The area that now encompasses Lonsdale Square was once rural. In 1818, it served as a cattle-pen for herds being transported to Smithfield Livestock Market.

In the 1830s, the Drapers’ Company joined the rush to develop the Islington area. They appointed their own surveyor, Richard Cromwell Carpenter, as the architect for the project. Carpenter also held the position of district surveyor for East Islington.

Richard Cromwell Carpenter’s father, also named Richard, had previously served as the first Surveyor for the Drapers’ Company Estate. The elder Carpenter had created plans for pairs of classical houses to be built on the site. After his father’s death in 1839, the younger Carpenter took over as Company Surveyor and completed the scheme according to his own design.

Carpenter was acquainted with Augustus Pugin and had experience in building Gothic Revival churches and almshouses in other locations. He had also designed De Beauvoir Square in Hackney before his untimely death at the age of 42.

Lonsdale Square was laid out after 1838. Drawings for the square were featured in the Royal Academy exhibition of 1841.

Lonsdale Square consists of brick town houses with distinctive gables, white mullioned windows, arched front doors, and black railings. These Tudor-style houses were designed by Richard Cromwell Carpenter. They were built in 1835-43 for the Draper’s Company, which sold them in 1954.

There is a garden in the centre of the square for use by residents.


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