Inventory Site Record

Cutty Sark Gardens is a landscaped area overlooking the Thames, which is of significance due to its position adjacent to where the famous tea clipper 'Cutty Sark' is moored. It was floated in the dry dock here in 1954, re-rigged and repainted, and opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1957. Until recent refurbishment of the area as a result of a successful HLF bid, another famous vessel, Sir Francis Chichester's 'Gypsy Moth IV' was also moored here. Following a fire, the Cutty Sark was restored and re-opened in 2012.

Site location:

King William Walk, Greenwich

Postcode:

SE10 9BJ

What 3 Words:

winter.gets.miles

Type of site:

Public Gardens

Borough:

Greenwich

Open to public?

Yes

Opening times:

unrestricted

Special conditions:

Facilities:

Visitor Centre, toilets;

Events:

Public transport:

DLR: Cutty Sark for Maritime Greenwich. Rail: Greenwich. Bus: 177, 180, 188

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Google Map    
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Research updated:

01/04/2012

Last minor changes:

14/07/2022

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

The Cutty Sark was built in 1869 and was still in use as a cargo ship in 1922 when it was bought and restored. It was floated in the dry dock here in 1954, re-rigged and repainted, and opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1957, and now contains a museum. It suffered a severe fire and is undergoing restoration, due to re-open in 2012. Until recently another famous ship was moored here, 'Gipsy Moth IV', the vessel in which Sir Francis Chichester sailed around the world between 27 August 1966 and 28 May 1967. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II at the Royal Naval College (q.v.) with the same sword used by Queen Elizabeth I to knight Francis Drake in the C16th. 'Gipsy Moth IV' was removed when the area was being refurbished as a result of a successful Lottery bid of £12m.

Within the Cutty Sark Gardens site are Greenwich Pier and the southern entrance to Greenwich Foot Tunnel giving access to Island Gardens (q.v.) on the north bank. Also in the gardens is a memorial to Bellot, a young French explorer who joined in the search in 1851/2 for Lady Franklin's husband and while no trace was found of him, a stretch of water was discovered now called Bellot Water. During an expedition in 1853 Bellot died falling under the ice in Wellington Channel. £2,000 was raised by public subscription for a memorial, £500 of which was spent on the memorial obelisk designed by Philip Hardwick, the remainder going to his sisters.

Sources consulted:

LB Greenwich historical monuments notes; Beryl Platts 'A History of Greenwich' 2nd ed. (Procter Press), 1986; Ben Weinreb & Christopher Hibbert, 'The London Encyclopaedia' (Macmillan, revised ed. 1993).

Grid ref:

TQ383779 (538277,177866)

Size in hectares:

1.07 (Bellot Memorial 0.0486

Site ownership:

RB Greenwich

Site management:

Strategic Planning (Tourist Information Centre)

Date(s):

Designer(s):

LB Greenwich Parks Department (1990s)

Listed structures:

LBI: 'The Cutty Sark'. LBII: Greenwich foot tunnel entrance building; K6 telephone kiosk

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:

Yes

Conservation Area name:

West Greenwich

Tree Preservation Order:

Not known

Nature Conservation Area:

No

Green Belt:

No

Metropolitan Open Land:

No

Special Policy Area:

Other LA designation:

None

Cutty Sark Gardens - Photo: Colin Wing
Date taken: 30/03/21 12:27

Click a photo to enlarge.