Description
Gibson Square is the corresponding square to Milner Square to the north, and was the first of the two squares to be built as part of the Milner-Gibson Estate. In 1823 Thomas Milner Gibson of Theberton Hall in Suffolk had obtained a licence to build on the land, which was part of the Manor of Barnsbury. The central garden was provided for the use of residents of the new houses until the 1930s when upkeep passed to Islington Council and the garden was open to the public. In 1970 a ventilator shaft for the new Victoria Line was built in the gardens, its design resembling a classical temple with a domed roof in order to better harmonise with the garden, which has ornamental beds with roses, lawns, and a variety of trees.
Practical Information
| Site location | Gibson Square |
|---|---|
| Postcode | N1 |
| What3Words | ///areas.upper.later |
| Type of Site | Garden Square; |
| Borough | Islington |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | 8am - dusk |
| Special Conditions | no dogs |
| Public Transport | Tube: Angel (Northern). Bus: 4, 19, 30, 43 |
| Research Updated | 1 April 2012 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
The land was within the Manor of Barnsbury owned by William Tufnell as Lord of the Manor. In 1823 Thomas Milner Gibson of Theberton Hall in Suffolk obtained a licence to build here from Tufnell's executors. He had inherited a fortune from plantations in Trinidad and became President of the Board of Trade. Trinidad Place was named after the family plantations. The Milner-Gibson Estate was laid out from 1823 by Francis Edwards, a pupil of Sir John Soane. On Edwards' plans 'Milner Square' and 'Gibson Square' were at that point reversed. Gibson Square was built between 1832-39 and the houses had distinctive facades. On Edwards' plan the central garden was shown surrounded by railings with gates and it was provided for the use of residents only. In 1928 it was described as having a lawn with a 'low sparse hedge and trees and around the border'. Owned by Trustees of the Thomas Milner-Gibson it was maintained by a Committee of inhabitants out of rates levied by Islington Borough Council on the occupiers.
By the 1930s Gibson Square garden had become rundown and it was surrendered by residents to Islington Council for upkeep. During WWII it was dug up for air raid shelters and replanted after the war. In 1963 builders of the new Victoria Line identified Gibson Square as a site of a ventilation shaft but the design of a 50 ft concrete-clad tower was vociferously challenged by residents. As a result the height of the shaft was lowered and a low rise structure proposed. The final structure took the form of a simulated classical temple with a domed roof and was built in 1970, designed by Quinlan Terry of Raymond Erith Associates to harmonise with its surroundings. London Transport restored the garden including replacement railings by c.1975. The garden has a number of mature elm trees, some of the only ones left in the borough. The site is important for its geological interest having Islington Terrace Gravels in flower beds.
By the 1930s Gibson Square garden had become rundown and it was surrendered by residents to Islington Council for upkeep. During WWII it was dug up for air raid shelters and replanted after the war. In 1963 builders of the new Victoria Line identified Gibson Square as a site of a ventilation shaft but the design of a 50 ft concrete-clad tower was vociferously challenged by residents. As a result the height of the shaft was lowered and a low rise structure proposed. The final structure took the form of a simulated classical temple with a domed roof and was built in 1970, designed by Quinlan Terry of Raymond Erith Associates to harmonise with its surroundings. London Transport restored the garden including replacement railings by c.1975. The garden has a number of mature elm trees, some of the only ones left in the borough. The site is important for its geological interest having Islington Terrace Gravels in flower beds.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ315838 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 0.29 |
| Site Ownership | LB Islington |
| Site Management | Greenspace; Friends of Gibson Square |
| Dates | 1831; 1836-39 |
| Designers | Francis Edwards |
| Listed Structures | LBII: Nos. 14-70 Gibson Square. |
| 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 | Barnsbury |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | No |
| Other LA Designation | Local/strategic view corridor. Shopping Policy Area |
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
The square is named for Sir Richard Cloudesley, who had an estate here from the early C16th. In 1811 the Estate Trustees were permitted to let building leases and the Cloudesley Estate, also called Stonefield, was planned from 1812. Cloudesley Square, begun in c.1825, was the centre of the estate, with Holy Trinity Church built in 1826-29 to serve the growing population. Around the church is a hexagonal railed garden, essentially a strip of grass with a path and a number of mature trees.
In 1823 Thomas Milner Gibson of Theberton Hall in Suffolk obtained a licence to build here from landowner William Tufnell, Lord of Barnsbury Manor. Milner Square is a counterpart to Gibson Square to the south and was the second of the two squares built for the Milner-Gibson Estate. By the 1930s the square was tenanted in large part and later became run-down. It was acquired by Islington Council in 1973 and the houses restored as Council flats. The garden was a 'vegetable garden' until the 1930s and was then laid out as a playground. It remains almost entirely hard-surfaced with a small brick pavilion and peripheral planting.
Battishill Street Gardens were opened by Sir John Betjamin in 1975, but the site is of historic interest for the C19th stone frieze installed within the gardens. It was originally made for the Hall of Commerce in Threadneedle Street, which was demolished in 1922. It was given to Islington Council in 1974 for erection in the new Battishill Gardens.