Description
Talbot Square was laid out after 1842 on the site of the former Lower Reservoir of the Grand Junction Canal Company, probably to the design of George Gutch. It was reserved for the use of occupants of the surrounding houses, who were responsible for its maintenance. The railings were removed for the war effort and replaced by chain link fencing. The northern terrace was replaced with a C20th block. In 1996 the garden was acquired by WCC and opened to the public, at which time some restoration was carried out although it was not until 2008/09 that the garden had extensive improvements, re-opening in Spring 2009 with new planting, entrances and traditional railings.
Practical Information
| Site location | Talbot Square, Sussex Gardens, Paddington |
|---|---|
| Postcode | W2 |
| What3Words | ///first.desire.entire |
| Type of Site | Garden Square |
| Borough | Westminster |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | 8am - dusk |
| Special Conditions | No dogs |
| Public Transport | Tube: Paddington (Circle, District, Hammersmith & City, Bakerloo), Lancaster Gate (Central) |
| Research Updated | 1 April 2009 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
Talbot Square is a three-sided garden square open on the fourth side to Sussex Gardens (q.v.). It was laid out after 1842 on the site of the former Lower Reservoir of the Grand Junction Canal Company, probably to the design of George Gutch. By 1928 the freeholder of each of the surrounding houses owned a proportionate share of the freehold of the enclosure and were covenanted not to build on the garden area. It was reserved for the use of tenants of the surrounding houses, who were responsible for its maintenance. It was described at that time as 'a long rectangular enclosure laid out as a garden with lawns and flower beds'. The railings were removed for the war effort and replaced by chain link fencing. The northern terrace has been replaced with a C20th block.
In 1996 the garden was acquired by Westminster City Council and opened to the public, at which time some restoration was carried out although it was not until 2008/09 that the garden had extensive improvements, re-opening in Spring 2009. The improvement works were undertaken by WCC in conjunction with Partnership funding from the Paddington Business Improvement District and English Heritage. The Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England was established in 1984 and was commonly called English Heritage. In April 2015 it split into 2 separate entities, Historic England (HE), which continues to champion and protect the historic environment, and the English Heritage Trust, whose role is to look after the 400+ historic sites and monuments owned by the state. HE manages the National Heritage List for England (NHLE) that includes over 400,000 items ranging from prehistoric monuments to office blocks, battlefields and parks, which benefit from legal protection.
The improvements included replacing the chain link fencing with traditional railings, re-paving of the central circular feature, providing new entrances and planting improvements. The main entrance onto Sussex Gardens has a metalwork arch adjacent to which is an area of York stone paving has been added with seating and access to the 2 main resin bound paths that run the length of the gardens. There are two notable London plane trees dating from the early layout, and other trees include a weeping ash that has a new bench around it surrounded by circular paving.
In 1996 the garden was acquired by Westminster City Council and opened to the public, at which time some restoration was carried out although it was not until 2008/09 that the garden had extensive improvements, re-opening in Spring 2009. The improvement works were undertaken by WCC in conjunction with Partnership funding from the Paddington Business Improvement District and English Heritage. The Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England was established in 1984 and was commonly called English Heritage. In April 2015 it split into 2 separate entities, Historic England (HE), which continues to champion and protect the historic environment, and the English Heritage Trust, whose role is to look after the 400+ historic sites and monuments owned by the state. HE manages the National Heritage List for England (NHLE) that includes over 400,000 items ranging from prehistoric monuments to office blocks, battlefields and parks, which benefit from legal protection.
The improvements included replacing the chain link fencing with traditional railings, re-paving of the central circular feature, providing new entrances and planting improvements. The main entrance onto Sussex Gardens has a metalwork arch adjacent to which is an area of York stone paving has been added with seating and access to the 2 main resin bound paths that run the length of the gardens. There are two notable London plane trees dating from the early layout, and other trees include a weeping ash that has a new bench around it surrounded by circular paving.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ268811 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 0.091 |
| Site Ownership | WCC |
| Site Management | Parks Service (Contractors: Continental Landscapes Ltd) |
| Dates | c.1842-45 |
| Designers | ? George Gutch |
| Listed Structures | LBII: Buildings on the south-west side, Nos. 1 -13, and on the north-east side, nos. 2 to 18 |
| 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 | Bayswater |
| Tree Preservation Order | Yes |
| Nature Conservation Area | Yes - Local Importance |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | No |
Gallery
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Nearby parks and gardens
Sussex Gardens is a private tree-lined avenue, most of which was known as Grand Junction Road until post-1914 (Sussex Gardens only west of London Street). With Westbourne Terrace it is one of two main axes in the planned development of Tyburnia, as laid out for the Bishop of London by his surveyors S P Cockerell (d.1827) and his successor George Gutch. It is aligned at the west end on the spire of St James's Church. Although the individual gardens are extremely narrow and restricted to patchy grass, privet and shrubs, bordered by a mixture of railings and wire mesh, the longitudinal effect of the infrequent mature London plane and hawthorn is magnificent. At the western end is Sussex Gardens Open Space, a triangular garden in front of the church.
Sussex Gardens Open Space is a triangular garden at the western end of Sussex Gardens, functioning as a setting to St James's Church, which was built in 1841-43. The land was part of the Ecclesiastical Commissioner's Paddington Estate. The garden was originally private, for the use of occupiers of certain adjoining houses, and managed by a Committee of occupiers. The garden has notable London plane trees; a central bed may coincide with a circular feature shown on the 1872 OS map. New landscaping includes box-edged beds and wooden frames for climbing plants.
Norfolk Square was laid out after 1842 on the site of the former Upper South Reservoir of the Grand Junction Canal Company, possibly to the design of George Gutch. The garden was originally provided for the private use of inhabitants of the Square. The area later became invaded by minor hotels, and a block of flats replaced a church at the north end of the square. The garden became dilapidated and in 1989 was acquired by Westminster City Council through compulsory purchase. It was completely re-landscaped with new paths, shrub planting and railings, and opened to the public in autumn 1990.
