Queen's Garden

Friends of Bromley Town Parks & Gardens

Promoting Bromley’s green centre

Queen’s Garden.

History.

Queen’s Garden represents the last remnant of the countryside hugging the old Market Square on the east side of town. It was part of the farmland belonging to Bromley Palace (now the Civic Centre) stretching from the White Hart Inn in the High Street all the way to Widmore Green. By the l8th century it was known as White Hart Field and it was here that the coaching horses could graze and where the town held their cricket matches. Despite its accustomed use by the townsfolk the field remained in the possession of the Lord of the Manor until donated to the town in 1897 on the occasion of Queen Victoria’s Jubilee and on condition it was laid out as a public garden.

The ornamental gates which now stand inside the Garden originally stood at the at the end of White Hart Slip visible from Market Square. where now stands the entrance to the Glades Shopping Centre. The Glades development was highly controversial not least because it finally severed the thousand year old link of the Market Square with open land. The gates are an important feature of the Garden and were donated by Lord Kinnaird and came from Plaistow Lodge although their actual origins and age are unknown.

Early photographs of Queen’s Garden show it sparsely landscaped. The beauty of the Garden as we know them today with many fine mature trees including several cedars is thanks to the vision of those earl y council landscape gardeners. The trees forming the boundary with Kentish Way, however were part of the original Palace field boundary along what used to be ‘Love Lane’. This was part of the original avenue of Limes forming the carriage drive to the Palace. These were all cut down in 1987 when Kentish Way was constructed.

Places of interest.

This is an enclosed formal gardens immediately adjacent to The Glades shopping centre and therefore a favourite for people to take a short break from shopping and relax. A number of features can be found here.

The Maze. A formal feature made out of low hedges with flag pole in centre. Not difficult to navigate.

Ornamental flower beds. These colourful flower beds are maintained by ACH Landscapes and are changed twice a year. One bed, adjacent to the Maze, is especially interesting. In 2007 it was planted as a tropical jungle with ‘dinosaurs’ peering through the foliage.

Development threat. We are campaigning (2011) against plans to develop part of these gardens for commercial use. You can find out more HERE.

Return to ‘Our Parks & Gardens’ page…….

The Maze