Parks and playgrounds directory

Location

Old Town, Croydon, entrances off Howley Road and Reeves Corner.  The Tram service for the park stops at Church Street - Route 1/2/3.

Area

2 acres 0.81 hectares.

Facilities

• Ornamental garden beside the church
• Shelter

History

Until 1957 Croydon Parish Church had a traditional graveyard, but it was no longer used for burials and few of the tombs were tended by the family or friends of the deceased. Plans were developed to create a suitable new memorial garden.  

The widening of Church Street and associated road alterations which also required the relocation of a War Memorial provided the stimulus to implement the work.  A consultant was appointed to prepare the designs, the Borough Engineer carried out the scheme and the Parks Department carried out the planting.  

St. John the Baptists Church, is constructed of flint and stone and was first built in the 15th century but a serious fire in 1867 resulted in most of the church being rebuilt.  

Adjacent to the memorial garden is the 14th century former Archbishop's Palace, now a school.  As the Lords of the Manor, the Archbishops had a considerable influence on the town and they stayed at their near London country residence for centuries.  The building was abandoned when they moved to Addington Palace, and was used as a bleaching factory before being bought as a school.  

The old gravestones, tombs and headstones were removed and stored when work started in the garden and the road.  Earlier and more elaborate stones were erected as a screen wall around the church, special tombs and sarcophagi were relocated at strategic points.  The War Memorial was repositioned on a plinth in the garden.  

A number of footpaths lead around the garden and close inspection reveals that some of them are old headstones which were not included in the screen wall.  Seats and benches around the garden provide a quiet place to rest in the pleasant garden which provides all year round interest.