Description
North of Bourne Road, North Field is a notable example of a surviving mature landscape park, within which are trees including clumps and standards of oak, sweet chestnut and lime across the south facing slope, complemented by later formal planting of double lines of limes to south and east. Although it had long been part of the Hall Place estate it was more directly the park of Halcot, an early C18th house demolished after its sale in 1935. In 1938 21acres were purchased by Bexley UDC in 1938 for public open space, the remainder of the estate being used for housing.
Practical Information
| Previously known as | Gravel Hill |
|---|---|
| Site location | Bourne Road, Bexleyheath |
| Postcode | DA5 |
| What3Words | ///sweat.most.blast |
| Type of Site | Public Park |
| Borough | Bexley |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted |
| Public Transport | Rail: Bexley; Crayford. Bus: 96, 132, 229, 492, B15. |
| Research Updated | 1 April 2002 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ502745 |
|---|---|
| Site Ownership | LB Bexley |
| Site Management | Parks and Open Spaces |
| Dates | C18th/19th |
| 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 | Bexley |
| In Conservation Area | No |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | Yes - Borough II Importance (to Shenstone Park) |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | Yes |
| Special Policy Area | No |
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
* on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens
Hall Place is an early Tudor mansion built near the River Cray for Sir John Champney, Lord Mayor of London. The house was enlarged over the years and passed through numerous owners, once used as a school. The house and grounds were opened to the public in 1952 and today have a number of formal garden areas, including an enclosed Elizabethan garden, rose garden, herb garden, rock garden, sunken garden, topiary lawn. The working nursery dates from the original walled kitchen garden for the house. The grounds also have open areas for sports and recreation.
Hall Place is an early Tudor mansion built near the River Cray for Sir John Champney, Lord Mayor of London. The house was enlarged over the years and passed through numerous owners, once used as a school. The house and grounds were opened to the public in 1952 and today have a number of formal garden areas, including an enclosed Elizabethan garden, rose garden, herb garden, rock garden, sunken garden, topiary lawn. The working nursery dates from the original walled kitchen garden for the house. The grounds also have open areas for sports and recreation.
Shenstone Park is on an area of former parkland belonging to a house called Shenstone, which was built c.1828 and demolished c.1974 on the site of which Shenstone School now stands. The site has a number of mature horse chestnut trees and limes, some appearing to be remnant avenues from the former grounds. There are some good views from the high points across the adjoining countryside to the south (the Cray valley) and to the south-west towards Bexley village.
Marten’s Grove Park is an extensive, oblong park, occupying part of the former grounds of a mid C19th house, Marten's Grove. Major changes were made to the house in the 1860s after which it remained virtually unaltered until the estate was sold c.1927, the house demolished in 1932. Land to the north of the house was unsuitable for housing and it was offered to Crayford UDC for use as a recreation ground, which opened on 1 July 1933. The ornamental lake was transformed into a swimming pool, which eventually closed in 1986.
