Inventory Site Record

A large rose garden and terraces remain on the site of Castle Wood House, built in 1870 and now demolished. The site was purchased by the LCC after the last owner's death in 1920 and it was opened to the public in 1925 as an addition to the existing public park around nearby Severndroog Castle, both now incorporated into Shooters Hill Woodlands. The garden has mature Wellingtonia, flower beds set into lawn and the remains of stonework terraces and steps.

Site location:

Shooters Hill

Postcode:

SE18

What 3 Words:

purple.forest.parks

Type of site:

Public Gardens

Borough:

Greenwich

Open to public?

Yes

Opening times:

unrestricted

Special conditions:

Facilities:

Events:

Public transport:

Rail: Falconwood, Eltham then bus. Bus: 89, 486, B16, 122, 161, 178

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Research updated:

01/12/2006

Last minor changes:

19/07/2023

Please check with the site owner or manager for latest news. www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk

A large rose garden and terraces remain on the site of Castle Wood House, built 1870 and now demolished. The site became available after the death in 1920 of the last owner, Probyn Godson, and was purchased by the LCC after lobbying by the newly formed Shooter's Hill Preservation Society. The Society invited subscriptions in order to buy Castle Woods and collected £6,000 by 1921 with the LCC contributing £10,000 to prepare the c.9 hectare site and maintain it. The garden was opened to the public in 1925 and added to the public park already established around Severndroog Castle (q.v.) and both are incorporated into the various woods which make up Shooters Hill Woodlands (q.v.), which include Oxleas Wood and Jack Wood. The setting of these formal terraces within the wider grassland and woods of Shooters Hill is extraordinary, with fine views over London. Among the trees are mature Wellingtonia, flower beds are set into lawn and there are remains of stonework terraces and steps.

Sources consulted:

Spurgeon, D, Discover Eltham, 1992, p 83.

Grid ref:

TQ431761 (543170,176090)

Size in hectares:

Site ownership:

RB Greenwich

Site management:

Parks and Open Spaces Department; Shooters Hill Woodlands Working Party

Date(s):

1870

Designer(s):

Listed structures:

None

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 Data

The information below is taken from the relevant Local Authority's planning legislation, which was correct at the time of research but may have been amended in the interim. Please check with the Local Authority for latest planning information.

On Local List:

No

In Conservation Area:

No

Tree Preservation Order:

No

Nature Conservation Area:

Yes - SSSI

Green Belt:

No

Metropolitan Open Land:

No

Special Policy Area:

No

Other LA designation:

None