Internal memo, London County Council, regarding the creation of the Arnold Circus raised garden on the Boundary Street Estate, built upon the site of the Old Nichol.

14 October 1896

From Mr Sexby, of the Parks and Open Spaces Sub-Committee, to the Housing of the Working Classes Committee:

“I propose to employ ivy rather largely on the upper slope, in conjunction with such small evergreens as may be expected to flourish in that trying locality. On the lower slope I should introduce somewhat larger evergreens and deciduous shrubs. Around the edges I propose to plant 25 plane trees.

“I think the effect of this planting in conjunction with the grass banks will be pleasant, although I must warn the committee against expecting too much. The situation of the ground in that locality and the draughts from the converging streets will be unfavourable to plant growth. I have authorised the delivery of 80 loads of good soil from the Mill Fields, Hackney.”

Mr Sexby was quite right: the hillock had been created mainly out of household rubbish and the spoil of the Nichol demolitions. Tons of good Hackney earth had to be brought in so that the saplings could grow into the mature trees we see today.

The fantastic picture above was taken one Edwardian summer morning; it must have been before 1910, as the bandstand was not erected until that year. The image is part of a collection held at the London Metropolitan Archives in a box with the shelfmark 28.75 BOU, containing photographs of the Estate from its inception right the way through to the 1970s.

London Metropolitan Archives, 40 Northampton Road, London EC1. Tel: 020 7332 3820
https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/london-metropolitan-archives/Pages/default.aspx