Lincoln's Inn Fields

About

Lincoln's Inn Fields is located in Holborn and is the largest public square in London. It was laid out in the 1630s under the initiative of the speculative builder and contractor William Newton, "the first in a long series of entrepreneurs who took a hand in developing London", as Sir Nikolaus Pevsner observes. The original plan for "laying out and planting" these fields, drawn by the hand of Inigo Jones, was said still to be seen in Lord Pembroke's collection at Wilton House in the 19th century, but its location is now unknown.

The West End grounds, which had remained private property, were acquired by London County Council in 1895 using powers granted by the London County Council (Improvements) Act 1894 (57 & 58 Vict. c. clxxxv), and opened to the public by its chairman, Sir John Hutton, the same year. The square is today managed by the London Borough of Camden and forms part of the southern boundary of that borough with the City of Westminster. It is grade II listed on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest.