Inventory Site Record

Faraday Gardens opened in July 1905. The land was originally part of St Peter's Churchyard, which became a public garden in 1895. The Ecclesiastical Commissioners set aside this area for public recreation when they were developing the area. The gardens were named after the chemist and physicist Michael Faraday, who was born in Newington Butts in 1791 and lived in the area.

Site location:

Portland Street

Postcode:

SE17

What 3 Words:

under.daring.voted

Type of site:

Public Gardens

Borough:

Southwark

Open to public?

Yes

Opening times:

7.30am - sunset

Special conditions:

Facilities:

Playgrounds, courts

Events:

Public transport:

Rail/Tube: Elephant & Castle (Northern, Bakerloo) then bus. Bus: 12, 35, 40, 45, 68, 171, 176, 468.

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Research updated:

01/06/2017

Last minor changes:

14/07/2022

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

The land was originally part of St Peter's Churchyard (q.v.), which became a public garden in 1895; Faraday Gardens opened in July 1905. The freeholders, Ecclesiastical Commissioners, formed Faraday Gardens in 1905 when they were developing their land and set aside this area for public recreation and gave it to the Metropolitan Borough of Southwark who laid out a playground. The gardens were named after Michael Faraday, chemist and physicist famous for work with electricity and magnetism who lived in the area and was born in Newington Butts in 1791. He died in 1867 and is buried at Highgate Cemetery (q.v.). He is also commemorated locally by the central stainless steel sculptural feature at Elephant and Castle that masks a London Transport electricity sub-station. Trees in the park include wild cherry, lime, Norway maple, plum cherry, Italian alder, hornbeam, false acacia.

Sources consulted:

LB Southwark Archive; John Beasley, 'Southwark Remembered' (Tempus Publishing, 2001) p75; London Parks and Open Spaces, London County Council 1924

Grid ref:

TQ325782 (532555,178209)

Size in hectares:

1.224

Site ownership:

LB Southwark

Site management:

Parks

Date(s):

1905

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:

Liverpool Grove

Tree Preservation Order:

No

Nature Conservation Area:

No

Green Belt:

No

Metropolitan Open Land:

No

Special Policy Area:

No

Other LA designation:

Local Park, Tier Two