Gilbert's Pit

Gilbert’s Pit is a 5.2-hectare geological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Charlton, part of the Royal Borough of Greenwich. It sits within Maryon Wilson Park and forms a Local Nature Reserve, adjoining Maryon Park to the east. The site was once known as Charlton Sand Pit and was worked for sand from the late 18th century until 1889. In 1930 the London County Council bought the land, and it gained legal protection in 1985. A Romano-British settlement once stood on Cox’s Mount, the highest point of the pit, between the first and fifth centuries. The pit is an important Paleogene site with one of the most complete sediment sequences in Greater London. Layers dating to around 55 million years ago contain fossils of plants, sponges, molluscs, fish and reptiles. Geologists have studied the site for more than 120 years, producing a large body of research. The Thanet and Woolwich Formations here are recognised internationally for their clarity and completeness. Its steep sides and varied slopes create distinct habitats within a small area. Visitors enter from Charlton Lane or via a path from the information board in Maryon Park that leads up to Cox’s Mount. From the summit there are fine views over London. The upper slopes are covered with yellow gorse and broom, while birch and oak grow on the lower ground. Hawthorn on the lower slopes provides nesting sites for birds. Much of the site remains fenced off to protect its scientific value, but the open section offers a quiet place to walk and look at the exposed layers of ancient earth.