Old Paradise Gardens
Old Paradise Gardens (formerly known as Lambeth High Street Recreation Ground, and informally as the Rec) is a 0.76 hectares (1.9 acres) park in Lambeth in the London Borough of Lambeth in London, England, and opened to the public in 1884. Before it became a park, it was a burial ground of St. Mary's Church, Lambeth from 1703 to 1853.
Burial ground
By the early 18th century the churchyard of St Mary's, Lambeth was full. In order to provide an alternate burial ground for the parish, Archbishop Tenison acquired a market garden in 1703 for the sum of £120. It was consecrated in 1705. It was extended in 1814, and the extension was consecrated in 1816. A watch house was erected in 1825. The burial ground closed in 1853.
Public garden
By 1880 the former burial ground was unsightly, and the Lambeth vestry decided to turn it into a public garden, which opened in 1884. In 1929 the recreation ground was extended with the acquisition of the site of a glass bottle factory in Whitgift Street