Whitecross Street market a force in art world

Published: 23 July, 2010
by PETER GRUNER

IT’S already famous for its delicious ethnic food stalls – but now Whitecross Street, close to Old Street Tube – is about to launch a spectacular two day arts and entertainments festival.

The event, on Saturday and Sunday (July 24-25), will be a showcase for important and up-and-coming artists including Gavin Turk, Giles Walker, Shepherd Fairey and Peter Dunne.

Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood, who has a studio nearby, has donated a painting of Keith Richards playing the guitar to be auctioned for charity and said to be worth at least £1,000.

Events will include a carnival parade involving children from local schools and community groups, knitting and silkscreen workshops, a children’s photo booth, stencil printing and live art demonstrations.

Artworks from both street and studio artists, including a giant washing line complete with oversized bra, have already been hung across the conservation area.

Several of the artists have used their pieces to pay tribute to event organiser Linda Bassett, who died suddenly of a brain aneurysm a few weeks ago.

Mr E Dawe, one of the contributors, said: “Linda was a very strong lady. It’s a shame she didn’t get to see the artwork up but she would have loved it.”

The Barbican Centre will be providing dancers for the two days. Part of the street will become a giant canvas for artists. At the same time there will be belly dancers and music from a Samba band and classical musicians from the LSO at St Lukes and the Guildhall School of Music. Mayor of Islington Cllr Mouna Hamitouche, along with the Pearly King of Finsbury, will open the party.

Organiser Tony Guest, who runs an art framing shop in the street, said  the event would help further promote the area. 

“Ronnie Wood hopes to turn up but it depends on his schedule,” Mr Guest said. “He loves Whitecross Street for its wonderful food stalls and unique shops – as do we all.”

• Whitecross Street, EC1, July 24-25 July 12 to 6pm. Visit www.wxstreetparty.co.uk

‘Noble’ – Street’s history

Whitecross Street has a fascinating history according to local campaigner Bridget Fox, who stood for the Lib Dems at the general election. 

Ms Fox, who has researched the area, discovered that John Strype’s 1603 History of London dates the street back to a hospital founded in the reign of Edward I and given as a monastery house for the Brotherhood of St Giles by Henry V. There were also almshouses founded by a former Mayor of London, Sir John Gresham, in the 19th century when the street was more residential. In David Hughson’s 1806 History and Description of London it was described as “noble, wide, and well built, inhabited by persons of property”.

One of them, Samuel Baylis of Whitecross Street, was a founder member of the Radical Club, a fore-runner of the Liberal Party, along with such famous names as Daniel O’Connell, Joseph Hume, Francis Place and Sir William Molesworth. For most of the 19th century the street was best known for the debtor’s prison.