Description
This is one of four private communal gardens provided for residents of Evelyn Gardens, built as part of the Smith's Charity Estate. This garden serves the most northerly terrace, built in 1886. The Trustees of the Estate began building on the estate from 1823, appointing George Basevi as architect in 1828, who was succeeded by Henry Clutton and Charles James Freake. Two associated gardens are separately listed as Thistle Grove Gardens and Evelyn Gardens.
Practical Information
| Site location | Evelyn Gardens/Cranley Mews |
|---|---|
| Postcode | SW7 |
| What3Words | ///mats.wonderfully.jobs |
| Type of Site | Private Garden |
| Borough | Kensington & Chelsea |
| Open to Public | No |
| Opening Times | private |
| Public Transport | Tube: South Kensington (District, Circle, Piccadilly) |
| Research Updated | 1 October 2007 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
The communal garden is behind Evelyn Gardens and Cranley Mews. By the C17th the land in this area was largely owned by Henry Smith's Charity Estate, with part owned by the Thurloe Estate. Henry Smith, an Alderman of the City of London, had died in 1628 and left his fortune in trust for charity. The Trustees bought the estate c.1630 but the first recorded lease was not granted until 1664. A wedge of land within the Charity's Estate was owned by descendants of Sir William Blake (d.1630) and became the Thurloe Estate when Blake's descendant Anna Maria Browne conveyed it to John Thurloe Brace, her second husband, on their marriage in 1713. He was the grandson of John Thurloe (1616-1668), Oliver Cromwell's Secretary of State. Two other parcels of land at the west of the Smith's Charity Estate by Sallad Lane separated a section of the estate lands, part of Brompton Heath and later the site of Evelyn Gardens, from the main estate land. The Trustees of Henry Smith were granted building leases by an Act of Parliament in 1772.
Following the Napoleonic Wars the rapid development of parts of London began in earnest, including in this area of Kensington, which the Trustees of Henry Smith's Charity began to develop in 1823. They appointed George Basevi as architect in 1828 and subsequently Henry Clutton from 1845, later succeeded by Charles James Freake. Cranley Terrace, originally called Strong's Place and now Nos. 46-78 Fulham Road, was built by Freake in 1853-4 with mews behind. The west side of Cranley Gardens with mews behind was built from 1877-1880 before Freake's death. The development of Evelyn Gardens followed in 1886 and was undertaken by Freake's widow and Charles Townshend Murdoch. It was named after one of the Trustees, William John Evelyn. The three east-west terraces and the long north-south terrace were completed by 1892. Each of the terraces had its own communal rear gardens, including this site between Evelyn Gardens and Cranley Mews.
This garden was situated at the rear of Nos. 31-44 Evelyn Gardens and in 1928 was described as 'an enclosure of irregular shape flanked on two sides by roads and on two sides by the rear or sides of houses'. At that time these gardens were all owned by Trustees of Smith's Charity Estate and were for the use of lessees of adjoining houses who paid a portion of the expenses to maintain the garden, which was managed by a Garden Committee.
Following the Napoleonic Wars the rapid development of parts of London began in earnest, including in this area of Kensington, which the Trustees of Henry Smith's Charity began to develop in 1823. They appointed George Basevi as architect in 1828 and subsequently Henry Clutton from 1845, later succeeded by Charles James Freake. Cranley Terrace, originally called Strong's Place and now Nos. 46-78 Fulham Road, was built by Freake in 1853-4 with mews behind. The west side of Cranley Gardens with mews behind was built from 1877-1880 before Freake's death. The development of Evelyn Gardens followed in 1886 and was undertaken by Freake's widow and Charles Townshend Murdoch. It was named after one of the Trustees, William John Evelyn. The three east-west terraces and the long north-south terrace were completed by 1892. Each of the terraces had its own communal rear gardens, including this site between Evelyn Gardens and Cranley Mews.
This garden was situated at the rear of Nos. 31-44 Evelyn Gardens and in 1928 was described as 'an enclosure of irregular shape flanked on two sides by roads and on two sides by the rear or sides of houses'. At that time these gardens were all owned by Trustees of Smith's Charity Estate and were for the use of lessees of adjoining houses who paid a portion of the expenses to maintain the garden, which was managed by a Garden Committee.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ264782 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 0.1572 |
| Site Ownership | private |
| Dates | c1886 |
| 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 | Thurloe Estate and Smith's Charity |
| Tree Preservation Order | Yes - Area of trees |
| 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
These two areas of private communal gardens were provided for residents of the houses of Evelyn Gardens that overlook them, which built between 1886-96 as part of the Smith's Charity Estate. The Trustees of the Estate began building on the estate from 1823, appointing George Basevi as architect in 1828, who was succeeded by Henry Clutton and later Charles James Freake. Two associated gardens are separately listed as Thistle Grove Gardens and Cranley Mews.
This is one of four private communal gardens provided for residents of Evelyn Gardens, built as part of Smith's Charity Estate. Thistle Grove is the most westerly terrace, running north/south, built in 1891/2. The Trustees of the Estate began building on the land from 1823, appointing George Basevi as architect in 1828, who was succeeded by Henry Clutton, and later by Charles James Freake in 1865. Two associated gardens are separately listed as Cranley Mews and Evelyn Gardens.
These private communal gardens were provided for residents of Onslow Gardens, the rear of whose houses abut the garden. They were built between 1863-78 as part of the Henry Smith's Charity Estate. The Trustees of the Estate began building on the estate from 1823, appointing George Basevi as architect in 1828. He was followed by Henry Clutton and later Charles James Freake.