The Rose Garden, Christ Church Greyfriars, London

Typical London weather.

One thing that's great in London is that parks, gardens, courtyards, ponds, fountains, canals and locks abound. Anyone needing a breather or to have lunch can easily find a corner, surrounded by nature. 

The above garden is located near my workplace, where from day 1, we pass-by it when using the only front door. There's not a moment where viewing this garden for even a second did not fail to lift my spirit. It's beautiful during spring and summer of course, but I find it refreshing in whatever season. It even have it's own allure at night believe it or not.

Is it the tower? the remaining fire-ĺrazed walls? the box-hedged beds? the history?

Christ Church Greyfriars

Disclaimer: image from Illustrated London News, 1845.

Established as a Franciscan monastery in the 13th century, it closed down and became as a parish church. It was later destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666, then rebuilt to the designs of Sir Christopher Wren, the same person who have rebuilt St. Paul Cathedral.

With all that effort, the bombing during World War II destroyed the place and left the place as we can see it now.

The Rose Garden

Laid out in 1989, it was designed to match the floor plan of the former church where the whole garden covers the burial grounds on the site of the former nave. 

Those box-hedged beds represent the original position of the pews and the structures that support the climbing roses and clematis are copies of the wooden surrounds which decorated the original stone pillars.

These were written on a welcoming sign to the side of the garden.

Sculpted by Andrew F. Brown

Near this site was the old Priory where Christ's Hospital was built in 1552, founded by King Edward VI to house, feed and educate needy children. Incorporating the Royal Mathematical School in 1673, founded by King Charles II.

Hence the name Christ Church. As for the Greyfriars? It was from the Franciscans' habit during the medieval times.

(!steemitworldmap 51.515844 lat -0.098963 long d3scr)

All new images are mine, taken with my Samsung Galaxy S7.

Reference:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christ_Church_Greyfriars