Friends of Islington Museum

Category: Local History

  • What’s On

    The Drawing Club Join us at Finsbury Library for a special LGBT History Month session of The Drawing Club on Saturday 17th February at 2.30pm. Martin King was a local resident of Islington, historian and artist. We’ll be taking a look, and sketching, his small sculptures made from everyday items.…

  • First Train to Farringdon

    Opened to the public 160 years ago the Metropolitan Line was the world’s first passenger-carrying underground railway and Farringdon Street Station in Clerkenwell was its first terminus station. Celebrating what was the start of the London Underground “First Train to Farringdon” is a free temporary display in the Islington Local…

  • Bunhill Heritage, 1 Year On: A Preview of Coming Attractions

    In 2022, Islington Heritage Service appointment printmaker Georgie Fay as the first Artist-Educator-in-Residence for Bunhill Heritage, a three-year community project that will see three different artists explore the rich history south Islington. Thanks to our local partner, St Luke’s Community Centre, each artist receives a studio space for one year…

  • Opportunity for Mosaic Artist for new Navigator Square public art

    Artist Brief Background In 2022, Islington Heritage Service partnered with the London Irish Centre to create the first Islington Irish Month. This month-long programme of heritage activities included schools workshops, trad music sessions, heritage walks, a charity céilí and open air concert in Navigator Square, Archway. The month celebrated the…

  • Photograph Display: Islington Celebrates the Queen

    On 6 February 1952, on the death of her father King George VI, Her Majesty the Queen acceded to the British throne at the age of 25. Her coronation took place on 2 June 1953. On 6 February 2022, after serving for 70 years, Queen Elizabeth II, the longest reigning…

  • Islington’s Christmas Past: Part II

    Once again we find ourselves in a festive season in strange times. Last year, as a bit of a diversion, we took a brief look at some of the Christmas ‘goings-on’ of Islington past in Pantos, Pageants and Puddings and we thought we’d take another dive into the Islington Local…

  • Elthorne Park Peace Garden

    Friday 23rd July, 3-5pm Islington Heritage Service invites you to attend a series of events in the Peace Garden of Elthorne Park to commemorate the unveiling of a WW2 memorial plaque and the re-installation of Upon Reflection, a statue by Kevin Atherton. The V2 Rocket Memorial On Sunday November 5th,…

  • Streets with a Story: The Book of Islington

    First published in 1986, Streets with a Story: The Book of Islington, is an A-Z of Islington and Finsbury’s roads, streets, buildings and open spaces – both old and new. (Above: Angel and Islington High Street, 1920s). An invaluable resource for all those discovering and researching the fascinating history of…

  • The Clerkenwell King of Clowns: Joseph Grimaldi (1778-1837)

    Joseph Grimaldi, the Clerkenwell king of clowns and the father of modern clowning, is remembered in an annual memorial service on the first Sunday in February at Holy Trinity Church (and, more recently, All Saints Church) in Hackney. The service, which has been held since 1946, attracts hundreds of clown…

  • Pantos, Pageants and Puddings: Islington’s Christmas Past

    We’re all witnessing a different kind of Christmas in 2020. One without the usual carol services, Christmas fairs, pantomime outings and no spending ‘real time’ with family and friends. As a diversion, we thought we’d take a brief look at some of the Christmas ‘goings-on’ of Islington past. Read on…