Lonsdale Square Garden

A curious blend of Gothic Revival and Tudor styles greets you. Welcome to Lonsdale Square Garden. This isn’t just any garden. It’s a hidden gem in Islington North London. Lonsdale Square Garden holds a fascinating history. It began as Gossey Field. The Worshipful Company of Drapers owned this land. They inherited it in 1690. Initially used for farming then as a cattle pen for Smithfield Market. The Drapers’ Company transformed it in the 1830s. They hired Richard Cromwell Carpenter as the architect. His father had been the surveyor for the Drapers’ Company Estate. Carpenter designed the unique Tudor Gothic Revival terraced houses. They surround the square. They are all listed buildings. The construction of Lonsdale Square took place between 1838 and 1845. Drawings were even showcased at the Royal Academy exhibition in 1841. The initial leases required single-family occupancy. Initially the residents were mostly middle-class. A third were in religious orders. Perhaps attracted to the ecclesiastical style of the architecture. Charles Booth’s poverty map from around 1890 shows most households as well-to-do. The square’s prosperity dipped in the early 20th century. Houses were rented as furnished rooms. The Drapers’ Company auctioned the square in 1954. It had become quite run-down. However a revival happened in the 1960s. The square’s architectural style appealed to middle-class families. The houses were renovated and became fashionable again. The central garden was privately owned with a gardener. Islington Council acquired it in 1960. They paid a nominal fee of 50 pounds. The garden opened to the public. The garden railings removed during World War II. Proper railings were only put back in 1970/71. Lonsdale Square Garden is now a tranquil space. It’s filled with mature London plane and beech trees conifers bushes and flower beds. It covers 0.19 hectares. Famous residents included William Harvey a surgeon and writer. He died at number 48. George R Sims a journalist and novelist lived at number 30. Richard Rodney Bennett a composer owned a house here. Salman Rushdie mentioned a basement apartment in his memoir Joseph Anton. Even Simon Rattle the conductor had a home in the square. So next time you’re in Islington remember the story of Lonsdale Square Garden. A place of history transformation and remarkable residents. Enjoy the peaceful atmosphere and its unique charm.