Description
Quaker Gardens is all that remains of the former burial ground of the Society of Friends, or Quakers, on a site once part of Bunhill Fields that the Society purchased in 1661. The land was subsequently extended and thousands of Friends were buried here including George Fox, the Founder of the Society (d.1690). A school was built here in 1840 and in the corner of the garden is what remains of the Society's Memorial Buildings, built in 1881. All but one wing of the building was demolished as a result of WWII bombing. The burial ground was closed in 1855 and in 1880 the Metropolitan Board of Works compulsorily purchased some of the land. It was eventually laid out as a recreation ground in 1965 within the GLC's Banner Street estate. In one corner is a playground and small enclosed garden of the Quakers' Horticultural Project, which runs horticultural therapy workshops. The garden has impressive mature plane trees and a few monuments. It has been substantially re-landscaped with new planting and seating in recent years.
Practical Information
| Previously known as | Quaker Garden Bunhill Fields; The Friends Burial Ground, Bunhill Row |
|---|---|
| Site location | Banner Street |
| Postcode | EC1 |
| What3Words | ///active.crest.mining |
| Type of Site | Public Gardens |
| Borough | Islington |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | 8am - dusk |
| Facilities | Children's playground, tarmac ball court with basketball hoops |
| Public Transport | Rail/Tube: Old Street (Northern). Bus: 4, 43, 56, 153, 205, 214, 271 |
| Research Updated | 1 May 2013 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
The burial ground was closed in 1855 and eventually laid out as a recreation ground in 1965 within the GLC's Banner Street estate, built 1964-7. At that time part of the burial ground was lost to road widening. Some c.5000 bodies were re-interred in Bunhill Fields (q.v.) originally leaving George Fox's grave marked by a stone, but this was later removed as it attracted too many people. Within the garden are 3 notable plane trees, two of which may be C18th. In one corner is a playground and small enclosed garden of the 'Quakers' Horticultural Project' which runs horticultural therapy workshops. The burial ground is surrounded by estates by wall/railings with access from Banner Street to the north. In the north-west corner is the Society of Friends' Memorial Building built in 1881 by W W Lee, one wing of which remains, the rest demolished in WWII.
A plaque has the following inscription: 'These BUILDINGS stand on part of the OLD BUNHILL FIELDS BURIAL GROUND The First FREEHOLD possessed by LONDON FRIENDS used by them for BURIALS during nearly TWO HUNDRED YEARS it was closed to such Purposes in 1855 in 1880 the Metropolitan Board of Works purchased parts of the PROPERTY for widening STREETS from which and also from the Site of these Premises all remains of Interments being first carefully removed were re-interred in the GROUND adjoining And out of the PROCEEDS of such compulsory Sales these BUILDINGS with their HALLS COFFEE-TAVERN CLUB and COMMITTEE ROOMS have been built. Near this Spot GEORGE FOX was interred in 1690. previously EDWARD BURROUGH and some NINETY other MARTYR FRIENDS Who died in LONDON PRISONS HAD BEEN BURIED HERE. [for] the memory of these Ancient Worthies and for the furtherance of RELIGIOUS MORAL and PHILANTHROPIC OBJECTS are these BUILDINGS now DEDICATED by The SOCIETY of FRIENDS in LONDON [.. . . ] hope thereby to promote the best Welfare & Happiness of the surrounding Population. London 10 M 1881.'
A plaque has the following inscription: 'These BUILDINGS stand on part of the OLD BUNHILL FIELDS BURIAL GROUND The First FREEHOLD possessed by LONDON FRIENDS used by them for BURIALS during nearly TWO HUNDRED YEARS it was closed to such Purposes in 1855 in 1880 the Metropolitan Board of Works purchased parts of the PROPERTY for widening STREETS from which and also from the Site of these Premises all remains of Interments being first carefully removed were re-interred in the GROUND adjoining And out of the PROCEEDS of such compulsory Sales these BUILDINGS with their HALLS COFFEE-TAVERN CLUB and COMMITTEE ROOMS have been built. Near this Spot GEORGE FOX was interred in 1690. previously EDWARD BURROUGH and some NINETY other MARTYR FRIENDS Who died in LONDON PRISONS HAD BEEN BURIED HERE. [for] the memory of these Ancient Worthies and for the furtherance of RELIGIOUS MORAL and PHILANTHROPIC OBJECTS are these BUILDINGS now DEDICATED by The SOCIETY of FRIENDS in LONDON [.. . . ] hope thereby to promote the best Welfare & Happiness of the surrounding Population. London 10 M 1881.'
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ324822 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 0.19 |
| Site Ownership | LB Islington (Religious Society of Friends?) |
| Site Management | Greenspace; Friends of Quaker Gardens |
| Dates | 1661; 1965 |
| 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 | Islington |
| In Conservation Area | No |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | Yes - Archaeological Priority Area |
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
* on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens
Bunhill is probably a corruption of 'Bone Hill', and the area has been a site of burial for upwards of 1,000 years. The Corporation of London had originally enclosed this site for a new burial ground for plague victims just outside the City walls, but it was subsequently leased for a private cemetery. Bunhill Fields was established in 1665 and became the country's pre-eminent Nonconformist cemetery. Between 1665-1854, when it was closed for burials, some 123,000 interments took place, the oldest existing memorial that of Theophilus Gale, d.1678. Among many important Nonconformists buried here are John Bunyan, Susannah Wesley (mother of Charles and John Wesley), Isaac Watts, Daniel Defoe and William Blake. In 1868 it was converted into public gardens by the Corporation of London, when new walls and gates were erected, paths laid out and trees planted. Following bomb damage, after WWII the north area was largely cleared and laid out as a garden and the south area re-landscaped with 5 railed areas containing over 2000 monuments.
Bunhill is probably a corruption of 'Bone Hill', and the area has been a site of burial for upwards of 1,000 years. The Corporation of London had originally enclosed this site for a new burial ground for plague victims just outside the City walls, but it was subsequently leased for a private cemetery. Bunhill Fields was established in 1665 and became the country's pre-eminent Nonconformist cemetery. Between 1665-1854, when it was closed for burials, some 123,000 interments took place, the oldest existing memorial that of Theophilus Gale, d.1678. Among many important Nonconformists buried here are John Bunyan, Susannah Wesley (mother of Charles and John Wesley), Isaac Watts, Daniel Defoe and William Blake. In 1868 it was converted into public gardens by the Corporation of London, when new walls and gates were erected, paths laid out and trees planted. Following bomb damage, after WWII the north area was largely cleared and laid out as a garden and the south area re-landscaped with 5 railed areas containing over 2000 monuments.
Bartholomew Square is on land formerly belonging to St Bartholomew's Hospital, and replaced a square known as Old Street Square dating from c.1815. In 1894 the MPGA laid out an asphalted playground here. It has been renamed Bartholomew Square in recognition of the former connections of the site. The character of the area was all but obliterated in the 1970s by the GLC's rebuilding, which destroyed the whole pattern of the historic surroundings. Today the area is a hummocky grass patch bordered on three sides by low rise council blocks of Bartholomew Court and the St Luke's Estate. There are a few trees including horse chestnut and London plane and it is railed to Bartholomew Square.
Fortune Street and this small park are named after the Fortune Theatre, which was built for Edward Alleyn and Philip Henslowe in 1600 on Golden Lane, off which Fortune Street runs. The area was bombed during WWII and the site was laid out as Fortune Street Park in the early 1960s. In 2002 refurbishment works were undertaken, which included landscaping, provision of additional seating and re-siting of play equipment.