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May, 2012:

Eastern Road Gate: Awards for All Grant

Our first grant application was to the Lottery’s Awards for All. With the £5000 grant we linked up with two local schools, Prendergasts and Gordonbrock Primary School. The art department at Prendergasts undertook a project with their year 8 students. They studied the murals in the school, which feature the park. They spent time in the park drawing the views which became the basis for a series of pieces of work. These included printing and black and white collages. The plethora of work was taken to artist blacksmith Heather Burrell, who designed a gate using the images.

The final gates were hung in spring 2007.

Gates on Eastern Road

Gates on Eastern Road

The final part of the grant money was spent on planting. The local primary school Gordonbrock came out to help plant primroses and violets along the entrance road. They also smartened up the shrub bed at the entrance with Viburnum, roses, honeysuckle and ferns.

Children from Gordonbrock School planting the entrance shurb bed

Children from Gordonbrock School planting the entrance shurb bed

planting primroses

planting primroses

Victor plants a Rose on Eastern Road. Hes going to bring his mum to see it.

Victor plants a Rose on Eastern Road. He’s going to bring his mum to see it.

Memories of Hilly Fields

This email was sent via the Lewisham council website by David Pearce, on 08 December 2008, at 19:21:12:

I was surprised to see a site for Hilly Fields. I enjoyed my visits before and during the war (WWII). My mother took me there when I was young but later I went on my own or with friends. There was not much to do, nothing provided, we made our own amusement. We climbed the trees (watch out for the ‘parkies’, they wore brown uniforms!).

I remember a Cafe where they served a drink of Ginger beer and Eldorado Ice cream. We played ‘roly polys’ down the hill great fun. A drinking fountain, mum told me not to use the cup and I took my own.

When the war started we went to the far end and saw the 2 Ack Ack guns, they were moved later. The area down to Adelaide avenue was given over to allotments, Dig for Victory. The railings around the park were taken away for munitions. A Barrage Balloon was set up close to Hilly Fields Cresent, we chatted to the Airmen, it was moved south when the doodle bugs came.

I remember only one bomb crater to the area to the west of the park, it filled with water. My friend Douglas won a scolarship to Brockley County School I see it is the Prendergast school now. My girl friend, who later  became my wife (has since died) we both enjoyed the park! I lived from 1928 until 1952 at 10 Brockley Gardens so it was only a short walk to the park. I now live in Seaford, E Sussex, wonder if I would recognise the old place now?

Bits and pieces from the archive

From “The Kyrle Society, Report for the Open Spaces Branch, 1893” Lewisham Local Studies Archives, SM1/9/10 (Motto of the Kyrle Society, founded 1877 ‘For Bringing Beauty Home to People’)

“ Hilly Fields…..The land preserved is probably second in importance to no open space in the neighbourhood of London, being as the County Council long since reported the finest site for a park round London, and being moreover situated but a short distance from one of the most densely packed quarters of the Metropolis.”

From Report of the Joint Committee appointed to secure the Preservation of the Hilly Fields, Lewisham as a Public Park” Lewisham Local Studies Archives 352.944 BRO

 

“The Hilly Fields, Lewisham, as finally preserved to the public…is situate on rising ground on the edge of the densely populated neighbourhood of Deptford, and was pronounced by a Committee of the London County Council, which considered the matter some years ago, to constitute the most eligible site for a park in the neighbourhood of London”
From Borough of Lewisham, Minutes of Proceedings of the Council

Suffragettes:
(1906-1907) 20th November 1907, p,20 minute 13:
notes a letter from the LCC “with reference to this Council’s letter of the 7th instant, and stating that all practicable steps had been taken to prevent disturbances at public meetings held on Sundays at Hilly Fields, and that the Commissioner of the Police of the Metropolis had also been communicated with in order that he might render such assistance as might be necessary”

Band performances
On12th October 1910 Councillor Jerrard moved that band performance at Hilly Fields be moved to start and end one month later in the year. The issue dragged on…

On 15th January 1913 Councillor Wm Jerrard and Councillor J. Baldon moved:

“That representations be made to the London County Council with a view of fixing the period of band performances in the open spaces of the Borough (where such performances take place) one month later in the year than at present, so that the period may be three months from 9th June to 9th September, instead of from 9th May to 9th August as at present. That the suggestion be communicated to the Deptford Borough Council the residents if that Borough being interested so far as Hilly Fields are concerned”

On 7th May 1913 the Council noted the reply from the LCC

“stating that as the proposal involves the lighting of the bandstand and it would be practically impossible to maintain order at the several places after dark, the Council regret that they did not see their way to make the alteration suggested.”

Anti-social behaviour?

7th May 1913

“The Committee have received a letter (21st April) addressed to the Mayor from the Hon. Sec. of St. Bartholomew’s C of E Men’s Society, forwarding a copy of a memorial signed by members of the Lewisham Federation drawing attention to the misuse in the evenings of the Hilly Fields and other open spaces as a real source of danger to boys and girls and asking him to use his influence in having these open spaces better lighted and better controlled. The Hilly Fields is an open space under the control and management of the London County Council”.

A brief history of Hilly Fields

In the second half of the 19th Century, the Brockley area became built up, as farmland was sold off and streets of houses crept further south. Hilly Fields was only saved from development by the protests of local residents. A committee of influential people was formed, including Octavia Hill (new window), the philanthropist and co founder of the National Trust.

In her article “Space for the People” (1883) Octavia records that when visiting tenants in Deptford one day, she noticed a vase of freshly picked flowers. On being told they had been picked on Hilly Fields, she set off to visit the area the same day and as a result became instrumental in raising subscriptions to save Hilly Fields from being built over. The list of subscribers ran to thirty-one pages and includes William Morris and F D Mocatta, a well-known Jewish philanthropist. Generous benefactors included the Duke of Westminster and many of the City Livery Companies, such as the Goldsmiths’, Fishmongers’ and Leathersellers’.

They managed to raise some of the purchase money, and other financial contributions were made by the London County Council and the Greenwich and Lewisham Boards of Works. Part of the site (the northern end) was occupied by a brick works, part was owned by the Corporation of London who had leased it to a developer for building purposes and part was glebe land of the parish of Lewisham. The southern end of the park had originally been fields, part of Bridge House Farm.

After lengthy and difficult negotiations the site of the park was bought and improvements were made by the London County Council.  The site of the brick works was drained, levelled and marked out as a cricket pitch. A bandstand was also provided. The park was formally opened on 16 May 1896.

Sir Arthur Arnold, chairman of the LCC, which had spent £4,685 on laying out the grounds, opened the park to the public on 16th May 1896. Sir Robert Hunter, in his capacity as chairman of the committee set up to save Hilly Fields, attended the opening ceremony and paid tribute to Octavia Hill’s hard work. ‘So well-known to many of them by reason of her public- spirited labours, in the course of her work in Deptford’.

The Dedication To the Public of Hilly Fields, Brockley, by Sir Arthur Arnold, Chairman of the Council, took place on Saturday, 16th May, 1896. (document will be uploaded in the near future)

From “Dedication to the public of Hilly Fields, Brockley by Sir Arthur Arnold, Chairman of the Council on Saturday, 16th May 1896” Lewisham Local Studies Archives 352.944 BRO

“…Taking the statistics compiled with such care by Mr Charles Booth, it will come as a surprise to many to learn that in the county of London there is more poverty south than north of the Thames, while the district lying along the river from Greenwich to Rotherhithe is the second poorest in London…..dealing with blocks of about 30,000 inhabitants, Mr Booth finds that the two poorest are situate, one between Blackfriars and London-bridge, and the other by the riverside at Greenwich, which includes Deptford. The first with a population of 33,000 has 68 per cent of poor; the second with 31,000, 65 per cent, whilst there is no similar block in East London which has more than 59 per cent. ….All the greater importance therefore attaches to the preservation of such a fine open space as this, which is only a mile distant from some of the most congested quarters. But Deptford is not the only district which will reap benefit, for the more immediate neighbourhoods of Brockley and Lewisham, although comparatively open at present, must ere long be covered with building to accommodate the ever increasing population of the this mighty London. Moreover, the character of the Hilly Fields gives a wide range to their influence upon the health of the metropolis. It has long been recognised that it is especially important to keep the hilltops round London free from buildings, so that the purity of the air blowing in from the country may thus be preserved….”

The summit of Hilly Fields stands 175 feet above sea level, and the park commands very good views. A local man remembering the park in its early days wrote, “Here promenaded all the smart folk of Brockley and Lewisham and to go home from church without crossing the breezy hill to see the sights and get an appetite for the Sunday joint was quite unheard of!”

The red brick building in the park was the West Kent Grammar School, built in about 1885, which later became part of Brockley County School. Further north, beyond the tennis courts, various buildings and Nissen huts were erected by the Army during WWII. Prefab bungalows were also built along the Adelaide Avenue and Montague boundaries of the park; they were still there in 1960s. The park did suffer some bomb damage during the war.

In 1971 Hilly Fields was transferred from the Greater London Council to the London Borough of Lewisham.

LITERARY REFERENCE TO HILLY FIELDS

Edith Nesbit, a contemporary of Octavia Hill, walked to Hilly Fields in Brockley near New Cross from her home in Elswick Road, Lewisham and referred to the area in “Wings and the Child”. ‘Once there were nightingales that sang in the gardens in Loampit Hill. Now it is all villas. Once the Hilly Fields were hill fields where the children played, and there were primroses.’

Dogs are welcome

Dogs are welcome in Hilly Fields and there is a thriving sociable group of dog owners who can regularly be seen come rain or shine. The place would not be the same without them. Perhaps one of them would like to do a blog for our website, like our bird champions’ blog? (yes we now have more than one)

On the rare occasions when there have been serious dog attacks, a wealth of stories emerge about other incidents. However, Animal Welfare cannot follow up on unreported incidents. So if you witness or are the victim of a dog attack, you should report it to Animal Welfare. You can email Kay Foley at:
Kay.Foley@lewisham.gov.uk or phone Animal Welfare on Tel: 020 8314 2098
Try to get as much information on the incident as if safely possible.

Lewisham’s Dog Control Orders are now in operation in the Borough. This unfortunately means we have some additional clutter at park entrances!

YOUR DOG AND THE LAW

Owning a dog brings a lot of enjoyment but also a great deal of responsibility. This page is designed to give you an idea of the laws relating to dog ownership.
Dog Control Orders

An offence under the Dog Control Order can result in an on-the-spot £75 fine and fines of up to £1000. Offences include:

1. Fouling of land by dogs and failing to remove dog faeces.
All public footpaths and highways, including tree bases, grass verges and gutters. All parks, gardens and open spaces where dogs are permitted.

2. Not keeping a dog on a lead.
All public footpaths and highways. Nature reserves:
Burnt Ash Pond, Grove Park, Sydenham Cottages. Cemeteries and crematoriums

3. Not putting, and keeping, a dog on a lead when directed to do so by an authorised officer.
All parks, gardens and open spaces where dogs are permitted.

4. Taking more than four dogs onto specified areas.
All parks, gardens and open spaces where dogs are permitted.

5. Permitting a dog to enter land from which dogs are excluded.
All play areas, fenced sports areas within parks, gardens and open spaces. Play areas on housing estates. Other areas where dog exclusion orders are in operation:

Identification

All dogs in public places must wear a collar with a plate or tag, with the owner’s contact details inscribed on it.

Failure to do so can result in the dog being picked up as a stray and fines of up £5000. It is also advisable to get your dog microchipped. This greatly increases the chances of you being reunited with your dog, should you lose it.
Fouling

Under the Fouling of Land Act, failure to clean up faeces deposited by your dog can result in an on-the-spot fine of £50 and/or leave you facing fines of up to £1000 and a criminal record. Find out more
Stray dogs

A dog is considered a stray if it is not under the control of its owner in any public place, or on any private land without the permission of the landowner. This may result in the dog being picked up by the Animal Welfare Service and the owner fined for its return.
Dangerous Dogs

The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 makes it an offence for any dog to be dangerously out of control in a public place. This can result in the police seizing the dog and in severe cases obtaining a court order for the destruction of the dog.

Dogs which are named under the DDA 1991 must be kept on lead by someone who is sixteen or over, and muzzled in public. Dogs named in the act include the Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino and Filo Braziliero. It is now an offence to own these dogs unless they have been registered.
Dogs and livestock

Dogs must never worry livestock: Even letting your dog walk in the same field as livestock may be considered as “worrying”. A farmer is entitled to kill your dog if it is worrying livestock.

For Any Dog Queries contact
Animal welfare
Tel: 020 8314 2098

Upcoming events

We’ve had the official opening of the cricket field postponed…but some confirmed dates are the ever enjoyable Midsummer Fayre on Saturday 23rd June (organised by the Brockley Society) and now a new event for the park, an outdoor cinema.

POP UP SCREENS will bring their outdoor cinema to Hilly Fields on 20, 21 and 22 July. They will be showing Anchorman, Napoleon Dynamite and Ghostbusters. More details can be found on their website. We’ll remind you all nearer the time.

web :: popupscreens.co.uk
twitter :: @popupscreens
facebook :: /popupscreens

If you are interested booking the cricket pitch you should contact:
Glendale tel. 020 8318 3986

The resident cricket team is Millfields.
http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/millfieldscc/