Description
The site was made public property by a deed of gift by Mr T A Mason in February 1925, on the condition that it should be laid out as a garden providing a restful retreat for the aged and infirm. Originally called Seven Sisters Gardens, it was laid out with a central grass plat with a small circular pool at its centre, with seating, perimeter walks, raised mixed borders and a small square pavilion. The garden was later renamed Manchester Gardens. Having become neglected, improvements were undertaken in 2008 and the gardens have been redesigned, although retain a formal layout.
Practical Information
| Previously known as | Seven Sisters Gardens |
|---|---|
| Site location | Seven Sisters Road/Manchester Road/Heysham Road |
| Postcode | N15 |
| What3Words | ///item.awake.claps |
| Type of Site | Public Gardens |
| Borough | Haringey |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | dawn to dusk |
| Public Transport | Rail: Stamford Hill/Seven Sisters then bus. Tube: Seven Sisters (Victoria) then bus. Bus: 259, 279. |
| Research Updated | 25 May 2026 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
Manchester Gardens is a small rectangular plot to the east of Seven Sisters Road, bounded by Manchester Road to the north and Heysham Road to the south. The garden was the walled garden of a private house, which was made public property by a deed of gift by Mr T A Mason in February 1925, on the condition that it should be laid out as a garden providing a restful retreat for the aged and infirm. It was originally laid out with a central grass plat with a small circular pool at its centre; this was surrounded by perimeter walks in crazy paving, with bays for seats; raised mixed borders with stone retaining walls on each side; a small square pavilion, with pitched roof and two open sides at the north-west corner. The essential structure remained but the pond was later used as a planter, six rose beds were cut into the grass plat, the borders planted with shrubs only and plane trees were inappropriately planted at the lower level of the garden. In 2007 plans were drawn up to redesign park that led to an improvement programme carried out by Haringey Council in partnership with the New Deal for Communities (NDC) in the summer of 2008. The redesigned gardens retain a formal layout, the central focal point now a square wooden pergola with seating. A new ramp provides access to the lower level and a new entrance has been created from Heysham Road. A number of plane trees have been removed as has dense or tall shrubbery in order to aid visibility and safety. Flower beds on the lower borders have been planted to provide scent and colour. The gardens were re-opened by the Mayor of Tottenham.
Vartry Community Residents Association (VCRA) was set up to represent the interests and concerns of people living in the streets around Vartry Road, South Tottenham and their remit includes overseeing care of Manchester Gardens and Paignton Park with monthly litter picks in both parks. The group holds meetings where people can meet local councillors, police, refuse and recycling collectors to raise issues of concern. Recent projects in Manchester Gardens include creation of a leaf composter and a bug hotel. VCRA working together with the HAGA Gardening Group have planted bulbs in the park over the years.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ329881 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 0.2 |
| Site Ownership | LB Haringey |
| Site Management | Parks Service (West Green Neighbourhood); Vartry Community Residents Association (VCRA) |
| Dates | 1925; 2008 |
| 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 | Haringey |
| In Conservation Area | No |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| 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
In March 1898 Chestnuts House, which had been built in the mid-C19th, and 13 acres of its grounds were purchased by Tottenham UDC. With some additional land, it was laid out as Chestnuts Recreation Ground and opened in November 1900 in commemoration of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. The house was initially used as a public reading room and museum, later becoming a health clinic until it was demolished in the 1980s to make way for a Leisure Centre. At one time there was an ornamental fountain on a mound and various areas of ornamental planting; avenue of plane trees remain on the west, north and south boundaries of Chestnuts Park.
Stamford Hill Strips are four roadside grassed areas, with a few trees, which were handed over free of cost to the Metropolitan Board of Works in 1883 as public open space. Later owned and maintained by Hackney Borough Council, they are protected under the London Squares Preservation Act of 1931.
Woodberry Down Estate was built by the LCC to provide 1,667 flats, replacing Victorian houses on land acquired from the Church Commissioners before WWII. Building was delayed by the war and in 1943 the estate scheme was revised, work commencing in 1946. It included amenities such as schools, a library and health centre, and there was an emphasis on providing light and views for the residents, with open spaces and garden areas incorporated among the blocks of flats.