Queen Elizabeth II with Mayor of Islington, Charles Frederick Rodgers, at the Islington Town Hall as part of her coronation visit to Islington, 3 June 1953
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 British monarch, became the first British monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee.
Her Majesty passed away peacefully at Balmoral on Thursday 8 September 2022 at the age of 96. We are saddened by her death and our thoughts are with the Royal Family at this time.
“Islington Celebrates the Queen” is a selection of photographs exploring Her Majesty’s visits to Islington from 1953 to 2000, and includes prints of the Queen’s coronation visit to Islington in 1953 as well as snapshots of local residents celebrating Her Majesty the Queen.
The display can be viewed for free at Islington Local History Centre, 245 St John Street, London, EC1V 4NB during the Centre’s opening times. This display has been extended until Saturday 17th September. No booking is necessary. Find opening times here
A Book of Condolence is now open at the Town Hall for those who wish to pay their respects. It is available for signing from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday.
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 History Centre collection to find out more about Islington’s Christmas Past.
Rowntrees Chocolates advert in the Islington Gazette, December 1921. (Islington Local History Centre)
The First Christmas Card
Christmas cards are a great way to send a little Christmas cheer. Did you know that Islington has a connection to what is thought to be the first Christmas card? In 1843 John Calcott Horsley, at the behest of Henry Cole, designed the first Christmas card which featured a family at the centre raising a toast. One of these cards was sent by a “John Washbourn and his wife” of 22, Theberton Street, Islington.
Reproduction of the original card sent by John Washbourn and his wife that was donated to the Islington Libraries in 1955. (Islington Local History Centre)
The World’s Fair at the Royal Agricultural Hall
100 years ago on Friday 23rd December 1921 the Royal Agricultural Hall in Islington held its 41st season of the World’s Fair. The Royal Agricultural Hall, affectionately known as the Aggie, opened in 1862 and for many years was host to a variety of events. The Aggie’s annual World’s Fair would open during the festive period with rave reviews in the Islington Gazette. “In this gigantic show of shows our borough once more lives up to its ancient title, “Merrie Islington.” and the villagers can enjoy skating and dancing, feasting and frivolity, innocent fun and care-free laughter to their hearts’ content.” (Islington Gazette, December 24, 1921)
Poster for the Royal Agricultural Hall World’s Fair, 1885. (Islington Local History Centre)
On Christmas night 1898 the Islingtonian James Chant claimed to have encountered a figure in white at St Mary’s churchyard. He, along with another person who he bumped into who had also come across the ghost, attempted to chase the figure to no avail. However, not disheartened, he declared he had every intention of returning to resume the hunt. His letter, sent to the Islington Gazette on 30th December 1898, was published in the daily edition on the 3rd January 1899.
Article in the Islington Gazette, January 3, 1899. (Islington Local History Centre)
…A Christmas Hoax
The ghost sighting at St Mary’s caused a bit of a stir with someone writing to the Islington Gazette to assert that the ghost sighting was merely a prank played by someone running around the churchyard wearing white. The ghost sighting went on to become even more controversial as the story began to circulate and the Islington Gazette reported that a “disorderly crowd” began to gather on the Tuesday evening into the early hours of the following morning outside St Mary’s Parish Church. However, when a reporter attempted to find the originator of the ghost sighting at the given address, there appeared to be no one by the name of James Chant in residence.
Article in the Islington Gazette, January 5, 1899. (Islington Local History Centre)
Joseph Grimaldi and Mother Goose
Joseph Grimaldi (1778-1837) was an actor, pantomimist and clown. His style of clowning, including face make-up and colourful dress, is now what we associate with the image of a clown. He performed in many pantomimes all year round but one of his greatest successes was his performance in Harlequin and Mother Goose (or The Golden Egg), a Christmas pantomime written by Thomas Dibdin, brother of Charles Dibdin, and performed at the Theatre Royal (later Royal Opera House), Covent Garden, in 1806.
Joseph Grimaldi as Clown in the pantomime Mother Goose, published 1846. (Islington Local History Centre)
Islington has been home to a number of venues from music halls to theatres and pub theatres and we’re lucky that there are still many around today. Here’s some posters and programmes of Christmas shows of times gone by.
Programme for Matthew Bourne’s Nutcracker at Sadler’s Wells Theatre, 2011.Poster for The Clown For A Day Show at North Library, 1988.Poster for Mother Goose at The Tower Theatre, 1986.Programme for Aladdin at Marlborough Theatre, 1904.Handbill for Robinson Crusoe at The Grand Theatre, 1886.
The Barry Manilow Christmas Tree
And to finish off this festive journey through the past here’s some photos of the “Barry Manilow Christmas Tree” that was a feature at the Lewis Carroll Library. Created by one of the librarians who obviously like him a great deal.
Islington Local History Centre and Museum wish you a safe and peaceful festive season and a happy New Year!
Researched and written by Marlin Khondoker Islington Local History Centre (December 2021)
Friends of Islington Museum 