Journal of the Archaeology & History Society

Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Vol 1 No 1 Spring 2011 incorporating Islington History Journal

The retail palace of Holloway

The tale of Beale’s emporium, from humble beginnings to Victorian splendour

Memories of Dame Alice Owen’s School at Angel in the 1950s l Caroline Chisholm, the emigrants’ friend l Canal transport in Regency times l Regency lives uncovered via household insurance l New galleries at the Museum of the Order of St John l Your local history questions answered l News and events About the society

What we do Memories, reviews, old photographs, Islington Archaeology & ideas sought… contribute to this journal History Society Committee he society arranges President lectures, walks, visits We welcome contributions, them in and our tireless Rt Hon Lord Smith  Tand outings in relation including articles on local researcher Michael Reading of to the archaeology and history, memories and more – and maybe other readers history of Islington. academic pieces. – will answer them. Vice-president We liaise with the council Each page takes about 500 l See Letters, page 6 Mary Cosh and others in matters of words, and most articles planning and development take up one or two pages, Copyright Chairman and acting to record and protect but don’t worry too much Copyright of everything in secretary Islington’s sites that are of about word length. this journal lies with the Andrew Gardner archaeological and historical We like receiving pictures to creator unless otherwise [email protected] importance. accompany articles, but stated. We also aim to document please check first that we can While it can be difficult to Membership and events archaeological findings in reproduce them without trace copyright ownership of Catherine Brighty the borough. infringing anyone’s copyright. archive materials, we make 8 Wynyatt Street Local historical and every effort to do so.  literary walks are arranged Ever wondered…? EC1V 7HU for groups. Do you have any queries Any questions? 020 7833 1541 about Islington’s history, Contact editor Christy Why archaeology? streets or buildings? Send Lawrance (details right) Treasurer Archaeology is not just Philip Anderson about what is buried; it phlpandrsn6@ includes structures and Join us and benefit from membership btopenworld.com fragments that still exist, and the people who lived, Members receive this making, building Committee members worked and died in them. journal and are invited to  restoration, architecture, Kathleen Frenchman We are here to investigate, 10 talks a year with guest entertainment history, Peter Fuller learn and celebrate what is speakers, and other events. health, crime and politics. Michael Harper left to us. We run a wide range of Members also receive the Derek Seeley talks, with topics going from journal four times a year. Our website Roman gardens to the Non-members are always Academic adviser Go to www.iahs.org.uk to Routemaster bus, the King’s welcome at talks – we invite Lester Hillman, former find out more about us and Cross/St Pancras station a £1 donation towards the visiting professor London find out about our events. redevelopment, map- speaker’s expenses. Metropolitan Business School, London $ Metropolitan University Membership form Newsletter editor Membership per year is: £10 single; £12 joint at same address; concessions £6; joint Christy Lawrance concessions £8; corporate £15 [email protected] c/o 6 Northview Name(s) ...... Road London N7 0QB Address ......

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2 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Spring 2011 Vol 1 No 1 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society

Incorporating Islington History Journal Vol 1 No 1 Spring 2011

Islington has always been outspoken

’m sometimes asked whether the society is political. We are not, Ialthough many members are Contents politically aware. Many are active, some more seriously than others – I had my fun in 2005 in my leopard print News 4 top hat at election time. Planning inquiry takes note of character Yet radicalism does crop up rather a Face of Islington changes with major housebuilding lot in our lectures. This simply Feminist of recognised with green plaque demonstrates just how much radicalism in Islington there is to study. Letters and your questions 6 Dissent takes many forms – political, Questions and answers on the origins of street and house names, a moral, sexual, theological, theatrical, workhouse tablet and a blue plaque literary, architectural – and is integral to Islington life. Sometimes I wonder if Beale’s store of Holloway Road 8 10 lectures a year is enough when Beale’s was a landmark in one of London’s most fashionable shopping dissenters alone can cover the schedule. parades. Its founder’s grandson tells of its origins But dissent does not mean objecting for its own sake. You may know (news, On many a well-remembered field 10 page 4) that a proposed tower block in A former boy scholar looks back at his time at Dame Alice Owen’s School Canonbury Road was rejected by a at the Angel in the 1950s; and the school magazine in 1960 public inquiry. All the local amenity and conservation societies, alongside Regency transport 13 Islington council, were opposed to the This year sees lots of Regency bicentennials – and Islington is an excellent scale of it. place to celebrate the company that set up Regent’s Canal We are not singing pompous songs of victory, though. All those who Lords and laundresses 14 opposed the tower agree the site as it Research Regency lifestyles through Sun Fire Office insurance policies stands is still an eyesore. We would like to see housing on a fitting scale on a The emigrants’ friend 16 sensitive site between two The work of philanthropic pioneer Caroline Chisholm, and why her basement conservation areas. was equivalent to the Australian High Commission

Our new look Museum makes a modern move 18 Welcome to our redesigned journal, New galleries, more treasures and a research room at the refurbished which reflects that more people wish Museum of the Order of St John to cite our articles. Under his editorship, Peter Fuller took this Coffin plates 19 publication from being a very good Recognise an ancestor’s name? newsletter to a much admired journal. Our new editor is Christy Lawrance. Publications 20 Please send news, features and Including guides for spring walks research articles and events to her at [email protected]. Events 22

Andrew Gardner Directory of societies and museums 25 Chairman Islington Archaeology & History Society Islington Archaeology & History Society events 27

Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Spring 2011 Vol 1 No 1 3 news In brief Effect on character leads to public MP becomes IAHS inquiry rejecting tower of homes honorary member Jeremy Corbyn MP has been Plans to build a seven-storey made an honorary member tower near the Union Chapel of the Islington Archaeology in Canonbury have been & History Society. rejected by the Planning Accepting membership, he Inspectorate because of its said: “In a fast-changing scale and the effect it would borough, I’ve always admired have on the area. the way our society increases The inspector said the its membership, maintains its scheme would harm the enthusiasm and encourages character of the area and all communities to be part of diminish the setting of the the rich and varied pageant Union Chapel to an which is our borough’s past, unacceptable extent. from pre-Roman times to Home Union Chapel: the inquiry heard about the high quality of its the 21st century. Ownership had planned to architecture and how its setting would be diminished “It makes our borough the build two buildings, fantastic place that it is.” containing 134 flats and by seven amenity societies. which is of national and commercial space at 85 During the six-day public local interest, would be Heritage Lottery wants Canonbury Road, the former inquiry, a lot of information harmed if the development Ford garage site. emerged on the uniqueness were to proceed.” your views on its work Notting Hill had appealed and high quality of the l The inquiry report, by The Heritage Lottery fund is to the Planning Inspectorate Grade II* listed Union Frances Mahoney DipTP seeking views on what its after the council rejected the Chapel’s architecture. MRTPI IHBC of the priorities should be, what it scheme last year. Islington The Canonbury Society Planning Inspectorate, can should continue doing and council had received more said: “To win this case, it was be downloaded from the what it should do differently. than 600 written objections to of paramount importance to Canonbury Society’s website Consultation runs until the scheme and its rejection demonstrate that the at www.canonburysociety. 26 April. of the scheme was supported ‘setting’ of this building, org.uk l www.hlf.org.uk/ consultation2011 Views wanted on local listing Workhouse gains CABE and Design Grade II listing Council merge English Heritage is asking heritage assets and The Commission for for comments for its draft managing them through a An 18th-century workhouse Architecture and the Built guidance on local listing. local list. threatened with demolition Environment and the Local listing It says that the guide has been listed Grade II. Design Council are to merge acknowledges the value of intends to, among other The H-shaped building, in from 1 April. The new body buildings that, while not of matters, “encourage a Cleveland Street, , will provide a one stop shop national importance, have transparent and consistent was built as a workhouse in for design support. significant heritage, approach to a local list by: 1775-78. It acquired its pair aesthetic, architectural or strengthening the role of of projecting end blocks in Rare King James Bible social value. locally listed heritage assets 1829, when it was called the found on church shelf Inner-city areas such as as material considerations in Strand Union Workhouse. Islington can be subject to deciding the outcome of It is thought to have been An original King James Bible considerable development planning decisions”. the inspiration for the has been discovered on a pressure. Many buildings in The draft’s case studies workhouse in Charles shelf in St Laurence Church the borough are protected will be included in the final Dickens’ Oliver Twist. in Hilmarton, Wiltshire. through conservation areas; guidance which will be The building is believed  Residents researching the local listing could help published later in the year. to be the best preserved church’s history read about a protect significant buildings Consultation closes on Georgian workhouse in “fine chained Bible” at the outside these areas from 13 May 2011. , its H shape church, then made the link development. l Download the guide and a visible reminder of how with a Bible that had been English Heritage’s draft the consultation response the Georgians left it. on a shelf at the church for a guidance looks at form from http://tinyurl. l www.clevelandstreet number of years. identifying significant local com/eh-locallist-consult workhouse.org

4 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Spring 2011 Vol 1 No 1 Face of Islington In brief changing with rapid rise in new housing Works at Lubetkin’s Finsbury Health Centre Islington’s built The Grade I Finsbury Health environment is changing Centre, designed by rapidly – more new homes Berthold Lubetkin and built are being built here than in in 1938, is to get a “mini nearly every other borough refurbishment”, according  in the country, according to to campaigners, who government figures. described the move as  Between October 2009 a “major victory”. Bunhill Row has been afforded the highest level of recognition as and October 2010, the total l http://savefinsbury a historic landscape, with a Grade I entry on the national Register number of homes in of Parks and Gardens. In addition, some 75 individual tombs have healthcentre.wordpress.com Islington (excluding empty been individually listed. homes) increased by 2,228. Chinese project to In the same period, the remember Limehouse total number of homes in Green plaque for feminist Camden rose by 1,010; A Chinese heritage project Haringey had 757 more pioneer of Newington Green – the Legacy of Limehouse homes; and Hackney had Chinatown – is being 1,115 more homes. created by the Islington The figures were released Mary Wollstonecraft, the born on 27 April 1759 in Chinese Association, with as the government 18th-century advocate of Spitalfields and is best the and announced the first New women’s rights, writer and known for writing A Tower Hamlets Local Homes Bonus payments. philosopher, has been Vindication of the Rights of History Library and Archives. Under this scheme, which honoured with a memorial Woman (1792), in which she The project, covering the is intended to encourage plaque at Newington Green argued that women were 19th century to the 1960s, housebuilding, the Primary School. not naturally inferior to men will research the history of government will match the The plaque, part of and that men and women London’s first Chinatown in council tax raised from new Islington council’s green should be treated equally. Limehouse. homes for six years; more plaque scheme, was She opened a school for If you, your relatives or bonus is paid for affordable unveiled by council leader girls in Newington Green, your friends lived in homes. Bonuses are also Councillor Catherine West probably on the south-east Limehouse Chinatown, paid when empty homes are on International Women’s corner, although nothing of contact Dr Yat Ming Loo, brought back into use. Day on 8 March, which the building remains today. Islington Chinese The Department for celebrates the economic, Wollstonecraft died aged Association, looyatming@ Communities and Local political and social 38. Her daughter Mary hotmail.com, 21 Hatchard Government said the bonus achievements of women. Shelley is best known for Road, London N19 4NG, worked out at over £9,000 Mary Wollstonecraft was writing Frankenstein. www.islingtonchinese.com. on average per home in council tax band D, and just under £11,000 for an equivalent affordable home. Network to tackle heritage crime Islington is due to receive £3,706,471 for the first year A nationwide network has Over the next year, it will police officers. of New Homes Bonus been set up to tackle focus on four main For the first time, there payments, equivalent to heritage crime including categories: physical damage will be a national lead in the £22,238,827 over six years. theft and criminal damage. caused by fire, graffiti, Association of Chief Police The only other borough to The Alliance to Reduce vandalism and vehicles; Officers on heritage crimes. gain over 2,000 homes was Crime against Heritage unlawful excavation and Richard Crompton, chief Tower Hamlets, with 2,934. (ARCH), launched by removal of articles from the constable of Lincolnshire, Those approaching English Heritage, is a historic environment, who holds this post, said:  included Bristol (1,946), nationwide network of including illegal metal “A great many people care Leeds (1,933), Milton bodies including the  detecting; architectural theft; deeply about this sort of Keynes (1,884), police, local authorities, and unlawful alteration and crime and I believe that we (1,838), Sheffield (1,726) and non-government demolition of listed can tap into that concern Birmingham (1,716). The organisations, professional buildings. and interest and work with national average is just groups and amenity The profile of heritage communities to make a real under 600. societies. crimes will be raised among difference.”

Journal of the Islington History & Archaeology Society Spring 2011 Vol 1 No 1 5 Letters and your questions

We welcome letters. Our researcher Michael Reading can answer your queries, so get in touch if you have a question – or can answer or add to anything mentioned here

The lodge at Chalfont Road Ordnance Survey Map, you the Hackney Brook being Josef was a pianist at the From the mid 1930s until can see that there was a St incorporated into Empire and, 1950, my grandparents, James Church in Victoria Bazalgette’s Northern High aged 15, gave piano lessons Charles and Mary Lindop, Road. Built in 1817-18, it has Level Area sewer, but gives a from Station Road Highbury. lived at 6 Chalfont Road, now gone. St James Road rather imprecise description From 1922-26 he lived at Vale Holloway N7. (now Mackenzie Road) of its route, and does not say House, Tufnell Park Road, This house, which was intersected Chalfont Road where the brook originated. between numbers 21 and 23. architecturally unlike any at its north end. I am intrigued by the The Odeon cinema other house in the street, I can only surmise that the name of Holbrooke Court, opened as the Gaumont on had the name St James’ original owners of number 6 the cul-de-sac next to 5 September 1938 and Lodge over the front door. wanted to name their home Northview estate where I reopened with a gala in July I was wondering if it could and took the name of their live: does this originate from 1958. I have found no have been the gatehouse to local church. The designation the proximity of Hackney connection with Northview . a large house or institution of lodge may have been to Brook, and was it known by in the St Mary Magdalene enhance its status. I do not a different name locally? Corbyn: what’s in a name? vicinity, between Holloway think there has ever been Northview sits just behind If any of your members have and Liverpool Roads. any institution on this site the corner of Tufnell Park any inkling as to why Pat Rawlings that warranted a gatehouse. Road and Holloway Road, Corbyn Street is so called, I’d 16 Wyles Road, Chatham, Kent As your grandparents lived opposite the Odeon cinema love to know their thinking. NE4 6HA in Chalfont Road during the (originally the Gaumont). I have copies of legal land Second World War, they will Both were built in 1938. Was titled documents for that Michael Reading writes: have witnessed the V2 this just coincidence? area that my grandfather The area where your rocket that landed at the Paul Thurlow gave me (a solicitor’s clerk in grandparents lived was built junction of Mackenzie and 35 Northview, Tufnell Park the late 19th century who between 1820 and 1850. In Chalfont Roads, at 9pm- Road, London N7 0QB presumably had to write the early part of the 19th 11pm on 6 December 1944, [email protected] these up in copper plate). century, many large houses devastating the Prince of There may be a connection were built for the growing Wales , killing 68 and Michael Reading writes: here, but possibly not. prosperous middle classes, injuring 99 people, in the Hackney Brook rises in Jeremy Corbyn MP particularly in Highbury, worst V2 attack on Islington. Holloway near Mercers Canonbury and . Road, running south to cross Michael Reading writes: Chalfont Road ran parallel Are Hackney Brook and Holloway Road near Tufnell In Streets with a Name: the to Holloway and Liverpool Holbrooke Court linked? Park Road and continuing to Book of Islington, Eric Willats Roads, with Victoria Road I would greatly appreciate Lowman Road where it turns says Corbyn Street (1870-71) (now Chillingworth Road) any information on the north-east and runs along is on a large-scale map of at its north end and origins, route and history of Gillespie Road to leave the 1870, but not in the census Sheringham Road at its the Hackney Brook. parish at Mountgrove Road. for the previous year. It is not south end. Mary Cosh, in A History of The area where you live in the Islington directories From the 1916 Old Islington, makes reference to was built up by speculative for 1870 or 1874, but builders in the mid 19th appears in the one for 1877. century to accommodate the The Old Ordnance Survey increasing middle classes. Map of Finsbury Park and Holbrooke Court was for 1870 named after composer Josef shows that 75% of the north Holbrooke (1878-1958). As a side of Hanley Road had boy, he lived at 30 Hatley been built. The south side Road and was a choirboy at was open land which St Anne’s Poole’s Park. His included the future site of father was a pianist at Corbyn Street. It is possible Collins Music Hall and the that leases to build here were Old Bedford Music Hall in granted by The Sons of the Musical name for a cul-de-sac near where the Hackney Brook ran . Aged 14, Clergy or The Birkbeck Land

6 Journal of the Islington History & Archaeology Society Spring 2011 Vol 1 No 1 Society. To the east of Stroud – Reynolds House (1963), 1841 to 1911. However, on the demise of the GLC Green was open countryside. Stubbs House (1964) and there is a Clifton Terrace, so do not know what The Old Ordnance Survey Turner House (1967) – and Islington N4, built 1873-74 became of the tablet. If you map for 1894 shows the all named after artists. which is very close to have a photograph of it I whole area built up and Campbell Road and, like it, would be very grateful for a Corbyn Street straight, with Four addresses sought was a very poor area. This copy by email. An excellent terraced houses on both sides, I am searching for some old street still exists, although website, by the way. intersected by Almington addresses where my much reduced. It is west of Peter Fanning Street. There were no shops, ancestors lived. Most of Stroud Green Road. [email protected] public houses or yards – it was them are in Islington and I l Oldfield Villas, Birkbeck all residential. The map for was wondering if old photos Road, N19. This was built in Michael Reading writes: 1912 shows exactly the same. of these addresses exist. The 1865-67 and renamed The workhouse closed in Willats’s book often gives Islington addresses are: Elthorne Road in 1881. Before 1877 and the property the origin of street names, l 3 Clifton Gardens; 1878, it was a collection of became a relief office and but is silent on Corbyn Street. l 44 Clayton Street; individually named terraces dispensary. It was also the So much building was going l 137 Campbell Road; and villas, of which Oldfield office for births, marriages, on in Islington between l 3 Oldfield Villas, Birkbeck Villas was one. The road was and deaths until 1969. It was 1840 and 1885 that Road. numbered in the year it was probably used for other practically all the open My ancestor’s name was renamed. Elthorne Road is purposes and may also have spaces were covered with the Samuel Brown. on the east side of Holloway been empty for some time. Jack Brown Road, near Archway. It has been converted into [email protected] Entering the main postal flats and I would imagine Builders often codes in Google Earth street that the tablet may have named streets after Michael Reading writes: view will allow you to see been removed or even Clayton Street N1 was built what is there now. destroyed. If you look at 26a family members, 1848 and renamed Tilloch Photographs of some of Barnsbury Street on Google their county, town Street in 1938. Formerly a the streets may be held at Earth street view, you will street of some 46 houses, it is the London Metropolitan see how much has changed. or village of origin, now considerably reduced. It Archives, as they have an or their surnames is west of Caledonian Road. extensive collection for Caslon’s blue plaque missing During the Second World Islington, taken by the council William Caslon had a War, 20% of the houses were to assist in rebuilding after typefoundry in various exception of . classed as seriously damaged the war. Contact them at: streets near St Luke’s church Builders often named but repairable; 55% suffered [email protected]. in Old Street. The third streets after family members, general blast damage. location of his foundry was their county, town or village l Campbell Road N4 was Thank you so much for you at 24 Chiswell Street on the of origin, or their surnames. built 1864-65 and renamed assistance. I have sent emails corner of Bunhill Row. This may be the case with Whadcoat Street in 1938. It to different institutions in As I work in Bunhill Row Corbyn Street. had a notorious reputation with usually no and go past 24 Chiswell During the Second World in the 1920s as a road of the response. I can’t tell you Street at least once a day, I War, practically every house lowest class of degraded or how much I appreciate you looked to see if there was a in the eastern part of Corbyn semi-criminal population. It taking the time to help me. blue plaque on the wall. Street from Almington was a street of lodging Jack Brown There isn’t. I suspect it may Street suffered damage from houses, and home to thieves, have been removed when “general blast to damage prostitutes and child gangs. Seeking an engraved tablet the building was refurbished beyond repair”. A section of A book about it, Campbell My very first job was as a and not put back. the north side of the street Bunk: the Worst Street in young clerical officer in 1960 Margaret Busgith to the west of Almington London Between the Wars, by in the LCC’s architect’s [email protected] Street suffered similarly. Jerry White, was published department area office at Some of this may have in 1986. 26A Barnsbury Street. Andrew Gardner, Islington been caused by the bombing Campbell Road was the On an outside rear wall was Archaeology & History Society in 1940-41, but a V2 rocket first target of Islington’s an engraved tablet stating chairman, writes: fell on 31 December 1944 at slum clearance programme that the building was a former Thank you for letting us 11.28pm at the junction of after the war. Only a short workhouse built in 1777. In know about Caslon’s Hanley Road and Regina stretch of Whadcoat Street 1960, it was just above eye missing blue plaque. We will Road, killing five people and remains, which exits into level in the men’s urinals! be taking the matter up with injuring 131 others. near I left London for Devon English Heritage. After the war, Islington . council erected three blocks l I could not find any Write to us at [email protected] or via our website at iahs.org.uk. of flats where the houses had reference to Clifton Gardens If you do not want your address printed, let us know. This font been destroyed, all on the N4 in Islington, having is Caslon (see final letter), cut by the Islington typographer north side of Corbyn Street searched the census from

Journal of the Islington History & Archaeology Society Spring 2011 Vol 1 No 1 7 Beale’s store of Holloway Road

Beale’s store was a landmark in one of London’s most fashionable shopping parades. Its origins are traced from a small bakery in , in an extract from the store’s history by the founder’s grandson John Beale

861 was the year in bread dough would be mixed lay the famous stone where which Grandpa and moulded all by hand –  Richard Whittington rested  William Beale back-breaking work carried out and heard the bells of London descended without in the heat, dust, steam and coal calling him to return and become warning upon  fumes of the traditional London Lord Mayor of London. 1the defenceless inhabitants  basement bakehouse of the time. Grandfather must surely have of . William was strong and tough. been similarly inspired as he  In 1852, at the age of 18, When morning came he would set out for fame and fortune in William had left Buntingford  set out with his horse and van, the same direction. to be apprenticed to his uncle and deliver his own bread, hot Edward, a baker of Popham from the oven, to the First Holloway lease Street in Islington. surrounding district. And In 1866 Grandfather secured  In an interview given to the Christina would mind the shop, his first beach-head in Lower Caterer magazine in 1897 he is as bakers’ wives had done for Holloway with the lease of quoted as saying, “I learned the centuries before her. In addition No 368 Holloway Road – trade of baker and confectioner she found time to produce the “formerly Vine Cottage but now from my uncle, Edward Beale,  first two of her seven children. known as Holloway House… at his shop in Popham Street, William Edward was the first  abutting at the rear a field called Islington. In 1861 I commenced of the family to be awarded the Sibell”. The cobbled sunken business in a very small way in honour of two Christian names. highway lay three or four steps Highgate Hill. I was twenty- Baby Thomas Henderson arrived down from the wide pavement. three at the time and had only  just as they were preparing to It might have been from here, in a capital of £50 of my own. With move to in earlier days, that a man on this, and £200 which I borrowed, 1866. Meanwhile the business horseback rode daily to the City, I started. Business prospered,  had grown and some substantial crying “Holloway Cheesecakes” and in 1866 I secured a lease in outbuildings had been erected at round the streets. Holloway Road, at a rent of £110 the rear of the premises. But rural Islington was per year.” disappearing fast. Soon horse- It was indeed in “a very small drawn buses would start to ply way” that William started up in randfather had been from Camden Town to Finsbury the poverty-stricken little shop  studying the possibilities Park, crossing Holloway Road at at No 6 Whittington Terrace, Gof trade in Lower the Nag’s Head. Others would Highgate Hill, Upper Holloway, Holloway. Prosperous City leave Beale’s corner for King’s though we still have an early merchants were moving out Cross down the Caledonian photograph that he was proud from the inner suburbs to the Road. Holloway Road from  enough to have taken of it. It new dormitory area of Islington, our corner to the Nag’s Head hardly looks worth the £250 that followed by the more humble became one of the best shopping our young hopeful paid for it in Pooters they employed. parades in London outside the terms of 1861 money values. Holloway Road, the “Hollow West End. For the time being it was  Way” from Highbury to To the corner opposite us, a hard slog for William and  Highgate, part of the ancient across Tollington Road, came  his wife Christina. The heavy highway from London to the the brothers William and John north, lay ripe and ready for Jones one year later, to start up development. as drapers in the small shop at It might have been from here, Never a man to shilly-shally, No 2 Peartree Terrace, with one in earlier days, that a man on William took the plunge and assistant and an errand boy,  moved his little business and his and the first day’s sales recorded horseback rode daily to the City, little family in time to get in just as being £3-7-0. From these crying ‘Holloway Cheesecakes’ before the rush. Almost outside beginnings grew the department his shop on Highgate Hill there store known as Jones Brothers,

8 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Spring 2011 Vol 1 No 1 later acquired by Selfridges, and later still by the John Lewis Partnership. The two families of Beale and Jones built up their respective empires with some rivalry and a little jealousy, as we shall see. William’s new shop was an appreciable jump in size and standing from the down-at-heel mini-bakery on Highgate Hill. He was aiming at the top end of the much varied population of the new urban Islington. He would deliver daily and twice daily if required to the imposing houses springing up in Tufnell Park, Finsbury Park, Camden Road and Highbury – houses  for well-to-do families and  their servants. The plain fare of Highgate Hill was toned up considerably. Meals in good-class society were elaborate affairs and the services of a good-quality baker and confectioner were in demand. William extended his range to include a selection of top-quality groceries and provisions. He opened a small cafe at the rear of the shop, where Mrs Beale held court for the fashionable ladies of the district. There they would Beale’s of Holloway, completed in 1889, on the corner of Tollington Road. It included sip their glass of port and nibble banqueting rooms, bakeries, a department food store and its own power station a biscuit after their shopping, while their carriages awaited them outside. London. It was hard work for the 1889, could stand muster with family. An entry in the banquet many of the fine shops that Expansion – and a grand store diary for 1887, of our catering for men like Selfridge, Whiteley, For the next 24 years both 800 persons at the old Holborn and Gamage were building in William’s person and William’s Town Hall, reminds me that my the West End and the City.  business continued to extend. He father could never pass the place It was to be the pride and joy  let No 368 at a profit and took later without groaning at the of the family for many years  over Nos 370 and 372, together back-breaking work it had to come. n with houses and gardens down involved, shifting the heavy Tollington Road at the side and crates of china and cutlery up Many thanks to Andrew Beale rear. It was all part of a site and down the stairs. – William’s great-great grandson leased in 1793 for 961 years at  William was making money. – for allowing us to reproduce this a fixed rent of £6-0-0 per year  His ambition grew with his extract from Minding Our Own – the possibility of inflation not success. He borrowed £28,000 Business, his history of Beale’s occurring to the landlord at the from the bank and set about the of Holloway time. William built a bakery at complete rebuilding of his site. the rear of No 376, and took on The planning and erection of the another shop at No 464 new Beale’s was Grandfather’s William’s new shop was an temporarily, pending the large- most remarkable achievement. scale rebuilding he was now The new premises included a appreciable jump in size and contemplating. department food store, large standing. He was aiming at the top From Grandma Beale’s back restaurants, banqueting rooms, parlour cafe, there developed an bakeries, and an electric power end of the much-varied population outdoor catering department station in the basement. The of the new urban Islington that became the largest in north main building, completed in

Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Spring 2011 Vol 1 No 1 9 ‘On many a well remembered field…’

…is a line from Dame Alice Owen’s School song. Alan Beaumont looks back on his time at Owen’s School at the Angel in the 1950s, and describes its inspiration from a stray arrow

ccording to a 17th century narrative, Dame Alice Owen founded the school in 1613 thus: A“In the reign of Queen Mary, it was an exercise for archers to shoot with their bows and arrows at butts: this part of lslington at that time being all open fields and pasture land. “Alice Owen, then a maiden gentlewoman, was one day walking abroad in the fields attended by her maid-servant, when she stopped to watch a woman milking a cow. “Suddenly an arrow from the neighbouring butts was shot through the crown of her hat (then worn very tall). This so Dame Alice Owen’s School in Islington: the pair of white gateposts are still on City Road startled Alice Owen that she declared, if she lived to be a lady, she would erect something on the affair and intended to fulfil the governing and supervision  the spot of ground in her promise.” of the school to “My trusty and commemoration of the great Dame Alice bought the well-beloved friends, the Master, mercy shown by the Almighty in Hermitage Estate, an 11-acre Wardens and Assistants of the that astonishing deliverance. plot in a triangle bounded by Company of Brewers of London “Time passed on until she what is now St John Street, for the time being’’. became a widow, when her Goswell Road and Rawstorne servant, who was present on the Street, and built 10 almshouses Family life occasion of the accident, being “for poor old widows’’ in 1609. Dame Alice was born in 1547, still with her, reminded her of The next year, she secured a and the daughter of Thomas her former words. Alice Owen second patent to build a chapel Wilkes, a well-to-do tenant- answered that she remembered and house for a minister “who owner of property. may be able to read to the She had three husbands: aforesaid widows... and teach the Henry Robinson, a brewer with She secured a patent to sons and daughters of the poore’’. whom she had six sons; William This is the first local mention Elkin, a mercer with whom she build a house for a of education. The school was built had a daughter; and, finally, minister ‘who may be able shortly after, with the first pupils, Judge Thomas Owen. The 30 boy scholars, starting in 1613. brewing connection was all to… teach the sons and Dame Alice drew up rules and important in Dame Alice’s life. orders for the almshouses and She died on 26 November daughters of the poore’ school, entrusting the selection 1613 and was buried in St Mary’s

Picture of Dame Alice Owen’s School in Islington is reproduced by kind permission of the school in Islington is reproduced by School Alice Owen’s Picture of Dame of the masters and scholars, and church, Islington.

10 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Spring 2011 Vol 1 No 1 masters – being a member of English master the “glow club” was regarded  by some boys as prestigious. said I am a bright So, misbehaviour lost house points and certain sports lad but why do I activities gained them. The four houses at Owen’s School were keep messing named Cloudesley, Colebrooke, Myddelton and Hermitage  about so much? after persons or places ultimately connected with  the school’s history. School meals never seemed to improve despite the fact that they were sometimes prefaced by grace said in Latin by the master on duty. lmost some 340 years Punishment was “official” or My 1954 diary entries often later, I was privileged to otherwise. Official punishment refer to the quality of such A be a member of Owen’s was in the form of a detention meals: On 18 October, I wrote: School as a scholar between and considered the most serious, “To school, rotten dinner as 1950 and 1955. and given for behaviour such as usual...” and three days later, There were many fine masters. insubordination; conduct class, my diary reads: ‘’Old Dare told One of them was Reginald A meted out for something like us not to make fun of school Dare BA who taught history failing to do homework, or not dinners especially in front of the between 1924 and 1954 and wearing a school cap on the  cooks.” (“Old” was a habitual wrote A History of Owen’s School, right occasion, was considered term that I used, not necessarily published by Carwal. less grave. bearing any reference to age “Remember it like this: ‘Britain It was noticed that “Boo” but rather to familiarity.) rules the seas: America rules  Davidson, the art master, used Despite the fact that the girls’ the E’s,” was how he introduced neither detention nor conduct school, built adjacent in Owen’s my class in April 1954 to the class as a deterrent, but would Row, was founded in 1886, it O-level subject of the American ask the miscreant: “What  had precious little to do with War of Independence, as he house are you in, boy?” After the boys’ school until 1951. painstakingly underlined each  considering the reply, he would According to Dare’s history, ‘E’ while he chalked the word retort with biting irony: “I’m  that year saw the beginnings of “INDEPENDENCE” on the board. sure they’re proud of you!” “an increasing ‘co-operation Mr Dare was wont to use this But this was small beer between the boys’ and girls’ mnemonic method. How else compared with Mr Balfour Schools” when the girls’ school would I have learned “But (1791-1824) a former head, was invited to take part in the George’s Rotten Crazy Gang whose “discipline… became productions of the dramatic Never Really Secured Power”  over-strict” when protesting society and, later in the year, a as the initial letters of the  parents of boys complained  joint sixth form dancing class prime ministers in George III’s that their progeny were  was formed. reign, had it not been for this “locked up in the coal-shed  My group was discussing  memory aid? all day, beaten about the head the merits and drawbacks  Of course, most pupils dubbed with books, had their ears of coeducation during Mr Dare “Dan” behind his back, unceremoniously pulled or Tombstone’s chemistry class after the popular comic hero of were set to clean the knives while we waited for an space exploration, just as we and black the shoes”. experiment to materialise. called Mr Hodgson, our “No doubt much of this Tombstone had been silent lugubrious chemistry master, was motherly exaggeration...” throughout the discussion, but “Tombstone” because of his suggested Mr Dare, the it was he who had the final doleful and depressing delivery, history’s author. word: “lt seems to me,” he or the Rev RH Turner “Tub” Prefects wore half gowns observed drolly, “in mixed because of his portliness. and administered “prefects’ secondary education, the As with most of my peers, my detention” (or “defects teacher spends the first three exuberance was often checked.  pretension” as it was years trying to get them The school I noted in my diary of January contemptuously called). history by together and the next two  1954: “English master said I am  But any unofficial form of Reginald Dare, years trying to get them apart.” a bright lad but why do I keep punishment usually resulted  dubbed ‘Dan’ We continued with our messing about so much?” in a clip round the ear from some by pupils experiment in thought….

Journal of the Islington History & Archaeology Society Spring 2011 Vol 1 No 1 11 “Visitation’’ was the oldest according to Dare’s account. Dame Alice official function in the school’s My diary entry for 28 July Owen School’s history since its foundation in states that “...to school 9.30, but crest matches 1613. The month of May was only to get beer money which that of the Brewers’ usually fixed when the governors was 3 shillings six pence (17.5p). Company (the court of assistants of the Home 11.0”. (shown here at Brewers’ Company) “visited” to When I was there, the “money Brewers inspect to make sure that all  grant” award was carried through Buildings, near was well with the trust under with due ritual and ceremony. Angel) but with their charge. The whole school was completely a pair of crossed The boys were sent out into the in silence, with prefects on duty arrows above it fields round the school to collect in the corridors and the recipients flowers with which they decorated filing down form by form in After 363 years at the Angel, the schoolroom and made perfect order, while Dame Alice some 500 boys and 330 girls themselves buttonhole nosegays. from her Frampton pedestal joined together, as Owen’s School The best boy in the school was gazed down benignly. So, “money moved to Potters bar in 1977. n chosen to read the “oration” to grants” became “beer money” welcome the governors. He was (the usual term) but Mr Dare Alan Beaumont was a scholar at rewarded with a silver coin of maintained in his history that Owen’s School is Islington between value one shilling (5p), two “beer money” was “a legend 1950 and 1955 shillings and six pence (12.5p)  impossible to substantiate”.  or even five shillings (25p)  However, visitation remained Many thanks to Bill Hamilton-Hinds, and “other rewards were  unaltered for, on 27 July, I had to administration officer at Dame Alice in money-form as books  “go to school at 10 just to practise Owen’s School, for sending the were rare and expensive”,  visitation which is tonight ...”. picture of the school at Islington

From school magazine The Arrow, several years on…

ill Hamilton-Hinds was to “Heating by Radio”. Mr LS wind-force and cloud cover are a pupil at the school from Merrony gave demonstrations of taken, so that the general trend B1955 to 1963 and joined induction and dielectric heating, of the weather can be seen, and the staff in 1966. A former maths and left us greatly enlightened. a tentative forecast made. teacher, he is now the adminis- CA Long tration manager. Without offence: a short As well as the picture of  Visitation day, 1960 guide to the Prefects’ Room the school, he kindly sent us a Tribute must be paid to RL B-R N-S copy of The Arrow, the school’s Mr Darby, who, by employing Pernicious printer, diabolic magazine, dated Michaelmas advanced mathematical duplicator, fiddling physicist 1960. We have reproduced some methods, managed to fit 1,000 – known in the Labs as “Heath of it – do you remember anyone? people into St Pancras Town Hall Robinson”. Is reputed to be with a seating capacity of 700, making a take-over bid for the  Scientific Society notes and arrived at a rational solution! VI Form dance. Greatest The first meeting consisted of a Mention must also be made of achievement: has taken film, on “X-ray Crystallography”, the prefects for the usual smooth ‘O’ Level French seven times with a lecture by Mr NBH Blake. arrangement for, and distribution without passing. If any members left a little of, white carnations. baffled, it was no fault of Mr DJ Parsons, LVI Sci I DM H-NT Blake; incidentally, he also started Only prefect who can travel at a new fashion in lecturing, by Amateur weathermen half-fare on buses without a projecting his lecture notes on to Observant members will have pass. Greatest achievement: got a screen, using the epidioscope. noticed, at about 8.45am each drunk on half a glass of orange PD Caton of the UVI gave a morning, the appearance of three juice at the Old Boys’ Dinner. well-illustrated talk on “Principles well-clad figures on the roof of of Transistors”, followed by a the Girls’ School, and may have DP D-LLM-N short film. He even brought a been led to jump to conclusions. Awful athlete, ’orrible ’ead boy home-built transistor radio, However, this venture is purely – known in the Prefects’ Room  which provided entertainment in the interests of meteorology. as “Adolf”. Greatest achievement: for those clearing up afterwards. Readings of temperature, persuaded M G--ld to honour  The third meeting was devoted pressure, humidity, rainfall, an IOU.

12 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Spring 2011 Vol 1 No 1 Canterbury and St Pancras next door had over 46,000, much larger than Sheffield. It did no harm that the canal Regency would be part of a grand Regency urban landscape, putting “Regent” firmly across  transport the map of London. A place to work Later imperatives, including the relief of unemployment after  the Napoleonic wars, were to become critical to the history  of the canal. It would seem no accident  that all the activity in early August 200 years ago happened to be timed around the birthday of the Prince Regent on  City Road Lock: Islington’s City Basin, beyond the lock, was a thriving inland port 12 August 1811. Work began on the canal in  This year will see celebrations to mark Regency bicentennials the following year and there was – including of those of the Regent’s canal, says Lester Hillman an urgency to ensure that the works around Regent’s Park were completed first. The western part of the canal, his year sees a 200th Prince of Wales, Regent. It took as far as today’s Camden Lock anniversary for the the whole of the Regency period market, was formally opened in Regent’s Canal – and to build the Regent’s Canal. It a glittering ceremony on the a year-long party for was only completed in 1820, the birthday of the Prince Regent in Islington alongside. year he became King George IV. 1816, with festivities centred in TWe can look forward to a The displays in the London the new Park Basin. decade of bicentennials taking us Canal Museum in King’s Cross Eventually, with the to the anniversary of the canal’s illustrate the links to the Prince completion of the canal to completion and the opening Regent; the symbol of the Prince Limehouse, Islington’s City celebrations held in Islington. of Wales feathers can be seen Basin was to become a thriving The proposals for a canal went along the canal. inland port. back well before 1811 but the The Regency is a major theme first meeting of what would All in a name this year in exhibitions and become the Regent’s Canal The London Canal Museum galleries. Brighton Pavilion has a Company was on Friday 31 May embraces all London’s canals. Its year-long fashion exhibition, the 1811 at the Percy Coffee House name is a subtle reminder of the National Portrait Gallery has in Fitzrovia. history of the canal enterprise. concluded a Sir Thomas It is not far from Regency The proposed canal was to be Lawrence exhibition and  London, the area stretching from known as the London Canal or Keats House in  the north part of Regent Street the North Metropolitan Canal. is exploring a multitude of and the Regent’s Canal. John But the canny promoters of the Regency themes. Nash had very close links with canal had an eye to a new name. Regency transport seems to be the Regent and was fully On Wednesday 7 August 1811, missing but nowhere may be engaged in the enterprise. the Prince Regent agreed to it better placed to celebrate it than The Regency formally came being called the Regent’s Canal, Islington. At its annual general into being on Tuesday 5 February just in time for the first annual meeting on 15 June, the Islington 1811 with an act making George, general meeting of the company Archaeology & History Society on Saturday 10 August 1811 – yet will make a big splash with another bicentennial this year. Regency transport and Regency The Regency is a major theme this The imperative for transport Islington. n year in exhibitions and galleries. infrastructure was clear. The l See IAHS events, page 27 Times newspaper for 10 August Nowhere may be better to celebrate 1811 reported that the Parish Lester Hillman is academic Regency transport than Islington of Islington had a population adviser of the Islington of 30,537, comparable to Archaeology & History Society

Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Spring 2011 Vol 1 No 1 13 How to explore the index Lords and laundresses If you want to explore the results of this project, first decide on a search term: personal name? A great insight is offered into how Regency street? occupation? Londoners lived from insurance policies. Start Next, go to www. nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a, with an online search, says Isobel Watson which is the Access to Archives section of the National Archives website. There you will find the search he Sun Fire Office developing suburbs such as screen, which will take you to insured chattels as (there are at least any reference to your chosen well as buildings, so 2,000 direct references to it) and term within the national there is probably no Islington (nearly double that digitised archive. better way of getting number). Many more policies There are two ways to search Tan insight into the lifestyles of concern these areas but refer to the A Place in the Sun index. You Regency Londoners of all walks a street address only, not the can simply enter your search of life – from lords to laundresses area as a whole. term plus the word “insured”. – than from its policies. The Place in the Sun project A better method, however, is More than 140 Sun Fire Office put information from Sun Fire to choose Advanced Search, then policy registers are indexed and Office insurance policies into a enter your search term. Then, can be searched online. These digital format so they could be from the drop-down Repository represent nearly a quarter of a searched online. menu, select Guildhall Library. million insurance policies issued, The index to the volumes The Place in the Sun volunteer mostly to Londoners, between (numbers 419-560) is available indexers record the names of 1793 and 1839. via the National Archives people and places as they These polices are a good website. Work is continuing appear in the company’s policy source for research into on other volumes. registers, however archaic the

Changing face of the Red Lion pub

was sold to New Wells, one of became the Thomas Wethered, several spas on this London then a succession of restaurants. Red Lion site: fringe. New Wells opened a Shifting identity is nothing new. formerly home theatre in 1735, as a direct In 1936, when Spa Fields was to a spa, a theatre and challenge to Thomas Sadler’s enlarged, today’s premises were a music hall, famous premises. built to the south of the 1836 site, now occupied New Wells was taken over in nearer to its original location. by a restaurant the 1740s by Thomas Rosoman, Whitbread’s architect Henry and closed when he moved to Kent designed the building. un register Ms 11936/390 Sadler’s Wells. On part of the site It was a little spooky to turn contains an insurance he built a row of houses – the page of a policy register and Spolicy for “the Red Lion, Rosoman’s Row. You can find his find this insurance of premises Rosamond Street”. insurances in the Sun registers in in Northampton Road, long Rosoman Street, which had the 1790s, when Rosoman lived gone, almost exactly below the several names including in Hampton in . spot where I was sitting in the Rosamond Street, used to run In 1836 the landowner, the Metropolitan Archives. southwards as far as Marquess of Northampton, cut It was good to know, though, Corporation Row, and included what became the west-east arm that in 1793 publican John the north-south stretch of what of Northampton Road. The Red Burns was rather doing well, his is now Northampton Road. Lion was rebuilt a little to the household goods, stock, From the 1720s, the Red Lion north of its original site. clothing and plate valued at inn was on the site. It had a In the 1860s the pub was, more than double the building bowling green, and cock fights briefly, a music hall. In the 1870s value of £200. n were held at 4pm in summer. it was called the Clock House. l Survey of London, Vol 47 (2008) In 1735, the bowling green More recently, the Red Lion was used in this research.

14 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Spring 2011 Vol 1 No 1 News in brief

Hornsey hits 40 People’s plaque winners

The Historical Society The five most popular people There are at least nine ways to will be celebrating its 40th and events, as voted for by over spell Rosoman Street in the registers – a bit of ingenuity will help you anniversary on 21 May with a 3,000 people, are to receive a find records on streets with garden room party and the green Islington people’s plaque. variable names launch of A Vision of Middlesex, “a They are: John Wright (founder book of lovely old photographs of the Angel Theatre); author of our area taken… in the first Douglas Adams; suffragette spelling, so a bit of ingenuity half of the 20th century”. Edith Garrud; the Peasants’ helps in searching. Revolt at Highbury; and boat club One useful trick is to use News from Camden pioneer Crystal Hale. asterisks in place of vowels. There are lots of references to Stage history Rosoman Street, for example, in the registers, but there are many Charterhouse Square and the variants of its spelling, and English theatre during and after R*s*m*n will capture most Oliver Cromwell’s interregnum of them. were the subjects of a recent talk Occupations, however, are by Colin D Brooking DipArch recorded in their modern form, RIBA to the Islington so search for tailor, not taylor. The latest Camden History Review Archaeology & History Society. covers: Edith Gissing, the second In his talk Charterhouse Square Address and occupation wife of author George Gissing, and the English stage re-birthing, If the online database leads you and her time in asylums; homes he showed images from the to a policy, it will give basic for “fallen” women and those Chatsworth House collection to information about it – the date, “rescued from surroundings of illustrate the evolution of theatre the person insured, with their great temptation”; and a history and stage design, such as the use address and occupation (or of 19th-century horse tramcars of accelerated perspective and status), plus similar details about in Camden and Islington. moveable wings. other individuals and locations l www.camdenhistorysociety.org During the interregnum in the (if any) mentioned in the policy. Camden Railway Heritage 17th century, plays were banned. For the actual details of what Trust has a new website that However, discreet performances was insured and for how much, looks at rail heritage above and were staged at Holland, Arundel, you will need to look at the below ground, including train York and Durham houses along register itself, so note the register sheds, vaults and tunnels, and the Thames. Tennis courts, such and policy numbers as well as sets out the trust’s work. as those at Lincoln’s Inn, were the records series, which is called l www.chrt1837.org often used as theatres. Ms 11936. Playwright William Davenant Although the National Smoke and mirrors turned a room in his home, Archives site says the Sun Rutland House in Charterhouse archive is still at Guildhall Glassmaking and defensive Square, into a theatre in a form Library, it has moved to London municipal architecture were that we would recognise today. Metropolitan Archives, covered in the Southwark  Here, he staged the first English 40 Northampton Road, EC1R & Archaeological opera, The Siege of Rhodes, in 0HB. Here, you can search Society newsletter. 1656; this is believed to be the registers yourself. You can also It described how glassmaking first performance in which order copies without visiting. n was boosted by royalty granting women took part. monopolies and damage from the Great Fire of London in 1666. Architect’s blue plaque Isobel Watson An article on Edwardian is project architecture showed trouble was Sir Basil Spence (1907-76) has co‑ordinator, expected at Lambeth town hall: been commemorated with a blue A Place in “One change… was to put plaque at his former home and the Sun mirrors at the back of the public office at 1 Canonbury Place in gallery at a time of public disquiet Islington, N1. He is best known Left: Sun fire so that anyone throwing a missile for his ground-breaking design mark could be seen.” of Coventry Cathedral.

Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Spring 2011 Vol 1 No 1 15 The emigrants’ friend

Caroline Chisholm was so renowned in Australia for her philanthropic work that her face appeared on a bank note. However, she is little known in England. Carole Walker

gives a overview of her extraordinary work for emigrants Lithograph of Caroline Chisholm by Thomas Fairland of a painting by Angelo Colleen Hayter; the painting was exhibited in the Royal Academy Caroline Walker spoke to the pursuits. This was a most unusual summer exhibition in 1852. Queen Islington Archaeology & History request at that time. Archibald Victoria’s portrait artist, Sir George Society about Caroline Chisholm’s accepted Caroline and they Hayter (no relation) also executed a life and work. Here is a short married on 27 December 1830. painting of Caroline excerpt of her talk While in India, where her husband had returned to his aroline Chisholm regiment, Caroline founded a Many of the emigrants had told was very well girls’ school. She and her family Caroline and Archibald that they known in the – they had two children by then had been forced leave their mid-19th century. – set sail for Australia in 1838. children in England, because they She was called the Once in Sydney, they saw that were too young to travel or ill, or emigrants’C friend for her work in the emigrants there were in a very because the fare was too high. Sydney. Here, she set up homes difficult situation. Many of young Back in England, Archibald for single women arriving in the women did not have any money, and Caroline tracked down the colony, then families and single family or friends or jobs, and children – a logistical nightmare men, and helped them find work. ended up working on the streets. – and organised a ship to take She was known in England for After meeting a young woman them to Australia, free of charge. setting up the Family Colonisation called Flora, who was After the government reneged Loan Society and her talks about contemplating suicide, Caroline on its agreement to send out the emigration across the country was determined to help all wives and children of emancipists and in Europe. Talks could attract young women. free of charge because of cost, over 2,000 people, and reports of Originally, Caroline took Caroline badgered it until it them often contained the words women into the family home – honoured the agreement. “hear, hear” and “laughter”. up to nine at a time. More space The family settled in Charlton In Australia, buildings, political was needed, so she set about Crescent, now Charlton Place, in wards, schools and societies are organising a home for emigrant Islington. Here, Caroline named after her. She appeared on women – a long, hard task. founded the Family Colonisation the A$5 banknote for nearly 25 Loan Society in 1849. The years. In England, it wasn’t until The first home basement was fitted out as 2004 that a school was named In first night in the barracks that steerage accommodation. after Caroline, in Northampton. was to become the home, she The society lent half the cost of Caroline raised funds for her heard a scratching noise – rats. the fare, with the emigrant homes and to run the Family She knew she could not be seen finding the other half. The Colonisation Loan Society by to give up easily. So, she gave the public subscription. She did not rats her meal that night and sat ask any organisation or person up watching them. The following for funding as she wanted to night she fed the rats again – but them to be independent. laced the food with arsenic. Caroline Jones was born in The home was enlarged to take Northampton on 30 May 1808 to in families, with young men a close-knit family. She was her staying in tents outside. Caroline Caroline’s house father’s 16th and her mother’s set up a network of homes. She in Charlton seventh child. found the women and families Place, formerly After her future husband, work and started an employment Charlton Crescent, in Archibald Chisholm, proposed agency, and enquired about work Islington, where marriage, Caroline gave him a outside Sydney. Caroline often the Family month to consider whether he placed single women in jobs as Colonisation would want a wife who wanted servants in areas where she Loan Society

Girl Annual : Longacre Press Girl Australia; of By kind permission of the National Library Lithograph: to follow a life of philanthropic knew there were bachelors. was founded

16 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Spring 2011 Vol 1 No 1 which later became known as Chisholm shakedowns. This cheap accommodation enabled families to travel together, and housed single men and women in separate quarters. They were an easy day’s walk apart. The Chisholm family finally settled in London, where Caroline died in March 1877, in relative poverty. Archibald died the following August and was buried with his wife. They were survived by five of their eight children. Caroline was a very remarkable woman who led an extraordinary life. She so deserves to be better known. n

Meeting at Charlton Crescent, Islington, from the Ladies Magazine. The A Saviour of Living Cargoes. The Life picture has been transposed – Tasmania is on the left. Social reformer Lord Shaftesbury, who headed Caroline’s committee, often attended meetings, as and Work of Caroline Chisholm by did Sir Sidney Herbert MP (shown here addressing the meeting) Carole Walker costs £15.99 from Amazon, Waterstone’s or Wolds Publishing, 203 Six Hills Road, journey would cost £15-£20; the example, wood from Canada or Walton on the Wolds, Leicestershire, average wage in the 1830s-40s wool from Australia on the LE12 8JE, books@woldspublishing. was about 21s per week. return journey. It would not have co.uk, or Carole Walker for £13.00 Emigrants had to repay the loan been fumigated between + £2.40 p&p per book, email after two years in Australia. voyages. In the heat of the [email protected] Caroline held meetings at doldrums, or in rough seas with Charlton Crescent to enable the hatches battened down and emigrants to get to know one passengers being sick, the stench another before and work must have been unbelievable. together to find the cost of the Family Colonisation Loan fare before they left. Society ships had better It was said that the Chisholm ventilation; the sexes were home in Charlton Crescent was always separated; and smaller the equivalent of the Australian cabins improved privacy. They High Commission. A letter also had laundries with irons – addressed to “Caroline Chisholm, even with the risk of fire on a London” reached her. wooden ship. Ironing, Caroline believed, helped get rid of bugs. Ship building Caroline campaigned Girl Annual (1961) tells The Family Colonisation successfully for better conditions Caroline’s story: above: the Loan Society first found on board emigrant ships, launches of the Family accommodation on ships, then including better rations and Colonisation Loan Society and chartered its own ships. A ship, ventilation. She was not popular a ship named after her; right: built for the society to Caroline’s with ship owners – these helping a homeless girl; specifications, was named after improvements cost money. below: strong words with a governor and the first home her (see cartoon, right). Caroline hoped to sail home Many of the emigrant ships on the society’s ship named after were in a very poor condition, her, but it was commissioned to and many did not make their take soldiers to the Crimea. destination. Steerage bunks could On return to Australia in 1854, be just 18” wide, with parents on Caroline saw the difficulties top and children underneath – diggers faced in travelling to the there were four bunks in each 6’ gold fields. Accommodation en square berth. Some bunks had route to the gold-digging areas planks of wood or sackcloth was very expensive, so the men between them for privacy. travelled on their own, leaving Steerage accommodation wives and children behind. would also be used to bring, for Caroline set up shelter sheds,

Journal of the Islington History & Archaeology Society Spring 2011 Vol 1 No 1 17 The Museum of the Order of St John has reopened, with new galleries and more treasures on show, and a dedicated research room. Tom Foakes shows us around Museum makes a modern move

he Museum of the tabletops in which smaller Order of St John has specialist exhibitions may be reopened, following a mounted. This offers academics a year’s closure and a dedicated room for research. complete refurbish- The museum now meets the Tment. Begun in the 19th century, needs of both the general public the museum was fitted out in and specialists. 1978 and needed attention. As well as the Tudor gatehouse, The museum has over 40,000 built as the entrance to the objects, many of considerable Priory of St John in , historic importance, including the museum includes St John’s rare armour, illuminated Church with its atmospheric manuscripts, jewellery, paintings, 12th century crypt. silver and ceramics. A new learning centre offers a The refurbishment of the wealth of opportunities for formal Grade I listed buildings has, as and informal learning. Activities intended, revealed more of their are led by a learning and access Tudor origins. They were once the officer, a post supported by a Office of the Master of the Revels Heritage Lottery Fund grant. and later home to Hogarth and Public and private areas have Dr Johnson, as well as a pub in been improved. Better security which Dickens was a drinker. ensures collections are safe; the Above: the Original oak is complemented by museum is a double-height glass historic rooms, which may be double-height limed oak and York stone roofed gallery, which links public link gallery viewed on guided tours, are more throughout the new galleries. spaces. An audiovisual time line sympathetically lit; and storage along one wall plots national areas are networked for computer Room to explore and international events. use. Many architecturally The redesign has created a much The four galleries tell the story unsympathetic features, such as more coherent space in which to and weave themes together. Each sockets and surface mounted explore the history of the Order has a concise narrative, supported wiring, have been removed. of St John, from its foundations by objects from the museum’s The museum received £1.6m in the Holy Land in the 11th diverse collections. Mixed-media from the Heritage Lottery Fund century, through to its current displays present conservation towards the £3.6m project, as role with St John Ambulance and issues but, with secure, airtight well support from the Wellcome the St John Eye Hospital in cases, environmental controls and Trust, the Weston Foundation, Jerusalem. monitoring equipment, curatorial the Blackwell Foundation and Through subtle design and staff have been able to create numerous other donors. innovative and engaging visually exciting displays in which Project managers Cultural displays, the museum has objects are protected from Innovations, building contractors condensed its long and complex adverse conditions. The museum is Mivan, project designers narrative into a clear story. Audiovisuals in each gallery free and open Metaphor, conservation Beginning with the Crusades, allow people to see items from 10am-5pm, architects Donald Insall and continuing through revolts the collections of prints, drawings, Monday- Associates and contractors who and revolutions, war and peace, manuscripts and photographs Saturday; provided expertise on lighting, this story crosses the centuries that are not on public display. guided tours displays and audiovisuals and shows how, from its origins A storage room has been take place on worked with staff to ensure the Tuesdays, in founding a hospital for sick transformed into a collections museum meets its users’ needs. n Fridays and pilgrims, St John has maintained research centre, primarily for the Saturdays at its caring role to the present day, museum’s prints, drawings and 11am and Tom Foakes is deputy curator, working throughout the world on manuscripts. The room has 2.30pm. www. Museum and Library of the Order of numerous humanitarian projects. tailor-made storage furniture, museumstjohn. St John, St John’s Gate, St John’s A key feature of the new with display drawers and glazed org.uk Lane, Clerkenwell, EC1M 4DA

18 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Spring 2011 Vol 1 No 1 Islington burials

Hundreds of coffin plates have been recovered from the burial ground. Do you recognise any of the names here?

Derek Seeley, senior contract manager at the Museum of London and Islington Archaeology & History Society committee member, has supplied a list of names and addresses taken from these coffin plates. We are extremely privileged to be able to publish them. If you recognise any names here, please contact Derek at [email protected]

Nordon Susannah female 1830 iron Norman Mary female 1846 iron 30-Aug Edward Street, Barnsbury Road,Islington Norman Ann female 1841 iron 28-Mar 2 Shepherds Place, City Road Norman? Mary? female 1840 iron 3-Jan Pierpoint Rents, Islington Norris? George male 1819 iron Nowell Elizabeth female 1823 iron Noyes Mary? female 1834 iron 7-Sep 11 Vittoria Place, White Conduit Fields Nurss John male 1844 iron 9-May 7 Gloster Street, Clerkenwell Oakey Charles male 182.?? iron O’hara Bridget female 1853 iron 16-Oct 6 Charlotte Court, Suffolk Street, Pentonville Olerenshaw James male 1832 iron 11-Jan Balls Pond Road, Islington Oliv(er) Ann female 184(1) iron 28-Mar 11 Church Row, Islington Oliver Samuel Thomas male 1838 lead 10-Mar Common Osborn Sarah female 1850 iron 24-Nov 13 Wickham Street, Islington Otley Elisha William male 1853 iron 20-Nov Orchard Road, Ballspond (Elijah Wm.) Otway Thomas male 1852 iron 22-Nov 10 Richmond Grove, Islington Oulet? (Oulett) Mary Ann female 184(7) iron 19-Dec 2 Cumberland Row, Islington Over John male 1844 iron 2-Nov 11 Upper Charles Street, Northampton Square Owen Mary? female 1830 iron Oxenham Sarah female 1844 iron 29-Dec 8 Elizabeth Terrace, Islington P(o)tt(ar) Samuel male 18(3)1 iron 22-May No.7 Clarence Gardens, Regents Park Pa(nnell) Hannah? female 1851 iron 29-May Windsor Street, Islington Pa...... ? Ann female 1825 iron Paddon James Rand(ell) male 1852 iron 9-Feb 22 Cow Cross Street, St Sepulchre Page Sarah female 1833 iron 2-Mar Wards Place, Islington Page Mary Ann female 1848 iron 10-Sep Owens Court, Goswell Road Pagett William male 1825 iron Pallet Phoebe female 1842 iron 29-May City Garden Row Pallett George male 1853 iron 11-Dec 18 Graham Street, Islington Palmer Abraham male 1830 iron Parker Thomas male 1844 iron 26-Aug Ballspond (Edward) Parker George male 1851 iron 6-Jul Skinner Street, Clerkenwell Parker William male 1838 lead 17-Feb Maiden Lane, Battle Bridge Parker William male 1838 lead 17-Feb Maiden Lane, Battle Bridge Parker Fanny Helen female 1841 iron Parker Mary female 1825 lead Parkes Frederick male 1825 iron Parkes (Parks) Elizabeth female 1849 iron 8-Nov 24 Brewer St, Clerkenwell Parlour Richard male 1828 iron Partridge David male 1840 iron 4-Oct North Place, Ballspond (David Kerby) Partridge Frederick male 1840 iron 27-Sep Ballspond

Journal of the Islington History & Archaeology Society Spring 2011 Vol 1 History & No 1 19 Publications and bookshop

Many of these publications can be The Street ordered from the Islington Archaeology & Kay Brellend History Society. Call us on 020 7833 1541 A new Islington novel. Gritty, gripping and authentic, The Street is based on the author’s Cinemas of Haringey Portsmouth: in Defence of family who lived in Jeremy Buck the Realm Campbell Road. This tells John Sadden In 1937, life is hard for the history This book, illustrated with families living in “Campbell of more engravings and rare Bunk”. than 40 photographs, tells Alice Keiver is a sensitive cinemas Portsmouth’s story from girl, the daughter of an – some Roman times to it becoming alcoholic mother and niece gone and the British Empire’s premier of an abusive uncle, who some still naval base. dreams that one day she flourishing £15.99. Phillimore & Co, Healey and her sister will escape. this year. Is the first in a – and what became of the House, Dene This tale of cheating series that will follow the buildings. Road, Andover, husbands, drunken wives, Keiver family’s fortunes. It takes us from the early Hampshire, sudden illnesses, runaway Kay Brellend has written days of shop conversions to SP10 2AA, children and revenge has 16 historical novels under a 1900s picture palaces, 1930s 01264 409203, enough drama to balance pseudonym. This is her first deco luxury and today’s www. the laughter with the tears. novel set in the 20th century. multiplexes, drawing on the phillimore.co.uk The Street was launched Published by HarperCollins stories of visitors and staff. at Islington Museum earlier £7.99 Many of the illustrations Historical maps and are from private collections postcards and never seen before. A From Alan Godfrey of Islington and further The London Dog from the treat for cinema lovers. Want to know what your afield. We’ve also got a range Romans to Today Published by the Hornsey area looked like many years of postcards. Call us for James Dowsing Historical Society ago? We stock a number of details. Sunrise Press £9.99 + £1.15 p&p fascinating historical maps £2.50 each + 50p p&p From Buckingham Palace’s royal corgis to the mutts of $ , a statue that Publications order form caused riots and a heroic wartime poodle, this looks at Name ...... a London dog’s life over the centuries. Address ...... Foreword  by a rather ...... dismissive cat. Tel no/email (if we need to contact you about your order) ...... Published by Sunrise Press Title(s)of publication Cost £3.50 + 60p p&p ......

...... All books shown with p&p ...... can be ordered from the society by mail. Fill in the Total cost ...... form – if you want more than one item, call us on Please make cheques payable to “Islington Archaeology & History Society”; send this 020 7833 1541 for a form (photocopies acceptable) to IAHS, 8 Wynyatt Street, London EC1V 7HU discount on p&p

20 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Spring 2011 Vol 1 No 1 53 Cross Street. Biography Take a spring stroll with our historical walk guides of a House Mary Cosh and Martin King, With the days getting with photographs by longer, it’s time to dust off Pauline Lord. Hardback. the cobwebs and get out Traces the history of 53 into the spring sunshine Cross Street from 1785 – with some help from our when it was built, to gaining historical walk guides. a floor and losing half its They are A5 size, so are back garden for St Mary’s carried easily. church hall, through various types of occupation and An Historical Walk ownership. Through Barnsbury Martin King, who moved Mary Cosh here in 1990, became Lots of twists and turns in fascinated by the house’s this walk that starts at history, and uncovered Angel. It includes Chapel many original features, Market, a street of for which Barnsbury is best Published by the Islington including paintwork of 1785. professionals that became known – and unusual Archaeology & History Society the most crowded market features such as sphinxes £5 + £60 p&p in London, boasting 30 guarding a doorway. drapery stalls in 1893. Published by the Islington Discover Stoke Then it’s the start of Archaeology & History Society Newington. A Walk Barnsbury proper, at the £4.50 + 60p p&p Through History site of former pleasure A tour divided into nine gardens, and trades unions An Historical Walk Along walks of 20-60 minutes in and market history. See the the New River a guide illustrated with lots classic houses and squares Mary Cosh of current and historical Historical walk along the pictures and maps. route of the New River, from It looks at local trades, the New River Head at Victorian industry, housing Sadler’s Wells, taking a few for well-to-do families and diversions and going the “industrious classes”, through Clissold Park and Abney Park cemetery, the past the wonderful Victorian landmark St Mary’s church By the time he left Cross pumping station better and Clissold Park. You’ll Street, he had a remarkably known as Stoke Newington also discover where to find complete record of the decor Castle. London’s first open-air of the house from its The walk is upstream but, vending machine for works building date onwards. regardless of which way you of art and plenty of . A must for anyone follow the route, rest Published by the Friends of interested in historic decor. assured you’ll be able to find Hackney Archives. Published by the Islington pubs near both ends. £4.95 + 60p p&p Archaeology & History Society £20 + £1.75 p&p

Only Bricks and Mortar Little Italy. and monkeys, hokey-pokey networks of secret escape Harry Walters The Story men [ice cream sellers], routes where no sane A tale of boyhood in the of London’s murder, gangsters and policeman would follow. 1930s and the Second World Italian spectacular processions”. They were the backdrop to War, in the notorious council Quarter Published by Camden Local the murder, theft and radical tenements know as The Tudor Allen Studies and Archive Centre activism described here. Cottages in Popham Road. In the 19th Call for price This history looks at crime A memorable picture of century  and punishment in Islington, lives transformed by the war, so many Criminal Islington. The Story social breakdown and and the demolition of the Italians lived in the area of Crime and Punishment political history, and how flats in 1978 – influenced to between Farringdon Road, in a Victorian Suburb the new police force and some degree by the filming Holborn and Gray’s Inn Edited by Keith Sugden redevelopment combined  there of Cathy Come Home. Road, that it became known Rookeries were criminal to defeat the rookeries. Published by the Islington as Little Italy. ghettos of pickpocketing Published by the Islington Archaeology & History Society This publication tells tales schools and receiving Archaeology & History Society £7.99 + £1.15 p&p of “ice cream, organ grinders houses, with dense £5 + £1.15 p&p

Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Spring 2011 Vol 1 No 1 21 What’s on

Events, exhibitions, study days, walks and more. Information and contact details of organisers can be found on our directory on page 25. Details of Islington Archaeology & History Society events are listed on the inside back page

Events can be subject to History Group. 5.30pm for Organised by the Wednesday 13 April change and not all details had 6pm, Museum of London in and District Archaeological History of been finalised as we went to Docklands, Hertsmere Road, Society. 8pm, Avenue House, Chris Protz press, so please confirm details West India Quay, EC14. 17 East End Road, N3 Organised by the Hornsey with event organisers www.docklands www.hadas.org.uk. Historical Society. historygroup.org.uk 8pm, Union Church If you would like your event Tuesday 12 April Community Centre, Ferme listed here, email: news@iahs. Thursday 7 April Climate Change and Park Road/Weston Park, N8 org.uk Birmingham Canals, Past Mammalian Extinction in and Present the Quaternary Thursday 14 April Thursday 31 March Eric Lewis Professor Adrian Lister, The Eyre Estate in St John’s King Alfred and the Canal history and the move Natural History Museum Wood and Camden Olympics from trade to leisure use. Organised by the Amateur Organised by the Camden Jeremy Batch 7.30pm, London Canal Geological Society. History Society. Organised by the East Museum, £3/£2  7.30pm, The Parlour, St 7.30pm, 020 7586 4436, www. London History Society. concessions/members Margaret’s United Reform camdenhistorysociety.org 7.30pm, Latimer Church, Victoria Avenue, N3 Congregational Church Hall, Sunday 10 April Friday 15 April Ernest Street, E1 A walk Tuesday 12 April 2011 Clocks and Watches in the Organised by Hornsey Excavations at Holywell British Museum Wednesday 6 April Historical Society. Priory David Thompson, curator of A Right Royal River? A hornseyhistorical.org.uk Hana Lewis horological collections at the History of the Crown Estate Southwark & Lambeth British Museum. Organised and the River Tuesday 12 April Archaeological Society event. by the Neil Jacobson, of the Crown Bomb Damage in London 7pm for 7.30pm, New Cut Archaeology Society. Estate and Middlesex Housing Co-Operative Hall, 6.30pm for 7pm start, St Organised by the Docklands Dr Robin Woolven 106 The Cut, SE1 Olave’s Hall, Mark Lane, EC3 www.colas.org.uk

Saturday 16 April 2011 Afghanistan: Crossroads of the Ancient World London Maze Free local history fair, with stalls from libraries, archives, British Museum, The items were feared to museums and local history until 3 July 2011 have been lost after the societies, and talks, walks Soviet invasion in 1979 and and films. 10am-4pm, Afghanistan: Crossroads of the civil war, when the Guildhall Art Gallery, the Ancient World shows National Museum was Guildhall Yard, EC2P 2EJ. over 200 stunning objects rocketed and displays were Come and say hello to us at that demonstrate how destroyed by the Taliban, but the Islington Archaeology & Afghanistan benefited from survived because Afghan History Society stall its relations with its officials concealed them. neighbours Central Asia, Gold crown from Tillya Tepe Saturday 16 April 2011 Iran, India and China, as British Museum, Great Seriac 2011: South-East well as the Mediterranean. and delicate inlaid gold Russell Street, WC1 Regional Industrial Artefacts include classical personal ornaments. 10am-5.30pm Saturday- Archaeology Conference. sculptures, polychrome The exhibition includes Thursday, 10am-8.30pm An IA Miscellany ivory inlays, enamelled the earliest gold objects Friday. £10 + concessions. Hosted by the Sussex Roman glass, polished discovered in Afghanistan, Book at www.britishmuseum. Industrial Archaeology stone tableware from Egypt which date to 2000 BC. org or 020 7323 8181 Society, 01273 413790. University of Sussex, Brighton

22 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Spring 2011 Vol 1 No 1 Saturday 16 April Occupied France Geoffrey 1940-1944 Professor H Roderick Fletcher’s Kedward Organised by the Historical Islington: Association, Central London Branch. 2pm, Institute of Impressions Historical Research, Senate House, WC1, contact:  in Time Jill Kilsby, 07957 627 783, malcolmkilsby@blueyonder. Islington Local History co.uk Centre,

Thursday 28 April 21 April-28 June Geoffrey Fletcher’s Islington Geoffrey Fletcher (1923- An illustrated talk on the work of Geoffrey Fletcher takes place on Nina Hymans 2004), was a notable artist Thursday 28 April at the Islington Local History Centre Illustrated talk on the and author, who was Fletcher Archive, focusing interested in the home. He said: “Islington, Islington Local History on the artist’s impressions of overlooked and unsung like St Paul’s, is something Centre, 245 John Street, Islington. Accompanied by aspects of London life and that has to be seen for London EC1V 4NB exhibition (see box). architecture. oneself: it is a total 020 7527 2837 6pm, Local History Centre, He came to love experience, requiring all the islington.museum@ 020 7527 7988, local. Islington, making it his senses and all the faculties.” islington.gov.uk [email protected]

Wednesday 20 April Insanity in Islington: festival, with over 100 boats. 3pm and 4pm, lasting 50 8pm, Avenue House, 17 East Treatment and Records 10am, , free. minutes. Book in advance End Road, N3 3QE Dr Kathy Chater waterways.org.uk through the museum. www.hadas.org.uk Organised by the Islington 020 7713 0836, Archaeology & History Wednesday 4 May www.canalmuseum.org.uk Wednesday 11 May Society. Gravesend Sea School History of the Pianola 8pm, Islington Town Hall, John D Meadowcroft, Tuesday 10 May Michael Broadway Upper Street, N1 president the National Sea/ Cave Development, at Organised by the Hornsey College Training School Home and Abroad Historical Society. Wednesday 20 April Gravesend Association Dr Tony Waltham 8pm, Union Church William Henry Barlow, an Organised by the Docklands Organised by the Amateur Community Centre, Ferme Eminent Victorian Engineer History Group. Geological Society Park Road/Weston Park, N8. Chris Lewis 5.30pm for 6pm, Museum of 7.30pm, The Parlour, St Organised by the in Docklands, West Margaret’s United Reform Thursday 12 May London Industrial India Quay, EC14 Church, Victoria Avenue, N3. Open Evening Archaeology Society. Films about East London. 6.30pm, Willoughby Theatre, Thursday 5 May 2011 Tuesday 10 May 2011 Organised by the East Charterhouse Square, EC1, The Key Players Who Built Recent Archaeological London History Society. 020 8692 8512, glias.org.uk the Regent’s Canal Works in Advance of the 7.30pm, Latimer Robert Philpot, author and British Museum World Congregational Church Thursday 28 April historian Heritage & Exhibition Centre Hall, Ernest Street, E1. Eighteenth Century 7.30pm, London Canal Becky Haslam Museum, £3/£2, Organised by the Southwark Museums at Night Derek Morris 020 7713 0836, & Lambeth Archaeological Thursday 12 May Organised by the East www.canalmuseum.org.uk Society. A Walk and a Talk on London History Society. 7pm for 7.30pm, 106 The Smithfield Market 7.30pm, Latimer Sunday 8 May Cut, SE1. Both organised by Islington Congregational Church Summer Tunnel Boat Trips Museum, 020 7527 2837, Hall, Ernest Street, E1 Boat trips from London Tuesday 11 May islington.museum@ Canal Museum through The Markfield Beam Engine islington.gov.uk Saturday 30 April–Monday Islington Tunnel and back, – the Influence of Effluence Exploring Smithfield on Foot 2 May with a guide to explain the Ken Brereton Smithfield through the ages, Canalway Cavalcade tunnel’s history. Hendon and District 5.30pm-6.30pm Community waterways Trips at 11am, 12pm, 2pm, Archaeological Society event. A History of Smithfield

Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Spring 2011 Vol 1 No 1 23 Livestock and Meat Market Wednesday 18 May Des Whyman GMInstM Inaugural Address from the George Orwell’s Islington (Member of the Worshipful President of the Society Company of Butchers), Rt Hon Lord Smith of Finsbury George Orwell was living at 27b Canonbury Square in author, former butcher and Organised by the Islington Islington when Animal Farm was published. While there, historian, 7pm-8pm Archaeology & History he worked on drafts of Nineteen Eighty-Four, and Society. published numerous essays and articles. Friday 13-Sunday 15 May 8pm, Islington Town Hall, The tour takes in locations from which Orwell drew Museums at Night 2011 Upper Street, N1 inspiration. Some of these changed beyond recognition Hundreds of museums, during his time here, others in following decades. galleries, libraries, archives Thursday 19 May The walk includes links to Arthur Koestler, John and heritage sites will be Abram Games, designer, Betjeman, Malcolm Muggeridge, the Set… open for evening events. and the Festival of Britain and some of Orwell’s favourite pubs. www.culture24.org.uk/ Organised by the Camden places+to+go/ History Society. Duration: circa 90 minutes followed by an hour for museums+at+night 7.30pm, 020 7586 4436 questions and discussion. £8/£7 concessions www.camdenhistorysociety. Saturday 14 May and Sunday org Walks by arrangement with the Islington Archaeology 15 May & History Society chairman Andrew Gardner Summer Tunnel Boat Trips Friday 20 May 07952 586450, [email protected] Details same as for 8 May. Exploring a Legionary Fortress: New Excavations Saturday 14 May at Caerleon (Wales) and the Saturday 21 May Park Road/Weston Park. Dr Eric Boston Late Roman Military in Hornsey Historical Society: www.hornseyhistorical.org.uk Gladstone and Disraeli Roman Britain the First 40 Years Revisited Dr Andrew Gardner, Garden room party, North Thursday 9 June Historical Association, Institute of Archaeology Bank, . Spanning the Ages: a Central London Branch event. Organised by City of London www.hornseyhistorical.org.uk London Bridge Pub Walk 2pm, Senate House, WC1, Archaeological Society. Karen Chester contact: Jill Kilsby, 07957  6.30pm for 7pm, St Olave’s Wednesday 1 June Organised by the Historical 627 783, malcolmkilsby@ Hall, Mark Lane EC3 in the 18th Century Association, Central  blueyonder.co.uk www.colas.org.uk Walk led by Derek Morris London Branch. 6.30pm, Organised by the Docklands booking required, contact:  History Group. Jill Kilsby, 07957 627 783, www.docklands malcolmkilsby@blueyonder. Marriage à la mode historygroup.org.uk co.uk

2 June 2011 Sunday 12 June Boating in the 1950s and Summer Tunnel Boat Trips 1960s Details same as for 8 May. Talk by Colin Scrivener 7.30pm, London Canal Wednesday 15 June Museum. History and Restoration of 020 7713 0836, Baths www.canalmuseum.org.uk Camden History Society. 6:30pm, 020 7586  Saturday 4 June 4436, www.camdenhistory London Seminar: the society.org Oxford Expedition to Egypt Organised by the Egypt 15 June 2011 Charles and Diana cartoon © Peter Schrank, 1995 Exploration Society. Islington’s Regency www.ees.ac.uk Renaissance Cartoon Museum, until 22 May 2011 Lester Hillman, visiting Wednesday 8 June professor, London Exhibition including works by Hogarth, Gillray, Steve Vaudeville and the Music Metropolitan University Bell, Mel Calman, Donald McGill, Reg Smythe, Posy Hall on Film Organised by the Islington Simmonds, Grizelda and many more Roger Fillary and Keith Archaeology & History Fawkes Society. Follows annual Cartoon Museum, 35 Little Russell Street, London WC1 Organised by the Hornsey general meeting. More 10.30-5.30 Tuesday-Saturday, 12pm-5.30pm Sunday Historical Society. information on page 27. 020 7580 8155, www.cartoonmuseum.org 8pm, Union Church 8pm, Islington Town Hall, Community Centre, Ferme Upper Street, N1

24 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Spring 2011 Vol 1 No 1 Societies and museums

Here we list local history, civic, amenity and archaeology societies and a few museums. Most societies publish newsletters and organise talks and other events

Check opening times before The Camden History East London History Society Open: 9.30am-5.30pm visiting. If you would like to see Society mail@eastlondonhistory. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday; your organisation listed here or 020 7586 4436, jsramsay@ org.uk 9.30am-8pm Thursday; update any information, email tiscali.co.uk, www. 10am-5pm Saturday. [email protected]. Because camdenhistorysociety.org EC1 History there’s so much in this issue, www.ec1history.co.uk The Hackney Society only names, addresses and Camden New Town History The Round Chapel, contacts details are listed Group The Foundling Museum 1d Glenarm Road, E5 0LY, Chairman: John Cowley, 40 Brunswick Square, WC1, 07771 225183, Abney Park Trust Memorial [email protected], 020 7841 3600, www. [email protected] Park and Nature Reserve www.camdennewtown.info foundlingmuseum.org.uk www.hackneysociety.org/ 020 7275 7557, www.abney-park.org.uk Camden Railway Heritage Freud Museum Hendon and District Trust 020 7435 2002, Archaeology Society Amateur Geological Society New website: www.freud.org.uk [email protected] Secretary: 25 Village Road, www.crht1837.org , N3 1TL The Friends of Friendless Highbury Quadrant Living Camley Street Natural Park Churches History Project The Amwell Society Open 10am-5pm, seven www.friendsof Highbury Quadrant TRA, Elizabeth Thornton, days a week. 12 Camley friendlesschurches.org.uk Birchmore Hall, N5. 020 7837 0988, info@ Street, NW1 0PW, 020 7833 highburyquadrantliving amwellsociety.org 2311, camleyst@wildlondon. Geffrye Museum [email protected], www. org.uk 020 7739 9893, www. highburyquadrant.co.uk Association of London geffrye-museum.org.uk Pumping Heritage Attractions The Canonbury Society Historical Association, http://freespace.virgin.net/ www.canonburysociety.org.uk The Georgian Group Central London Branch lec.orm/alpha/alpha.htm 6 Fitzroy Square, London Secretary: Ms Chrissie The Cartoon Museum W1T 5DX, 0871 750 2936, Ganjou 020 7323 1192, Archaeological Group 35 Little Russell Street, [email protected] [email protected] Membership secretary: John WC1, 020 7580 8155 Acworth, 40 The Priory, Priory Tuesday-Saturday: 10.30am- Greater London Industrial The Horniman Museum Park, SE3 9UZ, jrm.acworth@ 5.30pm, Sunday: 12-5.30pm Archaeology Society (GLIAS) 100 London Road, SE23. sky.com, www.bag.org.uk 020 8692 8512, secretary@ Free. Open: 10.30am- City of London glias.org.uk 5.30pm daily, 020 8699 1872, British Postal Museum and Archaeological Society [email protected] Archive www.colas.org.uk, Guildhall Library Freeling House, Phoenix [email protected] Aldermanbury, EC2V 7HH, Hornsey Historical Society Place, WC1X 0DL, 9.30am-5pm Monday- The Old Schoolhouse, 136 020 7239 2570, Clerkenwell and Islington Saturday, closed bank Tottenham Lane, N8 7EL www.postalheritage.org.uk Guides Association holiday weekends, 020 7332 hornseyhistorical.org.uk Secretary: Alice Merino, 1868/1870, textphone 020 Museum 07971 296731, info@ciga. 7332 3803, guildhall.library@ Hunterian Museum Grade I listed 16th century org.uk, www.ciga.org.uk cityoflondon.gov.uk Royal College of Surgeons manor house, housing local of England, 35-43 Lincoln’s history collections. Free. The Clockmakers’ Museum Friends of Hackney Archives Inn Fields, WC2 020 8808 8772, museum. www.clockmakers.org/ Hackney Archives www.rcseng.ac.uk/museums [email protected] museum-and-library Department, 43 De Beauvoir Road, N1 5SQ Inland Waterways Camden Civic Society The Docklands History Association c/o 32 Hillway, London, N6 Group Hackney Museum North-east London branch 6HJ, 020 8340 5972, 020 7286 0196, info@ 1 Reading Lane, Hackney, chairman Roger Wilkinson, [email protected] docklandshistorygroup.org.uk London E8 1GQ [email protected]

Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Spring 2011 Vol 1 No 1 25 Islington Local History London Museums of Health Museum of the Order of 020 7377 1644, www.spab. Centre & Medicine St John org.uk Finsbury Library, 245 St John www.medicalmuseums.org St John’s Gate, EC1M 4DA, Street, EC1V 4NB. Open 10am-5pm Monday- Southwark and Lambeth 9.30am-8pm Monday and The London Society Saturday, 020 7253 6644, Archaeology Society (SLAS) Thursday (closes 6pm every Mortimer Wheeler House, www.museumstjohn.org.uk Contact: Richard Buchanan, other Monday); 9.30am- 46 Eagle Wharf Road, N1 7ED, 79 Ashridge Crescent, 5pm Tuesday, Friday and www.londonsociety.org.uk The Musical Museum Shooters Hill, SE18 3EA Saturday; closed Wednesday 11am-5.30pm Tuesday- and Sunday; closed 1pm- The London Transport Sunday, www. Sutton House 2pm; 020 7527 7988; local. Museum musicalmuseum.co.uk 2 & 4 High [email protected] Covent Garden Piazza, Street, E9, 020 8986 2264, WC2E 7BB, 020 7379 6344, The National Archives www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ Islington Museum www.ltmuseum.co.uk , 020 8876 3444, www. main/w-suttonhouse 245 St John Street, EC1V nationalarchives.gov.uk 4NB, 10am-5pm daily, Markfield Beam Engine The Society closed Wednesday and Markfield Road, N15 4RB Newington Green Action www.streathamsociety.org.uk Sunday, 020 7527 2837 01707 873628, Group [email protected] 42 Ferntower Road, N5 2JH, Thames Discovery Islington Society 020 7359 6027, www. Programme 35 Britannia Row, N1 8QH Mausolea and Monuments newingtongreen.org.uk Mortimer Wheeler House, www.islingtonsociety.org.uk Trust 46 Eagle Wharf Road, N1, 70 Cowcross Street, EC1M New River Action Group 020 7566 9310, enquiries@ Dr Johnson’s House Secretary: John St Brioc 24 Lavender Road, EN2 0ST, thamesdiscovery.org 17 Gough Square, EC4, Hooper, 020 7608 1441, contact: Frances Mussett Monday to Saturday, [email protected] 020 8363 7187 Union Chapel: Friends of 11am-5.30pm May-Sept, the Union Chapel 11am-5pm October-April, Karl Marx Memorial Library Petrie Museum of Egyptian Union Chapel, Compton 020 7353 3745 37a Clerkenwell Green, EC1, Archaeology Avenue, N1 2XD, 020 7253 1485, info@ University College London, www.unionchapel.org.uk/ Kew Bridge Steam Museum marx-memorial-library.org Malet Place, WC1, www.ucl. pages/friends.html Green Dragon Lane, ac.uk/museums/petrie , TW8, 11am-4pm, William Morris Gallery The Victorian Society Tuesday-Sunday, 020 8568 Lloyd Park, Forest Road, E17 The Society 1 Priory Gardens, W4, 4757, www.kbsm.org 4PP, 10am-5pm Wednesday- 67 Gordon Road, SE15 2AF, 020 8994 1019, admin@ Sunday, 020 8496 4390, www.peckhamsociety.org.uk victoriansociety.org.uk, The Charles Lamb Society wmg.enquiries@ www.victoriansociety.org.uk 28 Grove Lane, SE6 8ST walthamforest.gov.uk. Ragged School Museum Closing soon temporarily 46-50 Copperfield Road, E3 The Wallace Collection London Canal Museum for refurbishment 4RR, 020 8980 6405, www. Hertford House, Manchester 12-13 New Wharf Road, N1 raggedschoolmuseum.org.uk Square, W1M 6BN, 9RT, 020 7713 0836 The Museum of Brands, open weekdays 10am-5pm, www.canalmuseum.org.uk Packaging and Advertising The Smithfield Trust Sundays 2-5pm, admission 2 Colville Mews, Lonsdale Secretary: Vince Marshall, free, 020 7563 9500, The London Film Archive Road, Notting Hill, W11 70 Cowcross Street, EC1M www.wallacecollection.org 22 Islington Green, N1, 2AR, 020 7908 0880, info@ 6EJ, 020 7566 0041, www.londonfilmarchive.org museumofbrands.com [email protected] Historical Society London Metropolitan V&A Museum of Childhood Sir John Soane’s Museum 37 Chewton Road, E17 Archives Open 10am-5.45pm, closed 13 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, 7DW, contact@walthamstow 40 Northampton Road, Fridays, admission free, WC2, Tuesday-Saturday, historical society.org, EC1 0HB, 020 7332 3820, Cambridge Heath Road, E2 10am-5pm, first Tuesday www.walthamstow [email protected]. 9PA, 020 8983 5200 of each month 6-9pm, historicalsociety.org uk, www.cityoflondon.gov. www.soane.org uk/lma Museum of London John Wesley’s House and Docklands Spencer House Museum of Methodism London & Middlesex West India Quay, E14 4AL, 27 St James’s Place SW1, 49 City Road, EC1, Archaeological Society open 10am-6pm, Monday- 020 7499 8620 Admission free, 10am-4pm 020 7814 5734, email Sunday, 020 7001 9844, Monday-Saturday, 12.30- secretary Jackie Keily: www.museumindocklands. The Society for the Protection 1.45pm Sundays, www. jkeily@museumoflondon. org.uk, info.docklands@ of Ancient Buildings wesleyschapel.org.uk/ org.uk, www.lamas.org.uk museumoflondon.org.uk 37 Spital Square, E1 6DY, museum.htm

26 Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Spring 2011 Vol 1 No 1 Events

20 April Insanity in Islington: Treatment and Records Speaker: Dr Kathy Chater 8pm, Islington Town Hall, Upper Street, London N1

Often surrounded with shame, guilt and secrecy, mental health is generally a taboo subject. How have attitudes changed over time? How were the insane treated in the past, and where are the records?

Kathy Chater was a researcher at the BBC for 15 years before becoming self-employed as a trainer, adult education teacher, consultant and writer on history and genealogy. She has a diploma in genealogy and the history of the family from Birkbeck College. In 2007, she completed a PhD on black people in England c1660-1807, which was published by Manchester University Press in 2009. She continues to write and publish widely and retains links with the broadcast media. She has been tracing her ancestry for some 30 years.

18 May 2011 Inaugural Address from the President of the Society Speaker: Rt Hon Lord Smith of Finsbury 8pm, Islington Town Hall, Upper Street, London N1

15 June Islington’s Regency Renaissance Speaker: Lester Hillman 6pm, Islington Town Hall, Upper Street, London N1

Lester Hillman will talk on the Regent’s Canal and pivotal events for Islington 200 years ago and explore evidence of any Regency Renaissance in the borough today. In the early 1970s, Lester worked on running power cables under the Regent’s Canal towpath and the associated award-winning heritage and amenity works; he has worked elsewhere on canal and rail infrastructure. He volunteers at the London Canal Museum, guiding towpath walks and boat tours. He has lectured on canal history, and written and reviewed publications. He is academic adviser to the Islington Archaeology & History Society.

Members of the Islington History & Archaeology are cordially invited to the launch of a book

The Ghost of Lily Painter By Caitlin Davies 9 June 2011, 6pm, Islington Museum, 245 St John Street, London EC1 If you would like to attend this free event, please email [email protected]

The first time Annie Sweet sees 43 Stanley Road, the Holloway house is so perfect she almost feels as though it has chosen her. Soon, she becomes consumed by the house and everyone who has lived there before her, especially rising music hall star Lily Painter. As Annie delves into Lily’s past, she unravels a dark episode from Edwardian London, and the tale of two notorious Islington baby farmers, who lured young unmarried mothers with the promise of a better life for their babies. Until Annie solves the mystery at the heart of the scandal, the  ghost of Lily Painter will never be able to rest.

The Islington Archaeology & History Society meets 10 times a year, usually on the third Wednesday of each month at 8pm, at Islington Town Hall, Upper Street, N1

Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society Spring 2011 Vol 1 No 1 27 The Journal of the Islington Archaeology & History Society

Back page picture

Sarah and Andy move their boat through City Road Lock. Read our article on Regency transport and come to our meeting in June to find out more about Islington’s canals and their Regency history