About the project

In 1995, soon after the London Parks & Gardens Trust (LPGT) was founded, it began to compile an inventory of public parks, gardens, squares, cemeteries, churchyards and other green spaces of local historic interest throughout London. Whereas the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest is for parks and gardens of national standing, this register picks up the smaller landscapes that make a great contribution at a local level. It is the largest and most comprehensive survey of parks and gardens of local historic interest in the capital, and covers the 610 square miles that make up Greater London. Funding has now been raised to enable LPGT to make the information available online in this dedicated website.

The criteria used to establish whether a site should be included are that it should be at least 30 years old and have some element of formal layout or landscape design, or have important social history attached to it.

The Inventory now contains over 2,470 entries. In 1995, the initial survey covered some 1250 sites; from 1999 the list was reviewed and considerably expanded and, in 2003, the London Inventory of Historic Green Spaces was launched. It took the form of a database held by LPGT, backed up by photographs and other material. Since then the database has continued to grow and information is reviewed and updated. The research is augmented by work undertaken by members of LPGT’s Volunteer Research Group, set up in 2005.

The Inventory provides historical information for LPGT’s own work and to a wide variety of individuals and organisations, including local authority planning and parks departments. It forms the basis of information for LPGT’s discussions with London’s 33 local authorities to encourage them to establish Local Lists of historic green spaces in their boroughs.

Until now, information has only been available through direct application to LPGT. For some time LPGT has been discussing making the information widely available and, in 2008, raised the necessary funds to develop this dedicated website (See Credits and Acknowledgements). This 3-year project commenced in December 2008 and aims to be completed by late 2011.

It was decided to launch an interim version of the website in 2009, which in the first instance will include core information on sites, and these are gradually being uploaded. An example of what a full site record will eventually consist of is given for Barking Park.

The website will be regularly updated as the Inventory database grows. Comments and new information from visitors to the site are most welcome.

Sally Williams, Keeper of the Inventory