Lesnes Abbey was founded by Richard de Luci, Chief Justiciar of England, in 1178. It was dedicated to St Mary and St Thomas the Martyr, and belonged to the order of the Augustinian Canons. In 1179, de Luci resigned his office and retired to the Abbey, where he died three months later. He was buried in the chapter house.

It was one of the first monasteries to be closed after the dissolution of the monasteries in 1524, and the monastic buildings were all pulled down, except for the Abbott's Lodging.

The former London County Council purchased the site of the ruins in 1930, which were opened to the public as a park in 1931. Since 1986, the site has been the property of the London Borough of Bexley.