The common contains deposits of puddingstone, a conglomerate rock formed during a period of global warming 60 million years ago.

In the 19th century more and more common land was sold off to build houses for the growing workforce at Royal Arsenal.

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 of Edwin Hughes (leader of the Conservative Party) tearing down illegally erected fences on their way.

c. cxlv) ensuring that one hundred acres of land remained as public open space forever.

Plumstead Common is the venue for the Plumstead Make Merry event, which is the longest-running community festival in the Royal Borough of Greenwich and is run on a voluntary basis by a group of people who are passionate about the local area.