To celebrate the completion of our project we invited everyone who had been involved to come along for the grand “reveal” of the underpass installation and the launch of the heritage trail.
Underpass: Burgess Barges art Installation
We had stalls and activities aimed at children as well as the promenade walk along the heritage trail.
Families at the launch day
We were delighted that children who had taken part in the schools story-telling project and the Art in the Park workshops came along as well as people who had helped to make the heritage trail.
The entertainment at the launch: heritage band and hoop games.
We estimate about 300 came along and took part in the launch activities: children’s races, flag making, brick making, popcorn and lemonade stall and heritage stall displaying more materials. Plus, there were more people who stopped to examine our pop-up map exhibition hanging in the trees.
Friends of Burgess Park heritage stalwarts: Jon, Andrew and Joyce.
Thank you so much to everyone who took part. We couldn’t have completed this project without your enthusiasm, energy and expertise. Well done to all.
The Bridge to Nowhere heritage project is about to conclude after a hectic year. Lots has been happening, loads of people have learnt lots more about the history and heritage of Burgess Park. We’ll be inaugurating the new underpass artwork – a reminder of the main feature of the area which lead to the creation of the park – the Grand Surrey Canal. And we’ll be launching the new Burgess Park Heritage Trail.
Who is this, and where is he? Find out on the 7th June!
Lots of surprises are in store for the day – people from the past will spring back into life, to give a flavour of the businesses which took place in the area, both legitimate and criminal! War time suffering and cinema entertainment will jostle with ice, lime and lemonade for your attention, as we take you on a journey through the past. Meet Jessie Burgess and find out why she really did deserve a park named after her. Don’t forget your smart phone either, so you can see how we’ve blended the old and the new to help you find out more about your local area.
Saturday, 7 June 2014, meet near the Lime Kiln by Wells Way any time from 1 pm, for fun and facts all afternoon.
The Bridge to Nowhere heritage project continued apace in February, with a packed gathering, organised by the Friends of Burgess Park of locals, enthusiasts, and experts, all celebrating the park’s rich history together.
With fascinating talks delivered by our three leading published local historians – Stephen Humphrey, John Beasley and Tim Charlesworth – and a healthy hubbub of shared memories and stories, there was much to enjoy – not to mention photos, maps and refreshments.
The Friends are currently developing a heritage trail to be launched later this year, and would love to hear from you if you’re interested in getting involved.
Year 5 pupils from Michael Faraday School and Gloucester Primary explored Burgess Park to learn about its history with local storyteller Vanessa Wolf.
Learning about the Camberwell Beauty tiled picture on the side of the Old Baths House on Wells Way
The storytelling walk helped the children discover what the park would have been like before and after the war. They had to imagine the park as it would have been – full of houses, shops, factories and a canal. The storytelling sessions involved lots of role play, singing, creative writing, tasting and smells!
For the past few years, Friends of Burgess Park have organised open air film screenings in the park. In August 2013, our film choices reflected our focus on the past, with classic The Italian Job featuring local boy Michael Caine. Alongside the main film we also showed historical footage of the area. Our second film night (with additional funding) looked forward to the future, showing Inception together with a locally-made short about the development of the newly-opened BMX track in Burgess Park.
Check out details of the 2014 Film Screenings here
I moustache you a question.
Why all the moustaches?
To tell people the story about Burgess Park’s development from a built-up area that over 60 years has been transformed into the park. And the moustaches are for the heavily moustachioed and bearded characters from the past. And FUN for people when trying out our historical cutout characters. The moustaches and the characters first appeared at the May Fair where our project was launched.
Friends of Burgess Park heritage stall
The Chumleigh Gardens Open Squares weekend 8/9 June 2013, saw the return of our temporary heritage trail, also excellent music from choirs to jazz, gardening in the heart garden, guided tours with the head gardener Mark Cox and a silkscreen bag printing workshop with Art in the Park. On Sunday Peckham Theatre came to visit Burgess Park for a fundraising walk.
This year’s Friends of Burgess Park May Fair showcased the heritage of Burgess Park and launched the Heritage Lottery Funded project – Burgess Park: The Bridge to Nowhere?
Thank you to everyone who came and supported the May Fair this year. We had a great time and were delighted to see so many of you.
The history of Burgess Park was illuminated with the temporary photographic heritage trail. The trail covers about 2.5 miles and will come down after Sunday, 26th May.
History came to life at the Burgess Park May Fair as the “lime kiln worker”, “Peeler”, “Factory Girl” and “Gentleman” visited Chumleigh Gardens.
The 17 points along the trail explain how the Burgess Park development took place gradually, within living memory. The ever-increasing patches of green which stretched along the canal route were named Burgess Park in 1973. There are still a few remaining features of the park’s “pre-history”, including: canal bridges; former almshouses, library and bath-house; and a lime kiln which was once on the bank of the canal. The site is a lost part of London – an area where thousands of people lived, went to school and worked, and which is now covered by expanses of grass, numerous pathways, and a lake.
If you have memories of the park please get in touch we want to collect your stories and share your memories and photographs. Email friendsofburgesspark@gmail.com
At the May Fair this year we enjoyed:
Friends of Burgess Park stall, historic cutouts by Davies and Daughters and the marvellous Heritage Photography Trail; First Place: Victorian Games and Costumes; Art in the Park: Brickmaking and sculpture walk; The Hour Bank; tea and natural cosmetics at the Glengall Community Garden; Hollington Youth Club; Paris Rock; Massage to You; Lorna’s toys and clothes; Camberwell College of Art; Peckham Vision and Network; Peckham Shed; Pembroke House; Southwark Carers; Faraday Safer Neighbourhood team (Met Police); Southwark Circle; Docks to Desktop (Bubble Theatre); Cinema Museum; St Peter’s Church; Sweet Tooth; Purple Mango; Manmade Food; Dean Masters Caribbean Kitchen; Rosie’s Cakery; Clarice Catering; fishing with Thames 21; and Exclusive Ballooning — the balloon went up; Vauxhall City Farm; Carla’s Boot Camp; Dogs Trust displays; steam train rides and live music!
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