Description
Tredegar Square was laid out from 1828 with houses designed for prosperous merchants. It is named after Sir Charles Morgan of Tredegar who owned land at Mile End. At least two, and possibly all four sides of the square were built by William Miller, who sought to emulate John Nash. In 1888 the central garden comprised a simple rectilinear system of paths, but it was later re-landscaped as a large central circle intersected by four auriculate lobes with a central hard paved area.
Practical Information
| Site location | Tredegar Square, Bow |
|---|---|
| Postcode | E3 |
| What3Words | ///glow.nurse.lamp |
| Type of Site | Garden Square |
| Borough | Tower Hamlets |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | 8am - dusk |
| Public Transport | Tube: Mile End (Central/District). Bus: 25. |
| Research Updated | 1 September 2008 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
In 1822 Sir Charles Morgan of Tredegar leased 45 acres of his land at Mile End to a local bricklayer Daniel Austin for a housing development, which commenced with large terraced houses built on Bow Road with smaller houses behind. In 1828 Tredegar Square was laid out with houses designed for prosperous merchants, but Austin was bankrupted in 1829 and the land was sub-let on each side of the square in separate lots. At least two, and possibly all four sides of the square were sublet to builder William Miller, who sought to emulate John Nash particularly in the houses on the north of the square. The OS First Edition 25" map shows the garden layout, comprising a central planted area, perimeter path and planting and corner beds. In 1888 the central garden comprised a simple rectilinear system of paths, but it was later laid out to form a large central circle intersected by four auriculate lobes, with a central hard paved area.
A grant of £830 was received by Stepney Borough Council from the King George's Fields Foundation, which had been established in 1936 following the King's death in order to provide a living memorial to him.
The garden is surrounded by reproduction railings and lamp standards, with litter bins and other street furniture all in Victoriana style and painted in Bow Neighbourhood blue, which took place following the 1987 local elections when the borough was subdivided into different colour-coded neighbourhoods. There are some notable trees including lime, locust, sycamore and London planes.
A grant of £830 was received by Stepney Borough Council from the King George's Fields Foundation, which had been established in 1936 following the King's death in order to provide a living memorial to him.
The garden is surrounded by reproduction railings and lamp standards, with litter bins and other street furniture all in Victoriana style and painted in Bow Neighbourhood blue, which took place following the 1987 local elections when the borough was subdivided into different colour-coded neighbourhoods. There are some notable trees including lime, locust, sycamore and London planes.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ365827 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 0.5093 |
| Site Ownership | LB Tower Hamlets |
| Site Management | Leisure Services, Parks and Open Spaces |
| Dates | 1828-29 |
| Listed Structures | LBII: Tredegar Square houses |
| 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 | Tower Hamlets |
| In Conservation Area | Yes |
| Conservation Area Name | Tredegar Square |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | No |
Gallery
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Nearby parks and gardens
Holy Trinity Church was built to form the focus of planned residential development around Rhondda Grove of c.1840, formerly Cottage Grove. Although initially built as a chapel, it came to serve the parish of Mile End Old Town in 1841. Its well-preserved churchyard, which closed to burial in 1853, was refurbished in 1886/7 as Holy Trinity Garden by the MPGA. Numerous headstones remain in their original positions with clear inscriptions. The garden has C20th railings set in original Portland stone coping on a parapet wall and there are notable lime trees on the south side of the garden.
The farthest east of the seven early commercial cemeteries, Tower Hamlets Cemetery was created to serve the parishes of Stepney and Bromley-by-Bow. Consecrated in 1841, the cemetery had a lodge and two chapels, and was laid out as a grid and planted with ornamental trees and shrubs. By 1889 over 247,000 burials had taken place but the cemetery became neglected and much overgrown, later suffering bomb damage in WWII. In 1990 it was designated a cemetery park.
* on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens
The Spanish and Portuguese Jews' New Burial Ground opened 1733, and was extended eastwards in 1855 and eventually closed for burial in 1888. Parts of the wall have been lowered but the western boundary wall was built in 1733 and a large part of the C19th extended area survives within QMC and Westfield College. Spanish and Portuguese Jews came to this country fleeing from religious persecution and established themselves in Mile End in 1656. The Sephardi Velho (Old) Cemetery had opened in 1657, closing in 1737 when it was full and the new cemetery was open. The cemetery was listed by EH in 2014.
The Spanish and Portuguese Jews' New Burial Ground opened 1733, and was extended eastwards in 1855 and eventually closed for burial in 1888. Parts of the wall have been lowered but the western boundary wall was built in 1733 and a large part of the C19th extended area survives within QMC and Westfield College. Spanish and Portuguese Jews came to this country fleeing from religious persecution and established themselves in Mile End in 1656. The Sephardi Velho (Old) Cemetery had opened in 1657, closing in 1737 when it was full and the new cemetery was open. The cemetery was listed by EH in 2014.
