Inventory Site Record

St Mary's Gardens were laid out by Lambeth Borough Council in 1932/33 on what had been part of the old road when the new Lambeth Bridge was built. It is named after the adjacent parish church. An earlier layout that had a central paved area with a pergola and central water feature was replaced in 2008 by a new landscaping scheme. Planting was undertaken by the local community as well as Putting Down Roots, the horticultural project run by St Mungo's homelessness charity.

Site location:

Lambeth Palace Road/Lambeth Road

Postcode:

SE1 7XH

What 3 Words:

fear.making.tries

Type of site:

Public Gardens

Borough:

Lambeth

Open to public?

Yes

Opening times:

unrestricted

Special conditions:

Facilities:

none

Events:

Public transport:

Rail: Waterloo. Tube: Waterloo (Northern, Waterloo and City, Jubilee, Bakerloo) then bus, Lambeth North (Bakerloo). Bus: 3, 77, 344, 507, C10.

Citymapper    
Google Map    
streetmap.co.uk

Research updated:

18/09/2023

Last minor changes:

18/09/2023

Please check with the site owner or manager for latest news. https://www.lambeth.gov.uk/parks/st-marys-gardens

The garden is so-called due to is position adjacent to St Mary's Church (q.v.) The site was formerly part of the old road that led to the earlier Lambeth Bridge of 1862, which was replaced in 1932 by a new bridge to the south. The small roadside garden was laid out by Lambeth Borough Council in 1932/33. Dominated by the pedestrian route running through the garden, the perimeter was planted with grass and shrubs, with a central paved area, which until 2008 had a pergola and seating, shrubs around the edge and a central water feature.

In 2006 local resident Helen Lees, Chair of the Friends of Archbishop's Park (q.v.), applied for Lottery funding to restore St Mary's Gardens, which by then had become rundown. Funds and in-kind support were also received from local groups and businesses. The new landscaping was designed by Stephen Crisp and planting was undertaken by the local community as well as Putting Down Roots, the horticultural project run by St Mungo's homelessness charity. The fountain has been restored, and now has mosaic stepping stones laid at the base with designs inspired by the ideas of local children. Other works included repainting boundary railings, new signage with the history of the area, and two educational pods maintained by the adjacent Garden Museum (q.v.) that will be planted to change with the seasons. The new garden was opened in September 2008: 'The new design and planting reflects the pattern of fields that once divided the Lambeth landscape, although the hedges contribute a contemporary twist. The garden is designed for year-round interest by incorporating a variety of structure, height, texture and colour in the planting which will also be attractive to wildlife and contribute to the area's biodiversity.'

There are future plans for an upgrade of the garden as part of the Garden Museum-led initiative known as Lambeth Green, which proposes to strengthen the link between St Mary’s Gardens and the nearby Old Paradise Gardens (q.v.). St Mary’s Garden is maintained by garden volunteers at the Garden Museum and since 2019 a collaboration between the Museum and Wolves Lane Flower Company has led to it becoming an experimental cutting garden, where flowers grown here are cut for display in the Museum, or for sale in bunches in the Museum Shop.

Sources consulted:

Marie Draper 'Lambeth's Open Spaces, An historical account', LB Lambeth 1979; London SE1 website, article 10 October 2008; https://gardenmuseum.org.uk/our-gardens/

Grid ref:

TQ305789 (530595,179000)

Size in hectares:

0.13

Site ownership:

LB Lambeth

Site management:

Environment Directorate, Parks and Greenspaces Unit (Team Lambeth); Garden Museum garden volunteers

Date(s):

1932/3; 2007/8

Designer(s):

2007/8: Stephen Chrisp

Listed structures:

LBII*: St Mary's Church

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:

Lambeth Palace

Tree Preservation Order:

No

Nature Conservation Area:

Yes

Green Belt:

No

Metropolitan Open Land:

No

Special Policy Area:

Yes - Archaeological Priority Area (Lambeth Waterfront)

Other LA designation:

Open Space

Photo: Colin Wing

Click a photo to enlarge.