Place    From 19/6/1869 

Southwark Park

Categories: Gardens / Agriculture

The Park was created mainly from market gardens. More information at  Historic England. The opening day is variously given as 19 or 9.

An information board at each of the main entrances to the park gives the following information:

Southwark Park is Grade II listed, covers 26 hectares and opened to the public on the 19th June 1869. Its design was based on an original map, produced by the Superintendent Architect, Mr Vulliamy, and Alexander McKenzie. The original intention was for part of the park to be used as building plots, but the Vestry of Bermondsey opposed this.

In 1884 a bandstand which was acquired from the Great Exhibition {actually the International Exhibition of 1862} in South Kensington was placed in the Park.

By 1885 substantial changes to the layout had occurred including the addition of the lake. In 1908 the lake was enlarged and adapted for boating. The English Rose Garden replaced island bedding in 1934 and was commissioned by Dr Salter to create a peaceful retreat for people to relax. In 1942 it was renamed the Ada Salter Garden in memory of his wife. In 1872 the carriage drive was reduced in width when the building plans were eventually shelved. The original carriage drive leading from Jamaica Gate now divides the park.

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Southwark Park

Commemorated ati

Bandstand - Southwark Park

Francis Fowke designed the buildings for the 1862 International Exhibition in...

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Southwark Park Act gates

{On each of the 4 gate leaves:} Southwark Park Act - 150 years {On the raili...

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Other Subjects

The Crown Estate

The Crown Estate

Some of these plaques have an 'R' representing Regent Street which was (2024 defunct) a Crown Estate website promoting Regent Street as a shopping destination.  Wikipedia had (2025: the map is no ...

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3 memorials
Olympic Way

Olympic Way

Wembley Stadium, then known as the Empire Stadium, was opened in 1923. Anyone arriving at Wembley Park station to visit the Stadium had to first cross a road and some railway lines, and then negoti...

Place, Gardens / Agriculture, Transport

2 memorials
St Georges Burial Ground

St Georges Burial Ground

St. Georges Burial Ground was so used from 1731 to 1857.

Place, Gardens / Agriculture, Religion

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Penge Heritage Trail

Penge Heritage Trail

A walking tour which includes people and places in the history of Penge. 2022: Most of the web links related to this are inaccessible. There's a Facebook page and this 2017 page.

Place, Community / Clubs

2 memorials
William Pugh

William Pugh

Co-churchwarden of the Surrey Chapel parish in 1820.

Person, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
Eleanor Marx-Aveling

Eleanor Marx-Aveling

Socialist writer and activist. Karl Marx's daughter, born 28 Dean Street and nicknamed Tussy. Her father's secretary from an early age, she returned home to nurse her aged parents.  Created the fir...

Person, Politics & Administration

3 memorials
Hazel Reeves

Hazel Reeves

Our picture comes from the video of the unveiling of the Gresley statue, on Reeves' website.

Person, Sculpture

1 memorial
Christ Church School - enlarged

Christ Church School - enlarged

SW3, Christchurch Street

The cheerful quotation is from Proverbs 9:10 and also 1:7.

1 subject commemorated