Introduction
Many visitors to the green spaces of Marylebone in the City of Westminster enjoy the gardens without realising the remarkable history beneath their feet. What is now a peaceful public park was once a vast graveyard, a workhouse site, and a place tied to royalty, social reform, and London’s working-class struggles.
From Graveyard to Gardens
The gardens were originally a mass graveyard linked to the old St Marylebone parish church. The land was gifted in 1730 by Robert Harley, Earl of Oxford, whose name lives on in both Harley Street and Oxford Street.
Extended in 1771, the site became a burial ground estimated to contain between 80,000 and 100,000 bodies, lying some 43 feet below the surface. When central London’s burial grounds were closed in the mid-19th century, new cemeteries were created outside the city.
In 1886, after the graveyard had closed, the site was transformed into a public park, opened by Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll, daughter of Queen Victoria. The gardens were laid out by Fanny Wilkinson, the UK’s first female professional landscape gardener.
Princess Louise: A Royal Connection
Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, who opened the park, was a remarkable figure in her own right. She married John, Marquess of Lorne (later Duke of Argyll), who served as Governor General of Canada from 1878 to 1883.
Her legacy is still seen in Canada today. The province of Alberta, founded in 1905, was named after her, not her father as many assume. Lake Louise also bears her name.
Princess Louise was a feminist, pro-suffrage campaigner, and a talented sculptress. She created the statue of Queen Victoria outside Kensington Palace, unveiled in 1893, although her mother disapproved, believing sculpture too masculine a profession for a woman.
Famous Burials
Although many tombstones were removed, the Fitzpatrick mausoleum remains as a Grade II listed structure. Among those buried here were:
- James Gibbs, architect of St Martin-in-the-Fields and St George’s, Hanover Square
- George Stubbs, celebrated painter of horses.
- Charles Wesley, co-founder of Methodism and hymn writer, known for Hark the Herald Angels Sing and Jesus Christ is Risen Today.
The Orderly Boy Statue
A striking feature of the gardens today is the Orderly Boy Statue, unveiled in 1943 and designed by Italian sculptor Donato Baraglia.
Street orderlies, officially called “city collectors,” were responsible for cleaning London’s streets in the 19th century. Many were boys under 12 before schooling became compulsory in 1870. Armed with a scoop, hand brush, and scraper, they cleaned up horse waste and other debris, preventing it from being ground into slippery grease by cart wheels.
It was dangerous, low-paid work. In the 1880s, boys earned about 6 shillings (30p) per week, compared with an adult’s 17 shillings (85p).
The Workhouse on the Site
When the Earl of Oxford donated the land for the burial ground, he did so on condition that a workhouse was built.
In 1752, a workhouse was constructed here for 40 inmates, providing food and shelter in exchange for labour. Employers paid the workhouse for labour, and taskmasters took a commission. Records from 1798 show one taskmaster being paid £153 per year – five times the average annual wage.
Children received only the most basic education. Conditions were harsh: cramped, dirty, and sometimes brutal. Evidence suggests illegal flogging took place. Florence Nightingale once visited and was horrified by what she saw.
A larger replacement workhouse was later built on land now occupied by the University of Westminster, accommodating up to 1,000 people. Both buildings have since been demolished.
Reflecting on the Past
Today, thousands of people enjoy Marylebone Gardens without realising the extraordinary layers of history beneath them – from a vast graveyard and workhouse, to royal patronage, feminist legacy, and working-class hardship. Next time you stroll through, pause and reflect on the hidden stories of this remarkable green space in the heart of Westminster.
Discover the stories of Marylebone Gardens on a visit or book a private tour with Philip Scott for a more personal experience.
