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CANONBURY TOWER.

THE most ancient and interesting building in the parish of Islington, Middlesex, is Canonbury House, so called from having been the country mansion of the Prior of the Canons of St. Bartholemew, in Smithfield; to which foundation the manor of Canonbury belonged until the dissolution of religious houses. The date 1362, yet remaining on a stone in front of a house raised on part of the old premises, may, with great probability, be considered as referring to the period at which a mansion was first erected here. Stow says that William Bolton (who was Prior of St. Bartholemew from 1509 till his death in 1532) "builded of new the manor of Canonbury at Islington;" which fact is corroborated by the Priors rebras, a bird bolt in a tun, yet to be seen in the old building, and in various parts of the garden wall.

The greater part of this mansion has been for a good many years converted into private dwellings; which, with others more recently erected on the same spot, compose a cluster of houses bearing the name of Canonbury Place. Some of these, which have been formed out of the old building, yet retain internally several remains of ancient ornament, in carved chimney pieces, stuccoed ceilings, &c. The general character of the place as again altered by the hand of modern refinement, now presents a striking contrast between the domestic architecture and interior decoration of ancient and present times. The lofty folding sash window opening to the lawn and shrubbery from a parlour ornamented with the light and fashionable furniture of the day is here opposed to the subtantial oak wainscoat, the heavy stuccoed ceiling, and the ponderous chimney ornaments of the 16th Century.

The most striking part of the ancient building at Canonbury is a tower of brick, about 17 feet square and 60 feet high, with rooms attached, and which, both externally and internally, retain much of its original aspect. At the entrance is a spacious hall, with kitchen and other offices. The ascent to the tower, and the several rooms connected therewith, is by an oaken staircase of considerable width. The structure rises to the height of seven stories, and contains, on its several floors, in all 23 apartments; two of which are of large dimensions and ornamented with carved oak wainscots. The staircase is continued to the leads, from which a fine panoramic view is obtained of the metropolis and adjoining villages. On the

London Henderson 2 Na Bailey.

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