Grove Park earned its name through its links to a local farm – and this suburb could once again become more green in years to come.
On the cusp of Lewisham and Bromley borough, Grove Park has become synonymous with its links to children’s writer E. Nesbit, who lived on Baring Road for a number of years before moving to Eltham.
With a name like Grove Park, it may be assumed that the area earned its name through a link with nearby parkland – but in fact it earned its name through links with a farm.
Grove Park and the surrounding area was woodland up until the 18th century, when many of the trees were cut down and used to make charcoal – earning it the name Burnt Ash.
But in later years a farm was established on the site, named Burnt Ash Farm, which covered much of the area known as Grove Park today.
Later a smaller farm named Grove Farm was established on the site where Somertrees Avenue is now, where it remained up until the mid-19th century.
During the Victorian era the site was dug up and Grove Park station was built, eventually opening in 1871, and is believed to have been the inspiration for The Railway Children.
Farming remained part of Grove Park’s culture for many years, with nearby Baring Road Allotments opened and established in 1913.
The site was further developed during the 1920s when Lewisham Council built Grove Park Estate and acquired Chinbrook Meadows.
Many more private houses were also built, offering Londoners the chance to live in the suburbs whilst still having easy access to Central London by rail.
Grove Park’s last farmland was built in the 1960s, although today Chinbrook Meadows still remains, and nearby Baring Road Allotments are currently under works to be revitalised.
This initiative is part of the “Railway Children Urban National Park” – a proposed green space initiative to preserve greenspace in Grove Park and inspired by Nesbit’s classic children’s book.
The proposal, by the new Lee and District Land Club in collaboration with Wild Rangers, aims to connect existing green spaces and the railway, create a nature trail, and celebrate Grove Park’s heritage and literary connections.
