Inventory Site Record

Lismore Circus was formerly a circus of C19th terraces, later absorbed by extensive redevelopment of the area. In 1870 St Pancras Vestry took over the central area following a memorial that it should be laid out as a garden. It opened to the public in 1871, a circular garden surrounded by privet hedge with grass, shrubs and trees. Now within the modern mixed development, the garden remains a circular railed grass plot with large plane trees, with C20th landscaping to east and west.

Site location:

Lamble Street

Postcode:

NW5

What 3 Words:

ankle.slows.jabs

Type of site:

Public Gardens

Borough:

Camden

Open to public?

Yes

Opening times:

unrestricted

Special conditions:

Facilities:

Playground, circular court for sports

Events:

Public transport:

London Overground: Gospel Oak. Tube: Belsize Park (Northern). Bus: C11

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Research updated:

01/08/2002

Last minor changes:

19/07/2023

Please check with the site owner or manager for latest news. www.camden.gov.uk

In 1928 Lismore Circus was described as having an attractive circular garden surrounded by a privet hedge with lawns, shrubs and some mature trees. It was maintained by St Pancras Borough Council and protected under the London Squares and Enclosures (Preservation) Act of 1906. The Circus has since been absorbed by the extensive redevelopment of the Gospel Oak area. Today it consists of a circular raised grass plot, with large mature London planes, and new railings and is the centre of a modern mixed development of shopping precinct and low and high-rise council blocks. To the east of the Circus is a an area of landscaping of more recent date with benching, paving and a few trees and to the west undulating grass with playground fronts the long block of modern housing with a circular sports court, some trees and brick walls of the railway cutting across the space.

Sources consulted:

Bridget Cherry & Nikolaus Pevsner, The Buildings of England: London 4: North (Penguin, 1998); Report of the Royal Commission on London Squares, 1928

Grid ref:

TQ280853 (528036,185390)

Size in hectares:

0.5918

Site ownership:

LB Camden

Site management:

Parks & Open Spaces

Date(s):

1870/1; C20th

Designer(s):

Listed structures:

None

On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens:

No

Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965:

No

Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931:

Yes

Local Authority Data

The information below is taken from the relevant Local Authority's planning legislation, which was correct at the time of research but may have been amended in the interim. Please check with the Local Authority for latest planning information.

On Local List:

No

In Conservation Area:

No

Tree Preservation Order:

No

Nature Conservation Area:

No

Green Belt:

No

Metropolitan Open Land:

No

Special Policy Area:

No

Other LA designation:

Public Open Space (Small Local). London Squares Preservation Act of 1931 (area of original circus).

Lismore Circus, looking west, August 2002. Photo: S Williams

Click a photo to enlarge.