Maryon Park

Maryon Park

Maryon Park, London
Type  • Public park
 • Urban park
Location Charlton, Greenwich,
London, England, United Kingdom
Coordinates 51°29′20″N 0°02′35″E / 51.489°N 0.043°E / 51.489; 0.043Coordinates: 51°29′20″N 0°02′35″E / 51.489°N 0.043°E / 51.489; 0.043
Operated by Greenwich London Borough Council
Status Open year round
Website "Marion Park" (descriptive page on Maryon Park at greenwich.gov.uk, the Greenwich London Borough Council's official website)

Maryon Park is an urban public park located in Charlton in the Royal Borough of Greenwich. It is situated on the A206 south of the Thames Barrier. There is access from Woolwich Road, Charlton Lane and Thorntree Road. It is part of the Maryon Wilson Park and Gilbert's Pit Local Nature Reserve.[1][2]

History

Charlton sandpits, which were originally part of an area known as Hanging Wood, were presented to the London County Council in 1891 by the Maryon-Wilson family, and one of the pits became Maryon Park.[3] Another pit became Charlton Athletic's football ground, The Valley.[4]

The park was originally wooded and, together with what is now Maryon Wilson Park, was known as Hanging Woods.[5] This was a wild wooded area and formed an ideal retreat for highwaymen who robbed travellers on Shooters Hill and Blackheath. Those who were caught were hanged here – hence the name.

Flora

The park contains grassland, with hawkweed, gorse and broom.

Attractions and facilities

The park includes Cox's Mount, which was used by the Romans as a hill fort, which was discovered in 1915.[6] In the 1850s, Cox's Mount was used to help ships on the nearby River Thames adjust their compasses.

The park has hard tennis courts, a basketball court and a children's play area. The Capital Ring walk and the Green Chain Walk both pass through the park.

Nearby attractions

Next to the park is Gilbert's Pit, a Site of Special Scientific Interest,[7] and to the south is the similarly named Maryon Wilson Park.

Although it was not identified by name, the park was the filming location of key scenes in Blowup (1966), a drama mystery-thriller film directed by Michelangelo Antonioni and starring David Hemmings, Sarah Miles and Vanessa Redgrave. The park is little changed since the making of the film.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "Maryon Wilson Park and Gilbert's Pit". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. 6 March 2013. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  2. ↑ "Map of Maryon Wilson Park and Gilbert's Pit". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  3. ↑ "Greenwich Guide - Charlton". greenwich-guide.org.uk. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  4. 1 2 "Greenwich Guide - Charlton's Parks". greenwich-guide.org.uk. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  5. ↑ "Map of Charlton, 1746 | Historic Maps of Greenwich | Ideal Homes". ideal-homes.org.uk. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  6. ↑ "Prehistoric Greenwich (1) Cox’s Mount | The Greenwich Phantom". thegreenwichphantom.co.uk. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  7. ↑ Natural England Citation, Gilbert's Pit (Charlton) Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine.
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