Barnsbury
| Barnsbury | |
| Middlesex | |
|---|---|
| File:Thornhill square 1.jpg Thornhill Square | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | TQ305845 |
| Location: | 51°32’31"N, 0°6’38"W |
| Data | |
| Post town: | London |
| Postcode: | N1, N7 |
| Dialling code: | 020 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Islington |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Islington South and Finsbury |
Barnsbury is an urban village of Middlesex.
The name is shortened from Bernersbury (1274),[1] so named after the Berners family: powerful mediæval manorial lords who gained ownership of a large part of Islington after the Norman Conquest. The area of Barnsbury was predominantly rural until the early 19th century.
History
By the end of the 18th century, Barnsbury, like areas round Islington, was regarded as an attractive part-rural suburb by the comparatively wealthy people wanting to move out of the cramped City of London and industrial Clerkenwell. The area is close to the city, and had strong local trade in its position as the first staging post for travellers making the journey from London to the north, and with considerable agricultural traffic and cattle driving to the nearby Smithfield cattle market in the city.
Barnard Park, consisting of 10 acres including a large area of football pitches, was created in 1967 on an area of housing that had been bombed during The Blitz, and was named after a former Mayor ot Islington.[2]
Pentonville Prison (built 1842) is located within Barnsbury.
References
- ↑ Mills, D., Oxford Dictionary of London Place Names, (2000)
- ↑ Morris, James (2018-06-16). "From war bombing to 'stinking' paddling pools: A history of Barnard Park" (in en-UK). https://www.islingtongazette.co.uk/lifestyle/from-war-bombing-to-stinking-paddling-pools-a-history-of-3796148.