Garden Museum – My London+

My journey started here (see photo above) at the American Embassy. I’d been here once before a few years ago. It was rather like a building site then, and still they are building new apartment blocks. They now come with cafes and supermarkets beneath – little villages in themselves. The gardens are also an improvement. But I came today specifically to see the swimming pool between two apartments. See on the photo what looks like a walkway? That’s a pool! I’d seen it recently on TV news with lots of people in it. Today, being a weekday, no one was there. Even so, it was still a spectacle. Would you like to swim in it?

American Embassy (above)

After a quick wander around, I set off for the Thames. To the left is Battersea (the old Power Station) and to the right central London and Westminster. I was walking to the right, but not before I walked a little way back to grab a photo of Father Thames.

It wasn’t long before I spotted something on the other side of the road. Three seats in the form of boats, and some arches that looked like a church. I crossed over to inspect this and came across White Hart Dock which can be traced back to the 14th century. Royal Dalton had buildings along here, and you can see the tunnel that led to other docks and the Thames. I have never come across this dock before, and that’s what I like about London. It never fails to amaze and surprise me.

Looking towards Battersea

White Hart Dock

Behind the old dock something else caught my eye, and before I knew it I found Old Paradise Garden. What a beautiful garden. This seems to have been built on a former churchyard. It is a quiet oasis with a beautiful array of wildflowers in the centre. The park is still having a makeover, but there will be a play area. Also, the Garden Museum (close by) run gardening lessons here on Friday mornings for local residents. There are raised beds with various plants and herbs. This is a lovely place to sit.

From there it was back to the Thames via St Mary’s Gardens. St Mary’s is the home of the Garden Museum, but the gardens here are free. Next door is Lambeth Palace. Over the road is Lambeth Bridge.

Lambeth Bridge

Westminster

Walking along the Thames Path I came across the wall where people have written the names of loved ones who have died of Covid 19. I knew of this wall, but was surprised about how long it is. It stretches almost from Lambeth Bridge to Westminster Bridge. Certainly a peoples’ memorial.

From here it was a short walk to the London Eye and then towards Waterloo. I stopped off at St John’s Church gardens to eat lunch and to have a quick read before returning home. It had been a lovely morning.

London Eye

St John’s Churchyard

St John’s, Waterloo

Derek Jarman was a Film Producer and in the 1980’s he bought Prospect Cottage in Dungenesss and turned it into a haven. With a lifelong interest in gardening he set about making a garden on the beach, not only with flowers but art pieces made from beach finds. The walls of the cottage also contained his art works.

When he died there was the possibility that the cottage might be sold and turned into a holiday cottage. The Art Fund stepped in to save this unique cottage by crowdfunding, and they were lucky encough to raise the funding to buy it.

The Garden Museum in Lambeth has a selection of Jarman’s art works, letters, books, journals and tools on display. It is only a small exhibition, but they have done it very well. They have created a room with a mock up cottage set on pebbles, so when you walk in it feels like you are on the beach. On the walls the cottage is depicted with the surounding scenery, the Nuclear Power Station in the background. Inside the installation are three rooms. One has a film running, a film Jarman took on the beach. Opposite are the other two rooms, the first contains a case with the journals, letters and photos, the other room has desk in from of a window overlooking the pebble beach.

This is indeed a unique cottage, and hopefully, in time, it will be possible to visit the real thing.

The Garden Museum itself has undergone renovations since I was last there. They have a brand new cafe area around the garden and a learning space for schools and groups. Also here on the ground floor is the history of the church, the former St Marys-at-Lambeth, the oldest church in Lambeth. You can see the walk in baptismal font and there is a tower with over 300 steps from where you get a good view of the River Thames (haven’t been up there yet).

Upstairs you find gardening through the ages, with tools, photos, paintings and methods, posters and, let’s face it, nostalgia! Also from up here are good views of the stained glass windows. I remember the museum as being bigger, but maybe its the way the space is being used now.

While renovation was taking place there was a surprise find. It wasn’t thought the church had a crypt as it was so close to the river and would have flooded. However, when taking up some floor slabs they found lead coffins beneath. It turned out there were five former Archbishop of Canterbury’s buried there, along with others. Around twenty or so coffins have been found. You can read all about it here. There is also a short video about the find.

Here you can see the entrance to the crypt with the Archbishop’s Mitre

The Garden Museum was set up in 1977 to honour John Tradescant (1570-1638), who was the first gardener and plant hunter in British history. He is also buried at the church. The church was due for demolition. Thank goodness it was saved.

You can walk to the museum from Waterloo station (17 mins), or take the tube to Lambeth North.. The museum is opposite Lambeth Bridge.

Tag: Garden Museum

Vauxhall to Waterloo – an amble along the Thames Path and some back roads

The Garden Museum/Derek Jarman Exhibition