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

John Evelyn

John Evelyn

17th century diarist and garden designer. Born Wotton, Surrey. Through his 1647 marriage he came into possession of the Sayes Court estate in Deptford, on the Thames. As far as we can tell the poss...

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4 memorials
New River Path Canonbury gardens - opening

New River Path Canonbury gardens - opening

From London Gardens Online: "The water that runs through New River Walk is actually formed by ponds landscaped to resemble the former river. It had first been planted as a garden by the New River C...

Event, Gardens / Agriculture

1 memorial
Sir William Hooker

Sir William Hooker

Botanist. Born William Jackson Hooker at 7 Magdalen Street, Norwich. He collected specimens of mosses from Scotland and Iceland. Became first director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in 1841. Fat...

Person, Gardens / Agriculture, Science, Iceland / Faroe Islands, Scotland

1 memorial
Kai Leslie

Kai Leslie

We are not certain that these dates are for her life or for the time that she was associated with Ennismore Gardens.

Person, Gardens / Agriculture

1 memorial