This is an attractive and imaginatively designed garden, developed on a World War II bombsite. The garden is constructed on three levels, descending from street level in Queen Victoria Street. The three levels expose different stages in the site’s history from World War II bomb damage, through medieval London at the foot of the stairway, down to a fragment of Roman London at the lowest level in the garden. The three levels are linked by a series of steps, terraces and pergolas, and there is a small area of mown grass at the lowest level. The garden has an air of naturalness and appears well used. It is open from 8 am to 7 pm or dusk, whichever is earlier, expect for on Christmas, Boxing and New Year’s Day.
Local Wildlife Site
Accessible Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation
Cleary Gardens
Borough: City of London
Grade: Local
Access: Free public access (all/most of site)
Area: 0.11 ha
Description
Wildlife
The garden contains several semi-mature trees, and the pergola, terraces and staircase have been planted with climbing shrubs such as wisteria, grapevines and roses. Much of the masonry from the World War II bombsite has been colonised naturally, with wall speedwell, trailing bellflower and biting stonecrop. Creeping buttercup and thyme-leaved speedwell grow near the Roman remains at the foot of the garden. A walled off enclosure surrounds an air vent for Mansion House Station. This area has been colonised by buddleia scrub. House sparrows and blue tits appear to be nesting there. Blackbirds nest in or nearby the garden.Facilities
No information available
Cleary Gardens © Corporation of London
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