Maryon Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Maryon Park
Maryon Park, London
Type	• Public park  • Urban park
Location	Charlton, Greenwich, London, England, United Kingdom
Operated by	Greenwich London Borough Council
Status	Open year round
Website	"Marion Park" (descriptive page on Maryon Park at greenwich.gov.uk, the Greenwich London Borough Council's official website)

Maryon Park is a cool public park in Charlton, a part of London. It's located in the Royal Borough of Greenwich, right near the Thames Barrier. You can get into the park from Woolwich Road, Charlton Lane, and Thorntree Road. It's also part of a bigger area called the Maryon Wilson Park and Gilbert's Pit Local Nature Reserve.

History of Maryon Park

Maryon Park used to be a sandy area called Charlton sandpits. This land was once part of a larger forest known as Hanging Wood. In 1891, the Maryon-Wilson family gave this land to the London County Council. One of these sandpits became Maryon Park. Another sandpit turned into The Valley, which is the football ground for Charlton Athletic.

Originally, the park area was a wild, wooded place. Along with what is now Maryon Wilson Park, it was known as Hanging Woods. This forest was a perfect hiding spot for highwaymen. These were robbers who would ambush travelers on roads like Shooters Hill and Blackheath. People often thought the name "Hanging Wood" meant criminals were hanged there. However, it's more likely the name comes from the way the trees looked. The wood is on steep slopes, making the trees appear to "hang" from the hill. The word 'hang' comes from an old English word for a wooded slope.

Maryon Park officially opened in 1891. JJ Sexby, who was the chief surveyor for the parks department at the time, designed the winding paths that go around the hills.

Plants in the Park

Maryon Park has areas of open grassland. You can find different plants growing here. Some of the plants include hawkweed, gorse, and broom.

Things to Do and See

Maryon Park has some interesting features and activities.

Cox's Mount and Its History

One special spot is Cox's Mount. This area was used by the Romans as a hill fort a very long time ago. It was discovered in 1915. Later, in the 1850s, Cox's Mount had another important use. Ships on the nearby River Thames would use it to help set their compasses correctly.

Sports and Play Areas

The park offers several ways to stay active. There are hard tennis courts where you can play a match. You can also find a basketball court for shooting hoops. For younger visitors, there's a fun children's play area.

Walking Trails

If you enjoy walking, two popular trails pass through Maryon Park. The Capital Ring walk and the Green Chain Walk both go through this park. These walks let you explore more of London's green spaces.

Nearby Green Spaces

Right next to Maryon Park, to the south, is Gilbert's Pit. This area is very important for nature and is called a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Also nearby, just south of Gilbert's Pit, is the similarly named Maryon Wilson Park.