Description
The site was part of the Duke of Bedford's estate, and was occupied by 'The Chimes', which housed Belgian refugees during WWI, but which was later destroyed by bombing in WWII. Part of the Chimes estate was acquired by the local War Memorial Committee and Streatham Memorial Gardens were laid out in 1922. The garden now commemorates the dead of both world wars and is on two levels with the war memorial on the lowest level nearest the road, a bronze statue of a soldier sculpted by A.T. Loft in 1921. At the higher level are mature trees, rose beds, lawns and seats. Some land was lost due to A23 road widening and part of housing estate land was provided in compensation. A memorial to all civilians from or living in Streatham affected by all forms of war and conflict was erected in the garden in 2006.
Practical Information
| Previously known as | Chimes Memorial Garden |
|---|---|
| Site location | Streatham Common North/Streatham High Road |
| Postcode | SW16 3HF |
| What3Words | ///rising.boats.daily |
| Type of Site | Public Gardens |
| Borough | Lambeth |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted |
| Public Transport | Rail: Streatham Common, Streatham. Bus: 50, 60, 109, 118, 159, 249, 255 |
| Research Updated | 1 October 2023 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
The site was part of the Duke of Bedford's estate, and was occupied by 'The Chimes', which housed Belgian refugees during World War I. After the war part of the Chimes estate was acquired by the local War Memorial Committee, originally for a grand scheme with a Hall of Remembrance and a number of public buildings but this was later abandoned as too costly. Eventually the Chimes building was sold to the United Services Club and surplus land was sold to the LCC, and on the reduced site Streatham Memorial Gardens were laid out in 1922. The garden now commemorates the dead of both world wars and is laid out on two levels with the memorial on the lowest level nearest the road, a bronze statue of a soldier sculpted by renowned war sculptor Albert T. Loft in 1921. At the higher level are mature trees, rose beds, lawns and seats. Some land was lost due to A23 road widening and part of housing estate land was provided in compensation.
The war memorial was unveiled on 14 October 1922 in a ceremony attended by General Sir Charles Carmichael Monro and the Bishop of Southwark, with an estimated 6,000 people in attendance. On 5 July 1944 the United Services Club was severely damaged by a V1 flying bomb and subsequently demolished, with the grounds used for a housing estate. The war memorial remained as the centrepiece of the small memorial garden. In 1959 the memorial was re-dedicated to commemorate those who died in WWII.
The memorial features a bronze figure of a hatless serviceman, head bowed and hands clasped on a reversed rifle propped on his boot. He appears to stand on a battlefield, replete with a discarded army jacket, steel helmet and gasmask. The statue stands upon a white tapering stone pedestal on a square base. Carved into the upper part of the pedestal are the words: TO / OUR GLORIOUS DEAD. Below are two identical bronze wreaths, the top inscribed '1914 - 1918', the bottom '1939 - 1945'. On the pedestal's bottom-most section is a bronze plaque installed in 2010 - it reads: IN HONOUR OF / THE MEN AND WOMEN OF STREATHAM / WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE SERVICE / OF THEIR COUNTRY IN TWO WORLD WARS / 1914 -1918 AND 1939-1945 / AND IN OTHER CONFLICTS / At the going down of the sun and in the morning / we will remember them / FROM THE PEOPLE OF STREATHAM 2010. The memorial stands on a small grass square bounded by very low iron railings with a short stone pillar at each corner.
In 2006 a civilian memorial in the form of a pillar was unveiled in the gardens, dedicated to all those from or living in Streatham affected by all forms of war and conflict. The maintenance of the garden was initially the responsibility of the London County Council, and in 1971 it was transferred to Lambeth Council.
The war memorial was unveiled on 14 October 1922 in a ceremony attended by General Sir Charles Carmichael Monro and the Bishop of Southwark, with an estimated 6,000 people in attendance. On 5 July 1944 the United Services Club was severely damaged by a V1 flying bomb and subsequently demolished, with the grounds used for a housing estate. The war memorial remained as the centrepiece of the small memorial garden. In 1959 the memorial was re-dedicated to commemorate those who died in WWII.
The memorial features a bronze figure of a hatless serviceman, head bowed and hands clasped on a reversed rifle propped on his boot. He appears to stand on a battlefield, replete with a discarded army jacket, steel helmet and gasmask. The statue stands upon a white tapering stone pedestal on a square base. Carved into the upper part of the pedestal are the words: TO / OUR GLORIOUS DEAD. Below are two identical bronze wreaths, the top inscribed '1914 - 1918', the bottom '1939 - 1945'. On the pedestal's bottom-most section is a bronze plaque installed in 2010 - it reads: IN HONOUR OF / THE MEN AND WOMEN OF STREATHAM / WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE SERVICE / OF THEIR COUNTRY IN TWO WORLD WARS / 1914 -1918 AND 1939-1945 / AND IN OTHER CONFLICTS / At the going down of the sun and in the morning / we will remember them / FROM THE PEOPLE OF STREATHAM 2010. The memorial stands on a small grass square bounded by very low iron railings with a short stone pillar at each corner.
In 2006 a civilian memorial in the form of a pillar was unveiled in the gardens, dedicated to all those from or living in Streatham affected by all forms of war and conflict. The maintenance of the garden was initially the responsibility of the London County Council, and in 1971 it was transferred to Lambeth Council.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ301710 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 0.2 |
| Site Ownership | LB Lambeth |
| Site Management | Environment Directorate, Parks and Greenspaces Unit (Team Lambeth) |
| Dates | 1922 |
| Listed Structures | LBII: War Memorial |
| 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 | No |
| Conservation Area Name | Streatham Common |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | Yes - Archaeological Priority Areas - Roman Road; Streatham Common North |
| 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
Streatham Common is ancient commonland that was once part of the Manor of South Streatham, which stretched from Norwood to Tulse Hill. At one time known as Lime Common, it was owned by the church from 1362, at the Dissolution of the Monasteries passing to the Dean and Chapter, and in 1862 to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. It was managed from 1866 by a Committee of Management of local inhabitants. In 1883 it was taken over by the MBW and an Act of Parliament ensured its protection in perpetuity, the Ecclesiastical Commissioners selling c.26.5 hectares to the MBW for £5. Trees were planted around the perimeter and part of the common was mowed, part allowed to become woodland. Most of the lower part was used as allotments during WWII with temporary housing erected around the perimeter. A picturesque landscape sloping from north to south, the upper edges are covered with trees, bracken, copses and gorse.
Streatham Green was once wasteland belonging to Tooting Bec Manor, and possibly once part of Tooting Bec Common. It was transferred to the MBW under the Metropolitan Commons Act, 1866, later passing to the LCC, and now the responsibility of Lambeth Council. Most of the former green has been built over and parts were taken for road widening in 1892 and 1904. The fine Victorian drinking fountain was erected at the centre The Green in 1933. The Green used to be on a steeply sloping site as a result of mounding to cover WWII air raid shelters, but it was re-landscaped c.2003/4 with a simpler layout of grass and paths.
The parish of Streatham developed in the Middle Ages, and the medieval church of St Leonard in the middle of the village was rebuilt in the mid C14th. By then Streatham had become wealthier largely due to its position halfway between the palaces of the Archbishops of Canterbury at Lambeth and Croydon, and the village grew up around the main road. St Leonard's churchyard was reputedly the burial place for people who were 'found dead', presumably murdered by highwaymen and other criminals on Streatham Common. There are fine mature trees particularly around the edge of the churchyard and monuments date from the C19th. Part of the churchyard to the west was once part of St Leonard's Rectory Garden.
