Work to breathe new life into the 200-year-old gardens has now begun and is due to be completed in the spring
11:35, 05 Jan 2026Updated 11:37, 05 Jan 2026
The gardens are home to Kingston’s Grade II* listed war memorial commemorating those lost in World War One and Two(Image: Google)
A war memorial garden previously described as “deteriorated” and “neglected” by residents is set to be bought into a new era thanks to a major renovation.
Work to breath new life into Kingston’s Memorial Garden begun this week after Kingston Borough Council announced in December plans to revitalise the gardens and turn it into a place that is “welcoming to all residents and visitors” while maintaining its cultural significance for commemoration and ceremony.
According to Kingston First, the royal borough’s business improvement district (BID), work is due to begin on Monday, January 5 and is expected to be completed by late Spring.
The memorial gardens are just a short walk from the banks of the Thames and features the town’s Grade II* listed War Memorial, dedicated to those lost in the First and Second World Wars.
However, in recent years the gardens have been described by residents as “deteriorated” and “neglected”.
Speaking to London Local Democracy Service reporter Charlotte Lillywhite in August 2022 resident Lynne Finnerty, a Royal British Legion member, suggested they had been left in a “filthy” state and were “not particularly great for young kids to be around”.
“There doesn’t seem to be any respect given to the site as a heritage site and the significance of it.” She said..
Lynne Finnerty said back in August 2022 that the Memorial Gardens on Union Street in Kingston have been “neglected”(Image: Lynne Finnerty)
Kingston Borough Council had plans approved to revitalise the gardens at a planning committee on December 18, 2025.
The planned improvements include increasing the number of trees, seating and garden planting alongside creating new pathways to Eden Walk and Pratts Passage, and introducing new enhanced lighting to ensure the site is an inviting space both day and night.
A key part of the revitalisation is to “highlight and improve” the setting of important heritage assets based in the gardens. These include the Grade II* War Memorial alongside the gravestone of Josiah Clues, a Lieutenant in the British Army who served in the Battle of Waterloo.
When the regeneration scheme’s contractors were announced back in December, Councillor Alison Holt, Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Economic Development at Kingston Council, said: “Memorial Gardens is an incredibly special space in the heart of our town centre, and has been for centuries.
“The design has been shaped with our communities to ensure that the garden continues to be a space for contemplation, reflection and enjoyment for years to come.”
Also speaking at the time was Kirsten Henly, Chief Executive at Kingston First, who said: “We’re proud to have invested in this unique and much-loved part of Kingston. This project has been shaped closely with businesses and communities and will create a more welcoming, accessible and meaningful space.
“We’re excited to see the transformation begin early next year and look forward to the gardens reopening in the spring for everyone to enjoy.”
According to the scheme’s masterplan some proposals for the Memorial Gardens include the relocation of some memorials and gravestones to other areas of the gardens, alongside the demolition of some flower beds to make way for new amenities.
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