Barnsbury Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Barnsbury
Thornhill Square
Barnsbury
OS grid reference	TQ305845
London borough	Islington
Ceremonial county	Greater London
Region	London
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	LONDON
Postcode district	N1, N7
Dialling code	020

Police	Metropolitan
Fire	London
Ambulance	London

EU Parliament	London
UK Parliament	Islington South and Finsbury
London Assembly	North East
List of places UK England London 51°32′31″N 0°06′38″W / 51.54183849338327°N 0.11060897251564092°W

A map showing the Barnsbury ward of Islington Metropolitan Borough as it appeared in 1916.

Barnsbury is an area of north London in the London Borough of Islington, within the N1 and N7 postal districts.

History
Governance
Notable people
Nearest stations
Nearby areas
See also

History

The name is a syncopated form of Bernersbury (1274), being so called after the Berners family: powerful medieval manorial lords who gained ownership of a large part of Islington after the Norman Conquest. The area of Barnsbury was predominantly rural until the early 19th century.

By the end of the 18th century, Barnsbury, like other parts of Islington, was regarded as attractive part-rural suburbs by the comparatively wealthy people wanting to move out of the cramped City of London and industrial Clerkenwell. The area is close to the city, and had strong local trade in its position as the first staging post for travellers making the journey from London to the north, and with considerable agricultural traffic and cattle driving to the nearby Smithfield cattle market in the city.

Barnard Park, consisting of 10 acres (4 hectares) including a large area of football pitches, was created in 1967 on an area of housing that had been bombed during World War Two, and was named after former Islington Mayor Cllr George Barnard.

Pentonville Prison (built 1842) is located within Barnsbury.

Governance

Since 2006, Barnsbury electoral ward has been represented by three Labour councillors.

Notable people

Gillian Anderson (born 1968), actress, activist and writer
Tony and Cherie Blair, former Prime Minister and his wife, lived in Barnsbury with their family.
Michael Faraday (1791–1867), chemist
Owen Jones (born 1984), Labour activist
Enid Marx (1902–1998) painter and designer, known for industrial textile designs for the London Transport Board and the Utility furniture Scheme.
Ivor Moreton (1908–1984), pianist and singer, born in Barnsbury
Grayson Perry (born 1960), artist
Emily Thornberry (born 1960), Labour Party MP for Islington South and Finsbury