Park of the week

156. Cleary Garden

The site of this garden, near St Paul’s Cathedral, was a bomb site left over from World War 2, but in the late nineteen forties Joseph Brandis, who was a City worker, member of the Cordwainers Company and keen gardener decided to turn the space into a public garden, using plants and soil from his own garden in Walthamstow and mud from the river. The garden was completed in 1949.

The area from Cleary Garden down to Upper Thames Street used to be the site of a Roman bath house, built in 80AD. Its remains were discovered in 1929, with further excavations taking place in the nineteen sixties.

The garden was then significantly re-landscaped in the nineteen eighties to create the park that exists today and was named after Fred Cleary, chairman of the Metropolitan Public Gardens Association. He was known as ‘Flowering Fred’ for his work in creating public gardens in the City.

The garden is arranged over three terraces, created from the basements of the buildings that had previously been there. Designated a site of Local Importance for Nature Conservation, it is a haven for birds, including robins and blackbirds, blue tits, greenfinches, dunnocks, and sparrows.

In 2007 a series of grape vines were planted along the upper terraces as a gift from the winemakers of the Loire valley. This is a reminder of the time when this area was a hub for wine merchants. It is in the ward of Vintry, and the Worshipful Company of Vintners headquarters is nearby.

The upper terrace, with seating facing the main road is also lined with the tree peony monument, a gift from Yatsuka Town, Japan in 2004. The people of the town said ‘These flowers bring us happiness and comfort in time of trouble. We hope that these tree peonies, raised by the producers in our town, can be loved by and bring peace of mind to people in the United Kingdom.’ I could do with some of that. I think I’ll get a peony plant or two for my garden.

Judith Field

Cleary Gardens, Queen Victoria Street, London EC4V 2AR