Inventory Site Record

Deptford Park is located near the river in an area that was once market gardens, particularly famous for its onions, celery and asparagus. In 1884 the land was purchased for a public park by the LCC, who paid two-thirds of the purchase cost. Deptford Park was opened on 7 June 1897 by the LCC Chairman, Dr W J Collins. The layout was by Lt Col J J Sexby, Chief Officer of the Parks Department, and included several built features that no longer survive. The entrance on Evelyn Street has iron gates and railings and a short avenue of London plane trees, and the structural planting and design is largely intact with a perimeter walk, and perimeter planting of mature London planes.

Site location:

Evelyn Street/Scawen Road/Grinstead Road, Deptford

Postcode:

SE8 5AE

What 3 Words:

camp.valid.hotel

Type of site:

Public Park

Borough:

Lewisham

Open to public?

Yes

Opening times:

closed dusk

Special conditions:

Facilities:

Play area, football pitches

Events:

Easter Egg hunt, theatre productions

Public transport:

Rail: Deptford then bus. London Overground: Surrey Quays then bus. Bus: 47, 188, 199.

Citymapper    
Google Map    
streetmap.co.uk

Research updated:

01/02/2024

Last minor changes:

29/02/2024

Please check with the site owner or manager for latest news. www.lewisham.gov.uk/inmyarea/openspaces/parks

Located near the river, the site was once market gardens on the estate owned by the family of John Evelyn (1620-1706), and was particularly famous for its onions, celery and asparagus. In 1884 the land was purchased for a public park by the LCC, who paid two-thirds of the purchase cost. The layout was by Lt Col J J Sexby, Chief Officer of the Parks Department, and included several built features that no longer survive, including a central bandstand. Deptford Park was opened on 7 June 1897 by the LCC Chairman, Dr W J Collins. The entrance on Evelyn Street has iron gates and railings and a short avenue of London plane trees, and the structural planting and design is largely intact with a perimeter walk and perimeter planting of mature London planes. The park was reconfigured by the 1940s, with a sports ground and playground covering much of the central area. 

Deptford Park was transferred from the Greater London Council to London Borough of Lewisham in 1971. The central area provides all-weather pitches; there are a number of rose beds by the play area, flowering cherries among other trees and 20th Century brick-built conveniences with coat of arms. In the 1990s improvements were carried out in two phases under Deptford City Challenge. Phase 1 included new railings and gates with brick piers, and in phase 2 a new playground was provided together with a formal paved area with seats and planting. A small orchard has been planted in the park in recent years.  Deptford Park is a Green Flag award winner.

DeptfordFolk was established in 2015 as a parks group for Deptford Park and Folkestone Gardens (q.v.), to improve the two parks and the routes to them. Since then they have planted trees, introduced new bins and benches, restored the paths in Deptford Park and put on numerous events. Funding from Deptford Challenge Trust in 2016/17 enabled them to survey park users to identify priorities. In 2017 the group teamed up with Lewisham Council and Sustrans to apply for the Mayor of London's Liveable Neighbourhood scheme. In honour of John Evelyn, a project to plant 200 trees throughout the Evelyn Ward was completed in April 2019 with the planting of the 200th tree in Pepys Park (q.v.).

Sources consulted:

Sources consulted: Dedication of Deptford Park, 1897; Lt Col J J Sexby 'The Municipal Parks, Gardens and Open Spaces of London', 1898; Document for Glendale/LB Lewisham Parks Conference 11 March 2000; Deptford Park: a brief guide (LB Lewisham Leisure, n.d.); https://www.deptfordfolk.org.

Grid ref:

TQ360782 (536298,178292)

Size in hectares:

7.07

Site ownership:

LB Lewisham

Site management:

Greenscene Department, Glendale Grounds Management

Date(s):

1897

Designer(s):

LCC: Lt Col J J Sexby

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:

Yes - Area of Archaelogical Priority

Other LA designation:

Public Open Space

Deptford Park - Photo: Candy Blackham
Date taken: 20/10/20 13:12

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