- Camden Passage
Camden Passage is a pedestrian passage off
Upper Street in theLondon Borough of Islington . The passage hosts an antique market on Wednesdays and Saturday mornings; it is also known for its many antiques shops. It was built, as an alley, along the backs of houses on Upper Street, then Islington High Street, in 1767. [ [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=6734 "Islington: Growth"] , A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 8: Islington and Stoke Newington parishes (1985), pp. 9-19. Accessed:11 August 2008 ]The antiques market was founded in the 1960s, in conjunction with the
Metropolitan Borough of Islington by John Payton. The venture was initially successful, attracting over 350 traders, but recently the centre of Islington has undergone regeneration, leading to higher rents being asked at the renewal of leases. There is an ongoing campaign to save a former tram shed - at the southern end of the market, which for many years had been used as an electricity sub-station. In 1979, this was converted to use by 35 specialist antique dealers, however the owners are now seeking to redevelop the site. [ [http://www.timeout.com/london/features/2766/3.html "London's antique shops are under threat"] (Time Out) accessed:11 August 2008 ] The building is a Grade II listed building. Its severe windowless brick aspect is dictated by its original use,English Heritage describe its architecture as influenced by, and a tribute to,Newgate Prison (byGeorge Dance the Younger ), which had been demolished in 1902, three years before this building's construction by the LCC. [IoE|369411]Camden Passage also has the Camden Head
public house , which holds comedy nights for local comedians.References
External links
* [http://www.camdenpassageislington.co.uk Official Camden Passage Site]
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