SOUTH LONDON PARKS 
173 
/40,00c. 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 The Act of 1888 was repealed, 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 Herne 
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 
