St Leonards Gardens

St Leonards Gardens in Hastings Renovated

English Landscapes on behalf of Hastings Borough Council called in bespoke architectural metalwork provider Alpha Rail to produce gates, railings and handrail to a bespoke design for its newly renovated St Leonards Gardens.

For decades these gardens were admired for their horticultural excellence, but recently have sadly declined. The Heritage Lottery Fund provided a lifeline for Hastings Borough Council to restore much of the infrastructure of the gardens, including external and internal railings and walkways, walls, steps, litter and dog bins. The project also involved replanting flower and shrub borders and removal of trees to open up obscured views.

Landscape Architect Philip Masters drew up the restoration and management plans and contractors English Landscapes carried out the restoration of the gardens to their former 19th Century glory. The work included the re-design of the railings to ensure they were updated to meet modern health & safety requirements but still in keeping with their surroundings. The original spike which was a feature throughout the railings was replaced with an acorn, which had a much more aesthetically pleasing design and also made the area safer as it is frequented by many children. Alpha Rail produced the more attractive acorn finial at its bespoke metalwork facility in Nottinghamshire.

The new railings, which were supplied galvanised, surround the lake, the lawned areas and the perimeter of the gardens.

St Leonards Gardens has undergone an extensive refurbishment with the help of a Heritage Lottery Fund grant of £1 million.

The gardens themselves, which span 1.4 hectares, are Grade II listed in recognition of their national importance as they were originally the centrepiece of James Burton’s new town, founded in 1828.

Phil Ball, sales director, explains: “It is always satisfying to be involved in the restoration of a historic garden that means so much to a local community.

The design of the railings and gates ensures they perfectly complement their surroundings and ensure that the park can be enjoyed safely and securely by local residents and visitors to the area for many years to come. We were delighted to be involved with such a worthwhile project.”

Alpha Rail, which is based in Nottinghamshire, has extensive experience in park and garden restoration.

Peter Mead – Amenities Manager at Hastings Borough Council explains: “The railings have made a huge difference to the park and to local people. An important part of the renovation was to ensure that the plants, water areas and other features were protected, which is the reason why we required high quality railings and gates. The new design for the finials is already proving popular and we have received much positive feedback from local residents and visitors to the area.”

St Leonards Gardens is the latest in a list of prestigious parks that Alpha Rail has supplied with new gates and railings, with others including Dorchester Gardens, Battersea Park in Wandsworth (winner of a Civic Trust Award), Roundhay Park in Leeds and Handsworth Park in Birmingham.