Finsbury Park, Middlesex

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Finsbury Park
Middlesex
Blackstock Road N4 - geograph.org.uk - 140196.jpg
Location
Grid reference: TQ314872
Location: 51°34’6"N, 0°6’11"W
Data
Population: 14,358  (2011 (ward)[1])
Post town: London
Postcode: N4
Dialling code: 020
Local Government
Council: Hackney, Haringey, Islington
Parliamentary
constituency:
Hornsey & Wood Green
Islington North
Tottenham
Hackney North & Stoke Newington

Finsbury Park is an area of Middlesex, deep within the Metropolitan conurbation, which grew up around an important railway interchange. It is not to be confused with Finsbury, which is over three miles farther south,[2] although in some local contexts the name is shortened in this way.

Geography

The area is centred on Finsbury Park station, a major bus, rail and tube interchange near the southern end of the 114-acre public park of the same name.

The surrounding area has a cosmopolitan feel, as reflected by the wide variety of shops and establishments on Seven Sisters Road, Blackstock Road and Stroud Green Road. The North London Central Mosque (formerly the Finsbury Park Mosque), which drew attention for extremist activity before a change in leadership in 2003, is located here. Arsenal Football Club's Emirates Stadium is nearby.

Demographics

As with nearby Archway, Finsbury Park is home to a significant Irish community, and has hosted the London Fleadh/London Feis on multiple occasions.[3] The area has been settled by various immigrant groups in different periods, such as Caribbeans in the 1940s to 1960s, Cypriots in the 1950s to 1970s, and Somalis in the 1980s and 1990s.

Notable people

  • Lead singer of the Sex Pistols and Public Image Limited John Lydon, also known by the former stage name Johnny Rotten, was born in Finsbury Park.
  • Musician Graham Bond (1937-1974), a key figure in the rhythm and blues boom of the 1960s, died at Finsbury Park station on 8 May 1974.
  • Actresses Margaret Barton, Kate Beckinsale, Minnie Driver, Emily Mortimer, Lily Loveless, Naomie Harris[4] and Peta Toppano were born in Finsbury Park.
  • Politician John Grant (1932-2000) was born in Finsbury Park.
  • Photojournalist Don McCullin was born in Finsbury Park.
  • Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour Party leader and MP for Islington North, lives in Finsbury Park.[5]

References

Outside links