St Joseph's Church Gate

St Joseph's Church Gate. . Welcome to Waterlow Park, 'a garden for the garden-less'., Waterlow Park was formed out of the combined grounds of five houses; Andrew Marvell's Cottage, Elms Court, Fairseat House, Hertford House and Lauderdale House. During the late 1800s Sir Sydney Waterlow. Mayor of London and respected businessman, purchased these properties and their grounds and subsequently bequeathed the 29 acre site to London County Council in 1889., "This (combination of) property I think, would make an excellent public park for the north of London. The grounds are undulating, well timbered with oaks, old ceders of Lebanon, and many other well grown trees and shrubs. There is also one and a half acres of ornamental water, supplied from natural springs. It is bounded almost entirely by public roads and a public footpath." , Sir Sydney Waterlow, 1889., By 1582 Lauderdale House had been built. It is believed that Nell Gwynn, mistress of Charles II, with their son, the Earl of Burford occupied the House, during the mid 17th Century. At this time the site is described as "having an English garden with terraces, orange trees and a fountain". Sir Sydney Waterlow acquired Lauderdale House and its grounds in 1864. James Yates, the last occupier. lived there until 1871. He was responsible for the Victorian influence in the grounds, kitchen gardens and built a palm house., In 1872 Sir Sydney Waterlow leased Lauderdale House to St Bartholomew's Hospital as a convalescence home. which was opened by the Prince and Princess of Wales. Lauderdale House was refurbished in the 1890s and restored after a fire in the 1960s. It is held on license from the London Borough of Camden to the Lauderdale House Society., The 1801 Thompson map shows the outline of houses, gardens, and ponds., Elm Court was located between Lauderdale House and Fairseat House. The architect Sir James Pennethorne, who designed Victoria and Battersea Parks, lived in Elm Court between 1842 and 1864. Ladies from the house used the middle pond for ice skating in the winter. It is believed that Pennethorne was responsible for building Swains Lane Lodge. Sir Sydney Waterlow acquired Elm Court in 1864 when it was subsequently demolished., This board is one of six notice boards around Waterlow Park. Each notice board tells the story of a different era of the park, from the 1500s to the present day. You can follow the Waterlow Park story by walking clockwise around the park from entrance to entrance.