Inventory Site Record

The park is named after Margaret McMillan who with her sister Rachel McMillan were pioneers of nursery education. Margaret McMillan Park opened in 1954 and was originally laid out between Watson's Street and Glenville Grove with a series of lawns along Douglas Way. In the late 1980s part of the park was eroded by housing development and in 1998 improvements were carried out to the park, including a bridge by sculptor John Maine. In 2009 the park was redesigned and re-landscaped as part of Route 1 of the North Lewisham Links project, the works completed in 2010.

Site location:

Glenville Grove/Douglas Way/Watson's Street, New Cross

Postcode:

SE8 4BA

What 3 Words:

tested.formed.hits

Type of site:

Public Park

Borough:

Lewisham

Open to public?

Yes

Opening times:

unrestricted

Special conditions:

Facilities:

Play area, cycle route

Events:

Public transport:

London Overground/Rail: New Cross, New Cross Gate. Rail: Deptford.

Citymapper    
Google Map    
streetmap.co.uk

Research updated:

01/09/2024

Last minor changes:

26/02/2025

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

Margaret McMillan (1860-1931) established a nursery school in Deptford and she and her sister Rachel lived at 127 George Lane in Hither Green between 1910 and 1913. Both sisters fought for universal suffrage and believed that early years' education could counter some of the effects of poverty. Following Rachel's death in 1917, Margaret, a member of the Fabian Society and Labour Party, founded a training college for nursery teachers named after Rachel; there is also a memorial to Margaret at Rachel McMillan Nursery School in McMillan Street (LBII).

Margaret McMillan Park opened in 1954 and was originally laid out between Watson's Street and Glenville Grove with a series of lawns along Douglas Way. The area had suffered bomb damage in WWII but was densely built up by the 1860s, with streets of terraced housing and a substantial Engineering Works on Glenville Grove (see First Edition OS Map, London LXVIII, published 1873). This is later marked as an Iron Foundry on the OS 25 inch Map of 1914/16, London IX.8, which also marks the Deptford Coroner's Court and Mortuary on Watson's Street, which was in operation between 1896 and 1958. The OS Map of 1921 (London Land Registry Edition XI.30, 1:1056) shows housing along Douglas Street, as it was then, and Watson's Street; Baildon Street at that time existed between Watson's Street and Glenville Grove, running north as far as the Coroner's Court site. The Engineering Works of Clarke, Burnett & Co, employing 100 men, was sited here  between 1820-1914, with an entrance at 455 New Cross Road. The OS 25 inch Map of 1962 shows Margaret McMillan Park with a paddling pool, playground and drinking fountain, with planting of trees and shrubs, with the Engineering Works site still marked, although houses on the south side of Douglas Way, west side of Watson's Street and the northern end of Bailden Street are no longer in existence. The Coroner's Court, which abuts into the park, is now premises of the Midi Music Company.

In the late 1980s part of the park was eroded by housing development to the south and in 1998 improvements were carried out, which included a playground, toilets, and signage, the work undertaken by LB Lewisham in partnership with The Prince's Trust Volunteers. A sculptural feature was also constructed taking the form of a stone bridge, with planting executed with members of the local community. It was created by sculptor John Maine RA, who at that time was Artist in Residence with the design team for Lewisham Town Centre.

In 2009 the park was redesigned and re-landscaped as part of Route 1 of the North Lewisham Links project. The improvements to Margaret McMillan Park were completed in 2010 and included removing larger shrubs, straightening the main footpath through the park and installing new lighting, in order to improve visibility and safety. New paths and seating were provided, the children's play area was upgraded, as well as wooden sculptures and posts. The park's redesign won a number of awards including a Civic Trust Award in 2010 for Community Recognition and an award for the Best New Urban Space at the London Planning Awards in 2012.

Sources consulted:

Ben Weinreb & Christopher Hibbert, 'The London Encyclopaedia' (Macmillan, revised ed. 1993); Document for Glendale/LB Lewisham Parks Conference 11 March 2000; Candy Blackham 'Green Lewisham', (Clink Street Publishing, 2022); https://www.layersoflondon.org/map/records/new-cross-road; https://www.thingstodoinlondon.com/footprints/wknewcrossroute.htm

Grid ref:

TQ369772 (536925,177236)

Size in hectares:

1.28

Site ownership:

LB Lewisham

Site management:

Greenscene Department, Glendale Grounds Management

Date(s):

1954; 2010

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:

Public Open Space

Margaret McMillan Park, October 2010. Photograph Sally Williams

Click a photo to enlarge.