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Inventory Site Record

Stanley Crescent Garden (Ladbroke Estate) * (Kensington & Chelsea)

Brief Description

* 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.

Practical Information
Site location:
Stanley Crescent
Postcode:
W11 2NA
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
Research updated:
01/06/2011
Last minor changes:
19/07/2023

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

Full Site Description

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

Further Information (Planning and Conservation)
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
Photos

Stanley Crescent Garden (Ladbroke Estate) *

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

Click a photo to enlarge.

More photos

Please note the Inventory and its content are provided for your general information only and are subject to change. It is your responsibility to check the accuracy.