Description
The site was previously known as Finsbury Fields, part of the old Moorfields outside the City walls. They were used from medieval times for archery and the Lord Mayor's Hunt, and in the early C17th trees were planted and walks laid out. Following the Fire of London in 1666 many people camped on the Fields, and plague victims were buried here. In the mid C18th John Wesley and the early Methodists first preached in Finsbury Fields to large crowds. Finsbury Square was formally laid out in the late C18th, but none of these early buildings survive. The central garden was originally circular and reserved for the private use of residents well into the C20th. Just before WWII, work had begun on redesigning the garden as a square with a subterranean car park beneath it, but this was not completed until the early 1960s. In 1955 Finsbury Council had acquired freehold of the site and the public garden was then created in its present form with flowerbeds, bowling green and changing rooms, and a refreshment house.
Practical Information
| Previously known as | Finsbury Fields |
|---|---|
| Site location | Finsbury Square |
| Postcode | EC2 |
| What3Words | ///fool.author.tables |
| Type of Site | Public Gardens |
| Borough | Islington |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | 8am - dusk. Bowling Green: from Tuesday after first bank holiday in May until 30 September end Apr - early Oct; Mon-Fri 12-8pm |
| Facilities | 6 rink bowling green; La Paquerette restaurant, toilets |
| Public Transport | Tube: Moorgate (Hammersmith & City, Circle, Northern, Metropolitan). Rail: Moorgate. Bus: 43, 205, 214, 271. |
| Research Updated | 1 April 2012 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
Finsbury Fields were previously the old Moorfields, part of fens outside the City walls, the land belonging to St Paul's Cathedral. When the Wesleys first established the Methodist movement here they preached in Finsbury Felds to large crowds and until the late C18th the area was little built on. Although plans for laying out the area were drawn up in 1751 by George Dance the Elder, who was City Surveyor, Finsbury Square was eventually laid out by his son George Dance the Younger between 1777-92 who was attempting to recreate a 'West End' atmosphere in the City, the fine houses overlooking a circular garden. Finsbury Square was the first public place where gas lighting was permanently installed and was fashionable until the late C19th particularly among members of the medical profession. Among its famous residents were the missionary David Livingstone, who stayed here in 1856 and composer Anton Bruckner, who began is 2nd Symphony while staying here in 1871. None of the original houses remain, and the buildings surrounding the gardens are C20th, mostly modern.
The central garden, originally private and for the use of residents of Finsbury Square, was rebuilt in its present form after WWII, which included the building of a subterranean car-park, the first under a London square. The latter had been planned as early as 1925, first raised as an idea by the Automobile Association but work by Finsbury Council was interrupted by the war, and it was not until 1955 that the Council acquired the freehold from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. The gardens, which had become run down in the interim, were re-landscaped in the early 1960s with a bowling green, changing rooms, new flower-beds, refreshment house as well as the car park. The gardens now have a petrol station, restaurant and two bowling greens.
There are two granite cattle troughs and a Drinking Fountain presented to the parish of St Luke by Thomas and Walter Smith in 1899 to commemorate their mother Martha Smith who died in 1898. The fountain was originally on the pavement but was moved to its present position in the south east corner in 1962.
The central garden, originally private and for the use of residents of Finsbury Square, was rebuilt in its present form after WWII, which included the building of a subterranean car-park, the first under a London square. The latter had been planned as early as 1925, first raised as an idea by the Automobile Association but work by Finsbury Council was interrupted by the war, and it was not until 1955 that the Council acquired the freehold from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. The gardens, which had become run down in the interim, were re-landscaped in the early 1960s with a bowling green, changing rooms, new flower-beds, refreshment house as well as the car park. The gardens now have a petrol station, restaurant and two bowling greens.
There are two granite cattle troughs and a Drinking Fountain presented to the parish of St Luke by Thomas and Walter Smith in 1899 to commemorate their mother Martha Smith who died in 1898. The fountain was originally on the pavement but was moved to its present position in the south east corner in 1962.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ328819 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 0.7 |
| Site Ownership | LB Islington |
| Site Management | Greenspace. Finsbury Square Partnership Panel |
| Dates | 1777-91; 1960s |
| Listed Structures | LBII: drinking fountain; 2 cattle troughs south and south-west of fountain |
| 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 | Islington |
| In Conservation Area | Yes |
| Conservation Area Name | Bunhill Fields & Finsbury Square |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | Yes - Archaeological Priority Area |
| Other LA Designation | Local/strategic view corridor |
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
Finsbury Fields was a large area of open ground, which had been used since medieval times for the practice of archery. It was enclosed in the C17th when the precursor of the Honourable Artillery Company moved to Finsbury in 1641 and it became the Artillery Garden or Artillery Ground. A map of 1677 shows it marked as 'New Artillery Garden'. Since at least 1725 it was used for a cricket pitch, and in September 1784 it was the site of the launch of Vincenzo Lunardi's first manned balloon flight in Britain. It is now used for rugby, hockey and football in winter, cricket in summer and also hired out for events. Trees of various species were planted around the perimeter of the sports ground in 1996, as part of the Millennium celebrations.
* on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens
Bunhill is probably a corruption of 'Bone Hill', and the area has been a site of burial for upwards of 1,000 years. The Corporation of London had originally enclosed this site for a new burial ground for plague victims just outside the City walls, but it was subsequently leased for a private cemetery. Bunhill Fields was established in 1665 and became the country's pre-eminent Nonconformist cemetery. Between 1665-1854, when it was closed for burials, some 123,000 interments took place, the oldest existing memorial that of Theophilus Gale, d.1678. Among many important Nonconformists buried here are John Bunyan, Susannah Wesley (mother of Charles and John Wesley), Isaac Watts, Daniel Defoe and William Blake. In 1868 it was converted into public gardens by the Corporation of London, when new walls and gates were erected, paths laid out and trees planted. Following bomb damage, after WWII the north area was largely cleared and laid out as a garden and the south area re-landscaped with 5 railed areas containing over 2000 monuments.
Bunhill is probably a corruption of 'Bone Hill', and the area has been a site of burial for upwards of 1,000 years. The Corporation of London had originally enclosed this site for a new burial ground for plague victims just outside the City walls, but it was subsequently leased for a private cemetery. Bunhill Fields was established in 1665 and became the country's pre-eminent Nonconformist cemetery. Between 1665-1854, when it was closed for burials, some 123,000 interments took place, the oldest existing memorial that of Theophilus Gale, d.1678. Among many important Nonconformists buried here are John Bunyan, Susannah Wesley (mother of Charles and John Wesley), Isaac Watts, Daniel Defoe and William Blake. In 1868 it was converted into public gardens by the Corporation of London, when new walls and gates were erected, paths laid out and trees planted. Following bomb damage, after WWII the north area was largely cleared and laid out as a garden and the south area re-landscaped with 5 railed areas containing over 2000 monuments.
* on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens
The site of Finsbury Circus Garden was once part of Finsbury Manor Estate. A moor existed here until 1527, which was subsequently drained and gravelled walks laid out. Bethlehem Royal Hospital was at the southern end of Moor Field from 1675/6 until 1815, following which the Moorfields estate was developed. Finsbury Circus was enclosed in 1812 and the oval garden laid out in 1815-17 to designs of George Dance the Younger by City Surveyor William Montague. Initially a private garden for the surrounding residents, the garden was acquired in 1900 by the City Corporation for public use. The City's only bowling green was built here in 1925, and the bandstand dates from 1955. During WWII a barrage balloon was anchored on the gardens. The garden was closed 2010-2020 during Crossrail construction works, and will be closed between November 2023 and late 2024 for refurbishment works.
The site of Finsbury Circus Garden was once part of Finsbury Manor Estate. A moor existed here until 1527, which was subsequently drained and gravelled walks laid out. Bethlehem Royal Hospital was at the southern end of Moor Field from 1675/6 until 1815, following which the Moorfields estate was developed. Finsbury Circus was enclosed in 1812 and the oval garden laid out in 1815-17 to designs of George Dance the Younger by City Surveyor William Montague. Initially a private garden for the surrounding residents, the garden was acquired in 1900 by the City Corporation for public use. The City's only bowling green was built here in 1925, and the bandstand dates from 1955. During WWII a barrage balloon was anchored on the gardens. The garden was closed 2010-2020 during Crossrail construction works, and will be closed between November 2023 and late 2024 for refurbishment works.
