Before you stands Burgess Park. It is a green lung in South London. This park wasn’t always a park. It has a story of transformation.
Burgess Park spans 56 hectares. That is 140 acres. It’s a large green space, but unlike many London parks, it was created from a built-up area. Houses, industries, and transport infrastructure once stood here.
The idea for Burgess Park came from the 1943 Abercrombie plan. This plan envisioned more open spaces in London. Over the years, land was assembled and landscaped. The London County Council started the work. Later, the Greater London Council took over. Since the mid-1980s, the London Borough of Southwark has managed it.
An early part of the park was King George’s Field. It opened in 1938. It was on the site of former baths and a swimming pool. This was at the Addington Square end of the park.
The North Camberwell Open Space became part of the park in 1965. This space included St George’s churchyard. Francis Bedford designed the church in 1824. The churchyard stopped being used for burials in 1856. In 1886, it became a public garden. Catherine Gladstone opened the garden in 1887. The churchyard was re-landscaped in 1966. The church closed in 1970. It fell into disrepair. In 1994, the church was converted into private housing. Most of the garden became private too.
The Grand Surrey Canal’s closure was a key moment. This happened in the early 1970s. The canal ended at Addington Wharf on Camberwell Road. It served the Surrey Commercial Docks. The area was full of 19th-century buildings. Many had been damaged in World War II. The canal stretch is now part of the park. It was once the site of Camberwell Wharf.
Other land was also incorporated into Burgess Park. This land had been housing. The park was named Burgess Park in 1973. It was named after Councillor Jessie Burgess. She was Camberwell’s first female mayor.
Burgess Park is still evolving. Some former roads remain. They have not yet been grassed over. The park’s boundaries are debated. There are often proposals to build on the land. These proposals include housing, schools, or transport links. Such ideas would be unheard of in London’s older Victorian parks.
Several listed buildings dot the park. They are remnants of the past. There is an early 19th-century lime kiln. The Passmore Edwards library, baths, and wash houses stand. The former almshouses in Chumleigh Gardens remain. St George’s Church, now flats, is also listed. Its war memorial, by Arild Rosenkrantz, is listed too.
The library, baths, and wash houses now house the Lynn AC boxing club. A theatre group once occupied it. An external wall features a mosaic of a Camberwell Beauty butterfly. The almshouses house offices and a café. Several bridges remain. They once crossed the canal.
Chumleigh Gardens is a World Garden. It features plants and landscaping. These reflect the local community’s diversity. It was established in 1995. It is on the grounds of the former Female Friendly Society Asylum.
Recent additions include Silent Raid. This is an art installation by Sally Hogarth. It commemorates Zeppelin raids in 1917. There is also a memorial to Jack Harvey VC.
The Friends of Burgess Park are active. They run an online heritage project called Bridge To Nowhere. The park hosts festivals. One is the Carnaval Del Pueblo. It is Europe’s largest celebration of Latin American culture.
In 2009, Burgess Park received funding for redevelopment. The money was used to improve footpaths and lighting. It also funded new play areas. Peckham BMX Club is based in the park. It has trained Olympic medallist Kye Whyte.
Other facilities include tennis courts. There are football pitches. A rugby field and cricket oval are present. A BBQ area exists for the community. You can also find a sports centre, a nursery, and playgrounds here. The park hosts a Saturday morning 5 km ParkRun. Burgess Park is a vibrant space. It combines history, nature, and community.