Paddington Street Gardens

Paddington Street Gardens are two small public gardens located either side of Paddington Street in the Marylebone area of London.

The gardens in 2008

The larger south garden contains a children's playground.

History

The gardens were built in the 18th century as additional burial grounds for the St Marylebone Parish Church. The land on the south side was donated by Edward Harley, 2nd Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer in 1730. The land on the north side was later purchased in 1771.

The two burial grounds (either side of Paddington Street) were closed to burials in 1814. The Metropolitan Public Gardens Association arranged for the burial grounds to be opened as a public recreation ground in 1885, and the Association's landscape gardener Fanny Wilkinson laid out the gardens. The original lime trees and London plane trees survive. The gardens were officially opened on 6 July 1886 by Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll.[1]

The majority of the tombstones were removed, although some can still be seen around the edge of the gardens. The mausoleum in the south garden also remains. This was erected by the Hon Richard Fitzpatrick (the younger son of Richard FitzPatrick, 1st Baron Gowran) in 1759 in memory of his wife.[2] It is Grade II listed.[3]

References
  1. "London Gardens Trust: Paddington Street Gardens". Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  2. "Mausolea & Monuments Trust: Fitzpatrick Mausoleum". Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  3. "National Heritage List Entry No 1065920". Retrieved 24 January 2021.

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