Ruskin Park is a park in the London Borough of Lambeth, London, England, close to Camberwell, Loughborough Junction and Herne Hill.
| Ruskin Park | |
|---|---|
 Bandstand | |
   | |
| Type | Public park |
| Location | Denmark Hill, Lambeth, London SE5, England |
| Coordinates | 51°27′53″N 0°05′37″W / 51.464703°N 0.093729°W |
| Area | 36 acres (15 ha) |
| Created | 2 February 1907 |
| Status | Open all year |
History
editAt the start of the 20th century local residents successfully campaigned for a new public park on 24 acres of land on Denmark Hill, and it opened to the public on 2 February 1907. The park was laid out by the notable parks designer Lt-Col JJ Sexby. Sexby's design included an Old English Garden, an oval duck pond, a bandstand and a bowling green. The bowling green has been replaced by a garden, but the other features remain.[1] In 1910 Ruskin Park was enlarged by the addition of a further 12 acres (5 ha) to the south west.
The existing houses on the site were demolished when the park was created. One of these was Dane House, where, in 1842, Felix Mendelssohn composed Spring Song.[1] There is a sundial in the park commemorating Mendelssohn's visit.[2] The former entrance porch to one of the demolished houses remains in the park, and is Grade II listed.[3]
The park is named after John Ruskin (1819–1900), a poet, writer and a major champion of diverse green spaces as well as of the Arts and Crafts movement, who lived nearby from 1823 to 1871. He gives his name equally to a university, college, museum and square.[4]
During World War I, recruits of the 21st Battalion, London Regiment (First Surrey Rifles) based at nearby Flodden Road in Camberwell, trained in the park.[5]
In 1967, the rock band Pink Floyd used Ruskin Park for their first official photoshoot.[6]
Facilities and features
editIt has a playground, nature area, tennis court, basketball court, football and cricket pitches, and pond.[7]
There is a mural of a common toad on a wall in the park by street artist ATM, which was commissioned by the charity Froglife.[8]
Ruskin Park is open from 7.00am to 15 minutes before sunset every day.
References
edit
- ^ a b "Inventory Site Record | Ruskin Park * (Lambeth)". London Gardens Trust. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- ^ "INTERESTING FEATURES". Friends of Ruskin Park. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- ^ "SHELTER APPROXIMATELY 40 METRES SOUTH WEST OF EAST ENTRANCE". Historic England. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- ^ "Ruskin Park". Lambeth London Borough Council. Archived from the original on 12 October 2012.
- ^ First Surrey Rifles (16 May 2003). War Record of the 21st London Regiment. Naval & Military Press. ISBN 978-1843426196.
- ^ Holmes, Kevin (28 April 2017). "Pink Floyd's Iconic First Photoshoot In Ruskin Park Took Place 50 Years Ago". Rock Archive. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- ^ "SPORTS AND FITNESS". Friends of Ruskin Park. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- ^ "Froglife's toad mural and nature trail". Friends of Ruskin Park. Retrieved 18 August 2023.