraver lived for some time in Rosoman Street. He died aged 80 on 9th
October 1822 in Exmouth Street.
At 23 Rosoman Street Lilian Ada Bostock, telephonist, was on the 27th April, 1918 awarded the MBE for ‘great
courage during air raids and gunfire.’
ROTH WALK, Andover Estate (1980)
Named after Richard Roth, one of the Islington Martyrs, burnt in 1558.
ROTHERFIELD COURT, Rotherfield St (1953)
Rotherfield is in East Sussex.

Rotherfield Street, N1

MclNDOE COURT 1960, ROTHERFIELD COURT 1953. WALKINSHAW COURT 1957.
ROTHERY STREET
So-called 1890-1.
Name abolished Chapel Street (Church Street). Linking Church Lane (now St. Mary’s Path) with Church Street, since
1938 Gaskin Street.
Only no.10 occupied in 1939. Since then Robinson Court and Victor Cazalet House on either side.
William Rothery (1775-1864) was a celebrated lawyer and from 1821 -60 Admiralty referee on matters connected
with the slave trade. His son Henry Cadogan Rothery, MA (1817-88) also a lawyer was Wreck Commissioner in 1876.
Employed in the Admiralty and ecclesiastical courts.
ROTTEN ROW (1728)
By c.1855 MIDDLE ROW and after 1912
CRESCENT ROW, Goswell Road.
ROWAN WALK (c.1983-4) Sir Charles Rowan (c.1852) was in 1829 appointed as Chief Commissioner of the
Metropolitan Police.
ROWSTOCK GARDENS (Camden Estate) (1962)
MOULSFORD HOUSE 1963, PANG BOURNE HOUSE 1964.
ROWTON HOUSE, Kings Cross Road
Named after the Rt. Hon. Lord Rowton, CB, Chairman of Rowton Houses Ltd (incorporated 1894) was erected in the
1890s with a 200ft frontage to Calthorpe Street and 125ft to Kings Cross Road. There until c.1957 Mount Pleasant
Hotel, 53 Calthorpe Street on the site by 1964.
ROYAL NORTHERN HOSPITAL
See HOLLOWAY ROAD.
ROYDON MANSIONS, Junction Road, N19 (1907)
ROYLEY HOUSE, Old Street (1931)
Architect: E.C.P. Monson, FRIBA. Opened by Cllr.C.R.Simpson, JP, LCC, 28th February 1931.
ROYLEY STREET (1845) Closed 1912.
RUFFORD STREET
Formerly Junction Road, Stroud’s Vale and James Street, Stroud’s Vale, c.1871).
Renamed Rufford Street 1890-1 and 1891-2.
Near here was from 1861 to 1962 the former BELLE ISLE CEMETERY STATION (London Necropolis Company),
architect: Edmund Alexander Spur. Transported bodies for the Great Northern Cemetery, Brunswick Park.
Functioned 1861 toc.1873.
RUFFORDS BUILDINGS, Islington High Street
Were there in 1685.
Said to have been built by a Captain Nicholas Rufford, a Churchwarden of St. Mary’s (1689 and 1690) who died aged
72 on 20th March 1711. He and James Porter as churchwardens in 1690 repaired and restored the Cloudesley tomb.
There was a long-lapsed charity, ‘Mr. Rufford’s Gift’ for a Sermon to be preached on St .Thomas’s Day and ‘to the
Ringers for Ringing on the same Day’. Francis Rufford was a Churchwarden in 1717 and 1718.
See also BERRIMAN. By 1878 the former Buildings were nos.2-78 Islington High Street.
Before 1685 said to have been on the site an old mansion, residence of the Fowler family before they moved to
Cross Street. See also BERRIMAN ROAD.
RUFFORDS ROW (1688)
Like Ruffords Buildings connected with the Rufford family who were of some importance in the late 17th and early
18th centuries in this parish.
By 1877 nos.289-302 Upper Street.
RUNTON STREET (1884) By 1974 contained nos.14 and 21 only.
Runton is near Cromer, Norfolk.
RUPERT HOUSE, Yerbury Road (1982)
RUPERT ROAD (1859-60)
Built by the St. Pancras Freehold Land Society.
In the 1860 directory nos.2-4 and 18 only listed.
Named after Prince Rupert (1619-82), Charles I’s General of Horse and a famous cavalry commander in the Civil War.
One of the founders of the Royal Society and an introducer of mezzotint engraving into England. First Lord of the
Admiralty 1673-79.
RUSHMOOR HOUSE (Hilldrop Estate),
Hilldrop Road (1953) Rushmoor is in Shropshire.
RUSSELL PLACE, New North Road (1848)
After 1863 became nos.223-285 New North Road.
RUSSELL ROAD
In 1866 nos.1a, 5, 7, 13, 17, 24 and 6 only. After 1938 BERRIMAN ROAD.
RUSSETT CRESCENT (Stock Orchard Estate) (1977)
Like Sturmer Way, named after a variety of apple.
RUTLAND PLACE (1845)
Off Hornsey Road, north of Brunswick. On census returns up to 1871.
RUTLAND PLACE, Charterhouse Square Built in the 1850s. There in 1855.
Named after the Manners family, Earls of Rutland in the 17th century whose town house then was on its site.
RUTLAND TERRACE (1851) In censuses up to 1871.
RYDON CRESCENT, Rosebery Avenue (c.1860)
Disappeared by 1947-9 for the SPA GREEN ESTATE.
Here lived for a time Arthur Wing Pinero (1855-1934) son of John Daniel Pinero, a solicitor of 9 Gray’s Inn Square, of
a family of Portuguese Jews and of Lucy Daines. Arthur Wing Pinero is supposed to have been born in Bedford Row,
not Islington, as is sometimes quoted, but did live for a time in Rydon Crescent now, since 1949 covered by the Spa
Green Estate.
His plays Dandy Dick (1887), The Second Mrs. Tanqueray (1893), and Trelawney of the Wells(1898) are still acted and
his stage farces are still admired for their craftsmanship and careful construction.
RYDON STREET (1850)
Named after Henry W. Rydon, a tailor of North Buildings, Finsbury Circus in the late 1830s and 40s. He then went in
for land ownership and property development, taking building leases from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners and the
Clothworker’s Co. from their Islington Estates. But he also owned brickfields and acquired the 100 acre estate in
Highbury by which he is now chiefly remembered including Highbury. New Park (qv). St. Augustine’s Church was built
largely at his expense. Other developments included Grosvenor and Beresford roads from 1864, Ferntower Road
from 1866 and Petherton Road from 1869, the date of the covering over of the New River in that area.
Henry lived at ‘Pyrland House’, Highbury New Park (later no.23) in the 1860s. Rydon’s Estates operated from Dells
Farm, Beresford Road.
He died 14th January 1885 at Brighton. Two of his executors were his son Horace James of 1 Petherton Road and
Arthur Hope Rydon of 23 Highbury New Park.
H.W.Rydon’s grandon was for some years the art editor to the Daily Express. Henry Rydon developed the Packington
Estate, Wenlock Barn Estate, New North Road and parts of Highbury.
RYDSTON CLOSE (Nailour Street Estate) (1975)
S

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