Description
St Mary's Gardens were laid out by Lambeth Borough Council in 1932/33 on what had been part of the old road when the new Lambeth Bridge was built. It is named after the adjacent parish church. An earlier layout that had a central paved area with a pergola and central water feature was replaced in 2008 by a new landscaping scheme. Planting was undertaken by the local community as well as Putting Down Roots, the horticultural project run by St Mungo's homelessness charity.
Practical Information
| Site location | Lambeth Palace Road/Lambeth Road |
|---|---|
| Postcode | SE1 7XH |
| What3Words | ///fear.making.tries |
| Type of Site | Public Gardens |
| Borough | Lambeth |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted |
| Facilities | none |
| Public Transport | Rail: Waterloo. Tube: Waterloo (Northern, Waterloo and City, Jubilee, Bakerloo) then bus, Lambeth North (Bakerloo). Bus: 3, 77, 344, 507, C10. |
| Research Updated | 18 September 2023 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
The garden is so-called due to is position adjacent to St Mary's Church (q.v.) The site was formerly part of the old road that led to the earlier Lambeth Bridge of 1862, which was replaced in 1932 by a new bridge to the south. The small roadside garden was laid out by Lambeth Borough Council in 1932/33. Dominated by the pedestrian route running through the garden, the perimeter was planted with grass and shrubs, with a central paved area, which until 2008 had a pergola and seating, shrubs around the edge and a central water feature.
In 2006 local resident Helen Lees, Chair of the Friends of Archbishop's Park (q.v.), applied for Lottery funding to restore St Mary's Gardens, which by then had become rundown. Funds and in-kind support were also received from local groups and businesses. The new landscaping was designed by Stephen Crisp and planting was undertaken by the local community as well as Putting Down Roots, the horticultural project run by St Mungo's homelessness charity. The fountain has been restored, and now has mosaic stepping stones laid at the base with designs inspired by the ideas of local children. Other works included repainting boundary railings, new signage with the history of the area, and two educational pods maintained by the adjacent Garden Museum (q.v.) that will be planted to change with the seasons. The new garden was opened in September 2008: 'The new design and planting reflects the pattern of fields that once divided the Lambeth landscape, although the hedges contribute a contemporary twist. The garden is designed for year-round interest by incorporating a variety of structure, height, texture and colour in the planting which will also be attractive to wildlife and contribute to the area's biodiversity.'
There are future plans for an upgrade of the garden as part of the Garden Museum-led initiative known as Lambeth Green, which proposes to strengthen the link between St Mary’s Gardens and the nearby Old Paradise Gardens (q.v.). St Mary’s Garden is maintained by garden volunteers at the Garden Museum and since 2019 a collaboration between the Museum and Wolves Lane Flower Company has led to it becoming an experimental cutting garden, where flowers grown here are cut for display in the Museum, or for sale in bunches in the Museum Shop.
In 2006 local resident Helen Lees, Chair of the Friends of Archbishop's Park (q.v.), applied for Lottery funding to restore St Mary's Gardens, which by then had become rundown. Funds and in-kind support were also received from local groups and businesses. The new landscaping was designed by Stephen Crisp and planting was undertaken by the local community as well as Putting Down Roots, the horticultural project run by St Mungo's homelessness charity. The fountain has been restored, and now has mosaic stepping stones laid at the base with designs inspired by the ideas of local children. Other works included repainting boundary railings, new signage with the history of the area, and two educational pods maintained by the adjacent Garden Museum (q.v.) that will be planted to change with the seasons. The new garden was opened in September 2008: 'The new design and planting reflects the pattern of fields that once divided the Lambeth landscape, although the hedges contribute a contemporary twist. The garden is designed for year-round interest by incorporating a variety of structure, height, texture and colour in the planting which will also be attractive to wildlife and contribute to the area's biodiversity.'
There are future plans for an upgrade of the garden as part of the Garden Museum-led initiative known as Lambeth Green, which proposes to strengthen the link between St Mary’s Gardens and the nearby Old Paradise Gardens (q.v.). St Mary’s Garden is maintained by garden volunteers at the Garden Museum and since 2019 a collaboration between the Museum and Wolves Lane Flower Company has led to it becoming an experimental cutting garden, where flowers grown here are cut for display in the Museum, or for sale in bunches in the Museum Shop.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ305789 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 0.13 |
| Site Ownership | LB Lambeth |
| Site Management | Environment Directorate, Parks and Greenspaces Unit (Team Lambeth); Garden Museum garden volunteers |
| Dates | 1932/3; 2007/8 |
| Designers | 2007/8: Stephen Chrisp |
| Listed Structures | LBII*: St Mary's Church |
| 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 | Lambeth Palace |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | Yes |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | Yes - Archaeological Priority Area (Lambeth Waterfront) |
| Other LA Designation | Open Space |
Gallery
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Nearby parks and gardens
St Mary-at-Lambeth Church dates from 1377 and was restored in the 1850s, but by 1971 the church was redundant and threatened with demolition, its churchyard unkempt. In 1976 the Tradescant Trust was formed and campaigned to save church and churchyard for conversion into a museum and conference centre for garden history. The site has particular importance for garden history with 3 generations of the Tradescant family of plant collectors buried here. By February 1979 sufficient funds were raised and restoration began. The former churchyard behind the church was laid out as a C17th style knot garden. The Museum of Garden History, now renamed the Garden Museum, was officially opened in 1983 by HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. Among the monuments in the garden is the Tradescant sarcophagus of 1662, and that of Admiral William Bligh of 'The Bounty', erected in 1817. The Museum has undergone further development since it opened, most recently in 2015 when a major redevelopment project was undertaken to provide a much larger space for the permanent collection to be displayed, two new learning spaces, a new cafe and two new gardens, replacing the 1980s courtyard garden and the churchyard in front of the church.
* on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens
Since the C13th Lambeth Palace has been the London home of the Archbishops of Canterbury. The gardens of the medieval palace were once 8 ha., but the current garden is half that size and extends north from the Palace with the boundary wall along Lambeth Palace Road. References to various garden features occur from the C14th, and included at different times a 'Great Garden', herb garden, vineyard, rabbit garden, orchards, fishponds, walks and formal gardens with a raised terrace walk. These features have largely disappeared although an outer moat and inner 'serpentine canal' survived until the mid C18th. In 1901 an area of c.4 ha. to the east was separated to form a public park, Archbishop's Park. The remaining garden was renovated in the 1920s, with further changes occurring under successive Archbishops throughout the C20th.
Since the C13th Lambeth Palace has been the London home of the Archbishops of Canterbury. The gardens of the medieval palace were once 8 ha., but the current garden is half that size and extends north from the Palace with the boundary wall along Lambeth Palace Road. References to various garden features occur from the C14th, and included at different times a 'Great Garden', herb garden, vineyard, rabbit garden, orchards, fishponds, walks and formal gardens with a raised terrace walk. These features have largely disappeared although an outer moat and inner 'serpentine canal' survived until the mid C18th. In 1901 an area of c.4 ha. to the east was separated to form a public park, Archbishop's Park. The remaining garden was renovated in the 1920s, with further changes occurring under successive Archbishops throughout the C20th.
The park, formerly known as Lambeth High Street Recreation Ground, was previously a burial ground provided to the parish by the Archbishop of Canterbury in 1703. It was extended in 1816, but by 1853 was full and closed to burial. In 1880 it was decided to convert it into a public garden, which opened in 1884. Gravestones were moved to boundary walls, the mortuary was left standing, as was a watch house although this has now gone. The recreation ground was extended in 1929 and by the 1970s was largely asphalted. Since re-landscaped, it has grassy mounds, a water feature, with shrubs and spring bulbs planted. In 2013 refurbishment was completed and the park was renamed Old Paradise Gardens. In 2023 a new community garden was introduced in the south east corner designed by Dan Pearson Studios under the leadership of The Garden Museum nearby.
