Finsbury Library 245 St. John Street Islington EC1V 4NB England
A intricately carved wooden box containing photos of Bombay, given to the people of Finsbury. Finsbury was the first borough to elect an Indian MP - Dadabhai Naoroji in 1892.
Collection details
Archives, Performing Arts, Social History
Open
By appointment
Monday: 10-1pm, 2-8pm
Tuesday: 10-1pm, 2-5pm
Thursday: 10-1pm, 2-8pm
Friday: 10-1pm
Alternate Saturdays: 10-1pm, 2-5pm
Closed
Wednesdays
Description
Islington Local History Centre has an unrivalled collection of material relating to life in this thriving borough. Whether you are a family historian tracing your roots, a teacher researching material for your students, or simply someone who is interested in finding out more about this fascinating part of London, we're sure to be able to help.
Collections description
Records of the vestry of St. Mary's, Islington (1662-1900), vestries of St. James, Clerkenwell and St. Luke's, Old Street. Records of the Metropolitan Boroughs, including Council Minutes.
Book collection covering the local area and all aspects of local life.
Local maps from 1600, including large scale Ordnance Survey maps from the 1870's to the present.
Photographs, paintings, drawings and engravings of local scenes, people, roads and buildings.
Cuttings and ephemera on all aspects of local news from 19th century to 1990’s.
Local newspapers, church and business magazines, from the 19th century onwards.
19th and 20th century Post Office London Directories (incomplete 1852-1991).
Census returns on microfilm 1841-1901, with accompanying street indexes.
19th and 20th century registers of electors.
Registers of St. Mary’s parish church, Upper St. (incomplete 1557-1913).
Rate books listing each house and the ratepayer. The earliest Finsbury rate book begins in 1661, and the earliest Islington rate book in 1729.
18th and 19th century poor law settlement examination books for Clerkenwell, indexed by surname.
Various deeds, deposited archives and papers of local individuals and organisations are available.
Key artists and exhibits
Special Collections
;
Sadler's Wells Theatre: playbills, prints, photographs, cuttings, books and other material relating to Sadler's Wells buildings, theatre, opera and ballet performances and management.
;
Penton Family and Estate: various papers relating to the Pentonville area.
;
Sickert Collection: Books, photographs, cuttings and a small picture collection, relating to Walter Sickert and Therese Lessore.
;
Joe Orton Collection: Books, cuttings, and reproductions of the Islington Library book jackets defaced and doctored by Joe Orton and Kenneth Halliwell.
