Amidst the bustling streets of Islington, where the past whispers tales of its evolution, Nigel Smith, an official guided tour guide, weaves a narrative that transports visitors through time. With a keen focus on the borough’s social history, Nigel’s tours illuminate the shifting landscapes and communities that have shaped Islington’s identity.
Nigel’s journey into guiding was spurred by his deep-rooted connection to the area. Living in Tufnell Park for more than 20 years, he witnessed first-hand the metamorphosis of Islington’s streets.
“I think the seed of guiding was sown about 10 years ago. One of them was a walk I did in 2012 with an artist called Sam Nightingale. He led a walk down the whole length of Holloway Road from Archway to Highbury,” he explained.
Nigel’s tours peel back the layers of time, revealing how Islington’s social fabric has been intricately woven over the years. From Laycock Green’s transformation from a rural dairy farm to a bustling urban enclave to the shifting demographics of iconic landmarks like Canonbury Square, Nigel’s narratives breathe life into the bricks and mortar.
Central to Nigel’s tours is the exploration of Islington’s cinematic heritage. He said:
“Today, there is only one cinema on Holloway Road – the Odeon. But I think there’s been at least 10 over the course of history. But you can’t really see where any of these buildings were. They’ve been demolished.”
Tracing the footsteps of moviegoers from the Victorian era to the present day, Nigel unveils the stories behind iconic cinemas like the Screen on the Green on Upper Street. Once a humble working-class theatre, it now stands as a testament to Islington’s gentrification, offering a glimpse into the borough’s evolving cultural landscape. The Screen on the Green opened in 1913, Nigel explained, and has been in business “continually” ever since.
Further flexing his knowledge of cinematic history, Nigel added that “in the 1960s, the local Greek and Turkish communities were very big. They would show films just for their community. They would bring films from Greece and Turkey and show them after the main cinema had done showing movies at night.”
Through meticulously researched anecdotes and archival photographs, Nigel crafts an immersive experience that resonates with visitors of all backgrounds.
“I did quite a long training course where I learned a lot about the history of Islington,” he said. “I’ve got a pretty good grounding in that.”
Whether it’s delving into the heyday of cinema attendance in post-war Britain or exploring the intersections of community and inclusivity, his tours transcend mere sightseeing, offering a deeper understanding of Islington’s rich tapestry.
He highlighted the shift in the “act of going to a cinema”: “A number that I often talk about on my tours is that in 1946 1.6 billion cinema tickets were sold in this country, which is staggering and today it’s much less than that. It’s 150-160 million tickets sold a year.”
As Nigel leads his guests through the labyrinthine streets of Islington, he doesn’t just recount history; he invites them to become part of it. Each tour becomes a journey through time, where the past and present converge, leaving indelible impressions on those who walk in Nigel’s footsteps.
(To join Nigel Smith on his upcoming guided tours, see here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/nigel-smith-guided-walking-tours-51402283783 or https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/nigel-smith-guided-walking-tours-51402283783)
