Blitz Bombsite became Goldsmiths Garden in the heart of the City of London

London History

There is a quaint hidden garden tucked away next to a medieval church of St John Zachary in the City of London called the Goldsmiths Garden, opposite Goldsmiths’ Grand Hall buildings in Foster Lane, sitting on the corner of Gresham Street.

The Great Fire of London destroyed the churchyard of St John Zachary in 1666. Some centuries later the area received significant bomb damage during the London Blitz during Worl War Two.

Plaque Blue Corporation of London "Site of ST John Zachary Destroyed in the Great Fire 1666 — Plaque Blue Corporation of London “Site of ST John Zachary Destroyed in the Great Fire 1666

Goldsmiths Garden corner of Gresham St — Goldsmiths Garden

Out of the bomb damage in 1941, firemen laid out a garden. It became the Goldsmiths Garden and won an award in 1950 for the best garden on a Blitz site.

In 1995-95 Anne Jennings redesigned the garden. We can see the Gold Leopard Cat emblem of Goldsmiths around the park. It has benches and a fountain and a unique statue

The Artists

Goldsmiths Garden Flower mauveAnemone — Goldsmiths Garden Flower mauve pink Anemone

The Artist Wilfred Dudeney created this Statue “Three Printers” The only memorial stone to commemorate Newspapers in the UK. It used to be in New Street Square in Holborn before being moved to Goldsmiths Garden in 2009.