Finsbury Pavement, EC2M
An westbound Circle Line train in Moorgate Station
Credit: Kim Traynor
Finsbury Pavement was the first pavement of firm ground north of the marshy Moorfields.

The name of Finsbury Pavement was formerly Moor Fields Pavement. The Finsbury part of the name derives from lying within the historic manor of Finsbury which became the Metropolitan Borough of Finsbury in 1900.

The area was first drained in 1527. In the early 19th century, the southern end of the street was renamed Moorgate by the City of London. The name change marked the City boundary but subsequent boundary changes put the street back into the City of London.

By 1761, the Islington turnpike trust built City Road, to meet Finsbury Pavement from the City. Finsbury Pavement formed an early terminus for coach traffic from the north and in turn the street became the terminus for tramways running from Islington.

Batty & Co established a condiments manufactory in 1825 here. The company later established a large manufacturing plant in Peckham, which became the United Kingdom’s first manufacturing base of HJ Heinz in 1905.

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