Garden square

Bloomsbury Square, a garden square in central London, England.

A garden square is a type of urban open space surrounded by terraced houses. It is not to be confused with a town square. Originally the gardens were a private amenity for the residents of the houses looking onto it. Some remain private, while others are now open to the public, serving as small parks.

London is famous for them; they are described as one of the glories of the capital.[1] Many were built during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, at the height of Georgian architecture. Large projects, such as the Bedford Estate, included garden squares in their development. The Notting Hill and Bloomsbury neighbourhoods both have many garden squares, with the former mostly still restricted to residents, and the latter open to all.

Garden squares are not only a British phenomenon, as the Place des Vosges in Paris and the Square de Meeûs and Square Orban in Brussels show. Dublin has several Georgian examples, including Merrion Square.

Householders with access to a private garden square may be required to pay a maintenance levy.[2] Normally the charge is set annually by a garden committee.

Sometimes private garden squares are opened to the public, such as during Open Garden Squares Weekend.[3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Martin Evans, Court denies couple use of garden square. The Daily Telegraph, 10 July 2010.
  2. ↑ Council tax and garden square levies, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, UK.
  3. ↑ Open Garden Squares Weekend, London, UK.
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