Inventory Site Record

Ufford Street Gardens is located on land that was part of the Manor of Lambeth, known as Chalcroft Meadow, which was owned by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. Development of the area for housing began in the early C19th but in 1901 it was redeveloped by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, who designated part of the land for a new public open space. Lambeth Borough Council laid out and opened Ufford Street Recreation Ground in 1907. The street is named after John de Ufford, Archbishop-elect of Canterbury, who died in 1349 before he could be formally consecrated to the title. In 2008 the park was restored using Heritage Lottery funding to improve its play and sports facilities, and it was renamed Ufford Street Gardens. Later improvements have taken place since 2017.

Previous / Other name:

Chalcroft Meadow, Ufford Street Recreation Ground

Site location:

Ufford Street/Mitre Road

Postcode:

SE1 8QD

What 3 Words:

bound.pushes.blame

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 (dog free), games court

Events:

Public transport:

Rail/Tube: Waterloo (Northern, Waterloo and City, Jubilee, Bakerloo). Bus: 1, 11, 68, 168, 171

Citymapper    
Google Map    
streetmap.co.uk

Research updated:

13/11/2023

Last minor changes:

13/11/2023

Please check with the site owner or manager for latest news. https://www.lambeth.gov.uk/parks/ufford-street-gardens

In the C18th the open ground here was known as Chalcroft Meadow, part of the Manor of Lambeth, owned by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. In the early C19th the area began to be built on by a Mr Samuel Short, who is recalled in a local street name. By 1901 the houses needed rebuilding and the Ecclesiastical Commissioners decided that part should also be set aside as public open space. Lambeth Borough Council agreed and laid out Ufford Street Recreation Ground, which was transferred to them by the Commissioners in 1907. Early OS maps indicate that there was a drinking fountain installed. By the late C20th half the park was laid out as an asphalted playground, the remainder having grass, seats and several mature London plane trees. A public footpath divides the park in two, running from Mitre Road (originally called Mitre Street) to Ufford Street. Having become neglected, in 2008 the park was restored through Heritage Lottery Funding with improved play and sports facilities and landscaping of the former asphalted playground. The work was undertaken by Groundwork, and the park was renamed Ufford Street Gardens. The garden again became neglected and overgrown and in July 2017 the Friends of Ufford Street Gardens was set up. Since that time the park has continued to be improved through further grant funding from various sources including Grainger PLC and G.A.Gilbert, We are Waterloo and WCDG. It contains a children’s playground as well as seating, paths and a diversity of wildlife features including spring flowering bulbs, native hedges and pollinator-friendly herbaceous borders. Ufford Street Gardens is one of Lambeth's Green Flag Award-winning parks, and a holder of a ‘Park of the Year’ award from London in Bloom. 

The park is within the Waterloo Development area. The name of the park recalls John de Ufford, who was to be Archbishop of Canterbury but who died in 1349 before he was consecrated.

Sources consulted:

Marie Draper 'Lambeth's Open Spaces, An historical account', LB Lambeth 1979; Friends of Ufford Street Gardens: https://ufford-street-gardens.ueniweb.com

Grid ref:

TQ314798 (531447,179828)

Size in hectares:

0.2

Site ownership:

LB Lambeth

Site management:

Environment Directorate, Parks and Greenspaces Unit (Team Lambeth)

Date(s):

1907

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:

Yes

Conservation Area name:

Mitre Road and Ufford Street

Tree Preservation Order:

No

Nature Conservation Area:

No

Green Belt:

No

Metropolitan Open Land:

No

Special Policy Area:

No

Other LA designation:

Park

Ufford Street Gardens, July 2013. Photograph Sally Williams

Click a photo to enlarge.