Redcliffe Square was built as part of the Gunter estate in the 1860s. The area was dominated by farmland prior to building development and Redcliffe Gardens used to be one of the old routes through the area, called Walnut Tree Walk, until the estate was laid out.
Robert Gunter initiated most of the development of the estate, and much of the design was by his surveyor
George Godwin working with his brother Henry. The name Redcliffe was chosen due to Godwin's connections with
St Mary Redcliffe in
Bristol. This square was given to the Borough for free in 1949, providing its character was maintained. On 18 December 1966, the socialite and Guinness heir
Tara Browne crashed his car at the junction of Redcliffe Square and Redcliffe Gardens after driving through a red traffic light. The incident was later immortalised in the Beatles' song
A Day in the Life. ==References==