File:Arnold Circus Bandstand (39187345185).jpg

Arnold Circus was conceived as a central raised garden within a circular roadway at the centre of the seven radial streets of the estate. The garden was created using the earth dug for the foundations of the accommodation blocks, which had the additional advantage of saving carting costs. Its primary purpose was to unify the new community. An article in 'The British Architect' in 1897 described the Circus: 'The plan is that of a great circus, in the middle of which, on an elevated plateau, there is to be a bandstand. Round about this bandstand come wonderful 'hanging gardens' of Virginia creepers and we believe that the 'keep the grass' committee are very pleased with themselves about this piece of artistry.' Four sets of steps at the four compass points lead beneath iron overthrows in the perimeter railings up the two tiers of terracing to the top level platform where the bandstand stands, built in 1899.

The Boundary Street Estate was completed and opened in 1900 by the Prince of Wales, later to become Edward VII. It was the largest and most important early LCC estate and at the time attracted world-wide interest, influencing housing schemes in Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin and Vienna. However the Estate had proved costly and only re-housed 4,600 people, not as many as it displaced, and few of the former slum-dwellers could afford the rents. By 1898 the LCC's housing policy had changed to providing cottage development in the suburbs, linked to subsidised transport.