In 1253 land in the area was granted to the Canons ofSt 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.[2]
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. Thegentrification 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.
Canonbury is traditionally an area ofIslington, and has never been an administrative unit in its own right. For this reason it has never had formally defined boundaries, but approximates to the area between Essex Road, Upper Street and Cross Street and either side of St Paul's Road. The Canonburyelectoral ward within theLondon Borough of Islington extends as far east asSouthgate Road.
East Canonbury is the south-eastern corner of the district, bordering on theRegents Canal. Parts of this area were transferred to the district from theLondon Borough of Hackney in a boundary adjustment (along the line of the northern towpath of the canal), in 1993.[3]
In the east is the Marquess Estate, a 1,200 dwellingcouncil estate, completed in 1976 on 26 acres (110,000 m2), and designed by Darbourne & Darke.[2] A dark red brick, traffic free estate, it was praised as an example of municipal architecture, but acquired a bad reputation and has since been extensively redeveloped to improve security for residents.
Canonbury 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 the writersGeorge Orwell andEvelyn Waugh, and the actorSamuel Phelps.
New River Walk – TheNew River, anaqueduct built by SirHugh 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 earlyNational Lottery grant, and has a back-pumping scheme which simulates the water flow of the original aqueduct.
Arlington Square – voted one of the UK's best garden squares.[4]
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.[5]Evelyn Waugh lived at 17a Canonbury Square from 1928 to 1930.[6]Charles Dickens wrote aChristmas story about alamplighter in Canonbury, which features the Tower.[7] Leslie Forbes, the travel anddetective story writer,[8] andpseudohistorianGavin Menzies both lived in the area.[9]M. V. Hughes (née Thomas) lived at 1 Canonbury Park North (the house is no longer standing) as a child, and describes life there in her memoirA London Child of the 1870s.[10]
St Paul's, at the junction of Essex Road and Balls Pond Road, was designed in 1826-28 byCharles Barry for theChurch of England.[11] Its parish was merged with St Jude, Mildmay and since 1997 the building has been used as aSteiner school.[12][13]
St Stephen's Church, Church of England, is on Canonbury Road and was built in 1839.[14][15]
Greenpeace UK – offices based at Canonbury Villas.
The Canonbury Society aims to conserve the special character of Canonbury by monitoring development.[16]
Islington & Stoke Newington (T.S Quail) Sea Cadet Unit
The Islington Society 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.[17]
Canonbury forms part of theIslington South and Finsbury parliamentary constituency. The constituency's MP isLabour politicianEmily Thornberry. The Islington councillors representing Canonbury are Alex Diner, Clare Jeapes and Nick Wayne (Labour).
Canonbury Road School, now Canonbury Primary School, opened in 1877.[20] It is a Community primary school taking boys and girls from 3 to 11 years of age. In 2010, the school was placed in special measures.[21] By 2013, when Ofsted inspected Canonbury Primary School it was rated as a "Good" school.[22] In 2013, there were 460 pupils on the school roll.[23]
Founded as acharity school in 1710, St Mary's Church of England Primary School has, since 1967, been situated on Fowler Road in Canonbury.[24] When Ofsted inspected the school in 2012 it was rated as a "Good" school and there were 178 pupils on the school roll.[25]
Molly Hughes, educator and author, chronicled her childhood in Canonbury inA London Child of the 1870s growing up in a house that "stood at the corner of two roads" with a view down the length of Grange Grove (1 Canonbury Park North)[10]
George Orwell, writer, lived at 27b Canonbury Square
Evelyn Waugh, writer, lived at 17a Canonbury Square
Professor SirBasil Spence, architect, lived and worked at 1 Canonbury Place from 1956 until his death in 1976. He is commemorated with ablue plaque[30][31]
Gareth Morris, principal flute, Philharmonia and New Philharmonia Orchestras (1948–1972) also principal flute professor of Royal Academy of Music (1945–1985), resident of 4 Alwyne Place from 1945 to 1987
