Arnold Circus

The architect of this particular site was Owen Fleming who was practising towards the end of the 19th to early 20th century. It actually has an almost community feel to the lay out with a central open space with a pagoda and mature gardens, perhaps providing relief from the stresses and strains of everyday working life.

Designed primarily as a housing improvement scheme, it still exudes a certain quality not normally associated with some other local housing development. The use of smaller red bricks obviously associated with a number of Victorian Buildings gives a sense of permanency that one does not get the feeling with some more modern prefabricated buildings.
This fact is recognised by the Grade II listings on many of the features such as the buildings, perimeter railings and bandstand. Required refurbishment work was taking place at the time on what appears to be a site with a great deal of character. 

Indeed if the site ever became free then there would undoubtedly be no shortage of developers, for walking onto the site almost brought a sense of calm in comparison to the hustle and bustle encountered only a couple of minutes walk away. As development moves ever closer to Brick Lane areas like these will need to be protected for the more pressing needs of the local community.
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