Description
Queen Elizabeth's College was founded in 1576 by historian William Lambard, and provided homes for the poor and elderly of Greenwich. The almshouses were subsequently rebuilt in 1817 as 40 one-bedroom cottages. In 1967 Lambard House was built to provide a further 28 flats. The almshouse cottages are on three sides of a quadrangle with a chapel at the centre of the south range. To the front is a small communal garden that comprises a simple lawn with specimen trees and shrubs.
Practical Information
| Site location | Greenwich High Road/South Street, Greenwich |
|---|---|
| Postcode | SE10 |
| What3Words | ///lots.castle.honey |
| Type of Site | Housing/Estate Landscaping |
| Borough | Greenwich |
| Open to Public | No |
| Opening Times | private, visible from High Street |
| Public Transport | DLR/Rail: Greenwich. Bus: 177. |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
Queen Elizabeth's College was founded in 1576 by the historian William Lambard, the first public charity to be founded following the Reformation, and provided homes for the poor and elderly of Greenwich. It is recorded on the South Benefaction Board in St Alfege's Church (q.v.).The almshouses were subsequently rebuilt in 1817 as 40 one-bedroom cottages, probably designed by Jesse Gibson, surveyor to The Drapers' Company, which continues to act as Trustee for the charity. In 1967 Lambard House was built as part of the estate to provide an additional 28 flats, some with 2-bedrooms. The residents were provided with a small communal garden, which now comprises a simple lawn with specimen trees and shrubs; the almshouse cottages are on three sides of the quadrangle with a chapel with Ionic portico, pediment and cupola at the centre of the south range. Queen Elizabeth's College is one of three almshouses in London that come under the trusteeship of The Drapers' Company, and managed by Hanover Housing Association. The almshouses continue to provide housing for people over 65, who live in either Greenwich or Lewisham. Facilities for the residents include the landscaped communal garden, a Community Hall for social activities, a Chapel and a laundry. There is an active social club, organized by the residents, providing a range of activities and outings.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ380772 |
|---|---|
| Site Ownership | The Drapers' Company |
| Site Management | Hanover Housing Association |
| Dates | 1576; 1817 |
| Listed Structures | LBII: Queen Elizabeth's College Almshouses; front railings and gates to north of almshouses |
| 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 | Yes |
| Conservation Area Name | CA |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | No |
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
Burney Street Open Space is small garden created with money raised by local people that opened in 1981-2. An oak tree planted by the Duke of Edinburgh has since died (2006: not yet replanted). A red granite obelisk records the creation of the garden and a plaque to a milkman whose shop was on the site on the corner of Burney Street/Gloucester Place. At the other end of the street is Poet's Corner, named for C Day Lewis who lived in Greenwich in the 1950s and '60s, a small shrubbery with path and seating.
The gardens at Gloucester Circus are private communal gardens provided for residents of the houses that abut it. The development in this area took place from the C18th and Gloucester Circus was designed by Michael Searles as an oval circus. By the late C18th only the south crescent was completed, the north crescent not built until 1840, later damaged in WWII. The garden remains private and contains mature plane trees, grass and perimeter shrubs.
St Alfege Park is on part of the former burial land of St Alfege, whose churchyard was extended in 1803 but eventually closed for burials in 1853. The west part of the burial ground containing the old mortuary was converted into a public garden in 1889 and its layout remains largely unchanged. The present church is the third on this site, built on the place of St Alfege's martyrdom on 19 April 1012. Due to the proximity of the royal palace at Greenwich, the church has many royal associations. The park is separated by a path from the church and original churchyard, with an entrance gate set into the brick wall. Numerous tombstones and graves are within the garden and around the perimeter.