Description
The 33 mansion blocks of Queen's Club Gardens were built in the late C19th as this area was being developed for housing. The estate was named after the nearby Queen's Club sports centre, which had opened in 1886. The mansion blocks, all named after literary and historical figures, surround private communal gardens and tennis courts, which were provided for residents. The gardens contain a number of mature trees, including one particularly fine London plane tree.
Practical Information
| Site location | Queen's Club Gardens, Hammersmith |
|---|---|
| Postcode | W14 9TD |
| What3Words | ///kicks.hotels.fence |
| Type of Site | Housing/Estate Landscaping |
| Borough | Hammersmith & Fulham |
| Open to Public | No |
| Opening Times | private, but can be viewed |
| Public Transport | Tube: Barons Court (District, Piccadilly). Bus: 74, 190 |
| Research Updated | 1 November 2011 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
The area was largely undeveloped prior to the 1860s, much of it farmland. The opening of North End Fulham railway station (later West Kensington station) in 1874 encouraged speculative house building. The Queen's Club was established as a sports ground in 1886 on a former market garden called the Queen's Field. Prior to this the three leading sporting clubs in London were Lord's, Prince's Club and the Hurlingham Club. It became The Queen's Cricket Club and Ground under Gibbs and Flew Partners, the developers of the surrounding estate. The club provided facilities for lawn tennis from May 1887 and club buildings designed by William Marshall were completed by 1888.
Queen's Club Gardens were developed from 1892 by William H Gibbs, formerly of Gibbs and Flew, who were responsible for much of the housing in the area. The central red brick mansion flats were built on the site of a brickfield and named after the nearby sports club. They surround the communal garden and tennis courts. The estate consists of 33 mansion blocks in all, which are named alphabetically after famous literary or historical figures, from Matthew Arnold to Queen Zenobia, with the exception of 'X'. The garden is surrounded with specimen shrubs under London plane trees, with one notable mature plane tree on the lawn. It is dominated by two tennis courts. The garden boundary wall lost its railings during WWII, but through the efforts of residents new railings have been erected along the inside edge of shrub borders. In 1993 Queen's Club Gardens Ltd was founded to purchase the freehold and manage the estate, 90% of the lessees becoming members of the new company. The entrance has brick gate piers, and an iron gate.
Queen's Club Gardens were developed from 1892 by William H Gibbs, formerly of Gibbs and Flew, who were responsible for much of the housing in the area. The central red brick mansion flats were built on the site of a brickfield and named after the nearby sports club. They surround the communal garden and tennis courts. The estate consists of 33 mansion blocks in all, which are named alphabetically after famous literary or historical figures, from Matthew Arnold to Queen Zenobia, with the exception of 'X'. The garden is surrounded with specimen shrubs under London plane trees, with one notable mature plane tree on the lawn. It is dominated by two tennis courts. The garden boundary wall lost its railings during WWII, but through the efforts of residents new railings have been erected along the inside edge of shrub borders. In 1993 Queen's Club Gardens Ltd was founded to purchase the freehold and manage the estate, 90% of the lessees becoming members of the new company. The entrance has brick gate piers, and an iron gate.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ244778 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 0.79 |
| Site Ownership | Queen's Club Gardens Ltd |
| Site Management | Queen's Club Gardens Ltd Estate Office |
| Dates | 1894 |
| Designers | W H Gibbs |
| 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 | Hammersmith & Fulham |
| In Conservation Area | Yes |
| Conservation Area Name | Queens Club Gardens |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | No |
| Other LA Designation | Small Local Park; Open Space of Borough-wide Importance |
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
St Andrew's Church dates from 1874, as the area was changing from market gardens and orchards to housing. With increased housing development in ensuing decades the parish grew and the church was later enlarged in the 1890s. The churchyard garden has a mixture of trees and shrubs planted in a grassed area, and the church runs a Green Project.
Normand Park was created on the site of a C17th villa, Normand House, after WWII bombing severely damaged property in the area. In the C19th the house was used as an asylum, school and then a convent prior to its demolition. The LCC enclosed the bombed area for housing development and the public park, which opened in 1952. It was later extended to the south as further demolition took place and in 1971 it was transferred to Hammersmith & Fulham Council and completed with distinct areas providing playground, bowling green and sports areas. Fulham Pools opened here in 1982. In 2008 Normand Park re-opened after a major refurbishment project that has brought numerous new facilities.
The Queen's Club sports ground was first established here in 1886 as the area was being developed for housing. Initially established as a cricket ground, from 1887 the club provided facilities for lawn tennis for which it is now most famous. In 1953 the Lawn Tennis Association purchased the Club. In 2005/6 the Lawn Tennis Association began preparations to move its headquarters to a new National Tennis Centre in Roehampton and in 2006 The Queen's Club was sold to Club Members on a 120-year lease