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Inventory Site Record

St Mary's Church Grounds (Westminster)

Brief Description

St Mary's Church Grounds are the former churchyard of St Mary's Church, now a small garden adjacent to Paddington Green. The former churchyard is in two parts divided by Church Walk, the northern part converted to a public garden in 1885, now called St Mary's Churchyard. The southern acre of land around the church was also opened as a public garden in 1892 and contains many good sarcophagi and monuments dating from the late C18th/early C19th. The southern part of the garden was lost when the Westway flyover was built and a number of graves had to be exhumed and the remains were re-interred at Mill Hill Cemetery.

Practical Information
Previous / Other name:
St Mary's Church on Paddington Green
Site location:
Harrow Road/St Mary's Square, Paddington Green
Postcode:
W2 1LG
What 3 Words:
exams.drive.neck
Type of site:
Public Gardens
Borough:
Westminster
Open to public?
Yes
Opening times:
8am - dusk
Special conditions:
Facilities:
Events:
Public transport:
Tube: Edgware Road (Bakerloo, Circle, Hammersmith & Fulham), Warwick Avenue (Bakerloo)
Research updated:
01/11/2007
Last minor changes:
14/07/2022

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

Full Site Description

St Mary Paddington Green was formerly the parish church for the village and the current building dates from of 1788-91 when the old parish church was rebuilt, designed by the neo-classical architect John Plaw. The church is adjacent to Paddington Green (q.v.), which was enclosed in 1753 by Denis Chirac, owner of Paddington House, to serve as an ornament to the parish. In 1779 the Green was vested in three trustees for the benefit of the parish. From the C17th onwards the commonland was encroached as houses were built, including that of Charles Greville (1749-1809), one of the founders of the Royal Horticultural Society. Emma, later Lady Hamilton and Lord Nelson's mistress, grew up in this house, which was where she met Greville's uncle, Sir William Hamilton. Her mother Mary Cadogan was buried at St Mary's, but Emma was buried in France, despite having expressed the wish to be buried here.

St Mary's former churchyard is in two parts divided by Church Walk. The northern area was opened by the vestry in 1885 as a 3.25 acre public garden, known as the Old Burial Ground, now called St Mary's Churchyard (q.v.), with gravestones mainly moved to the western boundary. The southern part consisting of 1 acre around the church was also opened as a public garden in 1892. There are many good sarcophagi and monuments including those to the Thrupp family, c.12m south-west of St Mary's Church, dating from the late C18th/early C19th; the early C19th Chandless family monument, c.14m south-east of St Mary's Church; and the early C19th Woodd family monument c.6m north-east of St Mary's Church. In a niche by the porch is a memorial to Joseph Johnson, dated 1802 and signed Coade & Sealy, and there is also a plaque and trees in memory of Lanning Roper (d.1983).

The Westway Flyover was built by the early 1970s and intrudes on the southern area; however, the church was restored in 1972-4 with money provided in compensation for the road construction. The southern part of the churchyard was removed as a result of the flyover and a number of graves were exhumed and the remains re-interred at Mill Hill Cemetery (q.v.) where there is an area set aside with a plaque to mark the spot.

Sources consulted:

Bridget Cherry and Nikolaus Pevsner, 'The Buildings of England London 3: North West' (1991, reprinted 1999), pp.694 & 675; Victoria County History, Middlesex, vol. IX, 1989; Thomas Smith, History of Paddington; Harvey Hackman, 'Wates's Book of London Churchyards, Collins, 1981 pp102-4

Further Information (Planning and Conservation)
Grid ref:
TQ266818 (526700,181749)
Size in hectares:
2.74 (w Padd Grn/St M's Chyd)
Site ownership:
St Mary's Cemetery Company
Site management:
WCC Parks Service (contractor: Continental Landscapes Ltd)
Date(s):
1788/91; 1892
Designer(s):
Listed structures:
LBII*: St Mary's Church. LBII: Children's Hospital, pair of K6 telephone kiosks, ashlar monument to Woodd family, statue of Mrs Siddons; east side of Paddington Green: nos. 17 & 18; ashlar Thrupp family monument; ashlar monument to Chandless family.
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:
Paddington Green
Tree Preservation Order:
Yes
Nature Conservation Area:
Yes - Borough Imp II (w. Padd Grn & St M Gdns)
Green Belt:
No
Metropolitan Open Land:
No
Special Policy Area:
Yes - Area of Special Archaeological Priority
Other LA designation:
None
Photos

St Mary's Church Grounds

St Mary's Church Grounds - Photo: Colin Wing
Date taken: 30/09/20 09:59

Paddington Church and Green, with stocks in bottom left corner. Engraving c.1798. Courtesy Westminster City Archives
1798
North West View of Paddington Church, engraving c.1750. Courtesy Westminster City Archives
1750
A View of Paddington Church from the Green, 1750. Courtesy Westminster City Archives
1750
Paddington Parish Church, 1750 (old church) and 1805 (new church). Courtesy Westminster City Archives
1750

Click a photo to enlarge.

More photos

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