Eckington Gardens in New Cross was the next park on my list!
London Gardens Online
London Gardens Online tells me that ‘…Eckington Gardens is originally the name of the residential street, in an area that suffered bomb damage in WWII and became derelict. In 1974, the area was declared as unfit and in an uninhabitable state by LB Lewisham, and site clearance was proposed. In 1980 Swift contractors submitted a bid for works to lay out and equip Eckington Gardens and extend the space. By 1981 the work was complete and it became the Eckington Gardens Park. The grounds have in recent years been enhanced with colourful signage and floral displays with low maintenance but attractive planting schemes. There are ornamental gardens at the entrance, with clipped hedges in geometric patterns…’. LGO also mentions a paddling pool. (This entry dates from 2002.)
The Lewisham Council site tells me that the facilities include ‘…a ball court, a dog exercise area, the Friends of the park group, a play area, CCTV, a bandstand, and a multi sports centre...’ and that in addition to the ornamental gardens I will find mature trees, shrubs and lawns. Glendale Services manage the park at the current time.
Hstory of Eckington Gardens Park in New Cross
But this park is also in an historically interesting area, which Lewisham Council designated a Conservation Area in 1990. The Worshipful Company of Haberdashers bought the land of Hatcham Manor in 1614 as an investment. They then leased land out for substantial country houses. Joseph Hardcastle rebuilt the original manor house in the mid18C. Sadly it was finally demolished in 1869. This cleared land for more housing, built under the strict control of the Haberdashers.
Hatcham Park Road started in 1848 with two-storey houses built of brick; by 1868 there were three-storey houses in Nettleton Road and the Haberdasher’s plaque is still visible at the entrance to the road. The Haberdashers leased the land and took ground rent for income.
Pubs and shops in the residential streets are now converted to housing, which is curious. The Royal Archer pub on Camplin Street is now housing while the shop opposite is boarded up. In Monson Road something similar has happened, only the pub’s distinctive curved frontage has been removed. Yet an appraisal in 2005 by Lewisham Council listed this pub, The Duke of Albany of 1880, of special architectural interest! The shop is now a home.
Schools in the area
The Haberdashers’ Company have a long history of funding education and one of their schools is in this area. In 1689 Robert Aske, a silk merchant, left £20,000 to the Company to build an almshouse and a school. The Company invested his money wisely and the Foundation now funds five primary schools and four secondary schools in south east London.
Eckington Gardens Park in New Cross today
Well, the descriptions by LGO and Lewisham Council sounded very promising and I set off with high hopes. Sadly those hopes were not entirely realised but I notice that the Friends of Eckington Gardens are increasingly active and I hope that they will be supported by the Borough Council, or perhaps even the ‘Friends’ in neighbouring parks.
The park lies between Casella Road, where the houses date from 1870, and Monson Road, where there are signs of of new building in the area. There are railings around the entire park is enclosed with railings and the gates are locked at night.
The noticeboard at the entrance on Casella Road shows the layout of the park. The park is clearly popular and when I visited I always found dDog walkers, children playing with their parents, and runners exercising.
Children’s play area
Discrepancies from published information
I couldn’t find a water fountain or a paddling pool in the park. And neither were there any ‘…colourful signage and floral displays … ornamental gardens … clipped hedges in geometric patterns…’ as indicated by LGO. Even Lewisham Council talks hopefully of the ornamental gardens and shrubs. There are indeed lawns and mature plane trees.
Friends of Eckington Gardens Park
There are some neglected beds on Monson Road which the Friends could sort out in half an hour. The trees are underplanted with ivy, which is good for easy maintenance. However, there are also lot of weeds. I like ‘wild’ planting but I think one probably has to be quite disciplined about what creates ‘wildness’.
All Saints Church
All Saints Church alongside the park and on the main road dates from 1869. The Hardcastle family of Hatcham House and the Haberdasher’s Company together gave the land for the church.
The Hatcham Conservation area is interesting and quiet which is surprising considering the very busy and congested main road through New Cross. Eckington Gardens in New Cross, the park of the area, is attractive – do visit!
Further information & sources
http://www.ideal-homes.org.uk
A full and interesting history of the area and its development here, in an appraisal document drawn up by Lewisham Council
The Friends of Eckington Gardens