Elam Street Open Space and Healthy Living Site, formerly Foreign Street

Image: © Robin Stott Taken: 23 Jun 2013

By the gate, the yellow-painted sign in the shape of a running man focuses on the dangers of high blood pressure and how to reduce the risk; see Image Another sign inside the gate reads: Elam Street Open Space Welcome to Elam Street Elam Street Open Space provides local people with a ‘green lung’ for play, exercise and relaxation, and to escape the pressures of everyday life. Built on land once occupied by housing, it has been landscaped to include a wetland area crossed by a boardwalk, and a popular playground. Interestingly, part of the wetland embankment is made up of old granite kerbstones which once belonged in Foreign Street, which once stood on this site. Not far away from Elam Street Open Space is a former period pub, the Wickwood Tavern, built in 1868. This gives us a clue to what was here before the housing. ‘Wickwood’ was the name of a small wood belonging to the Manor of Lambeth Wick, which extended from here to the corner of Loughborough Road and Coldharbour Lane. Wickwood was originally owned by the Archbishops of Canterbury and used for hunting. Later on many of the trees were cut down for building ships and homes, and in time were used for farming and then housing. Help us look after your parks and open spaces This site is managed by Lambeth Parks and Greenspaces and patrolled by the Lamabeth Parks Rangers. To help us keep the site clean and safe, or for further information, please report any problems or contact us on 020 7926 9000 or at [email protected]

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