About
ABBEY GARDENS – BAKERS ROW, E15
For a number of years we have been looking at a site at the end of Bakers Row which has been left derelict behind a wobbly fence. There was bramble sprawling across the surface, a large hole in the middle and a mound of earth on the side. It was impenetrable. Periodically rubbish would be dumped over the fence and a few fires were started. Still a few trees and a number of very old buddleias provided a friendly habitat for numerous birds that sang beautifully in the mornings and evenings.
Initial enquiries about the site revealed that the reason for “neglect” was its status as the “site of the ancient monument”. Long time ago there used to be Gatehouse to Stratford Langthorn Abbey. As such the site could not have been developed. However the prospect of 2012 Olympics and the DLR extension between Canning Town and Stratford International station have drawn attention to the site. As a result the Newham council has allocated funds to undertake the feasibility study to assess the potential of this site to become a park and a local community space.
As local residents we welcomed this move forward and “Friends of Abbey Gardens” group was formed in December 2006. Bakers Row was very busy in the winter 2007/2008. The rubbish was cleared away and English Heritage together with Museum of London organised a month long excavation of the remains of the Gatehouse. For two weeks members of public took part in excavations. Eventually the ancient walls were covered with earth again to protect them and a mock outline was built on the surface to point to the history of the area. The rest of the site was levelled and seeded with grass and wildflowers. The summer 2008 saw the site mostly green with nice flowery edges and loads of tomato plants (the seeds were imported with the new soil).
In the spring of 2008 artists Nina Pope and Karen Guthrie (www.somewhere.org.uk) won the commission for a public art installation in Abbey gardens, adjacent to the future new DLR station. Nina and Karen took a very broad approach and designed the plan for the “Harvest garden”. The inspiration was taken from the “Plaistow Landgrabers”, a group of unemployed men who at the beginning of the 20th century took over an unused site in Plaistow and started growing vegetables. They called this land “The Triangle Camp”. Likewise the new community garden at Abbey Gardens is divided into raised beds that form several large triangles. The first season started in June 2009 and although a bit late it was tremendously successful. The vegetables were delicious and the events were inspirational. The garden club was in place three times a week with a skilled leader / gardener who provided all the information and instructions for the visitors keen to learn about gardening. All activities, tools, seeds and guidance are free.
The Friends of Abbey Gardens group is open for anyone to join who has an active interest in the site and would like to see a community-lead development of a communal garden. Please contact mail@abbeygardens.org or come to see our notice board in Bakers Row for more information about current activities. We look forward to meeting you.
Abbey Gardens is located at the end of Bakers Row, Stratford, E15.
