Exmouth Market, EC1R

Road in/near Finsbury, existing between 1756 and now.

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(51.5255 -0.10996, 51.525 -0.109) 
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Road · * · EC1R ·
December
5
2022
Exmouth Market, formerly Exmouth Street, is semi-pedestrianised - the location of an outdoor street market.

Exmouth Market, located in Clerkenwell, was originally known as Spa Fields, the area saw the rise of tea gardens and leisure attractions in the late 17th century. As these attractions declined, house-building gained momentum in the latter half of the 18th century.

Exmouth Market holds a significant place in the neighbourhood, with its historical roots extending back to the 1760s. It served as a vital dividing line between early house-building and subsequent extensive development following the Napoleonic Wars. The street’s topographical connection to the old Spa Fields area creates a sense of continuity.

One notable feature is Wilmington Square, which was conceived in 1817 and became the centrepiece of a collection of new streets. Named in honor of Admiral Lord Exmouth, renowned for his role in the Battle of Lake Champlain, the square stands as a testament to the area’s history. Exmouth Market is home to architectural landmarks such as Tecton’s Finsbury Health Centre in Pine Street and J. D. Sedding’s Church of the Holy Redeemer, both contributing to the area’s character.

The street has witnessed various transformations over time. It is now predominantly pedestrianized, adding to the distinct charm of the entire area, which is characterized by a general absence of vehicles. Exmouth Market stands as a bustling commercial street, revitalized in the 1990s through a regeneration project. The street’s present-day vibrancy is a result of this endeavour, following a decline in the working-class street market that thrived in the 1890s.

The history of Exmouth Market’s development is multifaceted, with unique stories for the south and north sides. On the south side, Thomas Rosoman leased the Dog and Duck property in 1756, while Joseph Brayne, a stonemason, played a significant role in developing Brayne’s Row and other structures in the eastern part of the street. Smaller houses emerged along Northampton Row to the rear.

To the west, early buildings were known as Spa Place, and subsequent developments included Exmouth House and Chapel Street (later renamed Chapel Row). The north side of the street, known as Exmouth Street, witnessed the creation of a uniform terrace between 1816 and 1821. This development was part of the larger Spa Fields project, comprising around 400 new houses, led by John Wilson, a builder.

Over time, some buildings on Exmouth Street underwent changes due to infrastructure projects. For instance, certain structures were demolished in the 1860s for the construction of the Metropolitan Railway’s tunnel. However, the street has maintained its historical significance, with several shop-houses still standing from the early 19th century.




Main source: Survey of London
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CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LOCALITY

None so far :(
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Comment
Wendy    
Added: 22 Mar 2024 15:33 GMT   

Polygon Buildings
Following the demolition of the Polygon, and prior to the construction of Oakshott Court in 1974, 4 tenement type blocks of flats were built on the site at Clarendon Sq/Phoenix Rd called Polygon Buildings. These were primarily for people working for the Midland Railway and subsequently British Rail. My family lived for 5 years in Block C in the 1950s. It seems that very few photos exist of these buildings.

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Steve   
Added: 19 Mar 2024 08:42 GMT   

Road construction and houses completed
New Charleville Circus road layout shown on Stanford’s Library Map Of London And Its Suburbs 1879 with access via West Hill only.

Plans showing street numbering were recorded in 1888 so we can concluded the houses in Charleville Circus were built by this date.

Source: Charleville Circus, Sydenham, London

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Comment
Steve   
Added: 19 Mar 2024 08:04 GMT   

Charleville Circus, Sydenham: One Place Study (OPS)
One Place Study’s (OPS) are a recent innovation to research and record historical facts/events/people focused on a single place �’ building, street, town etc.

I have created an open access OPS of Charleville Circus on WikiTree that has over a million members across the globe working on a single family tree for everyone to enjoy, for free, forever.

Source: Charleville Circus, Sydenham, London

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Comment
Charles   
Added: 8 Mar 2024 20:45 GMT   

My House
I want to know who lived in my house in the 1860’s.

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NH   
Added: 7 Mar 2024 11:41 GMT   

Telephone House
Donald Hunter House, formerly Telephone House, was the BT Offices closed in 2000

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Comment
Paul Cox   
Added: 5 Mar 2024 22:18 GMT   

War damage reinstatement plans of No’s 11 & 13 Aldine Street
Whilst clearing my elderly Mothers house of general detritus, I’ve come across original plans (one on acetate) of No’s 11 & 13 Aldine Street. Might they be of interest or should I just dispose of them? There are 4 copies seemingly from the one single acetate example. Seems a shame to just junk them as the level of detail is exquisite. No worries if of no interest, but thought I’d put it out there.

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Comment
Diana   
Added: 28 Feb 2024 13:52 GMT   

New Inn Yard, E1
My great grandparents x 6 lived in New Inn Yard. On this date, their son was baptised in nearby St Leonard’s Church, Shoreditch

Source: BDM London, Cripplegate and Shoreditch registers written by church clerk.

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Comment
Vic Stanley   
Added: 24 Feb 2024 17:38 GMT   

Postcose
The postcode is SE15, NOT SE1

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LOCAL PHOTOS
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Smithfield Market
TUM image id: 1620388545
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The Grand Theatre, Islington High Street (1903) The new Grand Theatre - the fourth theatre on the site - was opened on 26 December 1900 with a production of the pantomime ’Robinson Crusoe’. The Huddersfield Daily reported the next day: "Nearing the end of the first performance of ’Robinson Crusoe’ at the Grand Theatre, Islington, on Wednesday, a fire broke out. From all parts of the house an alarm was raised. All present rose to their feet as large pieces of inflammable material were seen dropping from flies. The fire-proof curtain was promptly lowered, and the band struck up the National Anthem. The actors and actresses crowded into the stage boxes. Mr. Jones, playing ’Friday,’ clambered on to the stage from the front and appealed to the audience not to rush for the doors as there was no danger. Then Mr. Charles Townley, the author, came forward explaining that the management, owing to the electric installations not being completed, had used gas batten, and one of the sky borders had unfortunately caught fire. The officials had shown their efficiency by the celerity with which the fire had been extinguished. This is the fourth fire that has occurred at this theatre, and Wednesday’s was the first performance given since the building was gutted some few months back." Thankfully the fire was quickly put out and the performance continued, and the Theatre would go on to stage pantomime, drama, and variety productions until it was renamed the Islington Empire in 1908.
TUM image id: 1557151038
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In the neighbourhood...

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Smithfield Market
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Islington Horse and Cattle market at the turn of the twentieth century.
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The Angel, Islington (c.1890)
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Sadler House on the Spa Green Estate from Rosebery Avenue (2011) The ’organic’ connection between old and new buildings intended by architect Berthold Lubetkin at Spa Green.
Credit: Wiki Commons/Grantham9
Licence: CC BY 2.0


Mount Pleasant Sorting Office on the north-east corner of Farringdon Road (1910). The present building is on the site of the Coldbath Fields Prison where the punishments were particularly cruel in that they were not only long and physically hard but also pointless. The pub at the back used to open at 9am to serve postal workers.
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View looking upwards of the stairway at Bevin Court. Bevin Court (1946-54) designed by Berthold Lubetkin and Tecton.
Credit: Wiki Commons/Steve Cadman
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Clerkenwell Green (1898) The water fountain shown here became public toilets.
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Coldbath Square in Clerkenwell was named after a cold water well that stood originally in fields. Cold Bath was fed by a spring which was discovered by a Mr Baynes in 1697. The discoverer declared the water had great power in nervous diseases, and "equalled those of St Magnus and St Winnifred". The bathing hours were from 5am to 1pm, the charge two shillings. The old bathhouse was a building with three gables, and had a large garden with four turret summer houses. In 1811 the trustees of the London Fever Hospital bought the property for £3830, but, being driven away by the frightened inhabitants, the ground was sold for building, the bath remaining as late as 1865.
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Doughty Street is a broad tree lined street in the Holborn district.
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Eyre Street Hill, Little Italy, c. 1890
Credit: Bishopsgate Institute
Licence: CC BY 2.0




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