Description
Cox's Walk is a rare survival of an C18th public walk. It was created by publican John Cox as a public path through the Fifty Acre Wood opposite his inn, The Green Man. With trees on either side, it became a short cut to the spa at Sydenham Wells, one of a number of fashionable spas in the area. In 1739 Cox's son discovered a mineral stream in the grounds of the inn and opened pleasure gardens. Cox's Walk was acquired by Camberwell Vestry in 1898 and since 1965 is owned by London Borough of Southwark. Today it leads from Dulwich to Sydenham Hill, running adjacent to Dulwich Golf Course and Dulwich Woods.
Practical Information
| Site location | Lordship Lane/Dulwich Common/Sydenham Hill/Crescent Hill Road |
|---|---|
| Postcode | SE21/SE26 |
| What3Words | ///spout.goad.critic |
| Type of Site | Public Open Land |
| Borough | Southwark |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted |
| Public Transport | Rail: Forest Hill then bus. Bus: P4, 176, 185, 197, 363, 356. |
| Research Updated | 1 April 2012 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
In 1704 (c.1733? - conflicting dates: Candidate info has 1733, John Beasley has 1704) John Cox was given permission by the landowners, Dulwich Estates, to create a path through the Fifty Acre Wood opposite his inn, The Green Man, 'reserving for shade on each side half a rood of wood, unfelled'. As the fashion grew for taking the waters of the various mineral springs in London, Cox's Walk became a short cut to the spa at Sydenham Wells, now Sydenham Wells Park (q.v.). In 1739 Cox's son discovered a mineral stream in the grounds of the Green Man and provided pleasure gardens, a bowling green, sports facilities and other entertainments to attract visitors, among whom diarist John Evelyn is known to have partaken of the waters. John Rocque's map of 1745 shows Cox's Walk, a straight path running north / south across woods and fields.
From 1865 the railway cut across the southern part of Cox's Walk over which a brick and wood cantilever footbridge was built, from where in 1871 the French artist Camille Pissarro painted a view of Lordship Lane station. The present footbridge of the same design as the original dates from 1908 and crosses the now disused railway cutting, which is now part of Sydenham Hill Woods (q.v.). The footpath leading up Sydenham Hill south of the railway line, although given the name Cox's Walk, did not form part of the original public walk.
Cox's Walk was acquired by Camberwell Vestry in 1898 with responsibility later transferred to the Metropolitan Borough of Camberwell, and in 1965 to London Borough of Southwark. It was scheduled for conservation under the London Squares Preservation Act, 1931. Today it leads from Dulwich to Sydenham Hill, running adjacent to Dulwich Golf Course and Dulwich Woods. Public walks predated the public park movement and this walk is still maintained as a public open space, a rare survival in London of an C18th public walk, although it has lost its old pleasure ground aspect, resembling more a country lane, a strip of grassland lined in part with oak trees.
The Green Man tavern later became a school run by Dr Glennie, attended for two years by Lord Byron, but the building was demolished in c.1826. At a later date The Grove Tavern was built on the site and still exists, now the Harvester.
From 1865 the railway cut across the southern part of Cox's Walk over which a brick and wood cantilever footbridge was built, from where in 1871 the French artist Camille Pissarro painted a view of Lordship Lane station. The present footbridge of the same design as the original dates from 1908 and crosses the now disused railway cutting, which is now part of Sydenham Hill Woods (q.v.). The footpath leading up Sydenham Hill south of the railway line, although given the name Cox's Walk, did not form part of the original public walk.
Cox's Walk was acquired by Camberwell Vestry in 1898 with responsibility later transferred to the Metropolitan Borough of Camberwell, and in 1965 to London Borough of Southwark. It was scheduled for conservation under the London Squares Preservation Act, 1931. Today it leads from Dulwich to Sydenham Hill, running adjacent to Dulwich Golf Course and Dulwich Woods. Public walks predated the public park movement and this walk is still maintained as a public open space, a rare survival in London of an C18th public walk, although it has lost its old pleasure ground aspect, resembling more a country lane, a strip of grassland lined in part with oak trees.
The Green Man tavern later became a school run by Dr Glennie, attended for two years by Lord Byron, but the building was demolished in c.1826. At a later date The Grove Tavern was built on the site and still exists, now the Harvester.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ344731 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 2.045 |
| Site Ownership | LB Southwark |
| Site Management | London Wildlife Trust |
| Dates | 1704 ; 1898 |
| 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 | Yes |
| Local Authority | Southwark |
| In Conservation Area | Yes |
| Conservation Area Name | Dulwich Wood |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | Yes - Metropolitan Imp (with Syddenham Hill Wood) |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | Yes |
| Special Policy Area | No |
| Other LA Designation | London Squares Preservation Act. 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
Horniman's Triangle is a small park close to Horniman Museum and Gardens, a triangular area of sloping grassland, hedged to the road with trees and mounds. It was previously a smallholding with a house adjacent to Sydenham Rise known as Sydenham Rise Cottage and was incorporated into Horniman Gardens in the early 1950s, and now owned by LB Lewisham. There was once a paddling pool in the park, now converted to a sandpit.
* on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens
The Horniman Museum and Gardens were donated to the LCC in 1901 by Frederick Horniman, an avid collector who had first opened his house here as a private museum in 1888. As his collection grew he also opened the adjacent grounds, which form the basis of the present park. By 1890 Horniman's house was so full that he had moved to nearby Surrey Mount, and when his collection outgrew Surrey House in 1897 he commissioned a new museum on its site, now the Horniman Museum. In 1901 he gave the museum and contents, and 8.5 hectares of gardens to the LCC. Surrey Mount was demolished in 1960 following WWII bomb damage. The gardens were extended in 1911, c.1930 and in the 1950s, and in 1988 the conservatory from another house owned by the Horniman family was rebuilt here. The gardens have an Arts & Crafts sunken garden, now including botanical displays that unite indoor and outdoor collections and reflect themes such as those in the Museum's World Gallery and Music Gallery.
The Horniman Museum and Gardens were donated to the LCC in 1901 by Frederick Horniman, an avid collector who had first opened his house here as a private museum in 1888. As his collection grew he also opened the adjacent grounds, which form the basis of the present park. By 1890 Horniman's house was so full that he had moved to nearby Surrey Mount, and when his collection outgrew Surrey House in 1897 he commissioned a new museum on its site, now the Horniman Museum. In 1901 he gave the museum and contents, and 8.5 hectares of gardens to the LCC. Surrey Mount was demolished in 1960 following WWII bomb damage. The gardens were extended in 1911, c.1930 and in the 1950s, and in 1988 the conservatory from another house owned by the Horniman family was rebuilt here. The gardens have an Arts & Crafts sunken garden, now including botanical displays that unite indoor and outdoor collections and reflect themes such as those in the Museum's World Gallery and Music Gallery.
Sydenham Hill Wood and Dulwich Woods to the west are survivors of the Great North Wood, which once covered large tracts of land here, a chain of oak woods and wooded commons that extended from Selhurst to Brockley. After 1787 Dulwich tenants lost their common rights following the Enclosure Acts, although the woods survived until the development of Crystal Palace following the Great Exhibition, which led to housing development. The steep slope of woodland running west from Sydenham Hill became the gardens of several Victorian houses, since demolished, their gardens are now back within the woodland. Although the gardens have disappeared, evidence remains in the form of exotic garden trees, and fragments of built features. Also within the woods is the disused railway track of the Crystal Palace High Level Railway.