Camden Town
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Coordinates: 51°32′40″N 0°07′53″W / 51.5444°N 0.1315°W / 51.5444; -0.1315
| Camden Town | |
  Camden Town shown within Greater London |
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| OS grid reference | TQ295845 |
|---|---|
| London borough | Camden |
| Ceremonial county | Greater London |
| Region | London |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LONDON |
| Postcode district | NW1 |
| Dialling code | 020 |
| Police | Metropolitan |
| Fire | London |
| Ambulance | London |
| European Parliament | London |
| UK Parliament | Holborn and St. Pancras |
| London Assembly | Barnet and Camden |
| List of places: UK • England • London | |
Camden Town is the name of an area within the London Borough of Camden, situated in London, England. It is occasionally shortened to Camden.
Camden Town is an inner-city district located in North London. It is well-known for its markets, liberal attitude and associations with popular culture. Since the 1960s, The Roundhouse theatre and music venue has been a centre of alternative culture, and later associated with punk and Goth subcultures.
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History
Camden Town stands on land which was once the manor of Cantelowes. Sir Charles Pratt (later 1st Earl of Camden), a radical 18th century lawyer and politician, acquired the manor through marriage. In 1791, he granted leases for 1,400 houses to be built in the manor. In 1816, the Regent's Canal was built through the area.[1]
Up to at least the late 1800s, Camden Town was considered an "unfashionable" locality.[2]
Landmarks
Regent's Canal
The Regent's Canal runs through the north end of Camden Town. Canalboat trips along the canal, from Camden Lock, are also a popular activity, particularly in the summer months. Many of the handrails by the bridges show deep marks worn by the towropes by which horses pulled canal barges until the 1950s, and it is still possible to see ramps on the canal bank designed to assist horses which fell in the canal after being startled by the noise of a train. The canal bridge known as Macclesfield Bridge or "Blow-up bridge" was the site of London's largest pre-war explosion, where a barge laden with gunpowder blew up in 1874.
Camden Lock is a regularly-used traditional manually-operated double canal lock operating between widely separated levels. A large complex of weekend street markets operate around the Lock.
The Roundhouse Theatre
The Roundhouse is a locomotive engine roundhouse constructed in 1847 for the London and Birmingham Railway. It later had various uses and eventually became derelict. It was converted to a music venue in the 1960s. Since re-opening in 2006 it has once again become a popular theatre and music venue.
Other features
To the east of Camden Town station and running along the canal is a modern complex designed by Terry Farrell as the original studios of TV-am. The studios are now used by MTV but retain the egg cup sculptures along the roof line of original owners.
Camden Square is a short walk away from Camden Town station and has a playground and dog walking area.
Camden street markets
Camden is well-known for its markets: these are relatively new, except for Inverness Street market, a small food market serving the local community, though now with only 3 fruit and vegetable stalls among more touristy stalls. Camden Lock market proper started in a former timber-yard in 1973, and is now surrounded by smaller markets: Buck Street market, Stables market, Camden Canal market, and an indoor market in the Electric Ballroom.
The markets are a major tourist attraction at weekends, selling goods of all types including fashion, lifestyle, books, food, junk/antiques and more bizarre items; they and the surrounding shops are popular with young people, in particular those searching for "alternative" clothing.
In recent years, entertainment-related businesses and a Holiday Inn have moved into the area. A number of retail and food chain outlets have replaced independent shops driven out by high rents and redevelopment. Restaurants have thrived, with the variety of culinary traditions found in London. Many restaurants are a little away from the markets, on Camden High Street and its side streets, Parkway, Chalk Farm Road, and Bayham Street.
Camden Lock market has its own web site[3] with maps, detailed transport information, and details of some shops and stalls.
The conflicting pressures of developing London resulted in a controversial plan to re-develop the historic Stables Market. A steel and glass extension was built on the edges of this site in 2006. This increased the market's capacity but increases the pressure on Camden Town's streets and transport, already crowded at weekends as thousands of tourists come to the area. Camden Council passed the plans for the additional development in October 2006 against much opposition from residents strongly opposed to the modern redevelopment of their town into a homogenised high street area typical of much of London.
Notable places
- The World's End has been a pub since 1778. Formerly known as "The Mother Red Cap" and later "The Red Cap", it is on Camden Road near Camden Town tube station.
- KOKO, formerly 'The Camden Palace', is a major dance and rock venue on Camden High Street near Mornington Crescent tube station. The building hosted the famous Goon Show, and in 2006 hosted Channel 4's Album Chart Show.
- Electric Ballroom, hosts weekly club nights and acts as a live music venue.
- The Forge Music Venue in Delancey Street will open in 2009 with an eclectic program of classical, jazz, world music
Places of interest
- Camden Lock
- Camden Lock Market and other street markets
- Jewish Museum
- London Zoo
- Regent's Canal and its towpath
- Regent's Park
- The Roundhouse
- St Pancras Old Church
- St Michael's Church, Camden Town
- Camden catacombs (see also Catacombs of London)
- The unusual Sainsbury's supermarket in Camden Road was designed by Nicholas Grimshaw and built on the site of the former large ABC Bakery.
Transport
Many bus routes serve the Camden Town area. Camden Town Underground station is close to the markets and other attractions. Black taxis ply for hire in the area, and there are minicab offices. Illegal unlicensed "taxis" tout for business on the street, particularly late at night when the Tube and most buses do not run[2]; they often demand excessive fares and are not insured for hire services. In 2005 there were an average of ten sexual attacks and rapes on women by illegal minicab drivers throughout London each month[3].
Camden Town Underground station was not designed to cope with the volume of traffic it handles since the area increased in popularity. It is very crowded at weekends, and, as of 2008, is closed to outbound passengers on Sunday afternoons for safety reasons.
London Underground has made many proposals to upgrade the station. In 2004 a proposal requiring the compulsory purchase and demolition of 'the Triangle'—land bordered by Kentish Town Road, Buck Street and Chalk Farm Road—was rejected by Camden Council after opposition from local people; of 229 letters, only 2 supported the scheme.
Nearby places
Nearest tube stations
Nearest railway stations
Cultural references
The poet Brenda Williams has set many of her poems in Camden,where since March 2007 she has run a daily protest against mental health cuts and poster size examples of her poems are on display. Barry Tebb's 'Life and Death in Camden' is focussed on his battles with the local authorities there.
Dickens referred to Camden Town; in A Christmas Carol, Bob Cratchit and his family live there, and Dombey and Son includes a description of the building of the London and Birmingham Railway through Camden Town.
In John le Carré's Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, a mole at the heart of MI6 is exposed in the climax of the plot at a meeting in a safe house at 5, Lock Gardens (a fictitious street), Camden Town.
Cayce Pollard, the protagonist of William Gibson's Pattern Recognition, is based in Camden when in London.
Nick Hornby's High Fidelity is set in Camden, including a fictitious record shop called 'Championship Vinyl'.
Camden features several times in Hanif Kureishi's novel, The Black Album.
Camden town also features in Elizabeth Hand's novel Mortal love and in her short story 'Cleopatra Brimstone' which can be found in the collection Saffron and Brimstone.
In music
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- The Housemartins song "Five Get Over Excited" has the line, "I am guy from Camden Town, My hair is curly but I get it down, My clothes are black but my hair is brown, I'm really into early motown."
- The 1996 Lush single "Ladykiller" contains the lyric "I'm hanging out in Camden / Drinking with my girlfriends on a Saturday night".
- "Come Back To Camden" from Morrissey's 2004 album You Are the Quarry.
- "Camden Town", from Uffington Horse's debut album Enchantment.
- The Ryan Adams song "English Girls Approximately" from the album "Love is Hell" features the lyric "Falling down in Camden like a couple drunken criminals."
- "Camden Town", from the album The Lone Ranger by Suggs, Madness's vocalist. There is a signed poster of the song in Madness' spiritual home, The Dublin Castle pub.
- Madness make many references to Camden Town in their music. Arlington House (a hostel for the homeless) in Arlington Road, near Parkway, inspired vocalist Suggs to write "One Better Day" about the sadness of living in London. The joke and fancy dress shop Escapade on Camden High Street features in the video to "House of Fun".
- The record company 2 Tone Records was located on Camden High Street.
- The Pulp song "Sorted for E's & Wizz".
- Puertorican singer and songwriter Robi Dräco Rosa refers to Camden Town in his song "La Flor Del Frio" from album Vagabundo.
- Camden is mentioned in the song "Ain't No Lie", by famous Camden resident guitar player Graham Coxon. Coxon also refers to Britannia Junction, near Camden Town tube station, in his song 'What's he got'.
- Punk band The Clash recorded the demos for their seminal album London Calling at an address in Camden Town. Also, their song The Prisoner makes reference to Camden Town.
- ex Happy Mondays guitarist Kav Sandhu was based in Camden Town & wrote most of his new album for his new band "KAV" while living in Camden.
- Camden Town is mentioned in the song "Johnny Come Lately" by Steve Earle and The Pogues.
- Benjamin Grant Mitchell lived and performed in Camden while writing and recording The Stars Can See. It was in Camden where Mitchell also started and hosted Acoustic Trip (at The Lock Tavern)
- Coldplay made their debut appearances in Camden at the Dublin Castle pub whilst Chris Martin was studying at University College London, which is in the Borough of Camden.
- Subterraneans are identified with Camden Town, living and recording in the area, rehearsing at Scar Studios, and running their record company The Electric Label from offices in Chalk Farm Road and Camden High Street. All of the band's record launches since 1992 have taken place at the Dublin Castle pub.
- Camden Town is mentioned in the song A Girl in Port by Okkervil River.
- Bon Scott, former lead vocalist of the Australian hard rock band AC/DC, died of alcohol poisoning at the age of 33 after a night's heavy drinking in Camden Town.
- Hip-Hop and Rap artist Akala, was born and grew up in Camden Town, and did most of his early work there. He won a MOBO award for Best Hip-Hop artist in September 2006, beating, amongst others, Sway, another London born Rapper, and Plan B.
- DJ The Camden Slags formed in Camden during its Britpop era in 1994–1997.
- Two songs on The New York Fund's debut EP, Guns, reference Camden, namely "The Guns Of Camden Town" and "Parkway Nights".
- Belle & Sebastian refer to many of the sights of Camden Town in their song Mornington Crescent.
- Plan B's "Suzanne", from his mixtape Paint It Blacker tells the story of the Camden Ripper.
- "Camden Town" is the name of the track produced by the famous Italian Disk Jockey Emanuele Inglese in 2006
- Hip-Hop/ RnB & Grime artists N-Dubz were born and grew up in Camden Town. They consist of Dino 'Dappy' Contostavlos, Richard 'Fazer' Rawson & Tula 'Tulisa' Contostavlos. The crew won a MOBO award in September 2007 for Best UK Newcomer.
- Amy Winehouse dedicated her Grammy Award for Record of the Year to London, adding "Camden Town ain't burnin' down!" Though apparently paradoxical, the statement is true as the fire had been extinguished by that time.[4]
- Marco Pirroni, ex Adam Ant guitarist, was born there.
- Australian folk band, The Waifs referred to Camden in their song titled 'London Still', singing "I took the tube over to Camden to wander around, I bought some funky records with that old Motown sound"
In film
- The cult film Withnail and I starts and ends in Camden Town.
- This Year's Love is filmed almost entirely in and around Camden, showing many local landmarks, shops, restaurants and bars.
- The famous Christmas film, A Christmas Carol ends with Scrooge Sending a young boy to buy a turkey from Camden.
- The Rules of Attraction (2002) features images of a busy Camden High Street during a fast-paced montage of a character's promiscuous tour of Europe. He cites "girls with pink hair" as a notable feature of area. The film is set in Camden College, a fictional Ivy League institution in the eastern United States.
- The film "Bride & Prejudice" shows scenes of Camden town by the canal, showing typical Barges and tourists.
- The Mike Leigh film Happy-Go-Lucky (2008) takes place largely in Camden Town.[5][6]
In television
- The ship from the BBC sci-fi sitcom Hyperdrive is called the HMS Camden Lock. The town has been featured in the Channel Four sitcom Spaced.
- Television actress Tamsin Greig grew up in Camden as a child.
- The Apprentice winner Sean Yazbeck grew up in Camden Town.
- Camden town was featured on an episode of the Sky one show, Brainiac: Science Abuse, as well as the Channel 4 show, Big Brother's Big Mouth.
- The personality of the stereotypical Camden town resident is parodied in a sketch from The League of Gentlemen, available on YouTube here.
- The Mighty Boosh character Vince Noir constantly references Camden. The Mighty Boosh actors, Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding also appear in the short film Sweet, which is set in and around Camden, and filmed on location.
Fire
Camden Canal Market and the Hawley Arms pub in Camden Town suffered a major fire on 9 February 2008. Nobody was injured.[7]
Gallery
 Britannia Junction in Camden Town |
 The Regent's Canal in Camden Town |
Punks close to the Electric Ballroom |
 Camden Market |
 Camden Town |
 Camden Town |
 Camden Town |
 Camden Town |
 Camden Town |
 Camden Town |
Camden Town |
 Camden Town |
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Camden Town |
 Camden Town |
 Parkway, Camden Town |
See also
External links
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This article's external links may not follow Wikipedia's content policies or guidelines. Please improve this article by removing excessive or inappropriate external links. (May 2009) |
Local Directories/Guides
- Camden Town Online "the original guide to Camden Town"
- Camden Guide "guide to everything that happens in Camden"
- Camden Markets web site
- The Camden New Journal Newspaper
- Soundmap Audio Walking Tour of Camden Town
- " Guide, lifestyle, culture and more in Camden Town"
Government
- Camden Council web site
- Camden Primary Care Trust: health services
- Police crime statistics; see "Camden Town with Primrose Hill" ward.
- Alternative Camden "energising civil society v pseudo-democracy"
Maps
References
- ^ Hibbert, Christopher (2008). London Encyclopedia. Macmillan London Ltd. ISBN 978-1-4050-4924-5.
- ^ Dunton, Larkin (1896). The World and Its People. Silver, Burdett. p. 29.
- ^ [1]
- ^ "Camden - Britain's musical Mecca?" (HTML). bbc.co.uk (BBC). http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7238820.stm.
- ^ Phillip French (20 April 2008). "Film of the week: Happy-Go-Lucky". The Observer. http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2008/apr/20/culture.mikeleigh. Retrieved on 2009-02-21.
- ^ Calhoun, Dave. "Mike Leigh's London locations". Time Out. http://www.timeout.com/film/features/show-feature/4551/mike-leighs-london-locations.html. Retrieved on 2009-02-21.
- ^ "Blaze ravages London market area" (HTML). bbc.co.uk (BBC). http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7237119.stm.
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