4ANALYSIS
Historical contextIslington was originally known as “Gislandune”, Gisla’s Hill bythe Anglo-saxons.During the middle ages, much of Islington’s land belonged toreligious institutions, however following the dissolution of themonasteries in the 16th century, it was taken over by wealthyaristocratic families (Hidden London, 2020). Located on theedge of the city, Islington served as a staging post on thenorth route from London, seeing large herds of cattle passingthrough Islington High Street on the way to Smithfields Marketeach year (Ibid, 2020).As London continued to grow in the 19th century, developmentrapidly took hold and rows of brick terraces started toreplace former agricultural farmland. This residential developmentwas also partly due to the introduction of horse-drawnomnibuses, which allowed for clerks and artisans to live fartheraway from their places of work, turning Islington into a‘commuter suburb’ (Baggs, Bolton and Croot, 1985; HiddenLondon, 2020). At the beginning of the century, Islington’spopulation stood at 10,212 and by 1861 it had reached atotal of 155,341 (Baggs, Bolton and Croot, 1985).Islington experienced widespread social decline in the laterhalf of the 19th century, with the coming of the railways andindustrial development. It’s middle-class population movedfurther away from the city into outer Middlesex and largehouses fell into crowded, multi-occupational use (Ibid, 1985).Along with the rest of London, the borough suffered significantwartime bomb damage to it’s housing stock (Baggs,Bolton and Croot, 1985; Hidden London, 2020). However,the post-war period sparked the building of a number of municipalhousing estates, including the Priory Green Estate, locatedeast of the study site. In the 1960’s Islington becameincreasingly popular amongst the middle-classes and manyworking-class tenants were encouraged to leave their desirableperiod properties and relocate elsewhere (Ibid, 1985).Today Islington remains a gentrified Inner London suburb.Large parts of the borough have undergone extensive redevelopmentover recent decades, including King’s Cross,where 67 acres of former industrial brownfield land hasbeen transformed into a thriving social hub with new homes,schools, shops and cultural offerings.Historical and cultural contextHistorical development of IslingtonCollective memoryLooking at the historical maps of the area one can observeLondon’s urban sprawl towards the north, the intensifying influenceof the railway which determines the morphology of thesite. Islington Large wasindustrial originally sites knowndominated as “Gislandune”, the area Gisla’s around Hill by Kings theCross Anglo-saxons. since the end of the 19th century until contemporarytimes when the area was redeveloped. The maps also revealthe During changes the middle in the ages, building much offabric Islington’s due land to the belonged Blitz and to religious the seversinstitutions, the street however pattern following which the resulted dissolutionin of an the increasing monasteries physicalthe isolation 16th century, of the it was Framework taken over Masterplan by wealthy Area. aristocratic For example, familiesinas (Hidden Battlebridge London, 2020). Road Located (pictured onto the the edge right) of was the city, discontinued Islingtonafter servedthe as a1930s.staging post on the north route from London, seeing large1824 (British Library Archives)herds of cattle passing through Islington High Street on the way toSmithfields Market each year (Ibid, 2020).1842-1952 (Digimaps)1990 (Digimaps)Contemporary (Digimaps)As London continued to grow in the 19th century, developmentrapidly took hold and rows of brick terraces started to replace former Kings Cross 1930 (Digimaps)agricultural farmland. This residential development was also partlydue to the introduction of horse-drawn omnibuses, which allowed forclerks and artisans to live farther away from their places of work,turning Islington into a ‘commuter suburb’ (Baggs, Bolton and Croot,1985; Hidden London, 2020). At the beginning of the century, Exploring how the urban fabric of a city changes throughoutIslington’s population stood at 10,212 and by 1861 it had reached a247) concept of “collective memory” understands the city’s ufor the future”. Rossi proposed that the fabric of a city consitotal of 155,341 (Baggs, Bolton and Croot,1985).lining streets and squares, which would change over time, anIslington experienced widespread social decline in the later half of the its particular character and embodied the ‘memory’ of the ci19th century, with the coming of the railways and industrialand King’s Cross Station in the early-to-mid 19th centuryestablished street patterns, the former-industrial warehousedevelopment. It’s middle-class population moved further away fromVictorian townscape. Monuments within the study site also lthe city into outer Middlesex and large houses fell into crowded,remains visually dominant in scale, Battlebridge Basin, ‘TheBagley’s multi-occupational Club (Dave use (Ibid, Swindells) 1985).Housmans Bookshophistoric Goods Yard complex which has been converted into aAlong with the rest of London, the borough suffered significantKing’s Cross: a counter-culture of ‘rave and resistance’ King’s Cross: a counter-culture of ‘rave and resistawartime bomb damage to it’s housing stock (Baggs, Bolton and Croot,1985; Hidden London, 2020). However, the post-war period sparkedUnknowingly to visitors of the newly regenerated and upmarket Unknowingly King’s to visitors Cross, ofthenewly regenerated and upmathe building of a number of municipal housing estates, including thearea has a bold and defiant history. It was once known as has “Battlebridge”, a bold and defiant named history. It was once known as “BatPriory Green Estate, located east of the study site. In the 1960’safter a major battle that supposedly took place on the bridge majorover battlethe thatRiver supposedly Fleet took place on the bridge over thIslington became increasingly popular amongst the middle-classesbetween the Romans and Queen Boudicca of the Iceni tribe. Romans In the and Queen 1970s Boudicca and 80s, of the Iceni tribe. In the 1970sand manythe areaworking-classhousedtenantsthe nationalwereofficesencouragedof numberto leaveoftheirleft wingtheorganisationsnational officesandof numberhadof left wing organisations adesirable period properties and relocate elsewhere (Ibid, 1985). tradition of radicalism and occupations”. Rave culture was alsodeveloped “a real tradition of radicalism and occupations”. Rave culture was alsoCross during the 80’s and Bagley’s warehouse club became aalive and kicking in King’s Cross during the 80’s and Bagley’s warehouse club becamea “unifying hub” for ravers escaping the realities of Thatcher’s neoliberalism.Today Islington remains a gentrified Inner London suburb. Large parts escaping the realities of Thatcher’s neoliberalism. Today, theof the borough have undergone extensive redevelopment over recent Cross lives on within Housmans Bookshop, the “radicalToday, the subversive spirit of King’s Cross lives on within Housmans Bookshop,decades, including King’s Cross, where 67 acres of former industrial Caledonian Road. Housmans is owned by the not-for-profitthe “radical booksellers” located on Caledonian Road. Housmans is owned by thebrownfield land has been transformed into a thriving social hub with the building’s upper-floors are let out to progressive groupnot-for-profit Peace News Trustees and the building’s upper-floors are let out tonew homes, schools, shops and cultural offerings.International and Network for Peace.progressive groups, including War Resisters International and Network for Peace.Analysis*This segment is adapted from Jessica Furseth’s article ‘R*This segment is adapted from Jessica Furseth’s article ‘Raves and resistance: thehidden history of Kings Cross’ (2019).hidden history of Kings Cross’ (2019).5