Description
Private communal gardens provided for residents of the houses that surround it, which were built as part of the Gunter Estate development in the area that took place from 1840s. The development of the northern part of their estate came a little later, encouraged by construction of the Metropolitan and District Railways here. Harrington Gardens was built between 1880-88; the communal gardens were laid out with trees, shrubs and lawns and were for the use of lessees as well as those in nearby houses, on payment of a garden rent.
Practical Information
| Site location | Harrington Gardens |
|---|---|
| Postcode | SW7 |
| What3Words | ///obey.verbs.studio |
| Type of Site | Garden Square |
| Borough | Kensington & Chelsea |
| Open to Public | No |
| Opening Times | private, for keyholders only |
| Public Transport | Tube: Gloucester Road (District, Circle) |
| Research Updated | 1 October 2007 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
Harrington Gardens is on the former farmland and fields, known as the Court Fields and originally belonging to Earl's Court Manor, that was later owned by the Gunter family who began to develop their estate from the late 1840s. Work commenced with The Boltons (q.v.) and proceeded northwards, with development in the north part of the Gunter Estate taking place from the 1870s, accelerated by the construction of the Metropolitan and District Railways. The picturesque houses of Harrington Gardens, built between 1880-88 and designed by Ernest George and Harold Peto have been described as the best of the architecture in this area, along with Nos. 1-18a Collingham Gardens, also by George and Peto.
The houses are placed in a setting of two simple rectangular communal gardens, divided by Ashburn Place. These were laid out very formally with paths, trees and shrubs around the edge (see OS 1894-6). In 1928 the garden, then owned by Lady George Campbell, was described as an 'enclosure of irregular shape flanked on two sides (one very short) by roads and on the remaining sides by the rear or sides of dwelling-houses. Laid out as a lawn, with some well-grown trees around the border'. It was maintained by a Garden Committee composed of occupying lessees who were entitled to use the gardens on payment of a garden rent; in some cases residents in the near neighbourhood were also permitted to use the gardens, subject to an agreed payment. The original cast iron gate has a floral motif, the railings on either side are square in section (c. 1930). No. 39 Harrington Gardens is associated with W S Gilbert.
The houses are placed in a setting of two simple rectangular communal gardens, divided by Ashburn Place. These were laid out very formally with paths, trees and shrubs around the edge (see OS 1894-6). In 1928 the garden, then owned by Lady George Campbell, was described as an 'enclosure of irregular shape flanked on two sides (one very short) by roads and on the remaining sides by the rear or sides of dwelling-houses. Laid out as a lawn, with some well-grown trees around the border'. It was maintained by a Garden Committee composed of occupying lessees who were entitled to use the gardens on payment of a garden rent; in some cases residents in the near neighbourhood were also permitted to use the gardens, subject to an agreed payment. The original cast iron gate has a floral motif, the railings on either side are square in section (c. 1930). No. 39 Harrington Gardens is associated with W S Gilbert.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ260787 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 0.3411 |
| Site Ownership | private |
| Dates | 1880-88 |
| Designers | Ernest George and Harold Peto |
| Listed Structures | LBII*: 35 & 37, 39, 41, 43, 45 Harrington Gardens. LBII: Nos. 1-3 with railings to basement area, 20 & 22, 24 & 26 Harrington Gardens; pair of K6 telephone kiosks on corner of Gloucester Road/Harrington Gardens |
| 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 | Courtfield |
| Tree Preservation Order | Not known |
| 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
Ashburn Place is within the Courtfields area. The Court Fields were once part of the land held by Earl's Court Manor, but later owned by the Gunter family who had farms and agricultural land here. They began developing the area for housing from the late 1840s onwards although the northern part of their estate was undeveloped until the 1870s. Many of the street names reflect the Gunter family links with Yorkshire. The garden enclosure east of Ashburn Place has fine railings and gateway with lawn and mature trees.
Now a landscaped area behind the Holiday Inn, this was once part of private communal gardens provided for residents of the houses that surrounded it, which were built as part of the Gunter Estate development that took place from 1840s onwards. The northern area of the estate was developed from 1865, encouraged by the arrival of the railway. The garden was laid out with lawn, shrubbery and trees, and was accessible to lessees of houses abutting. A garden rent for its upkeep was reserved in the leases. A number of mature plane trees remain from the original garden square.
The private communal garden was provided for residents of the surrounding houses, which were built as part of the Gunter Estate development commencing in the 1840s. This area of the estate, including Wetherby Gardens, was built in the 1880s and the garden was available to freeholders and lessees of surrounding houses as well as in certain neighbouring streets including Ashburn Place and Harrington Gardens. The garden was laid out with trees, grass and flower beds. Surrounded by large blocks of houses, the garden enclosure can be glimpsed from the street through an archway.