Plumstead Common is a

common Common may refer to: As an Irish surname, it is anglicised from Irish Gaelic surname Ó Comáin. Places * Common, a townland in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland * Boston Common, a central public park in Boston, Massachusetts * Cambridge Com ...

and

urban park An urban park or metropolitan park, also known as a city park, municipal park (North America), public park, public open space, or municipal gardens (United Kingdom, UK), is a park or botanical garden in cities, densely populated suburbia and oth ...

Plumstead Plumstead is an area in southeast London, within the Royal Borough of Greenwich, England. It is located east of Woolwich. History Plumstead has been settled since ancient times, and London's earliest timber structure has been found here. ...

in the Royal Borough of Greenwich ( SE18), south-east

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

. It is part of the

South East London Green Chain The South East London Green Chain, also known as the Green Chain Walk, is a linked system of Greenway (landscape), open spaces between the River Thames and Crystal Palace Park in London, England. In 1977 four London boroughs and the Greater Lon ...

Location and geology

Plumstead Common is bound to the north by Old Mill Road and to the south by Plumstead Common Road. To the east lies Winn or Winn's Common. The common contains deposits of puddingstone, a conglomerate rock formed during a period of global warming 60 million years ago. The rock is more usually found north of the River Thames in Hertfordshire, see Hertfordshire puddingstone.

History

Plumstead Common was first mentioned in the

Domesday Book Domesday Book ( ; the Middle English spelling of "Doomsday Book") is a manuscript record of the Great Survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086 at the behest of William the Conqueror. The manuscript was originally known by ...

in 1086 ("''Plumstede''"). The name refers to a place where plums grow. In the 19th century more and more common land was sold off to build houses for the growing workforce at

Royal Arsenal The Royal Arsenal, Woolwich is an establishment on the south bank of the River Thames in Woolwich in south-east London, England, that was used for the manufacture of armaments and ammunition, proof test, proofing, and explosives research for ...

. The arrival of the railways sped up this process. The people of Plumstead protested that they had the right to graze their livestock on the land of Plumstead Common and to use it for sports and recreation. In June 1876 these protests attracted the Irish activist John De Morgan who on 1 July led protestors up from Woolwich Arsenal to the house of Edwin Hughes (leader of the Conservative Party) tearing down illegally erected fences on their way. John De Morgan was arrested and sent to prison for seventeen days. The riots resulted in the ( 41 & 42 Vict. c. cxlv) ensuring that one hundred acres of land remained as public open space forever. Royal Arsenal F.C.'s first home was playing on the common.

Heritage buildings and cultural events

Substantial remains of the Old Mill still stand and have been incorporated into the public house of the same name. Nearby is Plumstead Manor School. On the southwest corner of the common stands the former Prince of Wales pub. Plumstead Common is the venue for the Plumstead Make Merry event, which is the longest-running community festival in the Royal Borough of Greenwich and is run on a voluntary basis by a group of people who are passionate about the local area. Plumstead Common is also the venue for the popular Asian Mela, which has been described as the "Asian

Notting Hill Carnival The Notting Hill Carnival is an annual Caribbean Carnival event that has taken place in London since 1966

Photo gallery

File:London-Plumstead, Plumstead Common 19.jpg, Plumstead Common Road File:London-Plumstead, Plumstead Common Rd.jpg, Plumstead Common Road File:London-Plumstead, Plumstead Common, St Margareth's Grove.jpg, St Margarets Grove File:London-Plumstead, Plumstead Common, Warwick Terrace.jpg, Bus stand Warwick Terrace File:London, Plumstead Common 03.jpg, Western part of the common File:London-Plumstead, Plumstead Common 21.jpg, Eastern part of the common File:London-Plumstead, Plumstead Common 01.jpg, Green Chain Walk File:London-Plumstead, Plumstead Common, war memorial.jpg, World War I memorial

References

External links