Mountsfield Park

Mountsfield Park in Lewisham has been a public park area since 7 August 1905 and has grown from a mere 2.5 to its current spacious 13.4 hectares over the years, including land formerly used by Charlton Athletic Football Club. Mountsfield Park gets its name from Mountsfield House, the home of Henry Stainton in the mid 1840s, a well known entomologist and contemporary of Darwin's. Nothing remains today of the house - it was demolished in the same year the park was opened to the public - but remnants of the gardens still exist. Charlton Football Club played two seasons in the park in the early 1920s and football is still played here although on a more recreational level along with basketball, and tennis for which there are two courts. There is also a children's playground, ornamental gardens and a bandstand. Lewisham Council holds its annual People's Day event here each July with crowds of over 30,000 filling the park. Although lower than Hilly Fields (which stands 175 feet above sea level) Mountsfield Park affords excellent views west over Catford to Crystal Palace in the distance.