Comments on: Hemel Hempstead Water Gardens are a National Disgrace

By: Tom Turner

Tom Turner — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 16:48:59 +0000

Thank you for the information. I think the de-listing was a correct decision.

By: Jenifer White

Jenifer White — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 14:52:36 +0000

Harlow Water Gardens were de-registered in 2003 when the site was redeveloped. The gardens have been re-created on a new site and include many of the original structures.

The Register of Parks & Gardens (descriptions and maps) and other designations can now be viewed online at http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/professional/protection/process/national-heritage-list-for-england/ You can also apply online for sites to be registered http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/professional/protection/process/online-application-form/

Jenifer White
Gardens & Landscape, English Heritage

By: Tom Turner

Tom Turner — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 15:21:30 +0000

In reply to Kate Harwood. Do you know if the Water Gardens in Harlow are on the EH register? Though designed by Frederick Gibberd they do not approach the quality, design interest or historical importance of the Water Gardens in Hemel Hempstead - which are of particular interest as a stage in the devlopment of Geoffrey Jellicoe's approach to the role of the subconscious in landscape design. I once wrote an article on the landcape planning of new towns for the Journal of the Town and Country Planning Association. They put my photo of the Hemel Hempstead Water Gardens on the front cover and the point I made was that it was the place which most fully encapsulated the spirit of the new towns movement. They have to be restored.

By: Kate Harwood

Kate Harwood — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 14:37:58 +0000

Letchworth Garden City town centre IS rightly on the EH Register, as is Howard Gardens both of which have benefited from HLF Grants. Welwyn Garden City gardens are not (why not?)but are beautifully maintained; both vistas and planting. Stevenage new town has just spruced up its town centre gardens with HLF money. Hemel Hempstead is increasingly looking like the poor relation, and yet it is by the most famous landscape architect of the lot.

By: Hemel Hempstead Water Gardens are getting worse and worse and worse | Garden Design And Landscape Architecture Blog – Gardenvisit.com

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 19:31:13 +0000

[…] one of Susan Jellicoe's favourite planting designs – as 'managed' by Dacorum District CouncilSince criticising the management of the Water Gardens in 2009 I have heard that they are to be restored and read the note on the Dacorum Borough Council website. […]

By: Tom Turner

Tom Turner — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 09:48:32 +0000

Wonderful. Thank you very much for posting the information.
Can you tell me if it is for reasons of privacy that the English Register of Parks and Gardens is only available for consultation in Swindon. It would be convenient if it was available for online access.

By: Jenifer White, English Heritage

Jenifer White, English Heritage — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 09:44:13 +0000

Hemel Water Gardens are now registered. The site was added to the Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Hitsoric Interest in England on 1st February 2010 as Grade II. Copies of the register entry can be ordered from English Heritage’s Customer Services 01793 414600.

REASONS FOR DESIGNATION
The Water Gardens, 1957-9 by Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe, at Hemel Hempstead are recommended
for designation for the following principal reasons:
* As a major, and relatively early, commission by of one of the foremost landscape
designers of the C20
* For the way Jellicoe integrated this civic design with his earlier, 1947-8, town
masterplan for Hemel Hempstead
* As an increasingly rare and largely intact example of a town centre water garden,
created during the era of post-war renewal and new town developments
* As an early instance of Jellicoe using landscape design to explore allegory and the
sub-conscious, a theme that increasingly featured in his later schemes

Gibberb’s Harlow Water Garden has been redeveloped so is no longer on the Register. The

For more information on the Register of Parks and Gardens please see http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.1410

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.