Inventory Site Record

Penhill Park is within the Penhill Park Estate that was built in the 1930s as the Sidcup area was rapidly developing into the suburbs of today. In the mid C19th the area was part of Blendon Wood, and Penhill Road existed as a roadway. The rectangular park is a level grassed area almost entirely enclosed by the backs of the suburban houses. In the 1930s allotment gardens were in the north of the recreation ground. There are occasional ornamental trees around the perimeter and a children’s playground and a brick pavilion/toilets are situated to the west.

Site location:

Rowley Avenue/Sherwood Park Avenue, Sidcup

Postcode:

DA15 9LF

What 3 Words:

tins.wire.family

Type of site:

Public Park

Borough:

Bexley

Open to public?

Yes

Opening times:

unrestricted

Special conditions:

Facilities:

Children’s playground; football pitches and changing rooms; toilets

Events:

Public transport:

Rail: Sidcup then bus. Bus: B13

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Research updated:

01/02/2011

Last minor changes:

19/07/2023

Please check with the site owner or manager for latest news. www.bexley.gov.uk

In the mid C19th the area was part of Blendon Wood, but it is now almost entirely given over to residential development, which grew rapidly in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Developers purchased large areas of land once part of the large estates in the area. Housing was generally built to cater for middle-class commuters wanting to move out of London in search of a better quality of life in more ‘rural’ locations. Many streets were laid out in the area north of the traditional heart of Sidcup around the High Street as the development engulfed Lamorbey and moved northwards towards Blackfen and Blendon. Typical of this type of development was the Penhill Park Estate built in the 1930s.

Penhill Park is a rectangular level grassed area almost entirely enclosed by the backs of the suburban houses, with allotment gardens in the north of the ground. OS Maps shows that originally the allotments took up a larger part of the north of the site. A drinking fountain was located adjacent to the north boundary of the recreation ground. There are occasional ornamental trees around the park's perimeter and a children’s playground and a brick pavilion/toilets are situated to the west. A line of electricity pylons runs north-west/south-east across the site.

Sources consulted:

Grid ref:

TQ469739 (547010,173920)

Size in hectares:

7.26

Site ownership:

LB Bexley

Site management:

Parks and Open Spaces

Date(s):

1930s

Designer(s):

Listed structures:

None

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 Data

The information below is taken from the relevant Local Authority's planning legislation, which was correct at the time of research but may have been amended in the interim. Please check with the Local Authority for latest planning information.

On Local List:

No

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:

Urban Open Space