Description
St Andrew Street Garden to the west of St Andrew's Church was the site of an old bank destroyed in WWII. The land had been acquired for highway improvements and prior to 1969 was simply laid out. It was later hedged to create a more secluded space, which had a public chequerboard table provided. Re-landscaping post-2004 provided access between the public garden and adjacent St Andrew's Churchyard and a further scheme is now underway to create one public garden, due to be completed in August 2014. Across Holborn Viaduct another area of planting laid out in the 1960s on land acquired for highway improvement was re-landscaped in 2007/8 with planting, seating and a water feature as part of the development of 40 Holborn Viaduct.
Practical Information
| Previously known as | The Engineers' Garden |
|---|---|
| Site location | Holborn Circus/St Andrew Street; Holborn Circus/Holburn Viaduct/Charterhouse Street |
| Postcode | EC4A 3AB |
| What3Words | ///tidy.vibrates.foil |
| Type of Site | Public Gardens |
| Borough | City of London |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted |
| Public Transport | Tube: Chancery Lane (Central) |
| Research Updated | 1 June 2014 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
St Andrew Street Garden is a public garden west of St Andrew's Church (q.v.) adjacent to Holborn Circus. The site was that of an old bank destroyed in WWII, and the garden was developed post-war. Holborn Circus was built as a 'rond-point' at the west end of the Holborn Valley Improvement Scheme, when Holborn Viaduct was constructed in 1863-9 to improve road connections between the City and the West End avoiding the valley of the Fleet River. It was designed by the Surveyor to the City of London, William Haywood. The north churchyard of St Andrew's Church was purchased for the scheme. In the centre of Holborn Circus is an equestrian statue by Charles Bacon of Prince Albert, 1874, with reliefs commemorating the Great Exhibition and the third Royal Exchange (q.v.).St Andrew Street Garden, also called the Engineers Garden, is on land acquired for highway improvements post WWII.
Prior to 1969 it was simply laid out with fencing to the roads, grass and some planting. More recently it was hedged, making it a more secluded space with lawn, trees, shrubs, paths and seating and a public chequerboard table provided. Further works were carried out c.2004 as a result of plans developed by St Andrew's Church and presented to the Corporation of London. These included reducing the dividing wall, creating access between the churchyard and public garden, and re-landscaping works. In 2014 a new scheme is now in the process of being laid out to create one public garden of the two gardens, which is due to be completed in August 2014.t.
Opposite to the north is Holborn Circus Garden, which like St Andrew Street Garden was created on land acquired when highway improvements were carried out post World War II. It was initially laid out as a triangular area with grass, flowerbeds and a few trees between Charterhouse Street and Holborn Viaduct as it joins Holborn Circus. In 2004, when the new office development of 40 Holborn Viaduct by Rolfe Judd Architects was constructed on the site of the 1950s building, the scheme incorporated new landscaping, which now comprises planting, seats and a water feature.
Prior to 1969 it was simply laid out with fencing to the roads, grass and some planting. More recently it was hedged, making it a more secluded space with lawn, trees, shrubs, paths and seating and a public chequerboard table provided. Further works were carried out c.2004 as a result of plans developed by St Andrew's Church and presented to the Corporation of London. These included reducing the dividing wall, creating access between the churchyard and public garden, and re-landscaping works. In 2014 a new scheme is now in the process of being laid out to create one public garden of the two gardens, which is due to be completed in August 2014.t.
Opposite to the north is Holborn Circus Garden, which like St Andrew Street Garden was created on land acquired when highway improvements were carried out post World War II. It was initially laid out as a triangular area with grass, flowerbeds and a few trees between Charterhouse Street and Holborn Viaduct as it joins Holborn Circus. In 2004, when the new office development of 40 Holborn Viaduct by Rolfe Judd Architects was constructed on the site of the 1950s building, the scheme incorporated new landscaping, which now comprises planting, seats and a water feature.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ314815 |
|---|---|
| Site Ownership | City of London Corporation |
| Site Management | Open Spaces Dept. |
| Dates | pre-1960s (post WWII) |
| Listed Structures | LBII: Statue of Prince Albert (Holborn Circus) |
| 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 | City of London |
| In Conservation Area | No |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | No |
| Other LA Designation | Strategic Viewing Corridor |
Gallery
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Nearby parks and gardens
A timber church on the hilltop site is referred to in AD951 and Roman pottery has been discovered here. The medieval church of St Andrew Holborn was rebuilt in the C15th and, although unaffected by the Great Fire, was rebuilt by Christopher Wren in 1684-90 having become dilapidated. Gutted in WWII, it was subsequently rebuilt in 1960/1. There was a churchyard by 1348, which was full by 1754 requiring a new parish burial ground to be set up. Part of the churchyard was lost when the road was widened in the 1860s and bodies from the old churchyard were exhumed. The former churchyard is now a sunken garden with gate piers of c.1870 at the entrance from Holborn Viaduct, from where steps lead down to the church. Re-landscaping of the churchyard and adjacent public garden to create one public garden is due to be completed in August 2014.
Today there are two paved courtyards here but the central courtyard was once the garden of Barnard's Inn, one of the Inns of Chancery associated with Gray's Inn. The late C14th Hall survives, which in 1454 was tenanted by Lionel Barnard, hence the name, and the premises were used by law students. The freehold was purchased by the Mercers' Company in 1892 for use as the Mercers' School, which it remained until 1959. Since 1991 it has been the base for Gresham College, established in 1597 by Sir Thomas Gresham whose house in Bishopsgate was the first venue for free public lectures. On his death, Gresham left his estate and control of his benefaction to the City of London Corporation and the Mercers' Company.
The garden is a fragment of the former burial ground of St Dunstan in the West, the church located further south facing onto Fleet Street. Bream's Buildings was an C18th close off Chancery Lane that was extended to Fetter Lane in 1882. St Dunstan's was the last medieval City church to be rebuilt. First mentioned in c.1185, it was later known as St Dunstan in the West to distinguish it from St Dunstan in the East. The old church escaped the Great Fire in 1666, but by the early C19th was dilapidated and a new church was built by 1833 further to the north on the part of the burial ground. What remains of the burial ground is now overlooked by 1960s offices, a small public garden entered through a modest gate, from where steps lead to a raised area of grass, trees and shrubs, re-landscaped by 2009. A few tombstones remain inside the boundary railings and in shrubbery on the west perimeter.
