Inventory Site Record

Tredegar Square was laid out from 1828 with houses designed for prosperous merchants. It is named after Sir Charles Morgan of Tredegar who owned land at Mile End. At least two, and possibly all four sides of the square were built by William Miller, who sought to emulate John Nash. In 1888 the central garden comprised a simple rectilinear system of paths, but it was later re-landscaped as a large central circle intersected by four auriculate lobes with a central hard paved area.

Site location:

Tredegar Square, Bow

Postcode:

E3

What 3 Words:

glow.nurse.lamp

Type of site:

Garden Square, Public Gardens

Borough:

Tower Hamlets

Open to public?

Yes

Opening times:

8am - dusk

Special conditions:

Facilities:

Events:

Public transport:

Tube: Mile End (Central/District). Bus: 25.

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Research updated:

01/09/2008

Last minor changes:

29/03/2026

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

In 1822 Sir Charles Morgan of Tredegar leased 45 acres of his land at Mile End to a local bricklayer Daniel Austin for a housing development, which commenced with large terraced houses built on Bow Road with smaller houses behind. In 1828 Tredegar Square was laid out with houses designed for prosperous merchants, but Austin was bankrupted in 1829 and the land was sub-let on each side of the square in separate lots. At least two, and possibly all four sides of the square were sublet to builder William Miller, who sought to emulate John Nash particularly in the houses on the north of the square. The OS First Edition 25" map shows the garden layout, comprising a central planted area, perimeter path and planting and corner beds. In 1888 the central garden comprised a simple rectilinear system of paths, but it was later laid out to form a large central circle intersected by four auriculate lobes, with a central hard paved area.

A grant of £830 was received by Stepney Borough Council from the King George's Fields Foundation, which had been established in 1936 following the King's death in order to provide a living memorial to him.

The garden is surrounded by reproduction railings and lamp standards, with litter bins and other street furniture all in Victoriana style and painted in Bow Neighbourhood blue, which took place following the 1987 local elections when the borough was subdivided into different colour-coded neighbourhoods. There are some notable trees including lime, locust, sycamore and London planes.

Sources consulted:

Ben Weinreb & Christopher Hibbert, 'The London Encyclopaedia' (Macmillan, revised ed. 1993); Bacon; Byrne; Elain Harwood & Andrew Saint 'London', HMSO/English Heritage 1991.

Grid ref:

TQ365827 (536603,182741)

Size in hectares:

0.5093

Site ownership:

LB Tower Hamlets

Site management:

Leisure Services, Parks and Open Spaces

Date(s):

1828-29

Designer(s):

Listed structures:

LBII: Tredegar Square houses

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:

Yes

Conservation Area name:

Tredegar Square

Tree Preservation Order:

No

Nature Conservation Area:

No

Green Belt:

No

Metropolitan Open Land:

No

Special Policy Area:

No

Other LA designation:

None

Tredegar Square Gardens, March 2000. Photo: S Williams

Click a photo to enlarge.