Martin King at his Cross Street home: ‘He was a kind, sweet soul,’ said photographer Pauline Lord

AN “amazing” archaeologist and social historian who uncovered the hidden history of his Georgian home in Barnsbury has died.

Martin King, 59, who helped produce a book on his former residence, 53 Cross Street, with noted Islington historian Mary Cosh, will be remembered at a funeral service at Golders Green Crematorium today (Friday).

Judith Williamson, his former tutor at Middlesex University, where Mr King studied cultural studies, paid tribute to her friend of more than 30 years.

“He was a unique and talented person,” she said. “One of the most amazing things he did was become an archaeologist of his home in Cross Street. He peeled away layers to find original wall covering and started to uncover the history of the house.”

She added: “He made an original contribution to the understanding of Islington history.”

Mr King was part of the Black Sheep Housing Co-op, which was given short-term leases of dilapidated terraces in Cross Street by the council in the 1980s.

He went on to be a cultural studies lecturer at prestigious Central Saint Martins art school.

Photographer Pauline Lord, who provided images for Mr King’s book, said: “He was a kind, sweet soul. He will be missed.”

Mr King’s funeral service is at 2pm today followed by a wake at Islington Museum in Finsbury from 4.30pm.

Donations towards funeral costs can be made at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/martin-kingfund

A full obituary will appear in next week’s Tribune.