Jellicoe Water Gardens

Brief history

Bench in amongst a beautiful floral display in the Water Gardens

In 1957, famous landscape architect Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe was invited to design a new town centre park in Hemel Hempstead. He transformed a site that once held orchards, watercress beds, and ironworks into a unique garden shaped like a serpent. The design channels the River Gade, connecting people with water and nature. Inspired by experimental artist Paul Klee and the role of the sub-conscious mind, Jellicoe’s vision came to life when the Gardens opened in 1962. They are a rare post-war Modernist landscape and one of Jellicoe’s most intact schemes.

Restoration

Over time, the Water Gardens began to show signs of wear. In 2017, a major restoration project was completed to bring them back to their original beauty. The project received £2.4 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Big Lottery Fund, along with an extra £1 million from ourselves. The restoration stayed true to Jellicoe’s original design, while adding new features to make the Gardens an outstanding public space again.

Awards

1965: Civic Trust Award
2010: Added to English Heritage’s Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest
2017: Heritage and Conservation Award from the Landscape Institute
Since 2018: Annual Green Flag award for excellent standards of park management
2024: Gold Award from Anglia in Bloom for restoration and efforts to support pollinators

How to find us

The Water Gardens are located in Hemel Hempstead Town Centre, HP1 1BS.

By train: A 25-minute walk from Hemel Hempstead train station.
By bus: The nearest bus stop is in Marlowes.
By car: Parking is available at:
- 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.
Water Gardens building

Used by volunteers and maintenance workers, this building features a striking geometric pattern inspired 1960s designs. Close by, the curving 'tail' of Jellicoe’s serpent rests on the mound by Combe Street.
Volunteers' garden

This community garden is looked after by our gardeners and volunteers. It has raised beds where we grow flowers, vegetables, and sensory plants. You’ll also find heritage fruit trees from the local area and houses for mason bees to nest in.
Murals

Two murals were commissioned as part of the restoration. They feature scenes from Hemel Hempstead's history - from the Roman villa at Gadebridge Park 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 fun play area was specially designed for the Gardens. The equipment is inspired by Jellicoe’s serpent design, with structures that dip in and out of the ground, snaking up to a high lookout point. The area is surrounded by sensory planting.
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.