Did you know that local women gathered with flowers as a protest outside Holloway Prison the day the last woman in Britain to be executed, Ruth Ellis, was hanged?<br><br>From long dead celebrities to notorious criminals, the A1 Audio tour offers a fascinating account of life along Islington's central thoroughfare. <br><br>Launched today (3 JULY 06) at Islington Museum, the tour relates the history and folklore of the A1 alongside stories and memories from local people, businesses and school children.<br><br>It has been constructed so it works either as an interesting recording you can listen to in the comfort of your home or as a guided tour for a pedestrian walking along the street iPod in pocket. <br><br>And you don't have to walk from Archway to Goswell Road all in one go, the tour is split into four 20 minute sections starting from Archway to the Nag's Head, moving from the Nag's Head to Highbury and then from Highbury to the Angel and finally from the Angel to Goswell Road. <br><br>Executive Member for the Environment Cllr Lucy Watt said: 'The A1 is set to change over the coming years and we saw the Audio Tour as an excellent way of recording the life and landmarks along Islington's central spine before it all happens. As well as providing the historical background to the busy road, local residents have very kindly agreed to share their memories of how things used to be. We're very grateful to them for helping us to produce this fascinating record of the area's local history.'<br><br>Local theatre practitioner, Simon Fraser, from Absolute Theatre was commissioned by Islington to find and interview local people with interesting stories to tell about life in and around the A1. He added: 'It was a very interesting idea to combine the history of the road with personal reminiscences from local people.'<br><br>The tour is available FREE on CD from local Islington libraries and is also downloadable from the Council's website onto an iPod, mobile phone or MP3 player under the weblink http://www.islington.gov.uk/Community/A1Borough/A1BoroughAudioTour/. It will also be sent to local schools and will be available in the local history centre. Don't miss out on your copy. <br><br>The A1 Audio Tour was produced as part of the A1 Borough Project which aims to transform the area in and around the A1 and improve life for residents, visitors and students. <br><br>ends<br> <br><br><br><br>
Page Last Updated: 17 December 2009