Comments on: Heather Stevens, Head Gardener

By: Martin Palme

Martin Palme — Thu, 12 May 2022 19:24:20 +0000

I wonder if anyone recalls that to one side of the auricular theatre, to the south, I think, there used to be a tunnel under the building. It was a short-cut through to the front of the museum and Kingsland Road. A few years ago, on a visit to London, I mentioned it to one of the staff in the museum. He denied that it ever could have existed, but I am willing to bet that most children who attended Randal Cremer school nearby in the fifties would verify that it did. As a child at that time it was the only ceiling I could reach up and touch. I remember it as being very well-kept, not a nasty hole full of the ends of worms, but nicely painted, or perhaps white-washed, with clean steps down underfoot and timber ceiling beams above.

By: Hetty Startup

Hetty Startup — Thu, 03 Feb 2022 19:54:12 +0000

the auricula theatre on the back of the almshouses was a tea shop/cafe when I worked at the Geffrye Museum – there was not a flower growing in sight there. I have to make a return visit.

By: Hetty Startup

Hetty Startup — Mon, 22 Jun 2020 12:18:31 +0000

I volunteered at the Geffrye Museum in the early 1980s after fond memories of visiting the period rooms there as a child. It is so gratifying to know that this work has been done to interpret more of the material culture history of east London in different time periods. And the outdoors is inside at the moment…so it is doubly so a great accomplishment. Gardens take time and patience and hard work. Hetty

By: Avril Towell (was Jenner)

Avril Towell (was Jenner) — Sat, 16 Jan 2016 18:26:59 +0000

During the 1940s and 50s, I lived in Fellows Street (now long gone) near to St. Chads church. Dunloe Street is where we would skate along to the ‘swing park’ where these beautiful gardens now are. The smog in London was too much for my grandads health, so we moved away to the countryside which gave him a few more years of healthy living. The first time I actually saw the gardens in 2012 I was amazed and again enjoyed the visit inside the now much enlarged Geffrye Museum. With the many streets now gone, green spaces have now been created in their place, but my memories are of laying on the front lawns after using the swings and dreaming of the countryside where we eventually moved. Avril

By: Archibald Laidlaw

Archibald Laidlaw — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 20:27:02 +0000

Heather, I finally saw the wonderful walled gardens.
You can feel the heat there. Well done and keep going.

All the best AL

By: Joan

Joan — Mon, 23 May 2011 08:11:46 +0000

Fantastic that it is now possible to see the garden ‘out of season’ from the platform of Hoxton Station.

Best wishes,

Joan

By: Christopher Scopes

Christopher Scopes — Sun, 22 May 2011 14:53:28 +0000

What a quiet oasis in a busy part of London. I gain much pleaure from my garden , This year we arestoring the 3rd stone wall at the end which will, hopefully transform it into a traditonal walled garden. Like me I suspect Heather is preying for rain ! I loved her raised box beds.

By: Ana

Ana — Sun, 22 May 2011 00:35:04 +0000

I’m always envious of those who can create (and maintain) gardens like that. I can’t even manage an indoor pot plant.