Claremont Square, square and reservoir on Pentonville Road in the London Borough of Islington
Claremont Square is a square in the London Borough of Islington centered around a grassy mound surrounded by tall Georgian terraces built in the early 1800s. The square opens toward Pentonville Road on the north side and features distinctive period homes with large sash windows, ornate doorways, and decorative ironwork balconies.
The square was developed between 1821 and 1828 on land belonging to the New River Company, which operated a large open water reservoir called the Upper Pond at its center. The reservoir was covered over in the 1850s to meet new safety regulations and converted into an underground brick structure with barrel-vaulted ceilings, which continues to serve the city's water storage needs today.
The square takes its name from a nearby country house and reflects the growth of London's suburbs in the early 1800s. The Georgian architecture with tall windows and decorative ironwork still shows how middle-class families lived in this area, with each home maintaining distinctive period details and charm.
The square is easy to reach, with Angel tube station just a short walk away and nearby Upper Street offering cafes, shops, and restaurants. The paths around the central mound are well-maintained and accessible, with mature trees providing shade for a comfortable stroll through the area.
The square served as the filming location for 12 Grimmauld Place in the Harry Potter series and was also featured in the Netflix series Lockwood & Co., making it a popular spot for film fans visiting London. The original open pond was built in 1709 as part of London's water supply system before being buried beneath the current grassy mound.
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