Inventory Site Record

Hillside Gardens Park is on a site purchased by the LCC for housing between Palace Road and Hillside Road. In 1949 the Minister of Housing approved a scheme by G E Wallis and Sons, and in 1953 there was a further agreement to purchase c.1.42 hectares of land for public open space, which then contained old tennis courts. The small park was laid out in 1954 with tennis and netball courts, a playground, lawns, trees and seating. It opened to the public in 1955. A new playground was opened in 2005, celebrating the park's 50th anniversary.

Site location:

Hillside Road/Kingsmead Road

Postcode:

SW2 3HL

What 3 Words:

cakes.vows.dining

Type of site:

Public Park

Borough:

Lambeth

Open to public?

Yes

Opening times:

7.30am - 15 minutes before sunset

Special conditions:

Facilities:

Children's playground and open games space, sports pitches, tennis courts, toilets

Events:

Public transport:

Tube: Brixton (Victoria) then bus. Rail: Streatham Hill. Bus: 2, 59, 68, 133, 137, 159, 196, 417, 432, 468, P13

Citymapper    
Google Map    
streetmap.co.uk

Research updated:

17/07/2023

Last minor changes:

19/07/2023

Please check with the site owner or manager for latest news. https://www.lambeth.gov.uk/parks/hillside-gardens-park; https://hillsidegardenspark.co.uk/

The OS 25 ins map for 1913/16 shows the site of the park with a footpath running west to east. By 1951 the OS 1:1250 map shows a large number of tennis courts marked 'disused' and a ruined pavilion. Hillside Gardens Park is adjacent to the Leigham Court Estate, an early example of a model housing estate and as such a precedent for the garden suburbs of the early C20th. It was developed by the Artizans, Labourers and General Dwellings Company between 1889 and 1928, following its purchase of the land in c.1887. The architect appointed was Roland Plumbe, and the Company's aim was to build the estate for the middle classes. It was designated as a Conservation Area in 1981.

The Friends of Hillside Gardens Park and Palace Road Nature Garden was set up  by members of the local community in c. 2000 and aims to represent all users of the park, working with Lambeth Council to secure significant investment to deliver improvements to play, sports and access within the park. In recent years, the park's tennis and games courts have been refurbished, and a new playground has been created, which opened in October 2005, the park's 50th anniversary. These works took place through a partnership between Lambeth Council and the Friends, who raised £130,000 from sources including landfill tax and the Lottery Fund. Funding for a small community allotment and wildlife gardening project in the grounds of the old Parks Depot was secured by the Friends of Hillside Gardens Park and further plans include a community orchard and a wildlife area.

Hillside Gardens Park is one of Lambeth's Green Flag Award-winning parks, and is also holder of a ‘Park of the Year’ award from London in Bloom.

Sources consulted:

Marie Draper 'Lambeth's Open Spaces, An historical account', LB Lambeth 1979; Lambeth Council: Conservation Area Profiles: https://www.lambeth.gov.uk/planning-and-building-control/conservation-and-listed-buildings/conservation-area-profiles/leigham-court-estate-ca31

Grid ref:

TQ310726 (531050,172650)

Size in hectares:

1.5

Site ownership:

LB Lambeth

Site management:

Environment Directorate, Parks and Greenspaces Unit (Team Lambeth). Friends of Hillside Gardens & Palace Road Nature Garden

Date(s):

1954-5

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:

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:

No

Tree Preservation Order:

No

Nature Conservation Area:

No

Green Belt:

No

Metropolitan Open Land:

No

Special Policy Area:

No

Other LA designation:

Park