Perhaps you have never considered that parks can hold secrets dating back over a thousand years. Today we are at Betts Park. It is a public park in Anerley. Anerley is in the London Borough of Bromley. Betts Park spans approximately 13 acres. It has several attractions. These include part of the old Croydon Canal and the Heart of Anerley obelisk.
Betts Park’s story begins long before its official opening in December 1928. The land was once Clay Copse. It was a semi-enclosed coppice on Penge Common. In 957, King Eadwig gifted the entire common to Thane Lyfing. This was for services rendered. It then became an exclave of the Manor and Parish of Battersea.
William the Conqueror confiscated the Manor of Battersea in 1066. He handed it to Westminster Abbey. After the dissolution of the monasteries, it was sold. The Oliver St John family were the first buyers. Later, the Earl Spencer acquired it.
The Croydon Canal was built in 1806. The last remnant of it forms the northwest boundary of Betts Park. In 1827, the entire common was enclosed. It was then auctioned off. Houses and a church were built around the coppice. The woodland became gardens. A small area in the southeast corner was home to Betty Saville. She was the last tenant of Penge Common. Another area in the southwest had tennis courts.
Mr Frederick Betts donated a house and land on the north side of the park. This led to the creation of the public park. The house was a Victorian villa named Oak Lawn. It became a public library. The gardens became recreation grounds. Betts Park opened in December 1928. It was named in memory of Frederick’s late mother, Sarah Betts.
Penge Urban District Council purchased more land. They also acquired the remains of the Croydon Canal. In June 1936, the park expanded further. Land was added to the southeastern side. This was by the King George’s Fields Foundation memorial trust. It was a bequest in England. It later became part of the National Playing Fields Association. Betts Park is legally protected from development. This is through Deeds of Dedication from Fields in Trust.
Betts Park has a remnant of the Croydon Canal. It also contains a Millennium Rock. The rock is a boulder of Lewisian Gneiss. People of Lochinver in Scotland gifted it. There is also a veteran holm oak. It is thought to be a survivor of Penge Common. The 6m Heart of Anerley obelisk was erected in 2024. It is a monument to people whose names are never written on monuments.
In the 2022 heatwave, a ghost image of Oak Lawn villa reappeared. It was in the grass to the north of the park. The villa had been demolished in the late 1960s.
The park offers various facilities. There is a football pitch and an outdoor gym. You can also find a basketball court, goal posts and a skateboard area. A children’s play area is also available. A pre-school daycare centre operates in the former tennis pavilion.
Friends of Betts Park is a volunteer group. They help discuss park maintenance, usage, and development.
You are welcome to walk your dog. This is allowed throughout the park except in the fenced playground. Professional dog walking is not allowed. This is due to bylaws prohibiting commercial activity.
All entrances and paths are accessible. This is for those with restricted mobility. There is a steep path to the canal towpath at the eastern end. Take caution or avoid it by using the opposite end of the canal.
So, as you stroll through Betts Park today remember its long history. Think of kings, commoners and the gifts that shaped this green space. It is a place for recreation. It is a reminder of the past.