Space to Visit

First opened to the public in 1903, this is a small public park lying along Putney Embankment between the towpath to the Thames and the surrounding late 19th/early 20th century housing. The Putney riverside was used by boatmen and for boat building from at least the 17th century, and for rowing from approximately 1830. There was a towpath here by the late 18th century. However the Embankment as seen today was laid out around 1890 as a recreational area by the Putney parish surveyor, J C Radford. Radford, also surveyor to the Leader Estate in West Putney, was responsible for the slipway serving various rowing clubs, the bridge over the Beverley Brook and for Leader’s Gardens. The residential development came a little later than the layout of the Embankment and gardens. The gardens have been altered and extended since originally opened. Today the park has a play area and a separate railed off tranquil garden sloping down to Beverley Brook. There are fine trees, including mature horse chestnuts.