Inventory Site Record

Riverside Walk Garden is on a triangular site bounded by Millbank and the Thames, overlooked by a row of terraced houses c.1843-45, part of Thomas Cubitt's Pimlico development. Millbank is named for the mill that stood here until 1730 when it was replaced by a private house, itself later demolished when the Millbank Penitentiary was built. Prisoners were held waiting deportation to Australia, and one of two large bollards remains, marking the gateway through which prisoners passed before boarding boats to Australia. The public gardens were created in 1965 when Riverwalk House was built, but underwent a complete re-landscaping in 2004, the new design reflecting the site's historical associations with the river and repositioning Henry Moore's bronze sculpture 'Locking Piece', on loan since 1968. Check current layout, re-landscaping 2016?

Site location:

Riverwalk House Gardens, Millbank

Postcode:

SW1P 4RP

What 3 Words:

lawn.froth.lived

Type of site:

Public Gardens

Borough:

Westminster

Open to public?

Yes

Opening times:

8am - dusk
Has taken part in Open Garden Squares Weekend 4 times, most recently in 2009.

Special conditions:

Facilities:

Events:

Public transport:

Tube: Pimlico (Victoria). Bus: 87

Citymapper    
Google Map    
streetmap.co.uk

Research updated:

01/06/2008

Last minor changes:

14/07/2022

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

Riverside Walk Garden is on a sharp triangular site bounded by Millbank and the River Thames, and overlooked by a row of terraced houses c.1843-45, part of Thomas Cubitt's Pimlico development. Millbank is named for the mill that once stood here belonging to Westminster Abbey. In 1730 the mill was replaced by a private house, itself later demolished in the early C19th when the Millbank Penitentiary was built, where prisoners were held waiting deportation to Australia. One of two large bollards remains in the gardens, marking the gateway through which prisoners passed before boarding boats to Australia. The prison operated from 1816 - 1890 and was demolished in 1902 when the Tate Gallery was built.

The public gardens were created in 1965 when Riverwalk House was built, both office block and gardens designed by architects Falmer & Dark. Their design had, at its eastern tip, a series of interlocking concrete hexagonal forms forming an informal seating area somewhat reminiscent of both the old six-sided penitentiary and also the geological phenomenon, the 'Giants Causeway'. This provided a setting for the Henry Moore bronze sculpture 'Locking Piece of 1963/4, sited here since 1968, on loan from the Tate Gallery and Henry Moore Foundation. Beyond was a lawn and more seating in a curved concrete recess. The gardens underwent a complete redesign in 2004 with funding from the London Development Agency, Cross River Partnership, Government Office for London and the Henry Moore Foundation. The design focuses on the site's historical associations with the river, incorporating meandering grass terraces which represent the water that used to flow over the site prior to its infilling and allowing clear views of the river over the embankment wall from the new seating elements. The terraces are punctuated by angular paving features which relate to the wharfs that used to dominate this river bank. The Thames Path runs through the site and has been improved along this section. Constant lighting levels make the path safer to use after dark, which has been achieved through the installation of a specialist fibre-optic handrail along the embankment wall. Henry Moore's Locking Piece has been repositioned in the garden on a new plinth with uplighting, retaining and strengthening this feature as a local landmark.

Sources consulted:

Hermione Hobhouse, 'Thomas Cubitt, Masterbuilder', 1971

Grid ref:

TQ300783 (530067,178351)

Size in hectares:

0.29

Site ownership:

WCC

Site management:

Parks Service (Contractors: Continental Landscapes Ltd)

Date(s):

1960; 2004

Designer(s):

Falmer & Dark (1965); Plincke Landscape (2004)

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:

None

Riverside Walk Garden - Photo: Colin Wing
Date taken: 26/08/20 08:51

Click a photo to enlarge.

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