Garden Details
Cranworth Gardens NEW
The Garden
The early Edwardian mansion blocks at Cranworth Gardens were built in 1901 on the site of the former gardens of the grand Brixton Road houses. Designed to attract middle class and skilled professionals to Lambeth, they offered spacious purpose-built apartments with a large communal green, reminiscent of Westminster or Kensington mansion houses. By 1911, the street had a distinct artistic element, with a third of its residents working in the arts, music and theatrical sectors.
Aerial photographs show that, during the Second World War, the large communal garden was divided into individual gardens for vegetable growing. Over the years, these were transformed back into a communal space for all residents. The planting around the central lawn has evolved over time and stands today as a record of the plant interests of its many residents past and present, giving it an informal cottage garden feel. Enjoy a mature corkscrew hazel, a tall ash, a large Italian maple, a magnolia, a wide variety of flowering shrubs, fruit trees, and some vegetable growing.
Today the garden is cared for by a gardener, Mandy Hull, alongside a group of volunteer residents who continue to build on the legacy of the past century.
An extensive history of the street, its building, residents and major events is available at https://ovalhistory.co.uk/cranworth-gardens/
Gardener: Mandy Hull and Residents' Gardening Club
Visitor Information
- Open
-
Saturday 10:00–18:00
- Activities
- A selection of cakes and refreshments will be available on the day, alongside a small plant sale. A plant map of the garden (identifying some unusual plants) will be available.
- Entrance
- Garden gate by 83 Cranworth Gardens
Nearest postcode: SW9 0NT - Buses
- Map of nearby bus stops
- Stations
- Stockwell, Oval
- Cycle hire station
- Normandy Road (Map)
- Access
- Garden presents challenges for visitors with limited mobility.
One step to access garden gate. - Dogs
- Only working assistance dogs
