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 ^25,000. 
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 
