HISTORY

The Horniman Gardens were created from the private grounds of Frederick Horniman's house. Horniman opened his family home to the public in 1890, extending this to the adjoining Gardens in 1895.

By 1898, his collections had outgrown the family home, and Charles Harrison Townsend was commissioned to design a new museum building. This opened in 1901, and was dedicated, along with 9.5 acres of surrounding 'Pleasure Gardens' as a free gift to the people of London for their "recreation, instruction and enjoyment".

At that time, the grounds were shared with six other leased properties, occupying a further 6.5 acres of land. Between 1901 and 1935, the leases on these properties expired, and the buildings were demolished, creating the 16.5 acres of space now currently occupied by the Gardens.

In 1901, Frederick Horniman formally handed the Museum and Gardens over to the care of the London County Council, on behalf of the people of London.

From 1904, the care of the Gardens was managed by a separate committee, and this arrangement continued for around 80 years, until the Horniman Public Museum and Public Park Trust was formed in 1989.