History of Potters Fields Park

Potters Fields

- AD 100

In Roman times, most of the existing Potters Fields Park was under water - part of a much wider and shallower River Thames, with a series of water channels, small sandy islands and extensive marshland.

- 500 - 1100

The present day Potters Fields Park was still mostly covered with marshland, water channels and ditches. To the south was an area known as "Beornmund's Ey", the island of Beornmund - probably an anglo-saxon lord. The earliest description of Bermondsey is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is referred to as a Royal Manor belonging to King William, with land for ploughing, the growing of corn, meadowland for cows, and woods to provide nuts or acorns for pigs.

-1014

The Anglo-Saxons and Norwegian Vikings, led by King Olaf, sailed up the Thames to attack the Danes, who were occupying London. The Danes lined up along London Bridge to shower the attackers with spears but the attackers pulled roofs from nearby houses and held them over their heads but were able to get close enough to the bridge to attach ropes to the piers and pull the bridge down. There is speculation that this is the origin of the nursery rhyme, London Bridge is Falling Down.

-1100 - 1500

In the mediaeval period a number of buildings were constructed on this part of the Bermondsey riverside for influential church communities and wealthy families (e.g. the Dunleigh/Donley family), and revetments were built to channel the river and reclaim the marshland. There were a number of moated manor houses, including the Rosary (built by Edward II in 1325) and "Falstof's Place" (built by Sir John Fastolf in 1446), with fishponds and tidal mills. There were two main roads in the area, the Royal Highway (Tooley Street) and Bermondsey Street. However, most of the area east of Bermondsey Street was still a "marshy island" (an eyot) with open pasture - for grazing horses and cows - with some market gardening and the growing of willow and elder. The existing Potters Fields Park was part of this much larger open area known as Horsheiedon, Horseye Downe, or Horsleighdowne, mainly owned by the Abbey of Bermondsey, which was founded in 1082, and the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem.

- 1538 - 1540

All land owned by Bermondsey Abbey was "forcibly surrendered" to Henry VIII, following his excommunication from the Catholic Church. Horseydown later becomes the property of Sir Roger Copley of Galton, Surrey. Horsey-Downe at this time is governed both by the County of Surrey and the Lordship of the Manor of Southwark.

-1552

Three parishioners purchase part of Horsey-Down and on the death of the other joint tenants the land becomes vested solely in Hugh Eglisfeilde, who leases it to the parish of St. Olave for £20 and 12 shillings per annum. The St. Olaves Vestry allows parishioners to keep cows for 2d per week and horses for 4d per week on the 15 acres of unenclosed meadowland and grassland.

-1561

St. Olaves School founded, based in St. Olaves Street (Tooley Street) adjacent to the St. Olaves Church (near to today's London Bridge Station), from an endowment of £8 from Henry Leake on 12 March 1560.

-1571

St. Olaves School is incorporated by Charter of Queen Elizabeth on 26 July 1571, and later referred to as the "Free Grammar School of Queen Elizabeth". Sixteen parishioners are incorporated as Governors of the School. Robert Brown, a Puritan Minister, becomes Master of St. Olaves/Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School in 1586.

- 1581

On 29 December, Horselydown is "conveyed" to the Governors of the "Free Grammar School of Queen Elizabeth" by Christopher Eglisfeilde of Grays Inn, son of Hugh, Part of the Down is later leased to a number of parishioners including a parchment maker, an apothecary, a mariner, a dyer a felt-maker and a baker.

-1586

A new St. Olaves Churchyard is established at the eastern end of Tooley Street, as an annexe to the existing churchyard adjacent to St. Olaves Church by London Bridge. The Churchyard annexe became consecrated ground on 28 June.

-1590

A Parish Map of St. Olaves and Horsey-Downe, dated 1544, shows the present day Potters Fields Park as comprising the St. Olaves annexe Churchyard, a series of Almes Houses, The Whistler's Ground, Mr. Candishes House and Garden, Mr. Weldon's House and Garden, and a small Bermondsey Manor House. St. Olaves Street ends at the junction of Bermondsey Street, and then continues east as a bridleway across Horsey Downe during this period.

- 1598

The John Stow Survey of London notes that St. Olaves Street runs from London Bridge to Bermondsey Street, and that the meadow/marshy area to the east of Bermondsey Street is known as "Horse-down".

- 1618

The Pickleherring Pottery making English Delftware was established by the river, run by Christian Willhelm (roughly where the More London Scoop is today) - at its peak it had some 40 potters. The Factory's landlord was Peter Leister (Leijste). The Factory specialised in "Galleyware", high quality tableware and jars, and the products were so good that in 1628 King Charles I appointed Wilhelm as Royal Gallypot Maker.

- 1630 - 1645

Thomas Townsend, Wilhel's son-in-law takes over the Pickleherring Pottery on the death of Wilhelm, and expands the business to create a new Pothouse. Favourite designs of this period included the bird on a rock motif, a leaping fox.

There is a brewery located next to the Pottery in Stony Lane, run by Richard Hartford, and a number of wheelwrights in the area.

- 1631 - 1634

Thomas and John Townsend are taken to court and fined on a number of occasions including "for dumping soil in a channel on a streete between Battlebridge and the Millpond head", for "keeping hogs, dumping soil in a channel, and for not cleaning his sewer and drain", "for neglecting the paving by his house", and "for leaving sand and gravel on the highway".

- 1645 - 1684

Richard Newham takes over the Pickleherring Pottery. As well as being a Potter, he was " citizen, Embroiderer, Constable and Churchwarden"

- 1650s

St. Olaves Street also referred to as St. Tulies Street. A period of significant new buildings being constructed on Horsey Down, raising considerable income for St.Olaves School. The school leases a further part of the Down to the parish for an annual rent of "red rose".

- 1663 - 1674

William Fry and Edward Osbaldston are operating as Potters in the area, at a separate pottery by Still Stairs (relocated from Rotherhithe). This would have been located on the north-west corner of the present day Park.

- 1670s

James Barston operating as a Potter in the area, possibly at another small independent kiln.

- 1682

The William Morgan Map shows the St.Olaves annexe Churchyard, an open area called Potts Fieldes, and a number of buildings and warehouses along the river. This is the first reference to Potters Fields.

- 1684 - 1708

John Robins takes over the Pickleherring Pottery until 1700, and then it passes to Cheophas Wood who runs it until 1708 when it closes down.

- 1708 - 1723

Richard Grove and James Robins relocate the Pickleherring Factory, and operate it from a new site in Horsley Down. The new Factory, later called the White Pot House, stays open until about 1772 when pottery making disappears altogether from the area.

- 1710

The St.Olaves Parish Register shows 124 Potters operating in the area between 1618 and 1710. Between 1710 and 1733 there are still 68 Potters operating in the Parish.

- 1733

New St. Johns Horselydown Church built and Parish created, taking over parts of the St. Olaves Parish.

- 1733

New St. Johns Horselydown Church built and Parish created, taking over parts of the St. Olaves Parish.

- 1746

Rocques Map shows the St. Olaves annexe Churchyard, plus Fields and Warehouses. The burial Ground is probably now shared between the two parishes. This map shows Potters Fields appearing as a street name - a lane linking Tooley Street to Pickleherring Street.

- 1750s and 1760s

This period saw the building of a number of new Sufferance Wharves, along the river, including one owned by the wharfinger, Mark Brown.

- 1790s

St. Olaves passes on responsibility of the annexe Churchyard to the neighbouring St. Johns Church

- 1799

St. Olaves Churchyard replaced by St. John's Burying Ground

- 1835

St. Olaves Grammar School is relocated to a site in Bermondsey Street, adjacent to the new railway line, and then closes in 1849 prior to a move to another site.

- 1836 - 1850

Owners of property in Potters Fields are recorded as including William Blandford Burgess, Robert & Thomas Fauntleroy (hardwood and Ivory dealers), John Gaunt, Mr. Sardlow, Godfrey Saunders, Mr. Street, Robert Goulding , Mrs Symes, Joseph Graves (the Phoenix and Crown PH), and Hester Hopkins.

- 1850

A major cholera epidemic breaks out in the area.

- 1853

Burial ground and Wood Merchants (Map)

- 1854

Final Burials take place after legislation closes many burial grounds in the centre of London, because of health scares

- 1855

St. Olaves School relocated to a site in Tooley Street, adjacent to the existing Potters Fields Park. The new building, designed by Henry Stock, only lasts until 1892.

- 1856

The new Hays Wharf is built by William Cubitt for the Hays Wharf Company, the largest and most powerful of all the dockside companies. Two granaries are operating on the riverside area where Potters Fields Park now stands, including JW Ledgers three-storey building next to Still Stairs.

- 1861

The Great Fire of Tooley Street (which lasted 2 weeks) resulted in most buildings in the area being destroyed or severely damaged.

- 1870 - 1897

Tower Subway in operation, initially cable-hauled trams taking up to 14 passengers under the river from Pickleherring Street to Tower Hill, and then as a foot-tunnel only. Subway closed soon after Tower Bridge opened.

- 1872

OS Map shows the St. John's Burial Ground as disused - probably remained as disused church yard until late 1880's - with a small Charity School next door, a series of bonded warehouses containing timber and leather (part of Mark Brown's Wharf) and the old Queen Elizabeth Grammar School building.

- 1890

OS Map shows the St. John's Burial Ground is now a School Yard, most probably for the adjacent small Charity School.

- 1894

Tower Bridge Opens.

The OS Map for this year shows the old Burial Ground as "Tooley Street Gardens", with a small Girls School immediately adjacent, and a number of bonded warehouses fronting the river. One of these, Tower Bridge Wharf (now part of Potters Fields Park) imported hides and skins from the East Indies for the nearby leather trade in Bermondsey.

- 1896

New larger school constructed at Potters Fields to accommodate the renamed St. Saviours and St. Olaves Grammar School, with facilities for 500 boys. School designed by Edward Mountford, and cost

- 1906

The present day Potters Fields Park is still mostly covered by wharves and bonded warehouses. Mark Browns Wharves (previously C Curling's Wharf) occupy nearly all of the riverside part of Potters Fields Park

- 1914 - 1916

OS Map shows that the St. John's Burial Ground/School Yard has now become a "Recreation Ground" with a new Library next door. This is the St. Olaves Branch Library run by the Council, which later closed in the early 1980s.

- 1920

The Tooley Street Recreation Ground includes a children's playground and a netball pitch.

- 1930s

Hays Wharf Group owns and controls most of the land and warehouses on the riverside between London Bridge and Tower Bridge, and the amount and variety of food coming into the warehouses leads to the area being known as London's Larder.

- 1940 - 1945

The area was badly damaged by bombing.

- 1965

Two tons of tin glazed earthenware Delftware was recovered from the site following an archaeological survey, and this dated from the period 1620 - 1700. It appeared to be mainly a dump of waste material, but was of high quality. An ostrich bone dating to around 1610 was also found.

- 1968

St. Olaves and St. Saviours School closed, and relocated to Orpington. Building is subsequently taken over by the Inner London Education Authority (ILEA), South London College, and finally Lambeth College.

- 1969

Closure of the last working dock in the Upper Pool (Hays Wharf).

- 1971

HMS Belfast arrives in the Upper Pool

- 1977 - 1985

Britain's first urban ecology park is created on derelict land (including existing Park area) along the riverside to commemorate the Queen's Silver Jubilee. The William Curtis Ecological Park was managed by the Trust for Urban Ecology, but the land was handed back to the owners, St. Martin's Property Corporation, in 1985. William Curtis was a famous eighteenth century botanist, who also studied medicine and horticulture, and practiced from a small garden in Bermondsey.

- 1982

New Development Master Plan for riverside area between London Bridge and Tower Bridge (London Bridge City). After a lengthy community campaign and a Public Inquiry, the Plans were amended to include the laying out of a new Riverside Walkway and a 3 acre Park -. This was the origin of the current Potters Fields Park boundary.

- 1987

London Bridge City - Phase 1 completed, creating over 1.25 million square foot of new office space, retail space, a riverside walkway and new Park.

- 1988

St. Martin's Property Corporation and Southwark Council agree to call the new Park "London Bridge City Park", but the official opening by the Mayor of Southwark is postponed because the Park was barricaded by hundreds of people unhappy with its name. Local community groups organise their own opening of the Park and rename it Potters Fields Park. The new Park marked a successful end to a hard won community battle led by local resident, Lil Patrick, which started in the late 1970s. Lil opened the new Park with the words "Every blade of grass is worth its weight in gold". Lil died in 2000 after a lifetime's service to the local community.

- 1998

London Bridge Holdings Ltd purchase vacant land and buildings from St. Martin's Property Corporation and ask Norman Foster to produce a Master Plan - the More London Development Plan. The Final Master Plan is approved on 19 August 1999.

- 2000

City Hall Built as home for the first elected Mayor of London. Small extension to Park on its western edge.

- 2003

David Blaine is suspended in a Perspex box above Potters Fields Park for 44 days without food. The event causes major crowd management problems, including anti-social behaviour and disruption/disturbance to the surrounding communities. Tens of thousands of people visit the Park to witness the spectacle, and the Park is effectively "decommissioned" for nearly 2 months.

- 2004

Lambeth College closes its operations at the old St. Olaves School, and the buildings and land are sold to Berkeley Homes.

- 2005

Potters Fields Park designated as Metropolitan Open Land in the new Southwark Plan.

- 2006

Potters Fields Park closed for major refurbishment

- 2007

Potters Fields Park re-opens