Imagine waking up in a world where animals are everywhere. Coal arrives by horse and cart, fresh milk is delivered directly from a local dairy, and the streets are crowded with working animals. On your walk through Islington, you dodge horse-drawn trams, stray dogs and even cattle being driven to nearby Smithfield Market.

Just over 200 years ago, this was everyday life for Islington residents. Animals powered transport, supplied food and fuelled industry, but they were often treated as tools rather than living creatures. So how did England transform from a place where animal cruelty was commonplace into a global leader in animal welfare?

The new exhibition Animals! A Beastly History of Human Behaviour at Islington Museum explores that remarkable story through the lives of Islington’s wild, working and domestic animals. Drawing on fascinating objects from the museum’s collections, the exhibition reveals how attitudes towards animals changed dramatically during the nineteenth century, and how ordinary Islington residents helped drive that change.

Visitors can discover centuries-old cattle bones, striking posters from the Royal Agricultural Hall, historic photographs of Islington streets bustling with animal life, and rarely displayed objects connected to local stories, including a former Islington lion tamer.

Curated by Islington Museum, Animals! shows how social attitudes can change for the better in a surprisingly short period of time, and why these stories still matter today.

The exhibition runs until 25 January and entry is free. Alongside the exhibition, the museum is hosting a programme of free events, workshops and walks.

Find out more about opening hours, accessibility and upcoming events on the Islington Museum website.

Guest written by Sarah Guzman, Curator of Islington Musuem

Open until 25 January
Islington Museum, 245 St John Street, EC1V 4NB

Find out more about Animals! at Islington Museum