Comments on: Hemel Hempstead Water Gardens are a National Disgrace

By: Tom Turner

Tom Turner — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 05:18:16 +0000

English Heritage maintains a Register of Parks and Gardens http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.1422 You have to go to Swindon to see it, for some extraordinary reason, and I do not go there very often. But I believe Harlow Water Gardens are listed on the Register and Hemel Hempstead Water Gardens are not listed - and I think Harlow Water Gardens were listed because they were threatened with being destroyed to make way for a shopping centre.

By: Peter Lowe

Peter Lowe — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 00:23:38 +0000

Sorry that should read ‘Garden Cities’ and the comma should come after the be!

By: Peter Lowe

Peter Lowe — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 00:21:47 +0000

Can you explain why Hemel Hempstead is listed but neither of the Garden City’s are? Are they too idealistic may, be or is it because the residents really care about their heritage and strive to protect it.

By: Tom Turner

Tom Turner — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 09:32:06 +0000

For the current proposal to develop the Jellicoe Water Gardens, see these links (kindly provided by Annabel):
http://www.thornfieldproperties.co.uk/uploads/files/Hemel_Hempstead_Case%20Study_May08.pdf
http://www.dacorum.gov.uk/pdf/Spatial%20Planning%20-%20Hemel%202020%20Vision%20Brochure.pdf
When I went back to Hemel Hempstead after a 10 year gap, last year, I was delighted to see signs reading ‘To the Water Gardens’ but then discovered that this is the name Dacorum Borough Council has given to one of their car parks! The 2020 development proposal seems to be mainly about building above the car parks. This illustrates how a small crime can so easily lead to a larger crime (though the car parks are ghastly and the proposed buildings could be better).

By: Pete

Pete — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:47:32 +0000

whoops. my mistake. I live in the town but i’ve never been to the water gardens centre. can’t think why I thought they had gone! then again i’ve never been to the Gibbard Gardens

By: Tom Turner

Tom Turner — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:48:36 +0000

I am not sure if they were moved but the Harlow Water Gardens look much as they did before the shopping centre was built. See http://www.francisfrith.co.uk/harlow/photos/water-gardens-c1965_H22121/ The main change is that the greenspace in which they were set is now a shopping centre. William Mitchell’s sculptures are still there: http://www.william-mitchell.com/harlow.htm. The Harlow Water Garden is Grade II listed on the English Heritage register - but the design is not nearly as interesting, or as beautiful, as Jellicoe’s design for the Hemel Hempstead Water Gardens.

By: Pete

Pete — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 09:02:30 +0000

harlow water gardens are now a shopping centre alas