Description
Market Road Pitches originated as a playground provided for public recreation in 1900, one of two sites acquired by Islington Borough Council with funding from the LCC. At that time the 2.7 acre site was bounded by Market Road on the north, on the south by the rear of premises on Brewery Road, on the east by the Horse Repository Market Road and on the west by York Road. In 1938 funding was awarded from King George V Fields Trust and the site, laid out with football pitches, is now named Market Road Pitches. The gate piers on Market Road are adorned with the requisite stone plaques acknowledging this funding. The area is part of the wider sports facilities built over the Metropolitan Cattle Market land south of Market Road, including Islington Tennis Centre and Gym.
Practical Information
| Previously known as | Market Road Playground; King George's Field; Market Road Football Pitches |
|---|---|
| Site location | Market Road |
| Postcode | N7 9NT |
| What3Words | ///flame.clay.curve |
| Type of Site | Public Open Land |
| Borough | Islington |
| Open to Public | By appointment only |
| Opening Times | Mon-Fri 10am - 10pm; Sat/Sun 10am - 6pm |
| Special Conditions | Prices for members and non-members |
| Facilities | Football pitches, multi use games area, floodlit |
| Public Transport | Rail: Caledonian Road & Barnsbury. Tube: Caledonian Road (Piccadilly). Bus: 17, 91, 259, 274, 390 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
The Metropolitan Cattle Market was built on Copenhagen Fields in 1852 by the City of London Corporation, which had acquired 75 acres for their new cattle market site. This replaced Smithfield Market as the live meat market, which was by then regarded as a health hazard. Caledonian Park (q.v.) now covers part of the former market north of Market Road.
In 1900 Market Road Playground, together with Market Road Gardens (q.v.), was acquired by Islington Borough Council, the cost of acquisition of £8000 paid by the LCC. Both sites were listed in the Report of the Royal Commission on London Squares and are protected under the London Squares Preservation Act 1931. The OS 25 inch 3rd edition map (revised 1913) shows the playground marked.
The King George's Fields Foundation was established on 3 November 1936 in order to promote the establishment of playing fields in memory of the late King George. It was considered that the King would have approved of such a living memorial, which would benefit the 'individual well-being and the general welfare of the nation', and young people in particular, by providing them with the environment and opportunity for open air exercise. The Trust Deed of the Foundation defined a playing field as 'any open space used for the purpose of outdoor games, sports and pastimes.' Local authorities were able to apply to the Foundation, whose trustee was the National Playing Fields Association, for a grant to provide these new facilities for public recreation. Each new playing field was to be known as King George's Field and was generally provided with heraldic panels that would distinguish it as such. It was a condition of the grant that the tenure of the site was sufficiently secure so that it would provide a meaningful legacy to the king's memory; the land must have been acquired only for the purpose of public recreation. The design of the entrance and the ground's layout had to be approved by the Foundation, which was to receive an annual report for the first five years from the acceptance of the offer. 471 playing fields across the UK were funded and following the demise of the scheme in 1965, their protection has been undertaken by Fields in Trust. The largest King George's Field is Enfield Playing Fields (q.v.), some 128 acres, and the smallest is in the City of London, King George's Field in Portsoken Street (q.v.).
Market Road Pitches now provide high-quality floodlit synthetic-turf pitches available for regular seasonal or casual one-off bookings, Pitches for 5-a-side and 7-a-side are available as well as one 11-a-side pitch. Floodlighting means it is available for team sport into the evening.
In 1900 Market Road Playground, together with Market Road Gardens (q.v.), was acquired by Islington Borough Council, the cost of acquisition of £8000 paid by the LCC. Both sites were listed in the Report of the Royal Commission on London Squares and are protected under the London Squares Preservation Act 1931. The OS 25 inch 3rd edition map (revised 1913) shows the playground marked.
The King George's Fields Foundation was established on 3 November 1936 in order to promote the establishment of playing fields in memory of the late King George. It was considered that the King would have approved of such a living memorial, which would benefit the 'individual well-being and the general welfare of the nation', and young people in particular, by providing them with the environment and opportunity for open air exercise. The Trust Deed of the Foundation defined a playing field as 'any open space used for the purpose of outdoor games, sports and pastimes.' Local authorities were able to apply to the Foundation, whose trustee was the National Playing Fields Association, for a grant to provide these new facilities for public recreation. Each new playing field was to be known as King George's Field and was generally provided with heraldic panels that would distinguish it as such. It was a condition of the grant that the tenure of the site was sufficiently secure so that it would provide a meaningful legacy to the king's memory; the land must have been acquired only for the purpose of public recreation. The design of the entrance and the ground's layout had to be approved by the Foundation, which was to receive an annual report for the first five years from the acceptance of the offer. 471 playing fields across the UK were funded and following the demise of the scheme in 1965, their protection has been undertaken by Fields in Trust. The largest King George's Field is Enfield Playing Fields (q.v.), some 128 acres, and the smallest is in the City of London, King George's Field in Portsoken Street (q.v.).
Market Road Pitches now provide high-quality floodlit synthetic-turf pitches available for regular seasonal or casual one-off bookings, Pitches for 5-a-side and 7-a-side are available as well as one 11-a-side pitch. Floodlighting means it is available for team sport into the evening.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ301846 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 1.09 |
| Site Ownership | LB Islington |
| Site Management | GLL |
| Dates | 1900 |
| On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens | No |
| Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965 | No |
| Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931 | Yes |
| Local Authority | Islington |
| In Conservation Area | No |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | No |
Please note the Inventory and its content are provided for your general information only and are subject to change. It is your responsibility to check the accuracy.
Nearby parks and gardens
Caledonian Park was formed upon part of the former Copenhagen Fields that between 1852 and 1939 were the site of the Metropolitan Cattle Market. Prior to this they were open fields and a popular rural resort until the early C19th where sports such as cricket were played. The market closed at the outbreak of WWII and never re-opened. The area was eventually cleared, and the public park was laid out and opened in 1958. In the 1960s the park was planted with ornamental gardens and the early 1980s saw many trees planted.
Market Road Gardens were laid out c.1895 over the tunnel of the Great Northern Railway, constructed in the 1850s to take the railway to its London terminus at King's Cross. The road's name refers to the Metropolitan Cattle Market, which was built on Copenhagen Fields in 1852. Market Road Gardens, together with Market Road Playground, was acquired by Islington Borough Council in 1900. The garden, which originally had serpentine paths, perimeter trees, drinking fountains and a central feature, was re-landscaped c.1990 but retains many of the C19th London plane trees.
Camden Square was built gradually from the 1830s-50s, forming the centrepiece of the Marquis of Camden's New Town development. The main feature was once the neo-Gothic St Paul's Church, demolished in 1956. The Midland Railway built a tunnel through the square in the 1860s. The central gardens were for the private use of the square's inhabitants, and remain overlooked by surviving terraces on most of three sides. It was maintained by a Committee of inhabitants out of rates levied on the occupiers; the first rules and regulations were drawn up in 1845. Features included gravelled pathways, lawns, trees, flower and shrub borders. In 1928 it was surrounded by a lilac hedge and had lawns, tennis courts, shrubberies and fine trees. Now enclosed by modern railings, the original layout of serpentine walks survives with some mature London plane, oak, horse chestnut and shrubs. Camden Council took over management in the 1950s and built an adventure playground on the tennis courts site and later a play centre. The square was home to a Climatological Station, founded by George Symons, former president of the Royal Meteorological Society, and to many artists.
