Peeking above the cityscape is a Grade II listed clock tower. This marks Caledonian Park. Caledonian Park in Islington has a rich history. It was once Copenhagen Fields.
Before London’s expansion, this area was open fields. Copenhagen House stood here. The Danish Ambassador used it as a retreat during the Great Plague of 1665. Later, it became an inn. The fields hosted sports and demonstrations.
In 1834, a meeting supported the Tolpuddle Martyrs. They were transported to Australia for forming a trade union. In 1851, a meeting supported an exiled Hungarian leader.
Smithfield Market was overcrowded. Copenhagen Fields became the new site for the Metropolitan Cattle Market. The City of London Corporation bought the land in 1852. James Bunstone Bunning designed the market. It opened on June 13, 1855.
The market covered seventy-five acres. It cost £500,000. There were 13,000 feet of railings. There were 1,800 pens for 35,000 sheep. Market days were Mondays and Thursdays for cattle, sheep, and pigs. Fridays were for horses, donkeys, and goats. The largest market was before Christmas.
Four large pubs were built. They stood on the corners of the central square. Branch offices for banks and railway companies were at the base of the clock tower. There were telegraph companies and shops.
The cattle market declined by World War I. It closed in 1939. The army used the site during World War II. Slaughterhouses continued until 1964. The London County Council and Islington purchased the site. They planned redevelopment. The Market Housing Estate was built.
The estate declined by the 1980s. There were issues with drugs and prostitution. A second redevelopment occurred. The last housing blocks were demolished in 2010.
In 1982, murals depicted the market’s history. They were painted on the Clock Tower building. These murals were lost during redevelopment. My father captured photos of these murals in 1986. They showed Prince Albert opening the market in 1855. The central clock tower was proudly displayed.
The journalist H.V. Morton described it as a junk fair. He visited the market for his newspaper.
The Caledonian Park clock tower stands 155ft high. It was built in 1853. The Heritage Lottery Fund granted £1,873,300 in December 2016. This revitalized Caledonian Park. It secured the clock tower’s future.
Today, Caledonian Park offers much more. There are semi-mature woodland areas. A community orchard thrives here. You will find short and long grass meadows. Community gardens flourish. It is a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation. A community amphitheater is available. A wildlife pond teems with life.
Sports facilities include a children’s play area. There is a large open space. A tarmac ball court offers football and basketball. Two table tennis tables stand ready. A free outdoor gym provides exercise.
The Caledonian Park Friends Group actively supports the park. They help with gardening. They also serve as clock tower stewards. Caledonian Park blends history with nature. It offers a place for recreation. It connects the community.