Inventory Site Record

Formerly waste of the Manor of Fulham and famous in the C18th for the display of bodies of those hanged at Tyburn, Shepherd's Bush Common or Green was acquired by Fulham Board of Works from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners in 1871 for public open space. The marshy land was drained and laid out with paths, and the perimeter was planted with London plane trees. A War Memorial was installed on the Green in 1922, recently re-sited on a new plinth as part of major restoration works on the Green in 2012, with new playgrounds, pathways and planting.

Previous / Other name:

Shepherd's Bush Common

Site location:

Shepherd's Bush Green/Uxbridge Road

Postcode:

W12

What 3 Words:

melt.final.smile

Type of site:

Public Park

Borough:

Hammersmith & Fulham

Open to public?

Yes

Opening times:

unrestricted

Special conditions:

Facilities:

Playgrounds

Events:

Various

Public transport:

Tube: Shepherd's Bush Market (Hammersmith and City). Rail/London Overground/Tube (Central): Shepherd's Bush. Bus: 49, 95, 207, 237, 260, 607

Citymapper    
Google Map    
streetmap.co.uk

Research updated:

01/10/2013

Last minor changes:

19/07/2023

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

The triangular area of Shepherd's Bush Common, now generally called Shepherd's Bush Green, existed here from early days as waste of the Manor of Fulham owned by the Bishops of London. There were only a few houses in the area prior to the C15th, when there was an inn on the north side. What is now Uxbridge Road became the main route from London to Oxford in the C17th, running along the north of the commonland and by the early C19th improved transport brought new houses to the north and west sides of the common, although the south side remained open, with fields and market gardens such as Plimley's Nursery, famous for its pineapples. By the late C19th the area surrounding the common was built up and it had changed from a rural to a suburban area, the opening of the railways a contributory factor. The commonland was acquired for public open space under the Metropolitan Commons Second Supplemental Act 1871. The marshy land was drained, the surrounding ditch filled in and the common was laid out with paths, provided with a drinking fountain at its west end, with plane trees planted around the perimeter.

Shepherd's Bush Green developed a reputation as a scene of disreputable pursuits and much-used by homeless people, as a result of which in c.1910 efforts to have it enclosed with railings and turned into a park that could be closed at night were put forward, but later defeated. Around 1924 it appears that the edges of the Green were given a hard surface, but this has now been replaced. Plans to widen the road to the south were first considered in 1974 but were finally abandoned in 1982. In 1985 the perimeter was planted with evergreen shrubs and tracks laid out to provide cycle paths around the Green. In 1986 the west end of the green was made a conservation area. The raised walkway between the station and the shopping centre was painted, on the suggestion of Bill Gray, to look like an Intercity train, a feature that has since been removed. Later additions included an under 5s play area with a concrete and mosaic sculpture of a reclining man above a mosaic townscape, and an area of tables and seats opposite some fast food outlets on the north side. The sculpture 'The Man who Blows the Clouds' was commissioned from Argentinian artist Marisa Rueda in 1989, who was the borough's sculptor in residence. The figure was based on a real local character; it suffered some vandalism and originally had a wooden bench around its base, and other mosaics partly made by local children. The underground public conveniences, which contained some good ceramic work from the early C20th, were converted into a club in the early 1980s but the railings have been retained. The War Memorial, with 'Winged Victory' by H C Fehr dates from1922, erected at the east end of the Green in a small enclosed rose garden.

In 2002 LB Hammersmith & Fulham began working on a 5-year scheme to develop a design vision for the Green that would 'compare with the best urban landscapes in other major European cities' (hfm, May 2002). However, by 2004 the designs were being reviewed, following criticism including adverse comments from EH and the police. In 2008 a complete redesign and refurbishment was initiated, funded by development gain monies, with the intention of providing 'an oasis of green and calm in the middle of this busy area, with enhanced play and café areas'. In June 2011 the go-ahead was given for only part of the scheme, including two new play areas, improved routes for pedestrians and cyclists, and tree planting. Plans for a landscaped mound at the south-west corner and a café were turned down by DEFRA, whose consent was required due to its status as protected commonland. Work commenced in January 2012 and has now been completed. The War Memorial has been moved from its previous site and has been provided with a new granite plinth as part of the scheme. In 2012 two rotating sculptures by Elliott Brook were installed commemorating the site of the 1908 London Olympics football finals when the British team beat Denmark to win the Gold Medal. Titled 'Goaloids' the sculpture's two cuboid forms are based on the dimensions of a FIFA regulation football goalpost and are programmed to rotate for the duration of a football match. According to a plaque on the site the artist also took inspiration from 'movement in sport, space and time and the pas de deux in ballet'. The sculpture was unveiled by the Mayor of Hammersmith & Fulham Council on 26 July 2012.

Sources consulted:

Bridget Cherry and Nikolaus Pevsner, 'The Buildings of England London 3: North West' (Penguin, 1999 ed) p221. LB Hammersmith & Fulham Archives Dept, 'A note on the open spaces of Fulham and Hammersmith', 1974 p19; Shepherds Bush Local History Society 'Around the Bush; A history of Shepherds Bush', 1984. LB Hammersmith & Fulham, 'Shepherds Bush Conservation Area Character Profile', 2000. See Hammersmith Council website Historical Sculptures Search

Grid ref:

TQ234798 (523502,179862)

Size in hectares:

3.33

Site ownership:

LB Hammersmith & Fulham

Site management:

Environment Department, Parks Service (ground maintenance by Quadron Services)

Date(s):

1871

Designer(s):

Local authority

Listed structures:

LBII: War memorial (Winged Victory); Odeon Cinema, Empire Theatre

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

No

Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965:

Yes: Common (CL26)

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:

Shepherds Bush

Tree Preservation Order:

No

Nature Conservation Area:

Yes - Local Importance

Green Belt:

No

Metropolitan Open Land:

No

Special Policy Area:

No

Other LA designation:

Local Park; Open Space of Borough-wide Importance

Shepherd's Bush Green - Colin Wing - March 2025

Click a photo to enlarge.