Description
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.
Practical Information
| Site location | Thorntree Road, Charlton |
|---|---|
| Postcode | SE7 |
| What3Words | ///grants.deputy.eagles |
| Type of Site | Public Park |
| Borough | Greenwich |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted |
| Facilities | Farm, deer enclosure |
| Events | Free tours of animal park on Wednesdays at 1.30pm + Mondays/Fridays at 1.30pm in school holidays (contact Park Ranger Service for details) |
| Public Transport | Rail: Charlton then bus. Bus: 53, 54, 380,422, 486. |
| Research Updated | 1 November 2007 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
The woodland is a remnant of ancient forest known as Hanging Wood, which was once a notorious haunt of highwaymen and reputedly feared by Samuel Pepys when he went to Woolwich. In 1844 it was the subject of a poem by William Bance. Hanging Wood Lane used to run through the area that later became the public park. The wood had been part of the estate of Charlton Manor, which was owned by the Maryon Wilson family from 1767 until 1925, when they gave Charlton House (q.v.) to Greenwich Borough Council, and also land for public open space that became Maryon Wilson Park. It was opened by the London County Council in 1926. Sir Spencer Maryon Wilson had already provided land for the creation of Maryon Park (q.v.) in 1890. Another family member, Sir John Maryon-Wilson (1802-1876), who is buried in Charlton Cemetery (q.v.) was Lord of the Manor of Hampstead and instrumental in the preservation of Hampstead Heath (q.v.).
The wood is predominantly native scrub, and contains birch, thorn and willow, with some rhododendron and other shrubs along the brook. There are horse chestnuts and railings along the boundary with Charlton Park Road, but otherwise the park has minimal designed landscaping. Maryon Wilson Park has a number of animal enclosures in the park, which has a deer park and farm unit, with ducks, geese, chickens, goats and pigs, which provide an educational facility for school children.
The wood is predominantly native scrub, and contains birch, thorn and willow, with some rhododendron and other shrubs along the brook. There are horse chestnuts and railings along the boundary with Charlton Park Road, but otherwise the park has minimal designed landscaping. Maryon Wilson Park has a number of animal enclosures in the park, which has a deer park and farm unit, with ducks, geese, chickens, goats and pigs, which provide an educational facility for school children.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ420782 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 12.95 |
| Site Ownership | RB Greenwich |
| Site Management | Parks and Open Spaces Department/Friends of Maryon & Maryon Wilson Parks |
| Dates | 1926 |
| 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 Importance I |
| 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
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Nearby parks and gardens
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.
The public park is former parkland of the manor of Charlton. The manor house survives as a fine example of Jacobean domestic architecture with remnants of its formal gardens. From 1767 - 1925 it was owned by the Maryon Wilson family, who then gave it to Greenwich Borough Council and Charlton Park was opened as a recreation ground in 1929. It is partly separated from the grounds of Charlton House by a brick ha-ha of 1847. The north boundary wall dates mainly from the C17th and there is a notable Lime Walk aligned with Charlton House. The park is now dominated by sports pitches but there are a number of newly redesigned gardens, including a Japanese-style herb garden, and the adjoining pond garden.
Charlton retains a village character with its old parish church and former manor house. Charlton House, a fine example of Jacobean domestic architecture, was built in the early 17th for Sir Adam Newton on the site of an earlier manor house, and survives with remnants of its formal gardens and C17th summerhouse. From 1767 - 1925 it was owned by the Maryon Wilson family, who then gave it to Greenwich Borough Council, and the house was used as a library and a community centre, the stables becoming an area housing office. The walled gardens have been planted as a series of gardens and some of the original parkland remains as Charlton Park, which is separated from Charlton House Grounds by a C19th ha-ha. The village green where the annual Hornfair was held was adjacent to the house until it was enclosed in 1829.
