Description
These private communal gardens were provided for the residents of Nevern Square, built in 1880-82 as part of the development of the Edwardes Estate. The garden was laid at an early stage of the development. William Edwardes, whose father had married into the Rich family who owned the Earl's Court Estate, had become Baron Kensington in 1776 and by the early C19th it was the largest estate in Kensington. The family's links with Pembrokeshire are reflected in street names, Nevern or Nanhyfer taken from a Welsh parish and river. The garden was purchased by local residents in 1974, who formed a non-profit-making company. Seven plane trees may have been part of the original planting, and the garden has a wide variety of trees.
Practical Information
| Site location | Nevern Square |
|---|---|
| Postcode | SW5 9NW |
| What3Words | ///dunes.shade.soak |
| Type of Site | Garden Square |
| Borough | Kensington & Chelsea |
| Open to Public | Occasionally |
| Opening Times | Has opened for London Open Gardens. Otherwise private, for keyholders only |
| Special Conditions | no dogs except at certain times |
| Facilities | Children's sand pit, swings |
| Public Transport | Tube: Earl's Court (District, Piccadilly). Bus: C1, C3, 74, 328 |
| Research Updated | 1 October 2007 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
Nevern Square is part of the Edwardes estate, in the early C19th the largest estate in Kensington consisting of 3 adjoining areas that together comprised c.250 acres. In 1721 the Earl's Court estate lands belonging to the Rich family, Earls of Warwick and Holland, were inherited by Elizabeth, aunt of Edward Henry Rich, who was married to Francis Edwardes of Haverfordwest in Pembrokeshire. Their third son William inherited the property here in 1738 and was later created Baron Kensington in 1776. The links with Pembrokeshire were further strengthened with his marriage to Elizabeth Warren of Longbridge, Pembrokeshire, and many of the street names reflect this when the Kensington estate was later developed; Nevern (Nanhyfer) comes from a Welsh parish and church taking the name from the river Nevern. However much of the estate remained agricultural until well into the C19th, with over 190 acres occupied by Earl's Court Farm, tenanted by the family of Samuel Hutchins from 1720, who lived in the Manor House. The relatively late development of the estate lands was partly due to the financial difficulties of the 2nd and 3rd Barons.
Nevern Square was developed by Robert Whitaker from 1880, who paid £250 an acre for the land. Whitaker had already built Nevern Place in 1874/6. In 1877 Lord Kensington's surveyor, Martin Stutely and his son-in-law Daniel Cubitt Nichols were granted permission to alter the permitted plans of this area, and when Cubitt Nichols replaced Stutely as Lord Kensington's adviser his taste for the new Domestic Revival style influenced Whitaker's Nevern Square, whose architect was Walter Graves. In the prospectus for Nevern Square each house had a relatively high ground rent of £23; the garden square was formed at an early stage of building and the occupants paid an annual rent of 2 guineas for its maintenance. An advertisement for the 'Substantial Family Residences' of Nevern Square includes an artist's impression of its garden square showing railings, perimeter trees and an elaborate path layout around a central feature. In 1928, in the ownership of Lord Iveagh, the garden was accessible to lessees of the surrounding houses, with licenses additionally granted to residents of the flats in Nevern Mansions, on payment of a garden rent. At that time it was maintained by Lord Iveagh as the ground landlord and had 'a lawn with trees and shrugs around the border'
The central garden today is framed on one side by yellow and red brick houses in the Queen Anne spirit, built between 1880-86; on the other side are subdued Italian villas with heavy paired porches. The square itself is lozenge shaped and wider to the north. The garden has 7 mature plane trees that may have formed part of the original planting, and among other trees are a wide variety including horse chestnut trees. A central lawn is surrounded by shrub and herbaceous borders. It is protected under the 1851 Garden Square Act. In 1974 Nevern Square Garden Ltd was established by local residents who purchased the freehold and took responsibility for the garden's maintenance. As a child in the early C20th the writer Compton Mackenzie lived at No.1 Nevern Square.
Nevern Square was developed by Robert Whitaker from 1880, who paid £250 an acre for the land. Whitaker had already built Nevern Place in 1874/6. In 1877 Lord Kensington's surveyor, Martin Stutely and his son-in-law Daniel Cubitt Nichols were granted permission to alter the permitted plans of this area, and when Cubitt Nichols replaced Stutely as Lord Kensington's adviser his taste for the new Domestic Revival style influenced Whitaker's Nevern Square, whose architect was Walter Graves. In the prospectus for Nevern Square each house had a relatively high ground rent of £23; the garden square was formed at an early stage of building and the occupants paid an annual rent of 2 guineas for its maintenance. An advertisement for the 'Substantial Family Residences' of Nevern Square includes an artist's impression of its garden square showing railings, perimeter trees and an elaborate path layout around a central feature. In 1928, in the ownership of Lord Iveagh, the garden was accessible to lessees of the surrounding houses, with licenses additionally granted to residents of the flats in Nevern Mansions, on payment of a garden rent. At that time it was maintained by Lord Iveagh as the ground landlord and had 'a lawn with trees and shrugs around the border'
The central garden today is framed on one side by yellow and red brick houses in the Queen Anne spirit, built between 1880-86; on the other side are subdued Italian villas with heavy paired porches. The square itself is lozenge shaped and wider to the north. The garden has 7 mature plane trees that may have formed part of the original planting, and among other trees are a wide variety including horse chestnut trees. A central lawn is surrounded by shrub and herbaceous borders. It is protected under the 1851 Garden Square Act. In 1974 Nevern Square Garden Ltd was established by local residents who purchased the freehold and took responsibility for the garden's maintenance. As a child in the early C20th the writer Compton Mackenzie lived at No.1 Nevern Square.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ252785 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 0.4666 |
| Site Ownership | Nevern Square Garden Ltd |
| Site Management | Nevern Square Garden Ltd |
| Dates | 1877 |
| 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 | Kensington & Chelsea |
| In Conservation Area | Yes |
| Conservation Area Name | Nevern Square |
| 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
The private communal rear garden was provided for residents of Philbeach Gardens, which was developed as part of the Edwardes Estate in the early C19th. Francis Edwardes, who married into the Rich family who owned the Earl's Court Estate, was from Pembrokeshire and many of the street names reflect this connection. Philbeach was a village in Marloes parish, Pembrokeshire. His son William inherited the estate and was created Baron Kensington in 1776. The relatively late development of the land was partly due to the financial difficulties of the 2nd and 3rd Barons. In 1875 Lord Kensington's surveyor made application to the Metropolitan Board of Works to form the roadway of Philbeach Gardens and building began in 1876. The crescent-shaped garden once had tennis courts.
Earl's Court Square was developed as part of the Edwardes Estate. Building of the square began from 1868/72, the south side the last to be completed. The name derives from the courthouse of the Earls of Warwick and Holland, formerly Lords of the Manor. The communal garden for the use of lessees of the surrounding houses was a simple rectangle with grass, paths leading to a central circular feature and around the perimeter; at one time there were tennis courts. In later years poor maintenance by the owners led to the formation of a Residents Association, who sought to rectify this. A Garden Committee was established in 1974 and improvements have included new steel railings, an irrigation system and flood-lighting, new garden shed, circular seating around the central plane tree and children's play equipment.
Barkston Gardens is a private communal garden 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. Barkston Gardens was the former site of Earl's Court House, demolished 1886. The garden was laid out with trees, grass and flower beds and maintained by a Committee; the freehold was purchased by the residents in 1993.