Islington Museum
Encyclopedia
Islington Museum is a public museum dedicated to the history of the London Borough of Islington
, who lived and worked in Clerkenwell, and some of the book covers defaced by Joe Orton
and Kenneth Halliwell
.
There is also an education room which is used for visits by schools and other groups.
Islington
Islington is a neighbourhood in Greater London, England and forms the central district of the London Borough of Islington. It is a district of Inner London, spanning from Islington High Street to Highbury Fields, encompassing the area around the busy Upper Street...
History
Islington Museum opened in May 2008, funded by a £1million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The museum, which replaced a previous museum at Islington Town Hall, is owned and operated by Islington Council. It is located in the basement of Finsbury Library.Collections
The museum houses a gallery covering nine themes on local and social history: childhood, food and drink, fashion, leisure, healthcare, radicals, caring, home and wartime. Amongst the items on display are a bust of Vladimir LeninVladimir Lenin
Vladimir Ilyich Lenin was a Russian Marxist revolutionary and communist politician who led the October Revolution of 1917. As leader of the Bolsheviks, he headed the Soviet state during its initial years , as it fought to establish control of Russia in the Russian Civil War and worked to create a...
, who lived and worked in Clerkenwell, and some of the book covers defaced by Joe Orton
Joe Orton
John Kingsley Orton was an English playwright.In a short but prolific career lasting from 1964 until his death, he shocked, outraged and amused audiences with his scandalous black comedies...
and Kenneth Halliwell
Kenneth Halliwell
Kenneth Halliwell was a British actor and writer. He was the mentor, boyfriend and eventual murderer of playwright Joe Orton.- Childhood :...
.
Exhibitions and events
The museum has a regular programme of temporary exhibitions, including visiting displays and displays from its own collections. The museum also hosts talks, walks and children's events.There is also an education room which is used for visits by schools and other groups.