Description
Hanover Gardens was developed in c.1850 by the Islington builder, John Glenn, who also developed Albert Square in Lambeth. This scheme, however, was far more modest in its proportions. The terraced houses enclose a pleasant green area planted with trees and grass. The garden was initially maintained by covenants paid by the lessees but by 1928 the owner, a Miss M A V Bate, maintained it at her own cost, employing a gardener. At that time it was described as 'a small enclosure at the end of a cul-de-sac. Rough grass with a few trees. Overlooked by dwelling-houses'.
Practical Information
| Site location | Hanover Gardens |
|---|---|
| Postcode | SE11 |
| What3Words | ///dream.orange.spare |
| Type of Site | Garden Square |
| Borough | Lambeth |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted |
| Public Transport | Tube: Oval (Northern). Bus: 155, 36, 436, 3, 159, 59, 133 |
| Research Updated | 1 March 2003 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ310775 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 0.036 |
| Site Ownership | private |
| Dates | c.1850 |
| Listed Structures | LBII: Hanover Gardens houses |
| 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 | Lambeth |
| In Conservation Area | Yes |
| Conservation Area Name | St Marks |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | No |
| Other LA Designation | Protected London Square |
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
The site was once part of Little Common of Kennington Manor also called Gallows Common or Gallows Green due to the executions that took place here. St Mark's Church was one of the four 'Waterloo' churches built in the early 1820s under the auspices of the Church Commissioners. By 1881 the churchyard was neglected but a bid by the MPGA to turn it into a public garden in 1885 failed. In 1950 the vicar conveyed it to Lambeth Borough Council to lay out as a public garden; the headstones were removed against walls and it was grassed over. There are a number of old plane trees within the garden, which has fine railings and piers on the boundaries. A children's play area is in the south-west corner of the garden.
* on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens
Kennington Park was created when part of Kennington Common was enclosed by Act of Parliament in 1852. It opened to the public in 1854, laid out with a central area of lawns enclosed by tree-lined paths, with trees and shrubs on most boundaries, and sunken gardens with massed bedding. Further land was acquired in 1888 and 1921 as a result of which an enclosed Old English Garden was laid out, as well as a swimming pool with extensive playground. Other facilities provided over the years included a children's gymnasium, bandstand, refreshment house, drinking fountains and sports facilities. In the 1970s further land was added to the south-east.
Kennington Park was created when part of Kennington Common was enclosed by Act of Parliament in 1852. It opened to the public in 1854, laid out with a central area of lawns enclosed by tree-lined paths, with trees and shrubs on most boundaries, and sunken gardens with massed bedding. Further land was acquired in 1888 and 1921 as a result of which an enclosed Old English Garden was laid out, as well as a swimming pool with extensive playground. Other facilities provided over the years included a children's gymnasium, bandstand, refreshment house, drinking fountains and sports facilities. In the 1970s further land was added to the south-east.
Harleyford Road Community Garden is on the site of a Georgian terrace that had long front gardens facing onto Harleyford Road, which by the 1970s were mostly demolished. In 1984 local residents began to grow vegetables on the wasteland and set up the Harleyford Road Garden Association to undertake a feasibility study. The community garden was designed and laid out from 1986-88 and continues to be maintained by local residents. It is divided into several areas and consists of a children's play area, lawns, picnic area, shrubberies of native and exotic species, a greenhouse and allotments area for herbs and vegetables, and a small pond. Recent features include a mosaic wall, extended mosaic paths and new benches.