Claremont Square
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Claremont Square is a square in the Angel (Pentonville) part of Islington, London. Its central green mound, hiding a reservoir, is dotted with mature trees on all four sides (embankments). On its north side is Pentonville Road.{{efn|An arterial road, part of the A501}} It is lined on the south, east and west sides by early-nineteenth-century houses, and on the north side, across the arterial road, by heavily recessed apartment/office buildings. Many of the houses have been internally subdivided.
Landscaped small reservoir
File:New reservoir of the New River Company, Claremont Square, Pentonville - ILN 1856.jpg
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. In 1855, the Upper Pond was drained, deepened and lined with tall walls, all buffered by tree-lined embankments. The natural views and much-buried walls of the structure mean it was Grade II listed in 2000.{{efn|Grade II means initial, mainstream entry as to statutory protection and recognition}}{{NHLE|num=1380626|desc=Claremont Square Reservoir}} 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.{{NHLE|num=1207756|desc=Railings}}{{cite web |url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-london/vol47/pp165-184 |title=New River Head |work=British History Online |publisher=Institute of Historical Research/University of London |year=2008 |accessdate=27 April 2020}}
South of the main road the opening (between sides) in total measures {{convert|2.52|acres}}, of which {{convert|1.72|acres}} 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 buildings that line all but the north side were built from 1815 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 No.s 2 to 44 – listed grade II.{{NHLE|num=1279622|desc=№s 2-17}}
{{NHLE|num=1195542|desc=№s 18-31}}{{NHLE|num=1207736|desc=№s 33-42}}
{{NHLE|num=1195543|desc=№s 43-44}}
Residents
- 4 Claremont Square.
- 1792-1834: Edward Irving, preacher.
- 21 Claremont Square
- 18?-1882: Robert Kemp Philp, Chartist and editor
- 34 Claremont Square
- 193? -196?: Margery Moore, musician, composer and teacher.
- 1960s: B. S. Johnson, writer.[https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2463371 '34 Claremont Square: former home of B.S. Johnson]. Geograph. Online resource, accessed 20 June 2023
TV and Film
The Harry Potter film series uses the square as 12 Grimmauld Place.{{cite web |title=Claremont Square: Harry Potter caught outside Number 12 Grimmauld Place |url=https://lightscameraislington.com/?s=claremont&submit=Search |website=Lights, Camera…Islington! |access-date=16 November 2021}} The Square is also the filming location for 35 Portland Row in the Netflix adaption of Lockwood & Co.{{cite web |url=https://www.atlasofwonders.com/2023/01/where-was-lockwood-and-co-filmed.html |title=Where was Lockwood & Co filmed? Guide to all the Filming Locations }}
External links
- [http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-480949-claremont-square-reservoir-greater-londo British Listed Buildings Entry for Claremont Square]
- [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=119443 Detailed description of the square with old photographs and drawings]
- http://www.londongardenstrust.org/guides/site.php?tour=Islington&stage=15.00
- https://lightscameraislington.com/2013/12/12/claremont-square-harry-potter-caught-outside-number-12-grimmauld-place/
Notes and references
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{{coord|51|31|52|N|0|6|37|W|type:landmark_region:GB-ISL|display=title}}
Category:Parks and open spaces in the London Borough of Islington