Inventory Site Record

So-called after Little Dorrit, the Dickens character who was associated with nearby Marshalsea Prison, the site had previously been Falcon Court, 'a horrible rookery of tumble-down dirty hovels'. It was created as a children's playground by the LCC's Parks and Open Spaces Committee, and was opened in 1902 by the LCC Councillor for Rotherhithe, Mr A Pomeroy-Cragg, at a ceremony accompanied by music from the North London Prize Band. Improvement works were carried out in 2001 by Little Dorrit Park Group, set up by group of local mothers including artist Danuta Solowig Wedderburn who created bronze plaques. Works included playground improvements and landscaping and the park is supported by Bankside Open Spaces Trust (BOST).

Site location:

Borough High Street/Little Dorrit Court

Postcode:

SE1

What 3 Words:

stars.gets.claim

Type of site:

Public Park

Borough:

Southwark

Open to public?

Yes

Opening times:

7.30am - sunset

Special conditions:

no dogs

Facilities:

playground

Events:

Annual children's event

Public transport:

Tube: Borough (Northern). Bus: 21, 35, 40, 343.

Citymapper    
Google Map    
streetmap.co.uk

Research updated:

01/05/2006

Last minor changes:

14/07/2022

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

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)

Grid ref:

TQ324798 (532450,179850)

Size in hectares:

0.784

Site ownership:

LB Southwark

Site management:

Parks. Little Dorrit Park Group. Bankside Open Spaces Trust (BOST)

Date(s):

1902

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:

Yes

Conservation Area name:

Borough High Street

Tree Preservation Order:

No

Nature Conservation Area:

No

Green Belt:

No

Metropolitan Open Land:

No

Special Policy Area:

Yes - Archaeological Priority Zone

Other LA designation:

Tier Two. Strategic Views Backdrop Consultation Zone

Little Dorrit Playground - Colin Wing - July 2006

Click a photo to enlarge.