# Gibson Square > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Gibson_Square > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Gibson_Square.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibson_Square > Source revision: 1337046126 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Garden square in London}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox street | name = Gibson Square | native_name = | marker_image = | image = Gibson Square, Islington - geograph.org.uk - 1135628.jpg | image_size = | caption = Gibson Square - east side | other_name = | former_names = | postal_code = {{postcode|N|1}} | addresses = | length_m = | length_ft = | length_mi = | length_km = | length_ref = | length = | width = | location = | client = | maint = | coordinates = {{coords|51.53815|-0.105631|display=inline,title}} | map_type = United Kingdom London Islington | direction_a = | terminus_a = | direction_b = | terminus_b = | junction = | commissioning_date = | construction_start_date =1836 | completion_date =1839 | inauguration_date = | demolition_date = | north = | south = | west = | east = }} '''Gibson Square''' is a [garden square](/source/garden_square) in the [Barnsbury](/source/Barnsbury) district of [Islington](/source/Islington), [North London](/source/North_London). It is bounded by [Regency](/source/Regency_architecture) and [Victorian](/source/Victorian_architecture) [terraced houses](/source/Terraced_houses_in_the_United_Kingdom), most of which are [listed buildings](/source/listed_buildings). The central public gardens contain flower beds and mature trees, and an unusual building resembling a classical temple. ==History== thumb|left|Gibson Square - west and north sides [Thomas Milner Gibson](/source/Thomas_Milner_Gibson) was a [member of parliament](/source/Member_of_Parliament_(United_Kingdom)), [President of the Board of Trade](/source/President_of_the_Board_of_Trade), supporter of the [free-trade movement](/source/free_trade) and a leading anti-[Corn Laws](/source/Corn_Laws) orator.{{cite book |last1=Willats |first1=Eric A. |title=Streets with a Story: Islington |date=1987 |isbn=0 9511871 04 |url=https://friendsofim.com/2021/04/08/streets-with-a-story-the-book-of-islington/}} In 1823 Milner Gibson leased land in Islington from local landowner William Tufnell, and his estate surveyor and architect [Francis Edwards](/source/Francis_Edwards_(architect)) laid out an estate between 1828 and 1846.{{cite book |last1=Cosh |first1=Mary |author-link=Mary Cosh |title=The Squares of Islington Part II: Islington Parish |date=1993 |publisher=Islington Archaeology & History Society |location=London |isbn=0 9507532 6 2}}{{rp|88–89}} {{cite book |last1=Zwart |first1=Pieter |title=Islington: A History and Guide |date=1973 |publisher=Sidgwick & Jackson |location=Great Britain |isbn=0 283 97937 2}}{{rp|124}} The plot formed Theberton Street, the two neighbouring squares Gibson Square and [Milner Square](/source/Milner_Square),{{cite book |editor-last1=Baggs |editor-first1=A. P. |editor-last2=Bolton |editor-first2=Diane K. |editor-last3=Croot |editor-first3=Patricia E. C. |title=A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 8, Islington: Other estates |date=1985 |publisher=Victoria County History |location=London |url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/middx/vol8/pp57-69 |access-date=21 October 2021}}{{rp|57–69}} and some smaller streets. On Edwards' original plans "Milner Square" and "Gibson Square" were at that point reversed, and a map of 1830 shows the incomplete square as "Theberton Square".{{cite web |last1=Greenwood |first1=C. & J. |title=Map of London |url=https://iiif.lib.harvard.edu/manifests/view/ids:8982548 |website=Harvard University Map Collection |publisher=Greenwood & Co. |access-date=8 November 2021}} Theberton Street, which forms part of the south side of Gibson Square, was named after Milner Gibson's country house, Theberton House in Suffolk. Edwards designed the houses in Gibson Square and the south side of Theberton Street, and the square was built by Louis England, a local timber merchant.{{r|Cosh1993|p=92}} The square was initially occupied by prosperous middle class tradesmen and professionals. As with much of Islington, in the middle and late 19th century Barnsbury was gradually abandoned by the middle classes who were replaced by poorer occupants. Starting in 1856, Islington's Medical Officer of Health Dr [Edward Ballard](/source/Edward_Ballard) published annual reports into public health in Islington, and noted unsanitary conditions in many locations with "[mortality from tubercular diseases](/source/tuberculosis)" and "''[zymotic mortality](/source/Zymotic_disease)''" in Gibson Square from 1857.{{cite book |title=Annual Reports of the Sanitary Condition of the Parish of Islington |publisher=Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972 |url=https://wellcomelibrary.org/moh/browse/?place=Islington&startYear=1848&endYear=1972 |access-date=28 October 2021}}{{cite book |last1=Cosh |first1=Mary |author-link=Mary Cosh |title=A History of Islington |date=2005 |publisher=Historical Publications Ltd |location=London |isbn=0 948667 97 4 }}{{rp|259–260}} [Charles Booth](/source/Charles_Booth_(social_reformer))’s [poverty map](/source/Life_and_Labour_of_the_People_in_London) of c.1890 still shows most Gibson Square households as “Fairly comfortable. Good ordinary earnings”.{{cite web |last1=Booth |first1=Charles |title=Inquiry into Life and Labour in London: Maps Descriptive of London Poverty |url=https://booth.lse.ac.uk/ |website=Charles Booth's London |publisher=London School of Economics |access-date=11 November 2021}} In the first half of the 20th century the square, as with much of Islington and its population, became impoverished. Between the world wars and for some time afterwards, houses were tenemented by absentee landlords and often let in single rooms. Starting about 1960 middle class and professional householders began returning to Islington, refurbishing houses which were once elegant but now, more often than not, were endowed with Victorian plumbing hardly suited for modern living. Journalists, architects, lawyers, accountants, teachers and designers were attracted by the style and size of the Regency and Victorian houses and squares{{r|Zwart1973|p=27-28}} and the opportunity to acquire large, characterful properties at prices they could afford, with easy access to the [City of London](/source/City_of_London), [Westminster](/source/Westminster) and the [West End](/source/West_End_of_London). Consequently, house values soon soared, a trend which has continued to the present. ==Description== Gibson Square has a distinctive appearance when compared to other Islington squares, with two identical long terraces east and west, facing each other, with [pavilion](/source/pavilion) blocks at the end of each. These terraces and the south (Theberton Street) terrace have central groups supporting a [cornice](/source/cornice), with the end groups having [pediments](/source/pediments) and large, flat [pilasters](/source/pilasters).{{r|Cosh1993|p=93}} The north terrace appears slightly shifted westwards, due to the north eastern exit road to Milner Square.{{cite book |last1=Cosh |first1=Mary |author-link=Mary Cosh |title=An historical walk through Barnsbury |date=1981 |publisher=Islington Archaeology & History Society |location=London |isbn=0 9507532 0 3 }}{{rp|26}} In the north western exit, the corner building at the junction with [Liverpool Road](/source/Liverpool_Road) was burnt out in 1974,{{cite web |title=Buildings in Gibson Square - 1977 |url=https://www.londonpicturearchive.org.uk/view-item?key=SXsiUCI6eyJ2YWx1ZSI6ImdpYnNvbiBzcXVhcmUiLCJvcGVyYXRvciI6MSwiZnV6enlQcmVmaXhMZW5ndGgiOjMsImZ1enp5TWluU2ltaWxhcml0eSI6MC43NSwibWF4U3VnZ2VzdGlvbnMiOjMsImFsd2F5c1N1Z2dlc3QiOm51bGx9LCJGIjoiZXlKMElqcGJNVjE5In0&WINID=1635680521175&pg=52#_0y1iDoOQBIAAAF81hU3fA/78801 |website=London Picture Archive |publisher=City of London Corporation}} and replaced in 1988 by a new building with an [Egyptian](/source/Ancient_Egyptian_architecture) and [Art Deco](/source/Art_Deco) theme.{{r|Cosh1993|p=95}} The square is largely unchanged since its original construction, and many houses retain original interior features such as simple fireplaces, shutters, pine half-panelling, and folding doors between the downstairs parlours.{{r|Cosh1993|p=92}} ==Gardens== [[File:Gibson Square, Islington - geograph.org.uk - 1374538.jpg|thumb|Central gardens, showing neo-classical temple ventilating tower for [Victoria line](/source/Victoria_line)]] Originally, the central gardens were surrounded by railings with locked gates, open only to resident key-holders. In the 1930s, the residents handed over the run down gardens to [Islington Council](/source/Metropolitan_Borough_of_Islington). During the [Second World War](/source/Second_World_War) the gardens were dug up for air-raid shelters but, post-war, they were restored and replanted. The [Council](/source/Islington_London_Borough_Council) now maintains them with the assistance of local volunteers. The gardens have a number of mature elm trees, some of the only ones left in the borough.{{cite web |title=Gibson Square: Inventory Site Record |url=https://londongardenstrust.org/conservation/inventory/site-record/?ID=ISL032 |publisher=London Gardens Trust |access-date=28 October 2021}} The site is important for its geological interest, having Islington Terrace [Gravels](/source/Gravels) in flower beds.{{cite web |title=London’s foundations: protecting the geodiversity of the capital |url=http://londongeopartnership.org.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Londons-Foundations-2009.pdf |website=The London Plan (Spatial Development Strategy for Greater London) London Plan Implementation Report |publisher=Mayor of London 2009 |access-date=28 October 2021}} In 1963, when [London Transport](/source/London_Transport_Board) was building the new [Victoria line](/source/Victoria_line) of the [London Underground](/source/London_Underground), Gibson Square gardens were earmarked for a ventilation shaft, with a {{convert|50|ft}} high ventilation tower clad in exposed aggregrate concrete panels. The new, articulate, and well-organised owner-occupiers formed a society to fight the proposal,{{Cite news |date=20 May 1963 |title=London letter: summer meeting |url=https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/london-letter/docview/184952873/se-2 |access-date=21 October 2025 |work=[The Guardian](/source/The_Guardian)}} and after a lengthy campaign and with the support of Sir [Basil Spence](/source/Basil_Spence) and Sir [William Holford](/source/William_Holford%2C_Baron_Holford) amongst others, the design was modified until the current solution was accepted. This is a [neoclassical](/source/Neoclassical_architecture) brick structure, with a pedimented temple front with niches and a dome-like mesh roof. It was designed by [Raymond Erith](/source/Raymond_Erith), with [Quinlan Terry](/source/Quinlan_Terry). London Transport also restored the gardens, repaved the paths with [York stone](/source/York_stone) slabs, and replaced the [chicken wire](/source/chicken_wire) fencing with metal railings.{{r|Cosh1993|p=95-96}} ==Notable residents== * [Robert Carrier](/source/Robert_Carrier_(chef)) (1923–2006), restaurateur and cookery writer, whose eponymous restaurant ''Carrier's'' was in nearby Camden Passage from 1966 to 1984.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/obituaries/story/0,,1807417,00.html|title=Robert Carrier|work=The Guardian |location=UK |date=June 28, 2006|access-date=May 20, 2008 | first=Dennis | last=Barker}} {{r|Zwart1973|p=124}} * [Thomas Edlyne Tomlins (1803–1875)](/source/Thomas_Edlyne_Tomlins_(1803%E2%80%931875)) (1803–1875, legal writer, author of ''Yseldon, a Perambulation of Islington and its Environs'' (1858){{r|Cosh1993|p=97}} * [Samuel Maunder](/source/Samuel_Maunder) (1785-1849), writer{{cite DNB|prescript=|wstitle=Maunder, Samuel|no-icon=1}} * [Angus McBean](/source/Angus_McBean) (1904-1990, photographer{{r|Cosh1993|p=97}} * [George Darnell](/source/George_Darnell) (1798-1857), designer of copy books and school books to make schooling easier for pupils and teachers{{cite DNB|prescript=|wstitle=Darnell, George|no-icon=1}} ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== * [https://booth.lse.ac.uk/ ''Charles Booth's London'' website] [Historic England](/source/Historic_England) listed building entries: * [https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1298060/ 14-35 Gibson Square] * [https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1292480/ 35A-D, 36-43 Gibson Square] * [https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1195597/ 44-70 Gibson Square] * [https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1209578/ 51-75 Theberton Street] Category:Squares in the London Borough of Islington Category:Parks and open spaces in the London Borough of Islington --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Gibson Square](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibson_Square) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibson_Square?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.