The Little Book of Camden Passage

Dubbed one of London's top antique destinations since the 1950s, Islington’s Camden Passage has evolved into a hub of diversity. This cobbled, largely traffic-free side-street has witnessed decades of decline and transformation. Today, trendy nail bars and baristas sit alongside antique dealers and market traders. The range of restaurants includes Middle Eastern, European, Japanese, Austrian, South American and Chinese. There’s a cheese shop, a wine bar, a tea specialist, a traditional pub and three coffee shops. There’s also an underlying tension. Rents are rising and the independent traders are under threat from chains with deep pockets. It’s thriving but it’s not always easy.

In the four years that Gary Williams has been documenting Camden Passage he's counted 18 businesses that have closed their doors only to be replaced by 18 new ones. Twas ever thus. A gift shop became a coffee shop but there are people here who remember the same building 50 years ago when it served as a funeral parlour. The Art Gallery was once a toy shop, a vintage shop was a bag shop and the entry way on the side of the sushi restaurant used to be a shop selling dog food! It’s constantly changing but it’s always thriving. 

‘The Little Book of Camden Passage’ celebrates the people and the personalities of this resilient little street. It’s about the diverse people who shop, eat and drink there and the local business owners who offer not just products but a sense of belonging, safeguarding the essence of community. In many respects it’s the story of every British High Street and what it means to belong. Streets like this matter because they are the lifeblood of local communities where people come together to shop, relax, exchange ideas and support one another. They should be treasured, nurtured and supported by locals and when necessary by the government. If we lose them to developers or online shopping giants we’ll lose a vital pillar of community life. 

96 pages
200 mm x 145 mm
Cloth bound with foil print cover