Description
Grounds of the Maria Assumpta Centre, built on the site of two former bishops' palaces, where the earliest plan of a garden dates from 1766. In 1859 the Sisters of the Assumption were invited by Cardinal Wiseman to open a house of Prayer at Kensington Square. They established a girls boarding school there in 1865, adding the Elementary School in 1870 and the Chapel in 1870/1. Other buildings were added over the years with different functions including a domestic training centre for young women, the first Montessori school, a primary school and a teacher training college. In 1978 the Maria Assumpta Centre was formed, providing educational and pastoral facilities. The garden has a variety of trees including mulberry, plane and fruit trees, and a Lourdes-style grotto.
Practical Information
| Previously known as | Maria Assumpta Centre |
|---|---|
| Site location | 21-23 Kensington Square/14 South End |
| Postcode | W8 |
| What3Words | ///wins.inner.appear |
| Type of Site | Private Garden |
| Borough | Kensington & Chelsea |
| Open to Public | Occasionally |
| Opening Times | open to users of the Centre and has opened for London Open Gardens |
| Public Transport | Tube: High Street Kensington (District, Circle). Bus: 9, 10, 27, 28, 31, 49 |
| Research Updated | 1 October 2007 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
The Maria Assumpta Centre occupies a corner of Kensington Square (q.v.). The convent was built on the site of two former bishops' palaces, the earliest plan of the garden here dates from 1766. In 1859 the Sisters of the Assumption then based in Earl's Court, were invited by Cardinal Wiseman to open a House of Prayer at Kensington Square. They established a girls boarding school there in 1865, adding the Elementary School in 1870 and the Chapel in 1870/1. The Chapel, on 21-22 Kensington Square, was built to designs by George Goldie and Child, with frescoes by Westlake although later damaged by a fire in 1957. The main building on 23 Kensington Square consists of 2 early Victorian houses for which Goldie designed additional buildings in 1875, with a single storey gallery across the front of the two houses and containing the main entrance probably added in 1925. By 1915 a domestic training centre for young women was opened. In 1921 the first Montessori school opened in England and Madame Montessori lectured at the Maria Assumpta Centre from time to time.
During World War II the centre was evacuated and used as a Civil Defence headquarters, the Montessori School and Our Lady of Victories Primary School re-opening in 1945. In 1946 the Maria Assumpta Teacher Training College was founded and the Primary School moved in 1956 to Clareville Street, and the Montessori School closed in 1959 as the college needed more space. Following reorganisation of teacher training, the College closed in 1978 and the Maria Assumpta Centre was formed, leasing its facilities to educational and pastoral organisations, providing residential accommodation for young women students, providing conference and rehearsal rooms to like-minded organisations.
The garden has a variety of trees including mulberry, plane and fruit trees, with a Lourdes-style grotto, shrubberies, climbing plants, herbaceous borders as well as animals.
During World War II the centre was evacuated and used as a Civil Defence headquarters, the Montessori School and Our Lady of Victories Primary School re-opening in 1945. In 1946 the Maria Assumpta Teacher Training College was founded and the Primary School moved in 1956 to Clareville Street, and the Montessori School closed in 1959 as the college needed more space. Following reorganisation of teacher training, the College closed in 1978 and the Maria Assumpta Centre was formed, leasing its facilities to educational and pastoral organisations, providing residential accommodation for young women students, providing conference and rehearsal rooms to like-minded organisations.
The garden has a variety of trees including mulberry, plane and fruit trees, with a Lourdes-style grotto, shrubberies, climbing plants, herbaceous borders as well as animals.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ257795 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 0.3 |
| Site Ownership | Maria Assumpta Centre |
| Site Management | Maria Assumpta Centre |
| Dates | 1766; 1860s/70s |
| Listed Structures | LBII: 20-22 Kensington Square (including Chapel), 23 Kensington Square (Convent) |
| 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 | Kensington & Chelsea |
| In Conservation Area | Yes |
| Conservation Area Name | Kensington Square |
| 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
This is one of the earliest of London's garden squares, providing private communal gardens for residents of Kensington Square, which was laid out from 1692 in the centre of Thomas Young's development at Kensington. Originally called King's Square after James II, Kensington Square was largely surrounded by fields until 1840. Among famous residents were the painter Edward Burne-Jones, philosopher John Stuart Mill and musician Sir Charles Hubert Parry.
Kensington Green is a new complex built in 1989-91 by architects Norman and Dawbarn, designed in neo-Victorian Italianate style with terraces, a medical centre and two nursing homes set within landscaping. It is built on the site of St Mary Abbots Hospital, which developed around the workhouse of 1848. Some of the gardens that were part of the workhouse survive, as well as old buildings such as Stone Hall and the gate piers on Marloes Road. Stone Hall was the male wing of the workhouse and designed by Thomas Allom.
* on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens
The Roof Gardens, among the earliest in England, were built for the new Derry and Toms Department Store, which opened in 1933. The Gardens were conceived by Vice-President of Barkers Trevor Bowen, who employed landscape architect Ralph Handcock to realise his vision and comprised 3 gardens from the outset: Spanish Garden, English Woodland Garden and Tudor Courtyard. Opened in May 1938 by the Earl of Athlone, the gardens became a popular attraction. Owned by Biba in the 1970s, and by Richard Branson since 1981, the Gardens becoming part of Virgin Limited Edition and hosted a members' club, a private function venue and, since 2001, the Babylon Restaurant on the 7th floor, which overlooks the gardens. They were extensively replanted in 2008/9 and remained home to exotic wildfowl including pink flamingos. The Spanish Garden was planted in the style of the 1950s, while the Tudor Courtyard was based on the Biba ethos and planting from the 1970s. The English Woodland was managed as a C21st environmental and wildlife garden. In 2018 the Roof Gardens closed when Virgin gave up their lease.
The Roof Gardens, among the earliest in England, were built for the new Derry and Toms Department Store, which opened in 1933. The Gardens were conceived by Vice-President of Barkers Trevor Bowen, who employed landscape architect Ralph Handcock to realise his vision and comprised 3 gardens from the outset: Spanish Garden, English Woodland Garden and Tudor Courtyard. Opened in May 1938 by the Earl of Athlone, the gardens became a popular attraction. Owned by Biba in the 1970s, and by Richard Branson since 1981, the Gardens becoming part of Virgin Limited Edition and hosted a members' club, a private function venue and, since 2001, the Babylon Restaurant on the 7th floor, which overlooks the gardens. They were extensively replanted in 2008/9 and remained home to exotic wildfowl including pink flamingos. The Spanish Garden was planted in the style of the 1950s, while the Tudor Courtyard was based on the Biba ethos and planting from the 1970s. The English Woodland was managed as a C21st environmental and wildlife garden. In 2018 the Roof Gardens closed when Virgin gave up their lease.