A year in the life of a little willow house growing in Victoria Tower Gardens by the River Thames.
In February 2024 a neat structure appeared at the southern end of Victoria Tower Gardens. With its three toadstool seats it was clearly designed for small people. And they enjoyed it. But they weren’t the only ones, older people took time to sit there too. Respecting their privacy, the images below avoid the identification of anyone and concentrate on the changes to the willow bower itself.
End notes
Managed by The Royal Parks Charity, Victoria Tower Gardens, a Grade II listed park, was created in two stages. “The Government acquired the northern part of the gardens in 1867 to reduce the fire risk to the Palace of Westminster.”* Until then the site was crowded with industrial workshops, factories, wharves, and houses, all in close proximity.
In 1913, “the gardens were redesigned to give the park a more natural look with paths and a central shrubbery.” “In 1956, the shrubbery and trees standing in the lawns were removed, opening up the view, particularly of the Houses of Parliament.”* And it is this view that is now “severely threatened by the proposed construction of a UK national Holocaust Memorial and affiliated Learning Centre, which would dominate the whole southern half of the gardens.”**
The hope of spring
Sources and further information
Victoria Tower Gardens
*The history of Victoria Tower Gardens: ‘Westminster’s Secret Garden Space.’
Article ‘In Praise of Victoria Tower Gardens’.
**Europa Nostra designates Victoria Tower Gardens as one of Europe’s 7 Most Endangered Sites, March 2025.
All images ©Patricia Stoughton
