Park of the week

153. Distaff Lane Garden

This garden, opened in 2018, is in the heart of the City of London, between St Paul’s Cathedral and St Nicholas Cole Abbey, which isn’t actually an abbey, but a church. The name is derived from “coldharbour”, a medieval word for a traveller’s shelter or shelter from the cold. It’s dedicated to St Nicholas of Myra, the patron saint of fishermen, and in Elizabethan times there was an important fish market next to it. This must explain the name of this nearby alley, and the fact that Distaff Lane used to be called Fish Street.

The garden was designed with the aim of supporting biodiversity and providing shade and plant interest. with a small cluster of trees, divided by interweaving paths. There are birch trees and a single pin oak. The trees are underplanted with a mix of shade and drought tolerant perennials and grasses. I’m including this photo of a plant I saw growing there just because I like the name of the plant – Heavenly Bamboo. At the rear of the garden is a “water wall” where water bubbles over stones with a texture inspired by fish scales, recognising the area’s historic importance as a fish market. 

The park replaced a carpark that sat next to an office block. It used to have a plot of grass on the top. When the old office block was demolished and the current one built, the car park entrance was made into the garden. Part of the reason for the garden being in this specific location is that the slice taken out of the side of the office building to allow it exists to preserve a line of sight between the church and St Paul’s Cathedral.

This sculpture of Icarus (you’ll have to take my word that he’s the subject) used to be on the old lawn on top of the car park. 

Judith Field

Distaff Lane Garden, Distaff Lane, London EC4V 5EY