Inventory Site Record

St Peter's Church was built in 1827-29 as part of the St Peter's Estate and is the oldest church in Hammersmith. The original burial ground measured 139 ft x 174 ft. Burials had ceased by 1855 and a small public open space and garden of rest was laid out in 1958 in the former churchyard, with gravestones along the north and east boundary walls. The church lost its close connection with the Thames when the Great West Road was constructed c.1960. On a remnant of land surplus to road building south of the church a small landscaped area was created and a sculpture, 'The Leaning Woman' by Karel Vogel was installed. Another area of public open space to the west of the church was laid out with trees, grass, paths and shrubbery.

Site location:

Black Lion Lane, Hammersmith

Postcode:

W6

What 3 Words:

turned.fries.passes

Type of site:

Public Gardens

Borough:

Hammersmith & Fulham

Open to public?

Yes

Opening times:

unrestricted

Special conditions:

Facilities:

Events:

Public transport:

Tube: Ravenscourt Park (District). Bus: 27, 190, 267, 391, H91

Citymapper    
Google Map    
streetmap.co.uk

Research updated:

01/06/2010

Last minor changes:

19/07/2023

Please check with the site owner or manager for latest news. www.lbhf.gov.uk

Although some detached houses existed here by the mid C18th, the land was largely fields, commonland and woodland. Residential development of the area from King Street to the Thames began in the early C19th and the St Peter's Estate was built between 1825-1840. The connection with the river was lost when the Great West Road was constructed in the 1950s.The focus of the scheme was St Peter's Square (q.v.), whose houses and streets were of a more substantial scale than the rest of the locality, and overlooked a rectangular central garden. St Peter's Church was built in 1827-29 by Edward Lapidge, and is the oldest church in Hammersmith. The original burial ground measured 139 ft x 174 ft. Burials had ceased by 1855. A small public open space and garden of rest was laid out in 1958 in the former churchyard with a few gravestones remaining along the wall to north.

To the west of the church is a small landscaped area made from the remnants of land left by the construction of the Great West Road (c.1960), laid out as rose beds and having a sculpture, 'The Leaning Woman', by Karel Vogel (1959). Another remnant of land to the east of the church has some trees and lawn.

Sources consulted:

LB Hammersmith & Fulham Archives Dept, 'A note on the open spaces of Fulham and Hammersmith', 1974 p18; Bridget Cherry and Nikolaus Pevsner, 'The Buildings of England London 3: North West' (Penguin, 1999 ed) p205; Thomas Faulkner 'The History and Antiquities of the Parish of Hammersmith', 1839

Grid ref:

TQ221784 (522140,178400)

Size in hectares:

0.09

Site ownership:

Church of England

Site management:

LBHF Environment Department, Parks Service

Date(s):

1827-9; 1958

Designer(s):

Edward Lapidge (church)

Listed structures:

LBII*: St Peter’s Church

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:

St Peter's Square

Tree Preservation Order:

Yes - see note below

Nature Conservation Area:

No

Green Belt:

No

Metropolitan Open Land:

No

Special Policy Area:

No

Other LA designation:

TPO 41/18/71 hawthorn, Yew, Acer, Horse chestnut, Lime (5)