King's Stairs Gardens
Encyclopedia
King's Stairs Gardens is a park
in London
.
(LCC) declared Bermondsey
a Reconstruction Area, and as part of wholesale post-war regeneration approved the idea of extending Southwark Park
to the river. The idea of a link to the river pre-dated the Second World war
by a few years, but the post-war need to reconstruct gave this aim more resonance.
In January 1948 the LCC Planning Committee endorsed the policy of a park by the river at King's Stairs riverside.
Putting the policy into practice proved to be a slow business because of a combination of objections by amongst others Bermondsey Borough Council and local businesses. For instance in 1953 the LCC's Draft Development Plan for London was subject to an Inquiry and the Bermondsey and Rotherhithe Chamber of Commerce objected to the park extension.
In September 1954 the Ministry of Housing approved the compulsory purchase of land in order to extend the park, but this took a few years to implement.
In 1960 the LCC approved a design for the King's Stairs riverside walk, which was opened in November 1962. In January 1963 the LCC approved the name King's Stairs Gardens.
In 1964 the LCC agreed a grassed area to the south of The Angel
public house. Again the implementation seems to have been delayed due to financial constraints, and it was not until 1968 that the Greater London Council
(the successor body to the LCC) reappraised the site, and agreed to three green space additions. These were finally completed by 1982, and it is in that form that King's Stairs Gardens still exists today.
So from an approval in 1947 it took only another 35 years to fully achieve!
's planned construction of the Thames Tunnel
'Super-Sewer' announced in detail in September 2010 proposes to occupy the vast majority of King's Stair's Gardens from 2013 until at least 2020 in order to construct a central shaft for the receipt of tunnelling machines involved in the building of the Thames Tideway Tunnel.
Thames Water have now run a first series of public consultations across London concerning their preferred construction sites. The Consultations began in September 2010 and closed in January 2011.
Park
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Beginnings
In July 1947 the London County CouncilLondon County Council
London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council...
(LCC) declared Bermondsey
Bermondsey
Bermondsey is an area in London on the south bank of the river Thames, and is part of the London Borough of Southwark. To the west lies Southwark, to the east Rotherhithe, and to the south, Walworth and Peckham.-Toponomy:...
a Reconstruction Area, and as part of wholesale post-war regeneration approved the idea of extending Southwark Park
Southwark Park
Southwark Park is located in Rotherhithe, in central South East London, and is managed by the London Borough of Southwark. It first opened in 1869 by the Metropolitan Board of Works as one of its first parks...
to the river. The idea of a link to the river pre-dated the Second World war
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
by a few years, but the post-war need to reconstruct gave this aim more resonance.
In January 1948 the LCC Planning Committee endorsed the policy of a park by the river at King's Stairs riverside.
Putting the policy into practice proved to be a slow business because of a combination of objections by amongst others Bermondsey Borough Council and local businesses. For instance in 1953 the LCC's Draft Development Plan for London was subject to an Inquiry and the Bermondsey and Rotherhithe Chamber of Commerce objected to the park extension.
In September 1954 the Ministry of Housing approved the compulsory purchase of land in order to extend the park, but this took a few years to implement.
In 1960 the LCC approved a design for the King's Stairs riverside walk, which was opened in November 1962. In January 1963 the LCC approved the name King's Stairs Gardens.
In 1964 the LCC agreed a grassed area to the south of The Angel
The Angel
"The Angel" is a literary fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen about an angel and a dead child gathering flowers to carry to Heaven. The tale was first published with three others in New Fairy Tales by C.A. Reitzel in November 1843. The four tales were received by the Danish critics with great...
public house. Again the implementation seems to have been delayed due to financial constraints, and it was not until 1968 that the Greater London Council
Greater London Council
The Greater London Council was the top-tier local government administrative body for Greater London from 1965 to 1986. It replaced the earlier London County Council which had covered a much smaller area...
(the successor body to the LCC) reappraised the site, and agreed to three green space additions. These were finally completed by 1982, and it is in that form that King's Stairs Gardens still exists today.
So from an approval in 1947 it took only another 35 years to fully achieve!
Queen Elizabeth II's Jubilee 1977
For the 1977 25th Jubilee of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II a memorial stone was unveiled by Her Majesty on the banks of the River Thames in King's Stairs Gardens. To coincide with the Summer 2002 restoration works in nearby Southwark Park, a new memorial stone was unveiled in King's Stairs Gardens by the Earl and Countess of Wessex.Thames Water Plans
Thames WaterThames Water
Thames Water Utilities Ltd, known as Thames Water, is the private utility company responsible for the public water supply and waste water treatment in large parts of Greater London, the Thames Valley, Surrey, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Kent, and some other areas of in the United Kingdom...
's planned construction of the Thames Tunnel
Thames Tunnel
The Thames Tunnel is an underwater tunnel, built beneath the River Thames in London, United Kingdom, connecting Rotherhithe and Wapping. It measures 35 feet wide by 20 feet high and is 1,300 feet long, running at a depth of 75 feet below the river's surface...
'Super-Sewer' announced in detail in September 2010 proposes to occupy the vast majority of King's Stair's Gardens from 2013 until at least 2020 in order to construct a central shaft for the receipt of tunnelling machines involved in the building of the Thames Tideway Tunnel.
Thames Water have now run a first series of public consultations across London concerning their preferred construction sites. The Consultations began in September 2010 and closed in January 2011.