Description
The Slade Gardens are named after the Slade family who owned land in the area from the early C19th. The area was built over for housing by the 1870s. After WWII the LCC began purchasing land for public open space, and it was initially known as Ingleton Street Open Space, renamed The Slade Garden in 1958. In recent years the garden has been re-landscaped with a circular paved area and ring of ornamental trees and low shrubs, but is otherwise largely an open grass space. Some new trees have been planted and there are a few larger trees in the surrounding private gardens overlooking the park. It has an adventure playground with a mural on the adjacent wall. The park encompasses Slade Gardens Adventure Playground.
Practical Information
| Previously known as | Ingleton Street Open Space; The Slade Garden |
|---|---|
| Site location | Ingleton Street/Robsart Street/Stockwell Park Road/Lorn Road |
| Postcode | SW9 |
| What3Words | ///smile.buck.doing |
| Type of Site | Public Gardens |
| Borough | Lambeth |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | 7.30am - 15 minutes before sunset |
| Facilities | Children's play area (dog free), adventure playground, One O'Clock Club, dog exercise area |
| Public Transport | Tube: Stockwell (Victoria) |
| Research Updated | 22 June 2023 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
Stockwell was one of the earliest hamlets established in the area and was located around Stockwell Green (q.v.). The name derives from the woodlands ('stocks') and natural springs ('wells'), which undoubtedly contributed to the establishment of a settlement here. A Manor at Stockwell was granted a charter in the C13th and the eastern boundary of the manorial lands was probably between Durand Gardens and Stockwell Park Road. Much of the area remained farmland until its early-mid C19th development although wealthy merchants had began to build villas here in the C18th. The public gardens are named after the Slade family who were active in local affairs and owned much of the land from the early C19th. Robert Slade lived in Kennington Road and in 1804 purchased, with Randle Jackson, a 9.3-hectare copyhold estate in Lambeth Manor between Brixton Road, Stockwell Park Road, Lorn Road and Robsart Street, at that time undeveloped land. Most of the land was not built on until 1840 although some houses were built along Brixton Road soon after 1804. The Slade estate then passed to Robert Slade's sons William and Felix. The OS Map of 1870 shows houses and gardens on the site of Slade Gardens.
On 22 June 1944, a flying doodle bomb hit and destroyed several houses in Stockwell. Killing 11 people, the damage led to an empty space that allowed the formation of Slade Gardens which became the site of the adventure playground.
After WWII the County Council began purchasing land in the vicinity for public open space on a piecemeal basis, and it was initially known as Ingleton Street Open Space. In 1958 it was renamed The Slade Garden, and is now generally called Slade Gardens. When Ingleton Street was demolished half of the garden was laid out and open to the public in 1962. Part of the site is given over to an adventure play area. In 1999 Slade Gardens Community Play Association was created as a charitable trust responsible for running the Adventure Playground.
On 22 June 1944, a flying doodle bomb hit and destroyed several houses in Stockwell. Killing 11 people, the damage led to an empty space that allowed the formation of Slade Gardens which became the site of the adventure playground.
After WWII the County Council began purchasing land in the vicinity for public open space on a piecemeal basis, and it was initially known as Ingleton Street Open Space. In 1958 it was renamed The Slade Garden, and is now generally called Slade Gardens. When Ingleton Street was demolished half of the garden was laid out and open to the public in 1962. Part of the site is given over to an adventure play area. In 1999 Slade Gardens Community Play Association was created as a charitable trust responsible for running the Adventure Playground.
The public park abuts the Stockwell Park Conservation area forming an open setting from Stockwell Park Road.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ310763 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 1.97 |
| Site Ownership | LB Lambeth |
| Site Management | Environment Directorate, Parks and Greenspaces Unit (Team Lambeth). Friends of Slade Gardens |
| Dates | 1950s |
| Listed Structures | LBII: listed houses in Stockwell Park Road & Lorn Road |
| 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 | Lambeth |
| In Conservation Area | Yes |
| Conservation Area Name | Stockwell Park |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | No |
| Other LA Designation | Park Regeneration Area. Park. Article 4 Direction (Stockwell Park Road) |
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
Much of the area remained farmland until early-mid C19th development although wealthy merchants had began to build villas here in the C18th. The town houses of Durand Gardens, originally called The Grove, were built from 1840 onwards with a central garden laid out for use by the residents. The garden's irregular shape is possibly due to it being the site of a plague pit. Although it was once laid out as an ornamental garden it became neglected. In the 1980s the Durand Gardens Residents Association purchased the site, and it is now maintained as a woodland garden.
Max Roach Park was created in 1978 on an area cleared of its C19th semi-detached villas and terraced townhouses, as part of the Brixton Development Plan. It was initially was known as Angell Park after the local area, Angell Town. It was renamed Max Roach Park after the African American Jazz drummer Max Roach, who visited the park in 1986 to attend the renaming. The linear park is composed of 4 linked areas: amenity grassland, play facilities, trees, lighting and seating areas, and it provides a spacious setting in the context of the residential development and community use surrounding it, which comprise pre-war and later post-war housing immediately to the north. A nature trail extends from the park to Rush Common further south.
Stockwell Memorial Gardens is a small triangular space surrounding a fine white stone WWI memorial in the form of a clock tower. It was laid out c.1920 when the site at Stockwell Terrace was conveyed to Lambeth Borough Council. In 1928 it is described as having lawns and flower beds and 'very attractive'. Adjacent to it is the circular vents 'rotunda' and access buildings serving the 1940s Deep Underground Shelter which has been decorated with a painted mural. A mural unveiled in 2001 commemorates Violette Szabó, GC, and Stockwell residents who died in WWII. The mural unveiled in 2001 commemorates Violette Szabó, GC, and Stockwell residents who died in WWII.
On 8th October 2008 a statue entitled 'Bronze Woman' by Ian Walters was unveiled. The Bronze Woman is London’s first statue of an African-Caribbean woman.
In 2016 the road layout was rearranged to encourage cycling and pedestrians. The gardens were linked to an adjacent parade of shops (having previously been rather isolated as part of a gyratory traffic island amid heavy traffic) with a new avenue of trees planted alongside the shops and extending the gardens. The Bronze Woman statue was carefully re-sited to the north of the rotunda vents within the gardens as part of the 2016 works.
On 8th October 2008 a statue entitled 'Bronze Woman' by Ian Walters was unveiled. The Bronze Woman is London’s first statue of an African-Caribbean woman.
In 2016 the road layout was rearranged to encourage cycling and pedestrians. The gardens were linked to an adjacent parade of shops (having previously been rather isolated as part of a gyratory traffic island amid heavy traffic) with a new avenue of trees planted alongside the shops and extending the gardens. The Bronze Woman statue was carefully re-sited to the north of the rotunda vents within the gardens as part of the 2016 works.