Health & History Walk is a 400-year event as well as an "extra-healthy" stroll that sees participants take about 4,000 steps at the Caledonian Park. This year's event was dubbed Dementia Friendly Health & History Walk as it was themed at both mental and physical health.
It is well-known that spending time in a park surrounded by nature improves one's health and walking has several physical and psychological benefits. The event, organized by Islington Council, aims to talk about the park's intriguing history as well as wintertime wildlife as we stroll around it..
The visitors wandered around the Metropolitan Meat Market's market square, preceded the routes of the drovers, stopped at the locations of the cattle lairs, market taverns, and homes built on the grounds where the sheep rested before market day. 400 years of history and 4,000 stairs in just over two hours. For those of you who prefer to walk less, the park tour will last about an hour.
This stroll is open to everyone, including those in wheelchairs. The clock tower marks the start and end of the tour..
Copenhagen House and Copenhagen Fields were once located on a rural estate. Trade unions held protests and rallies here prior to the relocation of the Smithfield Meat Market, which was done to put an end to the protests. As a result, a large brick area and the meat market were relocated here. Animals that have been slaughtered and sold in this country as the clock tower served as the market's focal point. The animal sculptures by John Bell that were in the park's entrance alcoves were recently taken.
The tour continues with a stop at the Cally Market, which is known for its bargains and antiques. On Mondays and Thursdays, there was a cow market, and on Fridays, there was a horse market.
The market grew to become the largest market for a wide range of products. It came to an end in 1939 because it could only hold 25,000 people at once and no air raid shelters could be built.
The New Caledonian Market was relocated to Bermondsey. This park now has gardens where the sheep pens used to be. Sheep and cattle drivers demonstrated in deplorable conditions at Drovers Hall and other people's motels. The red ochre pigment used to mark the animals discolored the clothes. The road would have been infested with animals. Private slaughterhouses remained after the meat market, one of which was near the opulent bar structure.
The Market Road Gardens were a rare green haven in Inner London's densely populated region. The Layerages were said to be beyond the wall in the background, so any peace that may have existed here would have been disturbed by animal noises. Animals arriving at the Caledonian Livestock Market were resting in these sheds for a few days before being slaughtered in order to increase meat production and quality. Animals were driven across Market Road to be slaughtered at nearby abattoirs.
Overall, it was a fantastic walk. It is something they do on a regular basis, so make sure to check out Islington Council's other events. The tour guide did an excellent job of informing us about the places' rich history and interesting facts.
