Sidney Square is an old square dating from the 1820s.
The East End remained largely agricultural until the early 19th century, with Sidney Square emerging in the 1820s on former fields owned by John Sidney Hawkins, its namesake. This development catered to professionals involved in the rapid expansion of London Docks, with neighbouring streets completed by 1839.
The square’s history is particularly connected with the 1911 Sidney Street Siege. This infamous event saw a dramatic confrontation between two Latvian revolutionaries and the army, overseen by Winston Churchill, then serving as Home Secretary.
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