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St Matthew's Gardens, Brixton

St Matthew's Church is one of the four 'Waterloo' churches and dates from 1822. More officially known as the Commissioners' churches, they were part funded by the Government to commemorate the peace which followed the Battle of Waterloo. All four are in Lambeth - the other three are at Waterloo, Kennington and West Norwood. The churchyard is now a public garden, dedicated as a Peace Garden, and includes the fountain seen here. Lambeth Town Hall is on the left and straight ahead is the huge Budd Mausoleum which presumably was originally in the churchyard - see Link. It was erected by Henry Budd in 1825 as the burial place for his father Richard Budd and others of the family. It was described by a writer of that time as “without doubt the finest sepulchral monument in the open air in the metropolis, and perhaps not equalled by any one in the kingdom.” Beyond is the centre of Brixton with its two railway bridges.