Hidden away from the main roads of South East London, Ruxley Manor is a haven of peace amid a bustling city. You might be surprised to discover it’s actually more than just a garden centre. There’s a rich history behind Ruxley and it all starts with a church, or rather its remains.
Ruxley was once a parish with its own church, built in the 13th century. It stood proudly until 1557, when Cardinal Reginald Pole, the Archbishop of Canterbury, deconsecrated the church. Why? Well, it’s a little bit of a smart-aleck fact, but the Archbishop wanted to create a larger parish by combining Ruxley and North Cray.
The church then became a barn. Yes, a barn. It wasn’t until the 1960s that things took a turn. Archaeologists dug up the site and found evidence of a much older wooden building, indicating there might have been a Saxon church there before the 13th-century one. Today, you can still see some of the old church standing in the garden centre, just to the south of the road.
Standing here, surrounded by flowers and the scent of fresh soil, it’s hard to imagine Ruxley as anything but a haven for nature lovers. But the land tells stories of times past – tales of a bustling community, a thriving parish, and a church with secrets buried beneath its foundations. Just imagine the lives that unfolded here, from the Saxon priests to the farmers who used it as a barn. And, perhaps, a small bit of history will stay with you long after you leave the tranquillity of Ruxley Manor.