Description
Clapton Square was laid out gradually on Clapton Field from 1811-18 with the central garden remaining as 'grass land' enclosed by iron railings until the late C19th. On an axis with the adjacent church of St John-at-Hackney, the garden was regarded as an extension of the churchyard. It became neglected as a residents' garden and was acquired by the LCC who vested it in Hackney Borough Council in 1924 as a public square. Most of the original houses were destroyed between 1943-47. A restoration programme for the garden began in the 1990s and it retains early C19th cast iron railings and a historic drinking fountain.
Practical Information
| Site location | Clapton Place/Lower Clapton Road |
|---|---|
| Postcode | E5 8HP |
| What3Words | ///slim.part.grants |
| Type of Site | Garden Square; |
| Borough | Hackney |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | 7.30am - dusk (summer 9.30pm, winter 4pm). |
| Facilities | children's play area |
| Public Transport | London Overground: Hackney Central. Bus: 36, 48, 55, 106, 253, S2. |
| Research Updated | 1 October 2012 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
Clapton Square was laid out gradually on Clapton Field from 1811-1818 onwards with the central garden remaining as 'grass land' enclosed by iron railings until the late C19th. On an axis with the adjacent church of St John-at-Hackney (q.v.), the garden was regarded as an extension of the churchyard. Clapton Square was described in 1869 as being a position 'which will always be esteemed by the Citizen as a place of Residence...the convenience of the spot, its aspect of quiet retirement combined with an agreeable vivacity, and the universally high character of the Residents, several of whom have been in occupation for many years, have conducted to render the Square one of the most favourite locations in the Northern Suburbs of Town.' However, it became neglected as a residents' garden and was acquired by the London County Council who then vested it in Hackney Borough Council in 1924 as a public square under the provisions of the Town Gardens Protection Act of 1863. It was described in the 1928 Report on London Squares as an 'oblong area surrounded by privet hedge and shrubs, half laid out as ornamental gardens and half as grass playground for children'. Most of the original houses were destroyed between 1943-47.
A restoration programme for the garden began in the 1990s. The layout consists of lawns surrounded by a tarmac path with perimeter trees and shrubs, with a number of rose beds and other ornamental beds. The square is well-used, with a children's playground, pavilion and drinking fountain in the centre. The square retains its early C19th cast iron railings on stone coped low brick wall, with spearhead standards and urn finials at intervals; at the ends are tall square stone-capped brick piers. In 2008 the square went through a transformation, with a popular new play area being created through the Play Pathfinder Scheme. Clapton Square User Group works with Hackney Council to maintain the garden and undertakes various activities including planting days that have led to the creation of a community herb bed, pumpkin patch and a row of sunflowers. The User Group raised funds at the Halloween event in 2010 to buy materials for six bat boxes, which were made by Dan Gritten, a local furniture maker and member of the Group, who donated his labour.. London Wildlife Trust staff and volunteers created four insect loggeries in the garden in May 2011.
A restoration programme for the garden began in the 1990s. The layout consists of lawns surrounded by a tarmac path with perimeter trees and shrubs, with a number of rose beds and other ornamental beds. The square is well-used, with a children's playground, pavilion and drinking fountain in the centre. The square retains its early C19th cast iron railings on stone coped low brick wall, with spearhead standards and urn finials at intervals; at the ends are tall square stone-capped brick piers. In 2008 the square went through a transformation, with a popular new play area being created through the Play Pathfinder Scheme. Clapton Square User Group works with Hackney Council to maintain the garden and undertakes various activities including planting days that have led to the creation of a community herb bed, pumpkin patch and a row of sunflowers. The User Group raised funds at the Halloween event in 2010 to buy materials for six bat boxes, which were made by Dan Gritten, a local furniture maker and member of the Group, who donated his labour.. London Wildlife Trust staff and volunteers created four insect loggeries in the garden in May 2011.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ350853 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 0.64 |
| Site Ownership | LB Hackney |
| Site Management | Hackney Parks Service; Clapton Square User Group |
| Dates | 1816 |
| Listed Structures | LBII: early C19th railings round square; houses on Clapton Square: 7-19 (west side), 20-25 (north side) |
| On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens | No |
| Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965 | No |
| Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931 | Yes |
| Local Authority | Hackney |
| In Conservation Area | Yes |
| Conservation Area Name | Clapton Square |
| Tree Preservation Order | Not known |
| Nature Conservation Area | Yes |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | No |
| Other LA Designation | Open Space; London Square; Green Link |
Please note the Inventory and its content are provided for your general information only and are subject to change. It is your responsibility to check the accuracy.
Nearby parks and gardens
St John-at-Hackney Churchyard Gardens was the burial ground of Hackney's first parish church of St Augustine. The medieval church was demolished in 1790 although the C13th tower remains. Its burial ground was walled in 1707 and expanded twice in the C18th, in 1763 and 1790. The latter expansion enabled the erection of the new church of St John when a much larger church was needed for the growing population. The burial ground was declared full in 1859, and in 1893/4 was converted into a public garden; graves were grassed over, headstones moved to the perimeter and chest tombs into railed enclosures. It was re-opened as St John’s Gardens in 1894. In 1963, a walled garden was laid out. Neglected by the late C20th, in 2006/7 the gardens were extensively refurbished.
Clapton Pond today consists of two small enclosures divided by Newick Road, the south side laid out with a bridged pond purportedly dug in the C17th. The pond, once the heart of the village of Clapton, was used as a reservoir for water supplied to the village in the early C18th and then between 1760-1833, the water brought via pipes from the River Lee. In 1898 Hackney District Board acquired Clapton Pond for public gardens. They were re-landscaped in 1977-79 retaining the bridge and most of the trees including a number of semi-mature Willows, the gardens particularly replanted with shrubs.
Hackney Downs is former Lammas land, which was surrounded by fields until the mid C19th. Horse-racing was recorded in 1733, and cricket, football and rugby were known to have been played here. As housing development began to threaten the area's common land, the MBW acquired the Downs and other Hackney Commons by Act of Parliament in 1872 to preserve it as public open space. Hackney Downs opened as a public park in 1884, laid out with paths and surrounded by notable plane, lime and ash trees. Various facilities were provided over the years, including women's toilets in 1908, Hackney Downs Lodge in 1959, an extension to the bowling green in 1960 as well as the playground and sports courts.