Inventory Site Record

Upper Mall Open Space is a riverside public garden that occupies part of the former site of the West Middlesex Water Company's waterworks, which were demolished in 1965. At the western end of the gardens the site is bounded by a wall pierced with arches that previously formed part of the Water Company building. To the east of the gardens is the Old Ship Inn, which has been the site of a pub for centuries.

Site location:

Upper Mall/South Black Lion Lane

Postcode:

W6

What 3 Words:

alone.poems.itself

Type of site:

Public Gardens

Borough:

Hammersmith & Fulham

Open to public?

Yes

Opening times:

unrestricted

Special conditions:

Facilities:

Playground

Events:

Public transport:

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

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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

Upper Mall Open Space is a riverside public garden that occupies part of the former site of the West Middlesex Water Company's waterworks, which were demolished in 1965. There are some mature trees, including 3 large willows, and it is laid out as a small lawn with beds planted with shrubs. Part of the area is set out as an under 5s play area. The consultants, Groundwork, have recommended some alterations to the layout to create a more clearly defined demarcation between the open space and the Old Ship Inn, and to separate cyclists and pedestrians around the play area. At the western end of the gardens it is bounded from the adjacent car park by a wall with arches that previously formed part of the Water Company buildings, the arched openings formerly windows, although opinions vary as to whether it was dwellings or part of the waterworks. A plaque on the north side of the wall commemorates William Tierney Clark (1783-1852) who lived here c.1839 and was the designer of the first Hammersmith Bridge; he was buried in Hammersmith Parish Church of St Paul (q.v.). There has long been an Old Ship public house on the site, and the porch of an older building to the east of the current pub remains. The Old Ship was described by Thomas Faulkner in 1839 as 'an ancient building in the style of Charles I', which once had a landing stage. The riverside forms part of the Thames Path (q.v.).

Sources consulted:

LB Hammersmith & Fulham Archives Dept, 'A note on the open spaces of Fulham and Hammersmith', 1974 p22; LB Hammersmith & Fulham 'The Mall Conservation Area Character Profile', 1997; Thomas Faulkner 'The History and Antiquities of the Parish of Hammersmith', 1839

Grid ref:

TQ222782 (522220,178260)

Size in hectares:

0.34

Site ownership:

LB Hammersmith & Fulham

Site management:

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

Date(s):

Post 1965

Designer(s):

Listed structures:

LBII: Porch of former Ship Inn, east of Old Ship

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:

The Mall

Tree Preservation Order:

No

Nature Conservation Area:

No

Green Belt:

No

Metropolitan Open Land:

No

Special Policy Area:

Yes - Thames Priority Area

Other LA designation:

None