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Redcliffe Square, nestled in the prestigious Boltons Conservation Area of Chelsea, is a peaceful and scenic
Redcliffe Square was built as part of the Gunter estate in the 1860s. The area was dominated by farmland prior to building development and Redcliffe Gardens used to be one of the old routes through the area, called Walnut Tree Walk, until the estate was laid out. Robert Gunter initiated most of the development of the estate, and much of the design was by his surveyor George Godwin working with his brother Henry. The name Redcliffe was chosen due to Godwin's connections with
Things To Do In Kensington
Redcliffe Square Squares in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Kensington 1860s establishments in England Garden squares in London {{London-geo-stub
Redcliffe Square, nestled in the prestigious Boltons Conservation Area of Chelsea, is a peaceful and scenic town square
A town square (or public square, urban square, city square or simply square), also called a plaza or piazza, is an open public space commonly found in the heart of a traditional town or city, and which is used for community gatherings. Relat ...
known for its rich historical character and lush, meticulously maintained gardens and its Victorian and Second Empire-style mansion blocks. It is located in the Brompton area of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (often known by its initialism as RBKC) is an Inner London, Inner London borough with Royal borough, royal status. It is the List of English districts by area, smallest borough in London and the secon ...
, southwest of central London
London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
, (postcode SW10). Redcliffe Square Gardens are located in the square. The development was part of the vast Gunter estate, during 1864–1878.
Redcliffe Gardens runs northwest–southeast through the square. To the east is The Boltons. To the southwest is Brompton Cemetery
Brompton Cemetery (originally the West of London and Westminster Cemetery) is since 1852 the first (and only) London cemetery to be Crown Estate, Crown property, managed by The Royal Parks, in West Brompton in the Royal Borough of Kensington a ...
.
The square is home to St Luke's Church, Redcliffe Gardens
St Luke's, Redcliffe Gardens, is an Anglican church in Redcliffe Gardens, bordering on Redcliffe Square, London. It was built in 1872–73 to designs by George and Henry Godwin. It has been Grade II listed since 2003.
Pevsner describes it as ...
and Redcliffe School's early years and pre-prep school.
The Square is home to celebrities like Hugh Grant and Pippa Middleton, sister of Catherine, Princess of Wales. In the north part of the square there is the Princess Diana of Wales garden, surrounded by Colherne Court, where Diana, Princess of Wales lived before marrying King Charles III.
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History
Redcliffe Square was built as part of the Gunter estate in the 1860s. The area was dominated by farmland prior to building development and Redcliffe Gardens used to be one of the old routes through the area, called Walnut Tree Walk, until the estate was laid out. Robert Gunter initiated most of the development of the estate, and much of the design was by his surveyor George Godwin working with his brother Henry. The name Redcliffe was chosen due to Godwin's connections with St Mary Redcliffe
The Church of St Mary the Virgin, widely known as St Mary Redcliffe, is the main Church of England parish church for the Redcliffe district of the city of Bristol, England. The first reference to a church on the site appears in 1158, with the pr ...
in Bristol
Bristol () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, the most populous city in the region. Built around the River Avon, Bristol, River Avon, it is bordered by t ...
.
This square was given to the Borough for free in 1949, providing its character was maintained.
On 18 December 1966, the socialite and Guinness heir Tara Browne
Tara Browne (4 March 1945 – 18 December 1966) was an Irish socialite and heir to a part of the Guinness fortune. His December 1966 death in a car crash was referenced in the Beatles' song " A Day in the Life".
Early life
Browne was the yo ...
crashed his car at the junction of Redcliffe Square and Redcliffe Gardens after driving through a red traffic light. The incident was later immortalised in the Beatles' song A Day in the Life
"A Day in the Life" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles that was released as the final track of their 1967 album '' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band''. Credited to Lennon–McCartney, the opening and closing sections of the s ...
.
References
External links
Things To Do In Kensington
Redcliffe Square Squares in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Kensington 1860s establishments in England Garden squares in London {{London-geo-stub