SOUTH LONDON PARKS 183 



the large house and grounds, extending over 84 acres, 

 built and laid out by Colonel J. T. North. The London 

 County Council were offered this estate in 1902, if pur- 

 chased within a certain limit of time, for ;^2 5,000. 

 Usually the Council, in making a purchase, have ascer- 

 tained beforehand what contributions the local Boroughs 

 were prepared to subscribe towards the total cost, but, 

 on this occasion, the Boroughs were invited to share the 

 expense after the purchase had been made, with the re- 

 sult that all those concerned — Camberwell, Lewisham, 

 Greenwich, Deptford, and Woolwich — refused; so the 

 whole of the purchase and upkeep devolved on the 

 London County Council. The large mansion is now 

 used as a teachers' training college for girls, but the 

 greater part of the grounds, and the immense winter 

 gardens are open to the public. It is still so far from 

 the centres of population that the public who make use 

 of these spacious gardens is very limited. The nearest 

 railway station. New Eltham, is three-quarters of a mile 

 distant from the Park, and half-an-hour or more by train 

 from Charing Cross. Although it is now so far into the 

 country, and some people would deprecate the purchase, 

 it is only fair to remember that most of the crowded 

 districts were also country not long ago, and that when 

 land is dear and houses being built is not a favourable 

 moment to purchase. As a rule it is want of foresight 

 that is the complaint, and not excess of zeal, as in this 

 case. The garden is made use of to furnish supplies 

 of plants to some of the smaller parks, and a portion is 

 being reserved for growing specimens for demonstration 

 in the Council Schools. On the west side of the house 

 there are three terraced gardens, prettily planted with 

 roses and fruit-trees. In front of the house a sloping 



