Description
Formerly called St Stephen's Square, this small town square was laid out c.1850-55 as part of development of the area for the St Stephen's Estate. By 1928 the Trustees of the Estate had sold the houses in the square to the lessees, who had rights of access to the central garden under leases that ran until 1955. The garden had been owned by Stephen Phillips and in 1928 it was described as 'a narrow rectangular enclosure containing a few well-grown trees'. There are notable London plane trees at the east and west ends. The garden has a new pergola and central paved area, and a discreet playground at the western end, a modern urn at the eastern end.
Practical Information
| Previously known as | St Stephen's Square |
|---|---|
| Site location | St Stephen's Gardens, Bayswater |
| Postcode | W2 5PR |
| What3Words | ///tubes.sleeps.steps |
| Type of Site | Garden Square |
| Borough | Westminster |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | 8am - dusk |
| Facilities | Children's playground |
| Public Transport | Tube: Westbourne Park, Royal Oak (Hammersmith & City). Bus: 7, 23, 27, 36, 70 |
| Research Updated | 1 November 2007 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
The site is named for the nearby St Stephen's Church Westbourne Park, which was built in 1856, soon after the area was developed for housing. The construction of the Crescent and the acute angle of the two roads meant that the church altar is at the west end of the church. In 1900 the chancel on the west was enlarged. The spire was removed after the war as it was felt to be unsafe but the decision was taken in 1952 to replace this with a battlemented parapet and pinnacles, which were cheaper to built than rebuilding the spire. During the 1980s the building was becoming neglected and it was closed as unsafe in 1991. It was saved from demolition in 1994.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ252814 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 0.136 |
| Site Ownership | WCC |
| Site Management | Parks Service (Contractors: Continental Landscapes Ltd) |
| Dates | 1850-55 |
| 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 | Westminster |
| In Conservation Area | Yes |
| Conservation Area Name | Westbourne |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | No |
Gallery
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Nearby parks and gardens
* on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens
The Brunel Estate, begun in the mid-1960s and completed in 1974, was built on derelict railway land of the Great Western Railway. The form of the estate plan is a triangle, with a playground in the north-west corner, and a day nursery at the north-east. Built to provide 418 dwellings, the high-density housing estate includes tower-blocks generally named to reflect associations with Brunel and the Great Western Railway. The estate's open space was admired by Bridget Cherry as 'bold landscaping in an effort to mitigate the lumpish forms of the buildings' and comprises mounds, sunk brick-edged paths and scattered lime and plane trees.
The Brunel Estate, begun in the mid-1960s and completed in 1974, was built on derelict railway land of the Great Western Railway. The form of the estate plan is a triangle, with a playground in the north-west corner, and a day nursery at the north-east. Built to provide 418 dwellings, the high-density housing estate includes tower-blocks generally named to reflect associations with Brunel and the Great Western Railway. The estate's open space was admired by Bridget Cherry as 'bold landscaping in an effort to mitigate the lumpish forms of the buildings' and comprises mounds, sunk brick-edged paths and scattered lime and plane trees.
Kildare Gardens is a small town square, part of a development of c.1850-55. The garden was provided for the use of residents of the surrounding houses and was maintained by a Committee of residents. The garden remains in the private ownership of Kildare Gardens Committee although it is now open to the public. Re-landscaping was carried out in the early 1990s and included a serpentine brick path through the garden, which is now part grassed and part brick-paved. The path meanders through the garden from one entrance to a circular seating feature at the other end and a small informal grass area at the heart of the space.
This public garden was formerly a private communal garden for the houses around Powis Square, which was developed as part of the Colville Estate in 1860. The area has been rehabilitated since the 1960s and a four-storey range of brick terraces has replaced part of one of the terraces. The garden has modern railings, an asphalted play area, a grass mound in the middle and a playground at the south end, with a modern sculpture on the mound.