Catalogue description Royal Commission on London Squares (Londonderry Commission): Minutes and Papers

The conversion of Mornington Crescent and Endsleigh Gardens to building purposes in the early 1920's, together with similar threats to other London Squares, led to the appointment in 1927 of this Royal Commission. It was appointed to enquire and report on the squares and similar open spaces existing in the Administrative County of London, with special reference to the condition on which they were held and used, and the desirability of their preservation as open spaces; and to recommend whether any or all of them should be permanently safeguarded against any use detrimental to their character as open spaces and if so, by what means and on what terms and conditions.

The Commission's report was published in 1928 (as Cmd. 3196); some of the recommendations made were incorporated in a Bill promoted by the London County Council, which became law as the London Squares Preservation Act, 1931. The series comprises registered files of mainly unpublished material, and includes papers circulated to members and minutes of evidence of private meetings.