Description
Although Royal Northern Gardens is a new park created in 2002 it is on the former site of the Royal Northern Hospital, which opened here in 1888. A new Casualty Department was opened in 1923 following WWI as a war memorial to the people from Islington who died during the war. The hospital later transferred to Whittington Hospital and most of the old buildings were demolished in 1997, and the site was developed for housing. A condition of planning permission was the creation of a new public open space, and this was laid out incorporating a war memorial wall that contained fragments of the old hospital masonry.
Practical Information
| Site location | Manor Gardens |
|---|---|
| Postcode | N7 |
| What3Words | ///train.drew.farmer |
| Type of Site | Public Gardens |
| Borough | Islington |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | 8am - dusk |
| Facilities | Children's playground, tarmac ball court with basketball hoops |
| Events | various events |
| Public Transport | Tube: Holloway, Archway. Rail: Upper Holloway. Bus: 17, 43, 263, 271 |
| Research Updated | 1 April 2012 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
The Royal Northern Hospital was founded in 1856, and moved to Holloway Road in 1888, the new building opened by the Prince of Wales, later Edward VII. Following WWI a new Casualty Department was built fronting onto Manor Gardens and was dedicated as a war memorial to the 1300 people from Islington who had died in the war, with funds raised by public subscription. It was opened in 1923 by the then Prince of Wales, later Edward VIII. A new nurses home was opened by Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyle, in 1924. The main benefactor of the hospital was Sir Howell Williams. The hospital facilities were transferred to Whittington Hospital and in 1997 the buildings were demolished, with the exception of the original building and the memorial arch, and the site was developed for housing by Bellway Homes.
A condition of planning permission was the creation of a new public open space. The memorial arch was restored and incorporated into the new development, where a memorial service is held each Remembrance Day. The original plaque of the Casualty Department and other fragments of masonry from the hospital, which included fine finials, were incorporated into a memorial wall that serves as the new park's main focal point for its function as a war memorial. In 1993 a group of local residents had formed the Manor Gardens Development Committee and through their auspices a mosaic was commissioned in 2002 from the Mosaic Workshop in Holloway Road, who worked with school children from Grafton School on designs, with funding provided by Awards for All. The original hospital building on Holloway Road was refurbished and extended by Camden and Islington NHS Trust as a health centre for children and GP surgery.
The new park was officially opened on 2 June 2002 by the Mayor of Islington, Cllr Margot Dunn. In addition to the memorial wall, there are facilities for play and sport, a wildflower meadow was planted in 2005, and seating has been created from reclaimed millstones. A rockery has been created with stones donated by St Pancras and Islington Cemetery (q.v.), including a plaque dedicated to Michele Latour, whose body was discovered in the foundations when the site was being cleared prior to redevelopment; a small garden has been planted in her memory. In 2007 the Friends of Royal Northern Gardens were established.
A condition of planning permission was the creation of a new public open space. The memorial arch was restored and incorporated into the new development, where a memorial service is held each Remembrance Day. The original plaque of the Casualty Department and other fragments of masonry from the hospital, which included fine finials, were incorporated into a memorial wall that serves as the new park's main focal point for its function as a war memorial. In 1993 a group of local residents had formed the Manor Gardens Development Committee and through their auspices a mosaic was commissioned in 2002 from the Mosaic Workshop in Holloway Road, who worked with school children from Grafton School on designs, with funding provided by Awards for All. The original hospital building on Holloway Road was refurbished and extended by Camden and Islington NHS Trust as a health centre for children and GP surgery.
The new park was officially opened on 2 June 2002 by the Mayor of Islington, Cllr Margot Dunn. In addition to the memorial wall, there are facilities for play and sport, a wildflower meadow was planted in 2005, and seating has been created from reclaimed millstones. A rockery has been created with stones donated by St Pancras and Islington Cemetery (q.v.), including a plaque dedicated to Michele Latour, whose body was discovered in the foundations when the site was being cleared prior to redevelopment; a small garden has been planted in her memory. In 2007 the Friends of Royal Northern Gardens were established.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ302863 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 0.43 |
| Site Ownership | LB Islington |
| Site Management | Greenspace; Friends of Royal Northern Gardens |
| Dates | 2002 |
| 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 | No |
| Local Authority | Islington |
| In Conservation Area | No |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Other LA Designation | Public Open Space |
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
Sussex Close is housing built by Islington Borough Council in 1950 and designed by architect E C P Monson. It comprises an 8-storey crescent enclosing a communal garden, which has lawn, shrubs and a number of trees, together with a playground.
Whittington Park started life in 1954 as a small public open space of under 1 acre, but it was not officially opened until August 1973 by which time it had grown to c.6 acres. It was opened by the then Mayor of Islington, Cllr Harry Reid. Festivities included a play with over 300 children taking part, a barbecue for 500 people and a disco in the evening. A time capsule, to be opened in 50 years' time, August 2023, was buried with a message to be read by future Islingtonians. Since 1973, the park has been extended to over 10 acres and provides numerous sport and play facilities. Horticultural features include rose and shrub beds, woodland and a war memorial is set into the grass near the park's boundary with Holloway Road.
St John's Church is a yellow-brick Commissioners Church built in 1826-28 as the parish church for Upper Holloway and designed by Charles Barry. Fine monuments in the church include that of Ann Sykes (d.1835) and her daughter Martha Venn (d.1840), which feature sculpted figures by Slevier of Faith and Charity. Closed for burial in 1855, the churchyard is now a garden surrounded by brick wall and has flowerbeds, lawn and trees.