Thank you to everyone who took the time to nominate important local people, places and events to be commemorated with one of our special People's Plaques. Here are the 12 shortlisted nominees so have a look through and decide who you think would be the worthiest winner. Then simply click here to vote!
Isabella Beeton (1836-1865), cook and author
Beeton was born in the City of London and attended school in Colebrook Row, Islington. In 1861 she published Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management, which was a guide to running a Victorian household. It included advice on fashion, childcare, poisons and the management of servants. Of the 1,000 plus page work, over 900 pages contained recipes.
The Angel Inn, 1 Islington High Street (now the Co-op bank)
This public house was first recorded as an inn in 1614 and probably dates back as early as the 15th century. Islington was an important staging post for coaches travelling north from London and the inn features in the painting The Stage Coach by artist William Hogarth and is mentioned as a coaching stop in Charles Dickens’ Sketches by Boz and Oliver Twist.
Catherine Griffiths (1885-1988), suffragette and campaigner
Griffiths was a lifelong feminist and suffragette who moved to Finsbury after the First World War. She was a nurse and campaigner and worked as a councillor between 1937 and 1965, serving as mayor from 1960-1961. She was arrested and spent a night in jail after attempting to break into the House of Commons to put nails on Lloyd George’s seat. She died aged 103.
Alexander McQueen (1969-2010), fashion designer
McQueen lived in Highbury during the 1990s and was a designer noted for his in-depth knowledge of British tailoring. He was chief designer at Givenchy and founded his own label under the name Alexander McQueen. His achievements in fashion earned him four British Designer of the Year awards. He died in February 2010.
Jack Kennedy (1935-2003), campaigner
Kennedy lived in Drayton Park and devoted his life to campaigns of justice, fairness and equality. He was a key figure in the Birmingham Six and Guildford Four campaigns that resulted in the release of 10 innocent citizens. He also led a campaign in the 1990s that exposed the number of deaths on British building sites due to poor safety conditions - the campaign succeeded in introducing new site safety legislation.
Michael Faraday (1791-1867), chemist and physicist
Faraday discovered a great deal about the nature of electricity and magnetism and originated the theory of the atom as a “centre of force”. He lived in Barnsbury Grove from 1862, where he attended the meeting house of the Sandemanians, later the North London Telephone Exchange.
Bombing of Dame Alice Owen’s Girls’ School during the Blitz
The basement of Dame Alice Owen’s school was used as a public air raid shelter. On 15 October 1940 around 150 people were in the shelter when the building suffered a direct hit just after 8pm and over 100 people were killed. The Centre for Applied Studies, City and Islington College now occupies this site.
Alexander Aubert (1730-1805), amateur astronomer and businessman
Aubert purchased Highbury House in Islington in the 1780s and built a large observatory and lavish gardens on the site. He was highly esteemed both in scientific and commercial circles. In 1797 he was appointed lieutenant-colonel of the Loyal Islington Volunteers. Aubert was also a local Vestryman and counted people such as George III and Prime Minister WilliamPitt the Younger as friends.
The White Conduit Cricket Club
White Conduit Fields Cricket Club was founded in the 1780s near Chapel Market. The club was the forerunner to the Marylebone Cricket Club, which to this day remains the custodian and arbiter of laws relating to world cricket. Aristocrats played cricket in White Conduit Fields and large crowds would gather to watch them play. One of the bowlers at the time was Thomas Lord, after whom Lord’s Cricket Ground is named.
Cyril Mann (1911-1980), painter and sculptor
Artist Mann was known for exploring the dynamic effects of sunlight in his work and early in his career was inspired by bomb-damaged buildings in London after the war. He lived in Bevin Court, Cruikshank Street for 10 years.
Florence Keen (1868-1942), founder of North Islington Welfare Centre
Keen founded the North Islington Infant Welfare Centre and School for Mothers in Holloway in 1913. At that time around 10 percent of children in Islington died before their fifth birthday. Keen worked to educate mothers about preventing disease and death among their families. By 1920, the clinic had received over 12,000 visitors and its services had expanded to include dentistry, massage and artificial sunlight treatment. The organisation, now known as the Manor Gardens Welfare Trust, continues to provide community healthcare in Islington.
Wessex Sound Studios, Highbury New Park
Wessex Sound Studios was a music recording studio from the 1960s until 2003. In 1979 The Clash recorded the seminal album London Calling there. Other renowned artists who used the studio included The Sex Pistols, King Crimson, Talk Talk, Queen and The Rolling Stones.
The building was originally the church hall of St. Augustine's Church, Highbury, built in 1881.
Decided who you think is the most worthy winner? Go online now and cast your vote!
