Kensington Roof Garden

Kensington Roof Garden (formerly known as Derry and Toms Roof Gardens) covers 6000 square metres.

Kensington High Street
Credit: User unknown/public domain

Derry and Toms department store was opened in Kensington in 1933. The gardens were laid out between 1936 and 1938 by Ralph Hancock, a landscape architect, on the instructions of Trevor Bowen (then vice-president of Barkers, the department store giant that owned the site and constructed the building). They cost £25,000 to create and visitors were charged 1 shilling to enter. Money raised was donated to local hospitals and £120,000 was raised during the next 30 years.

The building housed the department store Derry and Toms until 1973, and then Biba until 1975. Since the 1980s the garden has been used as a restaurant and club.

The Roof Garden was listed as a Grade II site by English Heritage in 1998.

It is divided into three themed gardens. Although they are on a rooftop, the trees there were made the subject of tree preservation orders in 1976.
Read the Kensington Roof Gardens entry on the Wikipedia...

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CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LOCALITY

Albert Mews, SW7

Added: 26 Mar 2023 14:50 GMT

Albert Mews
It is not a gargoyle over the entrance arch to Albert Mews, it is a likeness of Prince Albert himself.

Reply

LATEST LONDON-WIDE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PROJECT

Parkers Row, SE1 Added: 9 Jan 2025 18:51 GMT	Parkers Row, SE1 My great great grandmother, and her soon to be husband, lived in Parker’s Row before their marriage in St James in June 1839. Thier names were - Jane Elizabeth Turner and Charles Frederick Dean. She was a hat trimmer and he was a tailor. Reply
Lindsay Trott Lockside, E14 Added: 1 Jan 2025 17:55 GMT	Lockside not on 1939 Register I have the Denby family living in Lockside in 1938 but it does not appear on the 1939 Register. Reply
Janelle Robbins Blossom Place, E1 Added: 27 Dec 2024 18:47 GMT	Harriet Robbins Please get in touch re Harriet Robbins Reply
Dave Hinves Bacon Street, E1 Added: 27 Nov 2024 03:55 GMT	he was a School Teacher Henry sailed from Graves End 1849 on ’The Woodbridge’ arrived South Australia 1850. In 1858 he married Julia Ann Walsh at Burra, South Australia, they had 3 children, and 36 grand children. Died 24 June 1896 at Wilmington, South Australia. He is my 1st cousin 3x removed. Reply
Kevin Pont St George’s Square, SW1V Added: 23 Nov 2024 17:03 GMT	St Georges Square This is rather lovely and well worth a visit! Reply
Simon Chapman Blossom Place, E1 Added: 22 Nov 2024 17:47 GMT	Blossom Place My Great Great Grandmother, Harriett Robbins lived in 2 Blossom Place in 1865 before marrying my Great Great Grandfather. They moved to 23 Spitall Square. Reply
Mark G Skidmore Street, E1 Added: 26 Oct 2024 21:54 GMT	Skidmore Street, E1 Skidmore Street was located where present day Ernest Street and Solebay Street now stand. They are both located above Shandy Street and Commodore Street. Reply
Alan Russell Cheshire Street, E1 Added: 26 Oct 2024 14:36 GMT	Cheshire Street, London E2 - 1969 Cheshire Street, London E2 - 1969 Reply

NEARBY LOCATIONS OF NOTE

Ashbourne College Ashbourne College is an independent school and sixth form located in Kensington.

Ashbourne College

Biba Biba was a London fashion store of the 1960s and 1970s, started and primarily run by the Polish-born Barbara Hulanicki with help of her husband Stephen Fitz-Simon.

Biba

Derry and Toms Derry & Toms was a London department store.

Derry and Toms

High Street Kensington High Street Kensington is a London Underground station on Kensington High Street.

High Street Kensington

Kensington Market Kensington Market was a three storey indoor market at 49 Kensington High Street, created in late 1967

Kensington Market

Kensington Palace Kensington Palace is a royal residence set in Kensington Gardens. It has been a residence of the British Royal Family since the 17th century.

Kensington Palace

Kensington Roof Garden Kensington Roof Garden (formerly known as Derry and Toms Roof Gardens) covers 6000 square metres.

Kensington Roof Garden

Kensington School The Kensington Proprietary Grammar School was an educational establishment founded in 1830 that is perhaps best remembered for being one of the founders of the Football Association in 1863.

Kensington School

Linley Sambourne House 18 Stafford Terrace, formerly known as Linley Sambourne House, was the home of the Punch illustrator Edward Linley Sambourne and open as a museum.

Linley Sambourne House

Royal Garden Hotel Royal Garden Hotel is a 5 star hotel in London, England.

Royal Garden Hotel

St Mary Abbot’s St Mary Abbots is a church located on Kensington High Street and the corner of Kensington Church Street in London W8.

St Mary Abbot’s

St Mary Abbots Hospital St Mary Abbot’s Hospital operated from 1871 to 1992. From 1846 to 1869 the site housed the Kensington Parish Workhouse.

St Mary Abbots Hospital

NEARBY STREETS

Abbots Court, W8 Abbots Court is a block in Kensington (High Street Kensington)

Abbots Court, W8

Abbots Walk, W8 Abbots Walk is one of a number of thoroughfares built over the site of St Mary Abbots Hospital (Kensington)

Abbots Walk, W8

Abingdon Court, W8 Abingdon Court is a block of flats on Abingdon Villas (Kensington)

Abingdon Court, W8

Abingdon Gardens, W8 Abingdon Gardens is a block on Abingdon Villas (Kensington)

Abingdon Gardens, W8

Abingdon Mansions, W8 The Abbots of Abingdon were once Lords of the Manor of Abbot’s Kensington (Kensington)

Abingdon Mansions, W8

Abingdon Road, W8 Abingdon Road stretches between Stratford Road and Kensington High Street (Kensington)

Abingdon Road, W8

Abingdon Villas, W8 Abingdon Villas runs between Earls Court Road and Marloes Road (Kensington)

Abingdon Villas, W8

Adam And Eve Mews, W8 Adam And Eve Mews is a street in Kensington (Kensington)

Adam And Eve Mews, W8

Albert Mews, SW7 Albert Mews is a small cobbled mews, built in 1865 (Gloucester Road)

Albert Mews, SW7

Albert Place, W8 Albert Place runs west off Victoria Road. (Kensington)

Albert Place, W8

Allen Street, W8 Allen Street extends south from Kensington High Street (Kensington)

Allen Street, W8

Ansdell Street, W8 Ansdell Street (and Andsell Terrace) commemorate Richard Ansdell RA, whose animal paintings were highly popular with the Victorian public (Kensington)

Ansdell Street, W8

Ansdell Terrace, W8 Ansdell Terrace is a cul-de-sac off of Ansdell Street and was previously known as St Albans Road North. (Kensington)

Ansdell Terrace, W8

Argyll Road, W8 Argyll Road was built as part of the development of the Phillimore Estate (Kensington)

Argyll Road, W8

Arundel House, W8 Arundel House is a block on Palace Green (Kensington)

Arundel House, W8

Atlantic House, W8 Atlantic House is a block on St Alban’s Grove (Kensington)

Atlantic House, W8

Ball Street, W8 Ball Street was created by the Kensington Improvement Scheme of 1868-71, carried out by the Metropolitan Board of Works. (High Street Kensington)

Ball Street, W8

Cambridge Place, W8 Cambridge Place is a short cul-de-sac on the west side of Victoria Road (Kensington)

Cambridge Place, W8

Campden Grove, W8 Campden Grove runs between Kensington Church Street and Hornton Street. (Kensington)

Campden Grove, W8

Campden Hill Close, W8 Campden Hill Close is a small cul-de-sac entered by a narrow driveway off Hornton Street (Kensington)

Campden Hill Close, W8

Campden Hill Court, W8 Campden Hill Court is a street in Kensington (Kensington)

Campden Hill Court, W8

Campden Hill Road, W8 Campden Hill Road runs between Notting Hill Gate and Kensington High Street (Kensington)

Campden Hill Road, W8

Campden Hill, W8 Campden Hill is a hill and street in Kensington (Kensington)

Campden Hill, W8

Cedar House, W8 Cedar House is sited on Marloes Road (Kensington)

Cedar House, W8

Cheniston Gardens, W8 Cheniston Gardens is a street in Kensington (Kensington)

Cheniston Gardens, W8

Como House, W8 Como House is a block on Wrights Lane (Kensington)

Como House, W8

Cope Place, W8 Cope Place is a street in Kensington (Kensington)

Cope Place, W8

Cottesmore Court, W8 Cottesmore Court is a block on South End Row (Kensington)

Cottesmore Court, W8

Cottesmore Gardens, W8 Cottesmore Gardens is a street in Kensington (Kensington)

Cottesmore Gardens, W8

De Vere Gardens, W8 De Vere Gardens is a street in Kensington (Kensington)

De Vere Gardens, W8

De Vere Mews, W8 De Vere Mews is a street in Kensington (Kensington)

De Vere Mews, W8

Derry and Toms Building, W8 Derry and Toms Building is a block on Kensington High Street (Kensington)

Derry and Toms Building, W8

Derry Street, W8 Derry Street formerly known as King Street and laid out in the mid-1730s (High Street Kensington)

Derry Street, W8

Douro Place, W8 Douro Place is a road in the W8 postcode area (Kensington)

Douro Place, W8

Drayson Mews, W8 Drayson Mews is a street in Kensington (Kensington)

Drayson Mews, W8

Duchess of Bedford’s Walk, W8 Lady Georgiana Russell, wife of John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford lived at Argyll Lodge, a former house on Campden Hill, near the location of the road (Kensington)

Duchess of Bedford’s Walk, W8

Eden Close, W8 Eden Close is a street in Kensington (Kensington)

Eden Close, W8

Eldon Road, SW7 Eldon Road runs between Stanford Road and Victoria Road (Kensington)

Eldon Road, SW7

Essex Villas, W8 Essex Villas is a road in the W8 postcode area (Kensington)

Essex Villas, W8

Falkland House, W8 Falkland House is a block on Marloes Road (Kensington)

Falkland House, W8

Gloucester Walk, W8 Gloucester Walk is a road in the W8 postcode area (Kensington)

Gloucester Walk, W8

Gordon Place, W8 Gordon Place is a street in Kensington (Kensington)

Gordon Place, W8

Gregory Place, W8 Gregory Place is a street in Kensington (Kensington)

Gregory Place, W8

Holland Street, W8 Holland Street is a street in Kensington (Kensington)

Holland Street, W8

Hornton Place, W8 Hornton Place is a street in Kensington (High Street Kensington)

Hornton Place, W8

Hornton Street, W8 Hornton Street is a street in Kensington (Kensington)

Hornton Street, W8

Iverna Court, W8 Iverna Court was Iverna Gardens before 1935 (High Street Kensington)

Iverna Court, W8

Iverna Gardens, W8 Iverna Gardens is a street in Kensington (Kensington)

Iverna Gardens, W8

Kelso Place, W8 Kelso Place is a street in Kensington (Kensington)

Kelso Place, W8

Kensington Apartment, W8 Kensington Apartment is a road in the W8 postcode area (High Street Kensington)

Kensington Apartment, W8

Kensington Arcade, W8 Kensington Arcade is a street in Kensington (Kensington)

Kensington Arcade, W8

Kensington Church Court, W8 Kensington Church Court is a street in Kensington (Kensington)

Kensington Church Court, W8

Kensington Church Walk, W8 Kensington Church Walk is a street in Kensington (Kensington)

Kensington Church Walk, W8

Kensington Court Gardens, W8 Kensington Court Gardens is a late Victorian mansion block, completed in 1889, near to Kensington Palace and Gardens (Kensington)

Kensington Court Gardens, W8

Kensington Court Place, W8 Kensington Court Place is a street in Kensington (Kensington)

Kensington Court Place, W8

Kensington Court, W8 Kensington Court is a street in Kensington (Kensington)

Kensington Court, W8

Kensington Gate, W8 Kensington Gate is a street in Kensington (Kensington)

Kensington Gate, W8

Kensington High Street, W8 Kensington High Street is one of western London’s most popular shopping streets, with upmarket shops serving a wealthy area. (High Street Kensington)

Kensington High Street, W8

Kensington Palace Gardens, W8 Kensington Palace Gardens is a street in west central London with some of the most expensive properties in the world. (Kensington)

Kensington Palace Gardens, W8

Kensington Road, W8 Kensington Road is a street in Kensington (Kensington)

Kensington Road, W8

Kensington Square, W8 Kensington Square is a garden square in London, W8 (Kensington)

Kensington Square, W8

Kynance Mews, SW7 Kynance Mews consists of 33 residential properties on a mews road which starts at Gloucester Road and ends in a cul-de-sac (Kensington)

Kynance Mews, SW7

Kynance Place, SW7 Kynance Place was originally called St Georges Place (Gloucester Road)

Kynance Place, SW7

Lancer Square, W8 Lancer Square is a street in Kensington (Kensington)

Lancer Square, W8

Launceston Place, SW7 Launceston Place was the last street to be developed on the Inderwick estate. (Kensington)

Launceston Place, SW7

Launceston Place, W8 Launceston Place is a street in Kensington (Kensington)

Launceston Place, W8

Macmillan House, W8 Residential block (High Street Kensington)

Macmillan House, W8

Melon Place, W8 Melon Place is a street in Kensington (Kensington)

Melon Place, W8

Observatory Gardens, W8 Observatory Gardens commemorates what was the world’s finest private observatory. (Kensington)

Observatory Gardens, W8

Old Court Place, W8 Old Court Place is a street in Kensington (Kensington)

Old Court Place, W8

Palace Avenue, W8 Palace Avenue is a road in the W8 postcode area (Kensington)

Palace Avenue, W8

Palace Gate, W8 Palace Gate was previously part of Gloucester Road and developed in the 1860s (Kensington)

Palace Gate, W8

Palace Green, W8 Palace Green is a street in Kensington (Kensington)

Palace Green, W8

Palace Place Mansions, W8 Palace Place Mansions is a street in Kensington (High Street Kensington)

Palace Place Mansions, W8

Pembroke Mews, W8 Pembroke Mews is a street in Kensington (Kensington)

Pembroke Mews, W8

Pembroke Place, W8 Pembroke Place is a street in Kensington (Kensington)

Pembroke Place, W8

Phillimore Gardens, W8 Phillimore Gardens, in 2022, was the most expensive street in England, with an average house price of £23.8m (Kensington)

Phillimore Gardens, W8

Phillimore Place, W8 Phillimore Place was part of the old Phillimore Estate and, at first, named Durham Villas (Kensington)

Phillimore Place, W8

Phillimore Walk, W8 Phillimore Walk is a street in Kensington (High Street Kensington)

Phillimore Walk, W8

Pitt Street, W8 Pitt Street is a street in Kensington (Kensington)

Pitt Street, W8

Prince Of Wales Terrace, W8 Prince Of Wales Terrace is a street in Kensington (Kensington)

Prince Of Wales Terrace, W8

Rutland House, W8 Rutland House can be found on Marloes Road (Kensington)

Rutland House, W8

Scarsdale Place, W8 Scarsdale Place is a street in Kensington (Kensington)

Scarsdale Place, W8

Scarsdale Villas, W8 Scarsdale Villas was built between 1850 and 1864 (Kensington)

Scarsdale Villas, W8

Sheldrake Place, W8 Sheldrake Place is a street in Kensington (Kensington)

Sheldrake Place, W8

South Edwardes Square, W8 South Edwardes Square derives its name from William Edwardes, 2nd Lord Kensington - the square was built on part of his Holland House Estate. (Kensington)

South Edwardes Square, W8

South End Row, W8 South End Row is a street in Kensington (Kensington)

South End Row, W8

South End, W8 South End is a street in Kensington (Kensington)

South End, W8

St Albans Grove, W8 St Albans Grove is a street in Kensington (Kensington)

St Albans Grove, W8

St James House, W8 Residential block (Kensington)

St James House, W8

St Margarets Lane, W8 St Margarets Lane runs along the northern boundary of the Kensington Green Estate (Kensington)

St Margarets Lane, W8

St Mary Abbots Vicarage, W8 St Mary Abbots Vicarage is a street in Kensington (Kensington)

St Mary Abbots Vicarage, W8

St Mary’s Place, W8 St Mary’s Place is a road which was built over the site of St Mary Abbots Hospital (Kensington)

St Mary’s Place, W8

Stafford Court, W8 Stafford Court can be found on Kensington High Street (Kensington)

Stafford Court, W8

Stafford Terrace, W8 Stafford Terrace was built between 1868 and 1874 by builder Joseph Gordon Davis (Kensington)

Stafford Terrace, W8

Stanford Road, W8 Stanford Road is a road in the W8 postcode area (Kensington)

Stanford Road, W8

Stone Hall Place, W8 Stone Hall Place leads to Stone Hall Gardens (Kensington)

Stone Hall Place, W8

Sutherland House, W8 Sutherland House is a block on Marloes Road (Kensington)

Sutherland House, W8

Thackeray Street, W8 Thackeray Street is a street in Kensington (Kensington)

Thackeray Street, W8

The Barkers Building, W8 The Barkers Building is located on Derry Street (High Street Kensington)

The Barkers Building, W8

Thornwood Gardens, W8 Thornwood Gardens is a road in the W8 postcode area (Kensington)

Thornwood Gardens, W8

Tor Court, W8 Tor Court is a block on Hornton Street (Kensington)

Tor Court, W8

Tor Gardens, W8 Tor Gardens is a street in Kensington (Kensington)

Tor Gardens, W8

Upper Phillimore Gardens, W8 Upper Phillimore Gardens is a street in Kensington (Kensington)

Upper Phillimore Gardens, W8

Vicarage Court, W8 Vicarage Court is a street in Kensington (Kensington)

Vicarage Court, W8

Vicarage Gate, W8 Vicarage Gate is a street in Kensington (Kensington)

Vicarage Gate, W8

Victoria Grove, W8 Victoria Grove is a street in Kensington (Gloucester Road)

Victoria Grove, W8

Victoria Road, W8 Victoria Road stretches north to Kensington Road (Kensington)

Victoria Road, W8

Warwick Chambers, W8 Warwick Chambers is a street in Kensington (Kensington)

Warwick Chambers, W8

Wright’s Lane, W8 Wright’s Lane is a old lane of Kensington (Kensington)

Wright’s Lane, W8

Wynnstay Gardens, W8 Wynnstay Gardens is a road in the W8 postcode area (Kensington)

Wynnstay Gardens, W8

York House Place, W8 York House Place existed between 1839 and 1904 (Kensington)

York House Place, W8

York Passage, W8 York Passage is a road in the W8 postcode area (Kensington)

York Passage, W8

Young Street, W8 Young Street, named after the developer of Kensington Square, was in use as a road by 1685 (High Street Kensington)

Young Street, W8

Zetland House, W8 Zetland House can be found on Marloes Road (Kensington)

Zetland House, W8

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LOCAL PHOTOS

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Notting Hill TUM image id: 1510169244 Licence: CC BY 2.0	Pembridge Road (1900s) TUM image id: 1556889569 Licence: CC BY 2.0	1829 map of Kensington Palace TUM image id: 1557149096 Licence:	St Mary Abbot’s Hospital operated from 1871 to 1992. From 1846 to 1869 the site housed the Kensington Parish Workhouse Credit: Wiki Commons TUM image id: 1672307411 Licence: CC BY 2.0	Notting Hill in Bygone Days TUM image id: 1510166520 Licence:
St Cuthbert’s, Philbeach Gardens is a Grade I listed Anglican church in Earls Court. It was built between 1884 and 1887, designed by the architect Hugh Roumieu Gough (1843–1904) and hailed as a jewel of the Arts and Crafts movement of the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. Credit: Wiki Commons/Trearddur72 TUM image id: 1631012517 Licence:	The Churchill Arms, Kensington Credit: IG/lililondoner TUM image id: 1653837477 Licence: CC BY 2.0	The Holland Arms on Kensington High Street, drawn by Thomas Hosmer Shepherd. The writer Joseph Addison was a frequent customer. Credit: Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea TUM image id: 1623770043 Licence:	Abingdon Arms Pub, Abingdon Road. TUM image id: 1489943648 Licence: CC BY 2.0	Allen Street Credit: GoArt/The Underground Map TUM image id: 1593784668 Licence: CC BY 2.0
Pump attendant at a Lex Garage in Campden Hill Road, Kensington fills up for a customer (1952) In the 1950s, petrol pumps were still largely attached to garage workshops. People didn’t yet use the term “petrol station“ but instead “garage”. Credit: Kurt Hutton/Picture Post TUM image id: 1707482121 Licence:	Springtime, Earl’s Court Credit: IG/MrLondon TUM image id: 1679253309 Licence:	3-4 Ladbroke Terrace in 2006. TUM image id: 1453881424 Licence: CC BY 2.0	Kenway Road (1970) Credit: British History Online TUM image id: 1678986487 Licence:	Possibly the most Instagramable mews in London, leafy Kynance Mews is hidden away in South Kensington, not so far from Gloucester Road station. Credit: IG/withinlondon TUM image id: 1691581234 Licence: