Islington
Islington shown within Greater London
OS grid reference	TQ315845
London borough	Islington
Ceremonial county	Greater London
Region	London
Constituent country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	LONDON
Postcode district	N1
Dialling code	020
Police	Metropolitan
Fire	London
Ambulance	London
European Parliament	London
UK Parliament	Islington South and Finsbury
	Islington North
London Assembly	North East
List of places: UK • England • London

Coordinates: 51°32′38″N 0°06′10″W / 51.544, -0.1027

Islington is the central district of the London Borough of Islington. Greater London is the top-level administrative subdivision covering London, England. The British national grid reference system is a system of geographic grid references commonly used in Great Britain, different from using Latitude and Longitude The districts of England are a level of subnational division of England used for the purposes of local government The London Borough of Islington ( is a London borough in North and Inner London. The ceremonial counties are areas of England that are appointed a Lord-Lieutenant, and are defined by the government as the Counties for the purposes of the Lieutenancies Greater London is the top-level administrative subdivision covering London, England. The region, also known as the government office region, is currently the highest tier of local government sub-national entity of England, with only one Greater London is the top-level administrative subdivision covering London, England. Constituent country is a phrase used often by official institutions in contexts in which a country makes up a part of a larger entity or grouping England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland This list of sovereign states, alphabetically arranged gives an overview of States around the world with information on the extent of their Sovereignty. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located A post town is a required part of all postal addresses in the United Kingdom, and a basic unit of the postal delivery system The London postal district is the area in England, currently of 241 square miles to which mail addressed to the LONDON Post town is delivered UK Postal codes are known as postcodes. UK postcodes are Alphanumeric. The N (Northern postcode area, also known as the London N postcode area, is the part of the London postal district covering much of north London, The UK Telephone numbering plan, also known as the National Telephone Numbering Plan, is the system used for assigning Telephone numbers in the United There are a number of law enforcement agencies in the United Kingdom. "Metropolitan Police" redirects here See also Metropolitan police. The fire service in the United Kingdom operates under separate legislative and administrative arrangements in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and The London Fire Brigade ( LFB) is the statutory The London Ambulance Service NHS Trust (LAS is the largest "free at the point of contact" ambulance service in the world that does not directly charge its patients London is a Constituency of the European Parliament. It currently elects 9 MEPs using the D'Hondt method of Party-list proportional This is a list of the 646 constituencies currently represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, as at the 2005 general election Islington South and Finsbury is a Constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Islington North is a Constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Greater London is divided into fourteen territorial constituencies for London Assembly elections each returning one member North East is a Constituency of the London Assembly. It is represented by Jennette Arnold who was directly elected at the 2004 London Assembly A Gazetteer of place names in the United Kingdom showing each place's County, Unitary authority or council area and its geographical coordinates List of places --> List of cities in the United Kingdom List of towns in England Lists of places This is a partial list of places in London, England See List of places in England for lists of settlements in other counties A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system. The London Borough of Islington ( is a London borough in North and Inner London. It is an inner-city district in London, spanning from Islington High Street to Highbury Fields, encompassing the area around the busy Upper Street. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. The A1 in London is an A road in North London. It runs from the London Wall to Bignall's Corner, where it crosses the M25 and The name is now also often applied to the areas of the borough close to Upper Street such as Barnsbury and Canonbury, developed in the Georgian era. Barnsbury is an area of North London in the London Borough of Islington, in the N1 and N7 postal districts. Canonbury is a residential district in the London Borough of Islington in the north of London The arts Especially during the mid-18th century the period was marked by cultural vibrancy with the establishment of the British Museum in 1753 and the contributions

Modern definition

Islington grew as a sprawling village along the line of the Great North Road and has provided the name of the modern borough. A situation giving rise to some confusion, as neighbouring districts may also be said to be in Islington. This district is bounded by Liverpool Road to the west and New North Road to the south-east. Liverpool Road is located in the London Borough of Islington of inner north London. The A1200 is an A road in the London Borough of Islington connecting Highbury & Islington station and Moorfields Eye Hospital. Its northernmost point is in the area of Highbury. Highbury is an area in the London Borough of Islington. It lies between the following places Finsbury Park, north of Highbury The main north-south high street, Upper Street splits at Highbury Corner to Holloway Road to the west and St. The A1 in London is an A road in North London. It runs from the London Wall to Bignall's Corner, where it crosses the M25 and Paul's Road to the east.

The area round Angel tube station is sometimes considered a district in its own right, The Angel, Islington. Angel tube station is a London Underground station in The Angel, Islington. The Angel was originally an Inn near a Toll gate on the Great North Road (at what is now the corner of Islington High Street and Pentonville Road The northern part of this area (from the Liverpool Road junction northwards) is within the district of Islington, while the southern half is in neighbouring Finsbury. Liverpool Road is located in the London Borough of Islington of inner north London. Finsbury is a small district in the south of the London Borough of Islington and north of the City of London. The area below Penton Steet and east of Pentonville Road is the adjoining district of Pentonville. Pentonville is an area of north-central London in the London Borough of Islington, centred on the Pentonville Road.

History

Etymology

Islington was originally named by the Saxons Giseldone (1005), then Gislandune (1062). The name means 'Gīsla's hill' from the Old English personal name Gīsla and dun 'hill', 'down'. A personal name is the Proper name identifying an individual Person. The name then later mutated to Isledon, which remained in use well into the 17th century when the modern form arose. ^[1] In medieval times, Islington was just one of many small manors hereabouts, along with Bernersbury, Neweton Berewe or Hey-bury, and Canonesbury (Barnsbury, Highbury and Canonbury - names first recorded in the 13th and 14th centuries).

1861 Royal Agricultural Hall, view from Liverpool Road. Now the rear entrance to the Business Design Centre

1861 Cattle show at the Royal Agricultural Hall

Origins

Some roads on the edge of the area, including Essex Road were known as streets by the medieval period, possibly indicating a Roman origin, but little physical evidence remains. The Business Design Centre is an exhibition centre on Upper Street in the district of Islington in London. Roman Britain refers to those parts of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire between AD 43 and 410 What is known is that the Great North Road, from Aldersgate came into use in the 14th century, connecting with a new turnpike (toll road) up Highgate Hill. Aldersgate was a gate in the London Wall in the City of London, which has given its name to a ward and Aldersgate Street a road leading north from the Highgate is a suburb of North London on the north-eastern corner of Hampstead Heath. This was along the line of modern Upper Street, with a toll gate at The Angel, defining the extent of the village. The Angel was originally an Inn near a Toll gate on the Great North Road (at what is now the corner of Islington High Street and Pentonville Road The Back Road, the modern Liverpool Road, was primarily a drovers' road where cattle would be rested before the final leg of their journey to Smithfield. Liverpool Road is located in the London Borough of Islington of inner north London. Smithfield (also known as West Smithfield) is an area in the north-west part of the City of London, mostly known for its centuries-old meat market and its bloody history Pens and sheds were erected along this road to accommodate the animals. ^[2]

Islington lay on the estates of the Bishop of London, and the Dean and Chapter of St Pauls. The Bishop of London is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of London in the Province of Canterbury. St Paul's Cathedral, is the Anglican Cathedral on Ludgate Hill, in the City of London, and the seat of the Bishop of London. There were substantial medieval moated manor houses in the area, principally at Canonbury and Highbury. A manor house or fortified manor-house is a Country house, which has historically formed the administrative centre of a manor (see Manorialism In 1548, there are 440 communicants listed and the rural atmosphere, with access to the City and Westminster, made it a popular residence for the rich and eminent. ^[1] The local inns, however harboured many fugitives and recursants.

The Royal Agricultural Hall was built in 1862, on the Liverpool Road site of William Dixon's Cattle Layers. The Business Design Centre is an exhibition centre on Upper Street in the district of Islington in London. Liverpool Road is located in the London Borough of Islington of inner north London. The hall was 75 ft high, and the arched glass roof spanned 125 ft, it was built for the annual Smithfield Show in December, but was popular for other purposes, including recitals and the Royal Tournament. The Royal Tournament was the World's largest Military tattoo and pageant held by the British Armed Forces annually between 1880 and 1999. It was the primary exhibition site for London until the 20th century, and the largest building of its kind, holding up to 50,000 people. ^[3] It had been requisitioned for use by the Mount Pleasant sorting office during World War II, and never re-opened. The Royal Mail Mount Pleasant Sorting Office (often shortened as Mount Pleasant) is the largest sorting office operated by Royal Mail in London World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The main hall has now been incorporated into the Business Design Centre. ^[4]

A statue of Hugh Myddleton, creator of the New River, surmounts a drinking fountain at Islington Green. Sir Hugh Myddelton (or Middleton 1st Baronet ( 1560 - 10 December 1631) was a Welsh Goldsmith, Clothmaker, Banker The New River is a man-made waterway in England, opened in 1613 to supply London with fresh drinking water taken from the River Lee and from Amwell Islington Green is a small triangle of open land at the convergence of Upper Street and Essex Road (once called Lower Street in the London Borough of Islington (November 2005)

Water sources

The hill on which Islington stands has long supplied the City of London with water, the first projects drawing water through wooden pipes from the many springs that lay at its foot, in Finsbury. For London as a whole see the main article London. The City of London is a geographically Finsbury is a small district in the south of the London Borough of Islington and north of the City of London. These included Sadlers Wells, London Spa and Clerkenwell. Sadler's Wells Theatre is the name of six theatres that have been built since 1683 at a site on Rosebery Avenue Clerkenwell in the London Borough of Islington Clerkenwell is an area of central London in the London Borough of Islington.

By the 17th century these traditional sources were inadequate to supply the growing population and plans were laid to construct a waterway, the New River, to bring fresh water from the source of the River Lee, in Hertfordshire to New River Head, below Islington in Finsbury. As a means of recording the passage of Time, the 17th Century was that Century which lasted from 1601 - 1700 in the Gregorian calendar The New River is a man-made waterway in England, opened in 1613 to supply London with fresh drinking water taken from the River Lee and from Amwell The River Lee or River Lea in England originates in Leagrave Park, Leagrave, Luton in the Chiltern Hills and flows generally southeast Hertfordshire (ˈhɑːtfədʃə(r, abbreviated Herts) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of Finsbury is a small district in the south of the London Borough of Islington and north of the City of London. The river was opened on September 29, 1613 by Sir Hugh Myddleton, the constructor of the project. Events 522 BC - Darius I of Persia kills the Magian usurper Gaumâta securing his hold as king of the Persian Empire. Sir Hugh Myddelton (or Middleton 1st Baronet ( 1560 - 10 December 1631) was a Welsh Goldsmith, Clothmaker, Banker His statue still stands where Upper Street meets Essex Road. The course of the river ran to the east of Upper Street, and much of its course is now covered and forms a linear park through the area. ^[5]

The Regents Canal passes through Islington. The Regent's Canal is a Canal across an area just to the north of central London, England. For much of its length, it travels through an 886 metres (2,907 ft) tunnel that runs from Colebrook Row, just east of the Angel, to emerge at Muriel Street, not far from Caledonian Road. The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International A foot (plural feet or foot; symbol or abbreviation ft or sometimes &prime – the prime symbol) is a non-SI unit The subterranean stretch is marked with a series of pavement plaques, so that canal walkers may find their way from one entrance to the other above ground. The area of the canal east of the tunnel and north of the City Road was once dominated by much warehousing and industry surrounding the large City Road Basin and Wenlock Basin. Those old buildings that survive here are now largely residential or small work units. This stretch boasts one of the few old canal pubs with an entrance actually on the tow-path, The Narrowboat.

The canal was constructed in 1820, to carry cargo from Limehouse into the canal system. Limehouse is a place in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is on the northern bank of the River Thames opposite Rotherhithe and between Ratcliff There is no tow-path in the tunnel, and bargees had to walk their barges through, braced against the roof. ^[6] Commercial use of the canal has declined since the 1960s.

Market gardens and entertainments

In the 17th and 18th centuries, the availability of water made Islington a place for growing vegetables to feed London. The 18th century lasted from 1701 to 1800 in the Gregorian calendar, in accordance with the Anno Domini / Common Era numbering system The manor became a popular resort for Londoners, due to this rural aspect and many public houses were founded to serve the needs of both visitors and travellers on the turnpike. By 1716, there were 56 ale-house keepers in Upper Street, also offering pleasure and tea gardens, and activities such as archery, skittle alleys and bowling. By the 18th century music and dancing were offered, together with billiards, firework displays and balloon ascents. The 18th century lasted from 1701 to 1800 in the Gregorian calendar, in accordance with the Anno Domini / Common Era numbering system The King's Head Tavern, now a Victorian building, with a theatre, has remained on the same site, opposite the parish church, since 1543. The King's Head Theatre, founded in 1970 by the late Dan Crawford is an Off-West End venue in London Culture The Victorian fascination with novelty resulted in a deep interest in the relationship between modernity and cultural continuities ^[4] The founder of the theatre, Dan Crawford, who died in 2005, disagreed with the introduction of decimal coinage. For twenty-plus years after decimalisation (on 15 February 1971), the bar continued to show prices and charge for drinks in pre-decimalisation currency. Events 590 - Khosrau II is crowned as king of Persia 1637 - Ferdinand III becomes Holy Roman Emperor Year 1971 ( MCMLXXI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. By the 19th century, many music halls and theatres were established around Islington Green. The 19th century of the Common Era began on January 1, 1801 and ended on December 31, 1900, according to the Gregorian calendar Music hall is a form of British theatrical Entertainment which was popular between 1850 and 1960 Theatre (or theater, see spelling differences) is the branch of the Performing arts defined by Bernard Beckerman as what "occurs when one Islington Green is a small triangle of open land at the convergence of Upper Street and Essex Road (once called Lower Street in the London Borough of Islington One such was Collins' Music Hall, the remains of which is now incorporated into a bookshop. It stood on the site of the Landsdowne Tavern, where the landlord had built an entertainment room for customers who wanted to sing (and later for professional entertainers). It was founded in 1862 by Samuel Thomas Collins Vagg, by 1897 this had become a 1,800 seat theatre with 10 bars. This theatre suffered damage in a fire in 1958, and has not reopened. ^[4] Between 92 and 162 acts were put on each evening and performers who started there included Marie Lloyd, George Robey, Harry Lauder, Harry Tate, George Formby, Vesta Tilley, Tommy Trinder, Gracie Fields, Tommy Handley, and Norman Wisdom. Matilda Alice Victoria Wood ( 12 February 1870 &ndash 7 October 1922) was an English Music-hall Singer, George Edward Wade ( 20 September 1869 – 29 November 1954) better known by his stage name George Robey, was an English Sir Henry Lauder ( 4 August 1870 - 26 February 1950) known professionally as Harry Lauder, was a notable Scottish Harry Tate ( 4 July 1872 - 14 February 1940) was a Scottish Comedian who performed both in the Music halls and George Formby may refer to George Formby Jr, banjolele player singer and comedian 1904 - 1961 George Formby Sr Matilda Alice Powles ( May 13, 1864 &ndash September 16, 1952) was an English male impersonator. Thomas Edward Trinder CBE ( 1909 - 1989) known as Tommy Trinder, was an English stage screen and radio comedian of the pre and Dame Gracie Fields, DBE ( January 9 1898 &ndash September 27 1979) born Grace Stansfield, was an English / Tommy (Thomas Reginald Handley ( 1892 January 17 &ndash 1949 January 9) was an English Comedian mainly known for the Sir Norman Wisdom, OBE (born 4 February 1915) is an English Comedian, Singer and Actor.

An 1805 map of Islington

The Islington Literary and Scientific Society was established in 1833 and first met in Mr. Edgeworth's academy, on Upper Street. Its object was to spread knowledge through lectures, discussions, and experiments, politics and theology being forbidden. A building - the Literary and Scientific Institution - was erected in 1837 in Wellington (later Almeida) Street, designed by Roumieu and Gough in a stuccoed Grecian style. It included a library, with 3,300 volumes in 1839, reading room, museum, laboratory, and lecture theatre seating 500. The subscription was 2 guineas a year. The library was sold off in 1872 and the building sold or leased in 1874 to the Wellington Club, which occupied it until 1886. In 1885 the hall was used for concerts, balls, and public meetings. The Salvation Army bought the building in 1890, renamed it the Wellington Castle barracks, and remained there until 1955. The Salvation Army is a Christian charity and church that is internally organised like a military service. The building became a factory and showroom for Beck's British Carnival Novelties for a few years from 1956 then remained empty until in 1978 a campaign began to turn it into a theatre. A public appeal was launched in 1981 and a festival of avant-garde theatre and music was held there and at other Islington venues in 1982, and the successful Almeida Theatre founded. The Almeida Theatre, opened in 1980 is a 325 seat Studio theatre with an international reputation which takes its name from the street in which it is located off ^[4]

Housing

Some development took place to accommodate the popularity of nearby Sadlers Wells, which became a resort in the 16th century, but the 19th century saw the greatest expansion in housing, soon to cover the whole parish. The 19th century of the Common Era began on January 1, 1801 and ended on December 31, 1900, according to the Gregorian calendar In 1801, the population was 10,212; by 1891 there were 319,143 inhabitants in the borough. This rapid expansion was partly due to the introduction of horse-drawn omnibuses in 1830. With large well-built houses and fashionable squares, clerks, artisans and professionals were drawn to the district. However, from the middle of the 1800s, the poor were being displaced by clearances in inner London to build the new railway stations and goods yards. They settled in Islington, with the houses becoming occupied by many families. This, combined with the railways pushing into outer Middlesex, reduced Islington's attraction for the better off, and the area fell into a long decline; and by the mid-twentieth century the area was largely run down and a by-word for urban poverty. ^[1]

World War II caused much damage to Islington's housing stock, with 3,200 dwellings destroyed. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including While before the war, municipal housing had not had much impact, after the war many bomb sites were redeveloped, both by the Metropolitan Borough of Islington and the London County Council. The council house is a form of public or social housing in the United Kingdom. The Metropolitan Borough of Islington was a Metropolitan borough within the County of London from 1900 to 1965 when it was amalgamated with the Metropolitan London County Council (LCC was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889-1965 existence and the first London-wide general municipal Clearance of the worst terraced housing was still undertaken, but Islington continued to be both the most dense (least open space), and the borough with the highest level of overcrowding.

From the 1960s the Georgian terraces were rediscovered by middle class families, and many of the houses were rehabilitated, with the area becoming newly fashionable. This displacement of the poor by the aspirational has become known as gentrification. Among these new residents were a number of the central figures in the New Labour movement, including Tony Blair before his victory in the 1997 general election. The Labour Party is a Political party in the United Kingdom. Founded at the start of the 20th century it has been since the 1920s the principal party of the Anthony Charles Lynton "Tony" Blair (born 6 May 1953 is a British Politician who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to Results The election was fought under new boundaries with a net increase of eight seats compared to the 1992 election "Islington is widely regarded as the spiritual home of Britain's left-wing intelligentsia" (The Guardian). The Guardian (until 1959 The Manchester Guardian) is a British Newspaper owned by the Guardian Media Group. ^[7] The Granita Pact, between Gordon Brown and Tony Blair, is said to have been made at a, now defunct, restaurant on Upper Street. The Blair-Brown deal, also known as the Granita Pact, is a shorthand term for a widely-held belief in British politics that Tony Blair and Gordon Brown WikipediaManual of Style (biographies#Academic titles --> James Gordon Brown (born 20 February 1951 is ^[8]

The completion of the Victoria line and redevelopment of Angel tube station has created the conditions for developers to build blocks of small flats, popular with young professionals, intensifying use of the area. Victoria Line train leaving depotjpg|thumb|right|300px|1967 Stock train leaving Northumberland Park Depot]] The Victoria line is part of the London Underground Angel tube station is a London Underground station in The Angel, Islington. The inns of the 17th century are now replaced with busy public houses and trendy wine bars. Small shops selling bijou items are increasingly priced out of the area, and replaced by national (and international) chains. Islington remains a place in constant flux.

Monopoly fame

The area is also well-known due to its inclusion in the British version of Monopoly which features The Angel, Islington. Monopoly is a Board game published by Parker Brothers, a subsidiary of Hasbro. The Angel was originally an Inn near a Toll gate on the Great North Road (at what is now the corner of Islington High Street and Pentonville Road However, in the game the Angel is the third cheapest property on the board. 'The Angel, Islington' was included as the licensees considered the names of places they were to use over tea in the Lyon's Corner House, built on the site of the original Angel Inn. Joseph Lyons and Co was a British company which controlled the largest food empire in the 1930s

Nearby Monopoly locations are Pentonville Road (mostly in Islington) which runs from King's Cross station. to The Angel. The London Inner Ring Road is the name commonly given to a route formed from a number of major Roads that encircle the centremost part of London. King's Cross station is a major railway terminus opened in 1852

In literature

Islington features extensively in modern English literature and culture:

• Douglas Adams lived in Islington and used it as a setting in his novels, and named a character in his famous Hitchhikers' Guide to the Galaxy series after a well known local estate agents - Hotblack Desiato. Douglas Noël Adams (11 March 1952 &ndash 11 May 2001 was an English author comic Radio dramatist The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a science fiction comedy series
• In Neil Gaiman's best selling novel Neverwhere Islington is an angel that lives under London, named after the Angel tube station. Neil Richard Gaiman (ˈgeɪmən (born November 10, 1960) is an English author of Science fiction and Fantasy short stories and Neverwhere is the companion Novelization by Neil Gaiman of the television serial Neverwhere, by Neil Gaiman
• Martha Grimes' fictional detective, Richard Jury, lives in a flat in Islington. Martha Grimes (born 1931 is an American Author of Detective fiction. Richard Jury is a fictional Scotland Yard detective who stars in a series of mystery novels written by Martha Grimes.
• Simon Gray's play Otherwise Engaged is set in Islington. Simon James Holliday Gray CBE ( October 21, 1936 – August 7, 2008) was a prolific postwar British playwright whose work was performed Otherwise Engaged is a bleakly comic play by Britain's Simon Gray. It was written in the 1970s.
• In The Zoo, a comic opera by Arthur Sullivan and B. C. Stephenson, two of the main characters are the Duke of Islington and his beloved, whom he asks to become the Duchess of Islington. This article is about the comic opera by Arthur Sullivan For other uses see The Zoo (disambiguation. Comic opera, or light opera, denotes a sung dramatic work of a light or comic nature usually with a happy ending Sir Arthur Seymour Sullivan MVO (13 May 1842 &ndash 22 November 1900 was an English composer of Irish and Italian descent best known for his operatic Benjamin Charles Stephenson, or B C Stephenson, (1839 &ndash January 22 1906) was a Dramatist, lyricist and Librettist in
• The film, About a Boy is set in Islington. This article is about the novel For the film see About a Boy (film; for the film's soundtrack album by Badly Drawn Boy see About a Boy (soundtrack.
• Nick Hornby's novel SLAM is set in Islington. Nick Hornby (born 17 April 1957 in Redhill Surrey, England is an English Novelist and Essayist.
• The film, Notes on a Scandal is set in Islington. Notes on a Scandal ( What Was She Thinking? Notes on a Scandal in the United States) is a 2003 novel by Zoë Heller.

Notable residents, past and present

This section is solely for residents with a direct link to the area around Upper Street (the centre of Islington); for residents of the London Borough of Islington, or other districts, please see the relevant article. The London Borough of Islington ( is a London borough in North and Inner London. If adding to this list please add a citation explicitly showing the local connection

• Tony Blair, former Prime Minister of the UK, lived on Richmond Crescent in Islington before moving to Downing Street
• Nadia Almada, first transsexual winner of Big Brother
• Douglas Adams, writer, lived on Duncan Terrace later renting his house to comedian Angus Deayton. Anthony Charles Lynton "Tony" Blair (born 6 May 1953 is a British Politician who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Downing Street is the street in London, England, which for over two hundred years has contained the official residences of two of the most senior British cabinet ministers Nadia Almada (born Jorge Leodoro on 28 January 1977 is a Madeiran Reality television star best-known for being the first Transsexual winner of series Big Brother is a Reality television series broadcast in the United Kingdom and Douglas Noël Adams (11 March 1952 &ndash 11 May 2001 was an English author comic Radio dramatist Gordon Angus Deayton (born 6 January 1956 is an English Actor, Writer, Musician, Comedian and Television presenter.
• Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, actor was born here. Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (born 22 August 1967 is an English Actor, Solicitor and former male fashion model.
• Lily Allen, singer and daughter of actor Keith Allen
• Neal Ascherson, journalist
• Tash Aw, Whitbread Book Award winning author. Lily Rose Beatrice Allen (born 2 May 1985) is an English Singer-songwriter and television presenter. Keith Philip George Allen (born 2 June 1953) is a British Comedian, Actor, singer and writer Charles Neal Ascherson (born October 5, 1932) is a Scottish Journalist. Tash Aw, whose real name is Aw Ta-Shi ( Simplified Chinese: 歐大旭 born 4 October 1971) is a writer living in London The Costa Book Awards are among the United Kingdom 's most prestigious literary awards
• Nina Bawden, Author, has lived in Islington for many years
• James Beck Actor was born here. Nina Bawden CBE (born January 19, 1925, London) is a popular British novelist and Children's writer. Stanley James Beck ( 21 February
• Kathy Burke Actress, Director lives in Islington.
• John Chapple, One of the last Field Marshals of Great Britain and Governor of Gibraltar
• Joe Cole, Footballer for Chelsea FC and England
• Sorcha Cusack, Actress
• Phil Daniels, Actor. Field Marshal Sir John Lyon Chapple GCB, CBE (born 27 May 1931) was Chief of the General Staff, the professional head of For other meanings see Field Marshal (disambiguation Field marshal is a military officer rank See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands Gibraltar (dʒɨˈbrɒltər is a British overseas territory located near the southernmost tip of the Iberian Peninsula overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar Joseph John "Joe" Cole (born 8 November 1981 in Islington, London) is a professional footballer who plays for Chelsea of the English Sorcha Cusack (pronounced /ˈsɔɾə̆xə/ (born 9 April 1949 in Dublin) is an Irish actress Philip Daniels (born 25 October 1958 in Islington, London) is an English actor most noted for film roles as Jimmy in Quadrophenia
• Alan Davies Actor, Comedian, Radio Presenter, Star of Jonathon Creek and Bob and Rose, etc. Alan Davies (born 6 March 1966) is an English comedian, Writer and Actor, best known for starring as Jonathan Jonathan Creek is a British mystery Television series produced by the BBC and written by David Renwick. Bob and Rose is a British television drama originally screened in six one-hour episodes on the ITV network in the UK in the autumn of 2001 lives in Highbury, Islington
• Dido, singer, was born in Islington and owns a property there. Dido Florian Cloud de Bounevialle O'Malley Armstrong, (born 25 December 1971 professionally known as Dido, is an English BRIT Award -winning and
• Colin Firth, actor, is a resident. Colin Andrew Firth (born 10 September, 1960) is an English film television and stage Actor.
• Kate Greenaway, children's writer and book illustrator, lived on Upper Street for 20 years before moving to Holloway. Kate Greenaway (Catherine Greenaway (London 17 March 1846 – 6 November 1901 was a Children's book Illustrator and writer Holloway is an inner-city district in the London Borough of Islington and follows for the most part the line of the Holloway Road ( A1 road)

John Glascock (1951-1979) (musician), bassist of Carmen from 1971-1974 and Jethro Tull from 1975-1979 was born and raised in Islington

• Tony Hadley, lead singer of Spandau Ballet and solo artist, was born in Islington in 1960. Tony Hadley (born Anthony Patrick Hadley 2 June 1960, Islington, London) is an English pop Singer Spandau Ballet were a popular British band in the 1980s Initially inspired by a mixture of Funk and Synthpop, the group eventually mellowed into a
• Edmund Halley, Astronomer Royal and discoverer of Halley's Comet lived in Islington (exact location unknown) from 1665
• Isabel Hilton, journalist and broadcaster
• Boris Johnson MP, Mayor of London
• Charlie G. Hawkins, actor of Darren Miller in EastEnders. Edmond Halley FRS (ˈɛdmənd ˈhɔːlɪ ( November 8, 1656 &ndash January 14, 1742) was an English Astronomer Astronomer Royal is a senior post in the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. Halley's Comet, officially designated 1P/Halley and also referred to as Comet Halley after Edmond Halley, is a Comet that can be seen every Isabel Hilton (born 1949 in Aberdeen) is a Scottish journalist and broadcaster based in London. Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (born 19 June 1964 is a British Politician and Journalist. The Mayor of London is an elected politician who along with the London Assembly of 25 members is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London (see Charlie George Hawkins (born 14 February, 1991 in Camden, London) is an English Actor. Darren Miller is a Fictional character in the popular BBC Soap opera EastEnders. EastEnders is a most popular and award-winning Television Soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC1 on 19 February 1985
• William Hogarth, artist, was born in Bartholomew Close in 1697 and spent his early years in Islington. William Hogarth (10 November 1697 &ndash 26 October 1764 was a major English painter, printmaker, pictorial satirist, social critic
• Yusuf Islam, musician. Yusuf Islam (born Steven Demetre Georgiou on 21 July 1948 best known by his former Stage name Cat Stevens, is a British Musician
• Skandar Keynes, actor The Chronicles of Narnia (film series)
• Charles Lamb, writer, lived in Chapel Street from 1796 and later in Colebrook Row. Skandar Amin Casper Keynes (born 5 September 1991) is an English Actor. The Chronicles of Narnia is a series of Fantasy films from Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media based on the series of novels Charles Lamb is the name of Charles Lamb (writer (1775-1834 a British essayist Charles Lamb (politician (1891-1965 a Canadian
• Hugh Laurie, actor
• Edward Lear writer, poet, artist, born in Islington
• V. James Hugh Calum Laurie, OBE (born June 11, 1959) is an English Actor, Comedian, Writer and Musician Edward Lear ( 12 May 1812 – 29 January 1888) was an English Artist, Illustrator and Writer known I. Lenin lived at 30 Holford Square from 1902 and later at 16, Percy Circus.
• Leona Lewis, singer, winner of the third series of The X-Factor. Leona Louise Lewis (b 3 April 1985 is an English pop and R&B singer-songwriter and the winner of the third series of the United Kingdom television For the original UK version see The X Factor (UK
• Louise Lombard Actress
• Louisa Lytton, Actress
• Marianne Majerus, photographer
• James McAvoy Actor, Last King of Scotland
• Robert Muchamore, author of the CHERUB seires
• Sheree Murphy, actress was born here. Louise Lombard ( Louise Maria Perkins born on 13 September, 1970) is an English actress. Louisa Claire Lytton (born February 7, 1989) is an English actress born in Camden, living in Clerkenwell and Marianne Andrée Majerus (born September 5, 1956, in Clervaux, Luxembourg) is a garden and portrait Photographer based in London James Andrew McAvoy (ˈmækəvɔɪ born) is a Scottish stage and screen Actor known for his roles in Atonement, The Last King The Last King of Scotland is an award-winning Novel by Journalist Giles Foden. Robert Kilgore Muchamore (born 26 December 1972) is the English author of the teen spy books CHERUB series. CHERUB is a series of young adult books written by the author Robert Muchamore. Sheree Murphy (born 22 August, 1975, Islington, North London) is an English Actress and Television presenter
• Joe Orton, playwright, lived and was murdered in a flat in Noel Road, Islington. Joe Orton ( 1 January, 1933, Leicester, England - 9 August, 1967, Islington, London) born John
• George Orwell, writer, lived at 50 Lawford Road. Eric Arthur Blair (25 June 1903 – 21 January 1950 who used the Pseudonym George Orwell, was an English writer
• Stephen Poliakoff, award winning playwright. Stephen Poliakoff CBE (born 1 December 1952 in Holland Park in West London, England) is an acclaimed British playwright
• Sir Walter Raleigh, writer, poet, courtier and explorer lived in Upper Street between 1575 and 1581. Sir Walter Raleigh or Ralegh (c 1552 – 29 October 1618 was a famed English writer Poet, Soldier, Courtier and Explorer
• Simon Rattle, conductor who lived in Islington for a period
• Linda Robson, actress well known for her role in the television series Birds of a Feather
• Ronnie Ronalde, music hall performer famous for his singing, whistling, yodelling and imitations of bird song was born and raised in Islington. WikipediaWikiProject Classical music#Biographical_infoboxes --> Sir Simon Denis Rattle, CBE, FRSA, (born January Linda Robson (born 13 March 1958 in Islington, London) is an English actress Birds of a Feather is a British sitcom that aired on BBC One from 1989 to 1998 Ronnie Ronalde (born Ronald Charles Waldron, 1923 London) is a British music hall Singer and siffleur. Music hall is a form of British theatrical Entertainment which was popular between 1850 and 1960 Yodeling (or yodelling, jodeling) is a form of Singing that involves singing an extended note which rapidly and repeatedly changes in pitch from the As a young boy, he performed informally in the streets of Islington on a number of occasions.
• Jon Ronson, author, columnist, documentary maker. Jon Ronson (born 10 May 1967) is a Cardiff -born journalist author Documentary filmmaker and radio presenter
• Dana, winner of the 1970 Eurovision Song Contest
• Salman Rushdie, writer who lived in Islington for a period
• Ben Shephard TV Presenter, Lived in Islington 2001-2004
• Sid Smith novelist, journalist, lives in Islington
• Peter Vowell, Schoolteacher, executed for High Treason. Dana Rosemary Scallon (born Rosemary Brown on 30 August 1951 is better known simply as Dana, an Irish singer and former politician The Eurovision Song Contest 1970 was the 15th Eurovision Song Contest, held on March 21, 1970 at the Rai Congrescentrum in Amsterdam Sir Ahmed Salman Rushdie Kt (born 19 June 1947 is an Indian - British novelist and essayist Ben Shephard (born 11 December 1974 in Epping is an English Television presenter. Sid Smith may refer to Sid Smith (ice hockey (1925–2004 Canadian ice hockey player Sid Smith (author, Whitley Bay freelance writer Peter Vowell (died 10 July, 1654) was a schoolteacher executed as a Catholic and Royalist conspirator See also Treason, High treason in the United Kingdom High treason is criminal disloyalty to one's country
• Charlie Watts, drummer of The Rolling Stones, was born and raised in Islington. Charles Robert "Charlie" Watts (born 2 June 1941 is the Drummer of The Rolling Stones.
• Frank Warren, boxing promoter, was born in Islington
• Samuel West, actor. Frank Warren (born 28 February 1952 is an English Boxing manager and promoter Samuel West (born 19 June, 1966) is a British Actor and Theatre director.
• Kenneth Williams (1926 - 1988), Actor, Comedian, Radio and Television Entertainer. Kenneth Charles Williams ( 22 February 1926 &ndash 15 April 1988) was an English comic Actor, star of 26 One of the regulars on the popular Carry On Team, was born in Islington.
• Kate Winslet, actress

Transport

The area is well served with bus routes, with a major bus interchange located near Angel tube station. Kate Elizabeth Winslet (born 5 October 1975 is a five-time Academy Award -nominated Golden Globe -nominated Emmy Award -nominated Red route and residents' parking restrictions apply throughout the area.

Nearby places

• Angel
• Barnsbury
• Canonbury
• De Beauvoir Town
• Finsbury
• Highbury
• Hoxton
• Holloway
• Pentonville
• St Luke's

Nearby stations

• Angel tube station
• Essex Road railway station
• Highbury & Islington station

Education

For education in the area, see the London Borough of Islington article. The Angel was originally an Inn near a Toll gate on the Great North Road (at what is now the corner of Islington High Street and Pentonville Road Barnsbury is an area of North London in the London Borough of Islington, in the N1 and N7 postal districts. Canonbury is a residential district in the London Borough of Islington in the north of London De Beauvoir Town bō-vwär' toun is a district of the London Borough of Hackney, in North London. Finsbury is a small district in the south of the London Borough of Islington and north of the City of London. Highbury is an area in the London Borough of Islington. It lies between the following places Finsbury Park, north of Highbury Hoxton is an area in the London Borough of Hackney, immediately north of the financial district of the City of London. Holloway is an inner-city district in the London Borough of Islington and follows for the most part the line of the Holloway Road ( A1 road) Pentonville is an area of north-central London in the London Borough of Islington, centred on the Pentonville Road. St Luke's is an area in the London Borough of Islington in Greater London, close to the borders with the London Borough of Hackney and the City of Angel tube station is a London Underground station in The Angel, Islington. Essex Road railway station is a National Rail station in Islington. Highbury & Islington station is a National Rail, London Overground and London Underground station in the London Borough of Islington in North The London Borough of Islington ( is a London borough in North and Inner London.

Listed Buildings

The Grade II* listed St Paul's Church seen from Essex Road. This was built in 1826 to a design by Sir Charles Barry, who went on to build the current Houses of Parliament. Sir Charles Barry FRS ( 23 May 1795 &ndash 12 May 1860) was an English Architect, best known for his role (March 2007)

The Egyptianate former Carlton cinema on Essex Road is Grade II listed, and has now closed. (November 2005)

Grade II*

English Heritage^[9] lists three Grade II* listed buildings within Central Islington (and many more in surrounding districts):

• The Union Chapel
• 3 Terrett's Place (An 18th-century house on Upper Street)
• St Paul's Church, St Paul's Road (Designed by Sir Charles Barry, now the St Paul's Steiner Project)

Grade II (selected):

The area is perhaps most notable for its houses, shops and pubs. English Heritage is a Non-departmental public body of the United Kingdom government ( Department for Culture Media and Sport) with a broad remit of A listed building in the United Kingdom is a building or other structure officially designated as being of special architectural historical or cultural significance Sir Charles Barry FRS ( 23 May 1795 &ndash 12 May 1860) was an English Architect, best known for his role Rudolf Steiner ( 25 February 1861 – 30 March 1925) was an Austrian philosopher literary scholar educator artist playwright Many whole terraces are listed including much of Liverpool Road (one side of which is in Barnsbury) and Islington High Street/Upper Street. Liverpool Road is located in the London Borough of Islington of inner north London. Barnsbury is an area of North London in the London Borough of Islington, in the N1 and N7 postal districts. The A1 in London is an A road in North London. It runs from the London Wall to Bignall's Corner, where it crosses the M25 and The A1 in London is an A road in North London. It runs from the London Wall to Bignall's Corner, where it crosses the M25 and Other multiply listed streets include Camden Passage, Compton Terrace, Colebrooke Row, Cross Street, Duncan Terrace, Essex Road, Gibson Square and Milner Square). Camden Passage is a pedestrian passage off Upper Street in the London Borough of Islington. Essex Road railway station is a National Rail station in Islington.

Other Grade II listed structures include:

• The Almeida Theatre. The Almeida Theatre, opened in 1980 is a 325 seat Studio theatre with an international reputation which takes its name from the street in which it is located off
• The Angel Baptist Church, Cross Street.
• The Angel public house (the original one, now a Co-op bank - not the newer Wetherspoon's), Islington High Street.
• The Business Design Centre (part of which is the former Royal Agricultural Hall), Upper Street. The Business Design Centre is an exhibition centre on Upper Street in the district of Islington in London.
• The Camden Head public house, Camden Passage.
• The Hope and Anchor public house, Upper Street. The Hope and Anchor is a Public house on Upper Street, in the London Borough of Islington.
• Islington Town Hall.
• M Manze's Pie and Eel Shop, Chapel Market.
• Mecca Bingo Hall (now closed), Essex Road (once the Carlton Cinema).
• The Old Queen's Head public house, Essex Road.
• St John's Church, Duncan Terrace.
• St Mary's Church, Upper Street (rebuilt after World War 2 - only the spire remains from the original).
• South Library, Essex Road.
• The York public house.

See also

• Almeida Theatre
• Little Angel Theatre
• Business Design Centre
• Crafts Council
• Islington Green
• Market Estate
• The Union Chapel

External links

• Islington Council
• Islington Archaeology & History Society
• Islington Literary & Historical Strolls
• St Mary's Church
• Freightliner's Farm

References

• A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 8 (Note that even this largely refers to the old parish, considerably larger than the modern district)