Canonbury House and Canonbury Tower facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Canonbury Tower
Canonbury Tower from the northwest
Location	Islington, London, United Kingdom
Height	66 feet (20 m)
Built	Between 1509 and 1532
Built for	Prior and Canons of St Bartholomew's
Restored	1907–08
Restored by	5th Marquess of Northampton
Current use	Masonic research centre
Architectural style(s)	Tudor
Listed Building – Grade II*
Official name: Canonbury Tower
Designated	20 September 1954
Reference no.	1280424
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Canonbury House refers to several buildings in Canonbury, Islington, North London. These buildings were once part of a large manor house. This manor house was built for the Canons (religious leaders) of St Bartholomew's Priory between 1509 and 1532.

Today, the remains include the famous Canonbury Tower and other buildings from the 1790s. Some of these newer buildings still have parts of the original 16th-century manor house. The Tower and other buildings, including one now called "Canonbury House," are found around Canonbury Place.

Canonbury Tower is a historic Tudor tower. It is the oldest building in Islington. It is the biggest part left of the old manor house. The Tower is a Grade II* listed building, meaning it's very important. It stands about 100 metres (330 ft) east of Canonbury Square.

Many famous people have lived in or owned Canonbury House and Canonbury Tower. These include Thomas Cromwell, John Dudley, Sir Francis Bacon, Oliver Goldsmith, and Washington Irving.

History of Canonbury House and Tower

The buildings at Canonbury House have been changed, taken down, or rebuilt many times over the centuries.

Early Beginnings of Canonbury Manor

Before the Norman Conquest in 1066, the land where Canonbury House stands was an Anglo-Saxon manor (a large estate with a main house). Later, it became part of the de Berners family's lands. In 1253, Ralph de Berners gave this land to the Prior and Canons of St Bartholomew's Priory. This was a religious group called Augustinians in Smithfield. Because it belonged to the Canons, the area became known as the Canons' Burgh, or Canonbury.

The manor was next to the village of Islington. It was located between Upper Street and Essex Road. Its northern border was St Paul's Road. From the early 1600s, the New River formed its southern edge. The first manor house might have been built around 1362.

Prior Bolton's Mansion and Tower

In 1509, William Bolton became the new Prior. He worked on restoring and adding to St Bartholomew's Priory. He also helped King Henry VIII build the Henry VII Chapel at Westminster Abbey. In the 1520s, Prior Bolton rebuilt the medieval Canonbury manor house. It became a grand home for himself and the Canons.

We don't know exactly what the 16th-century Canonbury House looked like. But we know it had buildings around a courtyard, including the six-storey Tower. Canonbury Tower was definitely built by Prior Bolton. He died in 1532, so dates like 1562 for the Tower are wrong. The Tower's purpose is a mystery, as it wasn't for defence. However, its flat roof offered amazing views of the countryside and London. People in 1807 still said the view was beautiful.

The manor grounds were surrounded by a brick wall. This wall stretched from the back of today's Alwyne Road houses north to St Paul's Road.

Changes After the Monasteries Closed

King Henry VIII closed down the monasteries in England. St Bartholomew's Priory and its lands were among the last to be taken by the Crown in 1539. Henry VIII gave the manor of Canonbury to his chief minister, Thomas Cromwell. This happened just a year before Cromwell was executed in 1540.

In 1547, King Edward VI gave the manor to John Dudley. Dudley was later executed in 1553 for trying to make his daughter-in-law, Lady Jane Grey, queen. In 1556, Queen Mary I gave the manor to David Broke. Then in 1557, she gave it to Thomas Wentworth, 2nd Baron Wentworth. He seemed to have done some building work there.

Sir John Spencer's "Old Canonbury House"

Plan of Canonbury House and Tower, showing present-day structures and location of Old Canonbury House. The building today called Canonbury House is built on the site of the west range of Old Canonbury House.

John Spencer first rented the House and Tower. Then he bought them in 1570 for £2,000. Spencer was known as "Rich Spencer" because he was very wealthy. It is said that Queen Elizabeth visited him at Canonbury in 1581. Spencer became Sir John Spencer, Knight, and Lord Mayor of London in 1594.

Spencer started living at Canonbury House regularly in 1599 as a country home. He updated the House and Tower to make them more comfortable. He added beautiful decorations like stuccoed ceilings, oak panelling, and oak fireplaces. Many of these still exist today. After this, it's often hard to tell if people lived in the House or the Tower, as the names were used for both. Spencer's home is often called "Old Canonbury House."

Spencer's Canonbury House had buildings on the east, south, and west sides around a courtyard. The Tower was at the northwest corner. Old pictures show a bell tower with a cupola (a small dome) above the east side, called Turret House. Canonbury House had walled gardens below the south side. The two Tudor octagonal garden or summer houses that still stand today marked the southern corners of the gardens. On the north side were gardens that later had a large fish pond. The House and gardens were surrounded by open fields with views towards London.

Spencer had a daughter named Elizabeth. She fell in love with William Compton, 2nd Baron Compton. Spencer did not approve of this marriage. He kept his daughter locked in Canonbury Tower. But Elizabeth and Lord Compton ran away together in 1599. The story says Lord Compton dressed as a baker's boy. Elizabeth was lowered from a window in a baker's basket. Sir John disowned his daughter, costing the couple a huge fortune.

However, a son was born to the Comptons in 1601. Queen Elizabeth helped Spencer and his daughter make peace. Spencer said he would adopt the child as his son. The family was fully reconciled when a second child, a daughter, was born at Canonbury House. When Spencer died in 1610, the huge fortune went to them. Lord Compton later became the 1st Earl of Northampton.

From 1616 to 1625, the House was rented to Sir Francis Bacon. He was a famous philosopher and statesman. He rented the "Mansion house and garden thereunto belonging called Canbury House."

Anthony Ashley Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury, a politician, lived in Canonbury House between 1639 and 1641.

During the English Civil War, the Compton family supported the King. The Earl was killed in battle. The family faced large fines and had to mortgage Canonbury House. They lived there for a time. No other Earl or Marquess of Northampton has lived there since.

In the 1750s, some of the mansion's old buildings became a tea-garden called "Canonbury House." Later, it became the Canonbury Tavern. It had a bowling green and gardens. It was rebuilt around 1846 as the Canonbury Tavern.

Canonbury House and Tower for Rent

In the 1700s, Canonbury House and Tower were rented out. People often rented separate rooms as summer homes. They wanted a quiet country escape close to London. An advertisement from 1757 offered furnished or unfurnished rooms with a garden and a coach house. Canonbury House was still surrounded by its brick wall. It was a peaceful place for visitors.

At Christmas in 1762, the writer Oliver Goldsmith rented a room in the House. He stayed for about 18 months. He supposedly used it to hide from people he owed money to. It's not certain if he wrote his novel The Vicar of Wakefield in Canonbury Tower. But tradition says he used the Spencer Room there. In 1763, James Boswell visited Goldsmith at Canonbury House. He noted that Goldsmith was "very chatty."

Another writer who stayed there was Samuel Humphreys. He wrote the words for three of Handel's early operas. He died in Canonbury House in 1738.

The publisher John Newbery lived there between 1761 and 1767. Newbery wrote many books for young people. His most famous creation was Goody Two-Shoes. The poet Christopher Smart also lived at Canonbury House in the 1750s.

Ephraim Chambers, who created an early encyclopaedia in 1728, died there in 1740.

The printer and journalist Henry Sampson Woodfall was another lodger. He edited the Public Advertiser. This newspaper published the Letters of Junius, which caused trouble for the government.

Remodelling Old Canonbury House

Canonbury House, Islington, etching and line engraving by George Cooke, 1827, showing Canonbury Tower, adjoining buildings, and fish pond on the north side.

In 1767, the Compton family's money was low. The 8th Earl of Northampton leased the empty Canonbury House and its grounds to a stockbroker named John Dawes. Dawes added bay windows to the Tower. He also took down the Turret House and part of the wall.

Dawes made a big change by demolishing the entire south side of Spencer's Old Canonbury House. In its place, he built "elegant new villas." These are the Georgian houses now numbered 1–5 Canonbury Place. They overlook the garden. Much of the east side of the old house was also changed into terraced houses (6–9 Canonbury Place). Many of the original Tudor decorations, like plasterwork and wood, were kept.

Canonbury Tower, Islington, showing and adjoining buildings and fish pond, around 1846

In the 1790s, a small mansion was built next to the Tower. This building is now confusingly called "Canonbury House."

In the early 1800s, the American writer Washington Irving stayed at the Tower. He hoped to find inspiration there, calling it "Canonbury Castle." He only stayed a few days. He was bothered by noise and his "intolerable landlady." She kept bringing visitors to see the Tower and even his room while he was working. He wrote that he couldn't open his window because of noise from the cricket ground. He left Canonbury Castle, saying he hadn't written a single line.

Charles Lamb, a famous essayist, loved to visit the Tower. He enjoyed climbing the winding stairs and looking at the view from the top. In 1835, people could still see the surrounding countryside from the Tower.

From 1826 to 1907, the Tower was home to the estate's bailiff (manager). By 1885, it was in poor condition. From 1887 to 1907, it was used by the Canonbury Constitutional Club.

In 1907, an American woman who believed Sir Francis Bacon wrote Shakespeare's plays came to England. She thought Bacon's secret writings were hidden behind panels in the Tower. None were found.

Northampton House – Canonbury Place, showing the south elevation of 6 Canonbury Place (then called Northampton House), from a lithograph dated 1836 by A. R. Grievé, showing the building in use as a school. The bay to the left has since been replaced.

Number 1 Canonbury Place was the home and office of architect Sir Basil Spence from 1956 to 1976. A plaque marks his time there.

Number 5 Canonbury Place was the home of Weedon Grossmith, who co-wrote The Diary of a Nobody, from 1891 to 1899.

Number 6 Canonbury Place was a ladies’ school as early as 1838. It was later called "Northampton House." Numbers 6–7 were combined in 1868. They later became Highbury and Islington High School for Girls until 1911. The school offered a wide education. It prepared girls for university exams.

Numbers 8–9 Canonbury Place were combined around 1908. They were used as a children's day care centre until 1990.

Development of Canonbury Grounds

In the 1800s, the land around Canonbury House was developed. In 1803, the 1st Marquess of Northampton made a deal to build on a large area. This led to the creation of Compton Terrace and Canonbury Square. In 1812, Canonbury Road was built, cutting through the square.

Later, more roads and houses were built in the surrounding fields. These included Canonbury Park North and South, and Grange Grove. In the south, Victorian houses were built in Alwyne Villas, Alwyne Road, and Alwyne Place. These areas included the 16th-century garden houses of Canonbury House.

Restoring and Reusing Canonbury Tower

In 1907–08, the 5th Marquess of Northampton fully restored the Tower. He kept its original features. Old ivy was removed, which had caused damage to the brickwork. Iron railings at the top were replaced with a brick wall. Some old oak roof beams were used for the restoration.

A new building, King Edward's Hall, was built next to the Tower. It was a recreation hall. The Tower and hall became a social club for people living on the Marquess's estates.

In 1924, the Francis Bacon Society rented part of a building near the Tower. They made it their headquarters and had a large library there.

In early 1940, during World War II, many tenants left. The social club ended its rental. To protect them from bombing, the 16th-century oak panelling and fireplaces in the Compton and Spencer Rooms were taken down. They were stored safely until the war ended. Canonbury's historic buildings had little damage from bombing. From 1941, Canonbury Tower and King Edward's Hall were used as a youth centre. After the war, the panelling and fireplaces were returned and restored.

In 1952, the Tavistock Repertory Company rented the Tower and King Edward's Hall. As the Tower Theatre Company, they put on nearly 1600 plays. Their lease ended in 2003.

Canonbury House Today

After World War II, the Northampton Estate decided to rebuild much of the Canonbury area. Many properties were damaged or old. Large Victorian houses were taken down and replaced.

In 1954, the Northampton Estate sold most of the old manor's remains to property companies. Today, the Estate still owns some property in Canonbury, including Canonbury Tower.

The Present-Day "Canonbury House"

The present-day building known as “Canonbury House”, built c. 1795.

Today's Canonbury House stands where the west side of Spencer's Old Canonbury House used to be. It is a detached (separate) Grade II listed building. It has the name “Canonbury House” above its front door. It was built around 1795. It used to be the vicarage (home) for St Stephen's Church.

John Hextall (1861–1914), who founded the community of Bowness in Canada, was born here.

1–5 Canonbury Place

1–5 Canonbury Place, built in the 1770s on the site of the south range of Old Canonbury House.

Numbers 1–5 Canonbury Place are private homes. They stand where the south side of Old Canonbury House was. Number 5 has the name “The Old House” above its front door. These buildings have appeared in films like Corridors of Blood (1958) and David Copperfield (1968).

6–9 Canonbury Place

6–9 Canonbury Place, redeveloped in the 1770s, incorporating some parts of the east range of Old Canonbury House.

Numbers 6–9 Canonbury Place are on the site of the east side of Old Canonbury House. These buildings are important because they still have rare and well-preserved 16th-century plasterwork and oak carvings. They also have original 16th-century wooden structures.

In 1993, numbers 6–7 were connected with 8–9 to form a conference centre called Canonbury Academy. Since 2014, numbers 6–9 have been the home of North Bridge House Senior School.

10–14 Canonbury Place

Numbers 10–14 is a row of terraced houses with shops. They were built in the mid-1800s. They stand on the north edge of the old Canonbury House courtyard.

"The Alwynes" and Tudor Garden Houses

The gardens south of 1–5 Canonbury Place were once the gardens of Canonbury House. Now, Victorian houses border them. These areas are called "The Alwynes," after a family name of the Northamptons.

Two octagonal (eight-sided) Elizabethan garden houses still stand. One is at 4a Alwyne Villas, showing its original brickwork. The other is at 7 Alwyne Road. These houses mark the old boundaries of the gardens. Near them is a small round brick building. It might have been a 17th-century watchhouse. Watchmen might have used it to stop people from swimming or fishing in the New River. The garden house at 4a has a carved "bolt" (arrow) piercing a "tun" (barrel). This is a word puzzle (rebus) for Prior Bolton's name.

Canonbury Tower Today

Canonbury Tower from the west.

Since 1998, the Tower has been used as a Masonic research centre. You can sometimes visit it on a guided tour.

There's a story that Sir Francis Bacon planted the old red mulberry tree in the garden next to the Tower. He supposedly did this to encourage silk production in England. However, silkworms prefer white mulberry trees.

What Canonbury Tower Looks Like

The Tower is about 20 metres (66 ft) high and 5 metres (17 ft) square. Its brick walls are very thick, from 1.2 metres (4 ft) to 0.76 metres (2 ft 6 in). The main entrance leads into a low hall next to the Tower. On the ground floor, there's a room with the original brick walls showing.

Spencer Room

Fireplace and panelling in the Spencer Room

The room on the first floor is named after Sir John Spencer. It has beautiful wood panelling. The fireplace is the most detailed part, with lions' heads. Near the ceiling, there are three carved figures. There's also a figure in the centre that has lost its head. The underside of the mantelpiece has decorative strapwork. On the sides, there are Tudor roses. Twelve flat pillars go from the floor to the ceiling.

By the late 1500s, many Italian workers had left England. So, the craftsmanship here is likely from Flemish (Belgian/Dutch) artists.

Compton Room

Faith and Hope panelling in the Compton Room

On the second floor, the wood panelling is even more detailed. It has a "panel within panel" style. There's a lot of strapwork on the ten pillars. The fireplace is also very detailed. It has figures of Faith and Hope. Under Faith, a Latin phrase means "Faith is my way, God is my aim." Under Hope, another Latin phrase means "My sure hope is above." The decoration above the fireplace shows pomegranates and exotic fruits. Other parts have a shell pattern. You can also see the Spencer family's coat of arms and carved heads. The panelling on the east side was moved to create another room. This room still has a bricked-up original window. This room is all that remains of the Francis Bacon Society's time here. Above the main door, there's a carving of a spread eagle.

Staircase

View from roof, with weather vane, said to be copper

The Tower's main feature is its central staircase. It has short, straight sections of stairs with quarter landings. The middle of the staircase is filled with wood and plaster, forming cupboards. The black oak banisters are mostly original. At the top, the handrail and balusters were made from sound oak beams found during the 1907–08 restoration. These beams were four centuries old but still smelled fresh when cut.

Inscription Room

List of Kings and Queens of England in the Inscription Room

The space below the roof is a small room. It was probably a schoolroom once. It has a list of the Kings and Queens of England. This list goes from William the Conqueror to Charles I. It's written in rough Latin and Norman French. There's also a Latin poem that means: "Let your thoughts be on your own death, the deceits of the world, the glory of heaven and the pains of hell." On the roof itself, which was not originally flat, there is a weather vane. It is said to be made of copper. The iron railings that were once on the roof are now at ground level in front of the building.

Canonbury Tower in Books

Front cover of Reynolds's Miscellany (1857) featuring an illustration from Canonbury House; or, the Queen's Prophecy.

• Charles Dickens wrote a short story in 1838 about a lamplighter in Canonbury. Canonbury Tower is featured in this story.
• George W. M. Reynolds wrote a popular novel called Canonbury House; or, the Queen's Prophecy. It was published in parts in a magazine called Reynolds's Miscellany from 1857 to 1858.
• In the 2014 novel Death and Mr Pickwick, the author Stephen Jarvis describes the illustrator Robert Seymour staying at Canonbury Tower when he was young. The novel also briefly mentions Oliver Goldsmith and Washington Irving living at the Tower.

Nearest Stations

• Highbury & Islington
• Essex Road
• Canonbury

See also

• Islington Museum
• Islington Local History Centre
• Canonbury
• Canonbury Square