Description
Plumstead Gardens is a small public park created after WWII. It was originally laid out as an ornamental garden with a notable area of formal hard landscaping comprising a raised terrace and central bay on an axis with an ornate sunken formal garden. The formal ponds were later drained and some of the stonework damaged, and this area has now been infilled. The park had a number of facilities, including a paddling pool and roller skating rink in the 1960s, with the BMX track added in the early 1970s.
Practical Information
| Site location | Church Manorway/Brookdene Road, Plumstead |
|---|---|
| Postcode | SE18 1EL |
| What3Words | ///critic.crisis.really |
| Type of Site | Public Park |
| Borough | Greenwich |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | 9am - dusk |
| Facilities | BMX/mountain bike track, 2 children's playgrounds |
| Public Transport | Rail: Plumstead then bus. Bus: 469 |
| Research Updated | 1 May 2011 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
Plumstead Gardens is a small public park created following WWII, at around the same period as other public gardens in the area, Well Hall Pleasaunce, Bostall Gardens and Rockcliffe Gardens (q.q.v.), and all share similar architectural features. Prior to this the land was used for allotment gardens. The park gates retain the crest of the Metropolitan Borough of Woolwich, and it was originally laid out as an ornamental garden with a notable area of hard landscaping comprising a raised terrace at the east end, with a central bay or bastion, which was on an axis with an ornate sunken formal garden with central pool, walks and rose beds. Among the recreational facilities provided was a children's paddling pool, which is shown on the 1960 OS map so was likely to have been in the park's original layout, together with a roller skating rink shown near the paddling pool. The roller skating rink was one of two managed by the Metropolitan Borough of Woolwich, the other at Queenscroft Park (q.v.). By the early 1970s there is no sign of the roller skating rink and a track for BMX and mountain biking was provided. Tree planting is unexceptional although there are some mature willows and one maidenhair tree.
The park used to have a permanent park keeper, but after this ceased to be the case in the early 1990s the park suffered neglect and vandalism. The formal ponds were drained and some of the stonework damaged, and this area was later demolished and infilled. A pavilion erected in the 1950s as a meeting place for children, youth groups and clubs later suffered vandalism, as did the toilet block, and the former was recommended for demolition in 2006/7. An unsuccessful bid was made to Onyx Environment Trust in 2005 to restore the park, which included conversion of the former sunken garden and derelict pond into a ball court. Although the paddling pool remains it is currently unused, but new children's play facilities have been added in recent years.
The park used to have a permanent park keeper, but after this ceased to be the case in the early 1990s the park suffered neglect and vandalism. The formal ponds were drained and some of the stonework damaged, and this area was later demolished and infilled. A pavilion erected in the 1950s as a meeting place for children, youth groups and clubs later suffered vandalism, as did the toilet block, and the former was recommended for demolition in 2006/7. An unsuccessful bid was made to Onyx Environment Trust in 2005 to restore the park, which included conversion of the former sunken garden and derelict pond into a ball court. Although the paddling pool remains it is currently unused, but new children's play facilities have been added in recent years.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ458787 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 2.43 |
| Site Ownership | RB Greenwich |
| Site Management | Parks and Open Spaces Department |
| Dates | 1940s/50s |
| 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 | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | No |
| Other LA Designation | Community Open Space |
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 was once part of the former churchyard of the parish church of St Nicholas. Plumstead, so-named for being a good area for fruit growing, became a fishing village and later its growing population included workers from the nearby Royal Arsenal. To serve the larger population further land for burial was purchased in 1860 and there were over 40,000 burials here, among them veterans of the Royal Artillery and Engineers; an unmarked grave is that of Daniel Cambridge, VC. In 1955, following its closure for burial, the churchyard south of the church was laid out as ornamental public gardens and gravestones were cleared largely to the perimeter.
Plumstead, so-named for being a good area for fruit growing, grew into a fishing village and later the growing population included workers from the nearby Royal Arsenal. The C12th St Nicholas Church was much added to and restored, having fallen into ruins on 2 occasions in the C17th and C19th. To serve the larger population further land for burial was purchased in 1860 and there were over 40,000 burials here, among them veterans of the Royal Artillery and Engineers. The churchyard was later closed for burials and gravestones cleared largely to the perimeter although one monuments remains near the church. Part of the churchyard was later laid out as the adjacent public garden.
The site that is now Bostall Gardens was acquired by the Metropolitan Borough of Woolwich in 1938. After WWII it was decided to develop the area as a public garden, which was laid out and opened in 1952. In 1960 a bowling green and pavilion were added and the sloping land laid out as a series of terraces. In 2004 the old bowls pavilion was extensively refurbished, and a new children's playground and a young people's basketball court were opened on the site of the old bowling green.
