Inventory Site Record

The land, part farmland and part woodland, was donated by Lord and Lady Waring in 1929 to provide a public park and playing field. It opened as Waring Park in May 1931. It was laid out with a raised terrace on the southern boundary with a number of shelters, since demolished as a result of vandalism in recent years. An area of woodland was retained and laid out with paths, and other areas were planted with flowers, shrubs and trees.

Site location:

Lansdown Road, Sidcup

Postcode:

DA14 4JL

What 3 Words:

above.strut.hours

Type of site:

Public Park

Borough:

Bexley

Open to public?

Yes

Opening times:

7.30 am - dusk

Special conditions:

Facilities:

Football pitch, changing rooms, toilets, hard tennis courts, cricket pitch, children’s play area

Events:

Public transport:

Rail: Sidcup. Bus: 269.

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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

The land, part farmland and part woodland, was named Birchwood on the 1st edition OS in 1867. It was donated by Lord and Lady Waring in 1929 to provide a public park and playing field. It was designed with a raised terrace on the southern boundary, and had shelters, toilets and a store shed. Two of the shelters were brick built and thatched with Norfolk reed. Woodland in the north-east corner was retained and laid out with paths. In another area a belt was planted with flowers, evergreens, shrubs and forest trees. The cost to lay out the park was £11,447 and the official opening took place on 2 May 1931. Although it is now dominated by playing fields the park retains the original raised terrace on the southern boundary, backed by poplars, with central concrete steps leading to a brick shelter with shingle roof. A pair of hexagonal brick shelters with pyramidal shingle roofs used to face each other from south-east and north-west corners of the park but have since been demolished as a result of serious vandalism. The Dell area to the north-east has an area of vestigial oak and alder. The playing fields are on raised ground and the children’s play area is in the south-east corner. Rose-beds are set on the west side of the grounds and shrubs border the approach from Lansdown Road.

Sources consulted:

Programme of Opening of Waring Park, Sidcup (Hall Place)

Grid ref:

TQ467724 (546793,172404)

Size in hectares:

5.2

Site ownership:

LB Bexley

Site management:

Parks and Open Spaces

Date(s):

1929-31

Designer(s):

K Dalghiesh ARIBA assisted by W A Farnham (Council surveyor)

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 Land