Claremont Square

Claremont Square in the Angel (Pentonville) part of Islington, London has a focal green mound, hiding a central reservoir and the far sides at street level, which is on all four sides (embankments) dotted with mature trees. It takes as its north side Pentonville Road[lower-alpha 1]; it is lined by homes in an upper middle class 1820s style as to three sides and heavily recessed apartment/office buildings across the arterial road on the north side. Many of the houses have been internally subdivided. The north-east end of the road has been given over to cycle storage, calming motorised traffic which can no longer exit the square at that point.

Claremont Square seen from the north eastern corner, October 2018

Landscaped small reservoir

The New River Company constructed a forerunner to today's covered reservoir, Upper Pond, in 1709. Water was pumped up to the Upper Pond from New River Head. The Upper Pond was drained, deepened and lined with tall walls all buffeted by tree-lined embankments in 1855. The natural views and much-buried walls of the structure mean it was Grade II listed in 2000.[lower-alpha 2][1] It is in use as part of London's inner Ring Main. Thames Water have exclusive access and take charge of repairs, cutting and planting, assisted by volunteer projects and residents' information. The street-side railings have a mixed set of pointed finials and form a neat, paradigmal archetype so are listed.[2][3]

South of the main road the opening (between sides) in total measures 2.52 acres (1.02 ha), of which 1.72 acres (0.70 ha) is the green area with its directly adjoining thin pavements. Well off the south-east corner lay the former stables and stablemen's families homes (mews) which, demolished to become a close, on land taken from gardens, have been turned into a green circus (garden square) with 48 purpose-built flats.

Architecture

The first set of buildings line all but the north side and were built from 1821 to 1828. Much repaired they have ornate brick dressings to windows and dividing storeys, with some use of white stucco and cornices, with original street-side railings. They form №s 2 to 44 – listed grade II.[4]

TV and Film

The Harry Potter film series uses the square as 12 Grimmauld Place.

Notes and references
Notes
  1. An arterial road, part of the A501
  2. Grade II means initial, mainstream entry as to statutory protection and recognition
Citations
  1. Historic England. "Claremont Square Reservoir (1380626)". National Heritage List for England.
  2. Historic England. "Railings (1207756)". National Heritage List for England.
  3. "New River Head". British History Online. Institute of Historical Research/University of London. 2008. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  4. Historic England. "№s 2-17 (1279622)". National Heritage List for England.
    Historic England. "№s 18-31 (1195542)". National Heritage List for England.Historic England. "№s 33-42 (1207736)". National Heritage List for England.
    Historic England. "№s 43-44 (1195543)". National Heritage List for England.

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