Joseph Grimaldi Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Joseph Grimaldi Park |
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| Burial Ground of St James's | |
Joseph Grimaldi Park after its 2010 refurbishment
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| Type | public garden |
| Location | London, England |
| Area | 0.5 hectares (1 acre) |
| Operated by | London Borough of Islington |
| Open | 8am-dusk |
| Status | Open year round |
Joseph Grimaldi Park is a fun public garden in Islington, north London. It's located near Pentonville Road. This park is special because it used to be a burial ground for St James's Anglican Chapel. It's named after a very famous pantomime clown called Joseph Grimaldi, who is buried right here!
After some cool updates in 2010, the park now has a unique musical artwork. This artwork honors Joseph Grimaldi and Charles Dibdin, who was his boss at Sadler's Wells theatre.
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Park History
This park's story goes back to the 1700s. A church building, called St James's Chapel, was built here in 1787. It later became a parish church. By the late 1800s, the burial ground was turned into a public garden for everyone to enjoy. Later, the park was made even bigger.
In the 1980s, the old church building was taken down. An office building was built in its place. This building was first named Joseph Grimaldi House, but it has a different name now.
What You'll Find in the Park
Joseph Grimaldi Park is about half a hectare in size. That's like half a football field! Inside, you'll find a paved court for playing ball games. There's also a children's playground and lots of pretty bushes. You can see different kinds of trees here, like lime, London plane, and horse chestnut trees.
One of the most important spots is Joseph Grimaldi's grave. It's surrounded by railings and is in the park's south-east corner. You can find it close to the entrance on Rodney Street. Another important person buried here is Henry Penton. He helped develop much of the area, including the church that once stood here. Some old headstones are stacked up near the northern edge of the park.
There's also a special tree and a plaque in the park. They remember Paul Matthews, who used to be a deputy mayor in Islington. He helped make sure Grimaldi's grave was restored and looked after.
Musical Artwork and Park Updates
The park got a big makeover in 2010. The landscaping was designed by Latz + Partner. They asked an artist named Henry Krokatsis to create a public artwork. This artwork celebrates Joseph Grimaldi and the English writer Charles Dibdin.
The artwork has two casket-shaped installations. They are made of bronze tiles on the ground. When you walk on these tiles, they make musical notes! The tiles are tuned so you can even play "Hot Codlins." This was a very popular song that Joseph Grimaldi used to perform.
External Sources
- An invitation to dance on the grave of Joseph Grimaldi, article and short film clip from Creative Review blog
