Description
Sanford Terrace is an elegant late C18th Georgian terrace, fronted by a wide strip of mown grass with trees along the perimeter with Rectory Road, enclosed by low rails and posts and crossed by paths. It once formed part of Stoke Newington Common.
Practical Information
| Previously known as | Sanford Place |
|---|---|
| Site location | Rectory Road |
| Postcode | N16 |
| What3Words | ///worker.chins.roses |
| Type of Site | Public Open Land |
| Borough | Hackney |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted |
| Public Transport | Rail: Rectory Road. Bus: 106, 73, 67, 76, 149, 243, 243A. |
| Research Updated | 1 November 2011 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
Sanford Terrace is an elegant late C18th Georgian terrace, fronted by a wide strip of mown grass with trees along the perimeter with Rectory Road, enclosed by low rails and posts and crossed by paths. It is adjacent to Stoke Newington Common (q.v.) and once formed part of the commonland, that was gradually encroached as the area was developed for housing. The terrace was built from 1775-8 by Henry Sanford, who built 29 houses in two ranges, Sanford Place and Sanford Terrace, now all named Sanford Terrace. Nos 9-17 were 3-storey houses that had sunken basements, and Nos. 18-21 had 2 storeys with attics and basements. At that time the west side of Stoke Newington High Street was being intensively developed. The terrace was renovated in 1974-75 by Hackney Borough Council following a public enquiry, which forbade their demolition.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ338865 |
|---|---|
| Site Ownership | LB Hackney |
| Site Management | Hackney Parks Service |
| Dates | 1788 |
| Listed Structures | LBII: Nos. 9-17 and 18-21 Sanford Terrace |
| 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 | Hackney |
| In Conservation Area | Yes |
| Conservation Area Name | Northwold and Cazenove |
| 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
Stoke Newington Common, once known as Cockhanger Green, was the village green and used for grazing until the C19th. The common extended to Stoke Newington High Road but was gradually eroded from the early C18th, particularly to the west. Part was taken for the railway in the 1860s although land was provided in compensation; since then the Common has been divided in two by the railway cutting. In 1872 the Common, now c. 5.5 acres, was protected as open space following the Metropolitan Commons Act 1866, when local people successfully petitioned to save 180 acres of common land in the borough for public use. It now comprises a number of green spaces of differing characters. The largest, eastern triangular area has mature London plane and lime trees.
West Hackney Recreation Ground was laid out as a public garden in 1885 on the site of the churchyard of West Hackney Church, after it had closed for burials. The parish had been formed in 1825 when the large Hackney parish of St John was divided into three to serve the growing population. The church was later rebuilt after damage in WWII. The oblong public garden has a number of gravestones in situ with others placed along the rear wall of the site. It is largely laid to grass with paths around a central lawn area, with shrubs, trees and perimeter beds, and a number of seats. In 2014 the garden was restored and re-landscaped; an area of the former churchyard between the church and the public garden, previously inaccessible, is now publicly accessible.
* on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens
Abney Park Cemetery, one of London's 'magnificent seven' private cemeteries, opened in 1840 to meet the need for Non-Conformist burial. The chosen site was formerly part of the grounds of Fleetwood House and Abney House, both important as meeting places for Dissenters; hymn-writer Isaac Watts stayed in both houses and has a monument in the cemetery. With a fine chapel as the centrepiece, it was laid out as a garden cemetery and landscaped by George Loddiges with plants supplied from his nursery in Hackney. It had an extensive arboretum and a rosarium, and some earlier features from the former grounds were retained. It was enlarged in 1843, again landscaped by Loddiges, and continued to develop until the 1870s. Many important Non-conformists have been buried here. Now run by Abney Park Trust, it is managed as a nature reserve.
Abney Park Cemetery, one of London's 'magnificent seven' private cemeteries, opened in 1840 to meet the need for Non-Conformist burial. The chosen site was formerly part of the grounds of Fleetwood House and Abney House, both important as meeting places for Dissenters; hymn-writer Isaac Watts stayed in both houses and has a monument in the cemetery. With a fine chapel as the centrepiece, it was laid out as a garden cemetery and landscaped by George Loddiges with plants supplied from his nursery in Hackney. It had an extensive arboretum and a rosarium, and some earlier features from the former grounds were retained. It was enlarged in 1843, again landscaped by Loddiges, and continued to develop until the 1870s. Many important Non-conformists have been buried here. Now run by Abney Park Trust, it is managed as a nature reserve.