Fred Cleary - Cleary Garden, London, UK
Posted by: Groundspeak Regular Member Master Mariner
N 51° 30.706 W 000° 05.713
30U E 701557 N 5710738
This blue plaque is on the eastern wall of Cleary Garden on the south east side of Queen Victoria Street.
Waymark Code: WMJ5GT
Location: London, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 09/27/2013
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member Dragontree
Views: 2

The blue plaque reads:

Corporation of London

Fred Cleary
1905 - 1984
Tireless in his wish
to increase open
space in the City

The City of London website tells us about the garden:

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 bathouse 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.

Blue Plaque managing agency: Corporation of London

Individual Recognized: Fred Cleary

Physical Address:
Cleary Garden
Huggin Hill
London, United Kingdom


Web Address: [Web Link]

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