Holloway is the name given to the northern part of the district of Islington. The name is believed to have derived from the fact that many years ago the main route through the area was a sunken road.

Until the 19th century the area was predominantly rural, but once industrialisation reached the area it soon became built up. By the 1960s much of Holloway was covered with low quality housing, and the area soon became synonymous as a grim, industrial district.

Today Holloway is one of the poorer parts of Islington, and it has missed the gentrification of some of the other areas of the district, leaving Holloway a bit to be desired. The fact that Holloway is still best known for this prison just about says it all.

The Holloway Prison was first founded in 1852, originally housing both male and female prisoners. Since 1902 it has housed only women and is the UK’s major female prison.

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