Island Gardens, Cubitt Town

'Scrap Iron Park', as it became known locally, was set aside as an open space in 1849. The intention was to provide some respite from the excessive growth of industrial development on the Isle of Dogs opposite Greenwich Hospital. A scheme was devised in 1859 to create a Plantation with a variety of trees and shrubs in five equal parts to screen the intended villas from the river.

However, the location did not prove a popular choice for businessmen to live as the Isle of Dogs had nothing to offer in the way of amenities and the area was phsyically repellant. It was said that only one villa was actually built - originally called Thames House, later Dresden House or Hall, and eventually Osborne House. In 1895, the house having been aquired with the Plantation by the LCC, was leased to Poplar Borough Council and opened as a branch library. It also served as a lodge for the caretaker of the new Island Gardens. The library closed in 1905 with the opening of the new Cubitt Town branch in Strattondale Street.

The Island Gardens were formally opened by Will Crooks on 3rd August 1895. Since then, although the main planting - which includes plane trees, holly, almond, flowering cherry and thorn -  has matured well, the gardens have lost a good deal of their late-victorian flavour. Above all, they no longer provide a striking contrast to mean stretts, factories and wharves.