SOUTH LONDON PARKS 173 



;^40,ooo. Having got an Act of Parliament to allow 

 this, Brockwell Park came into the market with a ready- 

 made park of 78 acres. The Act of 1888 was repealed, 

 and eventually a sum of nearly ^^ 120,000 was spent on 

 the purchase of Brockwell, which was opened to the 

 public in 1892. Near the entrance gates, close to Heme 

 Hill Railway Station, a drinking-fountain, with a graceful 

 figure of " Perseverance " and portrait bust, has been 

 erected to Mr. Thomas Lynn Bristowe, M.P. for Nor- 

 wood, who was chiefly instrumental in obtaining the 

 Park, and whose death occurred with tragic suddenness 

 at the opening ceremony. It is quite a steep hill up 

 to the house, which is of no great antiquity or beauty, 

 having been built at the beginning of last century, when 

 the older manor-house was pulled down, by Mr. Blades, 

 the ancestor of the last owner. The view on all sides is 

 extensive, and the timber is fine. There are good old 

 oaks, as well as elms and limes ; and it is satisfactory to 

 see that, in the recent planting, limes have been given a 

 place, and not only the overdone plane. As a contrast 

 to the delightful formal garden, some pretty wild group- 

 ing has been carried out beside the artificial water. This 

 series of ponds are an addition to the Park as originally 

 purchased. It now measures 84 acres, and the extra 

 piece contained water, which has been enlarged into a big 

 bathing-pool and a so-called " Japanese garden." These 

 ponds are well arranged ; and although there are various 

 kinds of ducks and geese and black swans, and concrete 

 edges and wire netting are inevitable, they are not so 

 aggressive as in many parks. In places tall plants have 

 been put in behind the railings and allowed to hang over, 

 to break the undue stiffness. In the late autumn purple 

 Michaelmas daisies nearly touched the water, and the 



