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 a private events for a few weeks during the summer. Please contact Matthew Arnoldi, Garden Events Manager, for further details.