Islington is easily one of London’s most historically significant boroughs. Originally known as Saxons Giseldone in the early 11th century, its cultural impact on inner London throughout the centuries has been as impactful as any other neighbourhood. From the medieval origins to the World War II bombings and into the 21st century, it has an intriguing story to tell. The architecture of the area tells it in a fascinating manner.
The borough of Islington is well-known for marrying the historic and contemporary, with buildings throughout the ages shedding light on the backstory of the area. But what is the oldest standing building in Islington? Let’s find out.
What is the Definition of ‘Oldest’ Building?
The answer to “which is the oldest building?” in a specific area isn’t quite as simple as the question might first suggest. One person’s definition may vary from another’s based on several factors;
- Is the structure classified as a building, or is it a different type of structure?
- When did the building work begin?
- Has the building undergone too much structural redevelopment to be considered original?
There are plenty of additional factors to consider, which is why different people may give different responses to the question. As such, several structures can claim to be the oldest building in Islington. They are as listed below:
The Clerk’s Well
Found to the west of Clerkenwell Green, the Clerk’s Well is a 12th-century relic that still boasts its original features and structural integrity. Its precious nature is underlined by the fact that you have to visit by appointment-only. Many would argue that it is, indeed, the oldest relic in the area. However, only a minority would define it as a building.
Thought to have originally been a “holy well”, it was more likely to be a “sacred well” where miracles were performed by the parish clerks. The water was highly regarded by the Priory Church of The Order of St John as pure and holy, which is why this particular well has its place in history.
Regardless of where you stand on the “is it a building?” question, Clerk’s Well certainly has an important role to play in the heritage of Islington and north London as a whole.
St John’s Gate
St John’s Gate is a Clerkenwell landmark that was constructed at the start of the 16th century. Completed in 1504, it has proudly stood as one of Islington’s most prominent structures. Having once served as the entrance to the Priory of the Knights of St John (prior to the Henry VIII reformation) it is now home to a museum.
The Gate was acquired in the 1870s by the revived Order of St John and was gradually converted to serve as headquarters of both the Order and its subsidiary, the St John Ambulance Brigade. Much of its Tudor-style interior, including the Council Chamber over the arch, is attributed to Victorian restoration in the 1880s and 1890s. The substructure is of brick, while the north and south façades are made from stone, however after centuries of decay and much rebuilding, very little of the stone facing is original.
While the building boasts an incredibly fascinating history, the fact that most of the exterior was redeveloped during the Victorian era means that many people would contest its claim to be truly considered Islington’s oldest original building.
Priory Church of The Order of St John
The church building itself has an even longer history as its original construction dates back to the late 12th century. The crypt remains a large percentage of its original structure and integrity, but the main building underwent serious restoration throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. Therefore, it is another building that some claim to be the oldest building in the borough while others would dismiss it despite its obvious historical significance.
The Church is under the Order of St John and still hosts fundraisers to support St John’s Ambulance. The replacement chapel for the Order was most recently redeveloped in the 1950s, though, so calling it the oldest building in the area won’t sit easy with everyone.
The Charterhouse
Originally built in 1371, the 14th-century Charterhouse at Smithfield just about counts as falling within the Islington area. Medieval fragments of the former monastic enclave are still intact to this day, which sees some people champion it as the area’s oldest building. After all, it’s very difficult to find anything older in Islington.
However, many parts of the building structure were restored in the Tudor times while further redevelopment occurred in the years following the Blitz. As such, much of the building is still under 100 years old, making it difficult to label Charterhouse the area’s oldest building. Still, it does continue to present a number of ancient remnants.
Canonbury Tower
Situated, unsurprisingly, in Canonbury – to the east of Upper Street – Canonbury Tower was constructed by William Bolton of St Bartholomew’s Priory between 1509 and 1532. This 16th-century building is still largely intact from its original structure and having stood, relatively untouched for nearly 500 years, it can certainly make a strong case to be the area’s longest-standing building.
Interestingly, both Francis Bacon and Thomas Cromwell lived in the Tudor tower, which further strengthens its place at the top table of significant buildings in the area. The fact that they would have all lived in the Grade II* listed tower in a very similar state to its current condition is all the more incredible.
The Final Word
Islington is one of the most historically important neighbourhoods of London with architecture that can be dated back several centuries. There are many buildings that can claim to be the oldest and longest standing in the area.
Does it truly matter which is the oldest? Possibly not. But it’s certainly interesting to see the rich heritage and architecture at play, not least when it is married with the contemporary styles also present in the area. Whichever building you qualify as the oldest, Islington has many to offer.
Image courtesy The Card Index
