Durand Gardens

An Overview…

Despite Durand Gardens being one of the most sought after and well preserved areas within the boundaries of this website there is very little to be found about the history of this funny shaped enclave.  The most comprehensive overview is found over at London Gardens Online and since it contains more information than I’ve been able to find by knitting together separate sources I think it best to use their guide rather than attempt my own.

London Gardens Online is to thank (and holds all copyright) for the following overview:

Stockwell was one of the earliest hamlets established in the area and was located around Stockwell Green. The name derives from the woodlands (‘stocks’) and natural springs (‘wells’), which undoubtedly contributed to the establishment of a settlement here. A Manor at Stockwell was granted a charter in the C13th and the eastern boundary of the manorial lands was probably between Durand Gardens and Stockwell Park Road. Much of the area remained farmland until its early-mid C19th development although wealthy merchants had began to build villas here in the C18th. The grand town houses of Durand Gardens were built gradually from 1840 onwards and represent a range of buildings, including terraces, semi-detached and detached houses. Originally called The Grove, it was renamed Durand Gardens in 1893 after Sir Mortimer Durand who established the dividing line between India and Afghanistan that year. The earlier houses exhibit Neo-Classical detailing, with those of the 1890s and later influenced by Queen Anne style and Arts and Crafts. The land was part of the estate owned by the Darby family, who were descended from Abraham Darby (1678-1717), the pioneering ironfounder who first used coke to fuel his Coalbrookdale Furnace in Shropshire in 1709, one of the innovations that contributed to the Industrial Revolution.

The houses overlook the central garden, which was laid out by the Darby Estate for the use of residents of the surrounding houses, the Darby family retaining ownership. It is an irregular-shaped site possibly as a result of being a plague pit in 1665. The Stamford Map of 1868 shows the houses of The Grove surrounding a well laid out garden with areas of grass, meandering paths, shrubs beds and trees and a pond in the south east corner. In 1928 the owner of the garden was Mrs F M Cope Darby and the residents of the surrounding houses paid a garden rate for its maintenance. At that time it was described as ‘laid out as an ornamental garden with shrubberies and some well-grown trees’. The garden’s iron railings were removed as part of the war effort in WWII and after the war the garden became neglected, the Darby Estate having ceased to be the ground landlord.

In the mid 1960s the garden was acquired by Mr Pat Bedford who lived at No. 17 Durand Gardens and access by other residents ceased. An antiques dealer, he used the garden to exercise his guard dogs. In 1968 his sister-in-law Zdenka Korincova became his housekeeper and took on responsibility for the gardens until 1985, allegedly with the help of a large goat.

Number 17 Durand Gardens

In the late 1980s when No. 17 came up for sale it included sole rights to the garden, which was then challenged by other residents of Durand Gardens. As a result the estate agent, Stephen Morgan, purchased the garden in order to sell the house separately. He planned to establish a sports club with swimming pool on the site, but this was prohibited due to the garden’s listing under the London Squares Preservation Act 1931. Morgan then became bankrupt and the Durand Gardens Association was able to purchase the site for £5,000.

 Shortly after acquiring the garden, the Association replaced the iron railings at a cost of c.£7,700 and it has continued to look after the gardens, including creating a path system based on the original mid C19th layout. The garden is now maintained as a woodland garden and there are numerous mature trees including lime, probably once pleached to create a hedge in Victorian times, silver birch, horse-chestnut, pedunculate oak, tree-of-heaven, and a fine black walnut tree near the garden’s entrance. A dip in the ground may have been due to a WWII Anderson Shelter here. In the spring there area fine displays of bluebells and daffodils, and there are plans to introduce native species that attract butterflies and birds.

Durand Gardens On Maps…

1809

The map above is “Laurie and Whittle New Map of London with its Environs, almost all of the streets that we know so well had not yet been built including Durand Gardens, the area was mostly open countryside.

1837

“Cary’s New Plan Of London And Its Vicinity” shows the area another twenty eight years later in 1837, although many streets to the north have popped up Durand Gardens is still a large open space.

1844

Durand Gardens is still not visible on Laurie’s Map of London 1844. There is something labelled ‘The Retreat’ presumably a countryside place of relaxation, possibly the same location or very close to this rural lodge.

1850

“1850. Cross’s New Plan Of London 1850″ shows The Grove (as Durand Gardens was originally known) suddenly spring into life taking the shape that we recognise today.

1861

This is Cross’s New Plan of London 1861. It shows the same crudely drawn The Grove as on the previous Cross’s New Plan of London eleven years earlier.

1876

The map above is a Lambeth Ward Map from 1876 showing the division between the Vauxhall Ward (light blue) and the North Brixton Ward (pink) Durand Gardens is labelled as The Grove.

1898

Charles Booth’s Map of London Poverty research took him to Durand Gardens in 1895. The Map above is from 1898 and shows how Booth graded Durand Gardens. The key to what the colours mean can be seen to the right of the image. For more information on Charles Booth and the classification of poverty see here.

1918

Durand Gardens can be seen here on this 1918 Ward Map. It is remarkable to note how much the area has built up over the years, especially when scrolling up to the 1809 map when this entire space was empty.

1945

 

 

 

 

 

 

In September 1940 the government started to collect and collate information relating to damage sustained during bombing raids. Durand Gardens emerged relatively unscathed in comparison to surrounding areas however it did take quite a few hits as you can see above. I will post more about Durand Gardens in the wars over on ‘Our streets at war – A street by street guide’ shortly.

Durand Gardens in photographs…

1914

2012

Listed Buildings…

Nos 24 and 26 Durand Gardens are grade II listed, details are as follows:

Circa 1840 tall pair, each 3 storeys and basement, 2 windows in main block; set back 2-storey entrance bay. Stucco with incised lines and rusticated quoins. Enriched cornice below bracketed eaves soffit of hipped slate roof with central chimney wall. Sash windows with glazing bars in moulded architraves, console bracketed cornices on ground floor. Projecting mutuled cornice at first floor cill level. Entrances up 6 steps. No 24 has door and fanlight of circa 1900 in rusticated panel framed in Doric order; blank wall above and a narrow right addition. Similar treatment to 4-panel door of No 26 but modern window inserted.

Nos 25 and 31 Durand Gardens are grade II listed, details are as follows:

Mid C19 pairs, each house 2 storeys and basement, 2 windows. Stock brick. Pilasters with stuccoed capitals define wider inner bay. Hipped slated roof with eaves soffit and central chimney wall. Stuccoed basement. Eared moulded architraves to first floor windows; architraves, with console bracketed cornices, and patterned cast iron guards, to ground floor windows. All double hung sashes, Nos 27 and 29 with margin lights, No 31 with vertical bars. Seven steps to half-glazed 4-panel doors set back behind stuccoed entablature surrounds.

 Nos 28 and 30 Durand Gardens are grade II listed, details are as follows:

Mid C19 villas, each 2 storeys and basement, 3 windows. Stock brick, stucco frieze, cornice with paired brackets, blocking course. Slated. roof with end chimneys. Sash windows, No 28 with glazing bars, No 30 with margin lights, in moulded architraves with bracketed cills; console bracketed cornices on ground floor. Seven steps to half-glazed 4-panel doors set back behind classical surround with round-arched opening.

Nos 33 and 35 Durand Gardens are grade II listed, details are as follows:

Mid C19 pair. Each house had a separate block of 2 storeys and basement, 2 windows, linked by one-storey paired entrances. Stock brick. Slated roof with deep eaves soffit. Moulded architraves with cornices to first floor sash windows with glazing bars. Ground floor windows have pilasters and entablature, projecting cills and cast iron guards. Inner ground floor rounded bow with cornice holds 2 windows, stuccoed basement. Seven steps to door of 2 fancy panels well set back behind classical porch with round-arched entrance.

0 Responses to Durand Gardens

  1. Dee Thomas says:

    I have found your site fascinating. My father bought 21 Durand Gardens in 1948/49 for the sum of £3250. It was our family home until 1967. He died in 1965 and my mother remarried in 1967 and the property was then sold. I remember that there were pillars at the Clapham Road entrance but note they are now gone. There was bomb damage at this entrance on the left as you entered and as children we played on the bomb site and called it the broken garden. When as a young child we moved into the house there was a well in the garden which my parents had filled in for safety reasons. Freemans backed onto the garden and and it was onky when Freemans extended their building that we were overlooked. We did’nt really use the garden in the centre and remember the residents of no 17 as being quite eccentric. Have great childhood memories of Durand Gardens. There was a small general food stores in what I think was Liberty Street and also a sweet shop further on. Early 1950’s there were pre fabs which were still there when I left in about 1964 which I think were in Liberty Street too.. As I was growing up there quite a few interesting characters and some amusing incidents. Wish I could afford to live there now. Keep up the research you are doing a great job.

    • Pearl Catlin says:

      Just a bit further down Clapham Road was Spurgeons Orphanage. I think the children must have been evacuated because their big hall was turned into a marvellous ‘BRITISH RESTAURANT’. We used to leave school a half past 12 and pay a shilling and a penny for wondrous meals. Then go off back to school, just stopping to check the film playing at the Ritz! Had to hurry because that was the long way back to school, down Stockwell Road past the new flats, instead of cutting through Durand Gardens.

  2. Zoe Benouali says:

    Yes, a great website, thank you! And very interesting about the pillars at the Clapham Road entrance and the bomb site.
    My family moved there when I was 3 in 1974 and my Mum still lives there. I remember Zdenka well. She found the goat in the middle garden, tethered to the fence. Rumour had it that somebody had left it there to graze and fatten, to cook later! Zdenka adopted it and used to take it home on a lead. I remember the Silver Jubilee street party really well. The whole side of numbers 28-36 was closed for a massive table which seated us all. There used to be musician, Sam, who lived there. He played the piano and we partied all day. We did that for Prince Charles and Diana’s wedding too.
    We used to play out on that side of the gardens all day in the summer and never had to worry about cars, I suppose in those days there weren’t as many. Happy Days!

    Thanks for all the information, fascinating stuff.

    • Anna Hajkova says:

      Dear Zoe, I am a historian looking for traces of Zdenka Korinkova. I would love to talk to you. How can I reach you? Thanks, A Hajkova

      • Zoe Benouali says:

        Hi Anna,

        Sorry, I don’t go on the website often and have only just seen your message! Would you be able to tell me a little about your research and include your email address so I can contact you directly?

        Many thanks,

        Zoe

  3. Peter Garwood says:

    I was very interested to read about the experiences of the former residents of Durand Gardens I lived in nearby Hillyard Street when I was a child from 1949 to 1960, I do not have any nostalgic memories of that street and used to play on what was called the bombsite next to the block of flats where I lived and always wished I could live in the country where I have lived now for over thirty years.
    The only I place I did like near Hillyard Street was Durand Gardens as the big round garden in the middle reminded me of the countryside and I used play there with my friends as often as I could and used to wish I could live there instead of Hillyard Street

  4. Peter Garwood says:

    I was very interested to read about the former residents of Durand Gardens, I lived in nearby Hillyard Street when I was a child from 1949 to 1960. I do not have any nostalgic memories of that street and used to play on what was called the bombsiite next to the flats where I lived and always wished I could live in the country where I have now lived for over thirty years.
    The only place I did like near Hillyard Street was Durand Gardens as the big round garden in the middle reminded me of the countryside and I used to play there with my friends as often as I could and wished I could live there instead of Hillyard Street.

  5. Mike Mallett says:

    No 12 was previously Enmore, The Grove and the home of Robert Mallet, engineer and scientist best known as the father of modern seismology. He died in 1881.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Mallet

  6. wanda page says:

    I was very pleased to find this site, I myself grew up in Durand gardens as a child. I lived at no 45 until 1978 then at no 44 with a friend from 1981-83. I have the most wonderful memories of growing up as a kid, racing around the green on our bikes. We all knew Zdenka very well, but she would never allow us in the gardens. She did invite all us kids to garden parties at their home however. I’m so glad to read the residents are now in charge or the upkeep, I took a little detour last summer through Durand gardens to show my children where I grew up, it was school holidays and sadly there was not a kid to be seen, but I must say it looked as beautiful as it always did

  7. George Smith says:

    I was wondering if anybody remembered ’24 Hour Breakdown Service’ that operated from Durand Gardens in the late sixties. Huge big ex military trucks everywhere, brightly logo’d. Must have been a local resident nightmare! As I remember the actual house was on a corner, or turn. There was access to the rear garden. I think the owner was ‘Max’ and possible surname of Chapman. He didn’t like me as I liked his daughter ‘Tandy’. She often drove me down to her Horse, stabled near Lock’s Bottom in Kent, in a pinkish-white convertible Morris Minor with gaudy red roof. Sometimes with two bales of hay on the back seat.

  8. Thank you. Such a joy to find this informative site and great comments. Our Ealing Walking, Talking and Exploring Group have been invited to visit your area on 26/11/2016 and I’m doing a bit of research so this is truly helpful. I used to commute to work to your area a few years back, but haven’t been there recently. Would love to know if our small group would be allowed to see the garden. Warm regards, Joanna

  9. Kevin Lawless says:

    I lived at 21 Durand Gardens from 1955 (born) until 1968 when we moved to Kent. My mum sold the house in 1972. I have some colour cine film of my family in the garden of number 21 in 1962/3 and some similar brief shots taken from the front steps of number 21 sometime between ’62 and ’68. There is some very poor footage shot within number 21. I’m looking for old b/w photos we took of number 21 taken mainly in the garden. I’ve lots of memories of growing up in Durand Gardens. Much to the annoyance of some residents we played in the gardens which kids in Durand Gardens called the “Greeny”. It was always assumed the big dip in the gardens was the result of a bomb either there or in the adjacent road, it’s possible repair crews would have excavated soil from the gardens to backfill any crater in the road. Sometime around ’67 two shafts were dug in the Clapham Road, one nearly opposite Durand Gardens and the other much closer to Lansdowne Way. Presumably they were to access the crossover section of the Northern line which lies directly below that stretch of Clapham Road. Of course, we kids investigated but did not discover much. Sometime round ’67/68 a large excavation was started in Albert Square, our geometrically well ordered neighbours on the other side of the Clapham Road. We tried to investigate (the signs on the hoardings indicating “Victoria Line” development being impossible to ignore) but were chased off by the workmen. The bomb damaged old housing that existed directly opposite Durand Gardens along Clapham Road was a constant playground and remained so all through it’s development into flats. We spent many a Saturday morning being pursued by irate workmen across the rubble! Shortly before moving away we discovered girls and so bomb sites, Saturday morning pictures at the classic and football in Slade Gardens (we called it Stockwell Park) became a distant memory! By the way, the poster ‘Dee’ above is my big sister, we moved in ’68 but sold the house in ’72.

    • Colin Garside says:

      Hi Kevin, don’t get on here much but I remember you and your brother des, I’m colin garside, gary’s Brother we lived on the corner in Clapham road. Do you still follow the arsenal?

  10. Lynne Gilbert says:

    I lived at no 23 Durand Gardens from 1945 to 1965. We had a fabulous garden at the rear with a large mulberry tree and an equally large walnut tree. My father and Uncle Reg used to to make pickled walnuts and rhubarb wine. I was told that doodle bug landed in the roof of the stables attached to our house. It was an amazing house but needed a lot of work as there was no damp course! My parents left to live in Leigh on Sea in 1972. Brixton market was a saturday excursion. Also the Ritz cinema at Stockwell was the venue for saturday morning films and the re-enactment afterwards, much to the chagrin of the flat dwellers along the road!

    • Sam Saunders says:

      Hi, just wondering if you remember my mum, Judy Gregory, she lived at no50 with her sisters, Barbara and Celia and brother Graham. We lived in a basement flat opposite from 1969-74. My grandparents sold up and moved to Guildford in ’74

    • Sam Saunders says:

      Hi, just wondering if you remember my mum Judy Gregory, she has mentioned your family when recalling her childhood home, she lived at no50 with her sister’s Barbara and Celia and her brother Graham. I also lived in a basement flat opposite from 1969-74. My grandparents sold the house in 1974 and moved to Guildford.

    • Elaine says:

      This is such an interesting site, I was just browsing to see if my old primary school Durand Gardens still exists and read Lynne Gilbert’s comments. This reminded of being friendly with Tina Gilbert who lived near the school and wonder if there is any connection. a number of names have come back to me which is surprising as I was a pupil there approx 1953 then attended the Reay for a short while.

  11. Odile Bulline says:

    I,lived in Durand Gardens from my birth in 1932 till my marriage in 1954 . The gates had been removed but the pillars remained till we’ll after the war I think , The shelter in the gardens was not an Anderson shelter as they would have been too small. I know because we had to sleep there when an unexploded bomb a 500 pounder fell in number 2, we lived at number 8. It was a brick built reinforced shelter but the dip has always been there as far as I know

    • Vic says:

      I was born in 1966 and remember the pillars right up until at least the ’70s, when they were removed owing to being dangerous.

  12. John Evans says:

    From memory 25 Durand Gardens where I lived for the first five years of my life, and as a visitor afterwards, was a substantial house over four floors. the kitchen and scullery were in the basement along with access to the coal cellar which was on the same lower level, the coal man tipped the coal through a manhole in the front path. The actual kitchen was also in the basement separated by a curtain. I have memories of us being there in the basement at Christmas with my Nan’s big old faded decorations and my Uncle arriving home in his army uniform, on leave from his National Service. The bathroom was accessed from the second floor landing and had an enormous water heater ( the Geyser ) above the bath. The iron railings and gates in the front had been removed to melt down for the war effort. There were steps down to the substantial back garden and access front and back to a garage. At the back of the garden there was a high wall separating it from a bus depot. In the back corner there was a structure built from flints which we called the Grotto. The property would have been a very desirable residence in it’s time. My early recollections are of watering the garden, learning to play cricket with my Uncle against a wicket drawn on the wall in the back garden, he also taught me how to roller skate on old skates with metal wheels. I remember us living on the top floor above my Grandparents, with my sisters pram living in the hall downstairs. Mrs Langdon lived in the house next door, her back garden was home to a large Walnut Tree and a Mulberry Tree both of which hung over my Nan’s garden wall. Mum recounted that Billy Langdon, her son was in the forces during the war, and parked an army vehicle, complete with machine gun, in my Nan’s garage. He and the vehicle were called away in the middle of the night without warning. Outside I remember two pillars at the entrance to the road which I assumed had supported gates at some time. Strangely there was a large oval area of private gardens in the middle of the road. I have clear memories of the coal man delivering with his horse and tipping the coal from sacks into the cellar, with someone counting the sacks. There was also a very handy shop that sold sweets, such as they were, on the corner of the next road. I started at Stockwell School when I was old enough. It was walking distance from home. I am told that when I was collected to go home for lunch on the first day I had assumed that I would not be going back and tried to refuse. I was only there for a short time and only remember being given a jelly baby from a jar high up, when I perfected tying my shoelaces, and of being subjected to the torture of Iodine after falling and banging my head. In the classroom there were two containers of clay for modelling below the window sills. It was a musty old victorian school with old furniture and what seemed to be incredibly high ceilings.

  13. John Evans says:

    Further to my previous article, I have just read the above contribution from Lynne Gilbert. I was born in 1947 at St Thomas’s and lived my first 5+ years at number 25. As mentioned previously I remember a Mrs Langdon at No 23, and the Trees! Were we perhaps neighbours at that time? I would love to find out.

  14. John Evans says:

    I was born in St. Thomas’s hospital in 1947. I lived at 25 Durand Gardens until I was about 5 years old and visited my Grandparents regularly afterwards.
    From memory 25 Durand Gardens was a substantial house, the kitchen and scullery were in the basement along with access to the coal cellar which was on the same level, the coal man tipped the coal through a manhole in the front path. The actual kitchen was also in the basement separated by a curtain. I have memories of us being there in the basement at Christmas with Nan’s big old faded decorations and my Uncle arriving home in his army uniform, on leave from his National Service. The bathroom was accessed from the second floor landing and had an enormous water heater ( the Geyser ) above the bath. The iron railings and gates in the front had been removed to melt down for the war effort. There were steps down to the substantial back garden and access front and back to a garage. At the back of the garden there was a high wall separating it from a bus depot I think. In the back corner of the garden there was a structure built from flints which we called the Grotto. The property would have been a very desirable residence in it’s time. My early recollections are of watering the garden, learning to play cricket with my Uncle Colin against a wicket drawn on the wall in the back garden, he also taught me how to roller skate on old skates with metal wheels. I remember us living on the top floor, with my sisters pram living in the hall downstairs. I think Mrs Langdon lived in the house next door, her back garden was home to a large Walnut Tree and a Mulberry Tree both of which hung over my Nan’s garden wall. Mum recounted that Billy Langdon, her son was in the forces during the war, and parked an army vehicle, complete with machine gun, in my Nan’s garage. He and the vehicle were called away in the middle of the night without warning. I have just read the contribution above from Lynne Gilbert, were we perhaps neighbours? At the entrance to the road I remember two pillars which I assumed had supported gates at some time. Strangely there was a large oval area of private gardens in the middle of the road. I have clear memories of the coal man delivering with his horse and tipping the coal from sacks into the cellar, with someone counting the sacks. There was also a very handy shop that sold sweets, such as they were, on the corner of the next road. I started at Stockwell School when I was old enough. It was walking distance from home. I am told that when I was collected to go home for lunch on the first day I had assumed that I would not be going back and tried to refuse. I was only there for a short time and only remember being given a jelly baby from a jar high up, when I perfected tying my shoelaces, and of being subjected to the torture of Iodine after falling and banging my head. In the classroom there were two containers of clay for modelling below the window sills. It was a musty old victorian school with old furniture and what seemed to be incredibly high ceilings.

  15. John Evans says:

    I was born in St Thomas’s Hospital in 1947 and lived at 25 Durand Garden until the age of around 5 and visited my Grandparents regularly afterwards.
    From memory 25 Durand Gardens was a substantial house. the kitchen and scullery were in the basement along with access to the coal cellar which was on the same level, the coal man tipped the coal through a manhole in the front path. The actual kitchen was also in the basement separated by a curtain. I have memories of us being there in the basement at Christmas with Nan’s big old faded decorations and my Uncle arriving home in his army uniform, on leave from his National Service. The bathroom was accessed from the second floor landing and had an enormous water heater ( the Geyser ) above the bath. The iron railings and gates in the front had been removed to melt down for the war effort. There were steps down to the substantial back garden and access front and back to a garage. At the back of the garden there was a high wall separating it from a bus depot I think. In the back corner of the garden there was a structure built from flints which we called the Grotto. The property would have been a very desirable residence in it’s time. My early recollections are of watering the garden, learning to play cricket with my Uncle against a wicket drawn on the wall in the back garden, he also taught me how to roller skate on old skates with metal wheels. I remember us living on the top floor, with my sisters pram living in the hall downstairs. I think a Mrs Langdon lived in the house next door, her back garden was home to a large Walnut Tree and a Mulberry Tree both of which hung over my Nan’s garden wall. Mum recounted that Billy Langdon, her son was in the forces during the war, and parked an army vehicle, complete with machine gun, in my Nan’s garage. He and the vehicle were called away in the middle of the night without warning. I have just read the contribution above from Lynne Gilbert, were we perhaps neighbours? Outside I remember two pillars at the entrance to the road which I assumed had supported gates at some time. Strangely there was a large oval area of private gardens in the middle of the road. I have clear memories of the coal man delivering with his horse and tipping the coal from sacks into the cellar, with someone counting the sacks. There was also a very handy shop that sold sweets, such as they were, on the corner of the next road. I started at Stockwell School when I was old enough. It was walking distance from home. I am told that when I was collected to go home for lunch on the first day I had assumed that I would not be going back and tried to refuse. I was only there for a short time and only remember being given a jelly baby from a jar high up, when I perfected tying my shoelaces, and of being subjected to the torture of Iodine after falling and banging my head. In the classroom there were two containers of clay for modelling below the window sills. It was a musty old victorian school with old furniture and what seemed to be incredibly high ceilings.

  16. Vanessa Allen says:

    My grand parents lived in Hackford Road, from 1931 when they married until my grandad passed in 2005. I always remember him saying that there was a plague pit in Durand Gardens, which we used to drive past to visit my grand parents.

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