Greenwich Park to be restored to it’s former glory thanks to £10.5m grant
BY TOBY PORTER
King Charles II, known as the Merry Monarch, may have been a bit too merry for modern tastes, as he had 12 illegitimate children.
But the grounds of his Baroque palace and park will be restored to the pomp of his reign, albeit without the bawdy parties.
The 590-year-old Greenwich Park, a World Heritage site, is set to be transformed after years of erosion – some of it by professional footballers running up and down its historic hill for pre-season training.
The massive steps up towards the Royal Observatory will be restored; and there will be a new learning centre, a cafe, better disabled access and improvements to its lake and flower garden.
The Royal Parks charity, which manages Greenwich Park, has secured a £4.5million grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and The National Lottery Community Fund to restore it to its original design.
The Greenwich Park Revealed project, will protect and future-proof the park, which is eroding under the pressure of a growing population.
The Royal Parks and other parties will contribute bring investment up to £10.5million.
The park gets about five million visitors a year. But the local population is set to increase by around 17 per cent by 2026, and the number of visits is predicted to increase – there are currently 69 tall buildings in the planning pipeline for Greenwich.
The area around the famous General Wolfe statue, next to the Royal Observatory, is a popular spot for photography, with views sweeping across the river and the Prime Meridian line.
The park faces new tree pests and diseases which are damaging the historic tree avenues, and inadequate public facilities need urgent attention. The revamp will return the park’s eroded historic landscape to its 17th century glory.
This includes reinstating The Giant Steps which frame the dramatic view from The Royal Observatory;
- replanting diseased and dying sections of the tree avenues, recreating the original Baroque designs created by Charles II.
- an eco-friendly learning centre in an underused service yard, generating new green space for public use, overlooking the historic deer park. It will offer training, learning, volunteering, events and activities, with paid horticulture pre-apprenticeships and work experience for students.
- a new café, public toilets, a meeting place and an information point for park users.
- better access for people with disabilities, with a mobility scheme to help people visit different areas of the park.
- improving the Wilderness Park with better views of the deer and a new wildlife pond, and by planting scrub for nesting birds and conserving wild grasslands.
- wildlife-friendly planting in the Edwardian-era Flower Garden,
- improving the lake and adding natural play features for children.
- increased recycling, reconnecting historic fountains with drinking water to discourage bottled water use, and using ground water to irrigate trees and improve water quality in the lakes.
Chief executive of the Royal Parks Andrew Scattergood, said: “From a cluster of ancient 6th century tombs to some of the most spectacular Baroque landscaping, Greenwich Park is a living museum rooted on the shores of maritime legend.
“But centuries of footfall have taken a toll and without urgently-needed restoration, the park would become irreparably eroded and we would lose a gem in our national heritage.
“We will now embark on the biggest project in The Royal Parks’ history. Greenwich Park Revealed will protect, enhance and uncover the hidden gems of this iconic World Heritage Site, future-proofing this ancient park for the millions of local, national and international visitors to enjoy for generations to come.”
Greenwich Park manager Graham Dear, said: “Greenwich Park’s incredible history and stunning natural environment is right on the doorstep for millions of people. The much-loved park provides a tranquil green oasis where people can relax, get away from the hustle and bustle of densely-populated South East London and delve into the park’s rich history.
“We’re putting the community at the heart to deliver more arts and culture events, build a new learning centre, and a new café, and uncover the park’s incredible stories, ensuring this park is truly for the people.”
HISTORY OF GREENWICH PARK
The park covers 183 acres and was enclosed in 1433, making it the oldest enclosed Royal park.
It was the site of a Roman temple in the 1st century (AD43-410) and an ancient Anglo-Saxon cemetery dating from the 6th-7th century.
The Grade1-listed landscape is a mix of gardens, historic buildings and monuments, and is a Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation with an abundant array of wildlife.
Greenwich was the birthplace of Henry VIII who introduced deer to the park.
His two daughters Mary I and Elizabeth I were also born here and his son Edward VI died in Greenwich before he reached his 16th birthday.
In the early 1600s, the park was laid out in the French style with many trees planted, some of which remain today.
James I gave the palace and the park to his wife, Queen Anne, who commissioned Inigo Jones to design her a special home which became know as the Queen’s House.
It was Charles II’s great interest in science that resulted in the founding of The Royal Society in 1661.
Sir Christopher Wren was commissioned to build The Royal Observatory, named Flamsteed House after the first Royal Astronomer John Flamsteed and now part of the National Maritime Museum.
Henry VI’s Greenwich Castle, by then in disrepair, was chosen for the site of the Royal Observatory by Charles II in 1675.
It was adopted as the world’s Prime Meridian at the International Meridian Conference in Washington DC, USA, on 22 October 1884.
Nations across the world still use it as their standard line of zero longitude for mapping and timekeeping.