St George's Circus facts for kids

St George's Circus is a busy road junction in Southwark, London, England. It's famous for the historic obelisk (a tall, thin stone pillar) right in its middle. This obelisk was designed by Robert Mylne, who also worked on Blackfriars Bridge. Today, the obelisk stands in the center of a large roundabout where many roads meet.

History of St George's Circus

Building the Circus and Obelisk

St George's Circus was built in 1771. It was created to celebrate the completion of new roads through an area called St George's Fields. This happened when Brass Crosby was the Lord Mayor of the City of London.

This circus was the first place in London built specifically to manage traffic. When it was first made, it had an obelisk with four oil lamps on it.

The Obelisk's Journey

The obelisk was moved in 1897. A clocktower was put in its place to celebrate Queen Victoria's 60 years as queen. In 1905, the obelisk was moved to what is now the Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park. This park is in front of the Imperial War Museum.

The clocktower was taken down in the 1930s because it caused problems for traffic. But the obelisk didn't return to its original spot until 1998. When it came back, it no longer had the oil lamps.

Messages on the Obelisk

At the bottom of the obelisk, there's an inscription that says: Erected in XI year of the reign of King George MDCCLXXI. This means it was put up in the 11th year of King George III's rule, in 1771. The other three sides of the obelisk show distances to important places. These include Old Palace Yard (one mile), London Bridge (one mile 40 feet), and Fleet Street (one mile 350 feet).

The obelisk has been a Grade II listed building since 1950. This means it's an important historic structure.

Gardens and Local Life

When the obelisk returned, a small garden was added around it. It had two Cabbage Palms. Over time, this garden was not looked after. In 2005, some "guerrilla gardeners" (people who plant without official permission) took over the land. They planted lavender, rosemary, tulips, and even a small Christmas tree! However, it is no longer planted.

St George's Circus and its obelisk were important. They marked the end of Blackfriars Road, a long road from the new Blackfriars Bridge. At the circus, Blackfriars Road met other new and old roads. These led to Lambeth, Newington, Westminster Bridge, and The Borough. Locals sometimes called the area the "obliss." It was a popular stop for trams and buses. People would ask for a "tuppeny to the obliss please guv."

Building Rules and Changes

In 1812, a law called the St George’s Fields (Surrey) Improvement Act was passed. It said that all new buildings around the circus had to have curved fronts. They also had to be built in a way that kept the circus at least 240 feet wide. The law also stated that only good quality houses could be built on the main roads around the circus.

After Waterloo Bridge was built, Waterloo Road was also created nearby. This road was not part of the original plan for the circus. Later, factories and railways were built in the area. This brought noise and smoke, making the area less popular for middle-class families. Many social housing estates were built nearby from the Victorian era to the 1950s.

Underground and Replica Obelisk

The south side of the circus was once home to the School for the Indigent Blind. This school was rebuilt in the 1830s but later moved out of London. Now, a brick building from 1901 stands there. This building hides an underground depot for the London Underground's Bakerloo line.

In 1900, a copy of the obelisk was placed in Brookwood Cemetery. It marked where human remains from the crypt of St George the Martyr Church were reburied in 1899. This replica has since fallen over because the ground beneath it has sunk.

The fallen replica of the St George's Circus obelisk, in Brookwood Cemetery.

Surroundings of St George's Circus

Modern Buildings and Developments

On the north-western side of the circus is McLaren House. This is a hall of residence for about 600 students from London South Bank University. It opened in 1996 and replaced an old building that used to be the Royal Eye Hospital.

In 2013, a property company called Barratt London bought office buildings on the north-eastern side. They plan to build up to 400 new homes there. This new development is called Blackfriars Circus.

Historic Buildings and Roads

The area around St George's Circus is now a conservation area. This means its historic buildings are protected. Many Georgian buildings from the original development are still there. Some of these buildings were in bad condition but have since been repaired. In 2013, some Victorian homes and a former pub were restored by London South Bank University. They are now a business center that helps university graduates start new companies.

Many roads meet at St George's Circus. If you imagine looking north and then going clockwise, you'll find these roads:

• Blackfriars Road (A201); this road leads to Blackfriars Bridge.
• Borough Road; this road leads to Borough High Street.
• London Road (A201); you can only enter from here (except for bikes and buses), and it leads to Elephant and Castle.
• Lambeth Road (A3203); you can only enter from here (except for bikes), and it leads to Lambeth Bridge.
• Westminster Bridge Road (A3202); you can only exit from here, and it leads to Westminster Bridge.
• Waterloo Road (A301); this road leads to Waterloo Bridge.