Camden – a Hidden Jewel
November 30th, 2009 — 12:47 pmCamden is one of London’s hidden jewels. Camden’s borough goes North from Covent Garden and Holborn through Kings Cross and Euston to the fashionable Camden Town area to the verdant and leafy Hampstead quarter.
Camden is well-heeled area there are numerous restaurants and pubs that permit your pooch to join you for a rest.
Camden is located on the old site of Cantelowes manor. The Manor house was acquired through marriage in the 1700s by Sir Charles Pratt a politician and radical lawyer who later became the 1st Earl of Camden. Sir Charles gave leases for over one thousand houses to be built on the land in 1791.
In the early 19th century Regent’s Canal was built through Camden, running through the northern edge of Camden Town. The canal is very well liked with cyclists and dog walkers. During the summer boat trips are very popular. Right up to the fifties the canal barges were pulled by horses and you can see the deep marks etched by the towropes into the handrails. There are also the canal ramps, not for boats, but to help the horses out of the canal. Macclesfield Bridge is the site where a barge with gunpowder blew up in 1874, London’s largest non war explosion. In the early days until the late 19th century it was not a fashionable area.
Camden Lock is a manually-operated working canal lock. Sited near to it are some great weekend street markets. Camden’s markets are famous and extremely popular, the many markets include Buck Street, Camden canal and Stables market as well as an indoor market – the Electric Ballroom. They sell all types of goods, including, fashion, lifestyle, junk, books, antiques and more bizarre items.
During the last couple of decades entertainment and artistic businesses have moved into the area. Due to the increased wealth in the borough restaurants have gone from strength to strength. One of the first major venues was the Roundhouse, which was a locomotive train engine house constructed in 1847, that had a number of uses until it was converted into a music venue in the 1960s. With a recent re-launch in 2006.
Camden has numerous green areas for great dog walking, Regents Park, Primrose Hill, Kenwood Park, Parliament Hill and the large Hampstead Heath to list the well known ones, so many London dog walkers are based here such as Camden Dog Walking.
The Camden Borough was created in the 1965 by amalgamating the London boroughs of Holborn, St Pancreas and Hampstead.
The borough has an ethnically mixed population and whilst in general wealthy, there are some poorer areas.
Camden was and is the home to many artists, writers and politicians, that include the writers Charles Dickens, John Keats and Aldous Huxley, the total cross section of political views from the politicians Karl Marx, Benjamin Disraeli, John Maynard Keynes and Frederick Engels. The artist Henry Moore and a bevy of actors and modern rock stars.
One of the oldest public houses in London is The World’s End It was formerly known as “The Mother Red Cap” and shortened to “The Red Cap”, it is situated near Camden Town tube station on Camden Road. Worth a look is KOKO previously known as ‘The Camden Palace’ a major rock and dance venue. It was renowned as the location of the famous Goon Show. The Electric Ballroom, is another good live music venue.
Families and dog owners enjoy Camden Square a short distance from Camden Town station with a dog walking area and playground area.
The Sainsbury’s supermarket in Camden Road is very unusual and was designed by Nicholas Grimshaw.
Other places worth a visit include the British Library, British Museum, St Pancreas railway terminal building, Highgate Cemetery, Jewish Museum, the London Zoo, Regents Park, St Michaels Church, St Pancreas Old Church.
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