Description
The Whittington Garden is named after Lord Mayor Richard Whittington, who rebuilt the church of St Michael Paternoster Royal at his own expense in 1409, also founding a college and almshouses. Destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666, the church was rebuilt by Wren by 1694. The site of the public garden was on the riverbank in Roman times and later had buildings connected with the fur trade. These were demolished after bomb damage in WWIII and the Corporation of London acquired the site in 1955. The garden was laid out in 1960 with a largely paved area in the west and grass, flower beds and trees in the east. A small fountain was erected in the west section in the late 1960s. The east section is now surrounded by hedge, and remains largely grass, shaded by trees.
Practical Information
| Site location | College Street/Upper Thames Street |
|---|---|
| Postcode | EC4R 2RL |
| What3Words | ///fumes.scans.weeks |
| Type of Site | Public Gardens |
| Borough | City of London |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted. Church: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm |
| Public Transport | Tube: Cannon Street (District, Circle) |
| Research Updated | 1 June 2010 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
The Whittington Garden is named after the Lord Mayor Richard Whittington (d.1423) who was buried in St Michael Paternoster Royal Church, which he had rebuilt at his own expense in 1409. An earlier church of 1219 is referred to in C13th documents. He also founded a college and almshouses on which he bestowed the rights and profits of the church, having been granted a piece of land for the purpose by City of London. This church was destroyed in the Great Fire of London and rebuilt by Wren by 1694, its steeple erected in 1713. The Wren church is set back from the main road behind Whittington Garden, which is laid out in two parts, separated by hedge. One part is grassed, railed and locked and the other is largely paved, with seats, small fountain and shrubs. In Roman times the site of the gardens was on the riverbank and later had buildings connected to the fur trade, but these were demolished after bomb damage in World War II.
The Corporation of London acquired the site in 1955, ownership of part of it being exchanged in 1956 for the graveyard of St Martin Vintry, a parish that was united with that of St Michael Paternoster Royal after the Great Fire of 1666. St Martin Vintry dated from the C12th with a churchyard in existence by 1211, lost due to the widening of Upper Thames Street in the 1960s. The parish of St Michael Queenhithe was amalgamated in 1875 and that of All Hallows the Great in 1894. The garden was laid out in 1960, the original layout having an open paved area to the west, with low brick walls to the north, a few trees and flowerbeds, and to the east a railed lawn with flower beds and a single tree. A small fountain was erected in the west area in the late 1960s; the east section is now surrounded by hedge and flower beds have gone. Since the 1960s some planting has been added alongside the church.
The Corporation of London acquired the site in 1955, ownership of part of it being exchanged in 1956 for the graveyard of St Martin Vintry, a parish that was united with that of St Michael Paternoster Royal after the Great Fire of 1666. St Martin Vintry dated from the C12th with a churchyard in existence by 1211, lost due to the widening of Upper Thames Street in the 1960s. The parish of St Michael Queenhithe was amalgamated in 1875 and that of All Hallows the Great in 1894. The garden was laid out in 1960, the original layout having an open paved area to the west, with low brick walls to the north, a few trees and flowerbeds, and to the east a railed lawn with flower beds and a single tree. A small fountain was erected in the west area in the late 1960s; the east section is now surrounded by hedge and flower beds have gone. Since the 1960s some planting has been added alongside the church.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ324808 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 0.0208 |
| Site Ownership | City of London Corporation (area adjacent to church: Diocese of London) |
| Site Management | Open Spaces Dept. |
| Dates | C13, 1686-94; 1960 |
| Listed Structures | LBI: St Michael Paternoster Royal Church |
| 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 | City of London |
| In Conservation Area | Yes |
| Conservation Area Name | Queen Street |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | Yes - St Paul's Heights Policy Area |
| Other LA Designation | Strategic Viewing Corridor |
Gallery
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Nearby parks and gardens
The Worshipful Company of Skinners were furriers whose first Charter was given in 1327. The site of Skinner's Hall in this location dates from 1409, although rebuilt after the Great Fire and with subsequent alterations. Entered through the Company's fine ceremonial gates on Dowgate Hill, the small Inner Courtyard was originally used for the formation of guild processions. The east elevation of the Banqueting or Great Hall, dating from 1670, faces onto the courtyard, its entrance flanked by embellished pilasters with carved rabbits, whose fur was used by the lower orders in medieval society. The paved courtyard has two C18th water containers planted with flowers, and the stone cloister was added between 1902-16. In 1984-6 a Roof Garden was created above new kitchens, and this is paved, with a fountain, planters and statuary. In addition a terrace at the rear of the Hall also provides outside space.
The Worshipful Company of Tallow Chandlers dates from the C14th and bought the site here in 1476. The present Tallow Chandlers' Hall was built in 1671-3 after an earlier building was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666. It has a small courtyard garden reached through ornamental iron gates on Dowgate Hill. A small external garden was created in 1978 on the corner of Dowgate Hill and Cannon Street by Past Master and Mrs Deverell Stone in memory of their son Mark.
The raised forecourt of Nos. 27 and 28 Queen Street, a pair of fine C18th private houses now used by Gresham Computing Personnel, is on part of the site of the former burial ground of the church of St Thomas-the-Apostle. The church was first recorded in 1170, rebuilt in 1371 but destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666 and not rebuilt. The churchyard remained until 1851 when Queen Street was widened and remains were interred in a vault on the east side. The paved forecourt, accessed by a flight of steps each side, has a large plane tree and shrubbery; a stone plaque relating to the site is set into the front wall.
