Was Lenin really here for a few weeks in 1907? I will tell you more about this square now. Welcome to King Square Gardens in Islington. This park offers a green escape. It is surrounded by the busy streets of central London.
King Square Gardens has a rich history. It was originally laid out between 1822 and 1825. The land belonged to St Bartholomew’s Hospital. The square was named after King George IV. He was a British Empire monarch.
Back then, wealthy Londoners lived here. They wanted to be close to the City. In 1824, St Barnabas Church was built on the square. Later, it was renamed St Clement’s Church.
During Victorian times, things changed. Poorer Londoners moved in. The large houses were split into smaller flats.
King Square suffered damage during the Blitz. The houses were torn down in the 1950s. In 1959, Finsbury Borough Council built the King Square Estate. The work finished in 1965. Emberton, Franck and Tardrew designed the estate. Pre-cast concrete was used for the buildings.
Turnpike House is the tallest tower. It was completed in 1965. There is an arch at ground level. This arch leads into King Square Gardens. President House is to the north of the park. It has six-storey blocks.
The park is a Site of Local Importance to Nature Conservation. It offers vital green space in a densely populated area. The park is surrounded by high-density estates. These estates are among the most deprived in the UK.
In 2004, a Public Space Strategy was published. It aimed to improve parks and streets. King Square Gardens was identified as a key space for improvement. A new park building was completed in 2011. It includes a park keeper’s office, toilets and a community room.
The play area was redeveloped in 2013. The goal was to create a destination play space. They wanted to increase play value. They also wanted to create a more inclusive play environment. The project aimed to enhance the park’s natural status. Improving user safety was another key goal.
Children and young people were consulted during the design. They made models and visited a stone supplier. Their ideas helped shape the final design. The project provides engaging play for children up to their mid-teens.
The park features a children’s play area. It includes a large sand pit and water play. There are also accessible children’s toilets and a bog garden. The water play features operate from May to September.
Visits to the playground increased after the improvements. There was a 35% rise in summer visits. The park now sees an average of 1560 visits per day.
King Square Gardens is more than just a park. It is a community hub. It provides a space for play and relaxation. It is a green oasis in the heart of London. It is a place where history and nature come together.
Remember Pink Floyd? The park was used in the opening scene of their song “Another Brick in the Wall Part 2” from 1979. King Square Gardens is a place with many stories. Each visit reveals a new layer of its history. I hope you will visit King Square Gardens again soon.