Islington in Old Photographs

2009 | History & Politics

Islington retains a distinct personality which dates back to the days when it was a villages in the countryside visited by Londoners for leisure pursuits. This fascinating collection of nearly 200 old photographs of the Borough takes a nostalgic look back at some of the changes of the last hundred years. We see the old shops, street markets and theatres, including the music halls, and some of the people who lived and worked in the area. Dramatic changes in public transport can be seen, from horse-drawn bus and tramcar to the arrival of the Underground and the motorbus. This book includes early scenes of Holloway and Canonbury, Finsbury Park, the construction of the Highgate Archway and the new stand for Arsenal at Highbury in the 1930s. These old scenes will bring back strong memories for some and enlighten others about an Islington that is now history. This book takes us on a journey through Islington's past, sometime quite recognizable, sometimes unfamiliar, but in a time of rapid change, it is all the more interesting look at what has gone before. Gavin Smith is a keen local historian and his numerous books on local history include Barking and Dagenham (THe History Press, 1996).

He lives in Brentwood, Essex.

Gavin Smith (Author)