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College Garden occupies a site that has been under continuous cultivation for more than 900 years. It was here that the Abbey's first Infirmary garden was established in the eleventh century. The Infirmarer, a Senior Monk of the Abbey, had care of the sick and elderly members of the monastic community as well as administering a dispensary for local people. He would have directed the planting and cultivation of the various herbs needed for medicinal purposes in the Infirmary. Some of these herbs, such as fennel and hyssop, are still grown in the garden today.

The Infirmary garden was also a valuable food source for the Abbey. Fruit trees were planted, among them apples, pears and plums, grape vines were cultivated for many years, while leeks, broad beans and other vegetables were grown in a small kitchen garden. Exactly how the garden looked at that time is unrecorded - possibly the herbs were grown in a series of small raised beds, certainly there were areas of grass large enough for the harvesting of hay, and by the fifteenth century there were two ponds, one either side of the central path. The ponds were probably used for growing yet more plants of medicinal value - water lilies, perhaps.

The oldest surviving features that can be seen today are the stone precinct walls at the far end of the garden and running along the left-hand side as you stand at the entrance gate. These walls date from the fourteenth century. To the right stands the eighteenth century dormitory building belonging to Westminster School. It was designed by the Earl of Burlington, altering an earlier design by Sir Christopher Wren. The oldest living things in the present garden are the five tall plane trees, Platanus x hispanicus, planted in 1850.

While the original garden was principally an area in which to grow herbs, fruit and vegetables, it also gave the convalescing monks a place in the open air for relaxation and gentle exercise. Today, the garden still offers a tranquil space for the residents and staff of the Abbey. It has been open to the public for a relatively short period of its history.

The areas of grass remain quite large, though these days this is not for the harvesting of hay, but to allow various fund-raising events to take place on the lawns during the summer. One of the largest of these events is organised by the Macmillan Cancer Relief Fund.

Sadly, due to the high lead content of the soil, many of the herbs growing in the garden today can no longer be used for medicinal purposes. However, by helping with charity fund-raising - especially medical and associated causes the Abbey and its garden continues the link with the Monastic Infirmarer's garden to promote health and welfare for the people of London and beyond.

It is possible to hire out the Garden for private events for a few weeks during the summer. Please contact the Garden Events Manager, for further details.