Inventory Site Record

Malet Street Garden was formerly rear gardens of Nos. 2-20 Gower Street, a terrace built c1780 for the Bedford Estate.The site was purchased by the University of London in 1951, the sunken gardens to the rear becoming a private garden for the university. It is possibly sunken because brickearth here was of good quality and dug out for local building. There are original wrought-iron railing stubs on the garden's boundary walls but all the original railings were removed during WWII to assist the war effort.

Site location:

Malet Street/Montague Place

Postcode:

WC1E 6DP

What 3 Words:

paying.talent.stuff

Type of site:

Private Garden

Borough:

Camden

Open to public?

Occasionally

Opening times:

Private, but open to public April - Sept Mon-Fri 11am-3pm. Has opened for OGSW
Has taken part in Open Garden Squares Weekend 2 times, most recently in 2009.

Special conditions:

Facilities:

Events:

Public transport:

Tube: Russell Square (Piccadilly), Goodge Street (Northern). Bus: 10, 14, 24, 29, 73, 134, 390

Citymapper    
Google Map    
streetmap.co.uk

Research updated:

01/06/2008

Last minor changes:

19/07/2023

Please check with the site owner or manager for latest news. www.london.ac.uk

Malet Street Garden was formerly rear gardens of Nos. 2-20 Gower Street, a terrace built c1780 for the Bedford Estate. No.2 was the home to Misses Rhoda and Agnes Garrett who, c1875, set up practice as interior decorators and published 'Suggestions for Home Decoration in Painting, Woodwork and Furniture'. It was also the residence of Dame Millicent Garrett Fawcett, pioneer of women's suffrage. From 1924-30 No.10 was the residence of Lady Ottoline Morrell, literary hostess and patron of the arts. The site was purchased by the University of London from the Bedford Estate in 1951, and the sunken gardens to the rear of Nos.2-20 Gower Street became a private garden for the university. They are possibly sunken because brickearth here was of good quality and dug out for local building. The garden is bordered by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine to the north, the University of London's Senate House to the east and the British Museum (q.v.) on Montague Place to the south.There are original wrought-iron railing stubs on the garden's boundary walls but all the original railings were removed during WWII to assist the war effort. The main entrance gate fronting Malet Street is probably later; its flanking stone piers have moulded panels with keystones and ball finials. Openwork cast and wrought-iron box piers with floral finials; scroll patterned gates with flowers.

Sources consulted:

Listed Buildings information; OGSW booklet; F Peter Woodford ed., 'Streets of Bloomsbury & Fitzrovia' (Camden History Society, 1997).

Grid ref:

TQ298818 (529876,181808)

Size in hectares:

Site ownership:

University of London

Site management:

University of London

Date(s):

Late C19th

Designer(s):

Listed structures:

LBII: Gates, boundary walls and railings to rear of Nos. 2-20 Gower Street, Main gate to garden on Malet Street

On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens:

No

Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965:

No

Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931:

No

Local Authority Data

The information below is taken from the relevant Local Authority's planning legislation, which was correct at the time of research but may have been amended in the interim. Please check with the Local Authority for latest planning information.

On Local List:

No

In Conservation Area:

Yes

Conservation Area name:

Bloomsbury

Tree Preservation Order:

To be checked

Nature Conservation Area:

No

Green Belt:

No

Metropolitan Open Land:

No

Special Policy Area:

Yes - Central London Area (Clear Zone Region)

Other LA designation:

Public Open Space

Malet Street Garden, June 2008. Photo: S Williams

Click a photo to enlarge.