Description
The land for the recreation ground was acquired by Lewisham Borough Council 1900 and it opened in June 1901. It was named after Home Park Lodge, which gave part of its gardens to the new park. The public library was once the site of the stables to an early C18th house occupied by Sir George Grove from 1860-1900, but which is thought to have once been owned by Charles James Fox. Along the main road the park is tree lined. It was originally laid out with formal gardens of which only a Lebanon cedar, two mature London planes and a straight walk remain. It is screened from playing fields to the south by privet hedge and shrubs. There is one notable oak in the playing fields area and the park has perimeter planting of London planes.
Practical Information
| Previously known as | Home Park Lodge |
|---|---|
| Site location | Sydenham Road/Winchfield Road, Sydenham |
| Postcode | SE26 5TH |
| What3Words | ///debate.brings.clock |
| Type of Site | Public Park |
| Borough | Lewisham |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | closed dusk |
| Facilities | Play area, toilets, football pitch |
| Public Transport | Rail: Lower Sydenham |
| Research Updated | 14 August 2024 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
Home Park Farm was one of the largest estates in the area by the mid-C18th. After the death in 1896 of the last resident at Home Park Lodge, land for a public recreation ground was acquired by Lewisham Borough Council in 1900. The new park opened in June 1901, initially called Home Park Open Space, and incorporated part of the gardens of Home Park Lodge, which was itself demolished. The public library on the edge of the park was once the site of the stables to an early C18th house occupied by Sir George Grove from 1860-1900, but which is thought to have once been owned by Charles James Fox.
Sir George Grove is best known for his 'Dictionary of Music and Musicians' but he was originally a civil engineer; he became Secretary to the Society of Arts in 1850, which was greatly involved in preparations for the Great Exhibition of 1851 and Crystal Palace when it moved to Upper Norwood. Grove became secretary of the Crystal Palace Company that organised the move from Hyde Park hence his own move to the area, first to Westwood Hill in 1852 and then to Sydenham. With the conductor August Manns, Grove promoted a series of inspirational musical performances at Crystal Palace. In 1873 he resigned from the Society to dedicate time to his Dictionary and later founded the Royal College of Music. Grove died in 1900 and is buried in Ladywell Cemetery (q.v.).
Along the main road the park is tree lined. It was originally laid out with formal gardens of which only a Cedar of Lebanon remains, together with two mature London planes and an avenue of planes. The park is screened from playing fields to the south by privet hedge and shrubs. There is one notable oak tree in the playing fields area and the park has perimeter planting of London planes.
Sir George Grove is best known for his 'Dictionary of Music and Musicians' but he was originally a civil engineer; he became Secretary to the Society of Arts in 1850, which was greatly involved in preparations for the Great Exhibition of 1851 and Crystal Palace when it moved to Upper Norwood. Grove became secretary of the Crystal Palace Company that organised the move from Hyde Park hence his own move to the area, first to Westwood Hill in 1852 and then to Sydenham. With the conductor August Manns, Grove promoted a series of inspirational musical performances at Crystal Palace. In 1873 he resigned from the Society to dedicate time to his Dictionary and later founded the Royal College of Music. Grove died in 1900 and is buried in Ladywell Cemetery (q.v.).
Along the main road the park is tree lined. It was originally laid out with formal gardens of which only a Cedar of Lebanon remains, together with two mature London planes and an avenue of planes. The park is screened from playing fields to the south by privet hedge and shrubs. There is one notable oak tree in the playing fields area and the park has perimeter planting of London planes.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ364715 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 3.24 |
| Site Ownership | LB Lewisham |
| Site Management | Greenscene Department, Glendale Grounds Management; Friends of Home Park |
| Dates | 1900/01 |
| 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 | Not known |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | Yes - Area of Archaeological Priority |
| Other LA Designation | Public Open Space |
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
Southend Park dates from the 1950s, provided to serve the growing population as housing development took place in the area. The OS Map for 1952 shows the park on a smaller site to its current extent, with a paddling pool, footpaths, ponds and a pump house, and a line of trees on the western boundary. The eastern part of today's park was initially used partly for allotments but by 1971 the whole area was occupied by Southend Park, with the ponds and pump house still in place in the west and a shelter and toilets now provided. The eastern area is shown with banked sides, and a playground in the south east corner. The park today has areas of grass crossed by asphalt paths, relieved by changes in level, with remains of a concrete cascade, bridge and pond (now dry).
Mayow Park opened in June 1878 as Sydenham Recreation Ground and is Lewisham's second oldest public open space after Blackheath. It was later named after Mayow Wynell Adams, the Mayow family having acquired land here in the C18th, which was once been part of Westwood Common. The land for the new recreation ground was sold at well below its market value to Lewisham Board of Works in 1877, following an active campaign to achieve this and raise the necessary money for a much-needed public facility. The recreation ground opened on 1 June 1878. The design of the park is little altered since it was laid out although a bowling green and tennis courts were added on the south side in the mid C20th, and the park once had an aviary. A drinking fountain was erected in recognition of the efforts of the Revd. William Taylor Jones of Sydenham College in acquiring the land for the park. Among the trees are pedunculate oak that pre-date the 1870s layout, which indicate old farmland field boundaries.
River Pool Walkway is a footpath following part of the River Pool through largely industrial areas to Kangley Bridge Road to the east. There is however a conservation site and some naturalised areas.