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Tulse Hill, LONDON, SW2 2HU

Originally the grounds of Brockwell Hall, landscaped by J.B. Papworth, acquired from the Brockwell Estate by the London County Council in 1891, and later extended under the guiding hand of their Superintendent of Parks, Colonel J.J. Sexby, who added ponds, lakes, bandstand and walled garden. The park covers some 120 acres, including the popular lido. The hall now serves as the park's cafe (Image]). These birches present a gradation in colour.

Looking out of Brockwell Park onto Arlingford Road.

This small stream below the three ponds in Brockwell Park is the only place where the lost River Effra can be seen above ground, although on this day it was dry. The upper reaches of the River Effra remained clean and open well into the 19th century. In 1860 it was still "an open, clear, and sparkling brook" which ran "over a gravelly bottom through the fields and supplied fresh water to the neighbourhood". By the end of the 19th century it had all been bricked over. Apart from this stream and the ponds in Brockwell Park, only valleys such as the one which Leigham Vale follows - see http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2052759 , air vents as in Brockwell Park near Rosendale Road, and names such as Brixton Water Lane indicate where the Effra flows.

Originally the grounds of Brockwell Hall, landscaped by J.B. Papworth, acquired from the Brockwell Estate by the London County Council in 1891, and later extended under the guiding hand of their Superintendent of Parks, Colonel J.J. Sexby, who added ponds, lakes, bandstand and walled garden. The park covers some 120 acres, including the popular lido. The hall now serves as the park's cafe (Image]). The tree on the left by a pond is a species of maple; on the right is an oak.

Looking over a pool on the western edge of the park.

Originally the grounds of Brockwell Hall, landscaped by J.B. Papworth, acquired from the Brockwell Estate by the London County Council in 1891, and later extended under the guiding hand of their Superintendent of Parks, Colonel J.J. Sexby, who added ponds, lakes, bandstand and walled garden. The park covers some 120 acres, including the popular lido. The hall now serves as the park's cafe (Image]). A gorgeous autumn display courtesy of maples, poplars, a Swamp cypress and many others.

A sublime Cedar of Lebanon.

Looking towards some of the ponds in Brockwell Park.

Tulse Hill Nature Garden was set up in 1982 and formally opened in the presence of dozens of enthusiastic children. It is overlooked on two sides by the adjacent Tulse Hill Estate, on a third side by a school, and on the fourth by the back gardens of Leander Road. Colourful murals featured on most of the walls but neglect through lack of resources made the nature garden a sorry sight ten years later. It has now been opened up to the Tulse Hill Estate, tidied up and gives a much more welcoming and cared- for appearance.

The three ponds along the western side of Brockwell Park follow the line of the lost River Effra. The line of the Effra can be seen below the lowest of the ponds - see http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2636375. Presumably these ponds were formed by damming the river. The upper reaches of the River Effra remained clean and open well into the 19th century. In 1860 it was still "an open, clear, and sparkling brook" which ran "over a gravelly bottom through the fields and supplied fresh water to the neighbourhood". By the end of the 19th century it had all been bricked over. Apart from this stream and the ponds in Brockwell Park, only valleys such as the one which Leigham Vale follows - see http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2052759 , air vents as in Brockwell Park near Rosendale Road, and names such as Brixton Water Lane indicate where the Effra flows.