Description
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.
Practical Information
| Previously known as | Stockwell Terrace |
|---|---|
| Site location | South Lambeth Road/Clapham Road |
| Postcode | SW8 |
| What3Words | ///needed.socket.hears |
| Type of Site | Public Gardens |
| Borough | Lambeth |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted |
| Public Transport | Tube: Stockwell (Victoria). Bus: 2, 155, 88, 345 |
| Research Updated | 21 September 2023 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
This small open space was once part or South Lambeth Common, some 3 and a half acres of waste land belonging to Vauxhall Manor which was enclosed illegally by local people some time before 1806 for the purpose of keeping cattle. The 'squatters' were evicted and the land was converted into a copyhold tenure with restrictions on buildings to maintain it as open land. The restrictions were removed in 1843 at the request of the tenant, a builder called John Notley. He developed the site between South Lambeth Road, Clapham Road and Lansdowne Way leaving this piece of land open in front of Stockwell Terrace. It remained vacant until 1920 when Notley's heirs had it enfranchised and conveyed it under the terms of the 1906 Open Spaces Act to the Council for a war memorial garden.
The war memorial features a clock and carved relief. Adjacent to this is a circular ventilation shaft, sometimes referred to us rotunda, which is now painted with murals by Brian Barnes and Marya Harris with pupils from Stockwell Park School as part of an improvement programme. The mural was created in memory of Violette Szabó, GC, and Stockwell residents who died in WWII, and unveiled by Virginia McKenna at a special Remembrance Service on 26 June 2001, the 80th anniversary of Szabó's death. Present at the event were the Mayor of Lambeth, the Brixton and Stockwell British Legion and a descendant of Violette Szabó. Further information is available about the lives of the individuals commemorated on the memorial in a book published by the local Friends group.
The Bronze Woman statue was unveiled by a group of Caribbean women, including Baroness Rosalind Howells OBE and Music of Black Origin Awards founder Kanya King. The statue was unveiled to mark the 60th anniversary of the arrival of the Empire Windrush ship to Britain and the 200th anniversary of the end of the transatlantic slave trade. The statue sits at 10ft high and is based on the poem of the same name by Cécile Nobrega who lived in Stockwell.
The garden has a few seats, areas of grass either side of a wide paved path, roses and a few shrubs. Railings used to protect it from the surrounding road but were removed when the area was reopened in 2016 following traffic and pedestrianisation works. The area is largely used as a pedestrian route.
The war memorial features a clock and carved relief. Adjacent to this is a circular ventilation shaft, sometimes referred to us rotunda, which is now painted with murals by Brian Barnes and Marya Harris with pupils from Stockwell Park School as part of an improvement programme. The mural was created in memory of Violette Szabó, GC, and Stockwell residents who died in WWII, and unveiled by Virginia McKenna at a special Remembrance Service on 26 June 2001, the 80th anniversary of Szabó's death. Present at the event were the Mayor of Lambeth, the Brixton and Stockwell British Legion and a descendant of Violette Szabó. Further information is available about the lives of the individuals commemorated on the memorial in a book published by the local Friends group.
The Bronze Woman statue was unveiled by a group of Caribbean women, including Baroness Rosalind Howells OBE and Music of Black Origin Awards founder Kanya King. The statue was unveiled to mark the 60th anniversary of the arrival of the Empire Windrush ship to Britain and the 200th anniversary of the end of the transatlantic slave trade. The statue sits at 10ft high and is based on the poem of the same name by Cécile Nobrega who lived in Stockwell.
The garden has a few seats, areas of grass either side of a wide paved path, roses and a few shrubs. Railings used to protect it from the surrounding road but were removed when the area was reopened in 2016 following traffic and pedestrianisation works. The area is largely used as a pedestrian route.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ305765 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 0.14 |
| Site Ownership | LB Lambeth |
| Site Management | Environment Directorate, Parks and Greenspaces Unit (Team Lambeth) |
| Dates | c.1920 |
| Listed Structures | LBII: Clocktower |
| 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 | Lambeth |
| In Conservation Area | Yes |
| Conservation Area Name | CA 37 South Lambeth Road |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | No |
| Other LA Designation | Open Space. |
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.
Lansdowne Circus was laid out in 1843-50 as part of speculative housing development, largely undertaken by John Snell. Development in this area accelerated after Vauxhall Bridge was constructed. The layout of axial roads around the formal circus, numerous street trees, and detached, semi-detached and terraced housing has little changed since the mid C19th. The central garden enclosure was planted with grass and trees but appears not to have been accessible. Lambeth Borough Council compulsorily purchased the garden in 1951.
Albert Square was part of mid-C19th development in the area that was previously market gardens and agricultural land. Built by Islington builder John Glenn, the square was laid out on as grand a scale as in Kensington. The 4-storey houses enclosed a private communal garden provided for the use of residents. Now open to the public, the square is largely grassed and has slightly undulating ground with perimeter trees and modern railings. Mature trees include London plane and holly.