Inventory Site Record

Highbury Quadrant Estate was built by the LCC in 1955-56 with low blocks of flats and a clubroom, the buildings set within landscaping of lawns and numerous trees, including mature horse chestnuts. The architects worked with the local community in preparing their designs, and the estate has been described as 'with hindsight, the ultimate manifestation of the LCC's Swedish-inspired socialists, usually known as the 'herbivores'' (Andrew Saint, 'London Suburbs'). A sculpture in cemented iron by Siegfried Charoux entitled 'The Neighbours', was commissioned by the LCC in 1957 and erected within the landscaping in 1959. Charoux's sculpture of two figures represented the ideals of the 'working man'. Three nature gardens were created on the estate in 2020 in a project developed with local residents through the auspices of Elizabeth House Community Centre, providing access to gardening and nature, and improving biodiversity.

Site location:

Highbury New Park/Highbury Quadrant

Postcode:

N5 2TD

What 3 Words:

cult.stores.vital

Type of site:

Housing/Estate Landscaping

Borough:

Islington

Open to public?

Yes

Opening times:

unrestricted to public areas in the estate. Nature Gardens: contact info@elizabeth-house.org.uk for information
Has taken part in Open Garden Squares Weekend 2 times, most recently in 2025.

Special conditions:

Facilities:

Events:

Nature Gardens: check events - https://elizabeth-house.org.uk/adult-activities-whats-on/greening-highbury-quadrant/

Public transport:

Rail/Tube (Victoria): Finsbury Park then bus. Rail/London Overground/Tube (Victoria): Highbury and Islington then bus. Bus: 4, 19, 236, 141, 341

Citymapper    
Google Map    
streetmap.co.uk

Research updated:

29/01/2025

Last minor changes:

30/01/2025

Please check with the site owner or manager for latest news. www.islington.gov.uk; www.elizabeth-house.org.uk

Highbury Quadrant was originally laid out in the 1850s as part of Highbury New Park estate developed by Henry Rydon on land once owned by Francis Maseres, which had passed to Robert and William Fellowes. By the 1860s around 45 detached and semi-detached villas had been built on the two arms of Highbury Quadrant. Following WWII, this was one of a number of areas of Highbury that was rebuilt as municipal housing, replacing the Victorian houses that had suffered bomb damage. The LCC's Highbury Quadrant Estate was one of the largest of these estates, providing 611 dwellings in 40 blocks of 4 and 5 storeys. Siegfried Charoux was commissioned by the LCC on the recommendation of the Arts Council, an example of the LCC's practice of providing sculptures on its housing estates, many of which still stand. Although it appears to be made of terracotta, the work is actually a synthetic resin combined with powdered stones; over time the surface deteriorated through exposure to the elements and lack of maintenance rather than vandalism, although it suffered some graffiti. It was restored in 2008 by Rupert Harris Conservation Ltd at the request of, among others, local residents on the estate; a plaque near the sculpture provides information about the LCC and the restoration of Charoux's sculpture in 2008 acknowledging its importance to local residents.

During the Covid pandemic, three nature gardens were created on under-used areas on the estate, developed and cared for by local residents, and now managed under a license from Islington Council by Elizabeth House Community Centre. Elizabeth House in Hurlock Street was set up in 1993 as a charitable trust, The Highbury Vale Blackstock Trust, by a group of local residents and influential activists after the community centre here was threatened with closure. Its board of trustees is drawn from local residents, professionals and users, and its remit is to support local people as widely as possible. Elizabeth House provides everything from leisure classes and education, after-school activities, holiday playschemes and youth groups.

In 2019 Elizabeth House had run a series of community consultations, in partnership with Octopus Community Network’s Urban Growing Programme, HQE Tenants & Residents Association, and Islington Council, asking local people for ideas on what to do to bring these three green spaces on the estate back into community use. Despite being designated as ‘enhanced wildlife spaces’, they had become overgrown and inaccessible. Following the consultations, Elizabeth House successfully applied to the Greener City Fund (Mayor of London) to develop them into community nature gardens. About the size of five tennis courts, the ambition was to support and empower local people to transform these green spaces using permaculture principles of ‘Fair Share, People Care and Earth Care’. The aim of the project was to improve biodiversity and to provide opportunities and access to gardening and nature-based activities for the local community, particularly young families. The nature gardens now include a mini meadow, food growing spaces and a small orchard as well as a number of wildlife habitats. "An early collective decision was that the newly renovated spaces would be community led, with an evolving programme of workshops to support local people to gain the skills necessary to renovate and design the spaces, to improve soil health, increase bio-diversity and garden for the benefit of the community and the environment." Further funding is now being sought in order to ensure the continuity and sustainability of the project. The gardens have been named The Meadow, The Woodland Garden and The Orchard and are situated behind Block 233-387 Highbury Quadrant. They run as a membership scheme, which is free to join, and now has over 100 members. The gardens are accessible to local residents who can take part in gardening and nature based activities on Saturday mornings.

Sources consulted:

Andrew Saint (introduction), 'London Suburbs', (Merrell Holberton Publishers, 1999); Bridget Cherry & Nikolaus Pevsner, 'The Buildings of England: London 4: North' (Penguin, 1998), pp74, 86, 694; 'Islington: Growth: Highbury', in A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 8: Islington and Stoke Newington parishes (Victoria County History, 1985), pp. 37-41; Sally Williams, 'Looking out for Art - LCC's Patronage of the Arts', London Landscapes, Spring 2017. Nature Gardens: https://elizabeth-house.org.uk/adult-activities-whats-on/greening-highbury-quadrant https://elizabeth-house.org.uk/adult-activities-whats-on/greening-highbury-quadrant//. Highbury Vale Blackstock Trust Elizabeth House Community Centre Annual Report and Financial Statements, 31 March 2024

Grid ref:

TQ322861 (532230,186110)

Size in hectares:

Site ownership:

LB Islington

Site management:

Housing. Nature Gardens: Elizabeth House Community Centre

Date(s):

1955-56

Designer(s):

LCC

Listed structures:

LBII: Siegfried Charoux sculpture 'The Neighbours'

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:

No

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:

Shopping Policy Area

Highbury Quadrant Estate: 'The Neighbours' by Siegfried Charoux with local resident, February 2017. Photograph Sally Williams

Click a photo to enlarge.