Inventory Site Record

Montefiore Gardens was laid out at the east side of the Parktown Estate, which was built from 1865 onwards, its overall street layout planned by developer Philip Flower and designer James Thomas Knowles. He was the son of Sir James Knowles who had laid out the Cedars Estate south of Clapham Common. Up until then much of this area had been farmland belonging to Longhedge Farm between Battersea Fields to the north and Clapham Common in the south. Its name derived from the northern boundary hedge along what is now Battersea Park Road. The bombsite on Montefiore Street and Tennyson Street was cleared of prefabs and laid out as Montefiore Gardens. A social services day nursery was built in one quarter with the intention of returning this back to the gardens, if so needed. In fact, when the nursery was finally shut in 1995 the land was sold for development and a row of houses built. Montefiore Gardens is important as an area of public open space in this area.

Site location:

Montefiore Street/Tennyson Street

Postcode:

SW8

What 3 Words:

chimp.lovely.gown

Type of site:

Public Gardens

Borough:

Wandsworth

Open to public?

Yes

Opening times:

8am - dusk

Special conditions:

no dogs

Facilities:

playground

Events:

Public transport:

Rail: Queenstown Road/Wandsworth Road. Bus: 137

Citymapper    
Google Map    
streetmap.co.uk

Research updated:

01/05/2005

Last minor changes:

14/07/2022

Please check with the site owner or manager for latest news. www.wandsworth.gov.uk/homepage/41/parks_and_open_spaces

Montefiore Gardens is one of several public gardens in Battersea that were created from areas of derelict land following bomb damage in WWII. Others include Dorothy Road Open Space, Heathbrook Park (q.v.), Queenstown Road Open Space, and Shillington Street Open Space. Sir James was one of a number of influential members of a committee of Clapham residents who successfully lobbied for a new road link extending Queens Road (now Queenstown Road) to Clapham from Battersea Park, the new road financed by the development of the land for housing.

Sources consulted:

LB Wandsworth Parktown Estate Conservation Area Character Statement; Montefiore Gardens Management Plan 2008 - 2013

Grid ref:

TQ287761 (528745,176113)

Size in hectares:

0.22

Site ownership:

LB Wandsworth

Site management:

Parks Service; Friends of Montefiore Gardens

Date(s):

1960s

Designer(s):

TQ28737610

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:

Parktown Estate

Tree Preservation Order:

No

Nature Conservation Area:

No

Green Belt:

No

Metropolitan Open Land:

No

Special Policy Area:

Yes - Archaeological Priority Area

Other LA designation:

Incidental Public Open Space/Landscaped Open Space

Montefiore Gardens - Photo: Colin Wing
Date taken: 19/09/24 14:29

Click a photo to enlarge.