Description
St Mary's Wanstead has a late mediaeval churchyard, which was reconfigured in c.1788-90 when the present church was built. This classical building by Thomas Hardwick was built to form a dignified eyecatcher for one of the three great avenues radiating from Wanstead House. Of particular interest is the memorial to Joseph Wilton RA and his family of 1803 in the form of a Watcher's Box, from which watch was kept to forestall body snatchers, and which resembles the entrance to the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. The earlier church had stood near to the Wilton tomb. The churchyard contains a collection of early C19th and Victorian monuments, headstones and chest tombs; the railings and gates date from c.1790 and trees include notable yew, holly, cedar, oak and lime. The churchyard was extended in 1906 and 1924. Although no longer open for burials, St. Mary's has a memorial garden where ashes can be buried.
Practical Information
| Site location | Overton Drive, Wanstead, Essex |
|---|---|
| Postcode | E11 2LW |
| What3Words | ///coats.drill.gown |
| Type of Site | Churchyard |
| Borough | Redbridge |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted. |
| Public Transport | Tube: Wanstead (Central). Bus: 66, 101, 145, 308, 551, W12, W13, W14 (then walk) |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
St Mary's churchyard is a late mediaeval churchyard, which was reconfigured in c.1788-90. The long presence of a church on the site is recorded by the list of rectors dating back to 1207. Among the rectors was Dr James Pound (1711-1725), a fine astronomer and Fellow of the Royal Society. To facilitate his observations the Royal Society lent Pound a telescope, reputedly the largest in Europe, which was being taken down to make way for the building of St Mary-le-Strand. It required a huge pole for its erection in Wanstead.
The present St Mary's church is the third on the site, a classical building by Thomas Hardwick built to form a dignified eyecatcher for one of the three great avenues radiating from Wanstead House (Wanstead Park q.v.). The earlier, smaller church had stood in the churchyard near to the Wilton tomb and was demolished by Rector Dr Glasses when Hardwick's church was built. The church has a lofty porch that rises upon a pair of Doric pillars, above which is a high bell turret. The interior has an altar which is purportedly a marquetry table from Wanstead House, and monuments of particular note include the 20 ft high white marble memorial to Sir Josiah Child (d.1699), probably carved by John Van Nost. Sir Josiah appears bewigged and in Roman garb with his son Bernard at his feet, mourning women on either side and four cherubs with golden trumpets.
The churchyard contains a collection of early C19th and Victorian monuments, headstones, and Portland stone tomb chests; the churchyard railings and gates date from c.1790 and trees include notable yew, holly, cedar, oak and lime. Of particular interest is the memorial to Joseph Wilton RA and his family of 1803 in the form of a Watcher's Box, from which watch was kept to forestall body snatchers, and which also resembles the entrance to the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Wilton (1722-1803) was a sculptor and founder member of the Royal Academy. The old dead yew standing at the highest point in the churchyard is purported to have supplied material for the bows at the Battle of Agincourt. The churchyard was extended in 1906 and 1924 and plans survive in the church vestry. The horse chestnut avenue (St Mary's Avenue) extending from George Green (q.v.) to St Mary's Church follows the C18th diagonal north/west path of the pate d'oie radiating from the former William Tylney-Long-Pole-Wellesley's house at Wanstead Park (Rocque, 1746). Although the churchyard is no longer open for burials, St. Mary's has a memorial garden where ashes can be buried.
The present St Mary's church is the third on the site, a classical building by Thomas Hardwick built to form a dignified eyecatcher for one of the three great avenues radiating from Wanstead House (Wanstead Park q.v.). The earlier, smaller church had stood in the churchyard near to the Wilton tomb and was demolished by Rector Dr Glasses when Hardwick's church was built. The church has a lofty porch that rises upon a pair of Doric pillars, above which is a high bell turret. The interior has an altar which is purportedly a marquetry table from Wanstead House, and monuments of particular note include the 20 ft high white marble memorial to Sir Josiah Child (d.1699), probably carved by John Van Nost. Sir Josiah appears bewigged and in Roman garb with his son Bernard at his feet, mourning women on either side and four cherubs with golden trumpets.
The churchyard contains a collection of early C19th and Victorian monuments, headstones, and Portland stone tomb chests; the churchyard railings and gates date from c.1790 and trees include notable yew, holly, cedar, oak and lime. Of particular interest is the memorial to Joseph Wilton RA and his family of 1803 in the form of a Watcher's Box, from which watch was kept to forestall body snatchers, and which also resembles the entrance to the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Wilton (1722-1803) was a sculptor and founder member of the Royal Academy. The old dead yew standing at the highest point in the churchyard is purported to have supplied material for the bows at the Battle of Agincourt. The churchyard was extended in 1906 and 1924 and plans survive in the church vestry. The horse chestnut avenue (St Mary's Avenue) extending from George Green (q.v.) to St Mary's Church follows the C18th diagonal north/west path of the pate d'oie radiating from the former William Tylney-Long-Pole-Wellesley's house at Wanstead Park (Rocque, 1746). Although the churchyard is no longer open for burials, St. Mary's has a memorial garden where ashes can be buried.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ409877 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 1.21 |
| Site Ownership | Church of England, Wanstead Parish |
| Site Management | Churchyard maintained by Westerleigh Group from Forest Park Cemetery & Crematorium, Hainault |
| Dates | C13th onwards; 1790 |
| Listed Structures | LBI: St Mary's Church. LBII: churchyard railings and gates, Joseph Wilton RA Memorial |
| 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 | Redbridge |
| In Conservation Area | Yes |
| Conservation Area Name | Wanstead Park |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | Yes |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | Yes - Archaeology Priority Area |
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
* on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens
Wanstead Golf Course contains remnants of the once extensive landscape gardens of Wanstead Park, developed between the C17th-C19th. Wanstead Park Golf Club was founded in 1893, initially leasing the site from Lord Cowley, owner of Wanstead Park, and purchasing it in 1920. The Clubhouse was set up in the late C18th stables of Wanstead House; the house was demolished in 1823/4 but its site remains as a large indentation in the ground. The C18th Octagonal Basin and part of the C19th gardens designed by Humphry Repton also survive. The club was renamed Wanstead Golf Club in 1920 when Wanstead Sports Ground Ltd was formed to secure the future of the golf course.
Wanstead Golf Course contains remnants of the once extensive landscape gardens of Wanstead Park, developed between the C17th-C19th. Wanstead Park Golf Club was founded in 1893, initially leasing the site from Lord Cowley, owner of Wanstead Park, and purchasing it in 1920. The Clubhouse was set up in the late C18th stables of Wanstead House; the house was demolished in 1823/4 but its site remains as a large indentation in the ground. The C18th Octagonal Basin and part of the C19th gardens designed by Humphry Repton also survive. The club was renamed Wanstead Golf Club in 1920 when Wanstead Sports Ground Ltd was formed to secure the future of the golf course.
George Green is a remnant of village green within Epping Forest and was once part of the grounds of Wanstead House (Wanstead Park). In the late C19th a small triangular drinking fountain was erected by the parishioners of Wanstead to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee (1897), which has been moved a number of times as a result of road widening schemes. Today George Green is an open green space maintained by the Corporation of London's Conservators of Epping Forest, crossed by a single diagonal path and with a few trees, including three notable Spanish chestnuts (C17th-18th), ash and horse chestnuts.
* on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens
Wanstead Flats is at the most southerly part of Epping Forest and was saved from development as part of the forest in 1878. Known as Wanstead Heath in the early C17th, it has been used for grazing cattle and sheep since the C12th, a practice that continued up until 1996. Wanstead Flats encompasses a number of areas all now managed as part of Epping Forest, including Manor Park Flats, Bush Wood Flats, Bush Wood and Bush Wood North, the latter having remnants of the C18th landscaping of Wanstead Park.
Wanstead Flats is at the most southerly part of Epping Forest and was saved from development as part of the forest in 1878. Known as Wanstead Heath in the early C17th, it has been used for grazing cattle and sheep since the C12th, a practice that continued up until 1996. Wanstead Flats encompasses a number of areas all now managed as part of Epping Forest, including Manor Park Flats, Bush Wood Flats, Bush Wood and Bush Wood North, the latter having remnants of the C18th landscaping of Wanstead Park.
