The New River Head, once the end of the New River, with remains of a watermill and engine house and a garden. The building will form part of the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration

NESTLED between the high rise housing and office blocks of Clerkenwell is a quaint area lined with Georgian architecture, known as Amwell.

Throughout the 1820s, elegant low-rise housing was built there, an identifiable feature of the area that remains today, largely due to the dedicated work of those who protect it.

In 1972, a group of neighbours formed the “Amwell Society”, a group created to preserve the unique and diverse identity of this “village within a vast city”.

Fifty years on, and made up of dedicated volunteers and members of the community, they continue this mission. To them, it feels more important than ever before to them to preserve this unique, peaceful community as the cityscape around it changes.

Across 10 days in June, the Amwell Society will celebrate the 200 year anniversary of the area, and its diverse communities, by hosting events, workshops, performances and talks.

Members of the Amwell Society Committee

Chair of the committee Mark McMahon told the Tribune: “This festival is not just about history, but also the current community here. The most important work that we try to do is to increase community cohesion in the area.

“Amwell is so diverse— not just architecturally but socially too. There is a great mix of buildings, and a great mix of people. But the pressures on the area are growing more intense.

“We want to encourage people from across the area, especially the younger generation to come out and celebrate with us, and sign up to the society.”

David Sulkin, a member of the committee since 1992, said “There are amazing and really interesting people who have lived and worked in the area.

“We will be making plaques to recognise these people who have lived in the area, from the well-known such as Vladimir Lenin, to the less well-known and ordinary, but still very interesting people, like local picklemakers.”

• The festival will take place across Clerkenwell from June 19-28 and can be attended by both members and non-members.

Some of the events are free while others are ticketed, with prices ranging between £12-£30.

For more information, visit the Amwell Society website: https://www.amwell.org.uk/amwell-200-programme-2/