Description
Cambridge Gardens was built as part of the Kilburn Park estate developed by James Bailey on land formerly part of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners' Willesden Estate. The central garden acted as a focal point, a triangular site laid out with grass, cruciform arrangement of paths and plane trees mainly on the perimeter. Today the gardens are surrounded by modern railings but the layout is little changed.
Practical Information
| Site location | Cambridge Gardens, Kilburn |
|---|---|
| Postcode | NW6 |
| What3Words | ///punchy.tens.pushy |
| Type of Site | Garden Square |
| Borough | Brent |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted |
| Public Transport | Tube: Kilburn Park (Bakerloo). Bus: 6, 31, 32, 206, 316, 328 |
| Research Updated | 1 August 2002 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
This area was formerly part of the Willesden Estate belonging to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. Housing development on the land began from the 1850s as transport networks improved to serve the growing suburbs. Kilburn High Road was long established as a major route in and out of London, as part of Watling Street, and the area was already served by horse-drawn buses; in 1852 the railway station at Kilburn opened providing easy access to Euston and from 1865 the line also ran to the new Broad Street station in the City. From 1857 (1859?) builder-developer James Bailey began building his Kilburn Park estate for the well-to-do middle classes along what is now Carlton Vale. Cambridge Gardens were built as part of the estate between 1861-1873. Bailey, who went bankrupt in 1866, appears not to have employed an architect and based the ornate architectural style of his stucco and stock brick villas on Italianate pattern books of the time. The central garden acted as a focal point, a triangular site laid out with grass and plane trees, generally around the perimeter, with a cruciform arrangement of paths that has little changed from the C19th layout. The gardens today are surrounded by modern railings; there are a number of seats.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ253832 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 0.12 |
| Site Ownership | LB Brent |
| Site Management | Parks Service |
| Dates | 1861-1873 |
| Designers | ?James Bailey |
| Listed Structures | LBII: 1-6, 12-18 (Consec) Cambridge Gardens, Prince of Wales Public House |
| 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 | Brent |
| In Conservation Area | Yes |
| Conservation Area Name | South Kilburn |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | No |
Gallery
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.
Nearby parks and gardens
Randolph Gardens, now public gardens, was previously a private garden for the use of leaseholders of adjoining houses. Owned by Paddington Estate Trustees, the garden was managed by a Committee of occupiers, the expense of maintenance assessed proportionately on each house. In 1928 it was described as 'enclosed by palings, and attractively laid out with lawns and tennis courts' and contained 'some fine trees'. On one side it is flanked by St Augustine's Church, which has a pleasant garden. There is evidence of a terrace west of the church along Randolph Gardens frontage, which has a row of lime and plane trees; the ground is now subdivided with privet hedge, the northern part of which is the responsibility of WCC. The church setting now encompasses the mid-late C20th flats of Torridon House.
The site was first used for recreational purposes in 1860 when a cricket pitch was laid down by the local church. As a result of the efforts of R Melville Beachcroft, Treasurer of Paddington Cricket Club, land was purchased from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners and the Paddington Estate. In 1888/9 Paddington Recreation Ground was laid out and opened to the public, money having been raised for purchase of a larger area under an Act of 1893, which reserved at least 4 acres for general use, the rest was leased out for sports. The Paddington Recreation Act enabled the Vestry of Paddington to officially acquire the Ground to 'provide the residents with a public recreational ground'. The bandstand in the south-west corner dates from the original layout, and the Pavilion, built in 1888 was originally used as a refreshment pavilion and grandstand.
Maida Vale is renowned for its mansion blocks, lining the broad avenues and bringing a European flavour to the area. Among the first, Ashworth Mansions was built in 1899-1900, two red-brick blocks in Queen Anne Revival style overlooking the communal garden provided for the residents. Planting consists of mature trees, shrubs and perennials, herbaceous borders and beds, set in lawns. The road frontages on Elgin Avenue and Grantully Road also have landscaped areas.
