(Photo: Colin Wing)
Open:
Sunday 11:00–14:00
Description:
Very few people know of this small oasis of green in urban Camden Town. St Martin's Gardens was originally the burial ground for the Church of St Martin-in-the-Fields, re-located in 1805 due to the creation of Trafalgar Square.
An 1817 Act of Parliament released land for almshouses. In 1854 a further Act granted leases on unused portions for building development. This included the demolition of the chapel and clergy buildings on the site.
In 1855 when excavations began there was a public outcry as bodies were exhumed. The stench was said to be ‘abominable'. A government minister visited and immediately applied for an injunction to stop the dig.
The large mound in the centre of the gardens may be the site of a pit containing the bodies. Another theory is that it the bodies were of those unclaimed when Trafalgar Square was created from St Martin-in-the-Fields' former graveyard.
In 1884 the Camden Town cemetery was full and the Vestry of St Pancras acquired the ground from St Martin-in-the-Fields, although the latter retained the freehold. In 1884 the ground was laid out as a garden. On 24 July 1889 the gardens were officially opened by Countess Rosebery, who also unveiled the Dibden monument.
The gardens are now managed by the London Borough of Camden and have recently benefited from Liveability Funding, with new CCTV, park furniture created by local youth projects, signage and significant landscape and horticultural improvements. The gardens have an active Friends group which holds several small community-focused events annually.
The gardens are open from 7am to dusk, daily. There is a play area for under-7s and food for picnics can conveniently be brought from the High Street.
Activities:
The Friends of St Martin's Gardens group will be on site to greet visitors 11am to 2pm on Sunday. General information about the gardens, and hints for those considering establishing their own park- related Friends group. Under-7s play area.
Entrance:
Pratt Street / Camden Street
Sells tickets.
Buses:
C2, 24, 27, 29, 46, 88, 134, 168, 214, 253
Stations:
Camden Town, Camden Road Overground
Dogs:
Dogs on leads
Further information:
Nearby Gardens (click on names for details):
Last updated: 03/07/2009