THE STREET WITH MEMORIES
A History of Florence Street, London N1
Florence Street: the heart of bustling Islington - today.
What events has it witnessed over the years? Who has made Florence Street their home? Just how far back can its history be traced?
Alan Pattison, a proud resident of this London street, tracks the history of Florence Street back to its creation in 1857 and discovers its place in Islington history all the way back to Neolithic times.
ISLINGTON THROUGH THE CENTURIES
The very name of Islington - 'Ishel', old English for 'lower', and 'don', a town or fortress - suggest Saxon roots. Eminently accessible from 'London', Islington was where Henry VI was arrested, Edward IV welcomed, Henry VIII a frequent visitor  and Elizabeth I visited Sir John Spencer's house just around the corner from the future Florence St. Canonbury Tower was a one-time home of Thomas Cromwell and Sir Walter Raleigh had a house near Florence St. Islington in 1708 had 325 houses, by 1801 it had 1,745... It was on the make.
FLORENCE STREET ARRIVES
Even back in 1857 Florence Street was a prime Islington location. A grand Vestry Hall was built on Upper Street; far more beautiful than today's petrol station! The Marquess of Northampton spotted an opportunity and Florence Street was created behind the Hall, complete with the Florence Tavern. Why 'Florence'?...
PEOPLE OF FLORENCE STREET
1861 found a wide range of people in Florence Street, from professionals to salesmen, houses with servants to families sharing houses. It was said, "There is no more agreeable part of suburban London than Islington".
By 1891 many Florence Street residents were manual workers, only four had servants and many properties houses up to four households. Stories have come down to us about the occupants of numbers 8, 26, 27, 46 and 47.
