SOUTH LONDON PARKS 
177 
it has not hitherto been crowded, and is by no means 
a playground of the poorest classes, but now the advent 
of electric trams and rapid communication may some¬ 
what lessen its exclusiveness. 
Horniman Gardens 
There are gardens of a very different character round 
the Horniman Museum, not far distant. This collec¬ 
tion, as well as the 9J acres of ground adjoining it on 
Forest Hill, were the gift of the late Mr. J. F. Horni¬ 
man, M.P., and the garden, kept up by the London 
County Council, was opened in June 1901. The situation 
is extremely attractive. A steep walk up an avenue 
from London Road, Forest Hill, near Lordship Lane 
Station, leads to a villa standing in its own grounds, 
which is utilised for refreshment rooms and caretakers 
house, &c. The lawns descend steeply on three sides, 
and on the western slope there is a wide terrace, with 
a row of gnarled pollard oaks. From this walk there 
is a wide and beautiful view, over the hills and parks, 
chimney-pots and steeples of South London, with the 
lawns and pond of Horniman Gardens in front. On 
this terrace a shelter and band-stand have been put 
up, and no more favoured spot for enjoying the open- 
air town life, so common on the Continent, but until 
lately so rare in England, can well be imagined. The 
country round is still fairly open, between Forest Hill 
and Brixton. Near the foot of Horniman Gardens lies 
Dulwich Park, with the shady path known as “ Cox’s 
Walk,” from the proprietor of the “ Green Man,” and 
the roads lined with trees connect Dulwich with Brock- 
well Park, Herne Hill, so that this corner of London is 
well supplied with trees. 
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