Description
The land for Maryon Park was given to the LCC in 1890 by Sir Spencer Maryon Wilson, Lord of the Manor of Charlton. The park opened in 1891, laid out on a hilly site that was once ancient woodland known as Hanging Wood, and which had also been used for sand quarrying from the early C18th until 1870. Gilbert's Pit, formerly one of three sand and chalk quarries here, adjoins the park. The park has been extended south of Woolwich Road in the late C20th.
Practical Information
| Site location | Maryon Road, Charlton |
|---|---|
| Postcode | SE7 |
| What3Words | ///votes.sticks.factories |
| Type of Site | Public Park |
| Borough | Greenwich |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | 9am - dusk |
| Facilities | Playground, tennis courts, basketball. |
| Public Transport | Rail: Charlton; Woolwich Dockyard then bus. Bus: 161, 177, 180, 380, 472. |
| Research Updated | 1 November 2007 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
The 'lung' of Charlton as LCC Head of Parks, Lieut Col J J Sexby called it, the land for Maryon Park was given to the LCC on 25 October 1890 by Sir Spencer Maryon Wilson, Lord of the Manor of Charlton. The Maryon Wilson family had acquired the manor in 1767, and remained the owners until 1925, when they gave Charlton House (q.v.) to Greenwich Borough Council. The park was laid out on a site that had been used for sand quarrying from the early C18th until 1870 and Charlton Glassworks was once the largest European glassworks. A large hill fort was excavated here in 1915 where pottery dating from C1st to C5th was found, but all that is left is the ridge at the top of the hill, the site otherwise destroyed by the quarrying. Maryon Park opened in 1891, laid out with serpentine paths and steps winding around the slopes to Cox's Mount, with an area at the base levelled for sports. Within the park are a good number of mature trees, chiefly native broadleaves such as birch, hornbeam and ash. Like Maryon Wilson Park (q.v.) it was carved out of ancient woodland once known as Hanging Wood, which was at the northern edge of the manorial estate. The original woodland has been augmented with some ornamental planting, and has laurel understorey, with plane trees along Maryon Road.
Adjoining the park is Gilbert's Pit formerly one of three sand and chalk quarries, which is designated a SSSI and notable for its geological strata; two railway tunnels pass through the north of Gilbert's Pit.
Maryon Park was the set for the 1966 film, 'Blow Up' by Italian director Antonioni, and one of the genuine park keepers had a cameo role. The park has been extended south of Woolwich Road in the late C20th, with landscaping by LB Greenwich, as a consequence of houses demolished for road widening.
Adjoining the park is Gilbert's Pit formerly one of three sand and chalk quarries, which is designated a SSSI and notable for its geological strata; two railway tunnels pass through the north of Gilbert's Pit.
Maryon Park was the set for the 1966 film, 'Blow Up' by Italian director Antonioni, and one of the genuine park keepers had a cameo role. The park has been extended south of Woolwich Road in the late C20th, with landscaping by LB Greenwich, as a consequence of houses demolished for road widening.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ418786 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 6.15 |
| Site Ownership | RB Greenwich |
| Site Management | Parks and Open Spaces Department/Friends of Maryon & Maryon Wilson Parks |
| Dates | 1890 |
| Designers | J J Sexby, LCC |
| 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 | Greenwich |
| In Conservation Area | No |
| Tree Preservation Order | Not known |
| Nature Conservation Area | Yes - Borough I; Gilbert's Pit: SSSI |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | Yes - Area of Special Character of Metropolitan Importance |
| Other LA Designation | Green Chain (Green Chain Walk) |
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
Maryon Wilson Park is on a hilly site and was created out of woodland known as Hanging Wood, which was once part of the estate of the Manor of Charlton. The manor was owned by the Maryon Wilson family from 1767 - 1925, who then gave the land here to the LCC for a public park, which opened in 1926. The park contains areas of woodland and open grass, and has a number of animal enclosures for deer and farm animals.
* on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens
Land here leased by the Board of Ordnance was developed from 1804 as part of the Royal Military Repository's artillery training ground at Woolwich initially under its Superintendent William Congreve. Repository Woods was specifically landscaped for military training, but in part also as a pleasure ground, and is the earliest known purpose-built military training landscape in the UK with early C19th features surviving. Here military displays were given, attended by British and foreign dignitaries, and during the C19th Repository Woods had public access.
Land here leased by the Board of Ordnance was developed from 1804 as part of the Royal Military Repository's artillery training ground at Woolwich initially under its Superintendent William Congreve. Repository Woods was specifically landscaped for military training, but in part also as a pleasure ground, and is the earliest known purpose-built military training landscape in the UK with early C19th features surviving. Here military displays were given, attended by British and foreign dignitaries, and during the C19th Repository Woods had public access.
A church in Charlton is mentioned in 1077 and the manor was within Bermondsey Abbey until the C16th. The medieval parish church of St Luke, built of chalk and flint, was demolished and largely rebuilt in the 1630s. The small churchyard, now closed to burials, has gravestones set among grass, trees including yew, a number of shrubs in front of the building, and a flagstone path from the small entrance gate to the church. On the nearby village green Charlton Hornfair was held on St Luke's Day, 18 October, until 1816.
