A Finsbury Walk Route & what to see |
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london-footprints.co.uk |
A 4 mile walk from Old Street Station to Holborn Circus. There is some overlap with other routes.
Finsbury was an area of fields used for pasture, sports especially archery and drying washing. Londoners fleeing from the fire and plague set up temporary homes in the area. Activities not welcome in the City such as theatres and industries including brewing were established. Medicinal springs were discovered and exploited as places of entertainment and it also became a centre for non-conformity. Later development was piecemeal under various owners. Initially people worked from home but later factories were opened so the area became built up by the mid 19th century. By 1901, when Finsbury became a Metropolitan Borough, 31 blocks of model dwellings had been built to replace slums. Redevelopment continued between the wars and afterwards. Finsbury was absorbed into the Borough of Islington in 1965.
Exit into City Road and go
southwards
On the left is the Wesleyan Chapel founded in 1777, Museum of
Methodism and Wesleys House (now a museum)
Go through Bunhill Fields
opposite
This burial ground was never consecrated so was used by
dissenters. The last burial took place in 1854. There are
pictures and listings of notable graves in the central building.
Go right at Bunhill Row,
cross Old Street and continue along Bath Street
This recalls the Peerless Pool, a reservoir used as a bathing
pool in the 18th century. Beyond Peerless Street on
the right is Moorfields Eye Hospital.
Go left into Radnor Street
In the entrance to St Lukes Primary School are inscription
stones from the previous building. At the corner with Ironmonger
Row is the Baths and Wash House. The first phase with slipper
baths and laundry was designed by Alfred Cross in 1931. The
second phase by his son Kenneth Cross (1938) provided a swimming
pool and Turkish Baths. The building has been refitted but
retains many features and has a small history display in one of
the former slipper baths.
Go left through St
Lukes Garden (former graveyard) across into Helmet Row
St Lukes Church was designed by Hawksmoor with John James
in 1727-33 and features an obelisk spire. In 1959 the roof was
found to be unsafe and was removed leaving the church at the
mercy of the elements. However it has now been Grade I listed and
transformed into a rehearsal, performance and education building
for the London Symphony Orchestra with a cafe and exhibition in
the reconstructed crypt. There is a programme of events including
concerts and workshops open to the public. Number 12 is the
former vicarge.
Cross Old Street into
Whitecross Street
Some old houses remain at the northern end. Further along is a
large Peabody estate of the 1880s. The street is used as a
market.
Go left into Dufferine Street
At the end on the right Dufferin Court was built for
costermongers and features barrow storage sheds in the courtyard.
Go right into Bunhill Row
The terrace of houses with City of London property marks are
early 19th century
Go right through Lambs
Passage
St Josephs RC Church is at the corner
At the end go right into
Chiswell Street
Opposite is St Pauls Tavern. Whitbreads moved here in 1749
extending an existing house and brewery. The historic core was
retained after closure in 1976. Buildings on the south side are
the company headquarters and a conference centre. The casking
department on the north side is now accommodation for Guildhall
School of Music students. The sundial records the original 1771
building rebuilt in 1867.
Go right along Whitecross
Street and left into Fortune Street
A plaque records the site of the Fortune Theatre built for Edward
Alleyn and Philip Henslowe in 1600. It burnt down in December
1621.
Continue along Fortune
Street, cross Golden Lane then go along Fann Street. Go right at
Goswell Road
At the Clerkenwell Road/Old Street junction is the former Hat
& Feathers pub of 1860.
Continue along Goswell Road
and just past the Percival Street/Lever Street junction go left
along Sebastian Street
Northampton Square was laid out in 1805. Some houses remain but
there are also several City University buildings.
Exit via Ashby Street and
continue left along Goswell Road. Go left into Rawstorne Street
Land in this area was left to the Brewers Company by Dame
Alice Owen in 1613. There are houses of c1789 and tenements of
1871-3.
Go right at Paget Street,
left into Friend Street and left through Rawstorne Place
Bennetts Associates (Architects) occupy premises which
inlcude a former printworks and a small 18th century
barn. These were restored and incorporated into the complex along
with new buildings designed by the practice. Sustainable features
include a green roof.
Continue along Rawstorne
Street to the right and go right at St John Street. Go left into
Rosebery Avenue
In 1684 Dick Sadler opened a pleasure garden at the site of a
medicinal spring to which he later added a music house. A later
building was closed in 1915 and not replaced until 1931 when
under the direction of Lilian Baylis it became home to the Royal
Ballet and English National Opera. This was demolished in 1996
and the present building opened in October 1998. A well can still
be seen in the entrance.
Opposite is the Spa Green estate planned by Tecton in the pre-war
years but not built until 1946-50 under the direction of Lubetkin
& Skinner. The war memorial was erected in 1921.
The site on the right is that of New River Head from which water
was distributed. This was taken over by the Metropolitan Water
Board (later Thames Water) and a new HQ was built by 1920 and
extended in 1934-5. The buildings have since been converted to
apartments. Visible on the site is Smeaton's Engine House, built
in 1767 and extended in 1812 and the stump of an early 18th
century windmill (now with a conical roof). Further along on the
left is the former Finsbury Town Hall built in 1895 with Art
Nouveau features and a glazed street canopy.
Go right into Amwell Street
St Peter & St Pauls RC Church of 1875 is on the left
First left into Merlin Street
Flats for married police were constructed in 1927-30
Continue into Wilmington
Square
This was laid out in the 1820s
Exit via Tysoe Street,
crossing Rosebery Avenue and go right along Exmouth Market.
The Church of the Holy Redeemer of 1887-8 was designed by J D
Sedding in an Italian Renaissance style.
Go left into Pine Street
To the left is the Finsbury Health Centre, a H-shaped building of
1935-8 by Lubetkin & Tecton.
Go right at Vineyard Walk and
cross Farringdon Road into Topham Street
Coldbath Square to the right recalls medicinal baths of 1697
Go left through to Bakers Row
then right here. At the end go left along Warner Street
The Coach & Horses pub (built 1900) stands on the site of
Hockley-in-the-Hole Bear Gardens. The Fleet River runs under the
street outside this.
Right at Back Hill. Cross
Clerkenwell Road and go down Leather Lane
This is another market street
Go right into Dorrington
Street
St Alban the Martyr Church was designed by William Butterfield in
1861-2 but rebuilt after being largely destroyed in WWII. It was
built amongst the slums on the site of a thieves kitchen.
Continue along Brooke Street
The poet Chatterton committed suicide at a house on the site of
number 39 in 1770.
At the end go left along
Holborn to Holborn Circus
The original Prudential buildings of 1879 were designed by Alfred
Waterhouse but the present buildings, which have kept faith with
the style, are by other architects including Paul Waterhouse.
There is a bronze equestrian statue of Prince Albert in Holborn
Circus. The ancient St Andrews Church escaped the Great Fire but
was rebuilt by Wren in 1684-90. It was restored after WWII bomb
damage by Seeley & Paget. The church contains items from the
Foundling Hospital and the reredos from St Lukes Old
Street.
ã london-footprints.co.uk 2014
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