Lower Grosvenor Garden (Westminster)
Brief Description
Lower and Upper Grosvenor Gardens are two small triangular gardens laid out to complement Thomas Cundy's French Renaissance style houses. In the Lower Garden little remains of the elaborate railings of the 1864 layout and it was remodelled in 1952 as a memorial to Anglo-French understanding and a tribute to the Free French. It has an elaborate fleur-de-lys format of paths, and flowerbeds with bedding displays, the central bed in the form of a fleur-de-lys, topiary and a tiered device for the display of ivies. Two shell and pebbledash lodges studded with molluscs, with pediments on all sides, were brought over especially from France, and between them there was once a parterre. An equestrian statue of Marshall Foch of c.1930 stands at the entrance.
Practical Information
- Previous / Other name:
- The Marshal Foch Memorial Garden
- Site location:
- Grosvenor Gardens, Belgravia
- Postcode:
- SW1
- What 3 Words:
- areas.metro.cases
- Type of site:
- Public Gardens
- Borough:
- Westminster
- Open to public?
- Yes
- Opening times:
- 10am - dusk
- Special conditions:
- no dogs, ball games or alcohol
- Facilities:
- Events:
- Public transport:
- Rail: Victoria. Tube: Victoria (District, Circle, Victoria)
- Research updated:
- 01/06/2014
- Last minor changes:
- 14/07/2022
Please check with the site owner or manager for latest news. www.westminster.gov.uk
Full Site Description
Lower Grosvenor Garden and Upper Grosvenor Garden (q.v.) were two small ornamental gardens laid out to complement Thomas Cundy's French Renaissance style houses, the design for which was exhibited at the RA in 1864. According to The Builder (1873) the ensemble formed a 'very remarkable neighbourhood'. Grosvenor Gardens and Grosvenor Place were laid out as the northwest extension of Victoria Street to Hyde Park. The gardens are surrounded by a variety of listed buildings including C19th houses, a screen wall and the gateway to Beeston Place, and also a range of purpose-built flats ('maison meublée') designed by Thomas Cundy III in 1870. In the Lower (southern) Garden only the remains of the elaborate railings - stonework and grilles at the corners - survive from the 1864 layout. The remainder of the square is enclosed with utilitarian wire fencing. Although still in private ownership of the Duke of Westminster and provided for the use of leaseholders of adjoining houses, the gardens were later accessible to the public 'by arrangement with the Metropolitan Public Gardens Association' according to the Report of the Royal Commission on London Squares of 1928. On 29 April 1948 it was reported by Topical Press that the 'badly-neglected' gardens may shortly be restored: 'The Westminster City Council is taking a long lease of the gardens from the Duke of Westminster and is to be asked to approve spending £500 on temporary restoration works. A French architect is to plan a permanent lay-out later on.' This duly took place and the Lower Garden was remodelled in 1952 by M. Moreux, Chief Architect to the Musees Nationaux de France as a memorial to Anglo-French understanding and a tribute to the Free French (WWII). Hence, the Fleur-de Lys format of paths, which saved it from destruction by a traffic scheme. It has elaborate paths and flowerbeds with bedding displays, the central bed in the form of a fleur-de-lys, topiary and a curious tiered device for the display of ivies. Also there are two shell and pebbledash lodges studded with molluscs, with pediments on all sides, 'fabriques' brought over especially from France; there used to be a parterre between the two. An equestrian statue of Marshall Foch after G B Mallisard of c.1930 stands at the entrance to the Lower Garden. On 13 April 2013 'Alien', a large bronze sculpture by David Breuer-Weil depicting a massive figure that has apparently dropped head-first from the sky, was installed in the gardens, initially for a minimum of 6 months but later extended.
Sources consulted:
Simon Bradley and Nikolaus Pevsner, 'The Buildings of England London 6: Westminster', (Yale University Press, 2003), p.751/3; Ben Weinreb & Christopher Hibbert, 'The London Encyclopaedia' (Macmillan, revised ed. 1993), pp.340 & 817; Edward Jones & Christopher Woodward, A Guide to the Architecture of London, London 1983, p.173; Hobhouse, p.165. WCC, Grosvenor Gardens Conservation Area Audit, 2006; www.victoriabid.co.uk/news-and-press/alien-in-grosvenor-gardens/
Further Information (Planning and Conservation)
- Grid ref:
- TQ288791 (528850,179150)
- Size in hectares:
- 0.292
- Site ownership:
- Grosvenor Estate
- Site management:
- WCC Parks Service (contractor: Continental Landscapes Ltd)
- Date(s):
- c1864, remodelled 1952
- Designer(s):
- Thomas Cundy III; M. Moreux, Chief Architect to the Musees Nationaux de France (1952)
- Listed structures:
- LBII: numerous surrounding C19th buildings, screen wall, gateway to Beeston Place; General Foch statue
- 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:
Yes
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:
- Grosvenor Gardens
- Tree Preservation Order:
- No
- Nature Conservation Area:
- No
- Green Belt:
- No
- Metropolitan Open Land:
- No
- Special Policy Area:
- No
- Other LA designation:
- London Square
Please note the Inventory and its content are provided for your general information only and are subject to change. It is your responsibility to check the accuracy.