1821 – 1835
James Bonnin, William Farlar and John Goodinge
Robert Darley, Surveyor-Architect
Length Closure Ratio: 1 to 9.8
Width Closure Ratio: 1 to 2.3
Green 62 ft x 503 ft (1 to 8.1)
Face to Face Width: 127 ft (29m)
Face to Face Length: 538 ft (164m)
Height Average: 3 to 5 stories (approx 55 ft) (16.8m)
Original Height: 3 Stories
Brompton Square
This rather severe square is actually a long rectangle with one rounded end and a gateway leading over to Ennismore Gardens. Brompton Square is immediately off busy Brompton Road which runs in front of Harrods. It is a very long square – too long from a permeability standpoint. But the width is very pleasant looking across the green., and the most successful dimension of the entire project. The overall ensemble is disrupted by later vertical additions of two additional stories, and the long stretch of modest housing is unbroken in terms of the architectural treatment. There is no real modulation to break the severe horizontality.
The curving terminus actually
provokes a strong sense of belonging. The extremely tight relationship between doorway and curb (approximately 10 feet (3m) further draws the two primary opposing building facades into a tight closure, face to face. Unfortunately, the columned porches only embellish a few of the current houses, and there is no special articulation at the ends.
brompton Square looking toward crescent terminus
The green itself is the most successful part, but would have been much improved if it had been divided into two equal pieces of approximately 230 feet each. Trees line the edges every 35 feet.
The land encompassing Brompton Square totaled 5 acres and had been earlier tenanted as a garden in the late 1700s. James Bonnin started building at the Brompton Road side in 1821 on a 99 year leasehold held by Ms. Mary Tatham Browne. Farlar soon purchased the whole freehold, granting many 97 years leases for the remaining houses. The crescent shaped terminus was constructed last.
London Squares 