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October 21, 2014

Golden Square, London

Visitors to London will notice there are lots of green areas in the Westminster and central city areas. Some offer workers a breath of fresh air and a place to while away their time during a lunch break while others are a private oasis available to the surrounding homeowners.

London’s squares date back to the mid 17th century. They were an English concept, copied by other cities and countries.

Golden Square (thought to originate from Gelding Close when the land was used for grazing horses) began life in 1673 when John Emlyn and Isaac Symball initiated development here.

Early residents of the thirty-nine houses that surrounded the square were the Duke of Chandos, the 1st Viscount Bolingbroke and the Duchess of Cleveland. During its early years the square was a political centre and a sought-after address. This changed by the 1750s when newer and more fashionable addresses to the west on the Burlington estates became favored.

Foreign diplomats moved in from 1724 to 1768 and later 18th century residents included dancer Elizabeth Gamberini and singer Caterina Gabrielli.

Charles Dickens used Golden Square as a setting for one of the houses in his novel Nicholas Nickelby in 1839. The woollen and worsted trade moved in toward the end of the 19th century.

During the Second World War an air raid shelter was dug beneath the garden and the iron fence taken for salvage. Restoration work took place after the war and the garden was opened to the public in November 1952.

We visited on a sunny weekday and the square was full of workers eating their lunches. Not a bad place to be during a lunch break.

Golden Square

Golden Square Sign

Golden Square

Sources:

Informational sign at Golden Square

The London Square: Gardens in the Midst of Town by Todd Longstaffe-Gowan

6 Comments

  1. Mary Kirkland

    That’s an interesting looking building. I get to see all sorts of interesting places by dropping by your blog.

  2. Shelley Munro

    I love all the history in London. Everything seems to be old. I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed London!

    • Shelley Munro

      Me too, Anna, and there is loads of history in London!

  3. Maria Zannini

    I love the concept of squares, especially when there are gardens. Someday soon, I hope we can make it to London. I’ll never catch up to your whirlwind traveling but I’d love to see some of the things you mention in your blog. :)

    • Shelley Munro

      Most of the squares have beautiful trees and during the spring they’re full of daffodils. I used to love walking through the squares and parks when we lived in London.