Inventory Site Record

Deptford Memorial Gardens were laid out on a series of pre-existing narrow garden enclosures dating from at least the 1860s that ran between the main road, Lewisham High Road and Wickham Terrace, a row of mid-C19th paired houses. At the northern end is the World War I war memorial, which was unveiled in 1921. The enclosures are protected under the London Squares Preservation Act of 1931. The gardens form a strip of lawn within which are circular, rectangular or oval flower beds with seasonal displays. A path runs through the gardens and there are a number of seats. Yew hedges and shrubbery border the garden to the south and there are a number of ornamental trees, as well as lime and horse chestnuts. The border to Lewisham Way has a scalloped retaining wall.

Site location:

Lewisham Way, between Upper Brockley Road and Breakspears Road, Deptford

Postcode:

SE4 1SX

What 3 Words:

roofs.exist.making

Type of site:

Public Gardens

Borough:

Lewisham

Open to public?

Yes

Opening times:

unrestricted

Special conditions:

Facilities:

Events:

Public transport:

Rail/London Overground: New Cross

Citymapper    
Google Map    
streetmap.co.uk

Research updated:

06/02/2024

Last minor changes:

06/02/2024

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

Deptford Memorial Gardens were laid out by the Borough Council shortly after the end of WWI and incorporate Deptford War Memorial at the north-west end of the gardens. Prior to this, these garden enclosures appear to have been private gardens provided for the residents of Wickham Terrace, a row of mid-C19th paired houses. They are shown as a series of narrow planted enclosures between the main road, Lewisham High Road and Wickham Terrace, and fronting Brockley Congregational Church at the northern end. The congregational church site was redeveloped in 1968, although its boundary wall remained. The most easterly garden enclosure is now within Lewisham College campus, but was previously part of South East London College of Technology, an educational provision of the LCC dating from c.1931.

The public memorial gardens today comprise three narrow enclosures laid out on raised ground between the main road on the south side and the mid-C19th houses, with strips of lawn within which are circular, rectangular or oval flower beds with seasonal displays. A path runs through the gardens and there are a number of seats; yew hedges and shrubbery borders the garden to the south and there are a number of ornamental trees, as well as lime and horse chestnuts. The border to the main road has a scalloped retaining wall. The War Memorial that forms the northern boundary of the public gardens was commissioned by the Metropolitan Borough of Deptford in 1919 to commemorate the Fallen of Deptford. It was designed by William Richards of Brockley and consists of a Portland stone obelisk 23 feet in height surmounted by a flaming torch, with life-size figures of a soldier and a sailor in battle dress. The inscription reads: 'Deptford's Tribute to Her Gallant Sons Who Were Faithful Unto Death 1914-1918', with the dates 1939-1945 added in commemoration of World War II. It was unveiled on 7 July 1921 by Major-General Sir Charles Townsend KCB, CB, DSO, MP and dedicated by the Bishop of Southwark. At the south/east end of the gardens at the junction of Lewisham Way with Breakspears Road is a wooden board with the inscription 'Borough of Deptford Memorial Gardens'.

In 1928 these enclosures are given the site name 'Lewisham High Road' in the Report of the Royal Commission on London Squares, 0.95 acres in extent and described as 'four long narrow enclosures flanked on one side by Lewisham High Road (south side) and on the other by public roadway leading to a number of dwelling houses. Enclosed by low walls and planted with trees and shrubs.' By that time the gardens were public and they were owned and maintained by Deptford Borough Council with a small portion owned and maintained by the LCC. The gardens are protected under the London Squares Preservation Act of 1931. Lewisham High Road was later renamed Lewisham Way. 

Sources consulted:

Report of the Royal Commission on London Squares, 1928; West Kent Argus, July 8 1921; West Kent Argus Friday, July 8 1921; Brockley Conservation Area Character Appraisal, LB Lewisham, 2005; London Borough of Lewisham War Memorial Wiki at (http://lewishamwarmemorials.wikidot.com); 
https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/247313; https://www.london-footprints.co.uk/wkstjohnroute.htm

Grid ref:

TQ370763 (537073,176365)

Size in hectares:

Site ownership:

LB Lewisham

Site management:

Greenscene Department, Glendale Grounds Management

Date(s):

1921

Designer(s):

Listed structures:

LBII: Deptford War Memorial; 2 K2 telephone kiosks (Wickham Road and Breakspears Road)

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:

Yes

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:

Brockley

Tree Preservation Order:

No

Nature Conservation Area:

No

Green Belt:

No

Metropolitan Open Land:

No

Special Policy Area:

No

Other LA designation:

None

Deptford Memorial Gardens, May 2011. Photograph Sally Williams

Click a photo to enlarge.