Joseph Priestley, a scientist and fellow of the Royal Society, once lived in Clapton Square.
In the late 18th century, gold plate designer Louisa Perina Courtauld, a Huguenot widow, lived in a cottage behind Priestley’s house. Her son, Samuel Courtauld, went on to establish the Courtauld dynasty of silk manufacturers, with a descendant founding the Courtauld Institute.
In 1905, Lenin visited his friend Theodore Rothstein, who was living in the square.
While the houses along two sides of the square were replaced in the late 19th century, the north and west sides still feature Georgian houses. The east side of the square was destroyed during the Second World War and subsequently rebuilt.
Today, Clapton Square boasts central gardens, which contain a beautifully restored drinking fountain donated to Hackney by Howard Morley in 1894.
