Southwark Park – The Lake
Southwark Park was laid out in 1869 by Lewis Vulliamy and Alexander Mackenzie as the first urban park created by the Metropolitan Board of Works and covers an area of 25 hectares.
The park had seen considerable decline in post-war years including damage to the lake in the Second World War, and removal of the 1883 bandstand as part of the war effort.
In 2001, the park underwent a major refurbishment with £2.5m from the Heritage Lottery Funds and a replica of the 1833 bandstand from the Great exhibition was replaced.
Many parts of the park were restored to their former glory; a new bowling pavilion was built along with a new children’s play area. The lake was finally restored to its original pre-World War II size and the main gates were repaired.
It also boasts London’s first public memorial to honour a working class man; a drinking fountain to commemorate Mr Jabez West, a member of a local Temperance Society.
****PLEASE NOTE THE PARK IS CLOSED DURING HOURS OF DARKNESS****