Description
York Gardens was created in 1972 in order to provide recreational facilities for residents of new housing built in the 1960s replacing slums in areas such as Kambala Road. York Road is named for the Archbishops of York who had a palace next to the Thames at Battersea. It was also known as Pickpocket Lane. The riverside area had much industrial use with businesses such as Prices candles. York Gardens is a large enclosed area of mown amenity grass, scattered trees, rose beds and several semi-natural planted areas, visually divided by several buildings in the centre. A large circular seating area
Practical Information
| Site location | York Road/Plough Road |
|---|---|
| Postcode | SW11 2SH |
| What3Words | ///rail.props.safely |
| Type of Site | Public Park |
| Borough | Wandsworth |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted |
| Facilities | Playground, adventure playground, One O'Clock club; library |
| Research Updated | 1 May 2005 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
York House, the occasional residence of the Archbishops of York when they were required to be near the Court, used to stand near the riverside. It was built in c1475 by the Bishop of Durham, Lawrence Booth, who annexed it to the See of York of which he became Archbishop. Its site wsa later occupied by Price's Candle Factory, which was established at Battersea n 1830.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ267758 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 3.1 |
| Site Ownership | LB Wandsworth |
| Site Management | Parks Service |
| Dates | 1972 |
| 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 | Wandsworth |
| In Conservation Area | No |
| Other LA Designation | Other Larger Protected Open Space Sites |
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
Christchurch Gardens is the former burial ground of Christ Church and was laid out as a public garden in 1885. The original church was built in 1849 to serve Battersea's growing population, but was destroyed by bombing in 1944. Christchurch and St Stephen was rebuilt on the site in 1959. The triangular garden is surrounded by hedging and has original railings; a picturesque curved brick shelter provides seating and once had a bronze plaque commemorating local civilians who died in WWII. The garden has rose beds, lawn, and trees include horse chestnut and ornamental cherry.
Chelsea Harbour is redeveloped railway land between Chelsea Creek and the former West London Extenuation Railway, and was developed from 1981onwards. The former basin of Kensington Canal is now a marina that forms the focal point of the development. Landscaping was an integral part of the scheme, and around the site perimeter and internal courtyards are lawns with shrub and flower beds, with formal planting around the marina. Display of sculpture was an early feature of the development and there are a number of permanently-sited sculptural works.
A church was recorded here from at least the C12th. The Manor of Battersea from the time of the Conquest had belonged to the Abbey of Westminster; the old manor house was east of the church and the main area of the village was to the south. St Mary's Church is in effect an C18th preaching box that was built in 1777 to replace an earlier building. The churchyard is surrounded by fine walls, railings and has ornate gates; it is laid out as a garden with lawns, seating, paths and some fine trees. A few historic tombs remain within the grass as well as gravestones against the boundary walls; among those buried here was William Curtis (d.1799) a well-known botanist. Other famous people associated with St Mary's include William Blake and J M W Turner.