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Home , Camberwell Green, Denmark Hill, Herne Hill (ward), Ruskin Park

Lost Stories of Borough of Who is Embrace? Lost Stories of Ruskin Park

Embrace Cooperation Ltd is a London-based A Heritage Lottery Fund grant funded this not-for-profit organisation, founded in 2000 community project promoting Ruskin Park. (Embrace Unlimited) and registered as a Volunteers researched and interpreted the company limited by guarantee in 2004. Its key cultural and natural history of the park, its aim is to provide learning schemes for young origins and its links with the nineteenth adults who otherwise may not have been century art critic and social reformer John presented with such opportunities. Ultimately Ruskin. The project ran for one year from this enables them to gain invaluable skills that November 2011. The project aimed to enrich are essential in today’s society. the local communities’ knowledge and use of the park and to encourage underrepresented The schemes provided by Embrace include: local groups into the park. • Renewable energy • Photography The project included: • Personal development • History research and oral history interviews • Film making with local residents • Placements • Poetry workshops • Heritage • Digital photography workshops • Exchange programs • A trip to an exhibition of the art of the • Environmental conservation projects ‘Pre-Raphelites’ • History walks Another important aspect of Embrace is that • Wildlife walks it provides work placements for a variety of • Practical environmental conservation students, giving them the chance to enhance Booklet Credits their future career prospects while contributing The project has clearly shown the rich history actively to their local economy. of the park and highlighted both the continuing Project Management: John Cannell, Oral History Interviewees: Donald Adie, importance of the park to the local area and the Michael Fray, Dirk Bischof. Betty Baxter, Dr Iain Boulton, Ava Jones, To find out more, phone 0207 274 9450 or email ongoing evolving relationship between the park Writing and Research: Aaron Jaffer, Mary Kidd, Susan Köksal, Laurence Marsh, [email protected] and the people of the Boroughs of Lambeth and Hilary Payne, Jude Rosen, Holly Levent. Elizabeth Ochagavia, Margaret Read, Website: www.myembrace.org . Additional Research: Carolyn Ruston. Jamie Shelton, John Shelton, Michael Shelton. Design: Maria Artamonova, Elena Filippi. Oral History Interviewing: Aaron Jaffer, Project blog website: Proofing:Katrin Magnussen, Jude Rosen, Hilary Payne, Jude Rosen. http://ruskinparkproject.wordpress.com/ Hilary Payne, Nikki Goodman. Interview Recording: Ronit Meranda.

2 3 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• RUSKIN PARK TIMELINE by Holly Levent 1910 1939- 1945 2001-2002 The Mendelssohn Sundial is added marking Extension is used for allotments as part of the The bowling green pavilion is demolished 1842-1871 the location of the house he stayed at in the ‘Dig for Victory’ campaign during the Second following a fire. owns 163 . In 1840s. A northern strip of land is added World War, encouraging citizens to grow their Praeterita he writes about the landscape that 2003 to the park for playing fields. own vegetables as part of the war effort. later becomes the park. The playground is renovated with addition Air raid shelters are erected. 1911 of new equipment. 1842 Bandstand and promenade are constructed. 1947 German composer, Felix Mendelssohn stays 2005 Former home of John Ruskin (163 Denmark at 168 Denmark Hill where he composes his 1913 The pond is restored. Changing Rooms in the park extension are Hill, hotel named Ruskin Manor at the time) ‘Spring Song’ (originally ‘ Green’). 2006 constructed. King’s College Hospital opens next is demolished. The house is later demolished to make way The bandstand is restored to its original to the park. for the park. 1951- 1954 specifications, the playground toilets are 1904 1914- 1918 The original lodge (formerly 164 Denmark Hill) refurbished and the old changing rooms The Committee for the Purchase of Ruskin Temporary bridge to Ruskin Park from King’s is demolished and a new one constructed. are converted to a toilet block. New fencing is Park is established by local resident, College Hospital is constructed along with 1971 added around dog-free area and formal gardens. Frank Trier, to raise money to acquire land temporary hospital buildings inside the park to Ownership of park transfers from LCC to the First Annual Ruskin Park Summer Fair is held at Denmark Hill to save it from development meet demand from casualties during the First London Borough of Lambeth. at the bandstand. and create a public park. World War. 1971-1973 2007 1906 1924 Refreshment kiosk constructed near the Centenary celebrations take place including London County Council (LCC) acquires 9.7 Temporary hospital buildings, occupying 5 of bowling green. tree planting, a concert and art workshops. the park’s 14 hectares, are dismantled. hectares of land and park plans are prepared. 2009 1990s 1926 The Green Flag Award is secured for the first time. 1907 Friends of Ruskin Park established. Paddling pool, playground and tennis courts Ruskin Park opens on 2 February. 2010 are constructed along with a football pitch. 1908 London’s Air Ambulance begins using The wildlife pond is created by volunteers An additional 4.8 hectares are acquired 1927 the park as landing area. and the charity Froglife. for the park extension. Pavilion is added next to the bowling green. 1995 2012 1909 1935-1938 McDonald’s attempt to film an advert at the Ruskin Park Café opens. Trees for Cities relocate A drinking fountain is donated by the Events such as British Legion concerts and park’s bandstand, but pull out due to local training and other activities to the park in the Metropolitan Public Gardens Association. entertainment for children take place. protests. former One O’clock Club.

4 5 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• LONDON’S NEW PARK an upper and lower kitchen garden; a fruitful The area is also associated with another great The existence of the park owes much by Aaron Jaffer bit of orchard and change inlets and outlets of nineteenth-century figure, Felix Mendelssohn to a local resident named Frank Trier. woodwalk, opening to the sunny path by the (1809-47). The German composer stayed at 168 Determined to save the land, he formed field, which was gladdened on its other side in Denmark Hill in 1842. The remains of a sundial a committee to campaign for the area John Ruskin and springtime by flushes of almond and double commemorating his visit and the melody he to be made into a park. Trier also came peach blossom.” composed can still be seen in Ruskin Park. up with the idea of naming it after the ohn Ruskin was born in London in the year An inscription, now lost, once read: “Here celebrated intellectual and reformer. J1819. His family moved to Herne Hill when Ruskin went on to become a renowned stood the house where Mendelssohn wrote He shrewdly guessed that the association would he was a child and he lived in the area for much intellectual, art critic, philanthropist, and ‘The Spring Song’.” attract donations from Ruskin’s admirers. of his life. In his autobiography he expressed social reformer of the Victorian era. He was his love for the surrounding scenery: the first Slade Professor of Art at Oxford The committee formed by Trier recommended University where he established the Ruskin that the London County Council contribute “The house itself had every good in it […] It stood School of Drawing. Ruskin’s prolific writings towards the costs of buying the land. in command of seven acres of healthy ground covered subjects including education, political They highlighted the fact that it was […] half of it meadow sloping to the sunrise, economy, history, travel, geology, ornithology, situated amidst some of the most crowded the rest prudently and pleasantly divided into mythology, and botany. The work also includes districts of South London and there were no numerous poems and a fairy tale. His legacy other open spaces between Denmark Hill was equally widespread, influencing areas and the Thames. Within walking distance such as town planning, the arts and crafts of train and tram connections, the park movement, politics, and architecture. Ruskin’s would be “readily accessible even in the ideas on environmentalism and conservation limited time at the disposal of tired workers have particular resonance today. and their children”. Furthermore, little gardening or ornamentation would be 168 Denmark Hill, c1905 courtesy of Lambeth Archive In later life Ruskin moved to the Lake required because the area was already one of outstanding natural beauty. District where he died 1900. Shortly after, the Daily Mail published a letter from the vicar Contributions came from a number of of Herne Hill recalling the time Ruskin had The Idea for a Park sources. Large donations were received spent in this part of London: uskin Park sits on a swathe of land from the London County Council, the “Mr Ruskin during his long life was far more Rwhich once belonged to Thomas Sanders, Commons and Footpaths Preservation intimately connected with this place than any a timber merchant. When the Sanders Estate Society, the Metropolitan Public Gardens other. I am sure that the admirers of Mr Ruskin’s came up for sale in 1904 builders planned Association, the City Parochial Foundation, genius will feel that some fitting memorial of to develop the area. This move would have and several South London boroughs. him […] where his genius formed itself and with robbed Denmark Hill of the views once loved The Trier family and other individuals also John Ruskin photographed by H. R. Barraud, 1882 courtesy of The Victorian Web which he had such lifelong ties.” by Ruskin, had it come to fruition. made contributions.

6 7 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• The design of the park was overseen by J. J. He declared that the purpose of the park was THE PARK IN WAR AND PEACE Ruskin Park.” The availability of quick and Sexby, the Chief Officer of Parks to the London to “perpetuate the memory of Ruskin, who by Hilary Payne cheap public transport made it possible for the County Council. The overall layout of the park lived and worked for so long on Denmark hospital to be built on the outskirts of the area has changed little over the past hundred years, Hill, and who would so greatly have deplored it was designed to serve. Referring to Ruskin except for the addition of playing fields in 1908. the destruction of its beauty”, adding that Ruskin Park and Park, it was noted that “It can readily be seen King’s College Hospital what benefits to the hospital accrue from its proximity to such an open space.” ver since King’s College Hospital’s In the Souvenir of the new King’s College Erelocation from to Hospital in 1913, it was pointed out that “South Camberwell in 1913, it has had a close London, with a population greater than that of relationship with Ruskin Park. Indeed, the Wales, has still a few beauty spots left, and it is decision to move the hospital to Denmark Hill close to one of these, Ruskin Park, that the new owed something to the proximity of the park. King’s stands… It is undoubtedly a fine position, On first visiting the site, those involved in probably the finest that could have been choosing the location “realised quite clearly secured in South London... With an outlook Ruskin Park Plan, 1907 courtesy of Lambeth Archive Extension Plan, 1908, courtesy of Lambeth Archive that the site was facing the north, but all the towards the lovely wooded grounds of Ruskin same the back of it faced south and also faced a Park, which has for all time been secured to “every Open Space saved from the builder beautiful park. Hence, although the front faced the public… From the squalor of and renders London permanently more healthful the north the sun would shine on the back, and Camberwell the sick poor will find the beauty of The Opening Ceremony and enjoyable”. The Times added its praise, if the architect designed his buildings with that the country…” The hospital was opened by King describing the park to be “[a] notable addition fact in view, all the advantages of the sun could George V and Queen Mary he Ruskin Park opening ceremony on 2 to London’s open spaces”. be obtained, as well as the beautiful view over on 26 July, 1913 as reported TFebruary 1907 drew large crowds. It was in a celebratory pamphlet the first of many events that have taken place for the event: “Going out in the park over the years. Photos from the on one of the sun-balconies day show rows of smartly dressed men and women, Union Jacks and other flags hanging at the southern end of the in the air, and a large striped tent. Numerous wards, Their Majesties Mayors, Aldermen and Councillors from the admired the splendid view South London boroughs attended. According of Ruskin Park, where a to newspapers, Ruskin’s literary executor was County Council Band was also present. playing. At the sight of the King and Queen on the Tram Poster by F. P. The inaugural address was given by Evan balcony the people in the Restall, 1923 Evan Spicer at the Opening Ceremony, 1907 Evergreen Garden, 1907 courtesy of London Spicer, chairman of the London County Council. courtesy of London Metropolitan Archives courtesy of Lambeth Archive park cheered heartily.” Metropolitan Archives

8 9 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Just a year after the opening of the new hospital The huts remained in the park for six years Air Ambulance Second World War the First World War began. King’s became The after the end of the war. This was not without 4th London General Hospital and Ruskin Park controversy; a Times article from 1921 entitled n recent years Ruskin Park has been the uring the Second World War there were became an annex of the hospital. Huts were built ‘Red tape in Ruskin Park’ reported the fact Ilanding place for London’s Air Ambulance, Da number of different shelters to house in the park for convalescing soldiers, occupying that the huts remained despite the fact that also known as London HEMS (Helicopter people in the face of an enemy attack. Some 5 of the park’s 14 hectares. there were 200 empty beds in the hospital. Emergency Medical Service), which responds to of these were built in some of London’s parks casualties in and around London. The service and open spaces. Only one in four Londoners was formed in 1989 as a response to a report by had a garden in which to house an Anderson the Royal College of Surgeons which criticized shelter, so communal surface shelters were pre-hospital trauma care. set up, designed to protect 50 or so residents from a single street or block of flats. The trench shelters in the parks were intended to be ‘bolt holes’ for people caught out in the open during an air raid and were only equipped with a few wooden benches and very basic sanitation. Ruskin was one of six Lambeth parks to have a trench shelter. The shelter was situated across the avenue of horse chestnuts, close Casualties during the First World War Facilities of The 4th London General Hospital in Ruskin Park courtesy of The courtesy of The Imperial War Museum to the edge of the dog-free area.

The magazine of the wartime hospital, entitled It seems that there was public pressure to ‘The Fourth’, has numerous references to the return the park to public use. The Ministry Allotments annex in the park, including the ward gardens of Pensions tried to retain their residency Helicopter Emergency Medical Service which had been worked on by patients and staff. of the park, acknowledging the goal of providing hroughout the Second World War allotments There are reports of hospital sports days with more open spaces for London, but considering The service was the first air ambulance in the Tfor vegetable growing covered large three legged races, apple bobbing contests and that the interests of the wounded men must be to carry a doctor trained in swathes of Ruskin Park – most of the playing an alphabet contest for bed-ridden patients. put above all. Finally in 1924 the buildings were emergency medicine at all times, in addition fields, and much of the area to the south of sold and removed. to a paramedic. Since the service was founded, the chestnut avenue, as well as between the The Times Court Circular for 26 May 1916 trauma deaths in London and on the M25 railway and the lower path. The creation of reported that Queen Alexandra, accompanied Use of the Park by Hospital motorway have fallen by more than 50%. allotments in London’s parks formed part by Princess Victoria, had visited the “Sick and There are currently two to three landings of the ‘Dig for Victory’ campaign. As well as Wounded soldiers who had returned from Staff and Patients every day. As well as the London increasing the supply of food, the policy also the front at The 4th London General Hospital, HEMS, landings are made by the Surrey boosted morale by enabling civilians to make a Denmark Hill, and afterwards the annex in CH staff and patients continue to enjoy the and Sussex helicopters and sometimes those practical contribution to the war effort on the Ruskin Park.” Kpeace and greenery of Ruskin Park. from further afield. Home Front.

10 11 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• River PLEASURES AND Betty Baxter recalls her husband telling her My father taught me how to throw a ball in MEANINGS OF THE PARK “the extension were allotments during the the park, you’d have kites flying, you’d have war but where they play football, [there were] lovers writhing on the grass, seriously, and he source of the Earl’s Sluice lies within by Jude Rosen TRuskin Park. The stream or river was barrage balloons and some huts where people you would have families having picnics, people buried under Camberwell in the 1820s, had to live.” After the war the park resumed its playing cricket and it was a lovely atmosphere. he Lost Stories of Ruskin Park project And also the children’s playground would be when the Earl Main Sewer was built importance as a haven where slum children or has personal testimonies dating from absolutely full, we’re talking summer holidays, to carry it beneath the new houses. T local kids without gardens could play. the 1920s to the present day. Donald Adie summer days, the paddling pool again would The springs feeding the Earl’s Sluice are spent his early years living at Denmark Mary Kidd sums it up: ”When you came here just be crowded.” underground, and the only evidence of water Hill. He recalls running in the park with on the surface is the Ruskin Park duck pond. you were in the country… Directly you came up his brother in the morning and seeing the from it was a different This pond pre-dates the park and is most famous athlete, Sydney Wooderson (1914- world you came into.” likely fed by the underground Sluice. 2006) – known as ‘the Mighty Atom’ – training. Recreations Old and New From 1955-1969, when Margaret og walking is a major stimulus to Read lived nearby, Dstrolling and socialising in the park. there was a John Shelton moved close to Ruskin Park three years ago to be near an outdoor space to ‘definite park walk his dog. He is regularly the first man in culture’ – of living the park at 6.00 every morning and has got to outdoors, at a time know successive park-keepers as well as other when working dogwalkers. There is quite a community of class people them. One local explained how a friend had had no marginal recovered from depression through walking in disposable income the park during early morning and socialising Pond, c1960 courtesy of The Francis Frith Collection Wildlife Pond or distractions with the dogwalkers. Picnicking and splashing from colour TV The wildlife pond by the railway, which Other memorable characters included the Sydney Wooderson, 1936 from the about in the paddling pool have remained ever John Edward (Jack) Lovelock Papers or computers: was created in 2010, is sited over what muffin man with a tray of muffins on his head, popular activities. As Betty Baxter testifies for courtesy of Alexander Turnball Library “We lived in the appears to be the valley of the Earl’s Sluice. a sandwich man with a billboard on his back the 60s and 70s “We used the park with the park” - it was The Earl’s Sluice and the Peck join forces for saying ‘Fear the Lord the end is nigh’, and a man children almost everyday – the paddling pool.” “…an integral part of our family life.” their last mile before they run into the Thames who ran his pet monkey along the chestnut near Greenland Dock. palings. During the Second World War barrage The park was a place of popular leisure and For Susan Köksal, a young mother ­with a baby balloons floated above the park and allotments pleasure, fun and reflection that it has remained at the end of the 80s and early 90s, the paddling were dug to increase food production as part of to the present day: “You’d walk into the park pool stands out, not just for its coolness and the ‘Dig for Victory’ campaign. and the grass would be covered with people. vivid blues but it’s openness to all-comers:

12 13 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• “It was just wonderful. It felt very democratic Another forbidding figure from Ruskin Park’s Singer-song writer Katy B, now in her 20s, Although she hated hockey, “Living in noisy you know you didn’t have to be smartly past is a large lady with a big felt hat and brown also remembers the One O’clock Club fondly flats, coming here to play hockey was like dressed... I certainly wasn’t, you could be uniform. She was in charge of the children’s as a toddler, trying out lots of different activities living in the country. I always remember casual. It didn’t matter what you did or playground in the 60s when Margaret Read in the park: thinking when I was grown up, I’d love used to ride on the long metal horse. But, she to live here.” didn’t do, or if you had money or not. “I went to the one O’clock Club there; I did not try to stop Margaret flying high on the It was just people with their children enjoying went with my friends to the park; I played swings trying to touch the trees separating the In the mid ‘50s, Margaret Read went and the water and the summer… That was one tennis and I learnt to play football there. park from the railway. supported boys in her class on the football pitch. favourite place.” My favourite place is the paddling pool Girls, including Katie B, as well as boys now where I have many happy memories.” (“Golden learn to play football on the pitch at Ruskin Park Mary Kidd’s children liked collecting leaves Girl Katy B”, Katrin Magnussen for SLIK where people still come to support them. Jamie and conkers during the autumn: magazine Issue 2 2012) Shelton, 16, plays there and hangs out with his “The park really became their playground. The One O’clock Club mates at the other end of the park. His dad, My children learnt to ride over there… However, the club closed down, partly for or Susan Köksal with her new-born John, loves watching the boys play on Saturday. their bikes. But this is the difference the financial reasons and partly because of daughter living in the constrained way the park has changed because you F excellent local nursery day-care facilities. environment of the nearby Mother and were not allowed to ride bikes in the park. The clubhouse has recently been taken over Baby Home in 1989, the park represented You were actually banned from riding bikes by Trees for Cities – an environmental charity, a fantastic relief: in the park and actually thrown out the park. as a centre providing training for youngsters The Bandstand and Greens ….having the park keepers in their gingery “The first thing I wanted to do, because I liked and work with schools. They are working on he bandstand figures vividly in Betty Baxter’s coloured suits that went around and the park to be outside anyway - was to put her in this… wildflower meadows and an orchard in the memories of the park. She used to go ballroom was looked after in a totally different way.” really old-fashioned pram and just bring her park and another charity, Froglife, have created T out walking. It was …a September rainy day dancing in front of the bandstand – from around a wildlife pond. Since the wildlife area is age 6 till 12 in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s: but fantastic to come out here and obviously fenced off and dog-free, it offers a safe outdoor it was really close by… It was my first bit of environment for schoolchildren to explore. green space and I’d say we came out rain or shine almost every single day between then and her being almost a year to one and quarter years old when we moved.” The Playing Fields The One O’clock Club offered a friendly open environment, with a more “laid-back feel to he playing fields have been an integral part it”, than she experienced in the Home with a Tof Ruskin Park since it was extended in play area where her daughter, Izzie, met other 1911. When Betty Baxter was at Loughborough children. Staff were welcoming and she had the Central School, in the early 1950s, she was Playground, 1975 courtesy of Lambeth Archive opportunity to meet other mums. forced to play hockey in the park. Bandstand

14 15 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• “Girls danced with girls then… it was greens are both gone. When Mary Kidd was a They sell home-made halloumi wraps, Another activity that goes on is the national lovely.” She remembers the Salvation Army child, “…it would be a very very special treat to fishfinger rolls and bacon rolls and ‘very good online sport geocaching, a modern treasure playing at Christmas, Easter and at the come and play, putting on the putting green... ice-cream’, while Ava and her brother make jam hunt. Canisters or containers are hidden; if you summer fete. However, it fell into disrepair …where the new pond and the orchard project and cakes for the café stall at the annual find one, you sign it and log onto the website to and was abandoned for many years. is.” But by the 1970s it had disappeared. Ruskin Park Summer Fete. Katy B often drops register your find. John Shelton is the first to Elizabeth Ochagavia recalls: into the café: bring geocaching to Ruskin Park. “The bandstand was a really sad place, it was The bowling green was, as Betty Baxter saw “I have two aunties who run the little café all fenced off, the paths were all cracked and it, “absolutely beautiful – it was always very by the playground which just re-opened. you couldn’t really get near it… apparently it popular - lovely seeing them in their whites”, Great excuse for getting free bacon butties.” had subsidence.” In 2006 it was refurbished, and continued to be popular, both to play and (“Golden Girl Katy B”, Katrin Magnussen, Katrin Nature and the Environment and is now yet again in regular use by the watch till the 1970s. Although still in use, Magnussen for SLIK Magazine Issue 2 2012) by 2001 it had suffered three arson attacks. Salvation Army and local brass bands. “There’s The Public Parks officer for Lambeth, any people find the park a source The last one proved fatal as it was no longer an anaesthetist from Great Ormond St. who Iain Boulton, sees the café as playing a part of quieter reflection, interacting with considered viable to rebuild it in the face M plays the saxophone; she was playing in one of in attracting younger generations to the park. nature through observing and learning of competition from the high class private the bands, so it’s a great release for people who the names of the trees, plants and birds. bowling green nearby. Laurence Marsh, have stressful jobs.” As Margaret Read puts it: a local historian, regrets its passing: “All my life long I have loved nature, I’m Ava Jones and her mother run the newly opened “I’m sorry they no longer do bowls because Informal Recreations just bird-watcher, flower spotter, just adore café in the park. In addition they both play when I moved here they were still using the nature in quite a spiritual way as well as a in the Southwark Concert Band, her mother bowling green.” Over the next two years, ore contemporary recreational facilities, sort of fulfilling way in spotting a certain on trumpet and she, on trombone. Whilst the however, the bowling green, with its fine soil, especially those appealing to youth bird or flower and that came through my bandstand has survived, other familiar features will be converted into a communal garden M culture, are now being welcomed. A skate- mother but also it came through Ruskin Park of the park such as the putting and bowling mosaic, planted with wildflowers and shrubs. ramp has been moved from skatepark to Ruskin Park, filling it with Another feature of the park which has the skateboarders’ youthful energy while risen from the ashes is the café. Before helping confine the noise and risks. Other burning down it consisted of a wooden hut informal recreations have also sprung up. at the end of the chestnut avenue, One that was not formerly tolerated is graffiti where Betty remembers taking her children, art. As Michael Shelton says: along with her mum, in the 1970s. The new café opened in May 2012 and is “If you go down to the far end by the training situated next to the children’s playground. tracks, there’s lots of artwork people have done Ava Jones’ mum now runs the café on the wall, graffiti and such, some of it’s really with the help of her sister and Ava, beautiful, unpublished artwork, bang there on

Bowling Green, c1955 courtesy of The Francis Frith Collection who works there part-time. the street. I think that’s pretty cool.” Horse Chestnut

16 17 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• …so she would walk me through this park Relationships For Margaret Read the park cemented the For teenagers Ruskin Park offers a teaching me about the trees, teaching me about special relationship with her mother: space to hang out together, free from the birds, and at one point there were sparrows and Favourite Places “…Here was my mother who’d walk and parental control and away from school. Katy B has confided that, “As a teenager in Ruskin Park and some of them were albino… walk and walk - she was probably pushing a I’d sneak in with friends at night.” (‘Katy obviously interbreeding and so we would try he park has always offered a setting for pram - and we’d talk and talk and talk about B welcomes in the summer,’ Interview and spot all the little sparrows with their white special relationships between people. the trees, and birds and squirrels and this has T by Hannah Nathanson and Lucy Hunter feathers.” However, such relationships are also formed carried on right now…” between people and their favourite haunts in Johnston, Evening Standard 08 June 2012). Sometimes hanging out became a courting She had two favourite trees on the Denmark the park - a hidden corner, a view from the People’s memories of their children growing up Hill side – “an exquisite magnolia tree – rather ritual as Margaret Read coyly explains: top, on the swings, in the portico or pergola. are lit up by the park’s colours and vivid places. like Wimbledon it only comes round for two One of the differences in the past, manifested For Susan Köksal: “Between the age of 7 and 13 I absolutely loved weeks of the year, it wouldn’t be out for long, in the memories of the interviewees was the park for its beauty. You make a relationship “it was a totally escapist relief to come I was in love with that tree and near the Indian the freedom to roam and sense of safety. with it like you do with people really especially here and in a way it was almost existential, bean tree a mulberry tree – …very exquisitely Young children used to run to the park and when you’re a child… I just adored the park… you know, I was here with Nature and gnarled… I always wanted to keep silk worms play together without parental supervision. But as I got older and hormones changed and my daughter …also not really having any because I knew silk worms lived off mulberry As Betty Baxter testifies “My own children you got into boys there were a number of money it was a form of recreation for me. leaves, but I never did.” – they’d spend hours in the park with Mary’s little places where you could sit, and either ...I do remember chatting non-stop it children and other boys down the road. wait for boys or look for boys or sit with boys The flora and fauna of the park have left a similar seemed very important to communicate to her... It was so safe.” (laughs).” Later she was more forthcoming. impression on Susan Köksal who delighted The best bit was her learning to walk by the “One ‘little place’ where there was a sign saying in the trees: rhododendra… this amazing triumph she For Mary Kidd “…Ruskin Park was really quite Mendelssohn composed his Spring Song where made it to ten… I remember the rhododendra “I remember ...this parade of horse chestnut special in a different way because I came here you could shelter from the rain and later on red and pink.” trees through the seasons… I remember with my father.” as a teenager, watch boys, was ….the portico…. looking up the underside of the leaves Or you’d sit on the benches and sing the hit of the horse chestnut trees they were very very parade all the way through – the Beatles luminous…”. ‘She loves you’ When was that… 1960?” She too admitted, once having stayed up There is a growing environmental awareness all night with her boyfriend, and jumped that favours more informal planting, over the fence into the park - the most in keeping with contemporary taste, transgressive thing she had ever done, as she as Laurence Marsh says: did not drink because it was too expensive. “It’s calming I love trees, I love Nature, and it’s And Mary Kidd also admits “In my teenage a little bit of nature in the city, I like the fact years I was courting … (laughter) yeh I won’t that they don’t mow the grass everywhere these go into that! You would come up and I can days and it’s a bit wild...”. Pergola, c1955 courtesy of The Francis Frith Collection The Portico remember sitting in the shelter in fact.”

18 19 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• This tradition of love stories in the park For Mary Kidd, this was through Events This year, 2012, a cake-making competition continues. On a lovely summer day in a burial ritual: was held advertised by a very tall lady 2011, Michael Shelton, aged 27, took his roving around on stilts pushing a cake trolley. “The park has been very important in our lives… uskin Park offers a great vantage point girlfriend on their first date in Ruskin Park. My husband while he was ill - walking through The last two years Carnegie Library in Standing her on the log of a fallen tree the over London from which to view public the park all the time …it was a great solace R conjunction with Embrace – has organised a park, she had a panorama view of the city; celebrations. As Laurence Marsh recalls: to me that I was allowed to put his ashes bat workshop and walk at night to learn about afterwards they walked together through the in the park.” “New Year’s Eve you can come up here and see the these nocturnal creatures and experience them park to the tennis courts. fireworks over London and that’s rather nice… at first hand. In addition the bandstand also For Margaret Read, revisiting the park I remember coming up here to watch a flypast hosts concerts and an annual carol concert. gave her a vivid healing memory: I think it was for the Queen’s Golden Jubilee… ten years ago… I do remember it involved Therapeutic Effects of the Park “What happened when I was 13, was that Concorde and a Wellington bomber… A whole my mother died… she died in January lot of historic planes.” 1961 that’s why I remember the amazing he park has always played a therapeutic amount of snow that year and I remember role, due in part to King’s College Hospital’s The park’s own festivities are on a more T then going in the park on my own close proximity. The park provides healing modest scale. A street party was held for the and that was… probably a place of properties for staff and patients not only of Queen’s Golden Jubilee and people were asked memory and also a place of familiarity King’s but also the Maudsley psychiatric by the Friends of Ruskin Park to paint the and security ...where I, too, could hospital. During summer staff eat lunch in railings for it, which John Shelton duly did. the park or go jogging, while patients in live out the things that my mother The Friends also organise an annual summer fête wheelchairs are brought there by relatives and I had spoken about: the pond, in June, with music on the bandstand, food to enjoy fresh air and outdoor scenery. the reeds in the pond and the lime and craft stalls and stands from the different Iain Boulton sees potential to extend the trees and ash trees, the horse-chestnut trees organisations that contribute to the park activities. therapeutic benefits of the park – both the and the plane trees. ...and I remember medical referrals for healthy walks which going back to the park about 10 years ago, already take place and by establishing and I hadn’t visited Ruskin Park for about ‘green gymns’, environmental group 20 years and it was a very emotional activities emphasising health and fitness. thing - I got married 11 years ago for the But ordinary visitors to the park also first time and I took my new husband gain therapeutic benefits - escape from in there. This is a very odd experience surveillance and control and affirmation but I walked through that park and I had of the self through feeling one with nature or a huge emotional hit ...almost like the trees through meeting others. It also helps people were… talking and my mother somehow come to terms with death. was still there.” Summer Fete, 2012

20 21 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Image Credits Additional Information Organisations

Ruskin Park can be reached by rail or bus. Friends of Carnegie Library - email address Photograph of John Ruskin by H. R. Barraud Images reproduced by kind permission of [email protected] 1882 (page 6) courtesy of The Victorian Web. The Francis Frith Collection: Rail: Page 12, ‘Ruskin Park Pond’, c1960 (C516028); Denmark Hill (trains from Victoria, London Page 16, ‘Ruskin Park Bowling Green’, c1955 Bridge and St Pancras) and Loughborough Friends of Ruskin Park Images reproduced by kind permission of (C516027); Junction (trains from Blackfriars) station are http://friendsruskinpark.org.uk/1.html Lambeth Archive: Page 18, ‘Ruskin Park Pergola’, c1955 close by. Herne Hill and stations lie Page 7, ‘168 Denmark Hill’, c1905 (04926); (C516020). within 2km. Page 8, ‘Ruskin Park Plan’, 1907 (01928); The Herne Hill Society Page 8, ‘Ruskin Park Extension’, 1908 (02042); Bus: http://www.hernehillsociety.org.uk/ Page 9, ‘Evergreen Garden’, 1907 (01930); Photograph of Sydney Wooderson (page 13) 35, 42, 45, 68, 345, 468 and P4 (to or from Page 14, ‘Playground’, 1975 (09550). from the John Edward (Jack) Lovelock Papers Brixton, Camberwell, , courtesy of Alexander Turnball Library, Herne Hill and ). King’s College Hospital Wellington, New Zealand, reference http://www.kcl.ac.uk/index.aspx Images reproduced by kind permission of MSX-2258-048. Tube: The London Metropolitan Archive: Brixton Station (Victoria Line) lies within 2km. Page 8, ‘Evan Spicer at the opening of Ruskin Ruskin Park Community Garden Photographs of Air Ambulance (page 11), Park’, 1907 (SC/PHL/02/1130); http://www.ruskinparkcommunitygarden.org/ Wildlife Pond (page 12) and Ruskin Park Page 9, ‘Tramway Services’, 1923 (LCC/ Summer Fete (page 21) by Hilary Payne. TWYS/01/014/A). PARK OPENING TIMES: 7.00am to 15 minutes before sunset Trees for Cities Photograph of the bandstand (page 15) http://www.treesforcities.org/ Images reproduced by kind permission of by Xavier Hamon. CONTACT: phone 0207 926 9000 or The Imperial War Museum: email [email protected] Page 10, Nurses and patients of the Fourth General Hospital (Q_27814 & Q_27819). Cover photograph by Kathrin Kirrmann.

22 23 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Published by Embrace Cooperation Ltd. © 2012 Shakespeare Business Centre 245a SW9 8RR, Brixton, London (UK) www.myembrace.org