"The area was land owned by The Clothworkers' Company and developed by Henry Rydon around 1850. At the heart of the development is Arlington Square. Originally, it was a private square for the local residents, but as with many parts of inner London, the area suffered neglect after WWII, and many of the now-expensive houses were chopped up into cheap flats."
"At the time, an aerial photo shows a fairly shabby space that may have been used as allotments. Also, some 1950s maps highlight the park's condition by leaving it blank, with only a few trees around the edges. Islington Council restored the garden and opened it to the public in 1953, and you can see in 1960s maps that the square had been restored, with a new paving layout and a drinking fountain."
Arlington Square occupies the center of an 1850s development of well-to-do terraced houses and former artists' cottages on land once owned by The Clothworkers' Company and developed by Henry Rydon. The square originally functioned as a private garden for residents. Post‑WWII neglect led to many houses being subdivided into cheap flats. Manchester Assurance bought the estate in 1945 and later transferred the garden to Islington Council. Aerial photos and 1950s maps show a shabby, possibly allotment-like space. Islington Council restored the garden and opened it to the public in 1953, adding a new paving layout and a drinking fountain. Mature planting, niche benches, centered lawns, and 1970s paving now define the park, and the space is dog-free.
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