Description

Thornhill Road Gardens is a site acquired by Islington Vestry in 1889, later maintained by Islington Borough Council. The neighbouring Malvern Terrace had been built as part of the Thornhill Estate. Before housing encroached, much of the area was nursery grounds. Initially called Thornhill Gardens, it contains some fine mature plane trees and has perimeter shrub planting, rose beds and asphalt paths, and a war memorial in the form of an austere cross.

Practical Information

Previously known as Thornhill Gardens
Site location Thornhill Road/Malvern Terrace
Postcode N1
What3Words ///beams.epic.royal
Type of Site Public Gardens
Borough Islington
Open to Public Yes
Opening Times 8am - dusk
Public Transport Tube: Angel (Northern). London Overground: Caledonian Road and Barnsbury. Bus: 4, 19, 30, 43, 153
Research Updated 1 April 2012
Last Updated 18 October 2026

Full description

Malvern Terrace had been built in 1836 as part of the Thornhill Estate, laid out by Joseph Kay, the estate surveyor. The Terrace and Malvern Cottages were built alongside the former north boundary of extensive nursery grounds belonging to Jacob Harvey, JP (d.1770). This survived in small pockets of land in different ownership, including an area owned by George and John Smith. Although much of the nursery grounds were built over by Richmond Crescent in 1852, part remained and in 1889 was taken over by the Vestry for a small public garden, named Thornhill Gardens and protected from building by the London Squares and Enclosures Act of 1906.The central space is crossed by a path and has low stone wall and seating; various rose beds are set within the lawns and a perimeter path runs around the garden.

Further Information

Grid Reference TQ311839
Size in hectares 0.28
Site Ownership LB Islington
Site Management Greenspace
Dates 1889
Listed Structures LBII: 1 - 11 Malvern Terrace
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 Islington
In Conservation Area Yes
Conservation Area Name Barnsbury Square
Tree Preservation Order No
Nature Conservation Area No
Green Belt No
Metropolitan Open Land No
Special Policy Area No
Other LA Designation Local/strategic view corridor. Shopping Policy Area.

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Nearby parks and gardens

  • Islington
  • 0.1 miles away

Lonsdale Square

Originally this was a private communal garden for residents of Lonsdale Square, which was laid out in 1838 on the Drapers' Company Estate. The land had once been used as a pen for cattle on their way to Smithfield Market. Unlike the gardens in most Islington squares it remained in private ownership until the 1960s, with a gardener employed until 1959. The gardens were then offered to Islington Borough Council for a nominal sum of £50. Railings had been removed during WWII, and were replaced with reproductions in 1970/71 when the garden was restored.
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  • 0.2 miles away

Cloudesley Square

The square is named for Sir Richard Cloudesley, who had an estate here from the early C16th. In 1811 the Estate Trustees were permitted to let building leases and the Cloudesley Estate, also called Stonefield, was planned from 1812. Cloudesley Square, begun in c.1825, was the centre of the estate, with Holy Trinity Church built in 1826-29 to serve the growing population. Around the church is a hexagonal railed garden, essentially a strip of grass with a path and a number of mature trees.
  • Islington
  • 0.2 miles away

Barnard Park and Barnard Park Extension

Barnard Park is a large postwar park laid out in 1975 when bomb-damaged land was cleared. In the C18th it was the location of White Conduit House and White Conduit Field, an important early cricket ground. As the area developed, houses for middle class and artisan families were built here, but in the second half of the C19th it rapidly became overcrowded and after suffering bomb damage during WWII the site of what became the park was left abandoned. The park is named for an Islington Councillor, George Barnard, who was dedicated to sport. Its facilities today include an adventure playground, children’s playground, new sports pitch for football and rugby and a café. Numerous footpaths connect the different areas of the park, which include a discrete adjacent area to the west across Hemingford Road, Barnard Park Extension, nicknamed Dog Park for its popularity with dog walkers, and which has a perennial meadow.  

Barnard Park, with C19th terraces behind, Autumn 2023.