St Peter's Square, London facts for kids
St Peter's Square is a beautiful garden square located in Hammersmith, London, England. It was created in the 1820s and sits just north of the famous River Thames. The square is part of a special area called the St Peter's Square Conservation Area, which means its historic character is protected. It's a lovely place with old houses and a central garden.
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Exploring St Peter's Square
St Peter's Square is near the area of Chiswick. A large, impressive church called St Peter's Church, Hammersmith stands at one corner. This church was finished in 1829 and has a grand Greek style. Across from the church is a building that used to be the main office for Island Records, a famous music company. Now, it's called Island Studios. This building, like many others in the square, is a Grade II listed building. This means it's considered very important historically or architecturally and is protected by law. The houses around the square are great examples of 19th-century architecture, with their classic designs. Today, the people who live in the square work with the local council to keep it looking nice.
The Green Heart: St Peter's Garden
The public garden in the middle of St Peter's Square is also very important. It's listed on the English Heritage Register of Historic Parks and Gardens, meaning it has special historical value. The garden is about 1.5 hectares in size, which is quite large! In 1913, there was a plan to build houses on the garden, but local people protested, and the plan was stopped. The local council then bought the land, and the garden was opened for everyone to enjoy in 1915. In the center of the garden, you'll find a statue called The Greek Runner. It was created by Sir William Blake Richmond and put there in 1926.
A Look Back: History of the Square
St Peter's Square was built during a time when the economy was doing very well in the 1820s. The owner of the land, George Scott, decided to build a new housing area on part of his estate. He also provided the land for St Peter's Church, Hammersmith. Starting in 1827, different builders worked on parts of the square, but they all followed a main plan. Most of the square was finished by the end of the 1830s. The houses are often built in groups of three, with decorative fronts and classic porches. Some even have decorations like eagles, lions, or dogs. The first houses built, numbers 1 to 6, are considered the grandest in the square.
Famous Faces of St Peter's Square
Many interesting people have lived in St Peter's Square over the years.
Well-Known Residents
- Sir Matthew Pinsent (born 1970), a famous English rower.
- Kim Medcalf (born 1973), a British actress known for playing Sam Mitchell in EastEnders.
- Sarah Montague, a presenter for BBC Radio 4.
- Sir Trevor Nunn, a well-known theatrical producer.
- Andrea Catherwood, a newsreader and news reporter.
- Charlie Mole, a film composer.
Past Famous Residents
- Alec Guinness (1914–2000), a famous actor, lived at No. 7 from 1946 to 1955.
- Vanessa Redgrave (born 1937), a celebrated actress.
- Marshall Hays (born 1872), who was once the Mayor of Hammersmith.
- John Piper (1903–1992), an artist, lived at No. 22.
- The artist Jean Clark lived at No. 16 from about 1929 to 1967.
- Natasha Kaplinsky, a newsreader and winner of the first Strictly Come Dancing series, lived nearby until around 2005.
St Peter's Square on Screen
St Peter's Square has been a popular spot for filming movies and TV shows!
- The movie The Pumpkin Eater was filmed here in 1963/1964. It was directed by Jack Clayton, written by Harold Pinter, and starred Anne Bancroft and Peter Finch.
- Many episodes of the 1970s police TV series The Sweeney were filmed in the square.
- Miss Potter, a 2006 movie about Beatrix Potter directed by Chris Noonan, also filmed scenes here.
- I Capture The Castle, a 2003 film directed by Tim Fywell, used the square as a location.
- The BBC thriller series Silent Witness filmed in the square in March 2010.
Images for kids
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St Peter's Church
