Description
This triangular site was originally a communal garden at the centre of a private development of houses erected in the 1890s. By 1928 it was owned by Holmewood Gardens Limited who managed the garden out of a rent of 10s per annum paid by each house on the estate. It originally fell within LB Wandsworth prior to borough boundary changes. In the 1960s the garden was conveyed to LB Lambeth under the 1906 Open Spaces Act. Restoration works in 1988 included new railings and the intervening roadway was closed off. The garden is divided into two sections either side of a public pathway. Both areas are grassed with a playground in the north area; within the garden are a few mature plane trees and some ornamental species.
Practical Information
| Site location | Holmewood Gardens, Brixton Hill |
|---|---|
| Postcode | SW2 2SJ |
| What3Words | ///ideal.joined.solid |
| Type of Site | Garden Square |
| Borough | Lambeth |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | 7.30am - 15 minutes before sunset |
| Facilities | playground |
| Public Transport | Rail/Tube: Brixton (Victoria) then bus. Bus: 159, 59, 433, 133, 250, 118, 45, 2 |
| Research Updated | 1 April 2002 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
Holmewood Gardens has a children’s playground in its northern section, and in the southern section is a meadow, community orchard and dog exercise area. It also includes benches, ornamental herbaceous planting, and is surrounded on its boundaries with a mixture of hedges and mature or young trees. Local residents and other site users are involved in management of the garden, and are represented through the Holmewood Neighbourhood Association. There are regular volunteering events, gardening and tree maintenance works.
Holmewood Gardens is one of Lambeth's 'Green Flag Award'-winning parks and open spaces.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ306736 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 0.64 |
| Site Ownership | LB Lambeth |
| Site Management | Environment Directorate, Parks and Greenspaces Unit (Team Lambeth) |
| Dates | c.1890 |
| 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 | Rush Common and Brixton Hill |
| 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. Open Space |
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
Dumbarton Court was built in 1936-39 for a property developer by W Vernon Coupland; the lease was purchased by Lambeth Borough Council in 1959. The planting consists of a small grassed area with trees and seating in front of block of flats to Brixton Hill.
Pullman Court was built by William Bernstein aimed at young professionals, and designed by architect Frederick Gibberd, a striking modern estate. Originally to be called Relay House, the new development became Pullman Court, possibly to make the connection with what had become a by-word for high speed travel. Many of the existing trees on the site were retained and the blocks were set in landscaped grounds. Among other amenities were roof gardens, an open-air swimming pool, restaurant and social club.
Palace Road Nature Garden is on the former garden of a large Victorian house demolished in the 1980s. The site was purchased by Lambeth Council and landscaped with a pond and circular paths, overlaying the earlier domestic garden. A number of the trees and shrubs as well as part of the path system date from the original garden with specimen trees including evergreen oak, Swedish whitebeam and conifer now overlaid by native tree and regenerated native plant material. The pond has good aquatic planting, with a meadow near the entrance. The small park is off a tree-lined road with wide grass verges, itself an important survival of earlier landscaping.