Edward Square N1

Open:

Saturday 10:00–17:00 + Sunday 10:00–17:00

Description:

A Landscape Institute Award-winning park with Green Flag status (under one hectare). It is one of only three London parks cited as a case study of a well–designed community space by CABE Space in It's our Space, 2007.

Edward Square was built in 1853 as a housing development with an enclosed garden, part of which was opened to the public in 1888, one of the first London public gardens.
In 1963 it became a temporary LCC open space following the clearance of bomb-damaged houses. It was destined to become a new Catholic secondary school, but this was not pursued due to a falling school population in Islington.

During the mid-1980s the open space became overgrown and neglected. Local action and community involvement led to Single Regeneration Budget funding from the King’s Cross Partnership and some additional funding from Islington Council. This enabled the redesign of the site by J. & L. GIbbons and the development of the park that now stands here.

The mural in the orchard area on the wall of the Mitre Pub was painted by Dave Bangs in 1984, celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Tolpuddle Martyrs' demonstration on Copenhagen Fields and using local people as models. The artist for the wall panel in the main park was Kate Blee. The gate panels were designed by children from Copenhagen and Blessed Sacrament schools.

Activities:

Entrance:

West side of Caledonian Road just north of the canal. Also south side of Copenhagen Street.

Buses:

17, 91, 259, 274

Station:

King's Cross

Access:

Cobbled access from street at both entrances.

Dogs:

Working assistance dogs only

Conditions:

Dogs on leads in one section of site; however the majority of site is no dogs.

Further information:

• Street Map (in new window)