John Passmore Edwards Web Site
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Metropolitan Public Gardens Association was created in 1882 and,
in its early years, addressed the deficiencies in the lack of public
open spaces as London developed. The adaptation of disused and neglected
graveyards and burial grounds formed the cornerstone of their methodology.
Funding was provided from its members, the then Prince of Wales and
the Duke of York being patrons of the Association in 1894, and from
donations from others, such as Passmore Edwards, and organisations
such as the Goldsmiths Company. Today, under the presidency of Lord Birkett, the Association continues to serve, working with others to protect these open spaces, as much at risk of development as in Victorian times. The 2003 Annual Report gives the objects of the Association as:- (a) The protection, preservation, safeguarding and acquiring for permanent preservation for public use of gardens, disused burial grounds, church yards, open spaces, areas of land likely to be used for building purposes, strips of land adjoining roads and footpaths, or any land situated within the Metropolitan Police District or its vicinity; (b) the provision of seats and the planting of trees in places of public resort etc; (c) the encouragement of public interest in the formation of window boxes, the cultivation of front gardens and any similar or kindred objects. The Association can be contacted at 348 London Road, Mitcham, Surrey, CR4 3 ND. |
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© Dean Evans 2004
June 24, 2005