The clock tower has only recently been officially reopened after years of neglect. The tower and the park that surrounds it have a fascinating heritage, the views from the top are spectacular, and what's more - it is free to go up!
James Bunnings' 1855 creation, originally built as part of a huge cattle market, has long stood proud but aloof, a local landmark to be admired from afar, but rarely open to visitors. When the market closed in the 1960s, the tower has served as little more than a folly. Until now.
Now, you can climb its 220 steps to gain magnificent views of north and central London, as well as getting a close-up look at the workings of the turret clock.
The restoration, a new heritage centre, cafe and public toilets around it, were all over-seen by Islington Council, supported by a grant of nearly £2million from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Bit of history of the place...
The market was designed by the corporation's architect, James Bunstone Bunning. He had previously drawn up plans to rebuild the cattle market at Smithfield, before the Corporation decided to remove the trade in live animals to a site outside the City itself. Apparently, the smell of the pig shit had become overpowering.
The market originally covered 30 acres of the site and grounds of Copenhagen House (previously a pleasure resort and tea garden). It occupied most of the land between Hungerford Road and Hartham Road (north), Caledonian Road (east), Brandon Road and Blundell Street (south) and York Way (west) and its construction cost the Corporation £300,000. Market Road, North Road, Shearling Way and Brewery Road were internal roads within the market area.
The central market area was arranged in a rectangle with stalls and pens for cattle, sheep and pigs and a 46 metres (151 ft) tall central clock tower. Dealers' offices were arranged in the central area and slaughterhouses were close by. The market was enclosed by cast iron railings, the columns of which were topped with cast iron heads of the animals traded. The railings remain but the heads were removed many years ago.
In the early 20th century, as the trade in live animals diminished, a bric-a-brac market developed, which after the Second World War transferred south of the Thames to become the New Caledonian or Bermondsey Market. The markets in the area of the old Metropolitan Cattle Market finally closed in 1963.
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