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Opening Southwark Park.
Southwark Park, in this parish, was opened to the public on the 19th June, 1869 by
Sir John Thwaites, Chairman of the Metropolitan Board of Works, in the presence of the
Members of that Board, the Members of Parliament for the Borough of Southwark, the
Justices of the Peace for the County of Surrey, the 4th Surrey Administrative Battalion of
Rifle Volunteers, and the Vestrymen of the parishes of St. George the Martyr, Bermondsey,
St. John's, St. Olave's, and Rotherhithe, together with a large assembly of the inhabitants of
this and the neighbouring parishes.
The following is a memorandum prepared by the Superintending Architect of the
Metropolitan Board of Works, relative to the formation and cost of the Park:—
Southwark Park opened 19th June, 1869.
The Metropolitan Board of Works, impressed with the importance of securing for the
densely-populated portion of the Metropolis along the southern side of the River Thames, in
the parishes of Bermondsey and Rotherhithe, proceeded in 1864, under the powers conferred
on them by the 10th section of the Metropolis Management Amendment Act of 1856, to
obtain from Parliament the necessary powers for the formation of a Park.
The Bill provided for the purchase of about sixty-two acres of land in the parish of St.
Mary, Rotherhithe, and for the formation and maintenance of a Park, to be called Southwark
Park, for the use, recreation, and enjoyment of the public, and also for the sale or leasing
of such portions of the land as the Board might not require for the purposes of the Park,
and for raising the necessary funds.
The Bill passed through both Houses of Parliament without opposition, and received
the Royal assent on the 28th April, 1864.
About sixty-three acres of land, then used as market gardens, were selected as a suitable
site, situated near the Spa Road Railway Station, between Paradise-row, Rotherhithe, the
Deptford Lower Road, and Rotherhithe New Road, about one mile from London Bridge, and
within easy walking distance from the crowded parts of the parishes of Southwark, Horselydown,
and Bermondsey.
The land chiefly belonged to Field-Marshal Sir William Gomm, G.C.B., and the
negociations for the purchase of the freehold were difficult and prolonged, but were at length
concluded in 1865; afterwards, the claims for the yearly tenancies and other minor interests
had to be settled, and possession of the whole property obtained. Plans for laying out the
ground were then prepared, and contracts made for enclosing the Park, forming the surface
and walks, building lodges, and planting trees and shrubs.
The expenditure for the land, and other costs, has been as follows:—
£
s.
d.
For freehold and leasehold interests
68398
11
2
Professional and other charges, and wages
5330
18
5
Incidentals
722
19
2
Contracts for works, for entrance lodges, gates, enclosure
pailings, formation of roads, &c., drainage of roads,
and planting
20710
2
6
Total to 25th March, 1869
£95162
11
3