Description
Vanbrugh Park is a 1960s housing estate designed for Greenwich Metropolitan Borough, which comprises one tall block and a grid of 2-storey terraces in a landscaped setting of mature trees, a network of paths and communal spaces, with brick garden walls and pergolas. It is named after Sir John Vanbrugh who succeeded Sir Christopher Wren as Surveyor of Greenwich Hospital in 1716 and who lived in the area between 1719-1726,
Practical Information
| Site location | Vanbrugh Park/Vanbrugh Park Road West, Woolwich (extends to Westcombe Park Road from Blackheath) |
|---|---|
| Postcode | SE3 |
| What3Words | ///retire.swim.lots |
| Type of Site | Housing/Estate Landscaping |
| Borough | Greenwich |
| Open to Public | Partially |
| Opening Times | private, though unrestricted |
| Public Transport | Rail: Maze Hill. Bus: 386. |
| Research Updated | 1 December 2006 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
Vanbrugh Park is a housing estate designed by Geoffrey Powell of Chamberlin, Powell and Bon for Greenwich Metropolitan Borough in 1961-65. It consists of one tall block of flats and the remainder of the housing an informal grid of 2-storey terraces in a setting of lavish planting. The landscape of mature trees, a network of paths and communal spaces are between brick garden walls and pergolas. The approach to the estate from Vanbrugh Park Road between 2 brick piers is reminiscent of the Barbican (q.v.), the well-known estate that the firm also designed.
Vanbrugh Park is named after Sir John Vanbrugh who succeeded Sir Christopher Wren as Surveyor of Greenwich Hospital in 1716 and who moved to the area and lived here between 1719-1726. He built a Gothic house, Vanbrugh Castle, where he lived until his death, as well as Vanbrugh House in 1722 and other Gothic houses since demolished in early C20th. Vanbrugh Castle had various owners until the 1820s since which time it has been used for educational purposes, as a private school in 1905-1921 then a school and orphanage. Restored in 1976 by Blackheath Preservation Society, since 1977 it has been divided into four private properties.
Vanbrugh Park is named after Sir John Vanbrugh who succeeded Sir Christopher Wren as Surveyor of Greenwich Hospital in 1716 and who moved to the area and lived here between 1719-1726. He built a Gothic house, Vanbrugh Castle, where he lived until his death, as well as Vanbrugh House in 1722 and other Gothic houses since demolished in early C20th. Vanbrugh Castle had various owners until the 1820s since which time it has been used for educational purposes, as a private school in 1905-1921 then a school and orphanage. Restored in 1976 by Blackheath Preservation Society, since 1977 it has been divided into four private properties.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ397772 |
|---|---|
| Site Ownership | RB Greenwich |
| Site Management | Cleansweep |
| Dates | 1961-65 |
| Designers | Geoffrey Powell of Chamberlin, Powell and Bon |
| 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 | Blackheath |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | No |
Gallery
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Nearby parks and gardens
Woodlands was a Georgian villa built for businessman John Julius Angerstein in 1774, which once had extensive grounds with a lake, ice-house and fine conservatory. Angerstein was a great patron of the arts and his Old Masters collection formed the nucleus of the National Gallery. Woodlands remained in his family until 1876 but the estate was largely dispersed in the early C20th. The house was a convent after WWI until 1967 and in 1972 was acquired by Greenwich Council, with a small part of the original grounds. It became an art gallery and local studies centre but later closed and is now Greenwich Steiner School, which moved here in 2008. Adjacent is Mycenae House, originally built in 1931-33 for the convent, which has been run as a Community Centre by an independent charity since 1994, set in pleasant gardens.
* on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens
Greenwich Park's history dates back to pre-Roman times. After the Norman Conquest it became a large manor, which was inherited in 1427 by the Duke of Gloucester who enclosed the park in 1433. After his death it was taken by Henry VI's wife, and became the Manor of Plesaunce or Placentia and had associations with royalty until the early C18th. Henry VII built a royal palace here and the park was formally laid out for Charles II in the French style with a series of terraces and many trees planted, some of which remain. A great supporter of scientific research, Charles commissioned Sir Christopher Wren to build the Royal Observatory here. Greenwich Meridian Line crosses the landscape, dividing the world into the east and west hemispheres. James II was the last monarch at Greenwich, his daughter Mary later donating the palace site for a hospital for sailors and the park was made available to pensioners at the Hospital. The public were first allowed into the park during the C18th.
Greenwich Park's history dates back to pre-Roman times. After the Norman Conquest it became a large manor, which was inherited in 1427 by the Duke of Gloucester who enclosed the park in 1433. After his death it was taken by Henry VI's wife, and became the Manor of Plesaunce or Placentia and had associations with royalty until the early C18th. Henry VII built a royal palace here and the park was formally laid out for Charles II in the French style with a series of terraces and many trees planted, some of which remain. A great supporter of scientific research, Charles commissioned Sir Christopher Wren to build the Royal Observatory here. Greenwich Meridian Line crosses the landscape, dividing the world into the east and west hemispheres. James II was the last monarch at Greenwich, his daughter Mary later donating the palace site for a hospital for sailors and the park was made available to pensioners at the Hospital. The public were first allowed into the park during the C18th.
East Greenwich Pleasaunce is the former walled burial ground of the old Royal Hospital at Greenwich. The land, a former orchard, was purchased when the Hospital's two burial grounds were becoming full and the new cemetery opened in 1857. In 1875 the bodies of 3000 pensioners were brought here from the old infirmary burial ground when a railway tunnel was cut through the site. In 1926 the burial ground was sold to Greenwich MBC. Railings around the tombstones were removed and part of the ground was landscaped as a park although the gravestones remain in the central area.
