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Canonbury

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Canonbury
OS grid referenceTQ325845
London borough
Ceremonial countyGreater London
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townLONDON
Postcode districtN1
Dialling code020
PoliceMetropolitan
FireLondon
AmbulanceLondon
UK Parliament
London Assembly
List of places
UK
England
London

Canonbury is a residential district in the London Borough of Islington in the north of London. It is roughly in the area between Essex Road, Upper Street and Cross Street and either side of St Paul's Road. In 1253 land in the area was granted to the Canons of St Bartholomew’s Priory, Smithfield and became known as Canonbury. The area continued predominantly as open land until it was developed as a suburb in the early 19th century.[1] In common with similar inner London areas, it suffered decline when the construction of railways in the 1860s enabled commuting into the city from further afield. The gentrification of the area from the 1950s included new developments to replace war-damaged properties in Canonbury Park North and South as well as restoration of older buildings.

East Canonbury is the south-eastern corner of the district, bordering on the Regents Canal. Parts of this area were transferred to the district from the London Borough of Hackney in a boundary adjustment (along the line of the northern tow-path of the canal), in 1993.[2]

In the east is the New River Estate (formerly the Marquess Estate), a 1,200 dwelling council estate, completed in 1976 on 26 acres (110,000 m2), and designed by Darbourne & Darke.[1] A dark red brick, traffic free estate, it was praised as an example of municipal architecture, but achieved a bad reputation and has since been extensively redeveloped to improve security for residents.

Notable residents

Canonbury Tower

Literary and artistic connections

Canonbury Square

George Orwell moved to 27b Canonbury Square in the autumn of 1944 - he and his wife having been bombed out of their previous flat, in Mortimer Crescent, on 28 June 1944.[4] Evelyn Waugh lived at 17a Canonbury Square from 1928 to 1930.[5] Charles Dickens wrote a Christmas story about a lamplighter in Canonbury, which features the Tower.[6] Leslie Forbes, the travel and detective story writer, and amateur historian Gavin Menzies, who has claimed that China launched an expedition which travelled the world in 1421, both live in the area.

Places of interest

  • Canonbury Tower - The manor of Canonbury was constructed by William Bolton of St Bartholomew’s Priory between 1509 and 1532. At the dissolution it was granted to Thomas Cromwell. In the 1590s the manor was rebuilt by Sir John Spencer, Lord Mayor of the City of London, including the construction of its tower. The tower has been occupied by many historical figures, including Francis Bacon and Oliver Goldsmith. The Tower Theatre Company was based here from 1953 to 2003. It is currently used as a Masonic research centre.
  • Canonbury Square - An attractive square, developed between 1805 and 1830, it includes a variety of distinct styles. In 1812, when few properties had been built, the New North Road turnpike, now known as Canonbury Road, was constructed and bisects the square. Many significant figures from the arts and literary worlds have lived on the square, including George Orwell, Evelyn Waugh and Samuel Phelps.
  • The Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art is in Canonbury Square.
  • New River Walk - The New River, an aqueduct built by Sir Hugh Myddelton to supply fresh water to London, was completed in 1613. The walk is in two parts, with a break at Willowbridge. The southern section received an early National Lottery grant, and has a back-pumping scheme which simulates the water flow of the original aqueduct.
  • Canonbury Grove - is a road running parallel to part of New River Walk, made up of typical attractive 2 and 3 storey early 19th century terraces.

Groups in Canonbury

Alwyne Villas Sept 2008
  • Greenpeace UK - offices based at Canonbury Villas.
  • The Canonbury Society [1] aims to conserve the special character of Canonbury by monitoring development
  • Islington & Stoke Newington (T.S Quail) Sea Cadet Unit
  • The Islington Society [2] was founded in 1960 to safeguard and improve the quality of life in Islington. It focuses on the built environment and public transport, but also takes a special interest in public services and open spaces.

Politics

  • The local MP is Labour politician Emily Thornberry (her full constituency is Islington South and Finsbury). The Islington councillors representing Canonbury are Paula Belford (Liberal Democrat), Faye Whaley and Wally Burgess (both Labour).

Transport and locale

Compton Road Sept 2008
Gardens of Canonbury Square Sept 2008

Nearest railway stations

Nearest tube stations

Nearest bus routes

Bus Route 4 19 21 30 38 43 56 67 73
Bus Route 76 141 149 242 243 271 277 341 476

References

  1. ^ a b 'Islington: Growth: Canonbury', A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 8: Islington and Stoke Newington parishes (1985), pp. 19-20 accessed: 3 May 2007
  2. ^ Statutory Instrument 1993 No. 1417 accessed 3 May 2007
  3. ^ Broadcaster Sir John Tusa pens a tribute to his home patch of Canonbury
  4. ^ Orwell, Collected Works, I Have Tried to Tell the Truth, p.283
  5. ^ Eric A Willats, Streets with a Story
  6. ^ The Lamplighter Charles Dickens (Public Domain) accessed 29 September 2009
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