Chinbrook Meadows
Encyclopedia
Chinbrook Meadows sometimes Chinbrook Meadow in southeast London
, England
is one of Lewisham's public open spaces or parks
in the south of Chinbrook
and Grove Park in the London Borough of Lewisham
and postcode district but next to the border with the London Borough of Bromley
and the postcode district.
The majority of the park is maintained short grass with footpaths and lined with tall trees and bisected by the River Quaggy
; the grass often has markings for football pitches, a cricket ground and other sports and is used by local schools for sports days. Chinbrook Meadows also contains public toilets, public concrete tennis courts, and football pitch/basketball court in one, plus a children's play area with a paddling pool. The many footpaths crossing the park form part of The Green Chain Walk and Capital Ring
. The Quaggy River flows northward through Chinbrook Meadows.
The park is around half a mile long north to south, half as wide and is surrounded by Chinbrook Road to the north, Mayeswood Road to the east and the railway line to the south and west. Under the railway line there is a pedestrian subway
tunnel that crosses the borough boundary into Bromley and links the park to a much smaller green area southwest of the main park; Although there is no gate separating the two, the smaller area, being under the authority of another borough, is sometimes not considered part of the same park, the map on the website does not show it, but shows the park entrance to be the pedestrian subway. The footpath that leaves the southeast corner of Chinbrook Meadows is part of the Green Chain Walk passes the allotments then Grove Park Cemetery
before entering Elmstead Woods. Gates to the park are opened at 08:00 every morning and closed near dusk, with times ranging from 16:30 to 21:00 in the evening depending on the time of year.
purchased a further 23 acres (93,077.8 m²) acres and the larger area was opened to the public in June 1937.
A church was built by the Shaftesbury Society as a 'mission hall' on the border of the park in Mayeswood Road in the Grove Park Estate, and dedicated in May 1935. This mission hall was used as a Baptist church until 2005 when it was taken over by Jubilee International Church
.
The small southern part of Chinbrook Meadows became allotments
, but many were in disuse in the early 1990s and a government grant paid for trees to be planted on some of the area, although some of the allotments still remain in use.
within Chinbrook Meadows and other parks was channelized into long straight concrete culvert
s to alleviate flooding and was closed off behind tall hedges and iron fences, this cut the park in two with the larger part to the east of the river. In the early 2000s however the concrete channel with its fences and hedges was demolished and river was remodeled to give a natural, meandering appearance with a small flood plain; this was to encourage wild plants and animals back to the area and to be more pleasant and attractive for the public. There are several wooden foot bridges over the river, that replaced the concrete ones with iron fences. The regeneration was completed on 1 October 2002 and cost a reported £1.1million. Since the restoration Chinbrook Meadows has won the Green Flag Award
in two years in a row.. Shortly After the regeneration was completed the same river was given a similar regeneration further down stream within Sutcliffe Park, a mile and a half north to the north.
124
, 126, 273 and school bus 638 serve. Grove Park centre is less than half a mile to the west of this entrance and is also served by these buses plus four more, 136, 181, 261 and night bus N136 as well as Grove Park railway station
and the A2212 road
. The 284 bus serves Chinbrook which is a similar distance east from the same entrance. The park is also on the for mentioned Green Chain Walk and Capital Ring
.
Coordinates: 51.429°N 0.028°E
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
is one of Lewisham's public open spaces or parks
Lewisham parks and open spaces
The London Borough of Lewisham, like all the London boroughs has many parks and open spaces within its boundaries, part of the "green lung" of London...
in the south of Chinbrook
Chinbrook
Chinbrook is a suburb in southeast London; it is located southeast of Charing Cross and is in the southeast corner of the London Borough of Lewisham on its boundary with the London Borough of Bromley...
and Grove Park in the London Borough of Lewisham
London Borough of Lewisham
The London Borough of Lewisham is a London borough in south-east London, England and forms part of Inner London. The principal settlement of the borough is Lewisham...
and postcode district but next to the border with the London Borough of Bromley
London Borough of Bromley
The London Borough of Bromley is a London borough of south east London, England and forms part of Outer London. The principal town in the borough is Bromley.-Geography:...
and the postcode district.
The majority of the park is maintained short grass with footpaths and lined with tall trees and bisected by the River Quaggy
River Quaggy
The River Quaggy is an urban river, 17 km in length, passing through the south-east London boroughs of Bromley, Greenwich and Lewisham; it is known as the Kyd Brook, in its upper reaches...
; the grass often has markings for football pitches, a cricket ground and other sports and is used by local schools for sports days. Chinbrook Meadows also contains public toilets, public concrete tennis courts, and football pitch/basketball court in one, plus a children's play area with a paddling pool. The many footpaths crossing the park form part of The Green Chain Walk and Capital Ring
Capital Ring
The Capital Ring is a strategic walking route that is being promoted by London's 33 local councils, led by the City of London Corporation in partnership with the Greater London Authority and its functional body for regional transport, Transport for London, through which much of the funding is...
. The Quaggy River flows northward through Chinbrook Meadows.
The park is around half a mile long north to south, half as wide and is surrounded by Chinbrook Road to the north, Mayeswood Road to the east and the railway line to the south and west. Under the railway line there is a pedestrian subway
Subway (underpass)
In England and Wales, the Republic of Ireland, Hong Kong and some Commonwealth countries , the term subway normally refers to a specially constructed underpass for pedestrians and/or cyclists beneath a road or railway, allowing them to reach the other side in safety.The term is also used in the...
tunnel that crosses the borough boundary into Bromley and links the park to a much smaller green area southwest of the main park; Although there is no gate separating the two, the smaller area, being under the authority of another borough, is sometimes not considered part of the same park, the map on the website does not show it, but shows the park entrance to be the pedestrian subway. The footpath that leaves the southeast corner of Chinbrook Meadows is part of the Green Chain Walk passes the allotments then Grove Park Cemetery
Grove Park Cemetery
Grove Park Cemetery is a cemetery in the London Borough of Lewisham.-Location:It is located near Grove Park on Marvels Lane, between Chinbrook Meadows and Marvels Wood, SE12.-Special interest:...
before entering Elmstead Woods. Gates to the park are opened at 08:00 every morning and closed near dusk, with times ranging from 16:30 to 21:00 in the evening depending on the time of year.
History
The area was previously occupied by Chinbrook Farm, a dairy farm. The park was first formally opened to the public in 1929 and was then a children's play area 8 acres (32,374.9 m²) in size, on the edge of the recently built Grove Park Estate; London County CouncilLondon County Council
London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council...
purchased a further 23 acres (93,077.8 m²) acres and the larger area was opened to the public in June 1937.
A church was built by the Shaftesbury Society as a 'mission hall' on the border of the park in Mayeswood Road in the Grove Park Estate, and dedicated in May 1935. This mission hall was used as a Baptist church until 2005 when it was taken over by Jubilee International Church
Jubilee International Church
Jubilee International Church is based in London, England and was established in 1992 with just 7 members in Clapham, London SW4. They then purchased and modernised a former 1935 Baptist church building and moved in 2006 to the present location at Mayeswood Road in the Chinbrook and the former...
.
The small southern part of Chinbrook Meadows became allotments
Allotment (gardening)
An allotment garden, often called simply an allotment, is a plot of land made available for individual, non-professional gardening. Such plots are formed by subdividing a piece of land into a few or up to several hundreds of land parcels that are assigned to individuals or families...
, but many were in disuse in the early 1990s and a government grant paid for trees to be planted on some of the area, although some of the allotments still remain in use.
River Quaggy
In the 1960s the River QuaggyRiver Quaggy
The River Quaggy is an urban river, 17 km in length, passing through the south-east London boroughs of Bromley, Greenwich and Lewisham; it is known as the Kyd Brook, in its upper reaches...
within Chinbrook Meadows and other parks was channelized into long straight concrete culvert
Culvert
A culvert is a device used to channel water. It may be used to allow water to pass underneath a road, railway, or embankment. Culverts can be made of many different materials; steel, polyvinyl chloride and concrete are the most common...
s to alleviate flooding and was closed off behind tall hedges and iron fences, this cut the park in two with the larger part to the east of the river. In the early 2000s however the concrete channel with its fences and hedges was demolished and river was remodeled to give a natural, meandering appearance with a small flood plain; this was to encourage wild plants and animals back to the area and to be more pleasant and attractive for the public. There are several wooden foot bridges over the river, that replaced the concrete ones with iron fences. The regeneration was completed on 1 October 2002 and cost a reported £1.1million. Since the restoration Chinbrook Meadows has won the Green Flag Award
Green Flag Award
The Green Flag Award is the benchmark national standard for parks and green spaces in the United Kingdom. The scheme was set up in 1996 to recognise and reward green spaces in England and Wales that met the laid down high standards...
in two years in a row.. Shortly After the regeneration was completed the same river was given a similar regeneration further down stream within Sutcliffe Park, a mile and a half north to the north.
Transport links
There are bus stops by the northern entrance on Chinbrook Road which London BusesLondon Buses
London Buses is the subsidiary of Transport for London that manages bus services within Greater London, UK. Buses are required to carry similar red colour schemes and conform to the same fare scheme...
124
London Buses route 124
London Buses route 124 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Stagecoach London.-History:...
, 126, 273 and school bus 638 serve. Grove Park centre is less than half a mile to the west of this entrance and is also served by these buses plus four more, 136, 181, 261 and night bus N136 as well as Grove Park railway station
Grove Park railway station
Grove Park railway station is a railway station in London, England. It is located on Baring Road within Travelcard Zone 4, and serves the areas of Grove Park and Downham in the London borough of Lewisham. The station was opened in 1871. Currently there are five platforms...
and the A2212 road
A2212 road
The A2212 road is a 4-digit, non-primary A road in southeast London, England; it is long and runs in a north to south direction from Lee Green, to Bromley passing through Grove Park, Downham, Plaistow and Sundridge...
. The 284 bus serves Chinbrook which is a similar distance east from the same entrance. The park is also on the for mentioned Green Chain Walk and Capital Ring
Capital Ring
The Capital Ring is a strategic walking route that is being promoted by London's 33 local councils, led by the City of London Corporation in partnership with the Greater London Authority and its functional body for regional transport, Transport for London, through which much of the funding is...
.
Coordinates: 51.429°N 0.028°E
External links
- Chinbrook Meadows at Lewisham Council Website Chinbrook Meadows map
- QWAG - Chinbrook Meadows, public parks on the River Quaggy - River Quaggy restoration in Chinbrook Meadows
- Chinbrook Meadows at environment-agency.gov.uk
- Chinbrook Meadows at The River Restoration Centre
- Chinbrook Meadows at Green Flag Award
- Transport for London bus map