| Plumstead Common | |
|---|---|
 Autumnal view (near Plumstead Common Road) | |
 | |
| Type | common land,urban park |
| Location | Plumstead,London |
| Coordinates | 51°28′55″N0°04′41″E / 51.482042°N 0.078020°E /51.482042; 0.078020 |
| Area | 41.7 hectares (103 acres)[1] |
| Public transit access | Plumstead railway station |
Plumstead Common is acommon andurban park inPlumstead in theRoyal Borough of Greenwich (SE18), south-eastLondon. It is part of theSouth East London Green Chain.
Plumstead Common is bound to the north by Old Mill Road and to the south by Plumstead Common Road. To the east lies Winn orWinn's Common.
The common contains deposits ofpuddingstone, aconglomerate rock formed during a period of global warming 60 million years ago. The rock is more usually found north of the River Thames in Hertfordshire, seeHertfordshire puddingstone.[2]
Plumstead Common was first mentioned in theDomesday Book in 1086 ("Plumstede"). The name refers to a place where plums grow.
| Plumstead Common Act 1878 | |
|---|---|
| Act of Parliament | |
 | |
| Citation | 41 & 42 Vict. c. cxlv |
In the 19th century more and more common land was sold off to build houses for the growing workforce atRoyal Arsenal. The arrival of the railways sped up this process. The people of Plumstead protested that they had the right to graze their livestock on the land of Plumstead Common and to use it for sports and recreation. In June 1876 these protests attracted the Irish activist John De Morgan who on 1 July led protestors up from Woolwich Arsenal to the house ofEdwin Hughes (leader of the Conservative Party) tearing down illegally erected fences on their way. John De Morgan was arrested and sent to prison for seventeen days. The riots resulted in thePlumstead Common Act 1878 (41 & 42 Vict. c. cxlv) ensuring that one hundred acres of land remained as public open space forever.[3]
Royal Arsenal F.C.'s first home was playing on the common.
Substantial remains of theOld Mill still stand and have been incorporated into the public house of the same name. Nearby is Plumstead Manor School. On the southwest corner of the common stands the former Prince of Wales pub.
Plumstead Common is the venue for the Plumstead Make Merry event, which is the longest-running community festival in theRoyal Borough of Greenwich and is run on a voluntary basis by a group of people who are passionate about the local area. Plumstead Common is also the venue for the popular Asian Mela, which has been described as the "AsianNotting Hill Carnival".[4]
