Pocket Park Walk (4)

Between the Thames and Monument is this lovely garden

Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun! It was much like that yesterday as a little group of us met at Monument tube station. Today we would be looking at the more recent pocket parks, including one of the newest. We would end where these walks started at a Victorian pocket park in Bishopsgate.

Keeping to the shade where ever possible we set off passing the Monument built after the Fire of London as a vantage point. Recently some seating has been installed with words of the nursery rhyme London's Burning written on them. Heading down to the Thames Path briefly we found another garden. I don't remember this from my Thames Path walk on this side (the north bank) so I'm guessing its a recent. While the grass is suffering like all the parks in London are right now, the planting looked good. Loved the curved benches and chairs. Along a bit is another area which apparently is sheltered so much that dry soil planting is here. In winter it can be a sun trap. Heading away from the Thames we looked at some quite out of the way gardens, including one in a former churchyard which was shady and inviting in this heat. We then headed to my favourite garden at St Dunstan in the East. Bombed in the war the church was left and foliage now winds through glassless windows and arches. This is a most peaceful garden and very atmospheric.

St Dunstan in the East

Suddenly we were at All Hallows by the Tower where Samuel Pepys stood watching the fire as it raged through London. We headed over to the park dedicated to him and then to Trinity Gardens (might Trinity Square Gardens) where there are several memorials. It was here that those awaiting execution in the Tower of London were brought. It was a huge a spectator event with raised seating. If you were Royal you were executed in the Tower of London - all the rest ended up here. There are some big names here too.

Samuel Pepys

Paving slab depicting the fire of London

Names of the executed, Trinity (Square) Gardens

Onward to Tower Hill and another park. It stands not far from Tower Gateway tube. A fountain has been installed now and the building adjacent has some living wall features. I really fell in love with one.

Garden near Tower Gateway (above and below)

The garden with the Knight on a horse was busy with lunchtime workers. I can't remember the name of this one but it was land given to the knights by King Edgar in return for them protecting the city (see below).

Our morning was coming to an end as we came to one of the newest parks by Aldgate. It has a cafe run by charity, so not you usual High Street chain.The garden was packed with people! The adjacent church (St Botolph's) has even managed to reclaim some of its land. I didn't take photos here but there's a great article (with photos) here about the garden and how it was created.

We ended at Bishopsgate (close to Liverpool Street station) and another church taking us back to the Victorian era.

And so ends the pocket park walks. They have been lovely, both to view and to learn about their history. I hope you have enjoyed your journey through them. If the placing of these gardens sounds vague I apologise. Many of these gardens are not named on maps and though I've tried to find them it's hard. Of course some aren't even on maps yet! Sill, I hope it has encouraged you to seek them out. Look out for greens near churches and any open spaces!