St. Mary’s Nunnery

St James Clerkenwell

This church in the photo is St. James Clerkenwell, built by a local architect, James Carr, in 1788-92. It lies on the same ground as the far more ancient buildings … Read more

The Islington New Market

Islington New Market 1849 ILN

This short-lived cattle and livestock market was developed by a Mr Perkins in the 1830s, on land between the Lower Road (now Essex Road) and Southgate Road on the eastern … Read more

Balmes House

balmes-house

This elegant small manor house is believed to have been erected around 1635, probably on the site of the mediaeval Hoxton Manor. It was situated near the border between the … Read more

‘Beating the Bounds’

Islington boundary marker

The annual act of ‘Beating the Bounds’ of the parish was extremely important before maps were commonplace. Local officials and interested parties would walk the parish boundary, often on Ascension … Read more

The Cold Bath in Clerkenwell

coldbath-square

In an unobtrusive turning off Farringdon Road lies the site of the ‘Cold Bath’ spring. First discovered in the late 1600s and turned into a spa with claimed medicinal waters, … Read more