Description
St Mary Magdalene was built in 1814 as a chapel of ease to Islington Parish Church, the population having grown from the mid C18th onwards, and it became a parish in its own right in 1894. The former burial ground was converted as public gardens and opened in May of that year, part of the expense met by the Islington Vestry and the LCC. A number of chest tombs and headstones remain, predominantly near the church; the gardens are laid out with sinuous paths, shrubberies and formal lawns within which are numerous rose beds. There are a number of fine mature trees in the churchyard.
Practical Information
| Previously known as | St Mary Magdalene with St James Church |
|---|---|
| Site location | Holloway Road/Madras Place/Liverpool Road, Lower Holloway |
| Postcode | N7 |
| What3Words | ///float.successes.hears |
| Type of Site | Public Gardens |
| Borough | Islington |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | 8am - dusk. Church open (creche) |
| Public Transport | Tube: Highbury & Islington (Victoria). Rail: Highbury & Islington. Bus: 4, 19, 30, 43, 153, 236, 271, 277, 393 |
| Research Updated | 1 April 2014 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
Formerly Holloway Episcopal Chapel, St Mary Magdalene was built in 1814 as a chapel of ease to Islington Parish Church of St Mary (q.v.), the population of the parish having grown from the mid C18th onwards. Suburban development took place from the 1760s onwards around Holloway Road, which was an ancient route, documented in 1307 as the 'hollow way', being the route from Islington to Highgate Hill. The chapel was designed by the Surveyor to the County of Middlesex, W Wickings, and it was set within a former burial ground; it became a parish church in 1894 when additions were made to the building, which included the porch, aisle and gallery, designed by C E Child, although this was later replaced in 1983. St Mary Magdalene incorporates St James Church in Chillingworth Road, built 1837-8, which was bombed in 1944 and was later converted to the church hall for St Mary.
The large former churchyard has railings over brick wall on three sides, and is walled to the south; a commemorative plaque on the north-west pier at the main entry to the gardens records its conversion to a garden. A number of chest tombs and headstones remain in the gardens, predominantly near the church. There are mature trees including plane, at least one huge tree may date from the C18th (?) and also lime, ash and horse chestnut. Improvements to the park completed by 2010 included better access, lighting, seating and litter bins as well as planting of shrubs and installation of nesting boxes.
The large former churchyard has railings over brick wall on three sides, and is walled to the south; a commemorative plaque on the north-west pier at the main entry to the gardens records its conversion to a garden. A number of chest tombs and headstones remain in the gardens, predominantly near the church. There are mature trees including plane, at least one huge tree may date from the C18th (?) and also lime, ash and horse chestnut. Improvements to the park completed by 2010 included better access, lighting, seating and litter bins as well as planting of shrubs and installation of nesting boxes.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ312849 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 1.82 |
| Site Ownership | LB Islington |
| Site Management | Greenspace; Friends of St Mary Magdalene Church Gardens |
| Dates | 1894 |
| Listed Structures | LB: St Mary Magdalene Church |
| 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 | Yes |
| Conservation Area Name | St Mary Magdalene |
| Tree Preservation Order | Not known |
| Nature Conservation Area | Yes - Local Importance |
| 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
Freightliners Farm was originally established on waste ground near Kings Cross station in 1973, the name arising from the railway goods vans that were used to house the animals. In 1978 the farm moved to its present site and purpose-built buildings were erected in 1988. A registered charity, it is run by a volunteer Management Committee. It is the only city farm with a non-slaughtering policy and many of the animals are rare breeds. In addition to its farm animals, Freightliners has an ornamental garden as well as a vegetable and kitchen garden, and an orchard has recently been planted, all maintained with assistance from the gardening club.
Paradise Park is popular with children and families owing to its football pitch, RSPB sparrow meadow, community cafe, and playground, which is named after Martin Luther King. It also has free to use outdoor gym equipment, chess tables and the Mary Tealby Peace Garden. The history of Paradise Park began with a temporary adventure playground set up in 1968 on a patch of derelict land that the GLC granted parents permission to use for a summer play scheme. Funding was secured from Christian Aid and the Martin Luther King Foundation, whose grant came with the proviso that the playground should be named after Martin Luther King. The new playground was an immediate success and in September 1968 the GLC agreed to a permanent playground in the corner of the site and announced plans to create a new park, Paradise Park, on the rest of the site.
Arundel Square was one of the last of Islington's Victorian squares to be built and was laid out in the 1850s on Pocock's Fields, named after the Pocock family of dairy farmers who leased much of this land in the early 1800s. The central garden was initially managed by the Trustees of Pocock's Estate and then from 1863 by a residents' committee. Playground equipment was installed in 1936 with funding from the National Air Raid Distress Fund and the King George's Fields Foundation. By the 1950s the gardens were run down and had become a wasteland. In 1957, Islington Council converted it into a public park with a refurbished playground.
