Inventory Site Record

The land was once fields of the Pallingswick Estate, part of the Manor of Fulham; one of the pastures was known as Westcroft. In 1878 land was sold for development and Westcroft Square was built by Thomas Hussey of Kensington, a small square of terraced houses around a rectangular central garden. To preserve the garden as open space, owners of property in the square acquired the freehold and offered it as a gift to Hammersmith Borough Council on condition that it was laid out as public open space. It was conveyed to the Council in 1929 and opened in 1929/30.

Previous / Other name:

West Croft Square

Site location:

Westcroft Square, Hammersmith

Postcode:

W6

What 3 Words:

assure.cloud.paints

Type of site:

Garden Square;, Public Gardens

Borough:

Hammersmith & Fulham

Open to public?

Yes

Opening times:

7.30am-dusk

Special conditions:

Facilities:

Events:

Public transport:

Tube: Stamford Brook (District). Bus: 27, 190, 267, 391, H91, 237

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Research updated:

01/04/2004

Last minor changes:

19/07/2023

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

Prior to housing development the land was once fields of the Pallingswick Estate, part of the Manor of Fulham owned by the Bishop of London; one of the pastures was known as Westcroft. The estate changed hands over the centuries until the latter part of the C19th, when 100 acres were sold to the Metropolitan Board of Works who opened part of this as Ravenscroft Park (q.v.), the mansion becoming Hammersmith's first public library. However, in 1878 part of the land in the south had been sold for housing development and Westcroft Square was built by Thomas Hussey of Kensington. It was a small square of terraced houses with a rectangular central garden, which was railed and with grass and a number of trees and bushes.

The garden had apparently fallen into disuse by the early C20th and when the owner of the land, Mr C Gasquet, died in 1927, it was to have been sold for building purposes. However the executor Mr W Hussey instead offered the site to Hammersmith Borough Council 'at a reasonable price' so that it could be maintained as a garden. The Council declined, but a year later 30 owners of property in the square had acquired the freehold and offered it as a gift to the Council on condition that it was laid out as public open space. It was conveyed to the Council in 1929 and the LCC contributed £100 to the cost of laying it out; it opened in 1929/30. There are trees and shrubs around the border with a central lawn with three raised rose beds and a seat. Mounds were created in order to stop rugby being played in the square.

Sources consulted:

LB Hammersmith & Fulham Archives Dept, 'A note on the open spaces of Fulham and Hammersmith', 1974 p23; Report of the Royal Commission on London Squares, 1928; note on Westcroft Square (no source given); Westcroft Square Conservation Area Character Profile

Grid ref:

TQ220787 (522030,178730)

Size in hectares:

0.10

Site ownership:

LB Hammersmith & Fulham

Site management:

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

Date(s):

1878; 1929/30

Designer(s):

Listed structures:

None

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:

Yes

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:

Westcroft Square CA13 (1980)

Tree Preservation Order:

No

Nature Conservation Area:

No

Green Belt:

No

Metropolitan Open Land:

No

Special Policy Area:

No

Other LA designation:

None

Photo: Colin Wing

Click a photo to enlarge.