Description

Opened in 1929 and laid out by West Ham Council, Lister Gardens was named after Lord Joseph Lister, founder of modern antiseptic surgery, who was born in Upton House, West Ham in 1827. Lister Gardens is one of the smallest public gardens in the borough and features ornamental flower beds, curving brick-edged beds largely planted with shrubs near the children's playground, a system of curving paths, tennis courts, and is surrounded by modern railings.

Practical Information

Site location Upper Road/Florence Road, Plaistow
Postcode E13 0DR
What3Words ///healthier.lasted.stud
Type of Site Public Gardens
Borough Newham
Open to Public Yes
Opening Times dawn to dusk
Facilities Play area, multi-use games area
Public Transport Tube: Plaistow (District, Hammersmith & City). Bus: 69, 241, 262, 473.
Research Updated 22 May 2026
Last Updated 18 October 2026

Full description

Opened in 1929 and laid out by West Ham Council, Lister Gardens was named after Lord Joseph Lister (1827-1912) founder of modern antiseptic surgery, who was born in Upton House, West Ham. The Quakers were established in Plaistow by 1671 and the Lister family was one of a number of famous Quaker families who attended the Meeting House in North Street, Barking, which had been built in 1704. A larger Meeting House was built in 1823, but by 1870 the meeting had moved to the Wanstead Meeting House and the Plaistow Meeting House closed in 1924. In 1893 St Peter's Church was built in the grounds of Upton House, which became the vicarage until it was demolished in 1967-8 and Joseph Lister Court was built here.  

Although much of the area was built over by the early C20th the triangular parcel of land remained open land until Lister Gardens was laid out (see OS 25ins Edition of 1919, Essex New Series nLXXXVI.6). Early features shown on the maps included tennis courts, public toilets, planting throughout and a sinuous path system (OS Revision of 1939, LXXXVI.2 and TQ4083SW-C, published 1969). By the mid-1950s a playground had been added in the south corner (OS 1:1250 TQ4082NW).

It is one of the smallest public gardens in the borough and features ornamental flower beds, curving brick-edged beds largely planted with shrubs near the children's playground, and surrounded by modern railings. The original system of curving paths is largely visible, but the tennis courts are now a multi-use games area. The park's entrances have decorative gates with floral motifs. 

Further Information

Grid Reference TQ401830
Size in hectares 0.38
Site Ownership LB Newham
Site Management Parks & Conservation
Dates 1929
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 Newham
In Conservation Area No
Tree Preservation Order No
Nature Conservation Area No
Green Belt No
Metropolitan Open Land No
Special Policy Area No

Gallery

Lister Gardens, March 2001. Photograph Sally Williams
Lister Gardens, March 2001. Photograph Sally Williams

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