Description
Until c.1805 the site was used as a 'Greenyard', a pound for stray animals. The Northampton Estate was developed as a residential area around the Manor House, which was later demolished in 1896. The district later became overcrowded as London expanded and many houses in the area became workshops and tenements. Northampton Institute was built as a Working Man's College in 1896-98 and later became a polytechnic and then City University in 1966. Only the south-east and south-west sides of Northampton Square still have the original buildings, with a few early C19th houses surrounding the railed central garden, although much bomb damage occurred. The gardens were opened to the public in July 1885 with assistance from MPGA, the layout by Fanny Wilkinson.
Practical Information
| Site location | Northampton Square |
|---|---|
| Postcode | EC1V 0HL |
| What3Words | ///agent.pine.bunch |
| Type of Site | Public Gardens |
| Borough | Islington |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | 8am - dusk |
| Special Conditions | no dogs |
| Facilities | café |
| Public Transport | Tube: Angel (Northern) then bus. Bus: 4, 56, 153 |
| Research Updated | 1 April 2012 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
Northampton Square is a lozenge shaped garden and was developed as part of the Northampton Estate as a residential area around the Manor House, which was later demolished in 1896. Northampton Institute was built as a Working Man's College in 1896-98 as part of improvements to the estate, and was designed by E W Mountford. Northampton Square Gardens were opened to the public in July 1885 with assistance from the MPGA. The design of the garden was by Fanny Wilkinson, who was landscape gardener to the MPGA for some 19 years, over which period she designed over 75 public gardens in London, many of them disused burial grounds. The late C19th bandstand is now used as a shelter and the gardens have a number of large trees, including a fine circle of London plane trees dating from Wilkinson's layout. Like others of the period, Wilkinson advocated planting such trees as London plane and Tree of Heaven in urban situations 'where the atmosphere is more or less laden with smoke' in a leaflet she wrote in 1899/1900, 'Suggestions for the Planting and Maintenance of Trees in Public Thoroughfares'.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ317826 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 0.28 |
| Site Ownership | LB Islington |
| Site Management | Greenspace/Friends of Northampton Square |
| Dates | 1805; 1885 |
| Designers | 1885: MPGA (Fanny Wilkinson) |
| Listed Structures | LBII: 18-33 Northampton 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 | Northampton Square |
| 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 |
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
This small triangular site known as St John's Island Site was donated for public use by deed gift in 1816, its maintenance later becoming the responsibility of Finsbury Borough Council. At one time enclosed by railings, by 1928 it was 'an asphalt area with a few trees'. Today there are mature plane trees, shrubs and a number of circular raised beds surrounded by low stone walls that incorporate seating.
King Square was originally laid out in 1822-25 on land belonging to St Bartholomew's Hospital, with the church of St Barnabas built on the east side. The church was damaged during WWII but was rebuilt and re-opened in 1956, later renamed St Clement's Church. By the 1950s the area was run-down and a new housing estate was planned. The King Square Estate was built for Finsbury Borough Council between 1959-65 and the garden square was re-landscaped, remaining public open space surrounded by the new estate. The tallest tower overlooks the park on the west side. Part of the garden is paved and the remainder has grass, flowerbeds, shrubs and trees.
The site is a former burial ground of St Bartholomew's Hospital, which was used for the burial of unclaimed bodies. It was located east of Mssrs Sewards Dye House. After it closed for burial the site was let as a carter's yard before being laid out as a public playground by the MPGA in 1891, which was maintained by St Luke's Vestry. It is now tarmaced and used as a playground by Dallington School, bounded by a rendered wall to Seward Street with railings above, gate piers and a number of plane trees. The site has been identified within the Bunhill and Clerkenwell Urban Design Study as being potentially suitable for public open space.