Description

Allen Gardens was first laid out by the LCC in 1958 on a plot of land made available when post-war temporary housing was demolished; streets were cleared to make way for the park, including Pedley Street, Weaver Street, Shuttle Street, Eckersley Street, North Place and Fleet Street Hill. The new park was named after philanthropist William Allen. During the 1960s the park was gradually expanded when the derelict All Saints' Church was demolished and some remaining slums at the north end of Mile End New Town cleared. It was suggested that this additional, larger area be called 'Allen Fields' but this name appears not to have caught on and the whole park was soon called Allen Gardens. 

Practical Information

Site location Buxton Street
Postcode E1 5EH
What3Words ///apron.plot.items
Type of Site Public Park
Borough Tower Hamlets
Open to Public Yes
Opening Times unrestricted
Public Transport London Overground: Shoreditch High Street.
Research Updated 26 July 2021
Last Updated 18 October 2026

Full description

In medieval times and up until the C18th this land was part of a larger open area known as Haresmarsh. In Georgian times, the land was built on for Mile End New Town, a new urban development. Apart from numerous small houses, a church and two schools were also built here in the early C19th and some of the buildings of the former St Patrick's School survived the demolition of the adjacent All Saints' Church and are now private residences. A plaque high on the wall facing the park records the small area once occupied by All Saints' Church, still owned by Christ Church Spitalfields. The new park is named after philanthropist William Allen, who in 1811 sponsored the opening of a non-sectarian school on the site for the poor children of the area. Allen had also been a leading member of the 'Spitalfields Soup Society' formed in 1797 in an attempt to provide relief to unemployed weavers. 

Until 2006 Shoreditch station was situated at the north of the park, but closed when the new London Overground was constructed. Allen Gardens is facing issues of crime, anti-social behaviour, littering and fly tipping.  As part of the Council's programme of regeneration, Tower Hamlets parks and high streets and town centres teams are making improvements to Allen Gardens, one of the borough’s most important inner-city open spaces. In 2018 landscape architects Steer Davies Gleave carried out a feasibility study for developing and refurbishing Allen Gardens, which included con­sultation sessions held in the park.

Adjacent to the park is an area of community gardening known as the Nomadic Gardens, established on an area of railway lands. Spitalfields City Farm (q.v.) also abuts the park.

Further Information

Grid Reference TQ340821
Site Ownership LB Tower Hamlets
Site Management Leisure Services, Parks and Open Spaces
Dates 1958-70
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 Tower Hamlets
In Conservation Area Yes
Tree Preservation Order No
Nature Conservation Area Yes - Local Importance
Green Belt No
Metropolitan Open Land No

Gallery

Allen Gardens: site of All Saints' Church, September 2010. Photograph Sally Williams
Allen Gardens, September 2010. Photograph Sally Williams

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Nearby parks and gardens

  • Tower Hamlets
  • 0.1 miles away

Spitalfields City Farm

Spitalfields City Farm was set up by volunteers on a former railway goods depot in 1978. In 1980 the farm gained charitable status, and continues to be run by a voluntary management committee . Volunteers play an important part in the farm although public funding enabled staff to be employed. The farm keeps a selection of farm animals and has a number of community garden areas, including a grass road, wildlife garden, plant nursery and vegetable plots, and an active Volunteers Vegetable Garden known as the Coriander Club gardens.
  • Tower Hamlets
  • 0.2 miles away

St Matthew's Church Garden

The parish of Bethnal Green was created in 1742, and the new church of St Matthew was consecrated in 1746, although an earlier church had been proposed under the Fifty New Churches Commissioners. The population had grown particularly following the arrival of Huguenots, who established their textile industry here. The Watch House in the churchyard was built in 1754 as a measure to prevent body snatching. The churchyard closed for burials in the mid 1850s and in 1896 was turned into a public garden when the majority of tombs were removed. Two railed tombs remain, including that of former churchwarden Joseph Merceron. It is mostly grassed over, with large plane trees by an oval path to the north of the church. There are remains of the C19th railings on the boundary with St Matthew's Row. A rose garden is to the south of the church and an area to the east has formal beds, palms and other ornamental planting.
St Matthew's Church, April 2010. Photo: S Williams
  • Tower Hamlets
  • 0.3 miles away

Vallance Road Gardens

The site was formerly a Quaker Burial Ground established in 1687, the last burial taking place in 1857. It was laid out as a public garden and opened in 1880, later called as Vallance Road Recreation Ground. The garden had a granite drinking fountain, grass, serpentine paths, mature plane trees, some rose beds and a children's playground, but by the late C20th was in a poor state. In 2002 new housing was built on 3 sides, much improving the setting of the garden, which was also re-landscaped. It re-opened in 2003 with new paths, seats, railings and children's playground. Tree planting included a conifer to mark the opening of the housing and gardens.
Vallance Road Gardens, March 2011. The plane trees mark the former boundary of the recreation ground. Photo: S Williams