Description
The southern portion of today's Nursery Row Park was laid out sometime between 1885-97, to provide open space for the growing local population. Known as East Street Recreation Ground, the park lay between Blendon Row and Orb Street. The MPGA assisted with funding for the layout and planting, which included perimeter plane trees that still survive today. In 1980 the park was extended to the north following slum clearance that saw demolition of streets including Nursery Row, after which the park was renamed,
Practical Information
| Previously known as | East Street Recreation Ground |
|---|---|
| Site location | Brandon Street/Stead Street/Orb Street, Walworth |
| Postcode | SE17 1AL |
| What3Words | ///nest.notice.army |
| Type of Site | Public Park |
| Borough | Southwark |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted |
| Facilities | Playgrounds |
| Events | Events include Apple Day, Plaza Latina Festival (see Friends website) |
| Public Transport | Rail: Peckham Rye |
| Research Updated | 1 June 2017 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
This area was used for market gardening in the C18th, with Locks Field shown on the current site of Nursery Row Park on John Rocque's map of 1746. By the 1820s house building was encroaching on the market gardens and by 1875 the area was entirely built up. East Street Recreation Ground was created to provide recreational space for the local population at the instigation of local MP for Walworth, Borough of Newington Division, Major Isaacs, according to the commemorative drinking fountain located in the park until the 1980s. However other archival material dates the park to 1897, when the site was acquired for £5,375, with £375 given by the then MP for Walworth James Bailey and the remainder from the local council and the Vestry of St Mary Newington. The MPGA also provided £1000 for its layout and planting, which included perimeter London plane trees that still survive today. A film by Ken Ashton made in 1973, 'We Was All One', documents the park, then nicknamed Old Swing Park.
In 1980 the park was extended following slum clearance in the 1960s and 1970s when Blendon Row, Eltham Street and Nursery Row were demolished. Between 1974-77, Brian L Sugden set up an adventure playground for local children on the site of the northern two blocks of Blendon Row tenements, later part of the extended park. Nursery Row, demolished 1978, after which the park was renamed, used to run between Brandon Street and Orb Street.
In the mid-1990s a gardening club was established by local Councillor Ro Shannon, and projects included a wildlife hedge, rose planting and a Community Orchard. The park's landscaping was renovated in 2006/7 when a meadow and central hill were created, the latter masking contaminated rubble. The Friends of Nursery Row Park was established in 2007 to save the park from encroachment by housing development and continue to improve the park, for example installing a new play area in 2010. The Wildflower Meadow has flourished in the park for many years, attracting a wide range of insects and invertebrates. Since 2012 numerous bulbs have been planted in the park, including over 2,000 daffodils, tulips, alliums and crocuses, and the monthly Gardening Days encourage anyone interested to participate in maintaining different areas of the park.
In 1980 the park was extended following slum clearance in the 1960s and 1970s when Blendon Row, Eltham Street and Nursery Row were demolished. Between 1974-77, Brian L Sugden set up an adventure playground for local children on the site of the northern two blocks of Blendon Row tenements, later part of the extended park. Nursery Row, demolished 1978, after which the park was renamed, used to run between Brandon Street and Orb Street.
In the mid-1990s a gardening club was established by local Councillor Ro Shannon, and projects included a wildlife hedge, rose planting and a Community Orchard. The park's landscaping was renovated in 2006/7 when a meadow and central hill were created, the latter masking contaminated rubble. The Friends of Nursery Row Park was established in 2007 to save the park from encroachment by housing development and continue to improve the park, for example installing a new play area in 2010. The Wildflower Meadow has flourished in the park for many years, attracting a wide range of insects and invertebrates. Since 2012 numerous bulbs have been planted in the park, including over 2,000 daffodils, tulips, alliums and crocuses, and the monthly Gardening Days encourage anyone interested to participate in maintaining different areas of the park.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ325785 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 1.76 |
| Site Ownership | LB Southwark |
| Site Management | Parks; Friends of Nursery Row Park |
| Dates | 1885-1897 |
| 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 | Southwark |
| In Conservation Area | No |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | No |
| Other LA Designation | Other Open Space |
Gallery
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
Faraday Gardens opened in July 1905. The land was originally part of St Peter's Churchyard, which became a public garden in 1895. The Ecclesiastical Commissioners set aside this area for public recreation when they were developing the area. The gardens were named after the chemist and physicist Michael Faraday, who was born in Newington Butts in 1791 and lived in the area.
St Peter's Church, designed by Sir John Soane, was built in 1823-25 and its churchyard was in use until 1853. In 1895 at the instigation of the parish priest, Father Horsley, it was cleared of graves and converted as a public garden for the parishioners. It was laid out by the MPGA with grass and seats, the headstones largely placed around the edge of the garden. Father Horsley also established a small zoo on the rectory garden, nicknamed the Monkey Park, which was landscaped as a community garden with the participation of the local community, a new bench sculpture unveiled in 2005.
This was originally the communal garden of The Paragon, a late C18th crescent. When the houses were demolished and replaced by a Board School the garden survived and was purchased by the Vestry of St George the Martyr. It was laid out as public garden by the MPGA and once had a bandstand. Part of the site was later lost as a result of road schemes when the Bricklayers Arms Flyover was built in 1970 although a strip of land was added to the west as compensation and planted with shrubs. Improvements have been carried out since 2009 as part of wider improvements to the Salisbury Row neighbourhood.