Explore our History

Abbey gardens

Find out more about the various gardens and green spaces at Westminster Abbey.

College Garden

College Garden, hidden within the walls of the Abbey precincts, has been in cultivation for over 900 years. It covers just over one acre in size.

In monastic times, it was used to grow food, fruit, and medicinal herbs for the occupants of the Abbey. There was an orchard, a dovecote, fishponds, beehives, and a separate plot for growing vegetables. It is also recorded that there were archery butts set up for exercise. A herbarium was first set up in 1306.

Summer flowers in College Garden

But the garden wasn't simply somewhere to grow food. It was also a place of beauty, neatly laid out and planted with roses and lilies. The garden was under the supervision of the Abbey's Infirmarer and tended by a Head Gardener and two under-gardeners who were monks.

After the monks had to leave at the Dissolution of the monastery, the garden was used by the Dean and Chapter (clergy) and the School. Lavender from Wimbledon was collected for a knot garden in 1565. In 1692 the gardener purchased roses, honeysuckle, raspberry and gooseberry bushes, and pear trees. The garden has regularly been open to the public since 1966.

College Garden in the spring

Today, the garden is a peaceful place to relax during your visit to the Abbey, and it can also be booked for events and garden parties in the warmer months. Band concerts take place on certain days in the summer.

 

College Garden and fountain

The oldest surviving feature is the high stone wall built in 1376. The 18th century dormitory for Westminster School, completed by the Earl of Burlington, is on the west side. The London plane trees were planted in the 1850s. Two late Victorian houses were built at the far end of the garden, originally as residences for the Abbey clergy and now used as offices. In 1993 a bronze sculpture of the Crucifixion by Enzo Plazzotta was presented and is at the south end of the garden.  A single jet water fountain was added in 2002 and there is a small rose garden. 

Little Cloister Gardens and Garth

You can also enjoy our two smaller gardens. The 18th century Little Cloister Garden, with its Victorian fountain and borders of scented plants, was originally an area near the monastic Infirmary and chapel set aside for the monks recuperating after illness. We know from the archives that hollies, roses, box and crocuses were purchased by the gardener in 1706.

From the Little Cloister the small private garden within the ruins of the 12th century St Catherine's infirmary chapel can be viewed. This garden was laid out after the Second World War when the area was damaged by bombing. The chapel had been used for important assemblies, both secular and clerical, in monastic times. It was here that Henry III swore to maintain Magna Carta, which had been sealed by his father King John. A  modern statue of St Catherine can be seen in a niche on the north side.

The Garth is a lawn bordered by the main cloisters, used originally by the monks for quiet reflection. A modern lead fountain has been added in the centre.

 

Little Cloister garden

Little Cloister fountain

 

Further reading

The Gardens of Westminster Abbey by Jan Pancheri

"Westminster Abbey: the Infirmarer's Garden" by John Harvey in Garden History Autumn 1992 (with lists of plants grown)

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