Inventory Site Record

* on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens

Stanley Crescent Garden is part of the Ladbroke Estate, laid out as a planned garden suburb with a coherent layout of concentric crescents and large communal gardens whose features were first suggested in a plan by architect and estate surveyor Thomas Allason in 1823. His scheme was later modified by others, including James Thomson, although he remained involved until his death in 1852. Building started in the 1840s; the outer concentric crescents date from the 1860s. During the lull in building development, the land was leased for a time for a racecourse, the Hippodrome, which operated from 1837-41. After Allason's death, artist and designer Thomas Allom was responsible for the next phase of development, including Stanley Crescent. This is one of the least altered of the communal gardens on the estate.

Site location:

Stanley Crescent

Postcode:

W11 2NA

What 3 Words:

chains.artist.manliness

Type of site:

Garden Square

Borough:

Kensington & Chelsea

Open to public?

Occasionally

Opening times:

Has opened for OGSW. Otherwise private, keyholders only
Has taken part in Open Garden Squares Weekend 23 times, most recently in 2023.

Special conditions:

Facilities:

Events:

Public transport:

Tube: Holland Park (Central), Notting Hill Gate (Central, Circle). Bus: 52, 452

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Google Map    
streetmap.co.uk

Research updated:

01/06/2011

Last minor changes:

19/07/2023

Please check with the site owner or manager for latest news.

Ladbroke Estate: Site on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens, for Register Entry see https://www.historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list. The Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England was established in 1984 and was commonly called English Heritage. In April 2015 it split into 2 separate entities, Historic England (HE), which continues to champion and protect the historic environment, and the English Heritage Trust, whose role is to look after the 400+ historic sites and monuments owned by the state. HE manages the National Heritage List for England (NHLE) that includes over 400,000 items ranging from prehistoric monuments to office blocks, battlefields and parks, which benefit from legal protection.

The Ladbroke Estate was laid out as a planned garden suburb with a coherent layout of concentric crescents and large communal gardens whose features were first suggested in a plan by architect and estate surveyor Thomas Allason in 1823. His scheme was later modified by others, including James Thomson, although he remained involved until his death in 1852. Building started in the 1840s; the outer concentric crescents date from the 1860s. During the lull in building development, the land was leased for a time for a racecourse, the Hippodrome, which operated from 1837-41. After Allason's death, artist and designer Thomas Allom was responsible for the next phase of development.

Stanley Crescent Garden retains its early Victorian paths, internal railings and character. Three large open lawns are bordered by shrubberies and trees, separated by gravel paths. The west side is bordered by private gardens and semi-detached villas along Ladbroke Grove, built 1843-61 and the curving east side is enclosed by the large houses along Stanley Crescent, designed by Thomas Allom, 1854, and the slightly narrower houses in the northern section of the early 1860s. Large shrubberies with evergreens fill the triangles formed by paths and there are many large C19th trees, including narrow-leaved ash, horse chestnuts, beech, lime and plane trees. There are private gardens along the west side which is lined by a broad gravel path terminating at gated entrances onto Ladbroke Gardens to the north and Kensington Park Gardens to the south. The private gardens along Stanley Crescent are smaller or non existent. A large mid C19th urn is in the centre of the garden. Protected under 1851 Garden Square Act.

Sources consulted:

EH Register entry for Ladbroke Estate, 2002/3

Grid ref:

TQ246807 (524660,180748)

Size in hectares:

0.6977

Site ownership:

private

Site management:

Date(s):

1852-3

Designer(s):

Thomas Allason, architect and surveyor (overall plan of Ladbroke Estate)

Listed structures:

LBII: 36, 38 & 40 Ladbroke Grove; 1-9 Stanley Crescent, 10-11 Stanley Crescent, 12-13 Stanley Crescent

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

Yes

NHLE grade:

Grade II

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:

Ladbroke

Tree Preservation Order:

Yes

Nature Conservation Area:

Yes - Borough Importance II

Green Belt:

No

Metropolitan Open Land:

No

Special Policy Area:

Yes - Site of Archaeological Importance

Other LA designation:

None

Stanley Crescent Gardens - Photo: Colin Wing
Date taken: 10/06/18 15:02

Click a photo to enlarge.

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