Jellicoe Water Gardens

Flower garden path in the revamped Water Gardens

In 1957 Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe, one of the greatest 20th century landscape architects, was asked to design a new town centre park, transforming an area of orchards, watercress beds and ironworks. Jellicoe based his design on a serpent, channelling the River Gade to bring visitors closer to water and nature. His ideas were influenced by the experimental artist Paul Klee and the role of the sub-conscious. Opened in 1962, the Gardens are a rare post-war Modernist landscape and one of Jellicoe’s most intact schemes.

Restoration

Fifty years after their completion, the Water Gardens were showing their age. In 2017, the Gardens reopened following a restoration project to return them to their former glory, funded by a £2.4 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Big Lottery Fund, topped up by an investment of more than £1 million from ourselves The restoration reinstated Jellicoe’s original design and added new features making the Gardens once again an outstanding public space.

Awards 

The Water Gardens achieved a Civic Trust Award in 1965 and joined English Heritage's Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in 2010 as an important example of 20th century urban design. Following the restoration, the Gardens received the Heritage and Conservation Landscape Institute Award in 2017 for “the preservation and comprehensive restoration of a significant mid-20th century design".

How to find us 

The Water Gardens are located in Hemel Hempstead Town Centre, HP1 1BS. See a  Map of the Water Gardens (PDF 2MB).

  • By train: A 25-minute walk from Hemel Hempstead train station. 
  • By bus: The nearest bus stop is in Marlowes.
  • By car: Three miles from Junction 8 of the M1. 
  • Parking: Water Gardens North Car Park, HP1 1EF. Water Gardens South Car Park, HP1 1EF. Moor End Car Park, HP1 1BT. 

Features of the Water Gardens

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  • Lake with Fountain (eye of serpent)

    Jellicoe built a new straight channel for the River Gade to create the impression of a long stretch of water. At the southern end, it opens out into a lake with wide views and a fountain marking the eye of the serpent.

  • Rock and Roll sculpture

    Hemel Hempstead Development Corporation commissioned this sculpture for the Water Gardens from the French sculpture Hubert Yencesse. It was positioned on the lake, as Jellicoe wanted the figures to appear as if they were "dancing on the surface of the water".

  • Flower garden

    The ornamental flower garden forms a ‘howdah’ on the back of the serpent. (A howdah is a grand seat carried on an animal’s back, such as an elephant or camel). Its layout follows a symmetrical grid over which Jellicoe’s wife Susan planted bright swathes of flowers, shrubs and roses to break up the formal pattern. Susan Jellicoe worked very closely with her husband, designing the planting for his garden projects. The current planting scheme is inspired by Susan’s original plans.

  • Friends' building

    This new building for volunteers and maintenance operations features a striking geometric pattern similar to 1960s designs. Close by, the curving tail of Jellicoe’s serpent rests on the mound by Combe Street.

  • Friends' garden

    This new community garden has raised beds for growing flowers, vegetables and sensory plants, cared for by the Friends and volunteers. Heritage fruit trees from the local area demonstrate cordon growing, and there are houses for nesting mason bees.

  • Mural

    Two new murals commissioned for the restoration feature images from the history of Hemel Hempstead - from Gadebridge Park’s Roman villa up to the development of the New Town.

  • Bridges and terrace

    Jellicoe designed delicate arched bridges with white railings that float across the water. Here they form the fastenings to the howdah and link the flower garden to Bank Court. During the restoration new feature benches were added to the terrace to create space for groups of visitors.

  • Play area

    This exciting new facility was specially designed for the Gardens with play features based on Jellicoe’s serpent theme. Surrounded by sensory planting, the play structures dip in and out of the ground snaking up to a high lookout point.

  • Weir and fish pass

    To bring the serpent to life, Jellicoe added four weirs, each designed to produce a different sound as water cascades down, similar to a Japanese water garden. Fish passes were constructed as part of the restoration to improve the natural environment. The fish pass breaks up the change in water level into a series of low steps or pools, so fish can swim and leap up and pass around the weir.

  • Kangaroo Joey and Platypus sculptures

    Designed by Australian sculptor John Downie, the New Town of Elizabeth in South Australia presented these sculptures to the people of Hemel Hempstead in 1963, receiving a copy of Rock and Roll in return. Originally sited in Albion Court they were moved to the Water Gardens to make way for the Marlowes Shopping Centre.

Friends of Jellicoe Water Gardens

The Friends of the Jellicoe Water Gardens are an enthusiastic group of volunteers who are dedicated to celebrating this gem in the centre of Hemel Hempstead. Their aim is to encourage the use and enjoyment of the Water Gardens by local people and visitors and develop and maintain a safe, beautiful and wildlife rich environment. 

The Friends regularly host events, attend training sessions and enjoy days out. Find out what the Friends have been up to and what's planned for the future by visiting their Facebook page. For more information or to join the group (all ages welcome), please visit the Friends of Jellicoe Water Gardens website or email watergardens@dacorum.gov.uk.

Images from the Water Gardens

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Page Last Updated: Tuesday, 20 February 2024 at 12:26 PM