?Summer at Clearl Garden, settle down on benches under
canopies of trees and vines or relax on the sunken lawn in the very peaceful
Cleary Garden. Set back from busy City road Queen Victoria Street, Cleary
Garden is a hidden gem of green space that's ideal for a break from
sightseeing.
Opening Hours
7 days a week throughout the year 8am – 7pm or dusk – whichever is earlier
Separated in to three tiers, including a sunny terrace and more shaded
wooden arbours below, the garden provides a range of wildlife habitat. The
three tiers also reveal its history, including WWII bomb damage on the upper
section, through medieval London by the stairway, and a section which covers
the site of a Roman bath house at the lower level.
History
During the Middle Ages the area was the hub of the wine trade, a tradition
evoked by sensory flowers, shrubs and climbers, suggesting bouquets of
wines, and a miniature vineyard on the terrace. Separated into three tiers,
the garden’s wooden arbours, shaded seats and large lawn (which covers the
site of a Roman bathhouse) make it the ideal spot for a time-out.
The garden is named after Fred Cleary, who, during the 1970’s was
instrumental in encouraging the planting of trees and the creation of new
gardens throughout the square mile. During the blitz, the house which once
stood here was destroyed exposing the cellars. A shoemaker called Joe
Brandis decided that he would create a garden from the rubble, collecting
mud from the river banks and transporting soil from his own garden in
Walthamstow to the site. His success was such that on 29th July 1949 Queen
Elizabeth the Queen Mother visited the new garden.
Today Cleary Garden is visited by people from all over the world. Next to
the pergola is a bed of Yatsuka Tree peonies, presented to the City by the
Japanese Island of Daikonjima as a symbol of goodwill in April 2006.
Biodiversity
The garden is designated a Site of Local Importance for Nature Conservation.
House Sparrows and blue tits nest in the buddleia which has colonised the
walled off enclosure on the upper level, and greenfinches, robins,
blackbirds and dunnocks are frequently spotted in the garden. Keep an eye
out for wisteria, grape-vines and roses on the pergola, the insect hotel at
the bottom of the garden, and trailing bellflower, creeping buttercup and
thyme-leaved speedwell on the Roman remains.