Description
Chinbrook Meadows is so-called after the River Quaggy, which was also known as the Chin Brook or Kyd Brook, and runs along the lower part of the park. The park began life in 1929 as a playground provided for residents of the LCC's new Grove Park Estate. The recreation ground was enlarged in 1937, mainly providing sports facilities. The southern area was later taken over for allotments, part of which is now the site of Chinbrook Community Orchard. In 2000 a new scheme to re-landscape the park was agreed following local consultation, the works completed in 2002. The Quaggy was naturalised as a meandering river and the newly landscaped park is also designed to hold floodwater, minimising the risk of flood damage to surrounding houses. In 2009 a Peace Garden was opened by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who had lived nearby in the 1970s.
Practical Information
| Site location | Chinbrook Road/Mayeswood Road/Portland Road, Grove Park |
|---|---|
| Postcode | SE12 9TR |
| What3Words | ///fortunate.paid.person |
| Type of Site | Public Open Land |
| Borough | Lewisham |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted (Community Orchard: restricted for schools use) |
| Facilities | Ball court, bowling green, football pitch, play area, tennis court, café, cycle route, dog exercise area |
| Public Transport | Rail: Grove Park. Bus: 124, 126 |
| Research Updated | 27 March 2024 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
Chinbrook Meadows is so-called after the River Quaggy, which was also known as the Chin Brook or Kyd Brook, and runs along the lower part of the park. At the turn of the C20th the meadows were part of Chinbrook Dairy Farm although housing development had taken place in the area from the mid-C19th. Chinbrook Road was a select and fashionable street by the end of the C19th, which also had a number of farms in the area, and at the turn of the C20th the meadows were part of Chinbrook Dairy Farm. In the mid-C19th much of the land was dug up for brick earth when the area began to be developed, particularly after the opening of Grove Park station in 1871, although farming, particularly dairy farming and plant nurseries, continued. In 1929 Lewisham Council built the Grove Park Estate, acquiring Chinbrook Meadows, and a 3-hectare site was laid out as a children's playground on the edge of the new estate. It was opened by Sir J E Kynaston Studd, former Lord Mayor of London.
In June 1937 a further 9 hectares were purchased from the Mercers Company, following a legal battle since the company initially wished to sell the site more profitably for development. The LCC refused planning permission and Lewisham Council was eventually successful in purchasing the site and the extended Chinbrook Meadows was opened by another former Lord Mayor of London, Sir Louis Newton. Ornamental gardens with roses and pergolas were laid out close to the main entrance, later re-landscaped. Much of the park was designated for sports use with cricket pitches, football pitches and tennis courts. The railway as well as the river runs through the park and a small area of the park to the west is accessed through a railway tunnel under the high embankment. An avenue of Lombardy poplars flanks the path along the eastern part of the park towards the north.
The southern area of Chinbrook Meadows was later taken over for allotments, some of which remain although by the 1990s half of these were disused and were taken over by Lewisham Council's Nature Conservation Section. They have now been turned into a community orchard and nature reserve, receiving Government Urban Programme funds for tree-planting undertaken with local schoolchildren in 1991-2. These include traditional varieties of fruit and nut trees with 30 varieties of apples, together with plums, greengages, pears, cherries, walnuts and cobnuts. There are also more exotic species, chosen to reflect the cultural make-up of the local community, including lychees, loquats and Japanese wineberries, olives, pine nuts, grape vines, cork oaks and Chilean wine-palms. Two small ponds were also created as part of the Community Orchard. A fruit orchard was planted in 2013 on the far side of the railway tunnel.
In 2000 a partnership of Lewisham Council, the Environment Agency, Groundwork, Glendale and the Quaggy Waterways Action Group responded to residents’ demands to improve the park. After consultation, the local users of Chinbrook Meadows voted overwhelmingly to re-landscape the park by naturalising the Quaggy, and agreed a river restoration design that kept the park’s best features, but with a meandering river, seasonal ponds, a new bridge, paths and a timber boardwalk. Most importantly, the newly landscaped park was to hold floodwater, minimising the risk of flood damage to surrounding houses. The scheme was completed in 2002, since when a new sports pavilion, new sports courts for tennis, football and basketball and a new children's playground have been added to the park.
In 2009 Archbishop Desmond Tutu opened a Peace Garden in the park, which now commemorates his life and work following his death in 2021. The project was initiated by Cllr Suzannah Clarke who lived in the house in Chinbrook Road where Tutu and his family had lived for a few years in the 1970s. The garden was realised through grant-aid, local community groups, Glendale and Lewisham Council with the garden designer Chris Beardshaw.
The Friends of Chinbrook Meadows was set up to safeguard and improve the park. In 2012 the Friends were successful in its application to the Community Spaces Fund, part of the Big Lottery Fund’s Changing Spaces initiative. This will enable installation of new equipment for teenagers and fitness equipment for all age groups.
In June 1937 a further 9 hectares were purchased from the Mercers Company, following a legal battle since the company initially wished to sell the site more profitably for development. The LCC refused planning permission and Lewisham Council was eventually successful in purchasing the site and the extended Chinbrook Meadows was opened by another former Lord Mayor of London, Sir Louis Newton. Ornamental gardens with roses and pergolas were laid out close to the main entrance, later re-landscaped. Much of the park was designated for sports use with cricket pitches, football pitches and tennis courts. The railway as well as the river runs through the park and a small area of the park to the west is accessed through a railway tunnel under the high embankment. An avenue of Lombardy poplars flanks the path along the eastern part of the park towards the north.
The southern area of Chinbrook Meadows was later taken over for allotments, some of which remain although by the 1990s half of these were disused and were taken over by Lewisham Council's Nature Conservation Section. They have now been turned into a community orchard and nature reserve, receiving Government Urban Programme funds for tree-planting undertaken with local schoolchildren in 1991-2. These include traditional varieties of fruit and nut trees with 30 varieties of apples, together with plums, greengages, pears, cherries, walnuts and cobnuts. There are also more exotic species, chosen to reflect the cultural make-up of the local community, including lychees, loquats and Japanese wineberries, olives, pine nuts, grape vines, cork oaks and Chilean wine-palms. Two small ponds were also created as part of the Community Orchard. A fruit orchard was planted in 2013 on the far side of the railway tunnel.
In 2000 a partnership of Lewisham Council, the Environment Agency, Groundwork, Glendale and the Quaggy Waterways Action Group responded to residents’ demands to improve the park. After consultation, the local users of Chinbrook Meadows voted overwhelmingly to re-landscape the park by naturalising the Quaggy, and agreed a river restoration design that kept the park’s best features, but with a meandering river, seasonal ponds, a new bridge, paths and a timber boardwalk. Most importantly, the newly landscaped park was to hold floodwater, minimising the risk of flood damage to surrounding houses. The scheme was completed in 2002, since when a new sports pavilion, new sports courts for tennis, football and basketball and a new children's playground have been added to the park.
In 2009 Archbishop Desmond Tutu opened a Peace Garden in the park, which now commemorates his life and work following his death in 2021. The project was initiated by Cllr Suzannah Clarke who lived in the house in Chinbrook Road where Tutu and his family had lived for a few years in the 1970s. The garden was realised through grant-aid, local community groups, Glendale and Lewisham Council with the garden designer Chris Beardshaw.
The Friends of Chinbrook Meadows was set up to safeguard and improve the park. In 2012 the Friends were successful in its application to the Community Spaces Fund, part of the Big Lottery Fund’s Changing Spaces initiative. This will enable installation of new equipment for teenagers and fitness equipment for all age groups.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ410720 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 13.58 |
| Site Ownership | LB Lewisham |
| Site Management | Greenscene Department, Glendale Grounds Management; Friends of Chinbrook Meadows; Chinbrook Community Orchard |
| Dates | 1929; 1990s |
| On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens | No |
| Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965 | No |
| Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931 | No |
| Local Authority | Lewisham |
| In Conservation Area | No |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | Yes - Borough Importance II (Orchard) |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | Yes |
| Special Policy Area | Yes - Archaeological Priority Area |
| Other LA Designation | Green Chain; Green Corridor (Green Chain Walk) |
Please note the Inventory and its content are provided for your general information only and are subject to change. It is your responsibility to check the accuracy.
Nearby parks and gardens
In c.1950 the site for a library was acquired by Lewisham Council from the Mercers’ Company, who had bought land as a playing field in Grove Park in 1930. Grove Park Library was opened in December 1953. The Library Gardens provides residents of this part of Grove Park with a green space with play equipment for the under 7s, recreational space and benches. It is located behind Grove Park Community Library and Little Stars pre-school building with entrance on Burnt Ash Hill. The perimeter is surrounded by established hedges of leylandii, hawthorn and ivy with several prominent trees, including oak and sycamore, particularly on the north and east sides. There is also a prominent oak in the green space. Metal fencing separates the rear entrances of the library and the pre-school building from the park. There is no public access to the Library Gardens from the library or Little Stars Pre-school.
* on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens
Originally called Deptford New Cemetery, Grove Park Cemetery opened in 1935 and has been praised as a rare example of an early C20th cemetery landscaped in the tradition of the great C19th cemeteries. The cemetery retains many original buildings, including a timber-framed chapel and much of the original planting. Among those buried here is Helmuth Barth, a horse trainer with Sangers Circus who died during a show at Romford in 1946.
Originally called Deptford New Cemetery, Grove Park Cemetery opened in 1935 and has been praised as a rare example of an early C20th cemetery landscaped in the tradition of the great C19th cemeteries. The cemetery retains many original buildings, including a timber-framed chapel and much of the original planting. Among those buried here is Helmuth Barth, a horse trainer with Sangers Circus who died during a show at Romford in 1946.
This is a large area of open space divided into sports fields, part of which has been Mottingham Sports Ground since before the 1950s. It has a woodland edge, and some mature trees. Eltham College Junior School and Eltham College are situated within the boundaries, as is Mottingham Hall.