Description
Munster Square is a rectangular garden enclosed by modern railings. Modern low-rise council blocks replace the former C19th terraces that once surrounded the garden. The site was originally planned by John Nash as an additional market to serve Regent's Park in the 1820s, but never developed as such. The garden, divided by Osnaburgh Street, was leased by the Crown to the LCC who opened it to the public in June 1906, laid out with walks and seats.
Practical Information
| Site location | Osnaburgh Street/Munster Square |
|---|---|
| Postcode | NW1 |
| What3Words | ///patio.enjoy.hurray |
| Type of Site | Garden Square; |
| Borough | Camden |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted |
| Public Transport | Rail/London Overground/Tube(Northern/Victoria):Euston. Tube: Great Portland St (Metropolitan, Hammersmith & City, Circle); Warren St (Victoria, Northern). Bus: C2, 24, 27, 29, 134. |
| Research Updated | 1 July 2002 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
A rectangle enclosed by modern railings with grass, rose beds around the perimeter and some mature London planes, overlooked by R C Carpenter's church of St. Mary Magdalene on the south side. The church was built in 1849-52 for the Revd Edward Stuart for whom there is a memorial. The church was altered in 1866-7 by Slater and Carpenter; the north aisle and crypt added 1883-4 by R H Carpenter and B Ingelow. The rectangular shape of the garden reflects its origins as one of the additional markets, with Cumberland Market, planned by John Nash to serve the Regent's Park in the 1820s, although it was never developed as such. It is described on Horwood's map of 1799 as York Market, bisected by Osnaburgh Street, and in the early C19th as York Square. The old square was described by Summerson as 'strikingly beautiful.' Modern low-rise council blocks replace the former C19th terraces. The garden, divided by Osnaburgh Street, was leased by the Crown to the LCC who opened it to the public in June 1906, laid out with walks and seats. It is preserved under the London Squares and Enclosures (Preservation) Act, 1906, which prohibits building on the ground. In 1928 it was described as divided into two parts by Osnaburgh Street. The Eastern portion had 'a cemented playground with a few trees', and the Western portion consisted of 'a grass lawn with a flower bed in the centre.'
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ289824 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 0.2245 |
| Site Ownership | LB Camden |
| Site Management | Parks & Open Spaces |
| Dates | early C19th |
| Listed Structures | LBII*: St Mary Magdalene Church |
| 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 | Camden |
| In Conservation Area | No |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | No |
| Other LA Designation | Public Open Space (Small Local) |
Gallery
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Nearby parks and gardens
Clarence Gardens together with Munster Square was originally part of John Nash's plan of 1820 to provide a second market to complement Cumberland Market, but neither were built. The centre of the site was used as a nursery ground in the C19th. The land, owned by the Crown, was later leased to the LCC for a public garden, which opened in May 1907. It was laid out with walks and seats, an attractive garden surrounded by houses, divided into two rectangular enclosures by Osnaburgh Street. Now overlooked by modern housing, the garden was partially re-landscaped in 1972; the shape and its mature plane trees are the only historic features now remaining.
This long narrow garden enclosure, laid out as a lawn with trees, forms a common frontage to Cambridge Gate built in 1875/77. The terrace was not part of John Nash's designs of 1811 for developing the Crown lands as Regent's Park but was built on the site of The Colosseum, which opened in 1830 providing a huge panorama of London as its main attraction, but later demolished in 1875. The garden has a retaining wall and at each end are terracotta statuary groups depicting 'The Three Graces'. Cambridge Gate is so-named after George III's son Adolphus, 1st Duke of Cambridge.
The Royal College of Physicians of London was founded in 1518; the present college dates from 1964, extended in 1996. Although there are some remnants from 1960s planting, the medicinal garden has been extensively replanted since 2005. It contains over 1000 different plants, arranged as a series of areas, including beds of medicinal plants from various cultures, plants with known medical value and those connected with physicians through the ages. There are mature London plane trees at the front, a sheltered south-facing lawn and beds to the rear. Eight gardens along St Andrews Place were planted in 2006/7 with box parterres containing plants from the 'Pharmacopeia Londinensis' published by the Royal College of Physicians in 1618.
