Ropers Garden

Address: Cheyne Walk SW3

A small sunken garden with sheltered seating and enclosed grass and shrub areas near to Chelsea Embankment.

History

In Ropers gardens an ancient cherry tree is the gardens most outstanding feature. This was planted to celebrate the visit of Gunji Koizumi, who introduced judo to the UK.

The site was part of the marriage gift of Sir Thomas More to his daughter Margaret on her marriage to William Roper in 1521, and was once an orchard. A parachute mine on 17 April 1941 destroyed the buildings here and a small sunken garden was created on the bomb damaged area. The foundation stone was laid by Cllr Lady Heath, Mayor of the Metropolitan Borough of Chelsea on 11 March 1964. The design was by Bridgwater Shepherd and Epstein.