Description
This public garden was formerly a private communal garden for the houses around Powis Square, which was developed as part of the Colville Estate in 1860. The area has been rehabilitated since the 1960s and a four-storey range of brick terraces has replaced part of one of the terraces. The garden has modern railings, an asphalted play area, a grass mound in the middle and a playground at the south end, with a modern sculpture on the mound.
Practical Information
| Site location | Powis Square |
|---|---|
| Postcode | W11 |
| What3Words | ///export.shadow.beast |
| Type of Site | Garden Square; |
| Borough | Kensington & Chelsea |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | 7.30am - dusk |
| Facilities | Children's playground; floodlit hard sports area |
| Public Transport | Tube: Ladbroke Grove, Westbourne Park (Hammersmith & City). |
| Research Updated | 1 October 2007 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
One of the few squares to be owned by the local authority in this borough, and open to the public. Powis Square was built in 1860 for the Colville Estate, the houses designed by T S Tippett and are fully stuccoed. In 1928 the garden was still in the ownership of the Colville Estate Ltd, who maintained the garden, levying a rate on the residents for their use of the amenity. At that time it was described as a 'rectangular area flanked on three sides by roads and on one long side by the rear of houses. Laid out with lawns and trees.' It was judged to 'add greatly to the amenity of the houses adjoining and overlooking it'. The area has been rehabilitated since the 1960s and a four storey range of brick terraces by the Borough Architects Department has replaced part of one of the terraces. The square has modern railings, an asphalted play area, a grass mound in the middle and a playground at the south end, with a modern sculpture (no plaque) of two figures on the mound. Line of plane trees and some new trees. The Tabernacle community centre is at the north end of the square.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ249812 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 0.22 |
| Site Ownership | RB Kensington & Chelsea |
| Site Management | Leisure Services, Parks and Open Spaces |
| Dates | 1860; 1960s |
| 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 | 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
Colville Gardens was built as part of the development in the area by Dr Samuel Walker, which he commenced from the 1850s. He was somewhat beset by financial problems, which resulted in delays to building Colville Square, Terrace and Gardens, which took place from 1860. The area later became run down and was eventually rehabilitated in the 1960s. There is a strip of communal landscaping for residents of 'Pinehurst Court', with lawns, mature trees and shrubbery, railed to the road.
Now public gardens, this was formerly a private communal garden for the residents of houses on Colville Square. It was part of a development by Dr Samuel Walker that commenced in the 1850s but was not completed until the 1860s. During the C20th the area became increasingly rundown and was eventually rehabilitated in the 1960s. The garden has shrubs and floral planting at the northern end with a circular bed around an ornamental stone urn, and a small play area for younger children.
Formerly called St Stephen's Square, this small town square was laid out c.1850-55 as part of development of the area for the St Stephen's Estate. By 1928 the Trustees of the Estate had sold the houses in the square to the lessees, who had rights of access to the central garden under leases that ran until 1955. The garden had been owned by Stephen Phillips and in 1928 it was described as 'a narrow rectangular enclosure containing a few well-grown trees'. There are notable London plane trees at the east and west ends. The garden has a new pergola and central paved area, and a discreet playground at the western end, a modern urn at the eastern end.
