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The area where Surrey Square Park is now situated has been more or less continuously shaped by human activity since antiquity.
The area where Surrey Square Park is now situated has been more or less continuously shaped by human activity since antiquity.
An archaeological survey, produced as part of the Aylesbury regeneration, has uncovered evidence of settlements going back to Palaeolithic times and certainly, Roman London was not far away, as the distance to London Bridge, for many Centuries the only bridge across the Thames for many miles, was channelling trade routes along the Watling Street, part of which we know as the Old Kent Road [1].
An archaeological survey, produced as part of the Aylesbury regeneration, has uncovered evidence of settlements going back to Palaeolithic times and certainly, Roman London was not far away, as the distance to London Bridge, for many Centuries the only bridge across the Thames for many miles, was channelling trade routes along the Watling Street, part of which we know as the Old Kent Road [1].
However, while a clear sign of cultivation appears at least in maps from '1830 [2] (apparently flowers were the main crop) construction of buildings and dwellings, began only in 1795–96:
"In 1766 Jane Driver, wife of Samuel Driver of the parish of St. George the Martyr, gardener, inherited some freehold land near the Kent Road from her uncle, Abraham Pursehouse, a well-known Quaker. (fn. 262) For part of this ground Michael Searles designed a terrace of houses (Plate 56), built in 1795–96, of which eighteen still survive, the present Nos. 20–54 Surrey Square. A square, or rather an oblong, of open ground was formally laid out in front of them, but Searles' drawing does not show whether it was intended to line the other three sides with buildings. Horwood's maps show two large houses on the west side of the square and one on the east. The latter was the home of William Driver, son of Jane and Samuel, from 1799 until his death in 1819. He left the house and its furniture to his wife, and Nos. 14, 5 and 6 (now 44, 26 and 28) in trust for his daughters Mary Ann, Caroline and Sophia respectively. (fn. 263) No further development took place until over sixty years later when the erection of All Saints' Church and the neighbouring houses entirely obscured the original configuration of the square.
However, while a clear sign of cultivation appears at least in maps from '1830 [2] (apparently flowers were the main crop) construction of buildings and dwellings, began only in 1795–96:
"In 1766 Jane Driver, wife of Samuel Driver of the parish of St. George the Martyr, gardener, inherited some freehold land near the Kent Road from her uncle, Abraham Pursehouse, a well-known Quaker. (fn. 262) For part of this ground Michael Searles designed a terrace of houses (Plate 56), built in 1795–96, of which eighteen still survive, the present Nos. 20–54 Surrey Square. A square, or rather an oblong, of open ground was formally laid out in front of them, but Searles' drawing does not show whether it was intended to line the other three sides with buildings. Horwood's maps show two large houses on the west side of the square and one on the east. The latter was the home of William Driver, son of Jane and Samuel, from 1799 until his death in 1819. He left the house and its furniture to his wife, and Nos. 14, 5 and 6 (now 44, 26 and 28) in trust for his daughters Mary Ann, Caroline and Sophia respectively. (fn. 263) No further development took place until over sixty years later when the erection of All Saints' Church and the neighbouring houses entirely obscured the original configuration of the square.
Nos. 20–54 Surrey Square form the only remaining group of 18th century domestic buildings in Walworth with any pretension to architectural quality. The merit of the composition lies in its good proportions and simplicity of detail, the sole ornament being the fan motif in artificial stone in the pediment (Plate 57) and in the parapet of the end pavilion. Searles designed a doorway with a pedimented hood supported by Doric columns as an additional central feature, but this part of his design was not carried out (Plate 56).
Residents
Residents
Samuel Brandon was the first occupant of one of the houses (the former No. 22, pulled down in 1884 for Surrey Square School). No. 18 (formerly 1) Surrey Square was the vicarage of the church of St. Mary Magdalen, Massinger Street, during the second half of the 19th century. The church, which was consecrated in 1843, stood on ground purchased from the Driver family. (fn. 264) The Rev. John Waddington, minister of Union Street Chapel and the Pilgrim Church, Southwark, historian and sociologist, lived at No. 34 (formerly 9) Surrey Square in 1856–72. Samuel Palmer, the artist, was born at No. 42 (formerly 13) in 1805. (fn. 25) " [3]
Maps from 1905 [4] show that by this time agricultural land did largely disappear and the area urbanised.
Maps from 1905 [4] show that by this time agricultural land did largely disappear and the area urbanised.
The maps indicate a more upmarket terraces crescent, with a small public garden, roughly where the present Peter Martin Memorial Garden is now being maintained until in the ’20s, while the rest of the area was build up with cheaper, working-class, dwellings lining the two streets crossing the present span of Surrey Square Park (Albridge and Surrey Grove)
The maps indicate a more upmarket terraces crescent, with a small public garden, roughly where the present Peter Martin Memorial Garden is now being maintained until in the ’20s, while the rest of the area was build up with cheaper, working-class, dwellings lining the two streets crossing the present span of Surrey Square Park (Albridge and Surrey Grove)
In the subsequent years a number of prefabs were erected as temporary housing. They remained in use until 1977-1983, when a number of compulsory purchases by the Local Authority demolished them (Albridge Street was emptied and demolished around 1977) [6]
In the subsequent years a number of prefabs were erected as temporary housing. They remained in use until 1977-1983, when a number of compulsory purchases by the Local Authority demolished them (Albridge Street was emptied and demolished around 1977) [6]
Section of Minnow Street (now a section adjacent to East Street Minnow Walk remains) lined with postwar prefabs. At the bottom it crosses Albridge Street c.1963.
In conjunction with the nation’s postwar rebuilding efforts and the construction of some sectors of the Kinglake Estate:
In conjunction with the nation’s postwar rebuilding efforts and the construction of some sectors of the Kinglake Estate:
"Kinglake Estate first appears, complete, on an OS map of 1951, suggesting that it was begun during the late 1940s – among the earliest post-war public housing in London." [7] a decision was taken at some point in the ’60s to empty the reaming undamaged dwellings and regenerate the entire area.
"Kinglake Estate first appears, complete, on an OS map of 1951, suggesting that it was begun during the late 1940s – among the earliest post-war public housing in London." [7] a decision was taken at some point in the ’60s to empty the reaming undamaged dwellings and regenerate the entire area.
The off licence at the North-East corner of the park is the only surviving building belonging to the original terraced housing.
The off licence at the North-East corner of the park is the only surviving building belonging to the original terraced housing.
Photograph from the early ‘80s show that the park, years after the neighbouring Aylesbury was completed, was still a levelled demolition site, and the crossing former Streets gouged out, and the site surrounded by corrugated iron fencing [photograph courtesy of the curator].
Photograph from the early ‘80s show that the park, years after the neighbouring Aylesbury was completed, was still a levelled demolition site, and the crossing former Streets gouged out, and the site surrounded by corrugated iron fencing [photograph courtesy of the curator].
Sometimes in the middle years of the decade, the Surrey Square Primary School build a fenced small Wildlife space, complete with a miniature pond, and that the Peter Martin Memorial Garden was created [8].
Sometimes in the middle years of the decade, the Surrey Square Primary School build a fenced small Wildlife space, complete with a miniature pond, and that the Peter Martin Memorial Garden was created [8].
Between 1985 and the early ’90s, the nature school area was dismantled and the area of the extant Park (but not the section in the remaining demolition site in Albridge Street] was turfed and the high walls that originally closed in the Kinglake Estate and separated it from the surrounding area [possible photos] demolished.
Between 1985 and the early ’90s, the nature school area was dismantled and the area of the extant Park (but not the section in the remaining demolition site in Albridge Street] was turfed and the high walls that originally closed in the Kinglake Estate and separated it from the surrounding area [possible photos] demolished.
The demolition site at the end of Albridge Street remained seemingly forgotten and abandoned,
The demolition site at the end of Albridge Street remained seemingly forgotten and abandoned,
For nearly a decade the proto-Park and its Peter Martin section remained the playground of local gangs, that occasionally fought turf wars on its ground, with only a half-hearted Council maintenance preventing a complete rewilding and the removal of the regular dumping of refuse and the burned-out hulk of vehicles stolen and set on fire as the result of popular gang joy-riding.
For nearly a decade the proto-Park and its Peter Martin section remained the playground of local gangs, that occasionally fought turf wars on its ground, with only a half-hearted Council maintenance preventing a complete rewilding and the removal of the regular dumping of refuse and the burned-out hulk of vehicles stolen and set on fire as the result of popular gang joy-riding.
A state of affairs complementing the comparable degeneracy of the surrounding Council estates, that were amongst some of the most the "hard to let" housing stock of the Borough.
A state of affairs complementing the comparable degeneracy of the surrounding Council estates, that were amongst some of the most the "hard to let" housing stock of the Borough.
The wave of urban renewal that began in the late ’80s with the regeneration of the East End of London, resulted in slow-paced investments that at last started to turn the tide in the fortune of the area.
The wave of urban renewal that began in the late ’80s with the regeneration of the East End of London, resulted in slow-paced investments that at last started to turn the tide in the fortune of the area.
The influx of new people and the privatisation of some of the public housing stock, brought in its wake, a new sense of optimism and hopefulness for the future.
The influx of new people and the privatisation of some of the public housing stock, brought in its wake, a new sense of optimism and hopefulness for the future.
The new owners of the Georgian Crescent on the south side of the park were instrumental in the formation of a Steering Committee that sought to revitalise the area with an emphasis on the improvement of the green spaces on their doorstep.
The new owners of the Georgian Crescent on the south side of the park were instrumental in the formation of a Steering Committee that sought to revitalise the area with an emphasis on the improvement of the green spaces on their doorstep.
References:
References:
Andrew Peachey MCIfA KINGLAKE STREET GARAGE, KINGLAKE STREET, SOUTHWARK, LONDON SE17 LB SOUTHWARK AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESK-BASED ASSESSMENT ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS LTD (2016)
Southwark Council Old map downloads Greenwood’s 1830 Map of London, Southwark central section https://www.southwark.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/maps-of-southwark/old-map-downloads?chapter=5 [accessed 7 July 2021]
'The manor of Walworth and parish of St. Mary, Newington', in Survey of London: Volume 25, St George's Fields (The Parishes of St. George the Martyr Southwark and St. Mary Newington), ed. Ida Darlington (London, 1955), pp. 81-90. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-london/vol25/pp81-90 [accessed 7 July 2021] [Cashed Version]
Bomb Sight Mapping the WW2 bomb census http://bombsight.org/#17/51.48856/-0.08172 Bomb Sight project [accessed 7 July 2021]
Richard Crimins Memories of Walworth, Camberwell and Bermondsey Facebook https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1905708122992920&id=100006612517682&set=gm.390350024663693&source=48 [accessed 7 July 2021]
Robin Scott The Kinglake Estate https://www.geograph.org.uk/snippet/14819 Geograph Britain and Ireland - photograph every grid square! [accessed 7 July 2021]
Walworth Inprint Peter Martin Open Space Walworth Inprint N.68 Spiderweb Offset June 1968
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