Description
The site was previously part of the lands of East Wickham Farm and East Wickham House, and the name dates back to at least 1284. The area was once wooded and an area of old oak woodland survives. It was part of the Manor of Plumstead, and in 1902 was transferred to Bexley Borough Council. In the 1950s part of the site was used for landfill of green waste and bomb damage rubble, but it was later levelled and grassed over for a public open space.
Practical Information
| Site location | Glenmore Road/Wickham Street, Welling, Kent |
|---|---|
| Postcode | DA16 3BJ |
| What3Words | ///grit.drive.land |
| Type of Site | Public Open Land |
| Borough | Bexley |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted |
| Facilities | Children’s playground; Green Chain walk |
| Events | There is a regular programme of wildlife walks and conservation activities organised by the conservation volunteers for the community to join in with. |
| Public Transport | Rail: Welling. Bus: 96, 422 |
| Research Updated | 1 June 2009 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
The site was previously part of the lands of East Wickham Farm and East Wickham House, and the name dates back to at least 1284, 'Wickham' meaning a settlement. East Wickham was administered as a separate parish until 1902, when it became part of Bexley Urban District Council, which had been established in 1894. This area was once wooded and an area of old oak woodland survives. It was part of the Manor of Plumstead, and in 1902 was transferred to Bexley Borough Council. In the 1950s part of the site was used for landfill of green waste and bomb damage rubble, but it was later levelled and grassed over for a public open space. The site supports a variety of habitats and wildlife. The Green Chain Walk was established in 1977 and dissects the open space from west to east. East Wickham Conservation Volunteers Group was established and in 1999 the Group was runner-up in the Bexley Environmental Challenge. Since then, through the efforts of a partnership between the Council and East Wickham Conservation Volunteers Group the site has been transformed for the benefit of both wildlife and the local community.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ460768 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 34 |
| Site Ownership | LB Bexley |
| Site Management | East Wickham Conservation Volunteers |
| On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens | No |
| Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965 | No |
| Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931 | No |
| Local Authority | Bexley |
| In Conservation Area | No |
| Tree Preservation Order | Not known |
| Nature Conservation Area | Yes - Local Importance |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | No |
| Other LA Designation | Urban Open Space |
Gallery
Please note the Inventory and its content are provided for your general information only and are subject to change. It is your responsibility to check the accuracy.
Nearby parks and gardens
This small public garden was laid out in the 1930s and opened in 1942, named after William Barefoot (1872-1941) who had been Mayor of Woolwich in 1925-27. At the entrance on Alliance Road are fine wrought iron gates with the Borough coat-of-arms. On a sloping site, the garden has an area of lawn at the base of the hill, with a path winding up through steep woodland and shrubbery to an entrance at the top of the hill.
Rockliffe Gardens was created on the site of former brick workings, which operated from the late 1860s until the end of the C19th. The clay digging and dumping of spoil had left an interesting terrain. Woolwich Borough Council purchased the site in 1935 and laid out ornamental public gardens with formal areas, terraces, rock and water features, which were opened by the Mayor in 1937. There was serious subsidence here on 8 September 1937, affecting the children's play area at the northern boundary. Sadly neglected in later years, Friends of Rockliffe Gardens was formed in 2008 to work towards restoring the gardens.
Plumstead Cemetery was opened by Woolwich Burial Board in 1890 on a prominent hillside. The cemetery has a dramatic gateway with lodges at the entrance and a driveway leads up the hill to the chapels sited on the top of the hill. Plumstead War Memorial is within the cemetery, which also has memorials to those who lost their lives in accidents at the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich. Among those buried here are local dignitaries and recipients of the Victoria Cross, Thomas Flawn and Gunner Alfred Smith who was part of the Camel Corps on its way to relieve General Gordon under siege at Khartoum.
