Description
Porchester Square is a mid-C19th square completed by 1858, one of the last areas of Bayswater to be developed. The overall layout was overseen by George Gutch, the surveyor of the Bishop of London's extensive Paddington Estate from 1822. The garden was provided for the private use of occupiers of the square, and was managed by a Committee of occupiers. Porchester Square Gardens were acquired by Paddington Borough Council and opened to the public in 1955. Only the peripheral walk relates to the original layout, and the planting, beds and path layout have since been remodelled.
Practical Information
| Site location | Porchester Square, Bayswater |
|---|---|
| Postcode | W2 6AW |
| What3Words | ///wished.clean.leads |
| Type of Site | Garden Square |
| Borough | Westminster |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | 8am - dusk |
| Facilities | Children's playground |
| Public Transport | Tube: Royal Oak (Hammersmith & City). Bus: 18, 36 |
| Research Updated | 1 November 2007 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
At least 8 builders were responsible for building the houses of Porchester Square, evidenced by the variety of architectural detail. The terrace to the north was built in 1851 by George Wyatt. The square is named from one of the estates in Hampshire of the Thistlewaite family who had leased land from the Bishop of London from at least 1750. The garden enclosure was provided as a private garden for occupiers of the square, and it was managed by a Committee of occupiers, the expenses of maintenance assessed proportionately on each house. The Paddington Estate Trustees had the power to undertake maintenance work in the case of neglect. In 1928 the garden was described as 'an oblong enclosure flanked on three sides by roads and on one (long) side by the rear of buildings. Enclosed by a wall and, in parts, an untidy solid fence'. It was laid out with lawns and flower beds.
In 1955 the Church Commissioners offered leases on the houses on the square for sale, as a result of which the northern side and some of the surrounding area were purchased by the LCC in order to rehabilitate the houses. This was completed in the mid-1960s by the GLC, who succeeded the LCC. The gardens had been acquired by Paddington Borough Council and first opened to the public in 1955. There is a row of lime trees down the length of the garden, but only the peripheral walk relates to the 1872 OS Map, and beds and path layout have been remodelled since 1862-5. Mature trees include London plane and there are also Indian horse chestnut trees planted to replace trees damaged in the 1987 storm. The square is bounded by recent railings; there are ornamental bedding displays, and a play area at the east end.
The Porchester Centre to the west of the square was built in 1925 when the baths were opened. Porchester Hall and the Paddington Library were added in 1929 and 1930, the latter overlooking the square from the western end. Photographs c.1900 of The Lodge, Porchester Square, show wall and gate piers surmounted by cast iron lamps at the entrance on Porchester Road.
In 1955 the Church Commissioners offered leases on the houses on the square for sale, as a result of which the northern side and some of the surrounding area were purchased by the LCC in order to rehabilitate the houses. This was completed in the mid-1960s by the GLC, who succeeded the LCC. The gardens had been acquired by Paddington Borough Council and first opened to the public in 1955. There is a row of lime trees down the length of the garden, but only the peripheral walk relates to the 1872 OS Map, and beds and path layout have been remodelled since 1862-5. Mature trees include London plane and there are also Indian horse chestnut trees planted to replace trees damaged in the 1987 storm. The square is bounded by recent railings; there are ornamental bedding displays, and a play area at the east end.
The Porchester Centre to the west of the square was built in 1925 when the baths were opened. Porchester Hall and the Paddington Library were added in 1929 and 1930, the latter overlooking the square from the western end. Photographs c.1900 of The Lodge, Porchester Square, show wall and gate piers surmounted by cast iron lamps at the entrance on Porchester Road.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ259814 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 0.388 |
| Site Ownership | WCC |
| Site Management | Parks Service (Contractors: Continental Landscapes Ltd) |
| Dates | 1850s |
| Listed Structures | LBII: houses on the south side of Gloucester Terrace looking from the back on to the garden |
| 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 | Westminster |
| In Conservation Area | Yes |
| Conservation Area Name | Bayswater |
| Tree Preservation Order | Yes |
| Nature Conservation Area | Yes - Local Importance |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | No |
| Other LA Designation | London Square |
Gallery
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
Westbourne Gardens, roughly triangular in plan, have a dominant terrace at the western base. Originally a private garden, it was acquired by WCC and opened to the public in the C20th. The asphalt paths are a simplified version of the pattern surveyed in 1862, and are possibly original. The garden boundary has recent railings and is planted with lime trees; within the garden there are several notable London plane trees, with shrubs and bedding displays.
The Hallfield Estate was one of the first housing estates to be built in Westminster after WWII and was intended as a radical model for Paddington's post-war re-housing programme. The housing estate and Hallfield School were laid out on an area that had suffered severe bomb damage, where there had previously been C19th houses, including some detached villas with large gardens and the estate incorporated some mature trees from the former gardens. The blocks of flats are separated by wide greens, with flower beds near the housing and the landscaping included mounding, flowering shrubs, a hedged garden, and rose beds, and the school is set in landscaped grounds. The estate incorporated some mature trees from the former gardens, including fine London planes, horse chestnut, sycamore, ash, mulberry, magnolias and catalpa.
Cleveland Gardens was laid out in c.1855 when the formerly rural area was being developed as part of the Paddington Estate. The garden was entirely refurbished in 2006, the work undertaken by the Residents' Association with the help of grants from EH and WCC. The scheme reinstated traditional Victorian railings to replace the old chain link fencing, paths were reformed and edged, and the garden was replanted. 3 notable London plane trees remain from the earlier garden. A condition of the grant aid was that the garden had to open to the public on 21 days a year.
