Description
Egerton Crescent Gardens are private communal gardens provided for residents of the adjacent houses, which were built in 1843 as part of the Smith's Charity Estate. The Trustees of the Estate began building on the estate land from 1823, appointing George Basevi as estate architect in 1828. The garden is bordered by its original railings and privet hedging, and has lawn, shrubs and mature trees.
Practical Information
| Site location | Egerton Crescent |
|---|---|
| Postcode | SW3 |
| What3Words | ///shins.ready.translated |
| Type of Site | Garden Square |
| Borough | Kensington & Chelsea |
| Open to Public | No |
| Opening Times | private, for keyholders only |
| Public Transport | Tube: South Kensington (District, Circle, Piccadilly) |
| Research Updated | 1 October 2007 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
This was part of the Smith's Charity Estate, which was a substantial land holding from the time of the bequest of the City merchant Henry Smith, who died in 1628. The stuccoed terraces with their delicate cast iron balconies were probably designed by architect George Basevi and built in 1843. The garden enclosure has its original sturdy railings, a privet hedge that provides privacy, and among the trees are mature robinia pseudoacacia and plane. Owned by the Trustees of the Smith's Charity Estate, in 1928 the garden was described as 'surrounded by thick privet hedge and shrubs, and laid out as a garden with well-kept lawns, &c. Contains some well-grown trees. Overlooked by dwelling-houses'. It was maintained by a Garden Committee, and it was available for use by lessees of the houses adjoining the garden who paid a proportion of the expense; the leases expired in 1941.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ272789 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 0.2784 |
| Site Ownership | Wellcome Trust |
| Dates | 1843 |
| Listed Structures | LBII: Nos.25-29 (consec.) Egerton Crescent |
| 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 | Thurloe Estate & 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 private communal gardens were provided for residents of the adjacent houses of Egerton Gardens, which were built in 1886-8 as part of the Smith's Charity Estate development. The Trustees of the Estate began building on the estate land from 1823, appointing George Basevi as architect in 1828. The garden forms a narrow strip between two brick terraces and has cast-iron railings at either end.
Alexander Square was developed in 1827-30 for the Thurloe Estate, a wedge of land within the larger Henry Smith's Charity Estate that was owned by descendents of Sir William Blake (d.1630). The Estate had passed to John Alexander in 1799, who began housing development on the land from 1826, when he drew up an agreement with builder James Bonnin. George Basevi was appointed architect in 1829 and designed the north terrace. The two terraces are bisected by Alexander Place and are fronted by private roadway; between this and the main road are narrow garden enclosures with railings to the front, well planted with trees.
Two areas of communal gardens are provided for the residents of Egerton Terrace, which was built in the 1890s as part of Henry Smith's Charity Estate. The gardens comprise a small semi-circular area at the front and an area at the back of the terrace. Initial development in the area dates from 1785 but Egerton Place was subsequently replaced and rebuilt in the 1890s. The front garden has mature trees and has been re-landscaped with ornamental plants, flower beds in recent years.