Person    | Male  Born 31/10/1620  Died 27/2/1706

John Evelyn

17th century diarist and garden designer. Born Wotton, Surrey. Through his 1647 marriage he came into possession of the Sayes Court estate in Deptford, on the Thames. As far as we can tell the possessions extended approximately from Princes Street in the south to Jodane Street in the north. He rebuilt the Sayes Court house and developed the surrounding grounds into an important and influential garden.

When he returned to Wotton in 1694 he let Sayes Court to Captain Benbow who was not a good tenant. Worse was to come when William III arranged for Tzar Peter of Russia to occupy the house for three months. He and his entourage trashed the place and the Treasury had to recompense both Benbow and Evelyn.

Sayes Court Park incorporates the western edge of John Evelyn's garden. The site of Sayes Court itself forms part of Convoys Wharf, currently, 2017, a large development site.

In 1695 he was appointed treasurer of Greenwich Hospital, so, although he lived the later part of his live at Wotton, he continued to travel to London about Greenwich Hospital business and he died at his son's house in Dover Street, London.

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
John Evelyn

Commemorated ati

Peter the Great statue

Statue unveiled by Prince Michael of Kent, as Patron of the Peter the Great T...

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Victualling Department Admiralty

{In the belt that surrounds the anchor:} Victualling Department Admiralty Th...

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Whales in The Thames

We were sceptical but a 2012 article in Time confirms: “Technically, the Quee...

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This section lists the memorials created by the subject on this page:
John Evelyn

Creations i

Bedford House

"Dined at my Lord Treasurer's, the Earle of Southampton, in Bloomsbury where...

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Other Subjects

Battersea Park re-opened, 2004

Battersea Park re-opened, 2004

Battersea Park was re-opened to the public after extensive restoration.

Event, Gardens / Agriculture

1 memorial
Coram's Fields

Coram's Fields

The memorial at the entrance to these fields tells how this playground came into existence. It is the only public space in London where adults are not allowed without children.

Place, Children, Gardens / Agriculture

3 memorials
Dovehouse Green

Dovehouse Green

Here we summarise the splendid London Gardens Online : Land given by Sir Hans Sloane in 1733 to serve the Chelsea Parish Church of St Luke's and became the King's Road Burial Ground.  1882 a mortu...

Place, Gardens / Agriculture, Religion

2 memorials
Commonwealth Walkway Trust

Commonwealth Walkway Trust

Established in 2012 with a donation made by the Jubilee Walkway Trust. The Trust’s charitable mission is to create walkways in towns and cities around the world to preserve and protect the physical...

Group, Education, Gardens / Agriculture, History, Sport / Games

2 memorials