Maryon Wilson Park

Maryon Wilson Park is a public park on Thorntree Road, Charlton, in the Royal Borough of Greenwich in south east London.

Maryon Wilson Park
Maryon Wilson Park, London
Type • Public park
 • Urban park
LocationCharlton, Greenwich,
London, England, United Kingdom
Coordinates51.4847°N 0.0431°E / 51.4847; 0.0431
Operated byGreenwich London Borough Council
StatusOpen year round
Website"Maryon Wilson Park" (descriptive page on Maryon Wilson Park on the Greenwich London Borough Council's official website)

Together with the neighbouring Maryon Park and Gilbert's Pit, it is a Local Nature Reserve,[1][2] and forms part of the South East London Green Chain.[3]

History

The park is a remnant of ancient forest once known as Hanging Wood (the word 'hang' comes from the Old English 'hangra', a wooded slope),[4] reputedly a haunt of highwaymen; a road, Hanging Wood Lane, ran through the area that later formed the park. The wood was formerly part of the estate of Charlton Manor, owned by the Maryon Wilson family from 1767 until 1925. Sir Spencer Maryon Wilson had provided land for the creation of nearby Maryon Park in 1890, and in 1925 the family donated further land to Greenwich Borough Council, and Maryon Wilson Park was opened by London County Council in 1926.[5]

Animal park

The park is known for its animal park where tours are conducted (although not required); tours typically take two hours and give children the opportunity to feed, pet and interact with the animals. Free public tours are led by the Park Ranger Service every Wednesday starting at 1.30 pm. The tours are strictly limited to the first 50 people on the day. Tours begin at the deer pen.[3]

In 2011, the animal park was threatened with closure after Greenwich council withdrew its funding.[6]

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. "Maryon Wilson Park". Royal Borough of Greenwich. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
  4. Fowler, Christopher. "Five hidden London spaces". Christopher Fowler. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
  5. "Maryon Wilson Park". London Gardens Online. London Parks and Gardens Trust. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
  6. "Petition launched to save Charlton's Maryon Wilson Park animal centre". News Shopper. 19 January 2011. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
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