Water-Themed Walk: Islington to Clerkenwell
with Janice Liverseidge

Please join Blue Badge Guide Janice Liverseidge and me for this exploration of the area’s ‘water-themed’ history, on a downhill walk from Islington to Clerkenwell that includes stories about wells, springs, a new river created in the 1600s and the creation of the Regents Canal between 1812 and 1820. As well as exploring the area’s history, we’ll see what exciting new developments have appeared in recent years and what has happened to the several water-related buildings along the way.

For example, the new QUENTIN BLAKE HOUSE OF ILLUSTRATION opened recently in Clerkenwell, in a beautifully transformed former 18th-century windmill and Victorian engine house that was used to help pump a clean water supply to Londoners (we will stop here for refreshments and a toilet break – 30 minutes into the walk – see images).

Amongst many other fascinating stories, Janice will summarise the intricate and extraordinary history of Sadler’s Wells Theatre company, as we take a look at the exterior of the present theatre, which opened its doors in October 1998. See image below of Londoners taking the waters at Sadler’s Wells in c. 1750. It owes its very origins to the chance discovery of a well in the garden of the Musick House built by entrepreneur Richard Sadler in 1683. 

Along the way, we’ll hear water below our feet from the lost Fleet River, and we’ll finish near the Clerks’ Well (after which Clerkenwell is named), the site of a former Gin Distillery.

Please do join Janice and I for this gentle, fascinating walk. I know you will discover many new things about the history of this area and we’ll also stop for a coffee break, 30 minutes into the walk.