Inventory Site Record

Blake Recreation Ground opened to the public in August 1932, named after the village doctor. It was later renamed Blake Park. The site may have been part of land belonging to Oak Lodge in the C19th, and once part of the Monks Orchard estate now divided from High Broom Wood by Oak Lodge Primary School. The park is a rectangular open space of mown grass with a perimeter tarmac path and is almost completely surrounded by houses, which are largely screened from the site by shrubs and hedges. A children’s playground is situated to the south-east and a sports field to the north. There are a few semi-mature chestnuts, oaks and ornamental pines.

Previous / Other name:

Blake Recreation Ground

Site location:

Beckenham Road/Oak Lodge Drive/Pine Avenue/St David’s Close, West Wickham

Postcode:

BR4 0RQ

What 3 Words:

code.front.pills

Type of site:

Public Park

Borough:

Bromley

Open to public?

Yes

Opening times:

unrestricted

Special conditions:

Facilities:

Children’s playground; football pitches, basketball

Events:

Public transport:

Rail: West Wickham. Bus 194.

Citymapper    
Google Map    
streetmap.co.uk

Research updated:

19/07/2023

Last minor changes:

19/07/2023

Please check with the site owner or manager for latest news. www.bromley.gov.uk; https://bromleyparks.co.uk/

West Wickham is listed in the Domesday Book and has a long history. In Tudor times, Wickham Court Manor was expanded by the Boleyn family and the area was popular for deer hunting. Although the railway had arrived in 1882, West Wickham remained a small village into the C20th, only transforming into a suburb in the inter-war years. Prior to this, there were a number of grand mansions in the area, and among those that remain is Oak Lodge, now converted to flats, which overlooks the park. The park is on part of the 70 acres of land that originally went with Oak Lodge. The recreation ground is named after the village doctor William Blake. 

A large elm, locally known as the Stocks Tree, which used to stand in the village in the middle of the roadway near the Swan public house, was moved to Blake Recreation Ground in 1935 to make way for sewage works and house building. The tree later blew down in a storm although it is commemorated in the village sign and a piece of the tree was placed in the library. 

Friends of Blake Park was set up to assist maintenance of the park in September 2013, and undertakes improvements and activities. Blake Park is now managed by idverde UK, which in June 2015 was contracted by Bromley Council for the management of the borough's parks, green spaces and countryside service, a relationship that was extended in April 2019 for a further 16 years. 

Sources consulted:

West Wickham Residents Association local history: https://westwickhamresidents.com/about-us/local-history/

Grid ref:

TQ379664 (537861,166507)

Size in hectares:

10.25

Site ownership:

LB Bromley

Site management:

idverde. Friends of Blake Park

Date(s):

1932

Designer(s):

Listed structures:

LBII: Oak Lodge

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