A West Greenwich Walk

Route & what to see

london-footprints.co.uk

A 3½ mile circular walk from Cutty Sark DLR Station. Greenwich Station (DLR & National Rail) is a short distance from the route. There are plenty of places for refreshments and things to do in Greenwich to make a day of it.

Bear right out of the station and cross Creek Road into Bardsley Lane.
In the cul-de-sac to the left are the former Coroner's Court (1902) and Weights & Measures Office (1900) now converted to housing.

Go to the right and enter St Alfege's Churchyard on the left
Some of the graves have been cleared to provide sports facilities. A old mortuary building is visable.

Head across to the left to the area at the west end of the church.
The church hall (built 1814 but extended) was the Greenwich National School of Education and Industry for Girls. The present St Alfege's Church was designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor in 1714 with a tower of 1730 by John James [
pix].

Take St Alfege's Passage to the north of the church and go right along Greenwich High Road. Cross to the area between Greenwich Picturehouse and the bus stop.
Masonry here came from the Workshop for the Blind.

Walk through the car park into Burney Street and go left. Cross Stockwell Street into Nevada Street.
The corner restaurant was a former coaching inn the 'Spread Eagle' whose coachway entrance remains.
Greenwich Theatre was converted from an old music hall in 1969 retaining the 1885 facade on this side [more info].

Return to and go left along Crooms Hill.
Opposite the modern front of the theatre is the Fan Museum in an attractive house at number 12.

Continue along Crooms Hill and go right into Gloucester Circus, walking through on the south side.
This was designed by Michael Searles in 1791-1809. The north side was built as a terrace 30 years later but rebuilt after WWII bomb damage.

Cross Royal Hill into Circus Street.
There is an inscription 'Royal Circus Tea Warehouse' on number 12.

Take the second left into Brand Street.
These houses were built in the 1830s by George Smith for Morden College. At the end, across Royal Hill to the right notice the former St Paul's Parochial Room of 1872.

Bear left then go left into Royal Hill at the junction. Go right into Point Hill and first left along King George Street then right into Hyde Vale.
There are attractive houses of the 1840s with older properties at the end.

Go right into West Grove.
There is a conduit head of 1710 on the corner (plaque).

At the bend take Westgrove Lane ahead. Go left into Point Hill then right onto the Point (a grassed area).
Underneath are the Blackheath Caverns, former chalk mines, finally closed in 1946 after serving as a tourist attraction in the first half of the 19th century.

Go across to the viewpoint.
This gives views north and westwards towards London.

Go down the steps (a steep flight & then a shallower set) going right at the bottom into Maidenstone Hill.
The corner building of 1799 was the estate office for Morden College to whom neighbouring properties of the 1840s belong.

Continue along Maidenstone Hill then left down Point Hill.
On the right is a former hay and coal merchants premises (inscription).

At the end go right along Royal Hill.
This road has a mixture of houses, shops and pubs.

Go right into Royal Place.
Old stables of 61 Royal Hill have been converted into cottages accessed from this street.

Go left along King George Street.
Notice to the right houses in Luton Place and Georgette Place (both cul-de-sacs). The Hall was built in 1816 as a Methodist Chapel and the adjoining small hall dates from 1879. On the opposite side is Greenwich Park School. There are a number of new houses in this road. Notice the cars in the basements!

At the end go right up Crooms Hill.
The Grange is an attractive house of 1801 with a gazebo by Robert Hooke. Heathgate House, formerly the presbytery, dates back to 1635. The RC church of Our Lady Star of the Sea, designed by William Wardell in 1851, has a tall spire and furnishings by Pugin. There are notable houses further along such as Manor House (1695), Hillside (1799), Park Hall (1723) and the White House.

Continue along Chesterfield Walk.
To the left is MacCartney House, a home of General Wolfe, altered by Sir John Soane in 1802 and now converted into flats. Further along is the Rangers House, managed by English Heritage. The central portion is from 1700 with later wings added.

If the property is open it may be possible to get into the park from the garden to the right of the house. If so walk along the park side of Rangers House and MacCartney House. If not return past MacCartney House and take the path into the park by the White House. Follow the path running parallel with Crooms Hill.
There is an 18th century Standard House attributed to Hawksmoor.

Keep walking parallel to Crooms Hill.
In the corner of the park is a herb garden and St Mary's Lodge of 1830.

Exit by St Mary's Gate.
The statue of William IV stands on the site of St Mary's Church demolished in 1936.

Continue along King William Walk.
Buildings on the right hand side now provide a student's union, conference facilities and student accommodation. Across Romney Road the former Seaman's Hospital is now part of the University of Greenwich. King William Walk passes the west gate of the college grounds and the Pepys building which houses a visitor information centre, displays and cafe. At the end is Greenwich Pier with a cafe and boat services. In dry dock is the Cutty Sark, the last of the clipper ships (currently closed for major restoration). The domed glass building gives access to the foot tunnel under the Thames to Island Gardens.

Walk through Cutty Sark Gardens into Greenwich Church Street. The passageway between the shops on the right leads back to the station.

Resources
Discover Greenwich and Charlton by Darrell Spurgeon

 

© london-footprints.co.uk 2007

[Hawksmoor Churches] [places to visit] [walks list]