174 LONDON PARKS & GARDENS 
red berries of the Pyracantha overhung the ducks 
without apparent disagreement. 
The opening of Brockwell as a public Park has had 
the effect of banishing most of the rooks. There was a 
large rookery, but year by year the nests decrease. In 
1896 there were thirty-five nests, the next year twenty, 
while in 1898 there were only eight or ten. Thus every 
season they are getting fewer, but still, in the spring of 
1907, one pair of rooks were bold enough to build. 
Dulwich Park 
Dulwich Park is not very far from Brockwell, but 
its surroundings are more open. A few of the roads 
near it have some feeling of the country left. The 
houses that are springing up are of a cheerful villa 
type, and have nothing of the monotony and dulness 
of most of the suburbs. Fine old trees grow along 
many of the roads. The chestnuts, for instance, in 
Half Moon Lane between Herne Hill and Dulwich 
are charming, and also on the further side of the Park, 
where the celebrated inn, the “Green Man,” was situated, 
there is a rural aspect and a delightful walk between 
trees. It was within the grounds of the “ Green Man ” 
that the Wells of chalybeate water were situated. The 
Wells had been discovered in the reign of Charles II., 
and the water sold in London, but the “ Green Man ” 
did not become a popular resort until after 1739. A 
story connected with this popular spa is recorded in the 
“Percy Anecdotes” in 1823. A well-known literary 
man was invited to dinner there, and wished to be 
directed. However, he inquired vainly for the “ Dull 
Man at Greenwich.” instead of the “ Green Man at 
Dulwich.” One of the entrances to the Park is close 
