Inventory Site Record

Windsor Terrace or The Oval was land owned by St Bartholomew's Hospital that was leased to Shoreditch Borough Council at 1s per annum and maintained as an asphalt playground. Preserved under the London Squares and Enclosures (Preservation) Act of 1906, in 1928 the unenclosed site contained 'a few trees', now well-grown horse chestnuts. Until re-landscaping took place in 2008 it was a largely paved area laid out with seats, some planting in raised areas and concrete planters.

Site location:

City Road/Windsor Terrace

Postcode:

N1

What 3 Words:

vines.wings.robe

Type of site:

Garden Square, Public Open Land

Borough:

Hackney

Open to public?

Yes

Opening times:

unrestricted

Special conditions:

Facilities:

Events:

Public transport:

Rail/Tube: Old Street (Northern). Bus: 205

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Research updated:

01/07/2011

Last minor changes:

08/04/2026

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

In a short article headed 'Two More London Gardens' in Reynolds's Newspaper of Sunday 18 July 1897: 'After a long delay the Bridge House Committee have decided to open Finsbury-circus as another of those green breathing spaces so much appreciated in the City during the summer months. At the same time the L.C.C. have determined to lay out and open the circus opposite Windsor-terrace in the City-road, which is believed to be the site of the terrible plague pit described by Defoe in his graphic, but fictional, account of the dreadful visitation.'

Sources consulted:

Report of the Royal Commission on London Squares

Grid ref:

TQ323828 (532350,182830)

Size in hectares:

0.081

Site ownership:

LB Hackney

Site management:

Hackney Parks Service

Date(s):

1897; 2008

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:

Not known

Nature Conservation Area:

No

Green Belt:

No

Metropolitan Open Land:

No

Special Policy Area:

No

Other LA designation:

Open Space; London Square