Inventory Site Record

Development of meadowland here took place from 1847, when Brunswick Square was laid out with an area of private communal garden in the centre. It was named after King George IV's marriage to Caroline, daughter of the Duke of Brunswick. In 1901 Camberwell Borough Council purchased the garden, then divided by a roadway, for a public park, which opened in 1907. Tennis courts and a playground were opened in 1937, and a drinking fountain was donated. The park was refurbished by LB Southwark in 1997-99.

Previous / Other name:

Brunswick Square

Site location:

Brunswick Park/St Giles Road/Benhill Road

Postcode:

SE5

What 3 Words:

scared.wiring.universally

Type of site:

Public Park

Borough:

Southwark

Open to public?

Yes

Opening times:

unrestricted

Special conditions:

Facilities:

Playground, tennis courts

Events:

Public transport:

Tube: Oval (Northern) then bus. Rail: Denmark Hill/Loughborough Junction then bus (+ walk). Bus: 12, 36, 171, 345, 35, 40, 42, 45, 68, 176, 468, 484.

Citymapper    
Google Map    
streetmap.co.uk

Research updated:

01/04/2012

Last minor changes:

14/07/2022

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

The site of the park was probably part of the 63 acres of meadows owned by the parish church of St Giles (q.v.), which was referred to in the Domesday survey of 1087. In 1847 W J Hudson purchased land here and began developing it for housing with an area of open space in the centre, and a number of early C19th houses in the square remain. Although Hudson was unable to complete his scheme after losing ownership of the land in 1863, subsequent development by others largely adhered to Hudson's original designs.

The central garden was provided for the private use of the residents of the square until 1901, when Camberwell Borough Council compulsorily purchased it after some years of negotiation for £6,100, the LCC contributing £1,241 to the cost. The garden had previously been divided into two spaces by a roadway, which was then added to the new park in order to create one public space. The cost of laying out the park out was £2,599; it was finally opened by the Mayor of Camberwell on 15 July 1907 as Brunswick Park, and it was 'considered to be one of the prettiest open spaces in South London'. (Beasley). In 1937 further features were opened by the Mayor, including two hard tennis courts and a playground with 'an all-metal slide, a plank swing, an Ocean Wave, a merry-go-round, and two swings' (Beasley). A drinking fountain was donated by the Metropolitan Drinking Fountain Association.

The park was refurbished by LB Southwark in 1997-99 at a cost of £230,000, providing new lighting, planting, restructured pathways, refurbished gates and railings, disabled access and improved playground and tennis facilities.

Sources consulted:

John Beasley, 'Southwark Remembered' (Tempus Publishing, 2001); 'The London County Council and what it does for London: London Parks and Open Spaces' (Hodder & Stoughton, 1924); Southwark Listed Buildings data

Grid ref:

TQ330768 (533036,176882)

Size in hectares:

1.605

Site ownership:

LB Southwark

Site management:

Parks

Date(s):

1907; 1930s

Designer(s):

Listed structures:

LBII: 1 & 2 Brunswick Park and attached railings; 3 & 4 Brunswick Park and attached railings

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:

Yes

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:

Not known

Nature Conservation Area:

No

Green Belt:

No

Metropolitan Open Land:

No

Special Policy Area:

No

Other LA designation:

Local Park, Tier Two; London Squares Preservation Act

Brunswick Park - Photo: Colin Wing
Date taken: 24/02/21 15:31

Click a photo to enlarge.

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