Description
* on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens
Ruskin Park is an Edwardian park named for John Ruskin who lived nearby. The land was originally the gardens of several large houses that were purchased in 1906 by the LCC. The park opened in 1907; an extension to the south was acquired in 1909 and opened in 1910. The park contains an architectural fragment from one of the houses demolished for the park, converted as a shelter, and many features remain from the early layout by the LCC's Head of Parks Lt Col J J Sexby, including the Old English Garden, oval pond, bowling green, bandstand and mature trees.
Ruskin Park is an Edwardian park named for John Ruskin who lived nearby. The land was originally the gardens of several large houses that were purchased in 1906 by the LCC. The park opened in 1907; an extension to the south was acquired in 1909 and opened in 1910. The park contains an architectural fragment from one of the houses demolished for the park, converted as a shelter, and many features remain from the early layout by the LCC's Head of Parks Lt Col J J Sexby, including the Old English Garden, oval pond, bowling green, bandstand and mature trees.
Practical Information
| Previously known as | Dane House |
|---|---|
| Site location | Denmark Hill/Fernden Road/Finsen Road/Herne Hill Road |
| Postcode | SE5 8EL |
| What3Words | ///statue.jars.purple |
| Type of Site | Public Park |
| Borough | Lambeth |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | 7am - 15 minutes before sunset |
| Facilities | Children's play area (dog free), paddling pool, sports facilities, toilets. Tree Trail/Nature Trail, |
| Public Transport | Rail: Denmark Hill, Loughborough Junction. Bus: 35, 42, 45, 68, 345, 468, P4 |
| Research Updated | 1 April 2012 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
Site on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens, for Register Entry see https://www.historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list. The Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England was established in 1984 and was commonly called English Heritage. In April 2015 it split into 2 separate entities, Historic England (HE), which continues to champion and protect the historic environment, and the English Heritage Trust, whose role is to look after the 400+ historic sites and monuments owned by the state. HE manages the National Heritage List for England (NHLE) that includes over 400,000 items ranging from prehistoric monuments to office blocks, battlefields and parks, which benefit from legal protection.
Ruskin Park is named after the artist, writer and social campaigner John Ruskin who lived nearby for most of his life. The Ruskin family including 4-year old John moved to Denmark Hill in 1823, and the family house was 163 Denmark Hill on the opposite side of Denmark Hill where the Denmark Hill estate now is. The land for the park was the grounds of several houses, only one of which in part retained, and the original 10-hectare site was first considered for purchase by the LCC in 1904. The site was eventually bought for £48,000, with £25,000 from the LCC and the balance from private subscriptions and other bodies including metropolitan borough councils of Camberwell, Lambeth and Southwark. The first section of the park, which opened on 2 February 1907, was laid out by the LCC’s Chief Parks Officer Lieut. Col J J Sexby and included an Old English Garden, oval duck pond with central nesting island, bowling green, fine trees and walks. A late C18th entrance colonnade and flanking walls, which was retained from 170 Denmark Hill, one of the demolished houses, provided a shelter near one of the entrances to the park. To the east of this was a shrubbery, later replaced by a paved rose garden in the mid C20th. Another of the houses demolished when the park was laid out was Dane House, 168 Denmark Hill, which was visited by the composer Felix Mendelssohn in 1842, where he composed his 'Spring Song'. A terracotta sundial decorated with Tudor roses was erected in the park commemorating his visit. A former C19th coach house survives, and was later used for staff. A fine wisteria-covered pergola on the south east side of the bowling green dating from the 1907 layout is thought to be on the line of one of the boundary walls between two of the houses. Although bowling and tennis courts were provided, the undulating ground was little suited for other sports, and in 1909 a further 5 hectares of adjacent meadow was purchased. This was levelled for cricket and football, and a 900 yard running track was laid out. A shelter and toilets were built near the entrance and the extension was opened in February 1910. A wooden bandstand with a tiled roof appears to date from later than 1909, sited within a circle of trees, some of which survive. The bandstand was restored in 2006
Most boundaries have belts of trees with denser plantations and shrubbery to the north-east. The main northern area is divided by a chestnut walk between two areas of lawn. The oval pond in the north-east quarter has shrubbery, planes and weeping willows, to the west of which is the bandstand and to the south the bowling green with clipped yew hedge and mixed borders. Fine trees east of the pond and bowling green include deodar, cedar of Lebanon, thorn, copper beech, holm oak, whitebeam and sycamore. The southern area of the park is separated by lines of lime and ash and has grass and sports areas.
The Friends of Ruskin Park was formed to ensure the park is conserved, and their efforts led to Ruskin Park's first Green Flag Award in 2009. Among the works undertaken by the Friends has been a new pond on the north side, in partnership with Froglife, and improvements to the ornamental pond near the bandstand. The sum of £21,000 has been raised from Western Riverside Environment Fund to convert the old bowling green into a new garden, which should be completed in time for the Summer Fair in 2012. Another project led by Embrace Cooperation Ltd working with the Friends, Lambeth Council and local groups is focussing on the park's historic and natural heritage., and will include an oral history among other activities.
Ruskin Park is named after the artist, writer and social campaigner John Ruskin who lived nearby for most of his life. The Ruskin family including 4-year old John moved to Denmark Hill in 1823, and the family house was 163 Denmark Hill on the opposite side of Denmark Hill where the Denmark Hill estate now is. The land for the park was the grounds of several houses, only one of which in part retained, and the original 10-hectare site was first considered for purchase by the LCC in 1904. The site was eventually bought for £48,000, with £25,000 from the LCC and the balance from private subscriptions and other bodies including metropolitan borough councils of Camberwell, Lambeth and Southwark. The first section of the park, which opened on 2 February 1907, was laid out by the LCC’s Chief Parks Officer Lieut. Col J J Sexby and included an Old English Garden, oval duck pond with central nesting island, bowling green, fine trees and walks. A late C18th entrance colonnade and flanking walls, which was retained from 170 Denmark Hill, one of the demolished houses, provided a shelter near one of the entrances to the park. To the east of this was a shrubbery, later replaced by a paved rose garden in the mid C20th. Another of the houses demolished when the park was laid out was Dane House, 168 Denmark Hill, which was visited by the composer Felix Mendelssohn in 1842, where he composed his 'Spring Song'. A terracotta sundial decorated with Tudor roses was erected in the park commemorating his visit. A former C19th coach house survives, and was later used for staff. A fine wisteria-covered pergola on the south east side of the bowling green dating from the 1907 layout is thought to be on the line of one of the boundary walls between two of the houses. Although bowling and tennis courts were provided, the undulating ground was little suited for other sports, and in 1909 a further 5 hectares of adjacent meadow was purchased. This was levelled for cricket and football, and a 900 yard running track was laid out. A shelter and toilets were built near the entrance and the extension was opened in February 1910. A wooden bandstand with a tiled roof appears to date from later than 1909, sited within a circle of trees, some of which survive. The bandstand was restored in 2006
Most boundaries have belts of trees with denser plantations and shrubbery to the north-east. The main northern area is divided by a chestnut walk between two areas of lawn. The oval pond in the north-east quarter has shrubbery, planes and weeping willows, to the west of which is the bandstand and to the south the bowling green with clipped yew hedge and mixed borders. Fine trees east of the pond and bowling green include deodar, cedar of Lebanon, thorn, copper beech, holm oak, whitebeam and sycamore. The southern area of the park is separated by lines of lime and ash and has grass and sports areas.
The Friends of Ruskin Park was formed to ensure the park is conserved, and their efforts led to Ruskin Park's first Green Flag Award in 2009. Among the works undertaken by the Friends has been a new pond on the north side, in partnership with Froglife, and improvements to the ornamental pond near the bandstand. The sum of £21,000 has been raised from Western Riverside Environment Fund to convert the old bowling green into a new garden, which should be completed in time for the Summer Fair in 2012. Another project led by Embrace Cooperation Ltd working with the Friends, Lambeth Council and local groups is focussing on the park's historic and natural heritage., and will include an oral history among other activities.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ325757 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 14.7 |
| Site Ownership | LB Lambeth |
| Site Management | Environment Directorate, Parks and Greenspaces Unit (Team Lambeth). Ruskin Park Management Advisory Committee; Friends of Ruskin Park |
| Dates | 1906-1910 |
| Designers | Lieut. Col J J Sexby |
| Listed Structures | LBII: Colonnade; Sundial; Coach house |
| On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens | Yes |
| NHLE grade | Grade II |
| Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965 | No |
| Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931 | No |
| Local Authority | Lambeth |
| In Conservation Area | No |
| Conservation Area Name | (proposed: Ruskin Park) |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | Yes - Borough Importance II |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | No |
| Other LA Designation | Historic Parks and Gardens. Park |
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
Maudsley Hospital was built on Denmark Hill and completed in 1915. In 1939 two new buildings were added, a Private Patients' Block and a Children's Block, and the grounds were laid out by the LCC Chief Parks Officer, A R Mawson. Both buildings were designed with roof gardens and that of the Private Patients Block, Mapother House, survived with its original structure intact, including statuary, wooden benches, planters and raised grass plots. It was awaiting restoration in 2002 but since then has sadly been cleared and the garden no longer in use for health and safety reasons. Mapother House is now due for redevelopment as housing.
This is a long narrow garden that separates the C19th houses of Grove Crescent from Camberwell Grove. Prior to becoming a road, this was an avenue of trees called Walnut Tree Grove, which led from an old Manor House of Camberwell Buckingham to the top of the hill. The manor house was demolished in 1776 when the estate was sold and the area began to be developed. It became popular among well-to-do people, with many fine houses built here.
Lettsom Gardens was formerly the estate of Grove Hill, which was once part of the Manor of Camberwell Buckingham. It was purchased in 1779 by Dr John Lettsom, who lived here until 1810 and developed the gardens, which became famous in his day. They included a kitchen garden, orchard and hothouses as well as plants from all over the world as a result of the botanical expeditions that Lettsom financed. The grounds also had a boating lake with a central fountain, and Coadestone plaques and statuary. After Lettsom sold the estate it began to be built over for housing from 1819. A small portion of the estate survived and was saved from further development by the Lettsom Gardens Association in 1980.