Finsbury division facts for kids

The Finsbury Division was an old part of Middlesex, a historic county in England. Think of it like a big district or area. It was one of four main sections of something called the Hundred of Ossulstone.

This division was created in the 1600s. It helped manage the area instead of the larger "hundred." Today, the land that was once the Finsbury Division is a big part of modern north London. The other divisions were called Holborn, Kensington, and Tower.

Where Was Finsbury Division?

The Finsbury Division stretched a long way. It went from the edge of the City of London all the way north to the border between Middlesex and Hertfordshire.

In 1899, this large area was split up. The southern part became part of the new County of London. The northern part stayed in Middlesex.

Today, the land that used to be the Finsbury Division is covered by four different parts of London. These are the London Borough of Islington, parts of the London Borough of Barnet, the London Borough of Haringey, and the London Borough of Hackney.

What Happened to the Name "Finsbury"?

The name "Finsbury" has been used for different areas over time. In 1832, a part of the old Division became the Parliamentary Borough of Finsbury. This meant it was an area that elected its own representatives to Parliament.

Later, in 1900, a smaller area became the Metropolitan Borough of Finsbury. Today, when people say "Finsbury," they usually mean a specific part of the London Borough of Islington. This area was once inside that former metropolitan borough.

What Places Were in Finsbury Division?

The Finsbury Division included many smaller areas. These were called "parishes, townships, precincts, and places." A parish was like a local community area, often centered around a church.

Here are some of the main places that were part of the Finsbury Division:

Inner Parishes

These areas became part of the County of London in 1889.

• The parish of St Luke (now in Islington)
• The liberty of Glasshouse Yard (now in Islington)
• The parish of St Sepulchre (now in Islington)
• The parish of St James, Clerkenwell (now in Islington)
• The parish of St Mary, Islington (now in Islington)
• The parish of St Mary, Stoke Newington (now in Hackney)
• The Charterhouse (now in Islington)

Outer Parishes

These areas were further out from the city center.

• Finchley (now in Barnet)
• Friern Barnet (now in Barnet)
• Hornsey (now in Haringey)