Press Release:
Friends of Burgess Park win Heritage Lottery Fund support
1 May 2013
The Friends of Burgess Park have received £51,500 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for an exciting project “Burgess Park: The Bridge to Nowhere?” exploring the history and unusual development of Burgess Park in Southwark. Led by volunteers from the local community, the project will enable local people to find out more about how Burgess Park has been created from the urban landscape over the last sixty years. The project launches at the May Fair on Saturday, 18 May followed by more events during the summer.
Local residents are invited to share their memories, photographs and stories about the area both before and during the park development and contribute to an archive, exhibitions and park heritage trail. Young people will discover the history of the Grand Surrey Canal and the trades and businesses and design information panels for the park. Burgess Park was once homes, factories, shops and schools, and the park developed bit by bit following bomb damage in World War II. Our project the “Burgess Park: Bridge to Nowhere?” is named after a bridge still standing long after the Grand Surrey Canal, which used to run through the park, was filled in. The most recent revitalisation of Burgess Park in 2012 means that many of the remaining roads and buildings have gone so now is the right time to make more people aware of the history of the park.
Commenting on the award, Susan Crisp, Chair of the Friends of Burgess Park said: “The funding is an amazing opportunity to get more people involved in Burgess Park. We really want people to share their memories and photographs and come along and get involved with events over the next year.
Sue Bowers, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund London, said: “This project will uncover the unusual history of the park by tapping into the memories of those who recall the streets where people lived, worked and went to school before suffering bomb damage and being cleared away after the Second World War to create a new recreational space. These stories will now be collected and kept for future generations.”
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Notes to editors
About Friends of Burgess Park
The Friends is a local community group of volunteers who work to protect, promote and enhance Burgess Park for the benefit of local residents. The Friends will be launching the “Burgess Park: The Bridge to Nowhere?” at the May Fair, Saturday 18 May. www.friendsofburgesspark.org.uk
About the Heritage Lottery Fund
Using money raised through the National Lottery, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) aims to make a lasting difference for heritage, people and communities across the UK and help build a resilient heritage economy. From museums, parks and historic places to archaeology, natural environment and cultural traditions, we invest in every part of our diverse heritage. HLF has supported almost 35,000 projects with more than £5.3bn across the UK. www.hlf.org.uk
For further information, images and interviews, please contact
Susan Crisp, Chair, Friends of Burgess Park
email friendsofburgesspark@gmail.com tel 07743093444