Description
Faraday Gardens opened in July 1905. The land was originally part of St Peter's Churchyard, which became a public garden in 1895. The Ecclesiastical Commissioners set aside this area for public recreation when they were developing the area. The gardens were named after the chemist and physicist Michael Faraday, who was born in Newington Butts in 1791 and lived in the area.
Practical Information
| Site location | Portland Street |
|---|---|
| Postcode | SE17 |
| What3Words | ///under.daring.voted |
| Type of Site | Public Gardens |
| Borough | Southwark |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | 7.30am - sunset |
| Facilities | Playgrounds, courts |
| Public Transport | Rail/Tube: Elephant & Castle (Northern, Bakerloo) then bus. Bus: 12, 35, 40, 45, 68, 171, 176, 468. |
| Research Updated | 1 June 2017 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
The land was originally part of St Peter's Churchyard (q.v.), which became a public garden in 1895; Faraday Gardens opened in July 1905. The freeholders, Ecclesiastical Commissioners, formed Faraday Gardens in 1905 when they were developing their land and set aside this area for public recreation and gave it to the Metropolitan Borough of Southwark who laid out a playground. The gardens were named after Michael Faraday, chemist and physicist famous for work with electricity and magnetism who lived in the area and was born in Newington Butts in 1791. He died in 1867 and is buried at Highgate Cemetery (q.v.). He is also commemorated locally by the central stainless steel sculptural feature at Elephant and Castle that masks a London Transport electricity sub-station. Trees in the park include wild cherry, lime, Norway maple, plum cherry, Italian alder, hornbeam, false acacia.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ325782 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 1.224 |
| Site Ownership | LB Southwark |
| Site Management | Parks |
| Dates | 1905 |
| 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 | Southwark |
| In Conservation Area | Yes |
| Conservation Area Name | Liverpool Grove |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | No |
| Other LA Designation | Local Park, Tier Two |
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
St Peter's Church, designed by Sir John Soane, was built in 1823-25 and its churchyard was in use until 1853. In 1895 at the instigation of the parish priest, Father Horsley, it was cleared of graves and converted as a public garden for the parishioners. It was laid out by the MPGA with grass and seats, the headstones largely placed around the edge of the garden. Father Horsley also established a small zoo on the rectory garden, nicknamed the Monkey Park, which was landscaped as a community garden with the participation of the local community, a new bench sculpture unveiled in 2005.
The southern portion of today's Nursery Row Park was laid out sometime between 1885-97, to provide open space for the growing local population. Known as East Street Recreation Ground, the park lay between Blendon Row and Orb Street. The MPGA assisted with funding for the layout and planting, which included perimeter plane trees that still survive today. In 1980 the park was extended to the north following slum clearance that saw demolition of streets including Nursery Row, after which the park was renamed,
The terraces of Sutherland Square were built in 1810-30, with a few houses dating from c.1845. The square was truncated when the railway was built across it, separating the east terrace from the rest of the square. In the centre of the west side was a small oval garden area, which was acquired by Southwark Borough Council for public open space and opened in 1922. Surrounded by hawthorn hedge, the garden is largely grass, with small trees and a couple of seats.