The area west of Upper Street Islington was developed in the 1820s-1840s. Soon after the railways tempted people further out and until the 1960s the area was out of favour. However, its attractive villas, terraces and squares, in a variety of styles, thus escaped improvement and feature on this 3 mile circular walk from Angel tube station (Northern line).

From the station go to the right along Islington High Street (not the main road - Upper Street)
On the corner with Duncan Terrace a former tram depot is now an antiques market

Continue along Camden Passage to Islington Green
The passage is noted for its antique shops & market. On the Green is a statue of Hugh Myddleton, associated with the New River and on the north side the site of Collin's Music Hall is marked on the bookshop.

Continue along Essex Road and go left at Dagmar Terrace
From here there is a view of the parish church of St Mary. This is an old foundation and was associated with Charles Wesley. It was rebuilt in the 1750s by Launcelot Dowbiggin, who is buried there. After WWII bombing only the tower & steeple remained and the rebuilding of the church was supervised by Seeley & Paget.

Go to the right along Dagmar Passage
Here is the home of the Little Angel Marionettes puppet theatre

Go left at Cross Street
This street has a mixture of buildings. At the end the Old Parrs Head pub comemorates a man who lived to 152! [more info]

Cross Upper Street into Almeida Street
On the left is the Almeida Theatre and Royal Mail premises which occupy the site of a former sawmill

Go through the passage at the end into Milner Square
These distinctive houses were designed by Roumieu & Gough and completed in 1841

Exit into Milner Place and go right at Gibson Square
The west side of this square was built in 1836 and the remainder in 1839

Cross Liverpool Road into Richmond Avenue and go right into Lonsdale Square
These Tudor-style houses were designed by Richard Cromwell Carpenter. They were built in 1835-43 for the Draper's Company who sold them in 1954.

Exit on the north side and go right along Barnsbury Street
The Islington Workhouse of 1777 was sited here at a time when it would have been surrounded by fields. The turreted building on the corner was a Registrar's Office built in 1872.

Continue across Liverpool Road
On the right Richford's Ironworks has been rebuilt as flats. The Islington Proprietary School of 1830 was later put to industrial use.

Go left at College Cross
On the right is a large estate of Sutton Dwellings built in 1915 on the site of a Church Missionary College of 1825 and an earlier botanic garden

Take the first left
On the right New College Mews incorporates a replica of a former Victorian turkish bath which stood on the site

Go right at Liverpool Road and first left along Brooksby Street. At the end go right along Thornhill Road
Thornhill Houses of 1902 were built by the East End Dwellings Company

Return to and go around Barnsbury Square
This has a mixture of buildings including Mountford House. Mountford Crescent in the NW corner has paired villas of 1837-47 (pictured in header).

Exit by the SW corner with Italianate style buildings. Go left at Barnsbury Terrace and left along Lofting Road then right at Lambert Street and left along Ripplevale Grove
The Grove has pretty cottages of 1839-41

Go right along Thornhill Road
Th Albion pub on the left originated as a teahouse surrounded by the dairy and fields of Thomas Albion Oldfied where cricket was played between the 1780s & 1834. On the right is the attractive Malvern Terrace. At the end of the road are two old shops with wall advertisements.

Go right along Richmond Avenue
Some of the houses here have Greek details and are guarded by sphinxes. Richmond Crescent on the right was the former home of Tony Blair

Return to the 'shop' junction and go right along Cloudesley Road then left into Cloudesley Square
The central Holy Trinity Church was designed by Sir Charles Barry in 1826-9

Exit into Liverpool Road and go right then left into Old Royal Free Square
This is an award-winning development of a former hospital

Return to and continue along Liverpool Road
On the left is the Business Design Centre that was formerly the Royal Agricultural Halls. Further along is the new cinema/shopping complex N1 decorated with angel wings & halo.

Liverpool Road leads back to the Angel station. There are plenty of places for refreshments with good value cafes in Chapel Market

© london-footprints.co.uk 2003

A booklet has been written on Barnsbury by Mary Cosh for the Islington Archaeology & History Society

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