A great picture of Home Park 9 years after it opened. A much nicer skyline than what looms over it now.
A great picture of Home Park 9 years after it opened. A much nicer skyline than what looms over it now.
This pic brings back very many happy memories. I was born in 1944 and lived in ‘new flats’ at top of park (Kent House Buildings) now called Lucas Court I believe. As kids we were always playing in the park and had annual football matches – Flats v Porthcawe and Maddin Road. In my time, there was only one large tree in the centre of the park and that had a circular seat around its girth. Every day I walked to St Michaels school through the park and had to cross the main road near the children’s hospital.
My old aunt eventually lived in one of the tower blocks mentioned but unfortunately she died a few years ago in her nineties. When we visited her I always took the opportunity of looking at the park from her lounge window. Happy days!!
Hi Colin,
what a lovely story. I’m so glad you wrote on the blog. If you have any other memories of the park, or the Library, Fairlawn park etc or even just Sydenham in general, it would be a honour if you shared them with us.
My Grandfather and Grandmother lived in Porthcawe Road 1890 to 1911 and my father played in the park on visits from Forest Hill. I followed in the 40 & 50s and love the park. But please the skyline was not pleasant, it was black and the park bordered on one of the worst slums in the South London area. The grim was finally cleared when Hasletine road was scrubbed in the 60s. The park though was our relief.
Home park lodge once belonged to my great grandfather Frederic ashby light at au tion in 1872 plus adjoining property to house his gardener and family
I have been researching some of the Ashby family as part of my research into Pembury watermills. Frederick Ashby was born in Pembury and was employed at Spring Grove Mill in 1851. In the 1881 and 1891 Census records, he was living at Home Park, Lewisham.
If you have any other information, please post it. It would be lovely to know.
I lived at 9 Champion Road from 1946 to 1957 . My mum was Norah Killick. Her family came from Maddin Road
I remember playing on the swings and roundabouts. We played football and I remember Tommy Couse and Leslie Jones. Joan Worboys was my cousin and I was one of the Killick family all locals from Maddin Road originally.
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