Description
Tibberton Square consists of two terraces facing each other, between which is an area of garden that was once for the communal use of the residents. The houses were built by Thomas Wontner in the grounds of his house, after the death of his wife in 1823, who he had met in Tibberton. The 'square' was closed by railings and gates, leaving a view to the south-east. In 1970 Islington Council purchased the square, which had become run-down. The houses were restored as flats and the garden was newly landscaped and levelled and new railings erected. The new scheme was opened in July 1979 at a ceremony attended by Sir Hugh Wontner, a descendent of Thomas Wontner.
Practical Information
| Site location | Popham Road, off New North Road |
|---|---|
| Postcode | N1 |
| What3Words | ///focus.shelf.gift |
| Type of Site | Garden Square; |
| Borough | Islington |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted |
| Public Transport | Rail: Essex Road. Bus: 38, 56, 73, 341, 271 |
| Research Updated | 1 November 2004 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
Tibberton Square was built by successful hat manufacturer Thomas Wontner (1747-1831) in the grounds of his house. He had met his future wife Margaret in Tibberton, Worcestershire and having moved to the City of London in 1771 he eventually opened a fur factory in Islington and built the family house nearby. He lived here from 1808 at a time when it was largely open country. When his wife died in 1823 he decided to build houses on his sloping grounds. Due to the fact that the land was rhomboid in shape, the two terraces built in 1827 were of different lengths, with larger houses built at the north-west end; other houses linking with his villa on the shortest side were planned but not completed. The 'square' was closed by railings and gates, leaving a view to the south-east. The family lived here and retained ownership of Tibberton Square until the 1890s when the west side with Wontner's Villa was purchased for new public baths, after the Baths and Wash-Houses Act of 1846-7, which required that these be provided for the community. The villa was demolished in 1894 and the Baths opened in 1895. In 1896 the remainder of the estate was sold for £8,645.
By 1928 a Mr H B Atkinson owned the 12 houses on one side of the square, as well as the square, road and pavement in front of the houses on both sides. The owners of the other 12 houses had the right to enjoy the garden, which Mr Atkinson maintained with the other owners contributing. The railings were removed during WWII and the houses became down-graded.
In 1970 LB Islington acquired the square and by 1979 the terraces had been restored and converted to flats by Andrews, Sherlock and Partners, without changing the elevations. The garden was newly landscaped and levelled and new railings erected. The new scheme was opened in July 1979 by Merlyn Rees at a ceremony attended by Sir Hugh Wontner, a descendent of Thomas Wontner; it was highly commended in a DoE competition in 1980. When Greenman Street Baths were closed, Wontner Close was built on part of the site in 1987.
By 1928 a Mr H B Atkinson owned the 12 houses on one side of the square, as well as the square, road and pavement in front of the houses on both sides. The owners of the other 12 houses had the right to enjoy the garden, which Mr Atkinson maintained with the other owners contributing. The railings were removed during WWII and the houses became down-graded.
In 1970 LB Islington acquired the square and by 1979 the terraces had been restored and converted to flats by Andrews, Sherlock and Partners, without changing the elevations. The garden was newly landscaped and levelled and new railings erected. The new scheme was opened in July 1979 by Merlyn Rees at a ceremony attended by Sir Hugh Wontner, a descendent of Thomas Wontner; it was highly commended in a DoE competition in 1980. When Greenman Street Baths were closed, Wontner Close was built on part of the site in 1987.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ322839 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 0.05 |
| Site Ownership | LB Islington |
| Site Management | Greenspace |
| Dates | 1823-28; 1979 |
| Listed Structures | LB: Nos. 1-12; 18-29 Tibberton 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 | No |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | No |
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
Behind St James Close is the private communal garden for residents of Victorian almshouses built by the Clothworkers Company in 1855. The eight 2-storey yellow brick houses were originally built in two blocks at right angles to each other, but they are now linked by new buildings and a screen wall between Nos. 4 and 5. The entrances are now at the rear of the buildings with consequent alterations to the main facades. They face onto a pleasant communal garden, which has recently been re-landscaped.
The land in this area was part of the estate of the Clothworkers' Company, who owned and maintained this small area of green space at Prebend Street. The garden is partly surrounded by low walls, with grass, a few mature plane trees, shrubs around the perimeter and a number of seats. In 1928 the garden was described as 'a small enclosure at the junction of roads containing a number of trees'.
In 1805 the land here was a large meadow, part of which later became brick fields. Annett's Crescent was built in 1822-26 by William Burnell Hué for Thomas James Annett who had acquired the land from Thomas Scott. Apart form Charlton Crescent this is the only early crescent in the area. The three central houses were first to be built. At each end the three end houses have unusual motifs on their balconies. The garden in front was originally planted with trees around the periphery and in 1928 was described as having a low wall with iron railings, with grass and trees, much as at present. The Crescent was rehabilitated by Islington Council in the 1970s.