Old Paradise Gardens (formerly known as Lambeth High Street Recreation Ground, and informally as the Rec) is a 0.76 hectares (1.9 acres) park in Lambeth in the London Borough of Lambeth in London, England, and opened to the public in 1884. Before it became a park, it was a burial ground of St. Mary's Church, Lambeth from 1703 to 1853.

Burial ground

By the early 18th-century the churchyard of St Mary's, Lambeth was full. In order to provide an alternate burial ground for the parish, Archbishop Tenison acquired a market garden in 1703 for the sum of £120.[1] It was consecrated in 1705.[2] It was extended in 1814, and the extension was consecrated in 1816.[1] A watch house was erected in 1825.[1] The burial ground closed in 1853.[1]

Public garden

Lambeth High Street Recreation Ground in the snow, 2010

By 1880 the former burial ground was unsightly, and the Lambeth vestry decided to turn it into a public garden, which opened in 1884.[1] In 1929 the recreation ground was extended with the acquisition of the site of a glass bottle factory in Whitgift Street.[1] However, by the 1970s the recreation ground had been allowed to deteriorate, and had been largely asphalted over. It has subsequently been restored, and re-landscaped with grassy mounds, a water feature, seating and shrubs and spring bulbs planted.[1] Spring bulbs were donated by the Metropolitan Public Gardens Association.[3]

Plaque commemorating the former watch house

The former watch house is commemorated with a plaque.[1] There were mortuary buildings in the north east corner, which were removed at the time of the restoration in the 1970s.[4]

Gravestones around the perimeter of the walls of the gardens

Gravestones are located around the perimeter of the walls of the gardens; the walls themselves are Grade II listed,[4] and were on the Heritage at Risk Register.[5] Following restoration work in 2021, they have been removed from the register.[6]

In 2013 the park was again refurbished, with new entrance gates, and renamed Old Paradise Gardens.[1][2]

The Garden Museum run weekly gardening sessions for local residents in the gardens.[7] Future proposals include establishing a cut-flower business, in order to provide revenue for maintenance.[1] Other proposals include wildflower planting to match that at the Garden Museum.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "London Gardens Trust: Old Paradise Gardens". Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Lambeth Village: Old Paradise Gardens". Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  3. ^ "Garden Museum: Save Our Sunlight – The People of Old Paradise Gardens". Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Historic England List Entry No 1080371". Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  5. ^ "Historic England Heritage at Risk List Entry No 50070". Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Love Lambeth: New look for Old Paradise, 5 July 2021". Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  7. ^ "Garden Museum: Old Paradise Gardens". Retrieved 17 July 2021.

Media related to Old Paradise Gardens at Wikimedia Commons

51°29′36″N 0°07′08″W / 51.4934°N 0.1190°W / 51.4934; -0.1190

Categories