Description
Now public gardens, this was formerly a private communal garden for the residents of houses on Colville Square. It was part of a development by Dr Samuel Walker that commenced in the 1850s but was not completed until the 1860s. During the C20th the area became increasingly rundown and was eventually rehabilitated in the 1960s. The garden has shrubs and floral planting at the northern end with a circular bed around an ornamental stone urn, and a small play area for younger children.
Practical Information
| Site location | Colville Square |
|---|---|
| Postcode | W11 |
| What3Words | ///rests.crowds.battle |
| Type of Site | Garden Square; |
| Borough | Kensington & Chelsea |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | 7.30am - dusk |
| Facilities | Children's play area |
| Public Transport | Tube: Westbourne Park (District) |
| Research Updated | 1 October 2007 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
This small square is surrounded by tall narrow houses of Colville Square designed by T S Tippett, which was part of development in the area by Dr Samuel Walker from the 1850s. He was somewhat beset by financial problems, which resulted in Colville Square, Terrace and Gardens only being begun in 1860. In 1928 the square was owned by Trustees Mr Coxe and Mr Stokes and the garden was for the use of lessees of 26 houses adjoining it, managed by a Committee of lessees. Even at that time the Report of the Royal Commission on London Squares states that 'the property has depreciated much in value, and the houses which were originally let as houses have now nearly all been turned into tenements, and whereas formerly each house one key to the gardens, now about 5 families crowd into the gardens with 5 keys from each house. The children are turned in to play and do a great deal of damage'. The garden at that time was 'laid out with lawns and flower beds' and was felt to 'add greatly to the amenity of the houses adjoining it'. The area became increasingly run down and was eventually rehabilitated in the 1960s.
The narrow garden incorporates shrubs and floral planting at the northern end with a circular bed around an ornamental stone urn, and a small play area for younger children. It was recently redesigned. Adjacent is Colville Nursery Centre created in memory of Pat McDonald (d.1986) who is described in the accompanying plaque: 'working class heroine, lived and worked in North Kensington from the 1960s until her death. She was the driving force behind campaigns for better housing, more play spaces and new nurseries.'
The narrow garden incorporates shrubs and floral planting at the northern end with a circular bed around an ornamental stone urn, and a small play area for younger children. It was recently redesigned. Adjacent is Colville Nursery Centre created in memory of Pat McDonald (d.1986) who is described in the accompanying plaque: 'working class heroine, lived and worked in North Kensington from the 1960s until her death. She was the driving force behind campaigns for better housing, more play spaces and new nurseries.'
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ247811 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 0.178 |
| Site Ownership | RB Kensington & Chelsea |
| Site Management | Leisure Services, Parks and Open Spaces |
| Dates | c1860 |
| Designers | T S Tippett |
| 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 | Kensington & Chelsea |
| In Conservation Area | Yes |
| Conservation Area Name | Coleville |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | No |
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
Colville Gardens was built as part of the development in the area by Dr Samuel Walker, which he commenced from the 1850s. He was somewhat beset by financial problems, which resulted in delays to building Colville Square, Terrace and Gardens, which took place from 1860. The area later became run down and was eventually rehabilitated in the 1960s. There is a strip of communal landscaping for residents of 'Pinehurst Court', with lawns, mature trees and shrubbery, railed to the road.
This public garden was formerly a private communal garden for the houses around Powis Square, which was developed as part of the Colville Estate in 1860. The area has been rehabilitated since the 1960s and a four-storey range of brick terraces has replaced part of one of the terraces. The garden has modern railings, an asphalted play area, a grass mound in the middle and a playground at the south end, with a modern sculpture on the mound.
* on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens
Arundel and Elgin Communal Garden is part of the Ladbroke Estate, laid out as a planned garden suburb with a coherent layout of concentric crescents and large communal gardens whose features were first suggested in a plan by architect and estate surveyor Thomas Allason in 1823. His scheme was later modified by others, including James Thomson, although Allason remained involved until his death in 1852. Building started in the 1840s; the outer concentric crescents date from the 1860s. During the lull in building development, the land was leased for a time for a racecourse, the Hippodrome, which operated from 1837-41. The garden has mature trees, shrubs and other planting, with a tall plane tree in the centre.
Arundel and Elgin Communal Garden is part of the Ladbroke Estate, laid out as a planned garden suburb with a coherent layout of concentric crescents and large communal gardens whose features were first suggested in a plan by architect and estate surveyor Thomas Allason in 1823. His scheme was later modified by others, including James Thomson, although Allason remained involved until his death in 1852. Building started in the 1840s; the outer concentric crescents date from the 1860s. During the lull in building development, the land was leased for a time for a racecourse, the Hippodrome, which operated from 1837-41. The garden has mature trees, shrubs and other planting, with a tall plane tree in the centre.