BARGEs

You might be lucky one day and pleasantly surprised to find, tucked away behind a row of houses on Lynton Road and Abercorn Way, a friendly local park with a long history and a very big heart.

Not always this discrete and hidden away, Paterson Park historically formed part of a much larger swathe of gardens and meadowland that covered Bermondsey and much of Rotherhithe. Its future was eventually marked out by the construction of the canal and then later by the railway.

In 1807 the first stretch of the Grand Surrey Canal was built. It ran from the River Thames and the Surrey Commercial Docks in the north of the borough and headed south to the Old Kent Road. In 1810 a second stretch reached west to Camberwell and eventually, in 1826 a final arm opened a ribbon of waterway stretching further south to Peckham.

Then, in 1843-4 two railway companies added the Bricklayers Arms branch to the existing railway line. The South Eastern (SER) and the London and Croydon (L&CR) constructed a new passenger terminus and goods station which began to dominate the area and was eventually to completely change the landscape, giving it a newfound semi-industrial identity.

Almost one hundred years later during World War II, much of the area was bombed and Paterson Park was first created and given it’s official status as a public space by the London County Council (LCC) out of part of this bomb site. The first section of the park was opened on 27^th October 1953 by the Rt Hon Clement R Attlee (1883-1967) and was named after Alexander Paterson (1884-1947) the great prison reformer who’d adopted Bermondsey as his home for a large part of his life.

Even now with its much diminished size, Paterson Park punches above its weight and remains symbolic of the feisty character of the local community who’ve had to band together over the years to protect it and who are still required to look out and care for its survival today, ensuring the park remains intact for future generations to enjoy.

Paterson Park was finally refurbished in 2006 and was awarded a Green Flag in 2009. The design included a completely new layout with pathways, terracing, boundary railings, gates, seating and lighting. Playground and ball court areas were provided and allotments were built along the whole of the north side of the park. A new entrance from Abercorn Way added to those in Monnow Road and Welsford Street, vastly improving the parks access.

Aspinden Road Nature Garden.

Reclaimed by nature, this ww2 bombsite has grown into delightful shady woodland, with sycamore trees, nettles and a pond. Other plants in this ecological site include elder, bramble, field maple, blackthorn and hawthorn, and all are proud participants in what is now recognised as a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation.

Area of Open Space = 0.04ha.

Surrey Water (formerly Surrey Basin, then Surrey Dock) is situated next to Salter Road and to the north-east of both Rotherhithe (ELL) and Canada Water (ELL, JLE) stations. It was once a main inlet from the River Thames into the Surrey Docks water system and is still connected to Canada Water (formerly Canada Dock) via the Albion Channel, a newly constructed canal and walkway creating a vital green link between the two docks. A number of floating reed beds and floating bird nesting pontoons have been built and placed in situ by the Trust for Urban Ecology (TRUE) at Stave Hill. This beautiful water body has been designated as a Site of Importance to Nature Conservation with Grade 1 Borough Importance.

Area of Open Space = 2.56ha

Tucked away behind the Alscot Road Industrial Estate in a typically urban setting are the Alscot Road allotments, currently managed by the Vauban & Spa Road Tenants Association.

Area of Open Space = 0.09ha

Perched proudly on the Rotherhithe Peninsula’s eastern side, this working city farm faces defiantly out from its waterfront location, across the river towards the Isle of Dogs. A variety of animals, horticultural areas, a café, young farmers club and forge, along with its many activities and events, provides a welcome contrast to the more urban city surroundings and is a ‘don’t miss’ destination for anyone heading out for a walk along the Thames Path. Surrey Docks Farm is a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation with Borough Importance Grade 2 designation. Area of Open Space = 0.38ha.

Located at the junction of Tanner Street and Bermondsey Street, this local park offers a variety of facilities and by far the most popular are the free to use tennis courts. There’s a children’s play area, bench seats, bicycle racks, listed drinking fountain and a small historic pavilion hidden away in a corner, patiently awaiting some tender loving care.

A pretty local park with a variety of trees scattered throughout. There’s a separate children’s play area and fenced kick about space and the whole area is bordered by St James’s Road, Lucey Way, Alexis Street, Mack’s Road and Linsey Street.

Area of Open Space = 1.57ha.

Bordered by Spa Road, Alscot Road and Grange Road, this local park includes a circular jogging track, two children’s play areas, a grass and wildflower area and a plaza in front of the Ellen Brown Bermondsey Play Centre.

Area of Open Space = 2.21ha.