A women in the kitchen of a flat at the Marquess Estate: 1974

A women in the kitchen of a flat at the Marquess Estate. Along the New River, Islington Council built a housing estate in 1973 providing around 1,000 flats and maisonettes. Using traditional brick, slate and timber, architects Darbourne and Darke created high-density, low-rise accommodation. Upper levels were reached by ramps and ground-floor flats had garden spaces. The Marquess Estate's narrow walkways and poor lighting added to the claustrophobic atmosphere, however, and the area developed a reputation for social problems.