Whispers of ancient oaks fill the air here at Mayow Park. This is Lewisham’s oldest municipal park. It opened in 1878 as Sydenham Recreation Ground. Mayow Park is also its second oldest public open space after Blackheath.
The land once belonged to the Mayow family. They owned much of the area between Sydenham Road and Perry Vale. Imagine a time when this entire landscape was their estate.
Reverend William Taylor Jones was key to creating Mayow Park. He campaigned for funding and land. His 1875 letter highlighted the need for public space. He believed it would improve the morals of young people and the poor.
Taylor Jones formed a committee of local influencers. Frederick Horniman and Rev. Augustus Legge joined him. Mayow Wynell Adams offered land at half its market value in 1876. It took two more years of fundraising. Finally, the park opened as Sydenham and Forest Hill Public Recreation Ground. We still celebrate Taylor Jones’ efforts today. Look for the drinking fountain erected in his honor.
Mayow Park spans 7 hectares. That is about 17 acres. Mature English oak trees define the landscape. Some predate the park itself. They once marked field boundaries. These oaks are Lewisham’s finest, aside from those in Beckenham Place Park.
Other notable trees add to the park’s beauty. Look for araucaria, ginkgo, and holm oak. The park also offers a bowling green and tennis courts. Children enjoy the playground. A nature reserve and meadow area provide habitats for local wildlife.
The former pavilion is now a café. Brown and Green run the café since 2014. It’s a perfect spot to relax and enjoy the surroundings.
Friends of Mayow Park formed in 1993. They work to improve the park’s landscape and community resources. They have renovated flowerbeds and installed new pathways. The group also planted a community orchard and fruit hedgerow.
Grow Mayow is a community garden on the site of a former park keeper’s depot. It offers gardening and growing opportunities. You can get involved and grow your own produce.
Today, Mayow Park is a vibrant community hub. People of all ages enjoy its facilities. There is a central field for sports. You can encourage fitness at the trim trail and outdoor gym. Relax in the shade of the trees. Watch birds in the woodland around the perimeter.
Mayow Park is more than just a green space. It is a testament to community effort and historical significance. Take a moment to appreciate the vision of those who made it possible. Remember Reverend William Taylor Jones and the Mayow family. Their legacy lives on in this beautiful park.