St John's Gardens

St John's Gardens is a memorial garden in the centre of Liverpool, laid out on the western side of St George's Hall. It is a small, quiet green space surrounded by some of the city's grandest Victorian and Edwardian architecture, and a good first stop for anyone interested in Liverpool's public sculpture.

What is the history of St John's Gardens?

The land was once part of the Great Heath, an open area on the edge of the early town. A church and its burial ground later stood here, and the churchyard was eventually cleared. The site was redeveloped and opened in 1904 as "St John's Ornamental and Memorial Gardens". The layout was designed by the corporation surveyor, Thomas Shelmerdine. The idea was to create a dignified garden that would complement the neighbouring St George's Hall and give the city a place for commemorating notable people and events.

What can you see in the gardens?

The main draw is the collection of monuments scattered among the lawns, paths and flower beds. They include memorials to Alexander Balfour and James Nugent, as well as the monument to the King's Liverpool Regiment and the memorial to William Gladstone. Sources differ on the exact number of statues, but the gardens hold several memorial statues, plus further memorials linked to conflicts, some of them set in and around the flower beds close to the Gladstone statue.

The Gladstone memorial

The statue of the Victorian prime minister William Gladstone is by Sir Thomas Brock. The design was submitted in 1899 and the memorial was unveiled in 1904. It is cast in bronze and stands on a granite pedestal, flanked by figures representing Truth and Justice.

The King's Liverpool Regiment monument

Designed by the sculptor William Goscombe John and unveiled in 1905, this monument commemorates soldiers of the King's Regiment who died in three conflicts. It is a Grade II listed structure and one of the most striking pieces in the gardens.

Is St John's Gardens worth a visit?

Yes, especially if you are already in the area. The gardens are free, open and easy to combine with a walk around the civic buildings of the city centre. Visitors come to look at the sculpture, read the inscriptions, take photographs of St George's Hall from the adjacent paths, or simply sit for a while away from the traffic.

Frequently asked questions

Where are St John's Gardens? In the centre of Liverpool, immediately to the west of St George's Hall.

Is there an entrance fee? No. It is a public park managed by the city, and the gardens can be entered freely.

When did the gardens open? In 1904, after the former churchyard site was redeveloped.

Who designed them? Thomas Shelmerdine, the corporation surveyor, designed the layout.

What is the most notable monument? The Gladstone memorial by Thomas Brock and the King's Liverpool Regiment monument by William Goscombe John are the best known.